A/N:

Hey guys! Before we start with the new chapter, just a quick word about my lack of update lately (gosh I am so sorry I feel like there's a lot of those in this story). I'm sorry for not updating more often, I just found a summer job and it's VERY time consuming. I'm still trying to find a balance between work, writing and dancing :,) BUT don't worry I'm gonna find it <3 The first chapter of the new story is also gonna be out soon, so stay tunned for that!



























"...Jasper?" A familiar voice called out from afar, paired with a firm hand on Jasper's shoulder. "Jasper?..."

Jasper's eyes fluttered open and he shifted awake, his face still cradled in his arms from the night before. He had planned on taking a short nap before going out to see (Y/n), but his accumulated fatigue had probably caught up to him and he must have fallen asleep.

He frowned, stretching out his arms as he scanned the stacks of papers on his desk.

That's not what he had planned. He was supposed to finish his work early the day before and go out to watch over (Y/n) as she slept peacefully. And supposedly he should have felt better after a full night of sleep, even if it had been spent at his desk in very uncomfortable circumstances. After all, Jasper had been dedicating most if not all of his time to working and watching over his Darling. But Jasper felt none of the rest expected after a good night of sleep.

No, in fact he felt even worse than before.

The nauseating tug in his chest that begged to be close to (Y/n) had only gotten that much worse due to him not seeing her the night before. His headache had gone from dull pain to a searing warmth that spread all throughout his skull. And the longing in his heart felt like said organ had just been torn out of his chest by (Y/n) herself.

The longer Jasper went without seeing (Y/n), the worse his condition got, which made it harder and harder for him not to sacrifice his few hours of sleep for some more cherished time with his Darling.

"...Are you even listening?" Elijah's voice finally registered through Jasper's foggy brain, sounding slightly irritated.

Jasper snapped out of his daze and turned his head to the side, pain slicing through his skull at the simple motion. He had mastered poker faces a long time ago though and knew to put on a smile in front of his father.

Jasper cleared his throat and took a long sip of his glass of water before answering. "Sorry father, you were saying?"

Elijah heaved an exasperated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. Jasper could tell his father wasn't happy with him but couldn't really pinpoint why. After all he had been working as diligently as ever, in spite of his worsening condition, so surely this couldn't have anything to do with the quality of his work.

No, this probably had something to do with Jasper's apparent fatigue.

"Forget about it, we'll have a talk about this later." Elijah dismissed with a wave of his hand, "Penelope is here to see you and I'd like for you to take a break from work. You obviously need one. So take a shower, put on a shirt and meet her in the gardens. Some sunlight will be good for you."

Jasper didn't even have time to say a word or protest before his father was walking out of the room and closing the door behind him. Not that Jasper would have protested anyways, he enjoyed spending time with Penelope and he knew she had been meaning to spend some time with him now that her schedule allowed it. Though if Jasper had a choice, he'd much rather spend his time with his Darling.

But that would have to wait. Penelope was expecting him and Jasper knew better than to make her wait.

Though unfortunately for Jasper Penelope had already been there for a while and had had more than enough time to talk with his father. About him. Or more precisely, about hsi concerning behaviour as of late.

Penelope huffed a frustrated sigh and crossed her arms over her chest, an adorable pout on her lips as she leaned back in her chair, pink eyes trained on the door that led to the garden through which Jasper should have been going out any minute now.

"I'm sure he won't be long, Pen." Elijah tried to ease her nerves, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Jasper might have been out of it lately but he's still a gentleman who knows better than to make a woman wait."

Penelope liked Elijah's attempt at soothing her, it was cute. But he had no idea just how 'out of it' Jasper had been these last few weeks. Jasper hadn't simply been distracted, he had been obsessed. Obsessed with a girl that wasn't her. And not only this ;although this was already bad enough; this obsession wasn't good for him. Not when the object of his obsession obviously wasn't reciprocating his feelings or even acknowledging his existence.

This was wrong, this needed to end. Not only for Penelope's own selfish interests in Jasper, but also for Jasper himself. And that's why she needed to find out who this girl was.

"I'm worried about him, you know?" Elijah continued, concern dawning on his features. "We don't talk much, and I can't help but think it's my fault for not checking up with him more often as his father. Maybe if I had done this more often he would have told me about what's been troubling him lately."

Penelope listened intently, not really knowing how or what to answer. She had known Elijah for a while, considering her father worked with him and he was her best friend's dad. But he had never been so open with her.

Fortunately for her, it didn't seem like Elijah was waiting for an answer, he probably just meant to vent.

"Anyways, thank you for being such a good friend for Jasper. He needs you, Pen." Elijah said with a polite smile, unaware of the sting behind his words.

Penelope swallowed the bitter taste coating her tongue and forced a smile. Elijah must have been as clueless as his son if he thought Penelope's feelings for Jasper were only platonic.

"Thank you, sir."

Elijah nodded his head and walked away, back inside the house minutes before Jasper finally stepped outside.

Penelope straightened her back and pushed her shoulders back, putting on her prettiest smile as she greeted her Darling. She hoped he would take notice of the extra effort she had put in her appearance for their small tea party. She had put on a light ruffled pink summer dress with white kitten heels that showed her smooth legs, a pearl necklace he had gifted her for her twentieth birthday, and she had done her makeup in light pink hues that complimented her eyes and complexion.

