Jasper smiled awkwardly. I had heard the doorbell ring from up in my room and had rushed downstairs to answer it. However, as I reached the first floor, I could see my mom had beat me to it and had already opened the door, her shrill voice making Jasper flinch.

I quickly ran up and stepped in front of her. "Mom, please!" I said, pulling him inside. "Let him at least come in before you start interrogating him."

I kept him slightly behind me as I turnes to my mother. "Mom, this is Jasper. Jasper, this is my mom."

Jasper did his best to smile as my mother's eyes sparkled. "Well, isn't this lovely! Vladimir never brings friends home." She said. "It's so nice to meet you, Jasper!"

"Yeah..." He mumbled.

Suddenly, Jasper grabbed my sleeve tightly. I turned and saw my dad and walked up behind Jasper and placed a hand on his shoulder. I cleared my throat. "Jasper, this is my dad." I said.

He wormed his way out of my dad's grip and held out his hand. "It's nice to meet you, sir..." He said.

My dad shook his hand, and I couldn't help smiling at his reply. "You've got a strong grip, son. Good to know you can take care of yourself." He said.

Jasper gave a sharp nod, before he shot me a look. I understood and started to pull him up the stairs. "Call us when dinner's ready. We'll be in my room." I said.

I didn't wait for them to reply as I dragged Jasper upstairs and we ducked into my room. When the door was closed Jasper breathed a sigh of relief. "I haven't spoken to a human in longer than I'd like to admit. It's weird and... tempting.

I shot him a look. "Don't you dare. Those are my parents." I said. "One bite and I'll throw your ass out myself."

He chuckled. "I'm just kidding. I would never do that. Besides," He wrapped an arm around my waist. "I have something way more delectable right in front of me."

I smiled shyly and leaned into his touch. Suddenly, my senses went on alert as I heard the door handle to my room turning. Jasper heard it too and we pulled apart immediately; just in time too, the door being thrown open with a bang. "You won't believe what happened at school today!" Toots said, stepping into my room.

He was smiling brightly, but when his eyes landed on Jasper his smile vanished and a dark look came over his face. "Who's this?" He asked.

Jasper also looked a little annoyed by the interruption and narrowed his eyes at my brother. "I'm a friend of Vlad's." He said.

Benjamin glanced at me. "When were you going to tell me you invited a friend over?"

"Do I need your permission?" I asked.

The room fell silent and Ben walked up to Jasper, peering at him closely. I could see the uncomfortable look on Jasper's face, but I stood by quietly, knowing it was better to just let it happen.

Ben poked Jasper's chest and circled him, finally coming to a conclusion. He came up to me and keep his voice down. "I don't know, Vlad. He seems shifty. I don't trust him."

I shoved him lightly. "Don't be absurd." I said. "You're just mad that I'm hanging with someone besides you."

He went to speak, but we heard my mom call us for dinner and I grabbed Jasper's hand. "Come on." I said with a grin.

I felt Ben's eyes on my back, but, I ignored them. I didn't need his approval, nor did I want it. I loved Ben, but he and Jasper were in very different leagues.

*******

Jasper kicked my leg as my mom began serving dinner; guests first, of course. I just stared at the steaming bowl of pot roast in front of me with a sickening feeling pooling in my stomach. Chicken was bad, but beef? I couldn't think of a stronger, more pungent smell of cooked flesh. Jasper seemed to feel the same.

While everyone else began to eat, the two of us sat stoically. I was sure that the dinner table that evening was quite a sight. My brother was staring at Jasper with a distrustful look, my dad was talking to my mom, and Jasper and I were holding our breath.

I was about to distract myself by talking to Jasper when my mom suddenly noticed our behavior. "You aren't hungry?" She asked Jasper.

He did his best to smile and be polite as he told her he'd already eaten. My mom looked a little sad, but didn't push him. However, she had also notice my own loss of appetite and turned to me with a curious frown. "You're not going to eat either?"

I swallowed nervously, knowing how dangerous it was to turn down my mother's cooking. "I'm not really hungry..." I said, cringing when her eyes narrowed.

She picked at her food with a pout. "I went through all the trouble of making your favorite dinner because you had a guess over and now you say you're not hungry..." She whined.

I could see Jasper snickering out of the corner of my eye. I looked down at my food. Jasper clear his throat. "Your mom seems pretty upset. One bite won't kill you." He said.

I glared at him and he winked at me. I sighed deeply before I picked up my fork and poked at my food. "It looks great mom." I mumbled.

