Looking at the sky,Alex raised an eyebrow, feeling both confused and slightly flustered. "Why? Why this year, out of all the years, did you suddenly start talking to me?" she asked, her tone skeptical.
Jasper leaned back against the tree, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, I saw this really beautiful girl sitting in AP English, all serious and focused on her book, and I thought, 'Hey, why not woo her with my handsome and sexy self?'" He exaggerated the words dramatically, clearly teasing.
Alex rolled her eyes, but she couldn't suppress a small smile. "Oh, really?"
Jasper grinned wider, clearly enjoying the playful back-and-forth. "Of course. But then, you were too focused on your books to notice my charm. It's tragic, really."
Alex shook her head, trying to hide the warmth that had spread across her face. "And now you're just bothering me for fun?"
"Not entirely," Jasper said, his voice softening a little as he looked at her more seriously. "I'll admit, your beauty, your intelligence, and your fiery personality caught my attention. And to be honest…" He paused for a beat, eyes glinting with a hint of something more sincere. "The first time I saw you, I had heard about you, but I'd never actually seen you before. So when I did, I just couldn't ignore it. You stood out. You always did."
Alex blinked, a little caught off guard. She had always thought of herself as just one of the many overachieving students in the background, blending in with the rest. She had never imagined someone like Jasper, with his cocky attitude and confidence, would take notice of her.
"So, what is it about me that caught your attention?" Alex asked, still feeling a bit of disbelief at his confession.
Jasper met her gaze, a more genuine, thoughtful expression crossing his face. "It wasn't just about looks or grades or anything like that. It's that you don't let anyone push you around. You're always so composed, always the one who's got everything figured out." He leaned forward slightly, as though trying to emphasize his words. "But I could tell you were more than that. You're a lot more complicated than the 'perfect overachiever' everyone sees."
Alex hesitated, processing his words. "You know, it's not as easy as you think it is. Trying to live up to that... to be what everyone expects."
Jasper nodded, his expression turning serious for a moment. "I get that. I do. But you don't have to do it alone. You don't have to carry that weight on your shoulders all the time."
There was a long silence between them, and Alex found herself struggling with the emotions swirling inside her. She wasn't used to anyone being this open with her, this honest. Especially
"You really think I can let go of that... burden?" she asked quietly, her voice almost unsure.
Jasper's response was calm and steady. "I think you'll find it's easier than you think, once you realize that it's okay to not be perfect all the time." He smiled slightly, a warmth in his eyes. "And hey, I'll be here to help you along the way. If you ever need a break from the overachiever role, I'm happy to provide some... distractions."
Alex rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "I'm not sure if that's a good idea," she said, though the tension between them seemed to ease a little.
Jasper chuckled, the playful tone returning. "Don't worry, I'm not that bad." He leaned back against the tree again, his casual demeanor returning. "But, you know, sometimes a little fun can help you out more than you think. Everyone needs a bit of a break. Even you."
Alex sat back, still processing everything. For the first time in a long while, she felt like maybe she could afford to not be perfect—if only for a few minutes. And maybe, just maybe, Jasper wasn't as insufferable as she thought.
"So, what do you do when you're not being insufferable?" she asked, her voice playful again.
Jasper smirked, "Oh, you know... I'm just your average genius with a flair for the dramatic. I read, I write, I make people laugh—basically, I'm a man of many talents."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "A 'genius,' huh? You've got a lot of confidence."
"Well, what can I say?" Jasper said, his grin widening. "Confidence is key. You should try it sometime."
Alex couldn't help but laugh at that. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all. And maybe, just maybe, she didn't mind spending a little more time with the guy who always knew how to get under her skin.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, a new understanding between them, before Alex finally stood up, brushing the grass off her jeans. "Well, I better get going. I have a test to study for."
Jasper nodded, standing as well. "I'll walk you to class, then. Can't let you go through that alone."
Alex rolled her eyes but didn't resist as he fell into step beside her. For once, she didn't mind his company. Maybe—just maybe—there was more to this "annoying" guy than she had thought.
