🌹Jasmine's Pov 🌹
My happiness right now knows no bounds, I feel like a little princess once again, strapped in my fairy pink gown, matching with a bow and everywhere lit up as my Mom and Dad wished me a happy birthday in the littlest and simplest form, I've always hated a huge party, I don't like crowd, I don't like the fan fair and the buzzingly, I'd rather just have my Mom and Dad stay with me throughout the whole day showering me with their love and gifts....well all that is in the past now, in the past where I can no longer reach out to, hold their hands and watch them rain kisses on me
But right now in the present, I couldn't wish for anything better, with Jayson by my side as Mika and Roland cheer me on with pre birthday gifts and Delilah who baked me a pre birthday cake?...I couldn't be more happy, there were drinks, glitters, music, laughter, and most especially happiness, I've never been this happy in my entire life
"Are you okay there, Princess?" Jayson's voice jolted me out of my trance, I blinked repeatedly as I stared at Mika, Roland and Delilah placing the cake in front of me, it took her an hour to bake, even though I protested and begged her not to, but she ignored me and Mika helped her, although Roland helped too, but Mika wouldn't stop nagging about everything he does
"Yeah, I'm just overwhelmed, it's been so long anyone has done this for me, expect my late parents" I said with a sad smile, remembering all those moments when Dad would balantly refuse to go to work so he could just spend the entire day with me, and Mom?, She would make sure all my favorites are made... those souls should me unconditional love, pure blissful love, I was loved by them completely, it's so beautiful that it hurts sometimes
"I'm sure they are happy wherever they are, you've got me, and your friends and we are going to make your birthday the most special day in your life, I'm going to make sure of that" Jayson said and I nod, I couldn't find the right words to say, facing the three expectant faces, they are all grining as Mika pushed the cake forward
"This is just a pre birthday celebration, the main celebration is going to blow your mind!" Mika cheers happily
"I really don't like extravagant birthday parties, I'd rather just stay locked in with Jayson, that will be more better" I said and Jayson grined
"Jayson, are you seriously going to allow that?" Roland asked with a smug look that almost made me laugh
"Whatever my Princess wants, I'm ready to do it" he said and they all gasped dramatically, especially Mika, Delilah laughs as she diced the cake while Roland flopped on the other free space on the couch, now I'm on the middle of both men
"I've waited for months for your birthday to come so there's definitely going to be a party, if Jayson doesn't throw you one, then I will.....I don't care how much it's gonna cost me because our friendship is priceless" Roland said and I immediately felt touched as he flung an arm over my shoulders and I leaned into his hug
I guess that didn't sit well with Jayson because in the next minute, I'm being pulled out of the hug and I'm seated on the edge of the couch, Jayson switched our sitting position so now he's in the middle and practically wrapping his entire arms around me...sheiding me from Roland, jealous, eh?
