Chapter 18: The Friend

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Update (06/17/21): Grammatical errors were fixed, and sentences were added to a conversation.

Update v.2 (06/04/23): Grammatical errors solved, slight sentence changes.



       Summer had finally begun. Kids were out of school, and more and more people were coming to Beach City for vacation. Which meant the local businesses were extremely busy. Especially places like Funland Arcade, the amusement park, and all the food establishments. Your heart went out to Mr. Smiley, who ran two businesses in town and couldn't be in two places at once. So you offered to help the older gentlemen. That was about two weeks ago, and currently, it was Thursday night. You would work at the bookstore for its normal hours from nine in the morning to five in the evening, and then head to the amusement park or arcade to take a shift for Mr. Smiley. The arcade was open from ten in the morning to five in the evening Monday through Saturday, so after you'd leave the bookstore on Fridays and Saturdays at two, you'd go to work the few hours in the arcade while Mr. Smiley went to the amusement park. Beach City Funland was open Thursday through Sunday but at completely different times. Thursdays and Fridays, it was open from five in the evening to nine at night while on the weekends it was open from one in the afternoon to eleven...almost midnight!

       You were making your way back from the amusement park, your eyes drooping and your head aching. You were just being nice and trying to help your friend and trainer out, but it was beginning to be too much. You were absolutely exhausted, and you didn't know how long you would be able to keep it up. You sighed, running a hand down your face, rubbing your tired eyes as you trudged down the long road toward your home. I really should start driving down here instead of walking, you thought irritably. But, the positives do outweigh the negatives in both scenarios. By walking, you were exercising, and it kept you alert and more awake, and it also saved gas. The only downside was the long walk from the bookstore to the amusement park and then all the way back to your house on the beach. As far as working at the amusement park, you did get paid for the work you performed, and you got to interact with the children and hear their screams of joy. The only downside is how loud and bratty the kids could be sometimes.

       You sighed, twisting your key into the lock, and pushing the door open. Jasper was sitting on the couch, nonchalantly petting Storm who was resting in her lap. The curtains were closed, and the lights were off except for the one in the hallway on the stairs. The TV was also off, which wasn't all that strange considering the past two weeks. You would come home from work, and Jasper would either be sitting on the couch or in her room just staring off into space as if she was thinking or contemplating something. It would usually take you calling her name or an audible sigh for her to glance your way. Sometimes she would jump slightly like you had scared her, or as if you had caught her doing something she wasn't supposed to. You hung your purse and keys on the hook by the door, patting Jasper's head quietly as you passed her. The gem looked in your direction then went back to staring at the blank TV screen. You went up the stairs to shower quickly, changing into a pair of thin pajamas with fuzzy socks. When you came back down the stairs to get something to eat, Storm came from the living room and circled your legs. You smiled, picking the grey kitten up, and scratching her ears. She purred in your arms, her body vibrating softly. You chuckled, opened the fridge, and took out the readymade salad you bought the other day. You opened it, turn back to the fridge to get the dressing, and then pour it over the salad. You put Storm onto the counter, and she sat before you, her tail flicking behind her as her seafoam green eyes watched you. You licked some of the dressing from your fingers, closing the bottle and putting it away. You grabbed a fork, went to the living room, and sat next to Jasper on the couch. She still seemed to be out of it so you turned the TV on, which gained her attention pretty quickly. "Are you okay, Jasper?" you asked, your voice stale. The gem nodded, looking at you, her bright amber eyes searching your face.

Jasper x Fem! Reader (NOT FINISHED, may continue at a later date)Where stories live. Discover now