**Quote: "And I'd chose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you." ~The Chaos of Stars**

Chapter 20

"And who uses the word 'lover' anymore?" I glare at Jazmine as we exit the tunnel.

She seems to have no trouble moving around, even though Fallen can't self heal as fast as angels. Her nose has stopped bleeding, and she seems to be in a good mood considering she just caused me a massive amount of pain.

"That's none of your damn business." Jazmine plops down on the couch and stares at me. Her blue eyes carve holes into my head, and I know that if looks could kill I'd be dead at her feet.

The longer I stand there, the more energy I feel build up inside of me. I can feel the pressure, just inside my head, begging to be released. A dull pain starts to throb across my head as I try and push tonight's events out of my mind. Despite having released most of the energy I had pulled from the torches, I can feel the after effects of using so much energy and healing so much at one time. And that's not the only reason for my discomfort. Finally having a moment away from my friends, I feel sadness, grief, and regret start to claw their way back into my mind.

I can feel old, familiar panic start to set in. My breathing becomes ragged and I feel like I'm about to throw up. I haven't had a panic attack since I was fourteen. I used to get them when my dad would get drunk. They usually occured because of an overwhelming crash of emotons, whether they be fear of sadness. So many strong emotions at one time always sent me into a state of numbness.

No, please don't let this happen to me now! Not when I have to be strong for so many reasons! Please, God.

But the Big Man must not be listening, because I sway with dizziness as thoughts, feelings, and memories bombard me. I've always been one of those girls who feels too much.

Jazmine's blurry face comes closer to mine as tears spike in my eyes. When her long cruel fingers grip my chin I hear her voice as if through a tunnel, "You're pathetic."

With that I slump forward and I start to wheeze as my lungs clamp shut. It's no longer Jazmine's voice I hear. It's my mother's.

"How could I have such a useless daughter! I had everything before you. I was beautiful, and young. But one mistake and it leads to you. I was from my agency the moment I gained a couple of pounds. Apparently baby fat doesn't belong in a photo shoot." She would always step closer to me and her green eyes would glimmer with hate and disgust. From the time she was little she dreamed of being a model, and despite her hideous personality, she was actually pretty. But then she met my dad, and with one night of mistakes she lost all her chances at leaving our small town and becoming something bigger. "I give birth to you, raise your sorry ass and you do what? Whine and complain that you have a terrible life? Grow up, Marie. Your life was worthless the moment I had you."

I'd look up at her with tears in my eyes as I would wonder how a mother could be so cruel to her own daughter. I would always wonder what I did wrong. Then the same questions would pass my lips, "What do you want me to do? Leave? Run away?" I'm not sure what I expected to get with her reply. Maybe my question could knock some sense into her and she'd realize that a mother is suppose to love her daughter.

The most frightening moment of my life would be when she'd throw her head back and laugh. Emotion lacking from the sound. "I don't care what you do, child! Whatever you do, make sure I never see your disgraceful face again." The hate and disgust on her face would leave me paralyzed until the moment she stalked away. I'd be left crying and hyperventilating on the ground, trying to understand what I did wrong.

Its what led me to cut. At the time it was the only thing that I thought would make me feel again. To go from a waterfall of emotions to nothing but a dull buzz in the back of your mind is terrifying, and in some ways, more painful than the knife itself. It felt like if I could just stop being numb, then maybe I'd feel better.

But one night, the knife went too deep, and it wasn't fear that clogged my throat at the sight of so much blood. It was shame. I was ashamed of letting my parents win. A few sharp words and raised fists a day, had led me to do their job for them. They wanted me to hurt for all the things I'd "taken" from them, and I was complying with ease. It suddenly occured to me that they wouldn't feel grief or guilt. It would be a relief to have their burden lessened. I certainly was not going to be the one to make it easier for them.

That night I cleaned myself up and changed my sheets. I threw the knife in the trash and I bandaged myself up. From then on, I promised myself that I would never let my parents win. I'd much rather take a stroll through Hell then see their relieved grins from heaven as they bury my body.

Since that night I haven't had another panic attack, and now it's all coming back to me. The scene of Kerri's death burns itself into my conscious and I can hear the flames as they lick over her blistering skin.

Pain and panic rage through my body as I crouch low and try to breath. For some odd reason I feel something else. Something that has nothing to do with me. It's anger and power mixed together to make a frightening combination.

