"So uh... what exactly is this about?"

I scanned the group of people to make sure everyone was present. Ahren and I had gathered all of the permanent residents to discuss the subject Ahren had brought up with me last night: finding settlements. 

Everyone was present.

Ahren started talking first. "Sasha and I wanted to get all of the permanent residents together to discuss a few things." 

I nod. The list of things I wanted to bring up consisted of: Searching for settlements, who goes, who stays, who's in charge, and whatever else I deemed necessary throughout the conversation.

Ahren and I stood up in front of the other residents who'd gathered and sat around a table.

"It's been brought to my attention that we need help. The city only has a limited amount of supplies, there are other more dangerous groups around in this world, and so far we've been lucky to make it the way we have. However, if we want to continue to make it then we need to find others like us." I explained the basics of what Ahren and I had discussed.

Nobody bothered with questions so Ahren continued.

"There have to be other people, good people, set up like we are and we need to find them. We need to open doors and start trade. We can't be on our own anymore."

"What are you proposing we do?" Jasper is the first to bring up the question.

Ahren sighs and looks to me asking which of us is going to explain. I choose to take over. 

"We want to send a group of people out to look for other settlements. Ahren has offered to lead this group but it can't just be him out there."

I notice Frankie's lips are pressed into a thin line as she listens to us. 

"How many people do you want?" Frankie asks, not making eye contact with either of us.

Ahren shrugs. "However many will come."

"So while this group of people is off on their search, who's staying behind and in charge of this place?"

My turn. I think to myself.

Last night as I lay next to Jasper I'd gone over it in my head a million times whether or not I would stay or go. Ultimately, I knew I had to stay behind and lead my place, my people. I couldn't put somebody else in charge, it had to be me.

"I will be staying here." I answer.

Jasper seems to take a quick breath of relief.

"Do I have any volunteers to go with me?" Ahren asks, eyes scanning the group.

"I'm sure as hell not letting you go by yourself," Frankie says as she taps her fingers on the table. "I'll go with."

Ahren smiles. "That's my girl. Anybody else?"

Jeanine raises her hand. "I'll go."

Perfect. This was working better than I'd imagined... I wasn't all too sure about how willing people would be.

Vega slowly raised his hand. "I'll go..."

Luna seemed to have a look of horror and disbelief on her face as she watched her younger brother raise his hand but she stayed quiet. 

"You sure?" Ahren questioned as he looked nervously to the second youngest resident, first being Ahri.

He nodded. "Yeah, I want to help."

Ahren nodded. "Alright, that's four of us. Any others?"

My eyes landed on Jasper who'd been staring at me. He was biting his lip as if contemplating something. He wanted to go, I could see it in his eyes but something was stopping him and I thought I knew what it was. It was me, wasn't it? Ever since I'd been shot he hardly left my side and now he had a reason to but he didn't seem to be able to make himself.

"Looks like it's just the four of us." Ahren said as he looked around the group, then to me. "When are we doing this?" He asked.

I sighed. We needed to start the search as soon as possible... we had no idea how long this group would be gone or how long it would take them to find others.

"You'll leave tomorrow morning. We need to start as soon as we can. We'll get ready today."

Ahren nodded in agreement. "Sounds like we have a plan."

"Ahren will lead the packing so if you're going, meet up with him to start getting ready. I've got to do my rounds but I'll be around, find me if you need something."

With that, the group dispersed and I found my way to Jasper.

His arms were crossed over his chest when I tapped him.

He turned to face me, his face lighting up when he saw it was me. I loved that. The way he smiled when he saw me or the way he just seems to instantly be happy around me. 

"I know you want to go."

He shakes his head. "No, I want to stay here. With you."

"That might be true but you also want to go."

He couldn't deny the truth. He was having an argument with himself and right now the side cheering for me was winning.

"I can't just leave you here, you're still recovering. If I'm gone, who's going to make sure you don't get hurt, huh?" Jasper explains himself.

"I can take care of myself, you know that. You've seen it." I remind him, tapping his arm playfully.

He chuckles. "I know, but I worry. You're still recovering, remember?"

I roll my eyes. "I brawled it out with multiple people a few days ago, I think I'm recovered enough."

Jasper sighs. "I'd still feel better being here to make sure you're okay..." He uncrosses his arms, grabbing my hands.

"I'd feel better if you were with Ahren so I knew he was safe." I tell him as I dance my fingers along one of his arms.

It was an oddly cute moment we were having but it was just natural... suddenly we were being cutesy and we hadn't even discussed our 'almost kiss'.

"If I'm gone, who's gonna watch over you? Who's gonna protect you?"

"If I'm not allowed to protect myself, then I've got Ahri, Luna, and Fletch."

I noticed Jasper's disposition change at the mention of Fletch.

"What was that about?" I question, catching his change of behavior.

He shrugs it off. "It's nothing."

"It's clearly something,"

Jasper just shakes his head and changes the subject. "You really want me to go?"

"I know you want to go."

"But I want you to be safe..." He argues again.

"I will be, I want Ahren safe and you being there will assure me that he is."

Jasper finally nods. "Okay, I'll go."

"Good, go let Ahren know. I'm gonna go do my rounds, but later we still need to talk about what happened..."

He nods in agreement. "I'll find you later." He says before walking off to find Ahren.

As I make my way towards the common area to check in on things, I can't help but think about Jasper's reaction to me saying Fletch's name. He refused to answer then changed the subject. Why?

Was there something going on that I wasn't aware of? Fletch and I hadn't really had any sort of moments that should concern Jasper in any sense... had we? No, we hadn't.

I clearly didn't know the answer so there was no point in badgering myself about it.