"Dude, I know she's your wife and I don't have any plans of snatching her" Roland scoffed playfully and Jayson rolled his eyes
"It's better I play safe, than to feel sorry later, I'm the only one allowed to hug or touch Jasmine, no one else has that right" Jayson said with a hint of seriousness and I rubbed his chest soothingly, I don't want him to lose control, seriously it's not that deep and he should take a chill pill
"Including me?" Mika asked with a smirk
"Most especially you" Jayson pointed and the entire room was filled with laughter
"Cake time!..... y'all I hope it taste good" Delilah said as she passed the cake round and everyone takes a slice
"Wow, it's really good" I chimed in immediately and a everyone moaned in satisfaction
"Right?, it's really worth the one hour of stress, you are really good girl, ever considered going into baking?, you would completely crush it" Mika voiced out as Roland ate silently
"It's not something I wanna do, but I might consider in the future" Delilah said with a shrug
"That's the spirit" Mika cooed as we carried on, leaning on Jayson as he fed me and I couldn't feel any better, these people are literally making me smile effortlessly and I just hope it stays like this forever, I don't want it to ever end
And as if Satan can read my thoughts and decided to ruin the sweet moments, the door bell chimed and everyone groans in a slightly pissed manner
"I will get it!" I opted but Mika was already walking towards the door and Jayson pulled me back
"I hope the person is better worth it or else..... Mika voice cut mid sentence as she opened the door and a gasp escaped her lips, she literally jolted backwards as she stared at whoever was standing there angrily"
"What do you want?" Mika's angry voice made me stand up as an unwanted presence filled the living room, she walked in without asking and a smirk is plastered on her face, I could see the bruises on her face and some blood stains on her shirt, her lips are swollen, it's like she just got out of a huge fight
"Avia?" I called out and she smiles, the smrik vanishing from her face as Jayson suddenly turned red out of anger, storming towards her and she stood ridgid, not moving an inch as she stood toe to toe with Jayson, I'm too shocked to even stop Jayson
"You'd better tell your hunk to step out of my way, I'm not here to cause trouble" Avia stared directly at Jayson and Mika scoffed loudly
"Yeah right?, like anyone here is going to believe you, you've always hated Jasmine so I guess you can drop the act now and get out!" Mika half yelled and I pulled her close to me
"Get out" Jayson said in his calm angry voice and Avia glared at him in return
"I'm not going anywhere until I tell Jasmine the truth" Avia boomed and Mika shoved her backwards roughly
"The only truth here is that you are a sly bîtch who's looking for an excuse to hurt Jasmine!" Mika fired and that made Avia angry
"I'm not here to hurt Jasmine!!!" Avia yelled at the top of her voice and everywhere and everyone went quite, her chest heaving heavily as she pushed Jayson out of the way and clutched onto my hands, I stared at our hands tangled together in pure confusion
"Jasper is really out to get you, he and my brother kidnapped me and took me hostage just so that they can carry out their plans without interruptions, he knows everything, he knows you are pregnant, my brother is selfishly trying to take over your parents properties and Jayson'?" Avia said pointing at him "Jasper wants you dead, he wants the both of you dead!" She yelled out and I blinked repeatedly, trying to soak in everything
"Why are you helping her all of a sudden?, I thought you hated her?" Roland finally asked as the awkwardness filled the air
"I'm only doing this to avenge my father, the only reason I'm here is because I want my brother to pay for killing my father, and I also can't watch him end another soul, I know where they are and I can take you there before it's too late" Avia said and Jayson pulled me behind him instantly
"I don't believe you, I don't trust you" Mika voiced out with a disgusted look
"I never asked anyone to believe or trust me, can't you see my face?, I had to fight just so I could escape and get here, and also the accident was planned by Mandy..... and Gina" Avia said and Jayson grabbed her hands tightly
"Don't you dare accuse my sister of murder, my sister would never do such a thing" Jayson growled and Avia glared daggers at him
"You think I'm lying?, You want proof?" Avia challenges as she pulled out her phone
"Mandy was behind my two attacks, but I never thought your sister would be part of it, first I almost got killed by your brother and now your sister, I don't think I'm safe with your family" I suddenly blurted out and I regretted it because Jayson slowly released Avia and turned to face me
"You believe her?" Jayson asked, sounding hurt
"She's my family...."
"Gina is also my family..."