When I feel Jazmine's hands wrap around my arms I start to choke on my lack of oxygen. Fast, panicked bursts of air escape my mouth.

The next thing I know Jazmine has dragged me into the bathroom and I'm placed in the giant tub. Without warning she turns on the cold shower and the little drops pound onto my head.

With a pained gasp I writhe in the cold tub. I forget about the strange intrusion of anger I had just felt as my lungs work over time to give me the oxygen I need.

Curling into the fetal position I forget about everything surrounding me and I let my brain just shut down. I don't pass out, but I'm not fully conscious. It's more like I'm just existing on the outskirts of my mind, aware of what's going on around me, but not responding.

I don't know how long I stay like that. My shell of a body shakes uncontrollably under the cold shower and I know I should make an effort to move, but my mind simply won't allow it.

It's not until that strange feeling of someone else's emotions entering my mind, do I finally stir. When footsteps quickly echo towards me I feel, rather than see, someone enter the bathroom.

Their power and strength flows over me like a soft warm blanket and my muscles loosen up. My breathing evens out and the freezing water doesn't effect me anymore. Instead I focus on moving my limbs. All I want now is to find the source of these foreign emotions and to wrap myself into their arms. I want to feel safe.

I hear a deep angry voice shout something at Jazmine, and I wince as the volume of the tone crashes into my head. Immediately the intrusive feelings bombard me with new emotions. Anger. Worry. Frustration. Power. Love. Anger.

The overpowering emotions makes my head throb, and yet I can feel something inside me waken up. Like its spent too long being cooped into a cage and it's finally been let free.

Before I can make the effort get up, strong arms encircle me and pick me up. Immediately a sense of peace circles around me and I sigh in content. My lungs are no longer constricting as warmth seeps into me from the skin of the man holding me. The scent of trees and outdoors surrounds me and I grip the neck of the person holding me. Nate.

The guilt of knowing my weakness right now is the reason he can't properly lead his army will come later. For now, I only feel relief at having his strength to lean on.

The pounding of the shower is cut off and after a few seconds of muffled speaking, I actually register what the two people are saying.

"If you ever do something like this again I will break your neck." The threat is far from empty as the power of Nate's voice pounds around the room, and the power coming off of him in his anger, visibly shakes the mirror.

Blinking a few times I tiredly turn my head to look at Jazmine, who in turn looks livid. "She was having a panic attack, you asshole! I had to do something before she choked on her own pathetic lungs. I am the one who got her to stop freaking out."

No, you just made it worse. I practically drowned! But my thought goes unsaid as I start to shake despite the warmth pouring from Nate.

Nate's grip on my tightens. Worry. Love. Anger.

"You did nothing. I trust you, Jaz. But I will no longer trust you with Marie's life. For just a moment I thought you had grown past your petty jealousy of her. Will you ever accept my love for her and not you?" His words were spoken matter-of-factly, but Jazmine looked as if he had stepped up and spit them in her face.

With one final shake of his head he holds me closer to him and turns to walk out the door. "Leave. Find Jasper and be back here in two hours. Understood?" The authority in Nate's voice has Jazmine straightening her back and glaring at him with all the venom of a woman scorned.

"Yes, General. I completely understand." She's out the door before I can even question her response.

As another severe shiver racks my body, Nate rushes to his room. My limbs are stiff with exhaustion and chills, as the cold of the shower starts to seep into my bones.

Nate gently sets me down on his bed, and he's out of the room before my teeth can chatter. I don't even get a chance to wonder where he's gone to before he's back with a stack of fluffy white towels in his arms.

He sets them down beside me and looks at my shaking body. With steady hands he wraps one around my head so my hair won't drip down my body anymore.

Hesitation. Worry. Feeling those emotions creep into my mind I finally understand. "N-n-Nate...I-I can feel...you again." My chattering teeth forces me to take a minute just to get that sentence out. For a moment a flicker of happiness sparks in my hollow heart at knowing that our connection is no longer being blocked.

Jazmine must have stopped blocking his emotions from me, so that when I felt his emotions running through me again I'd be comforted enough to come out of my panic attack. She was actually right about helping me. I'll never tell her that though.