"Hey, Pen. Sorry for making you wait." Jasper greeted with a tired smile and took a seat in front of her, baby blue eyes scanning the array of baked goods and tea set. Penelope had always been good at baking and had always liked to share her latest recipes with Jasper. She hoped he liked these.

She heaved a quiet sigh and crossed her legs, resting her hands on her knees.

"It's fine. Your father told me you had fallen asleep on your desk?" She said, filling both their cups with steaming peppermint tea, Jasper's favourite. If she could get him to talk about his recent health issues, maybe she could get him to talk about what's been bothering him, or rather who.

Jasper shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, brows creasing in a thoughtful frown, much like Elijah did sometimes. These two really were father and son.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, this won't happen again." Jasper said, "I didn't mean to worry either of you. I just haven't been sleeping well these last two weeks and I guess it finally caught up to me."

Penelope eyed Jasper's features, heart tightening in her chest at the sight of his sullen skin, sunken eyes and disheveled hair. It was clear the longer this went on the more Jasper neglected his health. Of course Penelope had read some things about Obsessives and how their obsession could impact their wellbeing, but to see it from up close was something else entirely.

She cleared her throat and placed a blueberry muffin on Jasper's plate, a smile ghosting over the corners of her lips as he took a bite of the baked good. It was good to know that he wasn't so far gone as to neglect his favourite sweet treat.

"I know. You might think I haven't noticed, but I have." Penelope said, idly twirling some honey in her tea and watching it dissolve. "I'm your best friend, Jasper, I know you better than anyone in this whole wide world. You can talk to me, and I beg you to."

Jasper paused, Penelope's words slowly sinking in. The bite he had just taken of his muffin turned to ash on his tongue as he gazed at her. He hadn't meant to worry her, hadn't meant to keep things from her either, and he felt bad for keeping her in the dark like that. But he still didn't want anyone to know about (Y/n) yet. Not before he could finally manage a proper conversation with her. Not until he ceased being a stranger to his Darling.

He wanted to give (Y/n) time. Time to fall in love with him just as deeply as he had fallen for her. To give her time to accept him as her one and only before he told anyone.

Jasper knew his father, knew that Elijah would be so rejoiced at the idea that his son's Infection had finally been triggered that he'd probably pester (Y/n) with marriage right away. But Jasper also knew Penelope, and he knew that she probably wouldn't take too kindly to the news of someone possibly taking her best friend away from her. She liked being the center of attention and if she knew that Jasper's mind had been busy with thoughts of his Darling he feared how she might react.

So he couldn't tell either of them at the moment. Not until he had secured his relationship with (Y/n).

"It's nothing for you to worry about, Pen. I promise." Jasper finally reassured, taking a sip of his tea and throwing Penelope a friendly smile which only aggravated her further.

Penelope rolled her eyes and scoffed at his words.

"You think I'm going to settle for that?" She glared at him with venom on her tongue. "Jasper, I've been worried sick about you and all you say is 'it's nothing for you to worry about'? Are you heccin serious?"

Jasper remained calm as ever, unbothered by his best friend's apparent aggravation. He was used to Penelope's short temper and he knew that this probably wasn't anything against him anyways. She was just worried, and he would have been pissed too in her place.

Unbeknownst to Jasper, worry wasn't the only thing motivating Penelope in this moment. Jealousy and possessiveness were as great motors as concern was in her case.

"I am." Jasper continued, putting his cup back in its saucer with a resonating clang. "Anyways, has the Sadistic been bothering you lately?"

"Artty you mean?" Penelope sighed loudly, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest. "Yes, he's been sending letters every other day. Not for much longer though, I have a plan in mind. And my father won't let me marry a Sadistic anyways, he loves me too much for that."

"A plan?" Jasper shot her a playful glance. "You're so mysterious, Pen."

"Yeah?" Penelope abruptly stood up from her seat, painted lips curved in a sly grin. "Well, that's what you get for being so secretive with me. When you'll tell me what's been going on with you, maybe I'll tell you more about this plan of mine."

She didn't turn back to see what kind of expression Jasper was making. She needed to show Jasper just how angry she was with him. So without another word, she walked away and out of the gardens.

Not like Penelope had planned on telling Jasper about her plan to get rid of Artty anyways. As, if everything worked as planned, he would be the fundamental actor in her plan. Jasper would be the one to get her rid of Artty. But for that to happen, she needed to keep her plan a secret from Jasper. And for her plan to work she also needed more information about Jasper's supposed Darling.

An image of (Y/n)'s bright smile flashed back in Penelope's mind and she flinched.

Gosh how could anyone's smile be so... stupidly genuine? This girl really must have been an idiot. Really Penelope was doing Jasper a favour by getting rid of her. Her Jasper deserved a bright cunning woman, not a stupid smiling moron, as pretty as that (h/c) haired girl might be.

That's why, if Jasper wouldn't tell her about his Darling, Penelope would just have to investigate herself. And as soon as she had enough information in her hands, she'd make good use of Artty.

And hopefully get rid of both the girl and Artty in one blow.

Penelope just needed the girl's name and her address. That was all.