Temper. [Jasper/Ari/Helena]

Jasper looks down once she asked her question, still listening the rest but he was silent. He racked his brain to find the best possible answer for Arianne, without hurting anything more. "I do... love Helena." He finally tells her, looking at her with his truthful eyes. It wasn't the same as how he felt for Arianne, something unspeakable that he felt for her. His love for Ari, it's something in-explainable but it was there, vibrating in his very being. However, being with Helena, he saw with his very own eyes how she changed (despite the past he was recently informed with) over the time. Even if Ari, Rosie, or Stef can't see it, he saw it. Her expressions, the way she talked, and how her smile lit he slowly fell in love with. He didn't know that until that night they were together.

Jasper shakes his head, hearing the last phrase. The last phrase that put the clear difference between Arianne and Helena. Arianne was sincered but also very Modest. She didn't think she deserved him and he could do better, and that upset him the most of all. He never told her how much it upset him of her putting him on a pedestal that she thought was unreachable to her standards but in truth, Jasper was the lucky one to be with her. He believed in, it doesn't matter what your past is but what you make yourself of today. A lesson and a belief that his Father and Kida both made him believe in.

However, Jasper never sought out to tell her. The main reason why he didn't sleep with her and with Helena instead. He thought that maybe one day, Arianne would come to her senses and realized that she deserved every great thing with her. "Maybe it's best if you get some sleep, Ari." He says, with a faint smile. He stands and walks over to grab a chair of his own.

Arianne laid there silently as he said those four simple words. That's what she wanted to hear, wasn't it? She knew that he was happy now -- that he had found a love. She had never expected that love to be herself. Now that she knew he had found a way to somehow fall in love with Helena, she could be happy for him, instead of that shitty acting she had had to do before when she thought he was only going through one of those girlfriends that he would barely touch. At lest now she knew he wasn't just forcing himself into it. He wanted to be there. Her own love for him was purely one between close friends -- she wanted to protect him and make sure he was happy and taking care of himself. Nothing more.

Even with her mental reassurance, the moment he moved away from her, she expected it to be easy -- like a string being cut. If anything, the string had just gotten longer, allowing her more emotional distance from him. She soon found herself cold, not having realized how warm Jasper actually was. She curled up under the blankets on the bed and rolled over, putting her back to him. Her head was starting to swim again, making it easier for her to fall asleep than she expected.

Halfway through her sleep, she regretted ever falling unconscious while her mind had been in such a scramble. All of the images she had forced away for years, some more blurred from drugs than others, came crashing into her dream, easily turning it to a harsh nightmare on repeat. "S-Stop..." She whispered in her sleep, shifting anxiously on the bed, her facial expression pained. "It hurts... Stop... Please... Help... Helena... Please... Don't... Leave me..." Constant whispers of those words and whimpers were heard from the small bed Ari was now curled up in a tight ball on top of.

Rose went to the side of the bed and started to try and wake Ari up when a male voice told her to let him. This boy was good looking, dark brown hair, lean, and clean shaven. He also wore a basic soldier's camo-uniform. "Oliver...?" Rose gasped, blinking a few times to make sure it was him. Oliver smirked a bit and chuckled softly before walking over to the bed and climbing onto it to sit against the wall. He gently pulled Arianne up into his arms and cradled her against his chest, his lips next to her ear to whisper soft words to soothe her. Rose stared, wide-eyed. Oliver had been a part of their little group back when they were all freshmen. Right after the incident with Jasper and weed, Oliver finally spoke up about his feelings for Arianne, seeing as how no move towards a relationship had been made between Ari and Jasper at that point. He was the only guy she ever dated that treated her right -- and the only one, save Jasper, that hadn't slept with her. They dated for months. But, then, around the beginning of their sophomore year, he had joined the army and gone off to commit his two years to protect the country. It looked like he had just gotten back, considering his bag was by the office door.

Ari's breathing steadily smoothed out until she was relaxed again, finding the embrace soothing. "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty..." Oliver mumbled, placing a kiss to her forehead, then her temple, cheek, and corner of her lips. Ari smiled sleepily, slowly coming back to reality. "No, Jazzy... Five more minutes," She mumbled, curling close to him. Oliver chuckled softly, not at all offended by her incorrect identification. It took Ari a moment before she quickly surveyed her current position. Jasper did not have this much body mass. Or muscle. Definitely not the muscle. She blinked her eyes open and then gasped, her brown eyes going wide. "Miss me?" He smirked down to her. Ari threw her arms around his neck and hid her face into the nape of his neck.

Rose tilted her head and walked over to Jasper. "So. Do you want to break the news to Tyler, or shall I?" She asked, sitting onto his lap.

Jasper sighs heavily as he watched Ari curled into a small ball. He brushed his hair back and leaned against his arm propped on his knee, his mind continuously thinking of everything. As soon as he heard her whine, he wanted to get up and soothe her. However, as soon as he saw a familiar face walk into the room, he didn't move from the chair and just simply looked down. At that moment, when Oliver walked in, he felt like he did back in Freshman Year after that wondrous weekend with Ari.

The day after he came back, nearly everyone that he knew railed him on how he ruined his chance with Arianne. How much chemisty they had and how amazingly happy they were together. Hell, even Kida and his Father agreed with everyone else. Jasper spent nearly the whole early morning just pacing in his room, not knowing what to do. He didn't want to be with Arianne until she knew how truly special she was on her own, without anyone else, including himself, telling her. However, he desperately wanted her, his heart yearned for her even more, his body needed her to become at ease, and his thoughts finally smooth over while he saw her beautiful eyes.