Feeling his emotions curl around inside my mind drives away the loneliness and hopelessness I feel trying to suffocate me.

Nate looks at me in surprise and then he gives me a small smile. Happiness. Relief. Worry. Hesitation.

"W-why are you...h-hesita-tating?" What would he need to hesitate for?

When he hears my chattering voice again he snaps out of his dazed state and he grabs another fluffy towel.

"I need to get you out of these clothes. You're going to get sick if I don't warm you up." My eyes widen and I try to scoot away from him, but his steel-like grip keeps me from moving away. Even though I let it slip that I loved him earlier tonight, doesn't mean I'm ready to take the next step with him or...maybe I am and I'm just too scared to do so. "Trust me, Marie."

With that I stop struggling. I trust him 100 percent. I know for a fact he isn't going to push my comfort levels, and I also know that I will be seriously ill if I don't warm myself up. If I could, I'd change myself, but with my violent shaking and quivering muscles I doubt I could stand properly.

He quickly wraps a towel tightly around my body and tucks one end in so that it will stay up without slipping. Grabbing the thin straps of my tank tops he slides them off my arms. His warm fingers brush gently across my arms and I can feel goosebumps that have nothing to do with the cold, rise across my skin.

He grabs the hem of my tank top underneath the towel and with one strong pull he has the thin material sliding off my torso, down my legs, and then off my body completely. With the same strong tug he pulls on my shorts and they slide off my legs in seconds. He makes sure that the towel stays in place so I'm covered.

For just one moment I forget about the situation at hand and I narrow my eyes at him. He's way too good at undressing someone this quickly.

"It's only because I'm so familiar with you." The way he says the word 'familiar' makes me feel like he's giving it a double meaning. Realizing he just read my mind, I gasp. I haven't thought about his gift of telepathy in a long time.

"Don't d-do that!" He knows exactly what I'm talking about, but he just shrugs one shoulder as he reaches for me again.

There's only one article of clothing left that I have on underneath my towel and that's my underwear. Um, no.

I slap his hand and tighten the towel around me. A heated blush burns my cheeks and I can feel that strange curling sensation, that Nate once told me was desire, hit my stomach.

For a moment Nate's eyes darken, but when I shiver again he reaches out to grip my chin. "Marie, I need to get you warm. Which means all of your clothing needs to come off. I'm not doing this for some ulterior motive to get you naked." He states this firmly and I nod my head in understanding. "Besides, if I was making a move on you, you wouldn't be resisting."

Before he can make another move, I shake my head. "Turn around, and I'll d-do it myself."

Nate's jaw tightens slightly, but he obliges to my request. Quickly slipping out of the last article of clothing I have on, I throw it on the pile of drenched clothing. I do trust Nate, but I'm not sure I trust myself. I clear my throat to let him know I'm done.

He doesn't wait for me to say anything, before he wraps one towel around my shoulders and the other around my legs. Picking me up he lays me in the middle of the bed before he climbs in after me. I can't hide my surprise as he takes off his shirt and pulls me to his chest.

Immediately the heat radiating from his skin soaks into my bones and I start to thaw. Practically melting into his embrace I feel him unwrap the towel around my head. For a moment the cold air of the room assaults my head before his fingers thread their way into my hair.

Letting out a content sigh I curl as tightly as I can into his arms as he combs out my wet hair with his fingers. His other hand rubs circles into my back.

Forcing all thought out of my head I just focus on the beating of his heart, the gentle pull of my hair as he combs out all the knots, and the soothing feel of his kneading fingers on my back.

"You're kind of killing me here." His voice seems deeper than it was a second ago and when I lift my head slightly to see his face I notice his eyes have grown darker.

Confusion sets inside me. What the heck is talking about?

A disbelieving laugh rumbles through his chest as he looks at me. "You have no idea what effect you have on me, do you?"

I open my mouth to tell him that he may be going crazy when he pulls me down so that I'm laying completely on my back. Rolling over me he props himself up with just his elbows, so that he doesn't crush me under his weight.

Suddenly I feel too hot. The air around us seems to be crackling with heat as I stare at his dark eyes. I can just barely catch the light colors of caramel.

Slightly confused and dazed by our sudden change of positions I try to fish out his emotions inside my head. Desire. Love. Hesitation.

