CH. 24 Boy, what a day!

Good evening dear all :-) As I promised in my Author's Note, today I am updating TOL and here comes a new and rather long and intense chapter... which I really hope you'll enjoy, so please let me know with your wonderful comments: THANK YOU!!!  YOU'RE ALL AMAZING!!!

Ok, quick NOTE: I changed the age of the characters, so now they are all 1 year older, just because if felt right in that way to me.

BE SURE to read my author's chit-chat and the SHOUT-OUTS, OK???

On the right a picture/gif of Jasper --> Francisco Lachowski with a little kitten..isn't he super cute? I think we all understand why Dima is so crazily in love with him...

Dedicated to all of you and in particular to GummyBearsLoL as a super thank you for you enthusiastic and wonderful comments xox

Now, I should leave you all to our kitty and tiger :-)))

Enjoy!

JASPER POV

Travis and I talked a bit over the phone, but he said he preferred to talk in person and my friend decided to come over a bit earlier in the morning and pick me up for school; if that was ok with me and I didn’t mind not seeing my tiger as first thing in the morning. Oh boy, Travis could be terrible sometimes, but I knew he was basically jumping out of his skin of happiness for me; he told me so and I just thought how lucky I was to have a friend like him.

The Sunday afternoon went relatively normal, but that only because Shenice stayed there with me watching a movie and then asked me to test her Spanish, since boy, she wasn’t very good at that. Mother was pleased to hear I was good at least at something and I tried my best to avoid her the entire day. But soon my friend went home and I had to face her usual speech at how it was inappropriate of me to spend the night out at my uhm age, and that she could not believe I was still talking about Dima as my boyfriend, but that I should just call him friend and then we almost had another fight, but dad quieted down the situation at dinner.

After dinner my dad called me in his office and oh boy, I was deadly afraid to hear what he had in mind, because I wasn’t going to call Dima just a friend. He was my boyfriend and I loved him.

“Jasper, close the door and sit down here. We need to talk.”

His tone was quite grave and serious, but that wasn’t a surprise.

Father never really changed expression.

“Uhm, yes father.”

I took a deep breath and closed the door and tried with all my best not to look down. I thought about Dima and immediately felt better. I walked to fathers’ desk and sat on the chair opposite him.

“Jasper, I think I already told you to call me dad. I really don’t like all of these formalities, or to be more honest, I grew very tired of these formalities and regime, as I realized I almost lost my two sons.” He sighed out and stood up, walking to me and sitting on the chair at my side. “I believe your mother has not accepted the fact you are with Dmitri in a non-just-friendship way yet, and must be honest with you, son. I still need time to properly comprehend the entirety of this situation, as well as for Nicholas. I never thought he was hiding something from us and apparently he was hiding more, since he clearly said he moved to Los Angeles to keep distance between us, exception made for you; he obviously adores you, Jasper.”

He paused a moment and sighed again. I was just sitting there and looking at him almost in shock. Dad has never spoken to me so sincerely about his feelings; uhm well, he did that time when I had a fight with mother about Shenice, but it was different, he didn’t say so much.

“Dad..” I tried to say, but he placed a hand over mine and I almost jumped. He never expressed any affection to me with such gestures; boy, I wasn’t used to this.

“You see Jasper? Even a simple gesture like this surprises you. Since that discussion you had with your mother about Mr. Valentine’s daughter I began to think more about our family, about the relationship I have with you and Nicholas and I came to realize I have nothing. You are almost eighteen years old, son, I know nothing about you. Same goes for your brother and when that hit me, well, it scared me. I do not want to lose my sons and lose my sons for what? I even don’t know it.”

He stopped again and I felt tears in my eyes. Dad loved us. Dad loved Nic and I and he said he was afraid of losing us. I couldn’t believe at his words; I had always wanted to have a normal and happy family and now I was completely speechless.

Oh boy, what was wrong with me? Why couldn’t say anything to him? Why couldn’t I do anything? I chewed my inner lip and peeked at the ceiling, trying to calm down. What would Dima do in this situation? What would Travis do? I almost giggled when I got the answer. They would immediately blurt out something and probably act in some way, as both were very straightforward and very warm and out-going persons.

I looked at dad and he seemed so tired, so tired that his wrinkles around his eyes looked deeper than they really were and his skin seemed paler. I stood up and he gave me a surprise and worried glance and then I just hugged him tightly.

We both felt awkward at first and he stiffened at that as I had no idea how to properly hug him, but then he relaxed and wrapped his arms around me, very tightly. And so I relaxed, too.

“Uhm..I…I miss you, dad.” I murmured and he hugged me stronger and then released me and I sat back to my chair.

“I miss you, too, Jasper.” For the first time he smiled a genuine happy smile. Oh boy, I couldn’t believe it. “Your mother would probably freak out in seeing me so relaxed.”

