The Game, The Girl and A Moment of Peace

The echoes of the crowd cheering still buzzed in Jasper's ears as he pulled his shirt over his head, toweling off the last traces of sweat from an intense game. Scott, looking equally worn yet triumphant, was grinning ear-to-ear beside him while Stiles, always the designated cheerleader, recapped every play with boundless energy.

"Did you see Jackson's face when you scored that last shot?" Stiles laughed, practically bouncing on his feet as they made their way out of the locker room. Jasper chuckled, glancing at Scott, whose smile only widened. It had been a good game, one that left Jasper buzzing with satisfaction.

As they reached the parking lot, Jasper caught sight of a familiar figure waiting by his car—Allison. She was leaning against the side, her face illuminated by the warm glow of the streetlight, a sly smile on her lips as she waved to him. Stiles noticed first, elbowing him playfully. "Romeo's got his Juliet," he quipped with a grin, nudging Scott.

With a wave, Jasper bid them farewell and walked toward her, his heart picking up its pace in spite of himself. As he neared, Allison looked up at him with an affectionate sparkle in her eye.

"Hey, you," she greeted, her tone warm. She stepped in close, lifting herself on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck. "I told Dad my boyfriend would drop me off tonight," she whispered with a mischievous smile before kissing him softly. "And consider this your reward for winning the game."

Jasper's hands found her waist, holding her gently as he returned the kiss, savoring the warmth of her lips. When they finally pulled back, she gave a soft laugh, her hand lingering on his shoulder as she met his gaze with her bright eyes.

They drove through the night, hands intertwined between them as they shared bits and pieces of their day, their plans, their dreams. Allison leaned into him as she talked, her fingers tracing light patterns along his hand, which he found both soothing and mesmerizing.

"I love seeing you play out there," she said, glancing at him with a smile. "I feel like I'm getting to know more of you every day."

Jasper looked at her, feeling that rare warmth he reserved for her alone. "Then get ready to know a lot more," he said with a grin. "There's still a lot about me you don't know."

Their laughter drifted through the night air as they finally arrived at the Argent house. Outside, they lingered, unwilling to let the night end just yet. Jasper brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek as he memorized the look of her under the moonlight.

"See you tomorrow," Allison said softly, her smile lighting up her face one last time before she kissed him goodbye and slipped inside.

Jasper watched her go, a content smile lingering on his face as he drove back to his own home, feeling a sense of peace he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Later, back at the Lake House

Once home, Jasper took a deep breath, letting the night settle around him as he felt the serenity of his lake house surround him. He let Shadow, the puppy he'd rescued with Allison, outside, watching the little bundle of fur dash around with boundless energy. Jasper crouched down, reaching out to scratch behind the pup's ears.

"You should've been there, Shadow," he murmured, chuckling softly as the puppy tilted his head at him, eyes wide and curious. Jasper tossed a ball across the yard, watching as Shadow took off, his tail wagging furiously as he fetched it back with pride.

As they sat under the starlit sky, Jasper felt a quiet joy settle within him, unlike the fierce thrill of the game or the warmth he shared with Allison. This was a different kind of peace—a grounding comfort that eased his mind. With Shadow curled up beside him, he gazed up at the stars, the weight of the world lifting if only for a moment.