The full impact of his emotions hits me hard as I realize that he wants me just as much as I want him. Shivering slightly I look up at him and ask a potentially dangerous question. "How do I effect you?"

One of his eyebrows shoots up and a smirk curls his lips. I can't help but find that simple expression to be extremely attractive. "Well to start with, it's your impossibly soft skin."

The mischievous look he gives me makes me wonder what he's about to do before he lowers his lips and places a light kiss on my collar bone.

Fire explodes along my skin as he takes his sweet little time traveling kisses along my neck. "Every time you brush past me, I go crazy not being able to pull you into my arms and feel your skin on mine." His low murmur is doing crazy things to my mind, and so I force my voice to work. This is the kind of distraction I need to keep my mind from drifting to death and sadness.

"Oh? And how else." Slowly bringing his head up, he stares at me through lazy eyes.

A wicked smile crosses his face as he leans closer to me. By the time he stops moving forward his lips are just barely moving across mine and I know that it's taking everything in me to not move forward and meet him. He's teasing me, trying to make me show how much of an effect he has on me.

Right now, I'm trying desperately to not show what he's doing to my mind right now.

The infuriating man lets his lips brush across mine as he speaks. "And that little smile you give me when you glance my way? It makes me want to kiss you until we're both out of breath."

Retreating a few inches back he lets me breath. But right now my breathing is far from normal. He's winning in this little war between us, and I could care less.

"And just now," he lets his fingers snake back into my hair and they gently pull through my blonde locks forcing a little sigh to escape my lips. "That sigh is what's breaking my resolve. I want to hold back from pushing things too far with you Marie, but I can't keep you out of my head. When I'm suppose to be leading an army I think about your beautiful green eyes staring at me. When I'm suppose to be focussing on this goddamned war all I can pay attention to is the danger you could be in."

Suddenly all the teasing has left Nate's face and all I see is raw honesty written across his face. He's letting me clearly see the desire, love, and devotion he holds for me.

Taking a deep breath I tentatively try to look for his emotions. The moment I find them, it's like an explosion erupts inside my chest. So much feeling, so many emotions packed into one punch I have to gasp with the energy of it. Love. Desire. Devotion. Love.

His emotions bleed into mine until I can no longer tell which emotions are his and which are mine.

Letting a breath escape my lips and brush over his face, I raise a shaky hand and place it gently on his cheek. The slight dark stubble across his cheek indicates he's gone days without shaving again.

He closes his dark eyes and I take a moment to study him. Just looking at him with no restrictions or restraints. His hair has grown out an inch and its wavy ends brush across his forehead. His usually healthy, tan skin seems to have gotten paler. Exhaustion lines mar his face, and when I squint my eyes I can see bags under his eyes. It doesn't look like he's slept for more than a handful of hours over the last few weeks.

Whether Nate knows it or not he's driving himself to his breaking point.

Before I can voice my concern he grimaces and backs his face away a few inches. "Don't do that."

"Do what?" I ask, feigning ignorance.

"Don't worry about me so much. I'm a grown man, Marie. I can take care of myself." His eyes are opened again and I can see his closed off expression. He is a grown man, which means his stubbornness will reject any kind of concern that may make him look weak.

I open my mouth to retort and then bite my tongue. A spark of anger burns inside me, but I don't feel like fighting with him yet again. He needs to sleep, and damn it if I'm going to let him run himself right out of energy to the point where he can't even pick up a sword.

Knowing that forceful words won't get Nate to lay down and sleep, I keep my hand in place on his face. Softly I run the pad of my thumb under his eye. At the touch of my hand his eyes slowly drift close and he leans into my caress.

Desperately wishing I had enough energy to give him some of my healing powers, so that he wouldn't be so tired, I keep up my stroking.

After a few moments Nate looks at me again and he stares at me through sleepy eyes. "I can't rest, Marie. Jasper will be here."

"In two hours. He can wake you when he gets here. For now, you need to sleep." When he stays hovering over me I shift slightly so I can push him onto his side next to me. "Please."

His dark eyes crinkle slightly at the corners as he takes his own hand and threads it through my hair as he did before. "Fine, but only because you asked so nicely."

I give him a small smile and lean over to kiss him quickly. When I pull back, his eyes are already closed and his breathing has deepened. "I love you, Nate." I whisper before he falls too deeply into sleep.