My eyes went wide and my mouth even wider. Did he just say “freak out”? Uhm, I heard well, right? Oh boy, sure I heard well; dad had just said it.

“Dad…you just said “freak out.” Boy, that’s really something for you..” I immediately blushed at my sudden comment and he smiled and chuckled. First time I heard him chuckle in a real way and not business-like.

“I made many errors and I will start immediately to change things, but it will not be easy with your mother. I am not going to lie to you, son. I don’t love your mother, but you know it already and you know our marriage was more a business deal rather than a wedding.” I just nodded, because he never really spoke so freely with me. “Actually no. I began to really think about everything after that horrible accident that happened to your friend, Travis.”

I froze on the spot when he mentioned that and he saw it; dad smiled at me and sighed out.

“After I heard of that I began to think that he could have been you instead of him and that things could have been gone worse, way worse. And believe me son; I began to realize what a bad father I had been for you. You came to me many times asking for help and what I did? Nothing. Then you met this friend, Travis, and he did more for you in few moths than I did for you in your entire life. I spoke last month to Mrs. Henderson, because of the trial, and she told me everything. Her son thought of you and of your safety and you saved him.”

“Uhm, no dad, Alex saved him.” He smiled and nodded.

“Yes, she told me everything, but Jasper, you immediately went to look for help and you did not lose your calm. I am proud of you and it was something I long wanted to tell you. I heard from her how Aleksandr, that is the name, correct?” I nodded. “Well, how he took care of her son and how with him Travis didn’t break down. I began to question myself about many things, Jasper. That young man was there for his partner and risked very much in order to save him and that is remarkable.” I was again speechless. I had no idea he had talked to Michelle and I doubted that Travis knew something about that.

“Then I noticed how you changed since you started dating Dmitri.” Dad continued taking me by surprise.

“Uhm, what do you mean?” I was listening to him with such wide eyes that I was afraid they would roll down or blow up. Dad was proud of me? Dad respected Alex? Because boy, that was what he meant by saying that. And…uhm, dad noticed something changed in me because of my tiger?

“Now you are more serene Jasper and you smile more, and you also are more determined, self confident. I believe this is a side effect of being with Dmitri, right? I think he helped you to pull out those sides of you that were hidden, as he seems a very honest and spontaneous guy. Nicholas was right when he said that you were braver than him, because you told us about your sexual orientation at first and I am so sorry Jasper we reacted in the way we did. I’m sorry for the way I snapped at you last winter; that has been unfair.”

He rested his back on the chair and took a long and deep breath. I blinked many times as to assess the person I had in front of me was really the same man. Boy, I mean, my father never showed the smallest feeling and interest for me and also for Nic and now it was me having a problem in processing everything. I felt my head about to fuse and explode.

“Jasper.” He said suddenly sitting straight and looking directly in my eyes.

“Yes dad?”

“Will you please give me a second chance? I know I made mistakes over mistakes and I cannot even call myself a bad father, because I haven’t been a father at all for you, but I want to start it over again and want to get to know you and your brother.”

Dad smiled in an anxious way and it was so strange to see him so insecure. He had always been this cold, distant and never-smiling person; a man that felt more a stranger to me than a father and that never paid attention to me as son; boy, to me as person living here.

I was so confused right now.

Oh boy, my head was about to split in two and I had no idea what to say, what to answer. I have always wanted to have normal and affectionate parents, like Michelle or Dmitri’s parents, but it wasn’t possible for me and now…now he was telling me what I longed for to hear in years. I blinked more and fidgeted, because I wasn’t sure about what to say. I missed having a father and I wanted to know more about him, too, but I was slightly scared, because to me he was a stranger.

Oh boy, what to do? What to do? I tried to think about Dima and then I closed my eyes and exhaled. I had no reason to fidget so much. I confronted Anatoly, uhm well, confronted was a huge word for me, since Dima was there with me, but uhm, somehow I faced him and so now I had to face dad.

“Dad, I-I want to get to know you, too, because we are like strangers and I have always wanted a real family, a warm and welcoming family.” He smiled more relaxed, but I kept talking. I had a couple of conditions. “I..I..uhm well, it’s ok only if you talk about this with Nic, too and if you tell him everything. I mean, he needs to know and you need to understand him and accept his being gay, just like for me.”

“Yes Jasper, I promise to talk to Nicholas as soon as he comes home.” His eyes studied my face and he understood I had something else to say, so he invited me to continue with a smile. Boy, I never saw father smiling that much.

“Uhm well… I have another condition and that is about Dima. I love him and he’s my boyfriend and I don’t want to call him my friend, because he’s not just my friend. Can you accept that completely?”

He reflected on that and I grew more nervous. I didn’t know what to expect from him, but I sure knew that I wasn’t going to back off. Not this time.

