The following Monday, Alex was still trying to shake off the strange feeling from the dance with Jasper. Every time she thought about it, her heart would skip a beat. It wasn't just the music or the unexpected twirls—it was the way he made her feel seen in a way she wasn't used to. And it had nothing to do with being the "beautiful overachiever" that everyone in her family kept reminding her she was. With Jasper, she felt like something else entirely.
She walked into AP English with her head a little too full of thoughts she didn't want to confront. Jasper, as always, was sitting in his usual spot by the window, scribbling away in his notebook like it was the most important thing in the world. As Alex made her way to her seat, she couldn't help but glance over at him. He was too engrossed in whatever he was writing to notice her, but something about the way his brow furrowed as he wrote made her want to know more.
"Ready to present?" The voice broke through her thoughts, and she snapped her head up to find Mrs. Holloway, the AP English teacher, standing by her desk with a knowing smile.
"Uh... yeah," Alex replied, her voice a little off.
Her mind was still on the dance. She'd told herself it didn't mean anything, that it was just a bit of fun. But somewhere deep down, she wasn't sure she believed it.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class, and soon enough, it was their turn to present. She and Jasper were up next. Alex stood from her seat, taking a deep breath. She looked at Jasper, who was casually flipping through his notebook, seemingly unfazed by the pressure of the class.
"You ready?" she whispered, though she already knew the answer.
"Of course," he replied smoothly, without looking up from his notes. "We're talking about Pride and Prejudice, not solving world hunger."
Alex frowned, but she didn't have time to retort. Mrs. Holloway gestured for them to start, and they began their presentation. They'd chosen the novel weeks ago, but now that they were standing in front of the class, Alex felt the weight of the project hit her like never before. She was determined to make it perfect, but every time she glanced at Jasper, something about his laid-back demeanor made her second-guess herself.
As she began explaining Elizabeth Bennet's evolution throughout the novel, Jasper took over seamlessly. His words flowed with ease, and the class was hanging on his every sentence, nodding in agreement. Alex couldn't help but notice how everyone seemed to be enamored with his effortless charm. It was like he was born to speak in front of an audience.
But then, he paused. His gaze shifted to her, as if searching for something.
"Of course," he said, looking at Alex with a mischievous smile, "we can't forget the chemistry between Elizabeth and Darcy. It's as undeniable as—"
"As this guy who claims he doesn't care about anything, but we all know he secretly does," Alex interrupted, throwing him a pointed look.
Jasper grinned widely, clearly enjoying their little back-and-forth. "You know me so well, Beautiful Overachiever."
Alex's cheeks flushed, but she quickly recovered, turning back to the class and finishing their analysis. They were a good team. She couldn't deny that. Despite his annoying tendencies, Jasper seemed to complement her perfectly.
When they were finished, there was a brief silence before Mrs. Holloway broke it with applause. The class followed suit, but it wasn't just for the content of their presentation—it was for the way they'd worked together. Alex had to admit, it felt good. She had actually enjoyed working with him.
"Great job, you two," Mr. Holloway said, smiling at them. "A perfect example of teamwork. You make a great pair."
Jasper winked at Alex. "Told you I'd show you how fun this could be."
As they sat back down, Alex felt a mix of pride and frustration. Jasper's easy confidence, his effortless charm, and the way he made her feel... well, seen—it was all starting to get under her skin in a way she wasn't prepared for.
She tried to focus on the rest of the lesson, but her mind kept drifting back to the moment in the schoolyard. The dance. The way his hands had felt around her waist, the way they'd spun in a circle, as if the whole world around them didn't matter.
And then, as if sensing her inner turmoil, Jasper leaned over, his voice low so only she could hear. "You okay, Beautiful Overachiever? You're looking a little... distracted."
Alex snapped her gaze to him, her heart pounding. She wasn't sure if it was from the earlier dance or the way he'd casually slid back into his teasing role. Either way, it was hard to ignore the way his presence affected her.
"I'm fine," she muttered, her voice a little sharper than she intended. "Just trying to get through the day without you messing with my head."
Jasper leaned back in his chair with a smile. "You can try, but you're stuck with me now. I'm your partner in crime... whether you like it or not."
Alex shook her head but couldn't hide the small smile that tugged at the corners of her lips.
This was far from over.
Remember the most important is
STAYING ALIVE - JASPER ALLISTER