"Jasper, I brought you some soup." I sat the container of soup down on the counter and sat down my purse. Looking around Jasper's room I got a sense of panic. Things were strewn all over the floor, lying haphazardly around. Something on the couch caught my eye. Jasper's Cowboy's blanket was in a big heap, him underneath. He was lying on his stomach and his arm was slung over the side of the couch. I rushed to him. Shaking him I cried out his name. He wasn't moving. Not a bit.

I shot up from my pillow. Something's wrong with Jasper. Looking over at my clock I saw that it was just after midnight and I hadn't been asleep very long. Usually my dreams came later in the night, close to the morning. That realization only left me feeling more unsettled. I picked up my cell phone. I know it's late and I hated the thought of waking him but I needed to know that he is okay. I pulled up my call list and hit send once I selected the number that I saved this morning. After only one ring his voicemail picked up. I hung up without leaving a message.

I reached over to my nightstand and pulled a phonebook out of the top drawer. As soon as I located his hotel in the yellow pages I dialed. A lady at the front desk connected me to his room. The phone rang and rang until I was reconnected with the front desk. The lady asked if I wanted to leave a message but I declined. I wasn't going to leave a message and wait to see if he calls back, I had to see for myself that he was okay.

Hopping out of bed I threw on some clothes and rushed out to my car. I broke every speed limit between my place and the hotel. Thankfully I didn't get pulled over, although in my state of worry I don't know that I would have actually pulled over. I whipped my car into a spot at the hotel and tried to compose myself before entering. If Jasper wasn't answering the phone I doubt he'd answer the door. I was going to have to use my charm to get someone to help me out.

I pulled my shoulders back and walked in, digging through my purse as though I had misplaced something. I walked up to the front desk to the man standing at a computer. I was glad it wasn't a woman. The lady who answered the phone when I called would have surely been suspicious that the room that had just received a late night call was the same room that I asking to get a key for. I was surprised when I was handed a key without much question. Apparently being Jasper's sister and being locked out while he was out for the night was a believable story. After taking the elevator to his floor I made my way to his door.

I stopped for a moment and thought about how crazy I may look after all of this is said and done. Maybe Jasper isn't here, maybe he started feeling better and went out. Maybe he wasn't answering his phone for a reason, it is after midnight. No matter what thoughts ran through my head I couldn't shake the unsettled feeling I have had since waking up from my dream. I raised my hand and knocked. Listening, I didn't hear anything. I put the key card into the slot and ran it through. The red light blinked green and I put my hand on the knob. There was no going back now.

I entered Jasper's room. The lights were off but moonlight was filtering in through the window. I looked straight towards the couch. There was his blanket in a heap on the couch. Just as I knew he'd be, he was lying underneath it, arm hanging off the couch. I walked over to him, my heart almost beating out of chest.

"Jasper? Hey, Jasper?" I called his name quietly. He didn't move. I bent down by him. He was lying on his stomach, facing out. I could see his back rise and fall with each breath he took. I let out a sigh of relief. Looking at his face I noticed that he looked flush. I reached over to his forehead to move away a lock of his blonde hair that had fallen over one of his eyes. As my hand grazed his forehead I could feel the heat coming from him. He was burning up. I put my hand on his shoulder and shook him gently and called his name again.

"Wake up Jasper." He let out a groan and shifted on the couch. I shook him again. "Jasper." As I watched his face he squinted then opened his eyes. He looked puzzled.

"Alice? What in the world, what are you doing here?" He adjusted his body so that he was on his side. He started to push up on his elbow, then groaned and lay back down. For some reason, I saw you in a dream and panicked didn't seem like the right thing to say.

"I was worried about you. I called and you didn't pick up. I knocked. I'm sorry." He shook his head slightly.

"Don't apologize. Thanks for worrying about me." He pushed himself into a sitting position, swaying a little where he sat. I opened my mouth to say something but was caught off guard by him jumping from the couch and stumbling to his bathroom. I followed him as I heard him begin to retch. He was leaned over the toilet in his dark bathroom and was dry heaving. I went to him and knelt beside him, putting my hand on his back. As I began to rub small circles on his back he looked sideways so he could see me.

"Alice, you don't need to," another heave left his body, cutting him off. I continued to rub his back and shushed him quietly. After a few minutes his body let up on the retching and he turned around, leaning up against the toilet. He brought his knees up and put his arms over them, then rested his head on his arms.

I stood and went to the sink. The bathroom had a built in night light so I was able to find what I was looking for without turning on the light. I ran cool water over the washcloth I had found and wrung it out. I sat beside him once again and pressed the cool cloth against his temple. He let out a soft sigh then turned his head to look at me while he still rested on his arms. I moved the cloth across his forehead.

"Alice, really, you don't have to be in here." Again I shushed him.

"I don't have to be anywhere. I want to be here Jasper. You're really sick. You're burning up. Do you have any aspirin?" He pointed to a small bag on the bathroom counter. I got up again and riffled through the bag until I found a bottle of aspirin. I took out two pills and filled a small cup with water. I sat down beside him once again. He sat up and I handed him the water and pills. He took them and drank just enough water to wash them down. I am sure he was worried about retching again. He went back to his previous position with his head on his arms, closing his eyes. We sat there in silence while I continued to wipe his forehead with the wet cloth. After a few minutes opened his eyes and looked over at me.

"I think I'm going to be alright, the aspirin should stay down." He sat up and stretched his shoulders back a bit. The position he had been in couldn't have been very comfortable.

