Call: Jasper to Miranda

[jasperwoods]

Date: January 13, 2012
Characters: Jasper Woods, Miranda Jackson
Location: Respective locations
Status: Private
Summary: After almost two weeks, Jasper finally decides to call Miranda.
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[miranda_jackson]

Miranda paused a minute, considering if it was fair to ask the question she'd been thinking. "Did Abby's mother have custody?" She finally asked, "You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but Abby said something about her mother not being around anymore when she was showing me her picture locket at Damien and Soli's." She wouldn't be offended if Jasper thought the question was too personal, she was curious though, both with his comment and what Abby had said to her on New Year's Eve.

"It is nice." She agreed, "I try not to be there too late though, I don't like walking by myself after 11 PM." She admitted with a scrunch of her nose, "Even if it is just to my car. Which undermines the whole 'independent young woman' thing I know, but my daddy's always told me to be smart, and I'd rather not end up a target." Her gym was in a nice area of the city and she always carried pepper spray, but she also knew you could never guarantee that someone wouldn't get it in their head to assault her. "You are not allowed to throw the race though, if I beat you I'd prefer it be on my own merits, and not because you took pity on me." She informed him with a serious tone, she was smiling though, even if he couldn't see her.

Miranda bit her lip wishing she hadn't said that at all, she hadn't meant to put him in an awkward spot; usually she was so much better about what she said. "They can be difficult." She hedged, not knowing exactly how serious his relationship had been before it ended, and not needing to know either. It seemed too personal. "I'm sorry for even bringing it up. Can we just pretend I didn't put my foot in my mouth like that?" If they'd been sitting in the same room it probably would have been worse though; at least it was only awkwardness over the phone. "Which do you prefer, cooking or baking?" She asked, hoping he'd accept the subject change.

[jasperwoods]

Jasper sighed softly at her question, not at all surprised by it, but not entirely sure how to answer it. “Oh, no, I don’t mind,” he assured her. “It’s just that the question doesn’t have a simple answer. I suppose, though, that the short answer is yes.” He paused for only a moment before explaining. “Abby’s mother never told me she was pregnant. She moved out of state, and I didn’t find out about Abby until Jessica died last summer.”

Jasper thought it was smart of her not to be out walking alone so late, not that he thought she wouldn’t be able to handle herself, but because he thought it was better to simply err on the side of caution. “Being smart and cautious doesn’t negate the ‘independent young woman’ thing, I think,” he responded with a smile. He laughed at her oh so serious words. “You don’t have to worry ‘bout that. I’m not competitive enough to push beyond my limits to win, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try,” he assured her.

“Yes, they can,” he agreed, brushing it off. “Don’t worry about it, Miranda. I really don’t mind.” Jasper wasn’t sure admitting that he’d been taken by surprise by it because it had made it sound like he was someone she would be interested in dating would help anything. He grinned at her question, more than willing to accept the change of subject. “Baking, actually, but I’m not so bad at cooking, if I do say so myself.” The ego was played up for the fun of it. He wasn’t really lacking in confidence for his skills, but he wasn’t cocky about it.

[miranda_jackson]

Miranda was silent for a minute. That was much more complicated than she expected. “Oh, wow.” She breathed, “You really were thrown into parenthood quite recently.” Stupid comment. “But if it makes a difference, it sounds like you’re doing well with it.” Abby seemed well adjusted enough when Miranda had talked to her, and anyone that saw she and Jasper interacting would be able to tell how much Abby loved her father and vice versa.

“You’re right. But sometimes it feels like it does,” Miranda replied with a small shrug, “Like I’m expecting the big, bad wolf to jump out from the shadows and make off with my gym bag or something.” Silly as it was she was reassured that he wouldn’t throw any potential race they might have, and part of her was looking forward to it. “Good. I like a little competition, makes things fun.”

Miranda smiled just a little at the reassurance. “I’m starting to think you’re really much too easy going.” She replied with a small laugh, then smiled wider when he answered her question. “Well, in that case, I like red velvet cupcakes and gingersnaps best,” She told him, laughing at the way he was playing up his ego; she had had enough interaction with him to know that wasn’t natural, “But I would settle for sugar cookies.” She didn’t mean for it to sound flirtatious, but she wouldn’t deny that it was probably bordering on that. She didn't know how stupid it was to be almost flirting with the man that just told her he’d ended a relationship in November. but she knew It certainly wasn't smart. She shifted so she was laying on the couch more than sitting on it, “Tell me something else about Jasper Woods.”