"Yeah, the one that wants me dead!!" I yelled in Jayson's face and he clicked his tongue while pulling away from me
"Jayson, I know you are disappointed in your sister but I'm telling the truth and I will prove it" Avia said in a calm voice as she suddenly started playing a record, it's a three minutes record of Mandy, Gina and I really don't know the third person, the whole room was filled with silence as everyone listened to the conversation
"Why will your sister do such a nasty thing as supporting Jasmine's death?" Roland blowed angrily and Delilah held his hand before he could get to Jayson
"Your family is fúcked up, bro" Mika said dejectedly as she finally realized that Avia was saying the truth about Gina, she pulled me away from Jayson but Avia shook her head, gluing me back to Jayson, I just moved to their touches like a robot, I'm way too shocked
"Jasmine's family is also fúcked up, imagine her own cousins trying to get her killed, even her nasty uncle wanted to ruin her, she's just unlucky to fall in between this mess" Delilah blurted out and I hugged Jayson who quickly wrapped me up in his embrace
"Take me to them, now, I will deal with my sister later..... just take me to Jasper and Laurence" Jayson growled harshly and Avia nods
"I'm coming with you guys" I sniffed
"I can't let you risk yourself Princess, you've gone through enough for one day, just stay home and keep Noah updated on the thing's going on" Jayson assured and I shook my head in disapproval
"You have to listen to him Jasmine, you can help us from here, I'm going to give you access so you can trap our location and call the cops Incase things sprawl out of control" Avia pleaded and I found myself walking towards her
"You do know that I still hate your guts right?" I asked as tears blinded my vision
"And I hate you more, but... I'm ready to fight besides you, my Dad and brother have hurt you a lot, including me...I have to make it stop" Avia said and I snorted
"That won't change the fact that I still hate you" I retored and she clasped our hands together
"It won't, I promise, I still hate you, cousin" Avia said and I pulled her in for the tightest hug as we melted in each other's arms, I can feel the genuineness ozzing out of her, she looks different, she talks different, I'm seeing the young version of her from when we were really young
"We have to go now" Jayson stated and we broke the hug and Jayson kissed my forehead, despite all the enemies, I still have people who genuinely care about me
"I'm sorry for doubting you" Mika said with a side smile as she stared at Avia
"Me too" Roland said and Avia hugs them one after the other
"I still hate you guys though....." Avia joaked playfully and I wiped my eyes
"Come on" Jayson said and he left with Avia, I suddenly felt cold as the thought of what's going to happen
"Let's go inform Noah now!" I jerked as I ran upstairs, footsteps behind me, we might not have weapons or armours but our support for one another is a forcefield to shield my enemies away
★★★★
✨Jayson's Pov✨
Do people really turn good?
It's hard to believe that someone who has spent her entire life loathing Jasmine has decided to help her, but according to her she's only doing it to avenge her father and she can't bear seeing Jasmine hurt, I know there's more to this than what's she's trying to make us believe......I know she genuinely cares about Jasmine, even though she disguised it with hate
I must commend her driving skills, she's really good with the speed bike as I followed her behind, trying to keep up with her pace, we are now currently at the outskirts of the city and for a moment I doubt if she's telling the truth
But there's no going back now, not after I've come this far, we speed through the bushes and finally she halted in front of a giant wooden house, it's really old looking and everywhere is filed with bushes, I doubt if there's any reception down here z it's going to be difficult for Noah to find us here... infact it might be impossible and not difficult
"Why didn't we come with any weapon or police, you do know that they're dangerous right?" I asked her and she smiles
"This should be a secret between us, but I might have stolen my brother's gun before escaping and oh, I also have a knife with me, just in case" she winked and I laughed lowly, she's indeed crazy, I wonder if Jasmine is also like that, I've never seen her in action before though but Jasmine seems tough
