"Is that Jasper?" Jezebel asks.
She points over to one the random stands that sells random stuff. He's at one that sells pocket knives.
"You're kidding me," I groan.
"Your family is a gene pool of beautiful," Claire says.
"If you'll excuse me, I have a brother to talk to."
I hand them my bags and walk over to Jasper.
"What are you doing here?" I hiss.
"Looking at pocket knives."
"Ha ha. Very funny."
"I'm just here to make sure you don't kill anyone."
"You have so much trust in me."
"I trust you immensely. I just don't want you being alone in a mall full of humans, and, if you haven't noticed, I'm keeping my distance."
"Well, I'll see you when I see you," I say.
I start to walk away, but Jasper holds me back.
"Don't go into Justice."
"Why?"
"Some guy tries to kill you."
"Thanks. We won't."
I walk back to Jezebel and Claire and Claire says, "I want to go by Justice. You guys want to?"
"Not really. Can we go to Books a Million?" I say.
"Alright. I need some new books," Jezebel says.
We still have to walk past Justice, but hopefully nothing happens.
As we walk past, a man comes out and points a gun at us.
"Freeze!" he says.
We drop our bags and put our hands up. Jezebel, Claire, and some people around us scream.
Jasper walks up to him and punches him in the face. He turns the gun on Jasper.
"You're gonna have to do a lot more than that to scare me," Jasper says.
He grabs the gun and twists it out of his hands. He punches the guy again, slams him down onto the ground, and pins his arms behind his back. The mall cops show up and take him away.
"Come on, girls. It's time to go home," Jasper says.
We pick up our bags and go outside. Claire calls her mom, who gets here in seven minutes.
"I can take Emma home, Ms. Jenny, but thank you," Jasper says when she offers to take me home.
We say good bye and they pull away.
"Did you ride your motorcycle?" I ask.
Jasper nods.
"Where are we gonna put my stuff?" I ask.
"We'll make it work. I just want to get you home and away from people."
He puts his hand on my back and pushes me towards where he parked his motorcycle.
"I'm fine. Really, Jasper, I am."
"Stop breathing."
"Why?"
"Just do."
A kid trips and scrapes her knees on the pavement. For scrapes, they bleed a lot.
"That's why. Now stop breathing," Jasper demands.
I do and Jasper shoves my clothes into the little storage space.
"Did you empty your bottle?" he asks.
I pick it up and slosh it around. Not empty. Jasper takes it and drinks it.
"I may have control, but I lose it when I'm on edge."
We get on the motorcycle and zip home.
As we walk in the door, Seth says, "You guys were'nt gone long."
"Seth, I'm sorry, but could you please leave? I can't take humans right now, no matter how much you stink," Jasper says.
"That's rude," I say.
"Would you rather me be rude or Seth be dead?"
"Sorry, Seth. I'll call you."
Seth leaves and kisses my forehead on the way out.