That sexy sleepy smile I love so much, crosses his face and he sighs deeply. His big arm wrap around my waist and pulls me so I'm tucked into his side. With my head under his chin, he tilts his head down and kisses the top of my forehead. "Love you too, Marie." And with that we both fall asleep, wrapped in each other's warmth.

***

When I jerk awake from my deep sleep I can tell it hasn't even been two hours since I fell asleep. As much as I'd love to lay my head back down and let the soft clutches of sleep grab hold of my again, I fear an oncoming nightmare.

In fact, a nightmare is exactly what woke me from my sleep just now.

Heaving a sigh I run a hand through my hair and stare down at the man underneath me. A small smile curls my lips as I look at Nate's relaxed face. The gentle strands of sunlight filtering through his window pulls over his features.

My artistic eyes stare appreciatively at the perfect light that floods the sight before me, making half his face be cast in shadow and the other side be bathed in light.

A sudden realization hits me then. It's been weeks since I've picked up a pencil and drawing book. Sadness has me craving those very objects right now. I haven't thought about drawing since I was in my school's gym, calling Nate and opening his present. I had agued with Nate and Jem over the moralities of torturing a man, and then...my new sketchbook had disappeared.

Jem probably took it. After our argument she had held a bit of anger against me for what I said, and so she probably wanted to get back at me for it. Hopefully she just gave it to Nate, and he's simply forgotten to give it back.

Moving very carefully I suddenly stop when I feel the towels start to loosen on me. Aw, crap. I completely forgot that I fell asleep with nothing more than two towels wrapped around me. The last thing I need is to wake Nate up the moment my towels lose their grip. Now he has a lot of self control, but I think this would just be pushing his limits.

Being wary of the heavy arm keeping me anchored to his chest, I tighten the one towel around my body, and I push the one tangled around my legs off. Thanking the sand man for putting Nate into such a deep sleep I gently pry Nate's arm off of me and lay it across his chest.

Very slowly, very carefully sliding to the edge of the bed I lightly touch the floor with my feet. Glancing over my shoulder to make sure he's still sleeping I quietly tiptoe over to my bag in the corner.

Even though most of my art supplies burnt in the house fire I always keep a fresh supply of sketching supplies in all of my bags. Slowly opening the zipper I dig around my clothes until I find my favorite sketching pencil at the bottom. It has a plastic cap on top so that the charcoal won't ruin whatever it touches.

Expertly twirling the pencil over my knuckles I search the room with my eyes and try to guess where Nate might have placed his gift for me. My eyes land on his dresser filled with his clothing.

Walking quickly over to it I slide the first drawer open and pray that he's put it there, so I don't have to snoop through his clothing. Luck must be on my side this morning because there, among his shirts, lays the beautiful present I had all but forgotten until now.

It's velvety purple cover is a as soft and smooth as I remember it. The silver etchings that resemble growing vines curl and crawl across the cover. Hesitantly opening it I feel the wonderful stiffness of opening a new sketchbook for the first time.

The smell of fresh paper wafts up through the air to me. Smiling softly I put it and the pencil down for a moment so I can properly dress myself. Figuring it's early morning I slip on a pair of my dark jeans, my black and white converses, and a grey shirt with the phrase 'Nerd? I prefer the term Intellectual Badass' printed on the front.

Going back to the bed I sink into one of the dark soft leather armchairs nearest to his side. Settling into the chair I take a deep breath and raise my shaking hand holding the charcoal pencil to the paper. It's been so long since I've lost myself in a drawing. If I can immerse myself in the lines, and curves of charcoal over creamy white paper, then I can momentarily forget what's transpiring around me.

After a moments hesitation I finally set pencil to paper and start drawing the first sharp angels of Nate's face.

It only takes a few minutes before I lose myself in my art.

***

Across the paper is a handsome sleeping man. His muscled chest faces upward towards the ceiling. Old battle scars crisscross his skin and wrap around his torso. One arm lays draped across his stomach and the other is out of sight on the other side of his body. His face is what captures an onlooker's interest. Half of it is shrouded in dark shadow adding a slightly mysterious trait to his features, and the other half seems to almost glow in early morning sunlight. His mouth is slack and relaxed, while his brow is scrunched up as if he's dreaming about something stressing.