“Of course Jasper. I see that you have strong and deep feelings for Dmitri and I respect it, as I respect him as your boyfriend. So far he proved to be a sensible guy. The only thing I need son is time to get used to all of this, because I can say many times that I respect it and accept it and that’s true, but getting used to a new reality takes longer than that. Will you give me some time? And maybe in the meanwhile I can get to know Dmitri?”

I widened my eyes and then nodded eagerly.

Dad wanted to get along with my tiger! Oh boy, I couldn’t wait to tell that to Dima and then to Travis and also to Nic! Oh boy, my brother wasn’t going to believe it, I just knew it.

“Yes dad, oh boy…yes…you, uhm, you really want to get to know Dima?”

“Well of course, son. He’s your boyfriend and I have to make sure he treats you well, even though I am not in position right now to speak about it. But, he does treat you well, right?”

“Dad, Dima is just perfect.” I said with isn’t-it-obvious expression. He smiled at that and stood up and I did the same.

“He plays hockey, is that correct?” I nodded. “Will it be ok if I come to watch a game?”

“Uhm, boy, for real?”

“Yes, for real. I believe most of your friends do play hockey and I heard from Mrs. Henderson that Aleksandr is the captain of the school team and his father is the famous Vladimir Lebedev, coach of our team.”

“You know Alex’s father?” Now I was going under a new shock.

“No, I don’t know him personally, but we met once when we had to discuss over the horrible matter that occurred in January and as every good Americans, I sure know details about our ice-hockey team.”

“Boy dad, you sure are surprising me tonight.” He chuckled and went to probably ruffle my hair, but he stopped, not knowing what to do. He wasn’t used to expression of affection, so I tried to gulp down the sudden nervous and shyness and gave him a timid hug.

“You know Jasper, your grandfather says a lot of times oh boy, and thus I believe it’s almost genetic.” I blushed hearing that and uhm well, it was true I said that many times, but oh boy, I couldn’t help it. I giggled and this time he ruffled my hair. “I believe Nicholas will come home this coming week, since in few days you are turning eighteen. I will talk to him in that occasion. Now tell me, what do you have in mind for your birthday? Because it’s quite an important age you reach.”

“Uhm well, I don’t know, I guess something with Dima and my friends.”

“Oh I am sure your friends will plan something.” Uhm, I didn’t know anything about that and haven’t heard a word, so maybe we would only celebrate it normally and I was already happy this year I was going to celebrate such a day with many wonderful friends and my uhm…boyfriend. I blushed just thinking about him. “Now son, time for you to go to sleep or check your homework and time for me to have a word with your mother. I need to talk to her.”

He smiled and then we exchanged another less-awkward hug and we exited the studio, and giggling I went to run upstairs, not able to wait to tell everything to my tiger.

“Jasper Lucas, where do you think you are? Please, do not run around in that way.” I slumped down when I heard mother’s voice and saw her severe and cold stare.

“Mother..”

“Adelle-Grace darling, let our son breath once in a while.” Dad winked at me and I think mother turned into an icy statue.

“Edward dear..” She began. I glanced at them and then left, knowing they sure needed to be alone.

Boy, I had no idea how mother would take everything, but deep down I had a bad feeling that she wasn’t going to take it very well. Uhm well, nope, not well at all.

I was now laughing and giggling at such point that my tummy hurt and Dima at the phone was asking me what was so funny. Oh boy, he was that funny.

I had called him to explain what happened before with dad and he couldn’t believe it and cursed many times in Russian and English and when I told him about the hockey game I think he almost rolled down from the bed for the shock.

“Jas, you serious? Your dad wants to come to a game? Man, that’s pretty freaky. I mean, freaky in a good way.”

“I know, I was shocked too and boy, I blinked so many times that I was afraid my eyelids would break.” He let out a powerful and booming laugh and then regained some calm.

“Man, I can totally picture that in my mind. Wow, can’t still believe at everything you told me, that’s awesome baby. And hey, we have a game this Saturday, so why don’t you bring him over that day? Oh, but then you better leave the whole afternoon and evening free, ok?”

“Uhm, sure, but why?”

“Why you ask? Kitty, Thursday is your birthday and we are going to celebrate of course together, but we’ll have a party this Saturday. Alright, I wasn’t supposed to say anything, but whatever, just want to make sure you’ll leave the day free. Travis is not going to kick my ass for this, at least I hope so.”

“Travis??”

“Ops…he’s probably going to kick my ass, right, oh well, whatever.” He laughed and I just shook my head. Boy, I loved him so much.

“Uhm well, then thank you for Saturday…I won’t say a word to Travis, promise.” I giggled.

“He’s coming to pick you up tomorrow morning, right baby?”

“Yep.”

“Fine, I’ll let it go this time and see you at school.” I heard him suddenly saying something in Russian and I wondered what that could mean. I should ask him to teach me few words. “Sorry Jas, mum asked me something about school and she says hi.”

I blushed at that.

