Jared Whitlock; Daughter of Jasper Hale

Chapter 37: Mistake

The next day I was feeling happy but a little weird about how I felt around Lucifer. He's biologically a she! Who would have thought it? I walk into the living room where Jasper approaches me. "Jared," He starts. "Yeah?" I sit on the sofa. "I was wondering if we could spend the day together." He sits beside me. "Up for it?" He asks. "I'd like to, I guess." I shrug. "Really?" He frowns, looking surprised. I hold out my arms for a hug. He smiles. "Come here then?" He smirks, we link arms and head over to the car.

"Alice! We'll be going out for a while." Jasper calls out. She appears beside me, suddenly. "Ok, have fun guys!" She chirps and kisses us both on the cheek. Now about a month ago I would have rolled my eyes if she mentioned Jasper being fun. But now....well it was sort of true.
Jesus, I'm starting to feel love for my father. That's nuts!

We drive off and turn up at a lake with an old barn nearby. He sits on the lake side, on the grass. "Come here," He smiles. I sit beside him. I rest my head on his shoulder.
"Do you remember this place?" He asks me and I'm not sure but I think he looks a little uneasy.
"Um, I don't know. I think I've seen it before." I look around.
"There used to be a house over there." He says a few minutes later. He points in the distance. "On the hill?" I ask. He nods. Then I remember. "This is where we used to live with Mum. Where you trained the newborns and killed them." I say quietly. He nods and looks away.

"Why come here?" I stand up, ready to leave and he panics. "Jared, please!" He yells. I shake my head. "I don't want to be here. I wanna go home." I feel weirdly emotional. "I hated her, Dad! I hated my mother and this is bringing it back!"
"No, please! You should have loved your mother!" He stands with me.
"You don't know anything!" I scream and I run off quickly, speeding until I come to woods, trees and more trees. He won't find me here. "Jared!" I hear him yell, then spot him coming into the woods. He hasn't seen me yet. "It's okay. I realise it was a stupid idea to come here!" He calls out. He's stopped walking now, peering into trees, trying to spot me. And then he does.

"Jared," He tries again. "No! Leave me alone!" And I get ready to run.
"Don't go." He says and it makes me stop. It was the way he said it. Soft and quiet. Desperate.
"Don't leave me, sweetheart." He says softly. He'd never called me that before and the use of it makes me fall down to my knees and sob. "Oh, Jared." He sighs and even with my back to him, I can hear him coming closer. His arms wrap around me from behind and his head rests against mine.

"I'm sorry. Can we forget about this and do something else?" He suggests and he starts to rock me. I give no reply. I feel my arms go limp. I close my eyes, feeling comfortable in his arms. "Stand up, Jared." He coaxes, pulling at me. I remain on the ground, trying to make myself heavy for him.
"Now." He says firmly and I stand. I'm sure if he'd been sweet and light, it would have made me collapse again.

He picks me up and carries me to the truck. He starts driving. I sit back with my eyes closed. "Are you hungry?" He asks. I shake my head. "Don't feel like talking, huh?" I shake my head again.
"Can't say I blame you." He frowns.

I turn to the window, not knowing what kind of emotion was running through me. "Just one question, Jared." He asks. I turn to him, waiting. "Are you angry at me?"
"I don't think so." And that's all we say to each other for the rest of the day.