The Power Academy

Chapter 26- Game Night

A/n 

So it has been a month since I was challenged to not go the direction in the novel that my friend believed would diminish the importance of what they considered to be the healing process. Originally I agreed with him and have spent literal weeks pouring over this chapter trying to muck up the strength to actually take the direction they wanted me to. However, the longer I stared at the computer screen and the longer I searched for the words to say, I have come to realize that the path they wanted me to take wasn't me. This book is helping me through my journey of healing and I need to be fairly true to how I am healing. If I chose to write a story in a way that wasn't reflective of how I feel and how I am healing, it would defeat the purpose entirely. So I apologise if you think this is cliche, and I apologise for the late update, but I choose to write something that is genuine to myself and my experience currently. 

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Kayla’s PoV: 

The door opens for me as I walk through, still trying to comprehend the millions of thoughts sprinting through my head. They close the door behind me and go to sit at the foot of the bed, gesturing for me to sit down as well. Shaking my head, I begin to pace in front of them. 

“Gemma isn’t here Kayla… you made it quite obvious that we couldn’t do whatever it is that we were doing, so…  so why are you here?” Jasper asks as he looks down at his feet, no longer capable of holding himself in a dominant stature. It breaks my heart to see him this hurt and knowing that I am the cause of it hurts me even more. 

“I uh… so I was talking to Miss Maggie and well… oh, do you know Miss Maggie? She is this really sweet teacher. Well, I was talking to her, I was actually talking to her for quite a while. Maybe I told her more that she needed to hear, well anyways…” I ramble on as I pace back and forth, my nerves getting to me. Jasper reaches out and clasps his hand around my wrist, making both time and my thoughts freeze. My breath hitches as I feel every point of contact from his skin, the coarseness of his fingers, the pulse of his heartbeat from his grip, each miniscule detail clearing my clouded head. 

“Kayla…” 

“I want this… I want you and me. I don’t know if that includes Gemma, I don’t know if I am even mentally capable of committing and submitting at this point, so I need to go slower than ever, but Jasper… I want this… I want you,” before I could say anything more Jasper pulled my wrist toward himself and embraced me tighter than I’ve been held before. 

Who knows how long it was that we stayed holding each other, simply enjoying each other’s embrace, but eventually Gemma opened the door and stood stunned. 

"Wow… you're actually here… I guess I owe Seb five bucks," she walks over and plops on to one of the couches, "so, clearly y'all talked about something. How is this gonna go down?" Jasper pulls away enough to caress my cheek, refusing to look away or fully let go, as if I would disappear right in front of him. 

"The most important thing is to make sure that Kayla is safe and comfortable. So let's just say for now… we are friends, obviously friends that can do more than other friends, but Gemma,"  Jasper quickly looks over to her to make sure she was listening, "you and I will not make the first move on anything. We need to go at our little one's speed," I blush at the nickname Jasper says with such ease. 

"Okay, 'friends' it is then, just as long as it gets you out of this mood you've had," Gemma teases as Jasper throws a pillow at her head from the bed. She laughs and goes over to the shelves on the other side of the room, "Jasper, text Seb and Sashsa, we are having game night since we are all 'friends' here," I roll my eyes and let go of Jasper as I walk over to the couch and sit next to where Gemma sprawled before. 

After about ten minutes, the two boys walk in, cards against humanity in hand, "We didn't know if you guys would have the good games, so we brought our own." Sasha rolled his eyes as Sebby literally jumped into our laps on the couch. 

The next time anyone looked up at clock, it was well into the night. After about the fifth 'one last round', Sasha managed to pull Sebby away from the game long enough to convince him that sleep was something people tend to need to not be dependent on caffeine. After saying their goodbyes and playing one final round, Jasper closes the door behind the pair. 

"So I should probably head back to my room now… thank you both for tonight," I say as I grab my belongings. 

"I'm walking you to your room," Jasper stated, not even saying it as a question. Gemma laughs at us and starts walking to the bed, stripping as she goes. 

"Have fun you two!" She yells behind us as I follow Jasper out of the door. I naturally reach out for Jasper's hand, and he envelops mine with his as we start walking down the hall. Nothing has felt so right, yet made my heart point quite like this. I should panic from physical contact after everything, but it just feels so calm and safe with him. 

The walk feels all too short, but rather than walking in, I lean on my door, "So… this is me." 

" Yeah, tonight was a lot of fun Kayla, thank you," Jasper says as he looks down, casually playing with my hand in his. He looks so unphased, but every movement of his fingers on my palm makes me catch my breath. 

"Anytime…." I lose any words coming to mind, focusing only on Jasper and the effect he has on me. A quick smirk forms on his face but is quickly replaced by the nonchalant look, almost as if he hoped I didn't see that he knew the effect he had on me. 

"I should get going…" he goes to leave, letting go of my hand, but I quickly grab it back. 

"Or…" I open my door behind me and take a step back, letting go of Jasper's hand ever so slightly, yet still touching, "you could come in… obviously I'm not ready for… but…. but I don't want to be alone tonight, would you… I don't know… would you maybe… uh… stay the uh…. wanna stay… with me?"