“Uhm, thank you and hi back.” Then I thought about what happened in the morning and debated whether ask him about that or not. I went for asking. “Dima, did you see…uhm…your brother?”

He sighed and groaned something impossible to understand and I bet he ruffled his hair.

“Yeah, we saw each other at dinner and don’t know man, but he was quite strange. He wasn’t that irritating and twisted bastard he usually is, but strange at the same time. He had dinner with us and behaved decently and I am not even telling you how happy mum was; I think Anatoly spent the day with that scary dude of Oleg; they went out with his bike I think. Probably that quieted down his bastard-side a bit.” Dima was saying that, but you couldn’t miss the subtle happiness in talking about that and saying that his brother had dinner with them and they had no fights or arguments.

“Uhm well, I think what you said in morning had quite the effect…” I ventured and he sighed.

“I don’t know kitty. There is so much I don’t understand about him, but hey, let’s talk about us and you wanna know something? I miss you and man, I can smell you on my bed and I think tonight I’ll have some dirty dreams.”

“Dima!”

“Joking, well, not really.” He laughed and I shook my head trying to calm my heart beat. “Sorry for my lack of tact, but I really can’t wait to see you and kiss you. Jas, you got me completely addicted to you. Man, need to have my dose of my kitty daily.” I giggled at howsweet he was actually sounding. “I am serious, and the more I think about what we did this morning, the more I wish to have you here in my hands.”

I didn’t blush. Nope. I think I literally dissolved in embarrassment, so I took a couple of breaths and then I ended up thinking about that, too and oh boy…Dima was affecting me too much, because I began to feel that same tightening feelings in my lower regions and shivered at the thought of his lips and hands on me. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, what was I thinking?

“Dima..” I blushed when my voice came out slightly husky.

“Baby, don’t tell me you’re thinking about that too and man..don’t tell me that you are..”

“Bad tiger!” I said, honestly about to melt in a puddle of overly uhm well…oh boy, couldn’t believe myself for what I was going to think…but boy, I was excited, turned on. I slumped back on the bed and then giggled. Yep, being with Dima had amazing and surprising side-effects.

“Sorry Jasper, being quite the horny jerk. Sorry, forgiving me, please??”

“Dima you know I cannot resist you.” Hechuckled at my words and told me he loved me. “Love you, too.”

“Alright man, before I say something else of moronic and tactless, I wish you good night Jas and I better move my butt to finish this damn essay.” He snorted annoyed. “I’ll see you tomorrow in school, k kitty?”

“Sure, good night tiger and uhm…” I bit my lower lip and blushed and then said it. “Can’t wait to make love with you again.”

I turned off the communication and hid my face with a pillow. Oh boy, I was going out of mind here, seriously. My phone trilled and I saw I received a message and it was from Dima.

“U’re such a teaser … a sexy teaser. Can’t wait for that too. U have no idea!!!”

I stared at the message a couple of minutes and then giggled like the silly love-struck dofus I had become. I gave him a quick answer and then called Nic and Travis.

Travis was now sitting on my bed and looking at me. He had arrived 5 minutes ago and since it was too early to drive to school, we talked a bit and he decided to help me in choosing what to wear.

“Hell, go for this cutie. This color is perfect with you.” He handed me a cream-white hoodie that had the figure of a skater in the middle, so I pulled it over my light-blue jeans, the one he “fixed” with the scissors. Boy, I was beginning to like these jeans here with hole at the knees and I knew Dima liked them. “Jasper, don’t think about your blondie right now, need to finish the masterpiece and you need to stay focused.” I giggled at my friend and at how he called Dima; that was Kevin’s doing and they both had fun in teasing him.

“How do you know I was thinking about him?”

“Because you suddenly smiled to your ears and slightly blushed, which means you were thinking about something naughty. So tell me now.” He fluidly hopped off of the bed and walked to me, studying my face with his shining black eyes. “Going to fix your hair, too. Now, tell me.”

“Boy, I was just thinking that he likes these jeans here.” I rolled my eyes playfully and he winked.

“Hell, you think I’m going to believe you? Your parents are not at home, right?” I shook my head. “Fantastic, so we can talk freely. Now, tell me, how was it? No wait, first I get the gel and then you can talk.” He walked to the bathroom and heard him humming a song and I sighed out defeated.

I knew I had no choices with my best friend.

Travis walked back and fixed my hair and I had no idea how he always managed to arrange my hair in such a great way, but he always did it. Then he smirked and nudged my side while winking. Oh boy…here I was, trapped in crazy-Travis-wonderland.

“So cutie, how was it?” He was almost jumping on the spot. Boy, I loved Travis. “Tell me, tell me, tell me!” I giggled and hugged him and then we sat down a bit, since we still had time before school.

“Uhm well…it’s been…perfect.” I blushed and looked at my neo-green Vans, but he tipped my chin up and planted a kiss on my cheek.

