Author Notes: Hey, I'm back with a new chapter. I have bad news; my co-writer, wumblebum arts, has recently gotten sick and has to take a hiatus from writing to focus on his health. This means that all of the stories we are working on are put on hold. wumblebum arts finished this chapter, but until he tells me that he is better right now, our stories are on hold for a while.

As the front door closed behind Sara upon arriving home, she glanced around the apartment quickly to ensure her mother wasn't home. She couldn't see any signs of her nor hear any movement that would indicate she was around.

A sigh of relief passed her lips, and Sara leaned back against the door. It had been an incredibly long day with a lot of emotional ups and downs, to say the least. After sitting down and talking with Eva, though, it was clear that things were starting to get better.

It wasn't that Lisa wasn't allowed here anymore - they were still living together, of course, but Sara's feelings about her mother had gotten very difficult. She avoided her as much as she possibly could. Luckily, her modeling work kept her busy enough most days that she didn't need to see her. Every time they interacted, she felt her stomach churn a little bit, every encounter with her mother exhausting her emotionally with awkwardness as she held in the contempt she was feeling on behalf of her sister.

And how else was Sara supposed to feel? Lisa had been terrible to Selena to the point where she had ended up addicted to hard drugs and missing, and she walked around acting as if life was perfect just because Sara was making a lot of money. It made her feel like all her mother really saw in her was a family workhorse, and if she weren't as successful as she currently was, she'd be the next target of Lisa's ire.

Sara'd figure out what to do with her mother eventually. For now, their mother-daughter relationship would remain in this odd purgatory between what it could have been and what it might inevitably become.

A part of Sara wanted to give her another chance, but how many chances would it take for Lisa to truly change? Hell, she wasn't even sure if there was any way her mother could change after so many years of acting and thinking the same way. Eventually, a drastic decision would be on Sara's plate, and she wasn't looking forward to it.

Sara didn't want to think about it anymore. After meeting a woman like Eva, a woman with real compassion and love for children, she couldn't spend too much time thinking about her mother, or she might risk bringing her mood back down to its darkest pits.

What mattered right now was that Sara had the apartment to herself, and she was going to take this opportunity to rest and relax without the awkward tension her mother brought into the picture.

Sara eventually walked into the front room, sinking down onto the couch and feeling her legs fully relax.

The day had been long and unusual, and a thought popped into Sara's head as she sat there recuperating.

Maybe Jasper would be down to spend some time with her.

At one point, Sara had considered dating Jasper. When they had first met, they'd swapped numbers, and then Sara had stolen her phone, and she briefly lost contact with him. She remembered getting very angry with Selena for 'ruining' her chances with a new guy, but they kept running into each other at work anyway. It never really mattered because, after a couple of weeks, they had decided they worked best as close friends.

They'd gotten especially close lately because Sara wasn't the only one dealing with a relative who struggled with drugs - Jasper's cousin had only recently begun recovery, and he had confided in her throughout the guy's rehab stint. His whole family had come together to show support, and it had all been quite beautiful to see, even from the sidelines.

Jasper knew what it felt like to support a loved one in their journey upward from rock bottom, and perhaps he might be the ideal person to talk to right now if he had the energy for it.

Sara texted Jasper since they'd been meaning to hang out sometime soon. He replied within a couple of minutes, letting her know he'd love to spend the evening chilling at her place. They quickly worked out the details, and she ordered a takeout from one of their favorite local cafes. After picking out their usual favorites, everything was underway.

Jasper arrived just in time - their snacks and drinks had just been dropped off, and as they traded hugs and greetings, they made their way to the couch to dig through the large paper bags.

"I can't wait to catch up on everything, Sara - you're in a really good mood today!" Jasper smiled widely at her as he cracked open his favorite iced tea.

Sara beamed right back. "I met the most wonderful person today - someone selfless and lovely who really gave me hope."

"Oh yeah? Tell me more!" said Jasper.

As they tucked into their snack bowls, the conversation flowed easily. As strict as their diets could be when working in this particular industry, the few healthier options they could find were always a respite.

"Well… I was totally on the verge of giving up, crying all by myself, when I met Eva. She's this lovely older lady who has some experience with this type of family struggle." Sara explained, a warmth in her eyes as she remembered that afternoon. "She owns this cafe, and she sat me down and helped me out. She's gonna help me track Selena down in any way she can!"

