Malia

I know Jasper is right. I can't go in there all moody and ruin Blair's birthday weekend. So I take a deep breath and push it all to the back of my mind.

Just like always, I force a smile and walk through the door.

"Malia!" Blair screams.

"Blair!" I mock back.

"It took you dorks long enough. What did you do, stop for sex along the way? Tell me you didn't. I'll kill you both."

Jesus Blair.

"Seriously?" I question. I can only hope I'm not blushing from her statement.

"Nah. I'm just joshin' ya." Blair punches me on the arm and grabs my bag, skipping up the stairs.

"What's on the ultimate birthday weekend agenda?" I ask, following her up.

"First, I thought we could do our nails and toes while we toss around funny stories." Blair says.

My stomach clenches in panic.

I don't have a single funny story. My stories are more tragic than anything.

"Sure thing B." I say, falling onto her bed with a loud sigh. "Did I ever tell you I love your bed?"

Much softer than mine.

"Yeah yeah. Get up lazy bones."

I sit up and watch as she pulls out a container full of nail polishes and starts to arrange them on the floor.

"Should I go with pink or blue this time?" She asks, looking up at me.

"That depends, is it a boy or a girl?" I stifle the laugh as she glares at me.

"Hardy har har. So funny." Blair rolls her eyes and picks a blue polish up, examining it and tossing it down to pick up a pink.

I take my seat beside her on the floor and examine the colors. This one polish sticks out to me like a sore thumb. It's the color of Jasper's eyes and I know it's the one.

Mindlessly, I begin to paint my toes first. Blair does the same.

"So where's this funny story you promised me?" I say, looking up at her.

"Okay, so last week, I kinda walked in on something. Momma was screaming at me to go get Jasper and tell him that it was time for dinner. I didn't see why she couldn't just yell up at him, but whatever. After arguing for a solid ten minutes, I finally gave in and went up."

This was starting to sound kind of ominous.

"When I got to Jasper's door, I heard these weird noises. I thought maybe he was having a seizure or something. I mean, it kind of sounded like he was choking on something. I should have known, because there was also like a knocking noise in the background. God, this is so embarrassing." Blairs face is red as hell and I look at her with wide eyes, knowing exactly what is coming next.

"So I throw open the door, and there Jasper is, hand around his dick pumping it madly as his hips thrust into his fucking hand. I'm so damn shocked that all I can do is stand there for a moment just staring. Then he notices me. Malia, I thought I was gonna die. Jasper started screaming really loudly for me to get out, but I was still just standing there frozen and unable to speak or move. Finally, he had to wrap a sheet around himself and come push me out the door."

If I had walked in on that, I would probably stand there frozen too.

"Holy shit." I say, trying not to laugh at how freaked out she looks right now. "How is this funny though?"

Blair looks at me like I'm stupid.

"Jasper was jacking off Malia. And not just rubbing one out, I mean he was all into that shit and basically fucking his hand. It's fucking hilarious." She bursts into giggles, swiping paint across her big toe and then quickly wiping it off.

"Guys jack off all the time B. It's not really that funny. It's kinda hot."

Blair looks at me with super wide eyes and her mouth drops open.

"Don't you dare even go there. Jas is off limits Malia."

It's a little too late for that.

My phone pings and I glance quickly at it. Speak of the devil... It's a text reassuring me of his earlier words.

I know Jas. I know. If only I could talk to you about it.

I smile and tuck it back in my pocket. Blair frowns, and grabs my arm forcefully. It kind of hurts.

"Since when does Jas have your number? Are you secretly dating my brother?" She's dead serious.

If looks could kill... I'd be dead as a doornail right now.

"Chill. He has my number because he picks me up every time I come over here. It's just to let me know when he is on the way and stuff. Just now was the first time he has ever said anything to me outside of that." It's starting to get on my nerves how much she is against it. Jasper can certainly be my friend too. She just needs to get over it.

"Why is he telling you he's here for you? What the hell is going on that you can't talk to me about?"

Blair and her damn questions. She's gonna be the death of me some day.

"I just had kind of a bad day. I was moody when he picked me up so he said he was here if I needed to talk. It's fine B. I instantly felt better when I got here to hang with you. Trust me, nothing is going on with Jas. In fact, he's on a date with some girl right now."

Blair relaxes and gives me a small smile.

"Cami. I forgot about her. I'm sorry. I just don't want my brother stealing my best friend. I'd die without you, ya know?"

I place a hand over my heart and mock like it's the sweetest thing anything has ever said to me. It's definitely sweeter than my mom's latest conquest propositioning me for a blow job last night.

