Penelope groaned out a frustrated sigh, the scent of burnt baked goods filling her kitchen. It was the third time in a row she messed up her preparation and she was this close to letting out the scream that had been swelling at her core.

She didn't understand. Usually baking was her favourite thing to do apart from hanging out with Jasper and going on a shopping spree. But today baking was doing very little to appease her mind and help her focus on something else than the unpleasant thoughts in her head.

She had tried baking her favourite earl grey and lavender glazed cookies, had tried making her infamous chocolate and raspberry muffins, her simple apple crumble... Nothing had made it through the baking process, it had all ended up burnt in her oven.

Penelope gazed down at the overcooked apple crumble with a scrunched up nose. It looked more like charcoal than edible food.

"Fuck it." She spat and unceremoniously slammed the baking tray on the kitchen counter.

And Penelope wasn't one to curse usually, but honestly when it was just herself all alone in the kitchen, Penelope didn't care much for decency. She leaned over the counter, drumming her manicured nails on the wooden surface.

Penelope really needed to get a grip. But just as soon as this thought crossed her mind another image of Jasper and the pretty (h/c) haired girl he considered his Darling flashed through her mind. Of Jasper cupping her smooth cheek, of his hands around her waist, of Jasper leaning in to kiss her plump lips...

Envy coiled at Penelope's core like a snake, its venom spreading through her bloodstream and invading her every thought.

These scenarios disgusted her.

But somehow... Not in the way they should.

Indeed, Penelope should have been disgusted by the thought of someone else touching and kissing her Jasper. He was her Darling after all, she would be damned before anyone else other than herself got to kiss him. He was hers.

So why was her stomach coiling in on itself with jealousy at the thought of Jasper touching this girl? It just didn't make any sense. Penelope was in love with Jasper and didn't even know the name of this random homewrecker. Hell, she hadn't even talked to her! So why was she jealous of Jasper?

Was Penelope going crazy? Honestly, she felt like she was. This had to be it, as why else would she be feeling like this? Why else would she be thinking about this random girl and her sunshine-like smile, her bright (e/c) eyes and her stupid gorgeous face, instead of thinking about her darling Jasper?

Penelope needed to get rid of this girl, and fast. Before she actually lost it.

But for that, Penelope needed more than an address. She needed a name, the girl's daily routine and much more. She wouldn't risk telling Artty to kill the girl in her home, it would be too messy and family members could interfere.

No, Penelope needed to know more about this girl in order to calculate the best time for Artty to strike. That is, if Artty accepted to do her bidding, but Penelope had a feeling he would. He was desperately in love with her, after all, and a Sadistic. Sadistics didn't mind getting their hands bloody.

Yeah, as soon as this girl died, Penelope wouldn't have these funny thoughts any more or this funky feeling in her chest.

Things would go back to normal.

Or at least, that is what Penelope told herself for reassurance. It didn't even cross her mind that maybe, just maybe, her feelings were starting to change. That maybe Jasper had never been the one she was meant to fall for, and that her Infection had chosen someone else for her.

Someone for whom she'd grow to have much stronger feelings.

















































"You're receptive to instructions and criticism, you pick up on things rather quickly..." Miguel, Lupita's boss, said as he read over the observations he had jotted down in his notebook whilst observing (Y/n) work.

Said girl waited with bated breaths, anxiously bouncing back and forth on the sole of her feet.

"Come on, Miguel. You've been complaining about the lack of applications for this job. I think (Y/n) is more than suitable." Lupita said with a smile, resting her forearm on Miguel's shoulder and leaning in.

Miguel grumbled something under his breath that neither (Y/n) nor Lupita were able to catch up on, a frown etched between his bushy brows. Still, Lupita threw (Y/n) an encouraging wink. And (Y/n) answered with a shy smile, heat rising to her cheeks at her friend's simple gesture.

Truth be told, (Y/n) hadn't expected for things to go this quickly. It had been a week since she had moved to Lupita's home and she hadn't expected to get a job so soon. But faithful to her promise, Lupita had told Miguel about her and Miguel, in his desperation to find someone, had reluctantly accepted to give (Y/n) a chance at proving herself.

For the last three days Lupita had spent hours teaching (Y/n) the basics of a barista job like how to brew a good coffee, how to prepare various drinks and lattes... etc. And whilst (Y/n) was far from talented enough to dabble in latte art like Lupita did, she still made a decent cappuccino.

She just hoped her decent skills would be enough to convince Miguel.

"I don't know about that, Lupa..." Miguel said with doubtful features.

A cold sweat broke over (Y/n). She needed this job, she couldn't have Miguel sending her out the door without a contract.

"I promise to do my best!" (Y/n) interjected excitedly, determination bright in her gaze. "I'm not an expert yet, but I'm willing to work hard to get there!"

Miguel shot her a surprised glance, only to break out into laughter the next second. A full on belly laugh that had him doubling over, holding his sides and wiping tears off the corners of his eyes.

"Man! You, young girl, must be even more desperate than I am." He said with a good humored smile, "Well, not like I've got a choice anyways and you're pretty alright. Consider yourself hired."

"Wait, really?" Lupita asked with a barely hidden smile on her lips, "You're really hiring her?"

"Yeah, yeah. Like you said, applicants aren't lining up by our doors, so I guess she'll be fine." Miguel then turned to (Y/n), "A few rules here. One, don't clock in late. Two, you've got an hour break for lunch, not more and not less. Three, If you're sick and can't come, you need a doctor certificate, otherwise you won't get paid for your missed hours."