"So, what's the plan?" I asked and she reached for the back of her and pulled out the gun, it's a revolver and it looks kinda small but also frantic, she smriks as she tossed it to me and I caught it in a go
"Just follow me... and be quiet" she whispered as we approached the building, I can't wait to get my hands on Jasper
We met the door wide open as we entered noiselessly, the whole place looks tatared and blood stains could be seen right at the entrance
Everywhere looks empty, Avia jugged upstairs and in no minutes she was downstairs with a angry look, I figured by the way she frowned her face
"They're fùcking gone!, we are too late!, It's all my fault, I should have been faster" she pointed out angrily as she stood in front of me while I'm backing the entrance
"Don't blame yourself, we will get them" I tried calming her down
"You don't understand, it's going to be difficult to get them.....I just hope" she was saying when she suddenly stopped, squinting her eyes as she stared right outside
"What is it?" I asked and before I could turn back she pushed me out of the way and we both fell with a loud thud...a bullet hit the wall on the inside and my eyes flared open, they're still around
"Shît!, they're still here....." Avia jumped on her feet and raced towards the place the shot came from, I ran after her immediately but no one was there, just bushes and trees surrounding us
"We lost them" I breathe out, panting slightly and looking around
"My brother is so stupid" Avia said as she bends slightly and retrieved a phone, she flips it front and back whilst checking it out
"That's your brother's phone?" I asked and she nod
I couldn't help but feel somewhat relaxed around her, she just saved my àss back there
She looks tough, I never knew she could fight and the way she pushed me out of the way earlier shows she's strong
"Tell me something I don't know about you" I suddenly asked as we walked back to our rides
She looks up at me with a smirk and faced front
"When I was seven and Jasmine was nine?, we usually sneak to an alley to practice martial arts" she blurted out and my eyes widened
"What?" I asked and she chuckles, after Jasmine's parents death, we automatically stopped seeing each other because she moved away with her uncle, I lost all forms of contact with her but I never thought she would want to learn anything concerning physical fight, I see her as s calm person, I need to be careful around her, scratch that, I would never do anything to bring out that side of her because I love her very much and I don't want anything to make her angry and punch me right in the face, nah I will pass and thank you while I do that
"I just wanted to learn how to fight to defend myself, Jasmine wanted to learn because of her....."
"Past..." I completed her statement for her and she sighs
"We were once close you know?, we spend most of the time together, we were besties.....I just listened to a really bad advice and I distanced myself from her and before I knew what was happening, I started hating her, I started feeling inferior towards her" Avia opened up and I smiled at her
"I'm guessing your parents painted her black just so you would hate her?" I said and she nods, awww poor thing, she fell for her parents antics and that destroyed her relationship with Jasmine
"Don't tell her what I just told you, she doesn't know why I turned against her and I would prefer it remains that way" she said with a discomfort look and I nod in agreement
"Let's go home" I said and she paused for a minute
"I can't let you stay on your own, you have to stay with us where you will be safe, you know your brother and mine are wandering and I'm sure they will come for you soon" I said with concern lacing each sentences leaving my mouth
"Hey, big guy, don't worry about me, I will be just fine" she said hopping on the bike and I head for my car
"Are you sure?" I asked again and she nods, reving the engine and I quickly do same, stealing one last look at the building before following her
★★★
Gina frowned as her phone started ringing, Jayson never bothers to call her and now she can't help but wonder why he would be calling her now
"What do you want?" Gina asked immediately she answered the call
"I want us to meet" Jayson said from the other end and she scoffed
"Why?, why do you want us to meet?, It's bad enough that you are married to some shît, and now you want us to meet?" She said nochantlanly and Jayson snapped big time
"Don't you dare talk about Jasmine that way or ....."