Fucking filthy ass men.

"I feel the same B. Hug it out?"

Blair nods and jumps across the pile of nail polish, attacking me with her bear hug. I sink into her arms and thank my lucky stars that I have someone like her to make everything else seem so trivial.

*

An hour later, our nails are done and we've gossiped about everything under the sun. She still hasn't brought up meeting her birth parents, even though it's been two months. I feel kind of like maybe she doesn't trust me after all. It makes my stomach sink in despair.

I excuse myself to the bathroom and just as I close the door, my phone pings. It's Jasper and something is up.

I quickly fire back a text and wait for another.

Keep the parents busy?

I can't help but smile at the fact his date went south and now he wants to talk to me. I walk down the hallway, peeking into Blairs room.

"Hey I'm gonna step outside and make a phone call to my mom okay?" I lie. If she knew what I was really doing she would be pissed.

"Mhmm." She mutters.

Blair is on her room phone, probably talking to some guy so I have a bit of time.

I run down the stairs, gathering both Brenda and Janet's attention and firing off another text to Jas that the coast was clear.

"So I was thinking, what if we set up a dance floor in the backyard for Blair and Jasper's party. You know Blair, always wanting something epic, it could potentially be the most epic party ever." I lead them towards the back door and step out on the porch to point at the yard. "Right here. Can you imagine it? Strobe lights and music and dancing. I think that Blair would love that."

I hear the front door shut and I know he's made it inside.

"That's a great idea Malia. Thanks." Brenda says.

"Don't tell her about it. It should be a surprise." Janet says.

I salute them and rush back up the stairs. Blair is still on the phone.

I push open Jasper's door and stare at him with wide eyes. He's half naked, his shirt in a lump on the floor. He is facing away from me and the muscles in his back are tight and tense.

I clear my throat, and he turns around to smile at me. I noticed blood on his chest and immediately I shut the door and walk over to him.

"Did you get into a fight?" I ask.

"No."

"Why are you bleeding?"

"I'm not."

I reach up and swipe at the blood.

"What's this then?" I shove it in his face and wipe it back on him.

"That would be Cami's blood." His mouth is pressed into a hard line and I swear I just want to fucking kiss it until he smiles again.

"Did you kill her or something?" I ask.

Jasper sighs loudly, and wipes at his chest with a washcloth. When he is satisfied that it's clean he flops back on his bed. He rolls onto his side and pats the space beside him.

I hesitate, then perch on the edge gently.

"Malia, I don't bite. Please come here. I need this." His voice is strained and I know that he isn't playing.

I lean back on the bed and turn to face him, laying on my side.

"Promise you won't laugh at me?" He asks.

I nod.

"I went to kiss her and I busted her fucking nose."

I can't help it. I immediately start to laugh. Jasper hits me with a pillow and scoffs.

"You promised." He says, but there's a tinge of a smile playing on his lips.

"I'm sorry, I tried. It's just so funny."

Jasper sighs again, his eyes searching mine.

"I wish that were all. I guess she tried to fix it and leaned in to kiss me instead, well somehow her lip got busted too. I'm so fucking embarrassed Malia. Nothing like that has ever happened before. What if she doesn't wanna see me again?" He sounds like he's having a mental breakdown. His voice is panicked and I almost feel bad.

I hope she doesn't.

"Well if she doesn't, then she isn't the right girl for you." I say.

She isn't. I am. It's me, right here. Don't you see me?

Jasper sighs again, rolling to his back and staring at the ceiling. It's quiet for several moments. I take this opportunity to stare at his bare chest. The ridges and planes of his muscles call to me. I want to just lean down and kiss all over them so badly.

My eyes linger on the pronounced V that runs down into his pants. He's so incredibly sexy I fall for him all over again.

"Are you ever gonna tell me what's bothering you? I can still see it there beneath the surface."

"I swear Jas, I'm okay. I think you're seeing things that aren't there. You're too wrapped up in what's bothering you that you think something's bothering me."

I take a breath, and roll to my back to stare up at the ceiling with him. He has these little glow in the dark stars splattered all across the ceiling, so it sort of looks like a planetarium.

"That's one hell of a tongue twister Malia." Jasper says softly.

He's so close to me I can feel his chest rising and falling with each breath. Our arms are pressed up against each other and his hand finds mine on the bed and gives it a quick squeeze.

"You should probably get back to B before she notices you are missing and sends out a search party. If she finds you in my room she will kill us both."