empathy

SIX

Jasper breathes a gentle kiss on the back of Anastasia's neck before leaning his chin back on her shoulder, watching the game she is currently playing with Peter.

Peter and she have been competing all day, rivalling each other in whatever they can find. They played board games in the morning, finding a fascination with Dominion and Ticket to Ride. Then they went over to quizzes about literally everything, books, nature, history, general knowledge, you name it. 

Charlotte and Jasper were out getting blood bags. So, when they came back during a round of Uno, it was already too late and they've just been sitting by amused ever since. A few minutes ago, they switched to digital games, currently buys playing a round of Mario Cart. 

Anastasia is winning and Peter is not liking it at all.

"Yes!" Anastasia cheers, throwing her hands in the air, finally turning her attention to Jasper, who's been nagging her for quite some time now. Well, he is honestly just a little desperate for attention today. 

Smiling, she pecks his lips and leans back into his chest, grinning victoriously at Peter, who is straight out glaring at her. If it weren't for Jasper next to her, he would've attacked her. Then again, with her newborn strength, she has beaten him a few times before already. 

Today was a very emotional day for them. 

"You guys finished now?" he asks her, his voice uncharacteristically soft as he basically whispers in her ear.

Once again glancing over her shoulder, after finally tearing her eyes away from a sulking Peter, Anastasia's expression softens and she nods slightly, her head shelling to look after him when he speeds up, holding his hand out for her to take. 

He really can't stand to be around Peter and Charlotte for another minute. And he isn't even sure why not. He's just... needy. 

"I brought you some books," Jasper informs her as they make their way upstairs, where his master bedroom is located. "You did?"

"Hm, "the son" and "lonesome dove"." "I've never heard of either of those."

Handing her the bag he brought up earlier, she simply gets one of those books and lays down on his bed, Jasper following after her after getting a book of his own. Seeing as Anastasia is laying on her stomach, he lays down with his head on her back, holding the book up to read it.  

It might not be the most comfortable position, but it's a position he feels rather comfortable in.

The two of them spend a whole two hours just laying in silence to read their books, content with the silence and not needing words to communicate.

It's only when he finishes his book that he cuts through the silence, their voices still hushed as he starts a conversation - after making sure she finished her chapter.

At some point, Anastasia turned around, her fingers playing with his hair as his head is laid comfortably just under her chest. One of his hands is between her legs, squeezing her thigh tightly and his other hand is holding one of hers, their fingers mindlessly dancing against each other, unable to rest in peace.

"I'm really glad you like them," he eventually means, hinting at his friends. "And I don't think I've ever been prouder than when you beat his ass. He deserved it," he adds with a smirk when she just hums in reply.

Grinning, a small chuckle escapes her lips as she turns her head slightly to look down at him, her mind going back to the whole reason they started these games today.

Laying on Jasper's bed, rather unbothered by everything, Anastasia stares at the door, waiting for Jasper to come back.

She doesn't want to go downstairs or leave her room at all. Because outside of here is where Peter is and truth be told, she isn't a big fan of him. Sure, he seems nice, loyal and like a really good friend to Jasper and at first, she actually thought him to be rather nice herself.

But really, she has seriously grown to dislike him over the last few days, successfully keeping it from Jasper, who was really happy to not see them fighting.

But, Jasper isn't here and she's alone with Peter.

Frowning when she hears him get closer to the room, she prays he walks past it but is deemed unlucky when he opens the door to lean against its frame, grinning down at her.

He, too, isn't a fan of her. Though, it's mostly founded in her rather obvious distaste towards him.

"So, whut's chur problem with may, girlie?" "Well, one, you call me girlie and you just talk funny," she offers a sarcastic smile, which looks rather funny in the position she's in.

"Rude. Now, why?"

"I don't know, I just don't, I guess. But there is your cockiness. And the way you need to comment on everything, about everyone," she shrugs, which once again looks rather amusing. "And not to forget that ego that's probably higher than the empire state building itself. Unjustified, might I add."

"Honey, it's not mah ego. It's uh fact an it shorely isn't unjustified," he counters offended.

"I'm sure it is," she scoffs. "Wanna bet?"

"He sure did," she shakes the memory off.