CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE PART TWO: TEXTBOOK

What the mind can conceive and believe, and the heart desire, you can achieve.

"Jazz, come on!" Eris shouts, three loud bangs sounding out from the wall. "We want to start."

"Is Papa back yet?" He shouts back, turning to face the living room -flipping off Axel as his only goodbye.

His dad himself replies, which is answer enough, and soon I find us all sitting in the living room. It's a little scrunched, but once I'm pressed closer to Jasper's side instead of right between him and Dela it's comfortable.

Dela and Lavender are now both back at the Red Cabin, all the kids are.

Since I have to unwrap things first, they said everyone does three at once, I just unwrap the things Axel handed off to me.

At first I think it's just a dark red onesie but then I realize the pattern on it is seeds and quickly check the top to confirm, it's a strawberry onesie. Grinning I stand and pull it up past my sweatpants, taking off Jasper's sweatshirt so it fits better.

With a small chuckle, ignoring the startled silence from his parents- -I'm guessing due to my scars- -Jasper tugs on either side of the onesie and buttons it up for me, just to be able to pull me down for a small kiss.

"You're such a dork." I tell him, smacking his shoulder with the long sleeve that goes past my hands.

The giant scoffs, "Says the one wearing a strawberry onesie."

"Open the box that's wrapped shitty." Nyx says, interrupting us and pointing to Damien. "He likes whatever's in it, so I want to see."

Jasper pulls me across his lap, handing me the box as Damien signs something. "It's from Tio Gus."

"Yeah," I turn over the box that's covered completely in tape over the 'Birthday Girl!' wrapping paper, jaw snapping as for whatever reason, my Tourette's wants to bite something. "I figured."

Due to my excitement, I'm moving a lot more than normal but Jasper just keeps grinning at me.

That grin turns to a slight look of surprise when the box turns out to hold a pair of earrings.

The one on the right, that catches my attention instantly, is a hollow light pink crystal in the shape of a strawberry, a mint green top holding it to the rose gold hooked end. The other one is just a light pink crystal as a normal earring.

It's perfect for me, if I'm being honest.

I guess Jasper's shock comes from me not really wearing earrings around him, but I did wear studs when we went to the club. He just probably didn't notice, being both oblivious and jealous at the time.

Nodding to myself, I put in the earrings as fast I can, not wanting to yank on them with a tic and shake my head to hear the strawberry crystal ting against the hook.

"How much you wanna bet that that," Dela points to the last box. "Is something strawberry too."

"Hmm, it's from Ahmik?" I check the label, then shake my head. "Then it won't be."

He literally just got my number to ask me what my favorite animal is right before Christmas, so it's not hard to imagine whatever he's getting me has a bear on it.

Opening it, I know I was right because the first thing is a box of Band-Aids with bears on them, with a note that says 'Please don't have to use these.' and a grey necktie with black bear faces in a pattern over it.

"Oh, sweet." I say, nodding to myself.

One of the only real conversations we've had is how I was complaining to him that I have to go to a stupid end of season football thing, where coach is making us all wear suits to get stupid metals or whatever it is.

Fly's excited, I am not, which is mostly due to the boring ass annoying suits I always have to wear.

Ahmik's funny, in a quiet way. Plus this tie is dope.

Jasper raises an eyebrow at me, arm wrapping around my middle. "Why do you have to wear a tie?"

"Football thing." I answer, shrugging. "It's stupid."

"Do I get to come?"

"If you want, it's just a boring ceremony and shit. My family is supposed to come but- -mother ducklings- -they'll all busy except for Donny, Sawyer, Nemy and a family friend." Saying this, I catch the weird look Dela sends me but ignore it. "Fly's already making bets with the team on who will win what."

That 'family friend' is Noelle's actual blood-related cousin and Nemesis's friend, but we don't really know each other that well, Nemesis is basically just dragging people along so she's not bored since her girlfriend- -or is it fiancé now?- -can't come.

Eris goes next- -apparently, Jasper is supposed to go last when I go first- -but my boyfriend keeps asking questions about it.

"What do you mean, win?"

"Like, awards, metals. Some certificates, like 'most laps run' or 'most points scored' and some joke ones like 'most benched' for the annoying guys." I play with his shirt collar as I speak. "My siblings usually-" I growl. "-go on stage for me, or Fly collects them for me."

The musician tilts his head at me, blinking owlishly. "Why don't you get it yourself?"

