Blood Mates

Adulting Teenager

Jasper got home at six after tutoring four kids from his school and two middle schoolers. He did a shift at the coffee shop and then immediately jumped into making dinner.

After marinating some steaks and tossing a salad together, Jasper waited until his dad was almost home before frying up the steaks. When William came in, he grabbed himself a beer before sitting down in a chair at the table.

“Something smells good Jas.” Jasper grinned, “Steak and salad for dinner. How was work?” William groaned, “Good. Met the family that’s moving in, they seem nice enough…”

Jasper looked at his dad amused, “But…? I hear a but in there.” William shook his head, “Nah, no buts. It’s just them seemed a little…weird?” Jasper jerked back a little, “Weird?”

William shrugged and tried for another word, “Off?” When Jasper still couldn’t understand what his father was relaying William sighed aspirated, “They just seemed different from the usual folk that winds up here. But like I said, nice still.”

Jasper sat their plates down as his dad grabbed two beers and offered him one. Jasper accepted and as he popped it open William continued, “The mom was nice, she was kind of hard to be around. She was so gorgeous, we kept losing focus with her around.”

Jasper laughed, “Got a thing for her dad?” William laughed, “Yeah right, her husband is not only ten times richer, but he’s no slouch. Man looks like he could bench press me all afternoon and won’t get tired.”

William took a swig of his beer as he admitted, “Son of a b***h is intimidating too. Made me almost piss myself when I almost went into the basement.”

Jasper jerked back, “Basement? Why would he get pissed if you went down there?” William shrugged, “He said there were fragile things down there. But Pauly thinks they started setting up some kind of dungeon.”

Snorting, Jasper asked, “Dungeon? Okay, what decade is this, 1834?” Shaking his head, Jasper muttered, “f*****g small towners man. I highly doubt the new family moving in tortures people.”

 William laughed amused as he peered over the rim of his beer at his son, “Not that kind of dungeon son.” Jasper took a minute to realize what his dad was talking about before flushing red in the face in embarrassment.

William laughed loudly and Jasper took a swig of his beer as his dad said, “Yeah but after that the uncle was funny. He kept us entertained throughout the entire time, he was a little old fashioned. And he sounded like one of those British Actors on TV, all posh and formal.”

Jasper snorted, “Cool, our first in the British bracket. We’ve almost reached full diversity with the Changs and Singhs moving in three years ago.” William pointed his fork at Jasper, “Very true. And I think their daughter goes to school with you now. Didn’t meet the son, but I think he’s an adult. His wife though…I don’t know.”

Jasper c****d an eyebrow, “Wait, Alaia Knight is the daughter of the family moving into the Fallen House?” William chewed before responding, “Eric and Sophia Knight are her parents.” Jasper whistled, “Damn, I mean I didn’t think she’d be moving into that house. She didn’t seem like the spooky mansion in the gated fence type.”

Grinning playfully, William teased, “Did she seem like your type?”

Jasper snorted, “If you saw her mother then you know Alaia is so out of my league I’m not even in the game.” William frowned, “Not true, you didn’t get all those good looks from me, for nothing.”

 Clearing away the empty plates Jasper tossed out, “Yeah thanks for that dad. Pair it with no sense of humor and awkwardness around girls I actually like, then yeah. I’m in the running.”  

William sighed, “Son, you’re a great young man. And as your father with as much of an unbiased opinion, I think you’re a great catch for any young woman. Now if they’ll be someone, I want you around is the question.”

Jasper put a hand on his chest, “Aw, dad I appreciate the love. But if YOU have to bouncer my girlfriends maybe I shouldn’t have one.”

Getting up, William slapped his son’s shoulder, “I just want you to be happy son. You’re so busy doing everything and you never take the time to do what it is you want for yourself.” William looked around suddenly in thought.

The house was immaculate thanks to his son, everything that had been done had Jasper’s name on it. And William felt supremely guilty of how much he threw on his son, “You take off tomorrow night. I don’t care what you do, but don’t come home. I’ll handle dinner, and you’ll be a teenager. Go hang out with AJ and Stella, but no adulting or I’m taking away your schoolbooks.”

Jasper looked at his dad amused, “You know that’s not how it’s supposed to work right?” William shrugged, “Not my fault you’re not a normal teenager.” Jasper laughed as his dad went to watch a game on the TV.

Jasper looked out the window to the cold night that was raining/sleeting ice. Shaking his head Jasper knew tomorrow was going to be colder than today and leading up to November was going to be rough.

But Jasper was excited to see Devil Horn in the winter, the town was at its most beautiful. Dipped in ice and shining like a winter wonderland, Devil’s Horns’ winter came with a burst of holiday cheer and feeling that seeped into the ground.

Jasper washed the dishes, started a load in the washing machine, and then went to do homework for his tutoring students so he could check their answers tomorrow on the problems he knew they were going to have.

As he worked well into the night, Jasper was unaware of the shadows moving in closer.