“I thought so. Hell, you sounded so excited yesterday and also so happy… He’s been good?” He winked and I went bright red.

“Oh boy Travis..”

“C’mon, it’s me. Nothing embarrasses me.” He poked my side and I began to laugh because it tickled.

“Oh I know that.” He stuck out his tongue and we both laughed at our being silly. Then I took a deep breath and talked. Travis was my best friend and I had already asked him many things about sex and the like, so it wasn’t the first time we talked about this. “Uhm well…Dima is amazing, I mean, I know I cannot compare because it was my first time, but Travis, he is simply wonderful. He’s tender and attentive, but also very passionate and ardent, not wild in a crazy way, but he’s overwhelming and he made sure everything was perfect for me and uhm well..he used a lotion or something, because boy, at first it really hurt.”

My ears were probably purple right now and so my face, but I couldn’t stop smiling. It might be slightly embarrassing to openly say such things, but it gave me an incredible warm emotion the fact I could share it with Travis.

“Yeah, at first it’s always sort of awkward, especially if the other isn’t that great.” He rolled his eyes and I knew what he meant.

“Uhm, how was your first time?” I timidly asked him.

“Hell, don’t make me think about it. Nothing special and even though the guy was a year older and supposed-to-be-experienced, it’s not been good at all. I wish my first time would have been with my Alexi, because cutie, he’s just the best ever..such a sex-beast, but so sweet and thoughtful…hell, I love him like crazy and love-making with him it’s literally mind-blowing.” He grinned and I smiled with him. “But less about me and more about you, Jas. It’s been very considerate of him to use a lube.”

“Yep, I think it helped, because uhm well..it wasn’t immediately comfortable, but boy… then I went out of mind.” I gasped at my words and my friend chuckled.

“So he’s really great, otherwise you wouldn’t have felt that fantastic. I’m so happy for you!” He jumped on me and he threw his arms around my neck. Then he casted me one of his most wicked expressions. “How do you like it?”

“Oh boy… Travis!”

“Oh c’mon, you can tell me. I like when Alexi is rough and wild, when he suddenly takes me and turns me around..” I clasped his mouth because I was going thermonuclear and he burst out laughing.

“You’re terrible.” I said giggling.

“And you’re adorable.” He kissed the tip of my nose and I shook my head. I couldn’t as well resist Travis.

“Uhm well…” I bit my inner cheek and chewed on it, then said it in a go.“IlikewhenIamonthetop.”

“What?” Travis asked brushing his white hair.

“Uhm..” another deep breath.” I like when I am on top…I mean, when I .. uhm well, you got what..”

“Hell, you like riding? You’re a naughty cutie, know that?” I think I almost collapsed at those words. “Just kidding. I love that, too. It’s great, right? Because you feel it’s you driving your boyfriend crazy, right? Alexi loves that, too.”

“Really?” He nodded. “Uhm, Dima loves it too.” I confessed. “He said that’s … uhm, a great turn-on for him.” Travis grinned like Cheshire cat and poked my dimples.

“Hmm…I bet you drove him out of mind. I can totally see that, you seem shy and timid, but I am sure that with Dima you’re completely different; you surely are a very sexy bold cutie.” My eyes almost popped out and rolled on the floor along with my jaw.

“I was right.” He smirked and winked. “Did you use precautions?”  He then asked seriously.

“We discussed about this before and aside the fact that he had always used uhm well…protections and well, never uhm…boy this is so embarrassing..well, he never uhm you know, with a girl..”

“He never went down to a girl, I got that.” I stared at him a moment and then shook my head. Why was I even being embarrassed? Travis was completely at ease with this.

“Yes, exactly. Well, aside that, it showed me that he’s completely fine, because you know, he’s very fixated with hockey and so he cares a lot about his body and..well, you know.”

“Yeah, know what you mean. Alexi is like Dima and I am the same. I have always used protections and never went down without a rubber and always been careful and then I made a check-up. Alexi and I use nothing, but it’s just because it’s him and he’s the love of my life and because I know I can trust him completely; he’ll never cheat on me and same goes for me. Hell, we want to spend our life together.” He explained and I understood everything he meant, because I felt the same. I felt that Dima was the love of my life and the only person I could trust that much.

“I…I love and trust Dima in the same way.”

Travis smiled and leaned closer to me.

“So, nothing, right?” I got what he meant and I nodded. “Well, it’s great you guys talked about that. Dima really is a fantastic and trustworthy huge bear.”

“Yep, he is.”

“So…bet now you cannot wait to make more love, right? And bet you can’t wait to try different things and positions and..” I tossed at him a pillow and he burst out laughing. “Oh Jas, it is so funny to tease you, but hell, you are my best friend and so we should exchange ideas and opinions.”

“But Travis, you’re crazy and you like it wild and rough…Boy, I sure am not for that.”

“I know you’ll never go for handcuffs, cutie.”