"Or what?, listen to me, I don't want to see you for any reason and don't bother to call me again because I'm doing just fine, you have your super caring mother right?, go be with her and fúck off" she said in a go and ended the call, he tried calling again but she switched off her phone completely
"Is that Jayson?" Mandy asked from the other side of the couch
"Yeah, I just can't wait to get this over with" Gina said and Mandy grined mischievously
"Very soon, I can't wait....." Mandy sequel as she leans closer to Gina excitedly
★★★
"More drinks!" Delilah yelled, she was obviously drunk as she struggled to maintain her balance, almost falling off the stool, this is what she does each time she's feeling sad or angry
In no time drinks were presented in front of her and she grins, poping one bottle as she drinks directly from it, she's so wasted right now and she not the alcohol type, she has low tolerance for strong drinks but she rather be caught drinking instead of spending another moment in Jasmine's house
The sore sight of Roland and Mika is starting to get to her, after she tried holding Roland from going after Jayson, he practically shoved her hands away, although nobody noticed but he did, he pushed her and created a safe distance between them, she quietly left after they ran upstairs to go relay the information to Noah
"Love hurts like shît!, am I right?" She asked slurpingly at the bartender who stood in front of her, her hair messy and her face is red with too much intake
"Yeah, love hurts, who broke your heart?" The bartender leaned forward and she smiles sheepishly, leaning closer to him with the bottle dangling in her shaky hands
"A fool, a fool broke my heart, well maybe I'm the fool for falling in love with him, he never liked me, I guess I was too delusional to even think about it and just went after him and he shattered me completely" she said with a sad pout and placed the bottle in mouth again
"Does he have a girlfriend?" He asked and she scoffed drunkenly
"He's single but he does have a crush on his bestfriend and I think they love each other, I'm such a fool!" She groans angrily, hitting her head with her palm repeatedly
"Then just take her out of the way, it's not so hard" the bartender said again and Delilah slurps, almost falling off the stool but he quickly caught her and steadied her again
"I tried that but it didn't work, she found out and started threatening me, but do you know what now?" She asked in a hush tone
"No, tell me" the bartender whispered and she gestures for him to come forward, they were now inches apart from each other
"I think I don't want to hurt her anymore, I think I want to be her friend, I can't just bring myself to hurt her, she's a really good person" Delilah whispered back and the bartender pulled backwards but she quickly held him still
"You are really beautiful and you shouldn't be chasing over someone who doesn't like you" he said and she giggles excitedly, tugging his shirt forward
"What's your name?" She asked him, tossing the bottle aside as she's facing him directly
"Hudson, and yours?" He asked and she smiles
"My name is Delilah, the devil!!!" She yelled in his face and started laughing, hitting the counter as he remained calm, he didn't move an inch even after she almost shoved her face in his face in the process of yelling
"The devil, huh?" He asked and she nods lightly, resting both hands under her chin
"Kiss me ...." She suddenly slurped out of the blue, taking Hudson by surprise, leaning her face forward and he immediately pulled away from her
"You are drunk, you don't know what you are saying" he said and she frowned, she stretches forward and tries yanking his shirt but he held her hand all together, watching her struggle to hold him
"Don't worry then, I'm going to wait till I get sober" she said and he released her, she giggled as she snatched the bottle from the counter and continued drinking while he watched her in amusement
★★★★
A loud hiss from Jasper made Laurence looked at him, they're now hiding in Laurence's hideout, the place he kept his father before finishing him off
"Your sister messed up big time, and she's going to regret it" Jasper said as Laurence exhaled, his face is currently bandaged while Jasper was wearing a cast, his shoulder hurts like hell
"I will make sure she joins her father very soon, it's about time they meet up anyways" Laurence said as he layed his head backwards, his face stings with hurt due to the injury Avia inflicted on him
"And to think you missed the shot at Jayson, you could have just easily killed him from that angle" Jasper rasped huskily, none of them were able to move, they just sat still
"My face was fùcking bleeding, and Avia pushed him out of the way, that betraying sod!" Laurence flips angrily and Jasper sighs
"God knows there's going to be a huge mark on my face once it heals, my face is ruined!... I'm so going to make them pay for this" Laurence growled harshly as he touched his face, each touch explicts pains all over his face and neck region
"This isn't over, Avia is now added to the list of those I'm definitely ending, fúck!, my shoulders hurt" Jasper groans, using his free hand to hold his shoulder, taking in his bottom lip to stifle his groans
"I will just call someone to fix us up with proper treatment" Laurence said casually as he reaches for his back pocket but couldn't find his phone, he frowned, standing up as he searched himself but still couldn't find it
"What are you looking for?" Jasper asked irritatedly, the fact that his shoulder is giving him a hard time is already enough to mess with his mental health
"My phone, I can't find it!" Laurence spills and Jasper just layed still, unable to say anything or move, Avia is definitely going to pay for this