Jasper clearly enjoyed seeing his friend so elated after weeks of seeing her scramble helplessly, mostly on her own.

"That's amazing! I can tell she's helped you out a lot already." Jasper took a long swig of his iced tea. "Sounds like a really kind person to extend a helping hand to a total stranger."

"Mmhmm… I can't even say how long it's been since I met someone that, well, warm." Sara said.

Jasper took a moment to consider what she'd told him so far as he realized something. His eyes widened slightly, and his smile broadened. He ran a hand over his short, dark hair.

"You know… Considering your situation, I can imagine meeting a more positive older role model is refreshing. I mean, your mother hasn't been filling that gap from what you've told me. Not to be too hard on her, but still…" Jasper said.

Sara shook her head. "No, you're right. I think that I was getting too used to my mother's behavior and… I forgot just how kind people can be when they allow themselves to be a little more vulnerable. I think that Eva helped me to see that. Seeing and hearing some real sympathy for Selena and me from an older figure like Eva? It really helped lift the weight."

"And to think, you just met her while you were at your worst and crying?" Jasper said.

"Uh-huh." Sara sighed with a kind of relief and wistfulness. "She just… She approached me and insisted that she had been young once, crying all alone and how she wished someone had been there to help her. It hit me pretty deep when she said that, too."

"So she was pretty much being the change she wanted to see in the world? Nice." Jasper was thrilled to hear all this. "You know, with every person you get involved, things will get easier for you and Selena. My whole family chipped in to help my cousin when he was at rock bottom, and he always mentions how grateful he is for that."

"Oh yeah? How's he doing lately, anyways?" Sara tucked into her snack bowl, giving Jasper a moment to catch her up on his family situation.

"Much better, actually! He has his rough days with mental health, and the cravings come back when that happens. He told me he thinks about drugs almost every day. It must be really hard, having it on your mind like that. Still, he's staying strong. His recovery has been a little bumpy, but he's making leaps now."

"That's amazing… I mean, when the intervention happened, there was no telling how things would go. You must be so proud of him!" Sara said.

"Oh, I totally am. Plus, seeing him work on himself and get better and healthier every day is giving me more hope for you and your sister." Jasper paused for a moment. "You know… Some days, it feels like the world is so cruel you can forget just how life-saving it can be to have your community there with you, cheering you on. It's things like this that remind me how wonderful people can be. I mean, my cousin was involved with some of the worst dealers in town. Now, he's finally surrounded with the people who love him again."

Sara turned her head at the mention of his cousin's involvement with the local dealers. That certainly rang a bell for her.

"Say… Have you ever heard from him about someone named Wade? Asked Sara. It's a long shot, but one of Selena's friends mentioned this guy who might be a lead on where to find her."

Jasper considered the name for a moment, his eyes briefly narrowing. "That name does ring a bell… I think he was supplied by someone named Wade at some point."

"Really?" Sara leaned in a bit closer.

"Yeah. Now that I think about it, when I was helping him block all those numbers on his phone, one of them was called Wade." Jasper said.

Sara's eyes widened. "No way. Do you think it's the same guy? Is the same guy messing with your cousin and my sister? How many lives do you think he's ruined… This Wade character…"

"Possibly. I mean, from what I've heard about guys like that… They stop caring who they hurt. It's complicated because they're doing it to support themselves. Still, after a while, it stops being just about that. After a while, it becomes about making as much money as they can, no matter how many people they hurt." Jasper said.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." Sara sighed. "It's a shame that there are people out there who end up thinking that way."

Jasper sheepishly rubbed at the back of his neck. "I think that's just what the drug trade does to people. It ruins the lives of the addicts, but it also takes away a lot of humanity from the people who get involved in selling it. It ruins their minds, too."

"That's pretty bleak." Sara stared back at him, astonished by what he was saying. "Still, I can imagine your cousin probably told you a whole lot of stories that taught you this, huh?"

"Yeah. Once you've heard the kinds of things people like him have seen, you realize just how destructive that whole criminal underworld is for everyone involved. It's an awful business." Jasper shook his head, then turned to Sara again. "I'm gonna ask him the next time I see him. I'll ask him to tell me more about Wade."

