Hearing the fireplace roar into life, Jasper extracted himself from the mess that was his room and wandered along to the upstairs den that he, Bryn and Cedric mainly had the use of. The kitchen fireplace had been taken off the network recently because his mother wanted a new range instead of an open fire. Ironically when Rose had come over for her date with his little brother she had been the last person to use that grate.
'Just tired.' Jasper did his best to smile at Oliver, but the expression didn't touch his eyes which seemed determined to sting like crazy until he allowed himself to cry. He hated lying to Oliver, but what could he do? Bryn's well-being was at stake. At least his parents were away on their annual pre-Christmas holiday. (Shopping trip to New York.) they'd be spared the worry, for now.