“Oh boy, Travis, kill me now, please? Handcuffs?? That’s so out of mind for me.” Then I looked at him and found myself curious. “Uhm, who uses them? You?”

“Both.” He winked so mischievously that I automatically went thermonuclear. “I love him in complete charge and on his beast-mood, because he’s incredible, but I love also to be the one in charge and drive him crazy and believe me, Alexi goes insane with that. He totally loves when he is in my hands.”

“Boy, I hope Dima isn’t for that.” I remembered what he told me and I sighed out relieved. “He’s not like that, he told me so.”

“Well Jasper, I am just super happy for you. Dima is perfect for you and treasures and loves you sincerely, that’s pretty obvious, really. Now, ready for school?”

“Yep.”

“I mean, cutie, ready for school?” I gave him a confused look and then understood what he meant and I just wished to disappear.

“Oh boy, no. I am not ready.”

“Sorry, I sure didn’t say a word, but Jasper, it’s written all over your face what you two have done this weekend.” I blinked several times and then ran to the mirror on my wall. What was so obvious? I didn’t see anything particular on my face. “It’s not that you have anything strange on your face, but how to say it, it’s sort of obvious from how your eyes shine and smile and it’s going to be even more clear when you two will be together. Alexi knows already, I think Dima asked him for something, but you know my love, he won’t say a word and never really teases you.”

“Oh boy, that’s another reason why I like your boyfriend so much!” That was true, Alex never really teased me.

“Well, let’s go.”

We reached school and right at the parking lot we found Alex, Dima and River waiting for us and talking about hockey, and when River saw me, he smirked and winked and I wished to disappear. Travis softly chuckled and immediately went to uhm well, greet his boyfriend. Dima grinned at me and in a blink I found myself swept from the ground and quashed in a bear-like hug. I giggled and hugged him back.

“Hey kitty, how are you?” He put me down on my feet, but kept his arms around me and for a moment I forgot to answer lost in his beaming face. Dima was so handsome.

“Uhm..great now.” I bit the corner of my lip and he softly growled.

“Jas, that’s so tempting..” He bent down and boy, kissed me so deeply that I almost blacked-out. Then I heard River chuckling and I blushed to my scalp.

“Now, now..guys, if you don’t want to be teased to exasperation, you better behave less, how to say? Hmm, less obvious.” He winked and I prayed for the ground to swallow me.

“Man, why is everyone saying that it’s crystal clear we made love?” He made a rather comical face furrowing his brows, but I gasped and hid my face on his neck.

“Well, you sure made it now more than clear, if any of us had doubts.” River joked.

“He is right mate. You two just scream that.” That was Alex.

“Right, you’re the one to talk. You and your crazy half aren’t really shy about that. Man, you’re two horn dogs.”

“So what? Never said I mind that. Neither does Travis, right baby?” Boy, that’s right. They never cared about that. They sure were not shy like me.

“That’s right my sex-beast.” I peeked at them and there they were, in each other arms and lost in their world.

“What’s right?” That was Derek and he had just stopped there with Hayden.

He looked first at his friend and shook his head and then looked at me and Dima.

And oh boy.

Kill me now, please.

“You guys totally got some yesterday, right?” I stared at him basically in shock and then Hayden as well glanced at us and scratched his head and then looked at Alex and then back at us.

“Oh man, so now we really have two couples of love birds.” He burst out laughing and so did Derek, while River chuckled and shook his head.

“Now, stop teasing our cute Jasper.”

“That’s right River, stop teasing my kitty.” He walked behind me and caged me in his bulky arms and rested his chin on my head. “And so what anyway? You should already be used with Sasha and Travis.”

“Yeah, but it’s basically impossible to tease Travis on that.” Derek joked and my best friend stuck out his tongue. “That’s true, dude.”

“Should we start teasing you over Shenice? Because we might have a helluva time in doing that…”

“Nah, that’s my baby’s job.” Hayden said shaking with laugh and I understood that Diane was having fun in teasing her brother.

“Why I introduced you to my family years ago? Just tell me why.” Derek playfully exhaled and Hayden punched his arm.

“’Cause I’m awesome dude.”

“Hey hottie, you still here? School will start soon.” I turned my head and saw Kevin. “Hey guys, having fun in teasing our cutie and blondie?”

“Man, not going to say anything about the blondie, Walker Texas Ranger, as long as you stay away from my man.” Dima wrapped his arms around me tighter and Kevin smirked.

“How cute; big boy is jealous. Oh don’t worry, I can totally see you two are made for each other and anyway, I can’t certainly divide a couple after their first touch of paradise, right?”

Travis and River coughed to avoid to burst out with laugher, but Hayden and Derek almost rolled on the ground and I just wanted to disappear.

“Oh boy…you are all going to kill me today, seriously.” I exhaled beaten. “Let’s go to school.”

