Discussion

After Jackson walked back to clementine and Jessica he noticed everyone else moved to Zack's group.

Everyone looked like there were having a good time socializing that's when he noticed Lori walking toward him.

Clementine was talking about good times she had with her family to Jessica trying to make her smile. Clementine had a way of saying words that made Jessica smile.

The way Clementine would fumble on words or get to excited and mess up her story made Jessica feel better.

"Mind if we talk for a second?" Lori asked as she pointed to the bunker exit.

Jackson nodded and followed her outside the bunker into the tunnel. "what's up? I hope this isn't were you confuse you undying love. is it" he asked backing up to the door slowly jokingly.

This made Lori giggle."No you block head! I wanted to thank you again for saving at the school and I also wanted to know if you would train me a little?"

This made Jackson chuckle at her reaction,"you and I see things differently but your welcome, as for training I'm going to teach anyone who wants to learn tomorrow. Is that all you wanted?"

Lori was disappointed a little not being able train today."For the most part, but I do have a question, you said you see things differently what's that supposed to mean?"

Jackson smiled at the question, "well you say I saved you and that might current. but if you want to thank someone thank jasmine and Carol we wouldn't have made it here without those two. Without Carol we would be stuck at the school and if jasmine didn't tell us we're her uncle lived we would probably be dead."

Lori wasn't ready for Jackson responses, but thinking about it she realized he was only half right. "Jackson you don't give yourself enough credit, without you nobody would be alive and they might have helped, but it was you who put the plan in action. So thank you again." She said pushing past him back into the bunker.

But what Jackson and Lori didn't know was jasmine was eavesdropping on them and heard every word.

Jasmine saw Lori ask Jackson into the tunnel she was curious to see what they were up to.

So without being noticed she sat next to the cracked bunker door.

Hearing what Jackson say about how much she helped the group she couldn't help but feel good about herself, but when she noticed the conversation was over she walked over to Tom like nothing happened.

Everyone looked at the bunker door when they see it open. With everyone starting at them they went separate ways. Lori went to Fred and Jackson to clementine but before he could sit jasmine taped his shoulder making him turn to her.

"Before you sit do you mind if we talk?" jasmine asked as she pointed to the bunker door

Jackson wanted to sigh but he held it in. Walking through the bunker door to see jasmine close it behind her made Jackson raise a eyebrow.

"I'm sorry Jackson I was eavesdropping on you and Lori. I heard you joking around with Lori about confessing her love?"

"It made me realize if she said yes, I would be hurt so, I'm here to tell you I like you Jackson and I wanted you to know before someone else told you." She confessed as she looked at the ground rubbing her hands together clearly nervous for Jackson's answer.

Jackson was just trying to make a joke, trying to be out of character for once and look were it got him into another situation he's never been in before.

Jackson cleared his mind before he spoke.

"I'm going to be honest with you jasmine, I have little to no relationship experience and I'm not familiar with the emotion love. But if your willing to give me a chance ill do the same."

Jasmine was star struck when she hear Jackson words. She looked up with the brightest smile while blushing a little."you really meat it?" She asked as she made eye contact.

Jackson kept eye contact with jasmine as he spoke"I've never lied a day I'm my life and don't plan to start anytime soon"

Jasmine run up and hugged Jackson, He was unprepared for a hug but he hugged her back.

"Thank you Jackson. For saving me Jackson without you I'm sure I would have died already, ever since you saved me at the school I couldn't help the way I felt."

"Just knowing your around makes me feel better. thank you Jackson for everything you've done for me." Jessica said as he let go of Jackson still smiling.

Jackson didn't think he did that much, yes he may have saved her like but there was no reason for her to feel better just because he was around.

Jackson felt a little bad he didn't have strong feelings for anyone but he didn't want to hurt jasmine feelings.

Jackson placed his hand on jasmine's bright red hair. "I don't like saying your welcome so why don't we leave it at that?"

Jasmine nodded her head then opened the bunker door heading back into toms direction while Jackson went to see how clementine was doing.

When approaching clementine she got up and ran to Jackson." Welcome back Jackson." Clementine announced as she smiled jumping up and down holding Jackson hand.

"Thank you clementine you having a good time with Jessica?" He asked with a smile

"Yah Jessica listen to all the story's that I told her and she told me some of here's she always so nice to me"she said with a smile while holding her teddy bear.

Jessica hearing this couldn't help but smile in her direction. Jackson noticed she was looking there way and mouthed (thank you). Making Jessica wave her hand away like it was no big deal.

Before anyone new it, tom announced it was dark on the surface making everyone get ready for bed.

(Tom has a watch on his wrist so he knew the time of day)

Jackson was in his usual spot leading against a wall with clementine close by lying on the floor, that's when jasmine approached him.

"Do you mind if I sleep over here?" Jasmine asked with a smile.

Jackson didn't say anything just responded with a smile and a nod.

