Chapter Twenty–one ~The Blackthorns~

Jasper

I pulled a chair from the terrace beneath the large tree just beside the house. I needed to clear my head after today's drama at Lisa's colony. I just had a good swim in the pool but I needed some fresh air on this side of the house.

A kid ran in my direction. "Hey, Jasper."

"Ethan, hey." He gave me a high five. "Being a while. What have they been feeding you?" I hugged him. He's all grown now. When he left he was ten but now he looked bigger than a twelve-year-old.

He laughed. "Good to see you, Jasper. I missed you."

"I missed you too," I said. He was my favourite kid, I liked him so much. Whenever Katherine was coming over to my house, she brought him along. That's how we got so close. Even after what his sister did and her death, my affection for Ethan remained.

"How are your parents?"

"They are fine. I have tried visiting you several times but Josh stops me." His shoulder quaked. "He said he would punish me if he ever saw me with you."

"Don't worry about that. Let me give