Finally, after the much contemplating, Jasper decided to go against his critical thinking for once in his life and take a chance. One that probably shock him, Arianne, and everyone that they knew. So, against his Father's rules, he left the house early, using Belle and Rosie for assistance, and head towards the nearest, quality flower store. There, he picked four flowers, his great-grandmother's, grandmother's, mother's, and Arianne's favorite flower (which he remember her telling him when they were younger) all in doubles. He headed towards school, placing his favorite and most treasured picture that he ever drew in the bouquet.

Jasper went to the school and waited at the spot that he knew Arianne would past by, inevitably running into him. Despite all the looks that he got from other students, Jasper didn't care, only worrying about he could put together all the words he wanted to say to Arianne. He nearly jumped when he heard familiar voices around the corner, Rosie's, Stef's, and most important, Ari's. Jasper inhaled a shaky breath, ready to announce his love. However, he never had the chance. He heard another voice, simply out of no where, and this guy's voice, pronounced his undenying love for Arianne.

Jasper didn't know what came over him but he merely stepped out of the way, into the shadows and hiding behind a wall where the four couldn't see him. He didn't see but he knew Arianne had said Yes to the boy already, already forgetting about Jasper.
"Hi Jasper!" A high pitched bouncy blonde came up to him. "Oh my gosh! I love the flowers! But even more the picture! It's beautiful! Who's it for?!" The girl looked up at Jasper, her violet eyes blinking with nothing but curiosity. A corner of Jasper's mouth twitched upwards before he handed her the flowers with the drawing.
"It's for you, Helena. Happy Birthday."

Jasper thoughts were whirled back to current time as Rosie spoke and sat on his lap. He stands and sets Rosie down on the chair. "I think it's best if we let Oliver do it... I'm sure Tyler loves surprises." Jasper tells her, in a nonchalantly way. "Great to have you back Oliver." Jasper says with a smile before he heads out the door.

Rose frowned a bit as Jasper put her down. She knew what was wrong. She sighed and shook her head, standing back up. Oliver looked over to Jasper and gave a friendly smile before he noted him leaving. Arianne took notice, too. "Jasper, wait!" She called, gently moving out of Oliver's arms. He didn't mind and helped her to her feet. She stumbled a bit, but made it over to the door. Her last step did cause her to fall forward, glad that Jasper was there for her to grab onto.

She looked up at him as she clung to the front of his shirt and gave a small smile before sliding her arms around him and nuzzling her head to the crook of his neck. "Thank you... for taking care of me," She whispered, then leaned back to look at him. "I really couldn't ask more of a best friend..." She admitted, then gently kissed his cheek. "I love you," She whispered against his ear, just soft enough for him to hear her, and gave the hug a tighter squeeze.

"Yeah -- thanks, man. You've always been a good friend to her," Oliver chimed, smiling brightly as he came over and pat Jasper on the shoulder. He helped support Ari as she stood up straight, retracting her arms from around Jasper. "I'll take her home so we can catch up," Oliver assured him. "You go... check on Helena. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you anywhere but with me," Ari mumbled, putting on one of her small, fake smiles. "And... tell her... I'm sorry... for... possibly trying to kill her," Ari sighed, looking away on that one with a guilty glance towards the floor. Oliver scoffed and smirked down at her. "You? Trying to take on Helena? And you came out without any scars?" He teased, which got her to smile an actual smile. But, even so, Ari focused her gaze back onto Jasper. "Thank you... Again... We'll talk, about Christmas, okay?" She offered up, nodding her head.

Jasper wanted to pretend to not hear Ari, using the small excuse that his hearing happened to be bad at the current moment. However, when he heard her get up, his reflexes turned around and instantly caught her, his blue eyes looking into her eyes. As she talked, all he could possible do is plaster the smile that he gave Ari after she met Oliver. The sincerity but fake happiness smile that she couldn't see through. Before he could respond, Oliver came in and patted him in the shoulder nearly giving it out. Jasper couldn't pick which one was worse, Helena's Father's death pat or Oliver's...pat.

Jasper merely shrugged, knowing he needed to talk with Helena and Helena currently in the mood to talk to him. He turns as Oliver and Ari joked with each other, trying to let that be his cue to leave. He sighs to himself as he heard her sweet voice again. He tosses her a smile from his shoulder, "Ok, Arianne..." He turns his head back around and leaves, whether she spoke up again or not.

Arianne frowned slightly as Jasper turned away from them. He'd said he loved Helena, right? She pursed her lips, and tried to return the smile he gave her, no matter how fake both of their smiles looked. No one called her by her whole name... Especially Jasper. When he did, he was being serious, or just... Distant. She hated it. She swallowed the small lump that formed in her throat that made her want to cry, and took a deep breath as she watched him go. Then, she turned and looked to Rose. "Don't worry, Ari... He's just... A little overwhelmed," Rose played it off. She knew what had happened the day Oliver had asked Ari out. Or course Ari didn't. And, so, Rose knew how this was twice Oliver had stepped in the way. Of course, who could blame Oliver? He was too oblivious to notice anything between Jasper and Arianne.

"It's nice to see you, Olly..." Rose said quietly, giving him a light smile. He smiled cheerfully as always and then slid an arm around Ari. "It's good to be back," He murmured, kissing the top of Arianne's head. Rose smiled. Even if it wasn't Jasper, she was just glad Ari had someone to take care of her and not try to claim her as property. "The army did you good," Rose teased before laughing and gathering up her things. "I'll see you guys after break. Merry Christmas," Rose said lightly before waving and going out of the room. After that, Oliver helped Arianne get her things together and leave the school, going to Ari's house. He helped her get settled in, got hugs and 'welcome back's from her parents and brother, then gave Ari a simple goodbye kiss and left. Ari went straight back to bed once he was gone. Unfortunately, it wasn't Oliver who infested her dreams. It was those simple blue eyes she almost wished she could forget for once.