“Cutie is right.” Travis pecked Alex’s lips and then grabbed my hands and with Kevin they dragged me away and somehow saved me from further teasing.

“Well hottie, I had already complimented Travis for taming someone like Aleksandr, even though I cannot exactly say he’s tamed, actually, not.. but anyway, now I should congrats you for taming another hockey beast, right?”

“Hell, that’s right actually and yes, my love isn’t tamed at all.” He winked at us and played with his tongue-piercing and when I remembered what he told me before in my room, I went bright red. “And Jasper, we still have lunch…”

I furrowed my brows not understanding what he meant and then it hit me.

Oh boy, that’s right.

We still had lunch.

At the end of the day I was so tired that I felt completely without energies. Boy, they almost all drove me crazy today, but Dima had been so sweet with me; it was sort of unnerving to see how he just shrugged at the teasing or laughed and grinned at that, saying he couldn’t help it because he loved me very much and I was addicting. Uhm well, then I felt like hiding somewhere, but at the same time I don’t know, it gave me quite a strong and satisfying feeling hearing my tiger say that about me. It made me feel special in seeing how he openly declared how much he loved me and I now understood what Travis meant when months ago he tried to explain me this.

We stayed a bit over in school to watch Derek and Kevin playing basket and thus talk to Shenice, too, because she came over to see our friend. I think now they were on official couple and they simply looked great together. After a while I had to leave, because couldn’t stay out too long, so Dima and I left. We walked out of the school and then we spotted someone leaning over the hood of Dima’s Grand Cherokee and when I recognized the person, I sort of froze because didn’t know what to do.

Tiger snorted and wrapped his strong arm around my shoulders quite territorially and boy, must say I loved that.

“Hey, what you doing here?” Dima asked.

Stevie looked at us and pushed himself standing straight and then sighed loudly.

“I came here to talk to Jasper and...”

“Told you to stay away from my man, not sure next time you’ll be that lucky..” Dima cut him off with a really warning tone. My friend nodded and held his hands out in front of him.

“I got that, Dmitri. I am sorry for what I did and I came here to talk to Jasper and also to you.” I glanced at Stevie and felt more relaxed. He was really sorry and you could tell it by just looking at his face and slumped shoulders. Our eyes met and he tempted a smile and then he shifted them away; he was feeling bad for what he did.

“Look, I know I did something completely stupid and I am so sorry Jazz. You’re my best friend and I basically screwed things up and that because I have this huge crush on you since…I don’t even remember since when, but never had the guts to tell you. Then he came around and I got so jealous that instead of being happy for you, I behaved like a complete moron. I am so sorry, Jazz. I realized messages and phone calls weren’t the solution, so I just came over here.” It cost him a lot to say that, because Stevie was very stubborn. He took a step towards us and looked directly at Dima. “Hey, I’m sorry I called you a dofus and the like, well, I still think you’re an idiot with the board, but..”

“Stevie!” I snapped. “Dima is not an idiot with the board and he’s amazing with the snowboard.”

“Thanks baby.” Dima chuckled and relaxed stance.

“Fine, but he’s not that good.” My friend went on.

“He just doesn’t have enough experience.” I defended.

“He’s anyway too big. Look, he’s a huge bear!”

“So what? I love him and he’s super handsome and hot. And he’s the best at snowboarding and last time he made an Ollie.”

“You call that a real Ollie?” Stevie narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

“Yes, it was.” I insisted.

“Oh please Jasper, then you can call me Stevie Wonder.”

“You are so stubborn. This week we’ll go skateboard and he’ll show it to you.” I was now facing my friend and we stared at each other in a mute battle of stubbornness.

“Err…guys, I’m right here, you know that, right?” Dima suddenly said and I snapped out of it and blushed terribly. “But thanks kitty, you are super hot, too.” He winked and stole a quick kiss from my lips.

“Eww..spare me from that.” Stevie made a gagging expression.

“Hey midget, if you want to be cool with me, you better keep your hands off of my man, clear with that? And if you would stop liking him would be even better, because man, I’m super jealous, but hey, I get that you guys are friends and I sure don’t want to control Jasper and tell him what to do or whom to see. So, I warned you.”

“Gee, thank you for the midget.”

“You’re welcome; do you prefer pain in the butt?” Dima asked.

“Guess midget is fine, dofus.” I went to say something, but my boyfriend chuckled and I realized he was fine with this. “Look Dmitri, seriously speaking. I am sorry for what I did and I’m not going to behave like an idiot anymore and I know I’m going to hate myself for saying this, but what’s fair is fair.”

Stevie pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, letting out an exasperated long sigh.

“I can see that you are perfect for Jasper and can see you really care for him and even if it’s annoying to admit, you guys look good together and Jazz, I can see you really love this dofus here.” Dima snorted and probably rolled his eyes. “So, please, will you forgive me for behaving like a complete piece of junk? I miss you as friend and Dmitri, you can rest assure, not going to be a moron anymore, I swear it. And…” He nervously twisted the hat in his hands. “And I’m sorry for saying that you are like that bastard of your twin brother. That’s not true.”