"Got it." (Y/n) nodded with a smile, barely able to contain her excitement as she bounced on her feet. She wanted to jump in the air, hold Lupita and scream her heart out in joy, but she didn't think Miguel would be too fond of such a raw display of emotions. So she settled for waiting to go outside with Lupita. "I'll do my best, I promise."

"You better, Lupa's a tough chief." Miguel said with a teasing smile and a wink in Lupita's direction.

"I'm not! Don't say that, Miguel. You're going to scare off my first ever coworker!"

Miguel chuckled at her words, fishing out a pen from his back pocket and (Y/n)'s job certificate. "Here you go. Don't lose this." He handed it over to (Y/n) after filling in his own certificate.

"Thank you, sir." (Y/n) said with a light bow of her head. "I'm really looking forward to working here."

It was true, (Y/n) couldn't wait to take her first baby steps in her first ever job, by Lupita's side nonetheless. She hoped this would bring the two of them closer and help her earn enough money to both support herself and pay off her debts to Lupita's mom and Marcus. She knew they had said that she didn't owe them anything, but really she did, and she'd feel much better once she would have paid them back for their kindness.

This was the beginning of a new life. From now on, (Y/n) would be able to build a life that was her own. And hers only.

Her and Lupita finally stepped out of the coffee shop after discussing some more of the basics and rules with Miguel. And in her excitement, (Y/) failed to notice her hand reaching for Lupita's to hold it. A gesture that took Lupita off guard but to which she certainly wasn't opposed.

She liked (Y/n)'s hands. They were warm and smooth and fit perfectly in hers.

It was nice.

"I got it!" (Y/n) finally allowed herself to externalize her excitement with little jumps and a huge smile. "Lupita, I got the job!"

Lupita chuckled as she observed (Y/n), a tender smile on her own lips. "I'm proud of you, (Y/n). You did such a good job there."

"You think so?" (Y/n) stopped to ask, "I was so anxious back there. Like really, my palms were so sweaty that I feared the cup would slip out of my hand."

"I get it, Miguel can be pretty damn intimidating when you don't know him. But you did a really good job. He's just grumpy like that." Lupita reassured, gently patting (Y/n)'s shoulders. "And I'm so excited to work with you."

Warmth spread through (Y/n)'s chest at those words, she too couldn't wait to work alongside Lupita. The more time she spent with her, the more she liked her company. And before (Y/n) could process what she was doing her arms were around Lupita and she was giving the other girl a hug.

Lupita froze, unlike their previous hand holding this was something she couldn't brush off as easily. Not when her heart was currently doing somersaults in her chest and heat was rushing to her cheeks.

Fuck, she's too sweet.

That, or Lupita's feelings for (Y/n) weren't just of the friendly sort.

(Y/n) took a step back with a guilty expression, the warmth of her arms receding at the back of Lupita's mind. "Sorry, I should have asked before hugging you like that." (Y/n)

Lupita violently shook her head. She hadnt meant for her lack of reaction to send (Y/n) the wrong message. She had loved these few seconds spent in her arms, it had just been so long since she had last received a hug from anyone other than her mother. She hadn't really processed (Y/n)'s hug until it had ended.

Now though, she wanted another one.

"No, don't apologise." Lupita said, and now it was her turn to act on her urges and tightly embrace (Y/n).

The two girls stayed like this a good minute, silently hugging one another and blissfully unaware of the pair of baby blue eyes observing them from afar.

Jasper didn't care much for the girls' display of affection though, all too happy to see (Y/n) to let this be a dumper on his mood. He had taken the day off to spend some time with (Y/n) and he was so glad he did, because now he got to celebrate his darling getting her first ever job! He was so so proud of her and would make sure to properly tell her once the two of them got a bit more acquainted with one another.

Not only that but he also got to learn where his darling worked. A cozy looking coffeeshop on the edge of the city. It was a bit far from the mayor's mansion, but Jasper didn't care, he'd just have to leave a bit earlier in the morning in order to grab his morning coffee here. After all, if it meant getting to see and interact with his sweet (Y/n) on the daily, Jasper would do anything.

Jasper was convinced that this was his call to jump to the next step of his relationship with (Y/n) and actually make himself a place in her life. He was sure that if he became a regular at the coffee shop she worked at, they'd bond over eventually and she'd come to realise that he was the one for her.

Jasper's lips broke out in a wide grin, excitement bubbling in his veins.

He couldn't wait for (Y/n) to return his feelings.

There was still something he couldn't quite understand though, which was the reason for (Y/n) moving out of her home to go live with what looked to be a good friend of hers. Jasper wondered if something had gone wrong with her family and if she'd tell him if he asked. Either way, it was fine, as (Y/n) moving out seemed to be working out in his favour after all.

A blush crept over Jasper's pale cheeks as his eyes fell on (Y/n)'s smile. He couldn't wait for her to smile at him like that and for those lips to meet his in a sweet kiss. Jasper hadn't ever kissed anyone, but he was sure his first kiss with (Y/n) would be divine.

Before this could happen though, Jasper needed to take things at her pace and play his cards right. For in this situation, only patience would pay off. Much like when he spent days learning about his targets before killing them off. Jasper wouldn't dream of killing (Y/n) though.

After all, she was his very special Darling and he wanted nothing more than her happiness.

Unfortunately for (Y/n) though, there were much worse fates than death.



A/N:

Hey guys! Once again, sorry for the long wait and I hope you liked this chapter! Just to let you know that the next update will be a bit special and inspired by a concept I've seen in other stories called character interviews. So if you have questions you'd like the characters to answer don't hesitate to write them in the comments <3