Live, Laugh, Love [COMPLETE/PUBLISHED]

Chapter 9

"Where the hell have the two of you been?" Levi asks with his voice booming throughout the floor. We stare at him not really wanting to explain.

"My office. Now." We follow behind him and we walk into his office closing the door behind us.

"Will one of you explain why the two of you are waltzing in late?" He asks standing behind his desk.

"Well, lunch went on a little longer than we expected," Jasper explains. I swear he is trying to get us fired.

"Did you both forget that we had a meeting with investors right after lunch and I had to explain to them that I have no idea where the two of you were?" Oh, shit. That meeting that I was prepared for. The meeting that I had to get the information to Levi about.

"Mr. Worth, Jasper and I are sorry. We both got so caught up with talking to each other at lunch that we didn't notice the time."

"You are lucky that I was able to convince them to come back tomorrow for a meeting. Jasper, back to work. I need to talk to Ms. Lockhart real quick." Am I getting fired? Jasper gives my hand a reassuring squeeze and leaves returning to his desk.

"Look, I'm sorry if it seemed like I am blowing up on the two of you, but you and I both know how important that meeting was today," Levi says seemingly calming down from a moment ago.

"I understand, I do, but we really were just eating and talking."

"I believe you. It is just weird, seeing a different side of you. When I had interviewed you, you were this shy woman who really had no idea what she was getting herself into. I don't know what has changed in the past couple of weeks, but I think you finally know who you are."

"Yeah, something like that."

"I know it has something to do with Jasper. I don't like dating between employees, but Jasper seems to make you happy-"

"No, you have this completely wrong. Jasper and I aren't dating and we will never date. You know how I feel about that kind of thing."

"But I also know that fears don't always last forever. You were the only one who said she is scared of being attached to someone or falling in love yet here you are spending time with Jasper. And what about your sister?"

"How do you know-"

"For being 14, your sister is pretty smart. She called me and was asking about you. Look I know that things are changing. Everyone can see it, but you can't let your fear take over and prevent you from changing. Who knows maybe you'll find the family you have been dreaming of. Or maybe you'll start living rather surviving, it's up to you. Back to work, Ophelia." He sits back down at his desk and I stand there staring. He looks up and waves me off. I turn on my heel and I walk out. What just happened?

Instead of going back to my desk, I walk into an empty copy room and I close the door, locking it. I start to pace around the room hoping to find an answer in my thoughts.

"Cosa diavolo intendeva Levi per aver bisogno di far cambiare le cose? Non lascio che accada già? Voglio dire, ho ricominciato a lavorare. Cosa vuole di più? E Jasper. Oh dio, Jasper. Sta cambiando tutto ciò che ho mai saputo sull'amore. Tutti quelli che hanno mai detto di amarmi sono partiti. Smettila di prenderti in giro, Lia. Hai lasciato la maggior parte di loro nel momento in cui hanno detto che ti amavano. I miei genitori avrebbero dovuto amarmi, ma se ne sono andati. Ho dovuto lasciare così tante persone dietro la mia vita, ma per qualche ragione il pensiero di lasciare Jasper mi fa venire voglia di morire. Come è diventato una parte così grande della mia vita e lo conosco a malapena? Calmati, Ofelia. Calmati. Aspettare. Mia sorella si chiama Levi? Che cosa voleva sapere? Oddio, farà qualcosa di stupido, lo so e basta. Diaspro. Perché i miei pensieri tornano sempre da lui? È questo un segnale che mi dice che è molto più di un collega o addirittura un amico?"

You and I both know the answer to that, Lia.

I continue to ramble on in Italian and I stop when I hear a knock at the door.

"Ophelia? Are you okay?" A familiar voice asks. I walk to the door and unlock it letting him in.

"Jasper, I'm fine." I start to walk from him, but he grabs my hand.

"You were ranting in Italian. I do the same thing in Spanish when I'm upset or frustrated. Now, do you want to tell me what's up?" Tears form in my eyes and he pulls me into his chest and lets me sob.

Change is what can break people. But, change is also what can save some people. I'm trying to not let it break me, but everything is changing so quickly.

And it is all because of him.

Jasper Atwater came sweeping into my life and blew away everything that I ever thought was true. He made me see that I wasn't alone anymore. Because of him, I grew the courage to meet my sister. Because of him, I finally feel like I have a place in this world.

He is the one that makes me laugh in the darkest times.

He is the one that makes me believe everything is worth it.

He is the one that is making me feel alive.

And that freaking terrifies me. People leave and I can't let him.

But I ask myself every time I'm with him, if he was going to leave wouldn't he have left already?

I need to stop thinking the worst in everything, I just need to live my life as it throws at me and forget about the consequences for once.

I need to start playing the game of life.

And Jasper is going to be right beside me the entire time.

I just know it.