The Finding

The Beginning

"Come on Megan! Just one night! You need to relax!" Jasper said to me. "Plus she'll never know! You can just say you worked late!"

I smiled and looked at my work uniform, covered in food, mop water and who knows what else. "Jas, look at me! I can't go out like this!"

He smiled and held up a bag. "See, since I am the all knowing Jasper Haven, I knew you would try and get out of this somehow. I had Lenny pick up some clothes for you. Anymore excuses? Or are you going to clock out and change?" 

I sighed, what could one night hurt? I grabbed the bag and went to change. 

As I looked into the bag, I almost had a heart attack. I pulled out a pair of black skinny jeans with tears in the legs, a dark blue tank top and black boot heals. I pulled them on and walked back out to Jasper. "Give me a jacket!" I all but yelled at him.

He smiled and pulled out his sisters leather jacket. "Shes away for college, she'll never know."

We drove to the club in Jasper's car and took the back entrance. I stayed close to Jasper and kept my head down. As soon as the door opened I could hear the bass of the music and the voices of the people inside. Taking a deep breath I followed Jasper inside. 

"Aren't you glad you came?" he shouted over the people.

I glared at him, then smiled, "I always love a night away Jasper. I'm not to sure how I feel about this outfit though." 

" You look great" His eyes trailed my body in a way that strangely excited me. I shook off the feeling and followed him to the V.I.P. section. "Perks of Uncle Joe owning this place huh?" 

I smiled at him and nodded. "No kidding. I don't know how you would live without this place. I don't know how either of us would."

After a few minuets of sitting I decided to go dance, I looked back at Jasper and he quickly followed. I swayed to the beat and closed my eyes. This, I thought, is the reason I let Jasper drag me out here. Dress me up like a buffoon and bring me here at least once a month. For the music, to drown out my thoughts and let me be a free soul. I love being on the dance floor, it lets me escape the real world and relax for a few hours.

I jerked out of my thoughts as I felt someone grab my waist. I looked back to see Jasper. I must have looked confused because he let go right away and mumbled sorry. 

"No, its fine! You just scared me." I smiled and went back to swaying. 

He hesitantly grabbed my waist again and pulled me to him. It felt odd but I like dancing with Jasper. Its relaxing to feel his strong body protecting me. We danced for some time before another guy came up and tried to pull me away. I yanked my arm away and when he reached again, I jumped back and quickly went to leave the dance floor. By the time Jasper caught up, I was almost at his car. 

"Hey! Hey! Meg!" He was jogging to catch up, so I quit walking." Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" 

"No, its okay." I mumbled. 

Jasper grabbed my arm and examined it. "Its bruising." his face went into a brooding look. "Come on I've got ice at my place." 

We drove in silence until we reached his house on the other side of town. When we parked I followed him inside and sat in the dining room. When he returned he had a pack of ice and a glass of water. 

"I'm so sorry about that Meg... he just came out of nowhere..." His face was troubled.

"Jasper, its not a big deal. I'm fine. It was just some creepy guy." I smiled at him. "He just came up, I was having to much fun to notice" 

I felt him look at me, but I just sat still and drank my water. Once I was finished I looked at my cell phone. "Jasper, its 2 a.m. I need to get to bed."

" I know, i'm sorry" he said. "Do you just want to stay here? I doubt your mom would notice... and you can wear my sisters stuff tomorrow.."

I shrugged. "Why not? Mom won't know."

Jasper picked me up and carried me up his two flights of stairs. "So uhm where do you wanna sleep?" 

Oops, I thought, that never occurred to me. "Lets just talk for awhile?"

He nodded and carried  me all the way to his bedroom. I took off the jacket and heals, walked to his sisters room to find something to sleep in but she had taken all her pajamas to school with her. I opened Jasper's door to find him shirtless and laying in bed. 

"I, uhm, she has no pajamas.." I tried my hardest not to stare at him so I looked at the wall. 

He jumped up and grabbed a T-shirt and basketball shorts out of his dresser and handed them to me. I smiled and walked into his sisters room to change. When I got back he was laying on the bed again, so I just stood in the door, unsure of what to do next. 

"Come lay down Megan. You look exhausted." 

"Megan...Megan...." I heard Jasper's voice, then I felt him shake me. 

"Whaaa....." I opened my eyes to see Jasper right in front of me. Still shirtless. "What time is it? We have school!!!" 

"Its only seven" He said with a grin. "I just figured you would need to shower before school."

I nodded and rolled out of bed. I walked into his bathroom and stripped down. As I went to turn on the shower, I realized I left the door open. I quickly pushed it closed, but I swore I saw Jasper looking in. I shook off the thoughts and let the hot water run over me for a few minuets. By the time I emerged out of the bathroom, Jasper was ready and waiting. I smiled at him "Lets get going." 

JASPER'S P.O.V.

God I am an idiot. Megan could have been seriously hurt last night, but no I let me feelings get in the way. I'm supposed to protect her, not let her almost be grabbed by one of them. I shook my head and walked to biology. But, Megan is just so perfect, her smiled, her tiny anger fits, determination, somehow I got lucky enough to be put as her protector. Even though Lenny has not figured out who her mate is supposed to be. I snapped out of my thoughts about Megan, I need to focus on keeping her safe, not dating her. Even though both would be nice... 

"Hey! Jasper!" I turned to see Lenny running down the hallway to catch up with me. "Any luck last night?" 

"What? Lenny! You know I won't even try with her.. I can't ruin our friendship..." I sighed and shrugged it off.

"But she slept over! Y'all danced and slept in the same bed!" she whispered like a child. 

"Lenny, I wish. You of all people know. Beyond anything in the world, I need Megan. But we both know I would never try and force anything upon her, or she might run and hide and we would never be able to find her again. Remember how long it took last time?" I said with a hint of bitterness in my voice. " I love her.  No doubt about it, but if she doesn't , I can't help the way she feels."

"God Jasper, you really need to find a distraction from her." She said. "Come on lets get to class before we're late... again."

When all classes ended for the day I walked to the parking lot with Lenny and Megan. "So whats the plan tonight Megan?" Lenny asked. "And I already know its your day off, so don't try that with me." 

"I have to get home and take care of the house. Ya know, since I didn't go home last night." She said with a odd look in her eye. "Sorry, maybe i'll get done early and text you." 

I watched her walk away with Lenny, then started the drive to the safe house.