Bonus （Jasper POV）
When I lifted my head I flinched at the pain that shot through my stiff neck. I cranked my head from side to side trying to loosen me up.
I'd fallen asleep beside Mira’s hospital bed while holding her hand so I kinda just leaned forward and slept with a half turned neck. I possibly drooled a little bit on the sheets. Opps.
“Knock knock” I heard a voice in the doorway. “Hi mom” I gave her a tight lipped half smile. She’s been worried about me because I’ve been worried about Mira. I haven’t left her bedside and I won’t until she wakes up.
“I brought you some real breakfast not this hospital food...no offense to them” she whispered the last part. Our wolf healers aren’t cooks.
“Thanks” I snatched the bag because my stomach growled as soon as she said the word food. “And a change of clothes. You stink” mom dropped the bag beside my seat. I nodded to show her I would change later.
“Well, everyone at the pack house says hello and we all miss you and of course our Mira. Breakfast just isn’t the same without her” my mom smiled poignantly down at my best friend.
“Has Devran been by?” She asked me, but was giving me the side eye which means she was snooping. “Yeah, he comes by,” I shrugged.
Everyone in town is in a frenzy over the fact that Mira is a Mystic. It’s the news of the century. Mira’s secret got out when she decided to try and help everyone. And save both our lives and our village from the forest fire and all the smoke that came with that.
She used her gifts to lift the fog enough for people to find their way along and then she did the craziest thing. She opened up the skies and made it rain down on everything.
All the fire and everything around us. She poured tears and it poured rain. I have never seen anything like it. I could see by the way she clutched the ground that her magic was taking a lot out of her.
I tried to stop her but it was like she slipped into a trance and her body trembled and she released every drop of water her body had to match the sky she was calling out to.
It was a miracle.
The elders were calling her Marible or Marabilia which in Latin means wonders and prodigies of nature. And it’s plural, wondrous things. I guess that’s how far back Mystics go. To Latin times.
We are all astonished. Devran nor any of the council has yet to discuss how they passed her up as Luna. I don’t know if they’ll openly acknowledge that or not.
“Hey Jasper, just here to check Mira’s vitals. You know the drill” our plump friendly nurse--who lives in our other town so I’m not too familiar with her--said to me.
It was routine by now. Mira has been out for three days. I thanked the nurse and walked out into the hall to give her some privacy.
“You should probably change now” my mom nagged me but in her nurturing motherly way. I rolled my eyes and handed her my breakfast sandwich before going into the bathroom to freshen up.
When I got back I traded the dirty clothes for the rest of my breakfast. “Alright, well I gotta go I just wanted to check on you. Love you” she kissed my head before walking off.
When the nurse walked out I walked back into the room and plopped down on that same chair I’ve been in.
I heard a knock and figured mom forgot to tell me something so I barely reacted to the figure in the doorway. When I realized it wasn’t my mom I straightened in my seat and cleared my throat.
“Uh, hey, what’re you doing here?” I tried to act neutral to Nealin’s presence. He scratched the back of his head and his eyes drifted over to Mira.
“I wanted to see if there were any updates. The house is very lonely without her” he spoke softly as he often does.
I've barely been able to look at him ever since we shared the weird sexual experience together. I don’t know why I did it but I’m embarrassed and now he’s here in my face and I have no idea what to say.
“Well, there aren’t any updates” I looked at Mira so I wouldn’t have to look at him.
“And how are you doing?” He asked me without a stutter which is surprising. My eyes shifted to him and I took in his nervous yet worried demeanor. I sighed.
“I’m alright. Thanks for, uh, asking” I hate when I squirm. When he took a step closer I jumped to my feet. “Look, if you’re here for anything other than Mira just...just don’t, alright?”
I hated it even more when Nealin’s face dropped and he looked hurt. My head sagged as I tried to think of how to go about this without being a dick to him.
“Why won’t you ever look at me? Jasper, look at me” he begged quietly. My eyes lifted up to him then the hallway before I took a step closer so I didn’t have to talk so loud.
“I feel weird about what happened. I don’t wanna dwell on it or talk about it again. Can you do that?” I asked him.
He crossed his arms in a way that almost looked like he was hugging himself. He makes me feel so bad every time we talk and I see that look in his eye.
“Why, Jasper?” His quiet voice felt loud here.
“Why what?” I huffed.
