empathy

THIRTY-TWO

"Wakey-wakey, Stacey," Jasper singsongs before cringing to himself. Oh, this is so wrong. Why did he do that? That was weird and so out of character. Ugh. What is wrong with him today?

"Go away?" Anastasia doesn't seem to notice what he said as she turns on her stomach, her hands stuffing under her pillow to get it fluffier for her face. "No. It's time for you to go back to school," he retorts. "Who are you? My dad?" she huffs out, her voice muffled by the fabric of the pillow and grogginess laying within it. 

"No. I'm the one, who actually cares for you. You don't have to stay all day, just a class or two. You have enough absent days as it is and if you get any more, you can wave goodbye to graduating next year. Because you'll have to repeat this year and I highly doubt you want that," Jasper deadpans. "Why do I need to graduate. I can just... become a stripper or some," Anastasia sits up with a sigh, it's not like she'll be able to fall back asleep after that. 

"No," his expression gets even more serious, the last hints of friendliness disappearing into a stoic nothingness. "What? You think I'm too ugly to become a stripper?" her hand comes up to her heart but her own expression remains unbothered, too tired and worn out to show emotions. 

"No, I'm saying quite the opposite," Jasper's eyes narrow just a tad more. 

Anastasia looks at him for a moment longer before shaking her head, once again too tired to deal with that right now. Instead, she pushes the duvet off her and shudders when the cold air wraps around her skin. 

"You know if it's raining today?" she makes her way over to her closet, glancing her shoulder to look at him. "It's not," he replies, his eyes having trouble staying on hers. 

Anastasia pulls out a pair of black thighs, a black long-sleeved dress that reaches down to the upper mids of her thighs and some undergarments and throws them onto the bed. 

"Do you want me to leave?" Jasper raises a brow at her when she pulls off her shirt, her hands coming up to cup her chest as she turns to face him. A smirk grows on her face and her head tilts to the side when his eyes finally give in to the temptation of dropping to her body. She isn't one to sleep fully clothed, a shirt and slip usually everything she needs. 

"I don't really care to be honest," Anastasia shrugs and drops her arms to reach for her bra. 

Jasper would really much like to say he acted like the gentleman he believed himself to be but honestly, he did anything but that. His eyes stayed focused on her chest and despite the logical part of his mind screaming at him to turn around or at least look away he simply couldn't. The irrational part of his mind and the impact of the major that has grown immensely over the last years just wouldn't let him look away.

"You want a picture?" Anastasia asks him dryly while putting on her bra, finally snapping him out of it. "I think I should wait outside," he replies simply, his own voice tense and he himself a tad embarrassed.

"Do you? Because I do find this rather amusing. An ancient soldier, who praises himself with sincerity and decency falling victim to a man's way of thinking," she teases, her lips curled into a lopsided smirk. 

Jasper looks at her for a moment longer, the major clawing inside of him, begging to finally get back out. It has been too long and Jasper's defence has weakened heavily over the last few days. He felt safe, too safe and maybe that was exactly his mistake. 

He can feel his muscles tensing as his posture straightens up, his head tilting slightly to the side and his eyes narrowing slightly as a pondering look shimmers behind them. 

Anastasia doesn't notice this as she unfolds the thighs. It's only when she can feel his breath on her neck that she turns to face him, taking a step back at his proximity but her legs hit her bed, stopping her from moving further back. 

"Jasper?" she asks confused and maybe a little intimidated. He seems taller, more in control, more dangerous than he did only seconds ago.

"Try again, darlin'." His accent has become more prominent and her breath hitches when his hand comes up to twirl one of her midnight strands between his fingers. "The major, was it?" she slips away, bringing some distance between them again. 

He follows her with her eyes and his body turns to face her again. His eyes are a deep black colour and Anastasia isn't sure why but somehow they manage to look more natural than their usual amber colour. 

"Feeling bold, aren't we?" he chooses not to deny or confirm her question, once again taking a step towards her but managing to keep some distance between them. "Try confident," she retorts. His lips twitch slightly before he steps back to sit down on her bed, his eyes still trained at her. 

His hands dance over the fabric of her dress before he hands it to her. Anastasia takes it and slips into it. She won't lie, his eyes on her make her a tad nervous and maybe even insecure. Well, not really insecure. The stage of overthinking before you get the chance to become insecure.

"Come here," he states and she crosses her arms but doesn't move. The major sits there for a moment longer before gulping down his issue with pride and... disobedience. He walks over to her, his hand laying on her shoulder to turn her around so her back is facing him. 

"What are you...?" she goes to ask when she can feel him zip her up. "Thanks," she forces out before once again pulling from his grip. 

"Why are you fighting it, darlin'?" the Major asks, his eyes careful to gauge her reaction. "Fighting what?" she raises a brow. 

"You may be able to fool the others but Jasper can read your emotions. They're his favourite book," he points out, his hand reaching up t play with a strand of her hair once more. 

"Are they now?"

"Hm." The major takes another step towards her, his hand sliding down her arm and taking her hand in his. He brings it up to his lips to breathe a kiss to the back of it before he guides it back down next to her body. "It will be easier once you let yourself feel, darlin'."

Anastasia's eyes fall to her hand, the tingle his kiss left lingering for what seems like forever before she looks back up at him, her eyes involuntarily stopping at his lips. 

The major goes to walk back over to her bed but she makes sure to put an end to that. Standing on her tippy toes, her hand comes up to rest on his neck as she pulls him into a kiss. The major reacts immediately, his hands pulling her waist into him as he moves his lips at her pace, giving her control over what she wants this to turn out.

Anastasia's other hand comes up to lay on the side of his neck and she yelps slightly when he picks her up and pushes her up against her closet. 

She lets this continue for a moment longer, their lips moving evenly against each other, their mind seemingly in total balance. She lets herself enjoy the feeling of his legs on her thighs and lower back.

And for a moment, the split of a second, she actually feels happy.