"Yes!"
Jasper rolls his eyes as Carlisle, Emmett and Edward cheer for the football team on TV. Emmett get's so excited that he jumps out of his seat. Jasper doesn't get what's so amazing, though. He and his Dad never wasted time in front of the television. Even after a hard day at work, Avery Whitlock would come home and take his kids outside. They would take walks around the property, ride the horses or four-wheeler. As Rosalie got older, she started to value the comfort of the inside over the dirt and heat. That didn't bother her brother, though. It just meant that Jasper had more time with his cherished father. Even on the hottest days, Jasper and Avery would spend time out side, and every twenty minutes or so, the duo would drench their heads with water from the hose to keep the heat under control before returning to whatever activity they were working on.
He looks out of the window and sighs. He would love to be outside now, but he's unsure if watching the football game is a mandatory activity for the guys on Sunday, and he's too tired to argue if Carlisle insists that he stays inside. Besides, it's snowing and Washington winters are Jasper's least favorite of the seasons. He would love to be back in Texas.
The front door opens and Rosalie comes inside with shopping bags on her arms. Kicking off her tennis shoes, she hurries into the living room to show Jasper her newly bought treasures. She spots his blond curls, rounds the couch and happily sets next to him.
"Look, Jasper!" She says and pushes her hand at him, showing off her new acrylic nails. Pink tips with a thin band of gold.
"That looks great, Rosie." Jasper tells her with a smile. He's happy she's back from her 'girl time' with Esme.
"Esme took me to the nail salon, Carlisle. Look!" Rosalie stands and moves from the right of Jasper to his left, filling the space Jasper purposely left between him and Carlisle. Jasper's face twists angrily when Rosalie sticks her hand out and Carlisle gently takes it like prince would take the hand of his princess.
"Looks wonderful, dear." He tells her with a smile.
"Can I see?" Emmett asks suddenly. Jasper rolls his eyes. Earlier he wasn't paying attention to anything but the game, but all of a sudden he's not that concerned about it. When Rosalie walks to the recliner where Emmett is sitting to show off her nails, Jasper spots Emmett's eyes examining things other than her nails.
"What else did you get, Rose?" Jasper asks to get his sister away from Emmett's prying eyes. She keeps smiling as she returns to the couch, unaware that Emmett's smile as he watches Rosalie's backside. Carlisle notices where Emmett's eyes are falling and how Jasper's face grows harsher. He clears his throat, but Emmett doesn't notice.
"Emmett, go get me another soda, please." Carlisle says with a harsh tone to grab his sons attention. Emmett jumps at the sound of his name, but stands and goes to the kitchen to the requested drink. Rosalie sets back down between Carlisle and Jasper. While she digs through the bags to show Jasper her new jeans, blouses and shoes, Carlisle listens to try to hear Esme moving about the house, but can't. He places his hand on Rosalie's shoulder. "Honey, where's Esme?"
"On our way home she realized she forgot to get milk, so she went to the dairy." Rose explains. Carlisle pulls his brow together.
"What?"
"We were only three blocks away from here when she realized it. So she dropped me off to go to the dairy." She repeats. Her guard goes up as the concern on Carlisle's face increases. Jasper's body tenses.
"So she's driving by herself?" Carlisle questions. Rose nods timidly. Huffing, Carlisle stands from the couch, pulls his phone from his pocket and dials Esme's cell phone number while hustling out of the room.
Jasper and Rosalie exchange questioning looks, concerned with Carlisle's reaction. Edward and Emmett, however, ignore it. Rosalie's mind runs wild with scenario that would justify this. Jasper is sure of what's going on. The only explanation is that Carlisle's a controlling ass. Most likely abusive in some way or another, too. And Emmett and Edward are just about useless with this. Even though Jasper was never close to his mother, if a man ever treated her like Carlisle must be treating Esme, he would be livid. With a huff, he makes a mental note to keep an extra close eye on Rosalie here.
"I can hear them arguing." Jasper mumbles to Rosalie as they look over their homework. Rosalie is actually working on hers. Jasper just has his spread out in front of him. He's too concerned about the muffled argument between Carlisle and Esme in their bedroom. The closed door in the living room that leads to Carlisle and Esme's room isn't enough to completely mute the disagreement.
"I know." Rosalie sighs, not taking her eyes off of her account book.
"How many times do I have to tell you? You can't do that!" Carlisle says angrily.
"It's not that big of a deal, Carlisle! I'm fine."
"But all it takes is one time!"
"I told you I don't like it here." Jasper says. "It was only a matter of time before we saw their tree colors."
"It's only one fight, though. And they're just talking. It doesn't sound like they're throwing things or anything."
"It's not yet. Come on. We're going upstairs." Jasper demands, shutting his book and shoving it in his backpack. Rosalie sighs, but does as Jasper tells her. Life with Maria taught her to stay as far away from any argument as possible. As they pack away their things, Rosalie tries to ignore the argument, while Jasper pays close attention.
"One of these days it will be a big deal! It's been a big deal! How many times will it take for you to just accept that?"
"You underestimate me, Carlisle, and you worry too much!"
The brother-sister duo head up the steps. Rosalie retires to her room to finish her home. After getting comfortable on the bed, she looks around the big empty room and for a moment, she thinks she actually misses sharing a room with four other people. Even if they were all annoying kids between the ages of ten and thirteen. Technically, it should have been five people she was sharing a room with, but she knew Jasper never stayed in the room all night. He would lay down until he thought everyone was asleep, then sneak away. He use to return back to his top bunk before any of the younger ones woke up, but during the last year that they were there, he just stopped coming in the room all together. He'd stay up later than the other and wake up earlier, but Rosalie knew what he was up too.
Jasper, on the other hand, envies Rosalie for having her own room. He never liked sharing a room at Maria's for the one year that he did stay in the bedroom. At least the younger kids respected him. Or feared him. Either way, he could make them shut up and listened to him. And he does miss Peter, the only other foster kid there that he liked. Peter's thirteen, but more mature than the others. And he never made a pass at Rosalie, which is more than Jasper can say about the other kids.
He enters his new room to see Edward lying on the bed on the right side of the room with his eyes closed and headphones on. He doesn't notice Jasper coming in. Jasper tosses his backpack, walks over to Edward and pushes his headphones off.
"What the hell are you doing?" Edward asks angrily, jumping away from Jasper.
"Does Carlisle and Esme always fight?" Jasper questions.
"No." Edward scowls. "And didn't I tell you to stay on your side of the room?"
"You don't have to be an asshole." Jasper mumbles before going back to his side of the room. He flops down on his bed, turns his back to Edward and shoves one pillow under his head and clenches the other in his arms. Sighing, he gets comfortable and ready to sleep, still in his jeans and hooded sweatshirt. And he really wishes Maria would respond to his text.
So what do you think? Please review and tell me!