Following the smooth planes of his stomach the blankets stop just below his jeans waist line. Its obvious he fell asleep with them on because jeans aren't the most comfortable things to sleep in. The picture suggests he moved around in his sleep due to the rumpled blankets, and the way the waist of his jeans have dipped lower to show a perfect V-line.

Scrunching up my eyebrows and biting my lip I lean closer to the picture I've drawn and study every detail. Luckily my time away from a sketchpad hasn't harmed my artistic skill. I could use some practice on shading, but other than that I'm completely satisfied with my work.

It's not until I feel the breath on my neck and that voice whispering in my ear do I snap out of my haze. "You know, I'd be completely willing to let you draw me like that. Maybe with a little less clothing...and we can ditch the blanket."

Spinning around I slam my sketchbook into the annoying ginger's head. "Dammit Jasper! Don't you have any boundaries! Do you always have to barge into our room?" I hiss at Jasper as he smirks at me and rubs the spot I hit.

Glancing at Nate, I watch him shift slightly, but so far he hasn't been woken by our whispered argument. That worries me the most. Nate has to be completely exhausted to not wake up by our noise.

Practically growling at Jasper, I roughly grab his thin arm and drag him from the room. Pointing in the direction of the kitchen I softly close Nate's door so as not to wake him.

Striding into the dimly lit kitchen I look out the window over the sink, and I feel instantly relaxed at the bright October sun rising over the trees. But anxiety sets in again when I catch Nate's soldiers patrolling the edge of the territory and it crudely reminded of our present situation.

Twisting to look at Jasper I open my mouth to say something. Anything. But all I can think to do is stay silent. An uncomfortable silence descends around us and we both move at the same time. Him to the window to smoke, me to the coffee maker to brew me some liquid energy.

When I finally have a cup of sweetened coffee in hand, and he has half a cigarette burning between his fingers I go over to the counter and hop up.

Before I can breach the awkward silence, he beats me to it. "You're worried about him." I can tell he's stating the observation, and not asking it.

My hands tighten around the hot mug at the thought of talking about personal matters with one of the flame twins. I mean his sister did just try to kill me last night.

Opting to not say a word I just nod my confirmation.

Jasper's blue eyes study me for a moment before he flicks an ember off his cigarette and into the sink. "You're still the same, you know. Even though you're human," I'll add him to the list of people who say the word 'human' like its a disease, "you still act the same as you did centuries before."

I tilt my head and consider how I should proceed with this conversation. "Why does Jazmine hate me so much?" I surprise us both by asking such a question. I can't tell whether I asked it to change the subject or because I am honestly perplexed by her blatant show of animosity towards me.

Jasper instead, laughs and takes a slow puff from his cancer stick. "Come on, Marie. Push all that blonde hair away and use that brain of yours. Why do you think?"

Staring down into my cup I think about how bluntly I want to put this. "She's in love with Nate."

Jasper raises the brow with the piercing in it. "Bingo. You have to understand, during our first life Jaz was only five when we were nine. So when we were all human Nate and I raised the girl."

He turns and flicks the cigarette butt out the window before turning his attention completely to me. "She fell in love with the bloke at the age of five. He defended her, teased her, and protected her. And he was, as you may say today, the bad boy of the twelfth century. Once Jaz hit the age of fifteen Nate found her old enough to bed." Jasper doesn't seem the least bit uncomfortable in discussing his sister's and best friend's past sex life.

"Yeah, so? I mean if she's jealous because I'm with him, I guess I can understand that, but she acts as if I intentionally pushed her away from Nate." I take a moment to laugh lightly. "You have no idea how long it took to even get Nate to be my friend. I can assure you I couldn't have pushed Jazmine and Nate away from each other even if I wanted to."

Jasper laughs with me and shakes his ginger head. "He's a stubborn moron, that's for sure." When I realize that we just had a moment that didn't contain any disdain or anger I feel myself growing uncomfortable.

"So...then why does she dislike me so?" I ask trying to change the topic.

"Well, suddenly Jaz had Nate, and she had her angelic powers. To her, life couldn't be better. Then suddenly her protector is promised to guard another, she loses her angelic powers, and is condemned to a life of a Fallen at the age of twenty-one, disgraced and hated. And just like that, she loses the heart of the man she once thought was her's." Jasper leans forward and points at me.