Because I haven't ever gotten the chance and don't want to have to argue with them all to go and get it, because my coach- -who was my coach from sixth grade to Junior year before he went to college- -knows my family and wants them to be more quiet than they are loud, because Fly knows going on stage is hard for me. But I don't really know how any of that really makes me feel, when added together.

So I stick with a shrug, and say "I don't care."

That and I'd never be able to make it to the stage before any of my siblings, and my coach would probably be shocked if I didn't just have Fly go up for me anyway.

"You're not proud of yourself?" Jasper frowns, hand squeezing me. "But you work so hard."

"It's just another year, they don't mean anything. All of them just end up in a box somewhere anyway."

There's one in my garage at home, a huge one with trophies, plagues, metals, certificates and small awards, and one golden football for winning middle school nationals. I guess I just didn't care enough to put any of it up if I was just going to knock it all down, or have so many things to keep in place when Atlas would just mess it up.

Plus in my house there's not really that much room for anything as big as that collection.

Jasper huffs at me, but doesn't argue with it, just watches his family open all their gifts with a smile before it gets to his turn.

"Oh fuck, hold on," Bar says, rushing to stand. "Give me a minute, I have to carry it in. Shit's huge. Wouldn't fit under the tree."

It's only...well, it's only five and a half feet long.

So yeah, not to mention the grey frame I put it in probably makes it more bulky. That was more expensive then the canvas itself.

Which is as tall as half the people in this room and almost as tall as me.

This confuses the giant, who looks to his mom but she just points at me. "It's your gift?" He asks incredulously. "What is it?"

"You're literally about to open it." Eris says, laughing while his twin boos him for wanting to ruin the surprise.

"Jokes on you, fucko," Nyx snickers. "We all already know what it is. I myself, was pleasantly surprised."

When Bar comes back in there's a moment of silence from Jasper before he quietly turns to me and says, "What the fuck is that? It's almost as tall as you."

Standing, so he can unwrap it, is my downfall because Jasper takes it and stands it right next to me, it being at eye level with me, not even three inches off from the top of my head.

His sisters join it, it being the exact same size as Arabella and Lavender who are probably just under two inches shorter than me, but it's a little taller than Dela, and about four inches off for Nyx and Eris.

Looking at Lavender, who's standing directly next to me, both Dela and her mom's jaws seem to drop and it's Dela that says, "You're short."

I scoff, "You're shorter than me."

"By what? Four inches?" She stands closer to me, hands smugly resting on her hips as she nudges her head back to her dad and twin. "They're by a foot."

Being around my sisters, I know the way to handle this to avoid being picked on or get a new nickname is just to be smug right back, so I don't wait to smirk at her, patting her head teasingly. "It must suck then, that even shorts guys are still taller than-" I squeak. "-you."

Lavender guffaws openly at her girlfriend, who flushes red -clearly not expecting me to get snarky right back at her.

"I'm opening it." Jasper declares.

The painting itself is one Vivianna took of me and Jasper cuddling on the couch. I'm actually proud of this.

I did the layout of black and white charcoal and made all the images, then used body toned charcoal- -which was surprisingly expensive and took some time to get right- -and instead of covering us completely, just did half since Nemesis went in and did the highlights in light green. She did that over everything, and added a sunset in the back.

We finished it right in time too, because I had ruined the second one- -we made three just in case- -right before we got to the island, and that was good because that was the worse one.

Nemesis was actually mad that I hadn't done this with her before, something about hiding talent that could amount to quality bonding time.

Which I don't get because when she paints she goes completely silent, focused and there'd be no bonding at all. Whatever.

Now I'm just hoping Jasper actually likes it but he's just staring down at it, a mute expression on his face as if he's not actually holding anything.

What is going on?

Dela elbows me in the ribs, "Is he broken?"

I throw one hand up, she's his sister, she should know. But maybe it's not a good thing his entire family is staring at him, if he's even comprehending that.

Then he breaks out into a smile, covering his mouth with one hand as he keeps his eyes on the painting, sounding choked when he chuckles a bit.

"I love it, my star. This is...I don't even have the words. Just, thank you." Jasper says, holding his free hand out to me to pull me into the space between his knees in front of the couch. "How did you do this?"

Smiling sheepishly at him, I shrug. "With charcoal and just a little help with the lighting. I was reminded why- -bit hot innit- -I'm not an actual artist."

My boyfriend scoffs, sitting up straighter to press a small kiss to my collarbone. "Could have fooled me."

