UNDER EDITING 𝐺𝑅𝐴𝑉𝐸 𝐷𝐴𝑁𝐺𝐸𝑅 | 𝐴𝑃𝑂𝐶𝐴𝐿𝑌𝑃𝑆𝐸 ✔︎

Symptom Showing

(Noah's POV)

I feel something shaking my shoulders lightly as I stir awake.

My eyes flutter open, and I assume it's Jasper. "Is it dinner time already?" I yawn. The room is dark so I can't really see his face.

"What are you doing in here, Noah?" A familiar voice says.

Ryder?

"Oh... it's you. Do you know where Jasper is? He was supposed to wake me up before dinner." I question and sit up on the couch.

"No, I don't know. He left you in here alone?" He seems to stand up. "Uh, well yes. He told me I should nap in here because our pod is too far away and I was exhausted."

Suddenly, the light to the lounge turns on and I can see him clearly.

Ryder sits back down. "What's got you so tired?" He grins. I just shrug. "Oh. It's nothing all that bad I guess. Just stuff with my sister. And I guess Jasper and I got into an argument earlier. But-"

"Argument? What about?" Ryder interrupts.

"He was confused why I was in a bad mood earlier." I shrug. "But it's-"

"Man, what the hell." Ryder gruffs. This causes me to stop mid sentence and quirk up an eyebrow.

"Obviously that's something traumatic to you. Your sister could turn. He needs to just let you have your feelings about it."

I blink in shock. "Well... he is. I just think he was worr-"

"And then he just ditched you in here? What the hell. Grade A asshole."

"Hang on-"

"It's a good thing you met our friend group. Maybe you won't have to be stuck with such a selfish asshole for the rest of the apocalypse."

I stand up instantly, basically fuming.

"You better be joking." I huff. Ryder gives me a confused look. "What? But he-"

"He does care how I feel. He was worried enough to come looking for me, even though I was acting like a jerk to him. And yeah, he left me in here. Just so I could sleep after all those days of insomnia."

Ryder rolls his eyes. "It just seems a bit sketchy."

I scoff. "Ryder... I know you haven't had the best experience with Jasper, but he's not just his attitude. He's the most caring and thoughtful person I've ever met. I don't think anyone has checked up on me in my entire life as much as he has in the past few months of me knowing him. For you to judge him after knowing him for a few days is wrong. The guy has saved my life more times than I can count on my hands. He's amazing and I'm done with you talking crap about him. Also he can throw a knife incredibly well which is beside the point but still."

I breathe in, calming myself down.

"And that's my cue to leave." Ryder rolls his eyes while glancing behind me. I raise an eyebrow before turning around to see Jasper standing there, completely in awe.

Ryder passes Jasper with a groan and Jasper just blinks to himself.

I cover my face, a bit embarrassed. "How much of that did you hear."

"Some... Most... All." He mumbles while walking up to me. Jasper then leans down and pulls me into a meaningful kiss, which catches me off guard a bit.

"Did you mean all of that?" He smiles while pulling away. I glance away, embarrassed.

"Well, yeah. He... he shouldn't talk about you like that." I rub the back of my neck.

"Thanks, Ashwell. Glad I'm here for you so I can be amazing and throw knives incredibly well." He teases. My face turns red. "Ugh, stop. Don't repeat that, ever again."