"You sure? I mean, only if he's comfortable saying it…" Sara glanced nervously away, not wanting to put any unnecessary burdens on a guy who was already going through so much.

Jasper put a hand on her shoulder. "I'll make sure to approach him gently about it. He'll be okay. Besides, when I let him know what's at stake, he'll probably be more than happy to help. He would understand better than anyone how badly we need to get hold of Selena before things get too dangerous. I think he'd be more than happy to help out somebody who's suffering the same nightmare that he did."

"Oh, that would be great." Sara started to relax again, that hope behind her eyes glimmering once more. "Anything that could bring me closer to Selena…"

"Hell, he might even be able to remember where the guy operates! If we can find that out, then finding Selena will become much, much easier. I'll talk to him soon, and I'll let you know what he's able to remember." Jasper said.

Sara smiled widely, beaming with joy as she leaned in to give him a gentle hug around the shoulders. Jasper smiled back, leaning into her hug and patting her on the back. They shared the moment for a while, just enjoying the hope they were sharing together.

"Jasper, you're the best. Thanks so much for being here for me. Honestly, I couldn't ask for a better friend."

"Oh, come on… What kinda guy would I be if I didn't help a friend in need?" Jasper said.

The two of them finished their snacks, swapping stories about what was going on in their working lives and enjoying the joyful mood they were sharing that evening. Sara rarely got to spend an evening at home, relaxed and happy in this way. Of course, her mother would be back home by tomorrow, so she'd just have to make the most of it for now. They shared a big, friendly hug before Jasper headed off home. Tomorrow was going to be another tough day, but Sara felt ready to take it on.

The next morning, Sara awoke with a spirited and lively sense of energy she hadn't felt in a long time. After far too much time spent languishing and hitting dead ends in her pursuit of closure for her sister, she was finally getting somewhere. Not only that, but it felt incredible to have such a supportive older role model in her life.

Sara'd never given it much conscious thought, but it was starting to dawn on her just how exhausting everything had been so far. In hindsight, growing up with the kind of mother she had, it was no wonder that things hadn't turned out well so far. Eva had been like a breath of fresh air. It felt as if a hole in her life she never even knew existed was slowly being filled.

Not to mention, if Eva could come out of such a rough situation and become the person she is today… Selena might make it, too. There was hope for a future where Selena could finally thrive if only she could finally feel loved and cared for.

Sara was more determined than ever to help her get there.

Once she'd gotten through her morning routine and grabbed herself some coffee, she checked her phone.

A text from Jasper.

Jasper would see his cousin later today and would try to find a good moment to ask him about that guy Sara was looking for.

Sara felt a little smile tug at her lips as she gripped her coffee mug and quickly wrote back, thanking him.

But there wasn't much time left to sit around - Sara had a shoot today. She texted Maria quickly, letting her know she was hot on Wade's trail. Then she knocked back the rest of her coffee with a satisfied sigh and started preparing herself for yet another long and busy day.

Author Notes: I really hope that you enjoyed this chapter; I really love Jasper as a character and his friendship with Sara. This character was developed by me and wumblebum arts. I thought of Jasper when I rewatched My Sister Is Jealous Because I Am Prettier Than Her; I got to the scene where Selena stole Sara's phone and sold it just as Sara got the number of a boy she wanted to date, and that was breaking point for Sara to give up on Selena. Then I thought, what if Sara had met up with this boy again, and they became friends even though they didn't end up together? I thought that would add extra drama to the story where Sara realized how meaningless her kicking out her sister was when she easily got back in contact with the boy she liked, and I thought they were likely to be able to meet again at her workplace. To Sara's credit, she was under a lot of stress taking care of her sister, and she did not know how to help her, and it implied that her mother was subtly manipulating Sarah into abandoning Selena. I thought I would at least make the boy who I named Jasper be Sara's friend because she needed to win. Then I and wumblebum arts discussed ways that Sara could find her sister, and wumblebum arts suggested that we use Jasper, so the idea of giving Jasper a bigger role in the story was born. I have it that Jasper's cousin was also a drug addict, and his family supported for his cousin, allowing the cousin to recover, and the cousin, having previously known Wade gave Sara a lead into finding her sister.

I really hope you enjoyed this chapter.