I widened my eyes and felt my lips going up in a super huge smile.

Boy, I was so happy Stevie finally realized that; it was about time.

Dima scratched his hair and then chuckled.

“Alright man, you keep your hands off my boyfriend and go back to be his friend and we are cool. Thanks for what you just said, I appreciate it.” My tiger stretched out his hand and I smiled at Stevie; he smiled back and shook hands with Dima.

“Ouch...” He groaned twisting his hand. “Did you really have to crush my bones like that?”

“What? I just have a strong hand-shake, dude it’s you being a midget.” He joked and winked at me and I knew he had done that on purpose; oh boy, he really was jealous and territorial and uhm well, that was so sweet and hot. Yep, it was hot and no reason to be embarrassed about that.

“Gee, thank you Dmitri, you are a real sweetheart.” Stevie said sarcastically and I giggled. “Be sure I’ll never get against your boyfriend, Jazz.” He then nervously looked at me. “So, will you try to forgive me?”

I smiled and then shifted my gaze at Dima and he grinned in his usual wide and heart-warming way and so I looked back at my friend.

“Sure, but only if you behave well with my tiger.”

“Guys, you are so corny.” He rolled his eyes. “Tiger, kitty…what else?”

“Monkey.” Offered Dima and I giggled at the way Stevie looked at him.

“Seriously, you two are made for each other.” He snorted and then gave me a genuine smile. “Thank you Jazz; I shouldn’t have said those things and done that, it’s been stupid, really stupid and I was afraid I had just lost you as friend. To be honest, that hurt way more.”

“Man, just exchange a quick hug and then buddies like before, ok?” Dima joked and I just burst out laughing and so I quickly hugged Steven and he hugged me back. “Ok, that’s enough.” Dima pulled me back and wrapped his arms around me. “So Stevie, what’s the deal? You’re gay?”

“What?” He asked in shock. Right, he wasn’t used to my boyfriend’s bluntness.

“Man, you said you had a crush on Jasper. And mind my word, "had" in the past tense...” I chuckled at that and Stevie rolled his eyes, but I was actually curious to know that too.

“No, I’m not gay.”

“So what, are you bi?”

“I am what?”

“Bisexual, like Texas guy.”

“Like who? What the hell are you talking about?” Stevie was now eyeing us not understanding a thing.

“He means Kevin, you know he’s from Dallas and he’s bisexual.” I explained.

“Now, thank you for speaking normal English. So Kevin is bi?”

“Right there, man. So you are what? Bi, gay, pansexual?” Dima went on and I giggled at my friend’s expression, because he was going out of mind. He exhaled completely beaten and realized it was better to give up.

“Fine, I guess I am bi, since I still find girls attractive, but yeah, some guys are hot, too.” He admitted and Dima just burst out laughing in his usual way.

“Ahahaha….I knew it… uahahahah …this is priceless… uhahaha…” I couldn’t help my laughing too at hearing Dima and Stevie face palmed and shook his head. Well, he deserved a bit of this, so I didn’t feel bad. “Man, we should hook you up with Texas boy, don’t you think so baby?”

“Uhm, that’d be funny actually.” I agreed, having fun in teasing my friend.

“Guys, just drop it, ok? I am not going to get hooked with anyone, so just drop it.”

“But uhm well, Kevin thinks that you’re an eye-candy.” I said.

He widened his eyes and then threw his hands in the air.

“That’s it; I give up. You two have officially sent my brain out of work.” He surrendered.

“Yeah kitty, the force is with us.” Dima grinned and I tiptoed to peck his lips. He grinned wider and kissed me back. I was so happy that things worked out with my friend and I was even more happy at how Dima reacted. Sure, he was jealous and protective and territorial, but he was also so sweet and understanding. Boy, he really was perfect for me and he was for real the love of my life.

When Stevie was busy in checking his phone, I pulled Dima’s forehead on mine and whispered to him.

“Thank you tiger, you’re the best. I really love you.”

And he understood what I meant. He smiled tenderly and stroked the tip of my nose with his.

“You know I would do anything for you; because Jas, I love you like crazy.”

Author's chit-chat:

SHOUT-OUTS TO new authors and stories:

IxLovexJosh and the story "DEATH FROM LOVE"

CyerraEdwards and the story "NESSIE AND I"

Now, what do you think of this chapter? Had fun in teasing our cute and sweet Jasper and our funny bear? Did you expect Jasper's dad to say that? And what about Stevie?

Sorry for all the questions, but I had quite the time in writing this chapter, must admit it :-)

Next chatpter...it's going to be Jasper's birthday!! and what will the gang organize for him? It's a surprise!!!

Until next time xox