Spontaneous Drive

Jasper crossed his arms like a petulant child. "I hope all your plants die."

Travis appeared and hit the back of Jasper's head with a playful yet firm thud. "Hey, watch it, buddy. That's my income too. How dare you try to mess with it?"

Jasper rubbed the spot where Travis had hit him, pouting. "You little bastard! We sang together!"

Travis chuckled and ruffled Jasper's hair affectionately. "Yeah, and it was a disaster. We got laughed at! Let's leave the singing to the professionals, huh?"

"Hey, I'll have you know I've got a great singing voice," Jasper retorted, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "It's you who couldn't keep up."

I couldn't help but smile at their banter, grateful for the light-hearted moment amidst the tension. "Well, maybe we can start a band and take the world by storm," I joked, trying to lighten the mood further.

Travis laughed, shaking his head. "Oh! Good idea! We'll be like the Spice Girls!"

"Who would be who?" I asked.

"Well I'm obviously Posh Spice. Jasper is Sporty Spice and you're....Scary Spice," Travis smiled.

"Bitch." I couldn't help myself.

"It's not you it's your face… and your personality. Maybe it is you. You're quite scary Alex," Travis shrugged.

Jasper smirked, leaning back against the counter. "I'm fine being Sporty Spice. But just know, I'd be the star of the show."

Travis rolled his eyes, but there was a fondness in his expression. "Sure, Jasper. Whatever you need to say to ignore that you'll be overshadowed."

"By who?"

"By the true beauty, me," Travis flipped his hair.

Travis offered to harvest the plants himself to give me a true day off without thinking about anything else. Despite my initial reluctance, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at the prospect of a break from my usual routine.

"So where are we going?" I sighed in defeat, knowing that there was no escaping Jasper's infectious enthusiasm now that Travis stepped in.

Jasper's eyes lit up with excitement, and he launched into a rapid-fire list of potential destinations, each one more extravagant than the last. "Well, we could start with brunch at that cute little café downtown, then maybe head to the art museum for a leisurely stroll through the galleries. After that, we could catch a matinee at the theater, or if you're feeling adventurous, we could go hiking in the mountains!"

As Jasper continued to outline his elaborate plans, I found myself getting swept up in his excitement. Despite my reservations about getting too close to him, I couldn't deny the allure of a day spent exploring new places and creating memories together.

Travis chuckled at Jasper's enthusiasm, shooting me a knowing glance. "Looks like you're in for quite the adventure, Alex."

I couldn't help but smile in response. Maybe spending a day with Jasper wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to loosen up and forget about revenge for a day, as long as we weren't doing anything too crazy.

Travis seemed to sense my hesitation and gave me an encouraging nod. "Hey, sometimes a little adventure is just what you need to clear your head."

I nodded in agreement, a sense of anticipation building within me. Despite my initial reservations, the prospect of spending a day exploring with Jasper was starting to sound more appealing by the minute.

"Alright, let's do it," I said with a determined smile. "But nothing nothing extravagant like you suggested, okay?"

Jasper grinned triumphantly, clearly thrilled that I had finally agreed. "Don't worry, Alex, I promise it'll be a day to remember!"

The next day arrived, and as promised, Jasper showed up bright and early to pick me up. I could already see the excitement radiating from him as he stepped out of his car, his usual charm in full display.

"Ready for our big adventure?" he exclaimed, a wide grin spreading across his face.

I couldn't help but chuckle at his enthusiasm, feeling a sense of anticipation bubbling within me. "As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, matching his smile.

Today was going to be about letting loose and embracing the spontaneity of the day with Jasper.

"You okay?" Jasper's voice was whisper soft in the car's interior, quiet and unobtrusive like he doesn't want to set me off. "You're being kind of...quiet."

"Agh," I grunted, shifting in my seat, resisting the urge to snap at him for moving too quickly.

"Alex..." The hand on my thigh squeezes softly, pressing gently into the denim, massaging. "Talk to me."

I remained silent, grappling with a surge of frustration and uncertainty, my emotions swirling like a tempest within.

Jasper's touch felt like an intrusion, stirring up a storm of conflicting emotions within me. I wanted to push him away, yet a part of me longed for the comfort he offered.

As we drove further from town, my apprehension grew. Where was Jasper taking me? Were my family or enemies waiting at our destination? Without a phone to reach Travis, I felt vulnerable and out of control.

I wrestled with the feeling of being out of control. A sudden urge to regain some semblance of power surged within me, and I considered asking Jasper for his phone. But then I realized—I didn't even know Travis's number by heart. It was frustrating to be so dependent on others for something as simple as making a phone call.

With each passing mile, my sense of unease grew, amplified by the lack of communication with the outside world. It was as if I were adrift in a sea of uncertainty, unable to find solid ground.

"Where are you taking me?" I finally asked, my voice tinged with curiosity and a hint of apprehension.