As they stood up, Alex was about to turn and leave when, out of nowhere, Jasper pulled out his phone and tapped a few buttons before a soft, familiar tune began to play through the speakers. The music was slow and mellow—Richard Marx's Right Here Waiting.
Before Alex could ask what he was doing, Jasper turned to her with a grin. "Let's dance," he said, his voice light and playful. "You'll have fun, I promise."
Without waiting for her response, he grabbed her hand and gently pulled her toward him. Alex froze for a moment, caught off guard. "Wait, what? No—Jasper, I don't—"
But he was already guiding her into a slow dance, his hand steady on her waist while his other hand held hers. He didn't seem to care that they were in the middle of the school lawn, that they looked completely out of place.
"This is ridiculous," Alex muttered, trying to pull away, but he only tightened his grip slightly, keeping her close.
"Is it really?" Jasper asked, his tone smooth and teasing. "You might find it's the most fun you've had in a while."
As they began to move, the soft melody of Right Here Waiting played through Jasper's phone. Alex couldn't help but feel a little awkward at first, but Jasper's easy confidence was infectious. She found herself moving, albeit reluctantly, in sync with him.
The lyrics echoed softly, floating between them:
"Oceans apart, day after day..."
Jasper held her hand lightly but firmly, guiding her as they swayed in the middle of the school lawn. He didn't make her feel out of place, just focused on the rhythm, making her feel like this was the most natural thing in the world.
"And I slowly go insane..."
Jasper's eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, it felt like the whole world had faded away. The only thing left was the music and the subtle beat that matched their slow steps.
He twirled her, the motion unexpected but smooth, and Alex felt a rush of surprise and laughter. Her arms flailed for a moment, but she quickly regained her balance.
"I hear your voice on the line, But it doesn't stop the pain..."
Jasper pulled her close, his hand settling on her waist as they continued to move, his grip just firm enough to keep her in place but not tight enough to make her feel trapped. The two of them seemed to glide effortlessly, their bodies mirroring the gentle swaying of the song.
"If I see you next to never, How can we say forever?"
They continued to dance under the tree, their shoes barely scraping against the ground. Alex wasn't sure if she was just going along with the flow or if something about this made her feel lighter. Maybe it was the music, or maybe it was the way Jasper had a way of making everything feel like it could be fun—no pressure, just an easy moment.
Jasper twirled her again, this time with more flair, and Alex let herself spin, laughing as the wind brushed through her hair. "What are you—" she started, but before she could finish, Jasper had pulled her back into his arms. Her chest pressed against his, her face flushed from the unexpected rush of movement.
"Right here waiting for you..."
His gaze never left hers, a mischievous glint in his eye. Alex swallowed hard, a little breathless from both the dance and the unexpected tension building between them.
For just a few minutes, they were simply two people caught up in a moment. The world around them seemed to disappear—the only thing that mattered was the music, the rhythm, and the way their bodies fit so perfectly together in the dance.
"I took for granted all the times... that I thought would last somehow..."
Jasper's hand moved to her back, guiding her even closer, making her heartbeat race. The moment felt suspended in time, her mind struggling to grasp exactly what was happening. Was this just a ridiculous game to him? Or was there something more?
"I'll be right here waiting for you..."
Jasper smirked as he slowly pulled away, keeping his hand on hers as he took a step back. They both stopped moving, but there was a sense of unfinished business lingering between them.
Alex cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to break the moment before it got too... complicated. "That was... something," she muttered, her voice softer than she meant it to be.
Jasper shrugged with a sly grin. "Told you, you'd have fun."
Her chest still felt a little tight from the unexpected dance, and she had to shake off the feeling that she might actually have enjoyed it. "Don't get used to it," she said, her tone attempting to return to its usual sarcastic edge, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her.
Jasper raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eye. "Oh, I'm sure it won't take much to convince you again."
As the last of the song echoed out, Alex couldn't shake the strange warmth spreading through her, and for the first time in a while, she wasn't in a rush to dismiss the feeling.