Grinning, Jasper keeps me on one leg while opening his other presents, the painting sitting across the space on his mom's chair -her now sitting with Bar.

After everyone unwrapped all their presents, things got more relaxed.

That was until everyone that Dela and Fly rounded up- -that including me, Jasper, Eris, Arabella, Nyx, Damien, along with Lavender and Scarlette of course- -had to squish together in the main Red cabin to play a game called Trainwreck.

The rules were simple, there was one chair for everyone except one person who stood up and said something like "If you're wearing socks" and whoever is wearing socks has to get up and find a new seat that can't be the seat on either side of them.

Whoever's slowest is now the person that stands and has to say something else.

I'm now wearing my strawberry onesie, with a strawberry dog tag next to Selene's all while still being shirtless with red fuzzy socks on and I have to wear contacts, as well as the earrings.

So I've had to move a lot.

Me and Damien seem to be moving a lot together, so we keep switching seats fast enough that neither of us have to speak, which Nyx picked up rather instantly.

The reason it's called Trainwreck is because when someone can't think of anything, or doesn't get anyone to move, they have three chances to say "Trainwreck" to make everyone move.

I still have no clue if someone actually wins the game or not.

Fly is only here because Lavender brought her sister, but he said it was really nice to see me during the holidays for once.

I told him I wish I could say the same in return, but he just laughed at me, reminding me we're friends for a reason.

"Okay, okay," Arabella claps her hands together. "I have a good one."

Eris perks up at this, brown eyes seeming to sparkle as they look at her girlfriend. They're really good together but it's almost eerie how the 5'4 girl reminds me of her father.

"If someone has ever confessed their love for you."

Nobody has done that for me, or loved me like that.

And honestly?

That hurts just a little.

It takes me a moment to process the chaos around me as literally everyone else stands up to move around, Scarlette- -being the tiniest one here- -ends up standing in the middle.

Fly snickers next to me, elbowing me in the side. "Good play, Cassie."

Raising an eyebrow at him I give the idiot a dirty look. "I didn't move."

From across the room I hear Jasper make a choking sound as Dela smacks him with a pillow. "Jasper-Alaric!" She smacks him again, making me glare at her. "How dare you."

"Adelaide." I say, making her freeze and snap her head over to me, which just makes me freeze in response. Does nobody call her that? "You can't make him."

Jasper pouts, huffing in his seat. I stand to go comfort him, making Scar take my spot the second I move, but I don't mind as I crouch in front of him. "Are you okay, Jitterbug?"

"You just looked sad." He says. "I moved and you didn't. But you're not the one who said it, and I don't like that."

Rolling my eyes at him, I cup his face in my hands.

"Jasper Red," I peck his lips. "I am the textbook definition of in love with you."

His entire body jolts as he grabs the side of my onesie, pulling me down onto him as I yelp in surprise, the sound muffled as he kisses me. I return the kiss, more than surprised when he pulls away only to wiggle a little in excitement as he holds a finger up at me.

I frown a little, blinking a few times before I poke his finger in reply.

And he seems okay with that.

Um...okay?

If he's not comfortable saying it back, there's no way in fuck I'm going to make him but even since that's the case him holding up a finger isn't the response I expected.

"Oh my god, Jazz!" Eris shrieks, the pillow she had in hand then smacks my boyfriend in the face and his back flops against the couch. "You can't do that!"

Well it's not like she can make him love me...

Jasper pouts at her, "I did it back?"

His twin cackles, shoving at his shoulder making his hands tighten on my waist as I wobble from the movement. "You're an idiot."

"Lay off, guys." Nyx grunts out. "He probably thinks that Cas knows what that means. You've finger booped with Viv in front of him?"

Finger booped? That's what we just did, but that doesn't mean anything?

Not to mention Vivianna does a bunch of weird shit, including patting the top of my head as a greeting whenever she gets the chance.

That doesn't mean anything either.

"Oh. O-oh! You don't know!" Jasper, rather quickly, pulls me back into him with wide minty eyes. "The finger boop -it means I love you."

There has never been another time where, within seconds and without him trying, I turned red.

And sure, it makes my nose throb a little bit but it's completely worth it.

"I, I j-just got too excited and couldn't say anything. I'm full blown, drunk on happiness in-love with you, Castor Alpha."

His hand cups my cheek and just at feeling how warm I've become, blushes twice as hard.

Which, in retrospect, shouldn't have made me laugh the way I did but I can't help it.

Jasper's in love with me.

Miracles can happen.