"Next town over," Jasper replied, his tone gentle and reassuring. "I thought about it and thought you might get too paranoid in the city, so we're going where people don't know me so you can relax." His explanation started to ease my suspicion, replacing it with a glimmer of hope for a much-needed break from the chaos of the city.

As Jasper elaborated on the small town just a few miles away, describing its quaint charm and serene atmosphere, I found myself warming up to the idea. Maybe stepping out of the relentless spotlight of urban life was exactly what I needed—a chance to decompress and let go of the constant stress that had been weighing me down.

"Maybe I do need a break," I murmured, the words carrying a sense of acceptance and relief. Perhaps this impromptu trip was exactly what I needed to recharge and rediscover a sense of peace amidst the chaos of my tumultuous life."My mother told me that around here, there are lots of wild vegetables in their natural state. There are certain places she took me to find them," I explained, my tone still tinged with a hint of professionalism despite the relaxed setting.

Jasper's surprise was evident in his voice as he responded, "Your mom knows about this kind of stuff? Why would she know about things that servants would usually do?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at his naivety. "You probably watch too many soap operas. My mom is a woman of many trades. She excels at everything she does." Except, of course, loving her children—a fact that lingered like a shadow in the back of my mind, casting a somber tone over our conversation even in this moment of lightness and relaxation.

I pondered over the paradox of my mother's success and emotional shortcomings and I couldn't help but wonder how someone so accomplished in the eyes of the world could fall short in matters as fundamental as love and family. It was a perplexing contradiction that gnawed at my understanding of human nature.

My thoughts then drifted to my father, and I couldn't shake the feeling of bewilderment regarding his relationship with my mother. What had drawn him to her, beyond her wealth and social status? What had drawn her to him? Was there a deeper connection that I failed to grasp, buried beneath layers of societal expectations and personal ambitions?

Or was my dad just a useful idiot like I'd always suspected?

"Well, you could meet my parents if they shape up. They could be yours too if we get married." Jasper's playful banter brought a hint of amusement to the tense atmosphere, but I remained steadfast in my resolve to keep my emotions guarded. His suggestion of meeting his parents and the prospect of marriage seemed like a distant fantasy, one that I wasn't ready to entertain.

"Don't flatter yourself," I retorted, attempting to brush off his teasing remark as I gazed out of the window, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of my own. Despite my efforts to maintain a facade of indifference, Jasper seized the opportunity to intertwine our fingers, his touch both comforting and unsettling.

As he questioned the allocation of my time between plotting revenge, gardening, and working at the thrift store, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for neglecting the aspects of my life that brought solace and purpose outside of my quest for retribution. "How much time will you give me?" He asked.

"Stop being weird," I replied, my tone laced with a hint of exasperation, "and find somewhere I can buy seeds."

"Fine! I came to relax and you came to work so I'll let you work but I'm not letting go of your hand!" Jasper insisted.

"Don't be ridiculous!"

"My handcuffs are in the back seat. I'm so serious about this." Jasper looked triumphantly at the road while holding my hand. Jasper's persistence in maintaining physical contact, coupled with his playful threat of handcuffs, elicited a mixture of amusement and frustration within me. Despite my protests, I couldn't deny the faint flutter of uncertainty that stirred within me at his insistence on keeping me tethered to him, both figuratively and literally.

After a brief search, we finally stumbled upon a farmer willing to sell me some seeds. The farm we stumbled upon was a quaint, family-owned operation tucked away from the bustling main road. As we approached, the scent of freshly tilled earth mingled with the sweet aroma of ripening crops, infusing the air with a sense of rustic charm. Rows of verdant green plants stretched out as far as the eye could see, each meticulously tended to by weathered hands that bore the marks of countless seasons spent toiling in the fields.

The farmer, a weathered man with a broad smile etched onto his sun-worn face, greeted us warmly as we approached. His calloused hands expertly sifted through the bountiful harvest of seeds displayed on weathered wooden tables, offering us a glimpse into the fruits of his labor. Behind him, a rustic barn stood sentinel over the sprawling fields, its weathered facade bearing witness to generations of hard work and dedication.

Amidst the backdrop of rolling hills and verdant fields, the farm exuded a sense of tranquility that was palpable in the crisp morning air. Birds chirped merrily overhead, their cheerful melodies echoing across the vast expanse of land. It was a scene straight out of a pastoral painting, a serene oasis amidst the chaos of the outside world.

I eagerly stocked up on as much as I could afford, depleting my entire meager thrift store paycheck in the process. As I returned to the car, laden with bags of seeds, Jasper inspected the haul to ensure I hadn't been duped by the farmer. Satisfied with my purchases, he flashed me a thumbs up.

As I reached for the door handle, intent on stealing one last glance at the vibrant orchid that had caught my eye, Jasper's hand shot out, gripping mine with surprising strength. His expression shifted, the easygoing demeanor he had maintained throughout the day replaced by a sense of urgency that sent a shiver down my spine.