The Helper

Chapter 4- Dinner? Maybe, Maybe Not

The Helper: Chapter 4- Dinner? Maybe, Maybe not.

Jasmine didn't say anything after they had left the market. He didn't sense any fear coming from her related to him however her feelings seemed shut off. Almost as if she wasn't feeling anything at all and it worried him. He had never experienced anything like this in the human world before. The last time he felt this was around a vampire that he had met years ago. Now a days though vampires were hard to come by. He stopped the car in his assigned spot and turned to Jasmine.

"Please tell me you are still coming to dinner."

"Alex, I don't even know what to think. What did you do back there?" He sighed, "I cannot explain it to you right now." He took her hand in his, "but I can promise you this Jasmine, you will never have to be afraid again."

She frowned and pulled her hand away from him. "I will come to dinner on one condition Alex."

"What is the condition?" He smiled at her and heard her heart speed up. " You answer some of the questions that I have."

"Deal, now are you going to help me with these groceries or not?" She smiled at him nodding her head.

Nine trips later and all of the groceries were finally in his apartment and he was exhausted. Who knew that shopping could suck so much energy from you?

***********************Jasmine's Point of View Will Start Now**********************

"Ugh, what is wrong with me?" Jasmine said to no one in particular.

Yea right, like the new next-door neighbor was really flirting with her. Maybe she made it all up in her head. She could believe that she had run into Nicholas at the grocery store. He was such a monster. Slowly she undressed revealing the scars down her arms, on her belly and thighs. She stared at her naked body in the mirror. No one as good looking as Alex would want her.

Not when her body was canvas for the pain that she felt. She pulled out the straight razor from her medicine cabinet and lightly made slits across her skin. As she was cutting the pain and anger that she was feeling slowly disappeared. She made about twenty cuts in various sizes on her belly, upper arms and thighs. When she was finished she placed the razor in its spot right next to the four bottles of antidepressants.

Why couldn't she just get over her past? So, her mother hated her and her father was an abusive alcoholic. What did it teacher her? That the first man that comes along to marry him and let him abuse her the same way that her father did. All she wanted to do was stop thinking about the hurt and anger. For one night she just want to have dinner with a man that seemed like he cared about her. Alex seemed so familiar to her. Maybe they had crossed each other's paths before who knew Buffalo was a big city.

She took a hot bath and used her special bubble bath. She didn't have many luxuries in life but there was nothing better in life than a nice bubble bath. As she relaxed in the tub she thought about what Alex had asked her early if she used products with Lilacs in them. She sat back up and glanced at the label. Nope, there wasn't anything about lilacs in the ingredients. Maybe he just confused scents or something. She laid back down thinking of Alex, he was a little creepy and strange but very handsome and funny. She was surprised that some woman didn't already have claims on him. Who knew maybe he was a playboy. She closed hers and drifted to sleep.

Jasmine jolted awake, screaming and sat up. She wasn't sure how long she had been sleeping but the pounding on the door along with the cold water told her it must have been awhile.

The pounding grew louder, "Jasmine, are you okay? Are you even in there? You have to be I heard you scream. Please let me know you are alright or I am going to break this door down."

Jasmine let out a sigh and wrapped the towel around her and walked out to the living room. Forget about the cuts on her upper arms she opened the door.

"Thank God, that you are alright I was worried about you. I texted you a couple times to ask you if you like dressing on your salad or if you preferred to put it on yourself. Than there was no answer and I waited for you to come over."He closed his mouth. His eyes narrowed and looked straight at her arms.

"Sorry I fell asleep in the bathtub. Please let me get dressed and I will be right over. Do you like wine? I have a nice bottle here and I can bring it with me."

"Yeah, that is fine bring it when you come over. I need to go take the desert out of the oven. See you in a few."

She had noticed the change in his mood and wondered what was wrong. She closed the door behind him. Walking back into her bedroom she realized that she was only in a towel. Oh God, I hope he didn't see my arms. What will he think of me? Nicholas made her cut herself in front of him and laughed the whole time she did it. He was sadistic.

Jasmine put on a pair of black leggings with a dark maroon sweater and decide to go barefoot since she was only going next door. Grabbing the bottle of wine that she said she would bring she left the apartment.

Alex answered the door before she even knocked. Even dressed down he looked handsome she couldn't help but to stare at him. He had the prettiest eyes that she had ever seen and they reminded her of a clear blue eye sky. He had a strong jawline with a five o'clock shadow and it made him seem even more handsome if that was even possible. She licked her bottom lip and her private part betrayed her.

"Again, do you see something you like?" He gave her that cocky half smile that was constantly on his face.

She handed him the bottle of wine, " You are so full of yourself, Alex. It smells so delicious."

He stepped back, " please come in and make yourself at home."

Jasmine walked in and noticed that the apartment was dim, there was some music playing in the background but it was in a language that she didn't know. She followed him to the kitchen. The table was set and he thought about everything including candles. She smiled when she saw the food especially some yummy looking cake that was sitting on the stove. A tear escaped her eye and Alex wiped it away.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"No one has every done this for me. All I did was help you get groceries."

"Well, I appreciate the small things people do. You never know when that small thing might change someone's life."

She had never thought about that before. Maybe God sent this person into her life to help her. Yeah right she gave up on God helping her a long time ago. Jasmine took the glass of wine that Alex was offering her and sat down in one of the kitchen chairs.

"So, Alex, you said you would answer some questions for me."

"Indeed, I did. Ahead Jasmine ask away. I will tell you what I am able to."

"What did you do to Nicholas at the grocery store?"

He sat a bowl of salad down in front of her and a plate of spaghetti and meatballs then he proceeded to sit across from her. "First before I answer I want you to take a bite of the food since what I tell you might scare you away."

Jasmine took a bite of the spaghetti and the flavors burst in her mouth. It had a slight spiciness to it but it was so delicious. It was almost as if she could taste every ingredient in the sauce. That is when she realized they didn't buy spaghetti or sauce.

"You made it all homemade? Didn't you?"

"I did, I used my power of pain. I am a demon; I was sent her to help you. My brother is your protector. He has been watching you for the last 22 years. We are not able to interfere with your life. We can protect and help as much as we can without changing the events. Since I have told you about this your life is now forever changed. You will now know that there are creatures among you that you never knew existed. "

Jasmine spit out the glass of wine that she had just taken a sip of and started laughing. " And here I thought I was crazy but man you are some good stuff. Demon, yeah right."

Before Jasmine knew what was happening Alex took her hand and closed his eyes. She felt a tingling sensation and heard Alex whisper, "close your eyes or you will get sick." Obediently she closed her eyes.