"Let's get you in bed. You need to sleep off this fever." He nodded and I stood. I put the washcloth on the side of the sink and held a hand out to him. He grabbed my hand and pulled himself up. He swayed back and forth on his feet. I reached over and wrapped my arm around his waist to steady him. Slowly we walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. The bed was crisply made, it didn't look slept in at all.

"You don't sleep in here?" He shook his head. We reached the bed and I let go of his hand to pull the covers back.

"Nah, I stay on the couch usually." He climbed up into the bed. I pulled the covers over him. I was suddenly at a loss as to what to do next. I wasn't about to leave him alone like this but I am sure he'd feel awkward if I hung around in his bedroom while he slept. I looked at the door that led to the living room. I guess I could hang out in there while he slept. I turned to walk out and he reached out to take my hand.

"Hey, would you mind staying here with me for awhile?" I smiled at his request and nodded. It was as if he read my mind. I wanted nothing more than to stay with him and make sure that he was okay. He patted the bed beside him and I climbed up. I stayed sitting, I wasn't about to assume that just because he wanted my company he wanted me to lay with him. In the moonlight coming from the window I was able to see him smile. He was already closing his eyes as he turned onto his side with his back to me. I put my hand on his back and went back to rubbing small circles across it.

"Thanks darlin'."

********

I could feel sunlight hitting the back of my eyelids. It was so bright in here. My window faced the west so it isn't usually this sunny in the morning. Wondering what has my room glowing I stretched and opened my eyes. Where were my yellow walls? I looked down to see a white comforter covering me instead of my yellow and white striped one. Suddenly I remembered last night, taking care of Jasper. I remembered sitting up on his bed and rubbing his back while he fell asleep. Surely I'm not, I didn't, what if I'm….. I slowly turned my head to the right so I could look over my shoulder. Sure enough, my eyes were met with wild blond curls spread across a white pillow. Jasper was still asleep, on his back with his left arm across his face. I quickly pulled the comforter over my head. What was I thinking? When did I even lay back and fall asleep? I even got under the covers. If that didn't say crazy stalker woman who conned her way into your room and your bed I don't know what does. What is he going to think of me now? I slowly pulled the comforter off of me and turned to get out of bed. I felt the bed shift beside me.

"Good morning." I was busted. I didn't turn around to look at him. I just froze in my sitting position with my back to him.

"Jasper, I am sorry. I didn't mean to stay all night." I hung my head. I can't believe that after meeting what seemed like the perfect man I blew it within 48 hours. I felt him shift again beside me.

"Alice, you showed up to take care of me out of nowhere last night. No apologies are needed. When I got up to go to the bathroom last night and saw you asleep beside me I couldn't believe that you stayed. I tried my best not to wake you when I pulled the comforter up over you, it was chilly in here. I should not have presumed that you wanted to stay. I'm sorry." He covered me up? He wasn't mad that I stayed? And now he was apologizing. He was ever the gentleman. I turned to look at him.

"You don't need to apologize for anything. I just didn't want to look like the crazy lady who snuck into your room and then your bed last night." He laughed, his eyes crinkling in the corners.

"You aren't a crazy lady. You were worried about me. Besides, I invited you into my bed, remember?" He did have a point. I had to laugh. I turned the rest of the way so that I was back on the bed and sat Indian style. I looked him over. His face wasn't as flush as it had been. He looked a little tired but not as sullen as he had on the couch last night. He had changed clothes since I had been asleep. Before, he'd been in an undershirt and jeans. Now he had on a gray t-shirt and baggy navy blue sweat pants. His arms were tan and muscular. He spoke again, drawing my eyes from his arms to his face.

"I guess inviting you into my bed the day after we met takes away my gentleman status huh?" He winked at me. I felt my face light up as I smiled.

"I think you're still good, you were sick and we didn't do anything. You're still a gentleman." He wiped his forehead and let out a fake sigh of relief. I laughed. "You must be feeling better." He ran his hands through his hair as he nodded and shrugged his shoulder at the same time.

"I am not getting sick anymore but I still feel like I got run over by a mac truck."

"Yeah, after a stomach bug I always feel like sleeping for days." He nodded again.

"Yep, that's pretty much how I feel." He fell back on his pillow and yawned. I stood up from the bed.

"Why don't you nap and I will make some breakfast. Have you eaten anything yet?" He made a face at the mention of breakfast.

"I don't know if I can deal with the smell of breakfast being cooked Alice. Would you mind just ordering some room service? I'm going to start small, just order me some toast please." I headed towards the living room to use the phone.

"Room service is fine." I glanced back at him and saw that he was already falling asleep.

I called for room service, ordering his toast and ordering myself some fruit and yogurt, as well as a cappuccino. I also requested a complimentary toothbrush be sent up. I was planning to hang around with Jasper for a while but I didn't want to hang around with morning breath.

I looked down at my outfit. In my haste last night I threw on a gray capri sweats and a double layered tank top that was white underneath and pink on top. It didn't look too bad, it'd do for hanging out. After my toothbrush was brought up I used Jasper's bathroom to freshen up. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. I pulled a compact out of my purse and put on a little powder to cover up any freshly cleaned shine. I love to wear make up but I'm thankful that I can get away without it. I don't want to be one of those girls who have to take the whole caboodle with her. Powder and lip gloss will do for me anytime. I ran my fingers through my hair to spike it out a little. I keep my dark brown hair jaw length with choppy layers. I love the simple upkeep. I'm sure that people who don't really know me wouldn't believe that I can be quite low maintenance when I want to be.