When jasmine sat down copying Jackson, she immediately noticed how uncomfortable Jackson's position really was. he was sitting with his back straight up against the wall.

"That's uncomfortable as fuck how can you sit like that?" She asked as moved her back off the wall.

"My master taught me that a good posture leads to a heathy back and a heathy back will help you in a fight or everyday life." Jackson answered was he stretched his arms getting ready to go to sleep.

"Master huh? Anyways you want to smoke this with me?"she asked as she pulled out a whole joint.

Jackson looked at the joint then looked at jasmine then back at the joint. Then he cupped chin thinking about it. "Fuck it, light it up." He answered with a sigh.

Jasmine smiled even more before she lit the joint, she expected Jackson to say no and should would have to smoke by herself but to her surprise Jackson didn't mind smoking a little.

With clementine using his leg as a pillow Jackson's tried making sure not to blow smoke at clementine. while whispering to jasmine not trying to disturb anyone.

"I always see you hesitate before grabbing a joint is it by chance you haven't smoked weed before yesterday?" Jasmine asked with a smile already knowing the answer as she passed the joint for Jackson to grab it without hesitation.

"With that face your making it looks like you already know. I've never really had time for fun,well that's a lie I did but never really cared for it." Jackson's answered as he puffed on the joint.

"Never really cared for fun? Do you mind explaining?"she asked with a dumbfounded face who didn't like fun? She thought as she grabbed the joint from Jackson.

"It all happened when I was 14, I was always bullied because I was weaker then the other kids and smarter. It's also easier to pick on me instead of the other kids because I had no one to call for help and no one who card to listen."

"So after getting jumped trying to keep the few bucks I had, after they walked away, leaving me broke. A old man that looked in his 70s that I seen now and again walked up to me and asked in a voice that made my blood run cold."

(do you want to gain strength? do you want power? What are you willing to sacrifice for that power young one)

"without thinking I said "anything in the world" making the old man smile ear to ear it was quiet the scary site. But from that day he trained me every day and night giving me food,water even a bed to sleep in his dojo."

But before Jackson could continue Jasmine cut him off handing him a joint at the same time.

"Wait so you just followed this random old guy because he promised you power? That sounds a little strange don't you think?" She asked with one hand cupping her chin and the other grabbed the joint from Jackson.

"Well I did say I saw him a couple times no? Well long story short he was a master martial artist that retired and didn't take in disciples. So let's just say I believe him." He explained.

"Ok that's a little better not by much, so you trusted this old guy and he trained you in what?"

She asked with clear confusion as trying to pass the joint but Jackson didn't want it.

Jackson couldn't help but chuckle a little but he continued."he told me he combined different styles all across the world into one making the best martial arts style. He called it (Kritanta) my master said I was a prodigy being able to master it in 4 years but I still need battle experience to become a true master."

"Kritanta? What's that it doesn't sound English. Jasmine asked as she finished the joint putting it instead a seal tight container.

This made Jackson curious about the container, "your right it's from India, Kritanta means the god of death in English. But off topic what's the container for? I seen you put the joint in it but why?"

"Oh that it's for later,I brake it up and make another one. But back on topic your fighting style is called the god of death? Quit intimidating." She admitted, slowly understanding why Jackson was so strong.

"On the first day he told me why he named his style Kritanta it's because if you can survive the training you would become the god of death. that's probably why I had to sign a contract before I could train"Jackson said with a devilish smile.

"Was it that difficult? My uncles said you can gain countless scars from intense training and your arms look fine and Carol said your back didn't have any" she asked she leaned forward hoping for more details on the training.

Jackson noticed she wasn't trying call him a lier, but she was just curious. so he leaned down to his right leg and rolled up his pants.

Jasmine seeing Jackson bend down to his right leg was even more curious, so she stared intently at his leg noticing how big his legs actually were they looked like trees and when he revealed his skin. She was horrified seeing his leg riddled with scars. It looked like he was whipped by a whip for years.

She leaned forward to touch his leg, see Jackson didn't mind she put her hand on his leg to notice it was hairless? and when she grabbed his leg she felt like she was gripping steal.

"Are you flexing?" She asked with a dumbfounded expression.

"Grip my leg with both hands as tightly as possible and I'll show you flexing."Jackson said and jasmine didn't hesitate to rap her hands around his shin gripped tight as possible. When he flexed his leg her hands immediately loosen and when she tried squeezing his leg again she couldn't even make a indent on his skin.

Jasmine felt like dumb for not noticing it sooner, on the ride over to the Home Depot Jackson pushed a car out the way by himself!"That's terrifying. I've never seen muscles so dense in my life,it's like solid steal." Jasmine couldn't help but admire his strength.

"it's late, story time is over big plants tomorrow, goodnight Jasmine." Jackson said as he closed his eyes sitting straight up on the wall remaining him of his posture training.

Not long after he could feel jasmine leaning against his chest not expecting it he flinched, but he didn't mind it actually helped him fall asleep.