“Why are you pretending I don’t exist? Or that we...react to one another...I just want you to acknowledge me” he sounded sad. I rubbed my tired eyes and gripped my hair for a second while I thought.
“It’s nothing against you, Nealin...I’m just not...that.” And by that I meant gay. When he reached for my hand I quickly pulled it away and looked around to be sure no one saw.
“Nealin, what the hell” I hissed under my breath.
“Fine, I’ll leave you alone. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I know what she means to you” he swallowed as he looked at Mira then without looking at me again he just left.
And I feel like a complete and total asshole.
-
Twenty minutes later I had my feet kicked up on the hospital bed leaning into this damn chair I've been in for three days. And my eyes were closed because I was tired from not sleeping well at all.
When my feet went flying off the bed it forced me to sit up quickly. I was almost disoriented as to how that happened until I saw a smirking Mira.
“Get your dirty feet off my bed” she whispered in a raspy voice. She hasn’t drank anything in days. She’s been receiving IV fluids so I’m sure her mouth is dry.
I couldn’t help my excitement to see her awake and I jumped onto the bed and pulled her into the tightest hug I’ve ever given someone.
“Oh thank Goddess, you scared the crap out of me, Mira. I thought you might never wake up” I pecked her head and held her at arms length to look at her. I called for the doctor and kept her close to me until she came.
“Welcome back, Mira. Your body has been recovering for the past several days. That magic took a lot out of you. How are you feeling now?” She asked her.
“Better I think” she shrugged and squeezed my hand that was still in hers.
“We’ll keep you overnight just to keep an eye on you and be sure, but it’s a great sign that you’re awake and alert” the doctor told her. And then a bunch of other things before she left us alone.
“Have you been here all three days?” Mira’s brows furrowed when she took in my condition. “I have” I nodded.
“Mel comes in the afternoons and sits with us then she usually leaves around dinner time. Devran comes by a lot too, but I’ll mindlink everyone that you’re awake to spare them the trip” I told her.
“Mel said: YAS BITCH” I tried not to laugh when I mimicked how she said it. It made Mira laugh though. I looked at my best friend and again released a long held breath.
“Man, I’m so relieved” I shook my head. She smiled.
“I love you but you've been here for far too long. Go home and shower, get a real meal, and rest on a real bed. I promise you I’m fine but I want you to be fine too” she waved for me to get up.
“I don’t wanna leave you by yourself. No way” I shook my head. She smiled again but this one was poignant. “Jasp, I’m used to handling things alone. Just the mere fact that you were here while I was unconscious is so heartwarming.”
I rolled my eyes.
“That was before you had me. You won’t be doing things alone anymore” I promised her. She didn’t get to respond because someone filled the doorway which gained both of our attention.
Devran was standing tall with his shoulders squared and I know that stance all too well. It’s his boss-like stance that airs on the side of total dominance.
He was guarded now but I know I saw genuine worry from him when all this happened to Mira. And it had surprised me.
Now that she’s awake he’ll be here acting like it’s for business.
“Mira, the whole town has been asking for updates. How are you feeling?” He asked as he stepped inside. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and told him she was fine.
I watched them closely. I’m not sure what I was looking for but I watched.
“I was just telling Jasper he should go and give himself a break” she turned her attention back on me. Devran’s crystalline blue eyes snapped over to me. “You should,” he nodded.
After some convincing I just decided to agree.
-
I don’t know what drove me to do this. I don’t know why my feet led me here. But suddenly I was at the door of Nealin’s cottage and I had just knocked.
I could see the surprise in his expression when he opened the door to find me here. “I feel bad about, uh, how I treated you. I just wanted to smooth things over” I stupidly commented.
When he widened the door I knew he was telling me to come in. He didn’t even let me say anything else. He just studied my face and sighed. “You look tired, Jasper. Is it Mira?” He asked.
“She woke up” I explained.
He understood now why I had left the hospital. “Sit, I’ll get you something to eat. Or do you want tea or coffee or something?” He got flustered and started offering me half the kitchen.
I plopped on the couch and stretched my limbs.
“Hospitals aren’t the most comfortable places but I’m fine. Thanks” I nodded to him. He just stood there awkwardly until he finally found the courage to sit on the couch opposite my end.
I guess I kept cranking my neck because it still felt sore from how I slept on it. I didn’t notice until Nealin commented on it.