"Really? I thought it was nice, I guess you still need to help me buy my clothes."Jasper smiled a bit and nodded. "I guess so." She walked over and sat down where her friend had indicated, crossing her legs and playing with her scarf with a bored look on her face. However, she did crack a smile when he mentioned the hat. "It's not that I like it, it's just really warm." She argued, crossing her arms stubbornly over her chest. Her smile fell when Ron asked about Rain.
"I'm worried about her." The purple haired girl admitted, a tired look crossing her face (weakness that she'd only show in front of Ron). "She had another dream about her brother and... I don't know what to do. You know I'm no good at comforting people..." She trailed off, looking into her lap, but suddenly shot her purple eyes up at her friend, "but that doesn't mean you need to say something, capiche? If you really want her to like you, then don't bring it up. The topic hurts her. You just need to be there for her. A shoulder to cry on, ya know? She'll come to you when she's ready." Jasper wasn't really one for romantic advice, heck, she was terrible on the subject. She wouldn't be able to tell someone liked her if they confessed to her face (which is precisely what's happened). She was smart, but not in that area. However, she knew Ron better than she knew herself, and she cared about Rain. If Rain was to have anybody, Jasper knew that Ron was the right choice.
"Just, gotta make sure my teams OK..."Jasper snickered, "I know, Champ."
"So, what cha' getting me for Christmas?" He said laughing as he got up on his knees and bounced around on the bed and held onto her shoulders like a little kid. "Tell me, tell me, tell me, telllll meeeeee!!"The sudden change of mood surprised her and she didn't realize that Ron was shaking her until she knocked her head against his when he grabbed her around the waist. He didn't seem to notice, but Jasper definitely did, and she winced, feeling a bruise come on already. "Actually I haven't even th-"
Too late, her childhood friend had already changed the topic and the mood once more to serious.
"I love you Jas..."She pried her arms out from Ron's grip and awkwardly hugged him back, not knowing what to say.
"Love you too, Champ." She muttered, face going purple from his iron grip, even though he was going easy on her this time.
"Love shock." Jasper appreciated the fact that he was trying to make her feel like she did it on purpose, but the topic still put her in a ruddy mood.
"You and I both know that's not it." She whispered bitterly, looking down at her hands. It took all of her concentration, but small sparks danced along her fingertips. "You don't know how jealous I am of you. You've got so much more control." She squeezed her hands shut, frustrated. The sparks died.
"Anything you want to talk about?""No." Jasper said tersely. She couldn't help it, the topic of her powers sent her in a sour mood. Ron was the only one that she knew she could snap at without hurting feelings.
"So, Arthur's in our group. Just give me the word and I'll leave you two alone." He said with a wink.
Jasper blushed without realizing it, and pushed Ron in retaliation to the embarrassing statement. "Yeah, about that... I'm beginning to wonder if it's really a coincidence that we've been in the same patrol group for the past week. Do you have anything you want to tell me?" She still wasn't smiling, but her change of tone was enough to let her friend know that she had forgiven him.
"He's a nice guy Jas, and you deserve someone for you. If not him just think about dating, but know that I will judge them SO HARD!""I appreciate the thought, Champ, but you and I both know that I'm not interested in dating." She cracked a tiny smile at his last comment, "I'll make sure to run my boyfriends by you
dad. Gonna get the big guns out?" He stood, leaning down and kissing the top of her panda hat before walking out of the room.
She watched Ron leave, and sat there gathering her emotions before she walked out, clutching her still aching head, making an internal note to run by Rain before they left for patrol duty. As she walked by a mirror in the hallway she noticed a half-dollar sized black and blue mark forming. "Ow.." Jasper muttered, prodding it with her finger before covering it with her bangs. She'd make sure to zap Ron for that later.
Something nudged her leg, and she looked down to see her bright green lizard, Booze, chewing on her boots, a sign that he wanted up. She picked up the thing and allowed him to climb up to his perch on top of her head (between the two panda ears on her hat) before she began walking again. It wasn't uncommon for her to bring him with to patrols.
Jasper stepped into the living room to be immediately met by Derrick.
"What's Ron screaming about?" She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "he wanted to know what I got him for Christmas."
"All I heard was him shouting 'so hard'. That did not sound right to me." She smiled, "don't worry it's not what you think. He told me that I should think about dating Arthur. He was telling me that if I dated anyone else, he'd judge them real hard." She took a deep breath and looked back to Erin's room. "I'm really thankful that he wants me to be happy. I mean, I'm not nearly the person I was before everything happened with my dad and he know that, but... I'm not interested in romantic relationships. I've got my powers to worry about."
Jasper turned her attention to the clock and then back to Derek, "whatever, it doesn't really matter. Hey, I'm gonna go get a water bottle from the fridge, you want some?" She asked, turning and making her way to to kitchen.