As Jasper made his way up the wooden steps, I slipped beside the staircase just out of sight of the poop deck. The familiar lively voice of Raven chirped from just over the banister seven feet over my head.

"How's it looking today?" I could hear the smile on his face. It seemed his own evolution made him happy as well.

"Main deck good, quarterdeck good, forecastle good, poop deck good, quarters good, dining hall great-" His voice was as flat as a board. "In fact, everything's just great." It obviously wasn't.

"Hey, mate what's wrong?" There was a sympathetic plea in Raven's voice. He really was adopting my advice.

The sound of violent skin to skin contact woke me from my daze. I dashed away from the wall to glance through the railing at the junior captain who stood stunned.

It seemed Jasper had slapped Raven's hand away.

"I know you dad asked Cal to marry you."

My stomach sank.

He heard.

Raven stood still for a moment, a paralysis spell cast over him even a gust of wind couldn't ruffle a hair on his head.

"Marry Cal?" He repeated uncertainly. The edges of his lips curled up as he watched Jasper frown.

"I would love to." He lifted his chin, a bad habit of his. "But what is it to you?"

Jasper was taken aback.

"What?" He cleared his throat as he struggled to regain his composure.

"Are you gay or something?" The two teenage boys locked eyes, but Jasper was in no mental state to take on that challenge.

"Of course not!" He stepped back, naturally settling into a defensive stance as he averted his eyes.

Raven lifted an eyebrow.

"So you feel nothing toward Cal, yes?" Raven's grin disappeared leaving just a greedy, almost evil gleam in his eye.

My face burned. I couldn't believe Raven would ask that! For some odd reason, I didn't want to hear the answer. I knew I couldn't handle it, but I was frozen in place, eyes glued to the scene above.

Jasper stuttered for an answer.

"I-... No! Yes? I mean-" Blood rushed to Jasper's cheeks as he seemed to resolve himself. "Yes."

He took a deep breath in and out in realization. "I think I am."

I released I hadn't realized I was holding. Gravity had suddenly ceased to exist as I felt my spirits lift. A breeze pushed my eyelashes up as I gasped. I placed my hands on my cheeks, a heater against the chill of a breeze I ceased feel.

Assuming the climax had come and went, I slumped to the floor in a daze, but the interaction was not yet over. My joy was short-lived.

"If that's what you think, you're not as close to her as you think."

*Author's Note*

He admits it! OOoo! But then Raven calls Cal a he to Jasper's face!? OOhhhhh! (why do I feel like I'm the only one excited...)

Tomorrow the story continues...