He lifts one finger as if to represent number one. "First, she loses her protector." He raises his middle finger as well. "Second, she loses the ultimate power she was once promised to keep for all eternity." His ring finger pops up next. "Thirdly, she comes to discover that the man she loves only loved her as a close friend, and he simply just lusted after her at times. It was kind of like friends with benefits, which I applaud by the way, and of course his heart was so suddenly given to the very woman who just appeared into his life after Jaz had basically grown up with him."

Silence lapse into the space between us and I let myself digest this information. I thought I truly understood her anger last night, but now it's clear. No wonder Jazmine hates me so. It's as if I had stolen everything from her. I appeared into Jazmine's life right when she was losing everything. Even after everything she's done to me I can feel my softer side dredge up a bit of pity for the girl who had lost her love.

Raising my eyes I set down my half empty cup of coffee and I glare at Jasper. "Why are you telling me this?"

Jasper raises an eyebrow and then starts to walk towards me until he's right in front of me. I have the sudden desire to push him away, but I withhold it so I can see what he's going to say. He places his hands on the counter, on either side of my legs, and he leans forward.

"Because Jaz tells me everything. She told me of her little lesson with you last night. Jaz...well she can be a bit impulsive, and she can let her anger control her-" I cut Jasper off before he makes any other excuses for his sister.

"She broke my arm. Then she was going to stab me unless I stopped her in five seconds. I think that's a little more than a temper tantrum." Jasper rolls his eyes.

"Put the past behind you, Marie. Don't be so petty." I open my mouth to retort but he puts a finger on my lips to stop me. My poisonous glare has him quickly removing his hand. "Just listen. My sister and Nate fight all the time, and yeah Jaz can be a bitch, but Nate means a lot to her. She may show it through unconventional ways, but she can't lose him. If you tell him that she so blatantly went behind his back, and harmed you he will do something she won't recover from."

Narrowing my eyes at Jasper I lean forward so we're only a few inches apart. "I doubt him killing her will be such a bad thing."

A spark of anger flares in Jasper's eyes and I can feel a nudging of fear hit my stomach. When Jasper drops his sarcastic, inappropriate behavior he's actually kind of frightening. His pale hands wrap around my upper arms tightly and I bite the inside of my cheek to keep the pained gasp from escaping.

If he doesn't let go of me in the next ten seconds I'm stabbing him with whatever's closest to me.

"No, he will banish her to the other side of the earth. He will force her to never come near you or him ever again. Do you understand what that means? She will never see him again." I grit my teeth a keep myself from breaking his wrists. He's passed the ten second mark, but out of respect for Nate I decide to not injure his best friend in his kitchen.

"Get your hands off me." I threaten coldly. Jasper holds onto my arms for another moment before he moves back. Jumping down from the counter I stand as straight as I can. Even though I'm a shorter than average girl, I hold myself in an intimidating manner.

"I'm not a tattle tail, Jasper. I'm not going to run to Nate every time Jazmine decides to take her anger issues out on me. I need to learn how to fight someone with no conscious or mercy. And besides, Nate has enough problems on his plate without adding trivial matters to it." I stare Jasper straight in the eye so he knows I'm not lying or misleading him in anyway. I meant every word.

When he seems satisfied with my answer his 'Jasper smirk' slides back onto his face and he moves away from me. "Who knew you could be a blonde little spit fire, even as a human. Now that those matters are settled, you should go wake Nate up. I wanted to talk to you first so I told everyone to come here in half an hour."

A childish grin suddenly lights up his face and he rubs his hands together in excitement. "Meanwhile, I'm making waffles."

I falter in my steps to the hallway and I glance back at the ginger. "Did you just quote Donkey?"

"Did you hit your head, Blondie? Because I don't think donkey's talk." He gives me an odd look and I roll my eyes as I continue to Nate's room.

But it's his next words that make me hesitate from leaving the kitchen. "Actually Jaz may have already woken him up." I can tell my reaction must have been comically because he bursts into laughter. "I came here with her. I told her to stay with Nate because I needed privacy to talk to you. Oh," he puts on an innocent face, "did I not mention that? My bad."

The last thing I see is Jasper's smirk as I stride out of the kitchen.

**Quote: "One of the cruelest things a person can do is to awaken someone's love without the intention of truly loving them." ~Unknown**