My mom's face lit up with pride as I took a bite and forced a smile, tears pricking at my eyes. I choked as I made myself swallow. "I can't remember the last time you cooked something this good." I said quietly. My mom smiled. I wanted to cry.

When my mother finally turned back to talking to my dad I shot Jasper a look. "What the hell, man? That was disgusting." I hissed.

He tried not to laugh too loud so as not to alert my mom, but I could see the amusement on his face. I knocked his shoulder lightly. "Next time you're eating it."

"It? Or it?" He asked with a smirk.

I groaned and covered my blushing face with my hands. "Shut up..."

*******

I sighed as I finally locked us back in my room. "That was stressful." I muttered.

Jasper plunked down on my bed and took a deep breath of fresh air. "I love your mom, don't get me wrong. But I am so glad she's not my mom." He said.

I rolled my eyes. The room fell silent as I went over to my desk and started to tidy up a bit. Suddenly, I felt a pair of hands creep up my shirt and pull me backward, forcing me to fall onto my bed. I frowned at Jasper. "I'm trying to clean."

"Yeah, I know. But you're always doing something. Relax a little." He said, snuggling up to my back.

Normally I'd have pushed him off nd gone back to whatever I was doing, but today I decided he was right. I could use some relaxation. Besides, it was warm in his arms and I was too comfortable to get up.

After a while I began to wonder if he'd fallen asleep. Curiosity took over and I couldn't help wanting to see his sleeping face, to kiss it, to comb his hair with my fingers. Gently, I maneuvered my way around until I was facing him. My heart beat in my ears as I layed eyes on his pale features.

Jasper was always moving, always talking. He seemed so full of life. Now that he was still I was surprised to see bags under his eyes. His lips were almost as pale as his actual complexion. He looked exhausted. I sighed lightly and rested my forehead against his.

"You okay?"

My eyes shot open and I came eye-to-eye with Jasper's piercing gaze. I stared at him for a moment, assessing the mood. "I should be asking you that." I finally said.

His eyes never left mine. He looked as though he was trying to read my mind. After a while he dropped his eyes and sighed. Then he sat up. I sat up too and watched him as he turned his back to me. "Honestly? I'm worried." He said. "About you."

I frowned. "Why?"

He shook his head. "This life... I know how much you love your family, but it's not safe. You can't hide forever." He said quietly. "I should know..."

"I don't understand." I said. "What are you trying to say?"

Jasper turned to me. "Eventually your family is going to find out. At that point you'll have two choices: run to save your life, or allow yourself to be taken to some padded room somewhere to be watched or studied like an animal."

I clenched my fists. "My parents would never do that." I said.

"But other people might." Jasper replied. He looked angry at first, but when he saw my face his expression softened. He took my hands in his, smiling lightly. "Leave with me."

My eyes widened. "What-"

"We can live somewhere safe." He said.

"But my parents... and Benjamin-"

"Would be safer too." He said. "Think about it, they may be your family now, but what if you lose your temper, or worse."

I stared at him. He looked at me sternly. "I know you care about them, but maybe the best way to keep them safe-"

"Jasper, I'm not just going to run away." I said. I pushed his hands off. "I would never hurt my family."

The worried crept across his face again. However, when I stood up and walked to the other side of my room he hung his head. "Sorry..." He said softly. "I was out of line."

I needed a moment, but after a few seconds I turned back to Jasper. "I understand your worry, but I can take care of myself. If a problem arises you'll be the first to know, but right now I'm fine."

He nodded, eyes on the floor. Then he pulled something out of his pocket. He stood up and pressed it into my hand firmly. "At least take this. Don't go anywhere without it. Alright?" He whispered.

I looked down at my palm. In it rested an ornament very like the ones hanging in Jasper's place, but it was a little smaller. The keychain sized glass orb was tinted light blue, the inside filled with herbs and sand. A red ribbon was was tied in a knot around the mouth of the ornament.

I looked up to see Jasper staring at me seriously. I held the ornament in my hand and smiled at him. "I won't."

He visibly relaxed at that. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him. "You're so troublesome." He murmured. "It would be so much easier if you just let me steal you away from here."

I hugged him back. "I can't leave my family."

He nodded into my shoulder. "I know... Leaving one's family is the hardest thing one can do."

*******

Hey everyone! I finally know what I'm doing with this book! I'm so happy! Those of you actually enjoying this book will be happy to know that there's going to be multiple books. Not sure how many, but multiple. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! AS ALWAYS, VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, AND STAY AWESOME!

-Nekoco