I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.
https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon
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Chapter 10: Realizations and First Dates
Alex sat at her desk, staring at the open textbook in front of her. The words blurred together as her mind kept drifting—to him. It had been happening a lot lately. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Jon's easy smile, the way he listened when she spoke, how his bright blue eyes locked onto hers like she was the most interesting person in the world.
She shook her head, frustrated. This is ridiculous.
She never cared about this kind of thing before. Crushes were for girls like Haley, not for her. And yet, every time Jon laughed at one of her sarcastic remarks or sat next to her at lunch, she felt a little… lighter.
The sound of Haley's music blaring through the the phone wasn't helping her concentration, so Alex sighed, closed her book, and walked to her sister's side of the room.
"Hey, quick question," Alex said, leaning against the wall.
Haley, lying on her bed scrolling through her phone, barely looked up. "If it's about math, ask Dad. If it's about being cool, you came to the right place."
Alex rolled her eyes but hesitated for a second before stepping inside. "How do you know if you… have a crush on someone?"
Haley's head snapped up so fast, Alex thought she might have given herself whiplash.
"Oh my God," Haley gasped, sitting up with a grin. "Alex has a crush?! Who is it? Nerdy Science Club guy? Ooh, is it that weird theater kid who wears capes?"
Alex crossed her arms, regretting this already. "Forget it."
"No, no, no! Sit!" Haley patted the bed eagerly. "This is huge. My little sister is finally entering the real world!"
Alex sighed and sat down. "I'm just… curious."
Haley smirked. "Okay, let me break it down for you. Do you think about him when you're alone?"
Alex hesitated. More than I'd like to admit. "…Maybe."
"Do you get, like, weirdly happy when you see him?"
"…A little."
Haley's grin widened. "Do you feel nervous or excited when he talks to you?"
Alex thought about it. She didn't get nervous, exactly. Jon had this way of making her feel comfortable, like he actually enjoyed spending time with her. But she did get a little thrill when he sought her out. "…Yeah."
Haley gasped dramatically. "You so have a crush on him!"
Alex groaned and flopped back onto the bed. "This is the worst."
"This is the best!" Haley corrected. "Who is he? Tell me!"
Alex hesitated. "…Jon."
There was a brief silence. Then Haley's eyes widened. "Grandpa Jay's Jon? Our Jon?"
"He's not our Jon," Alex muttered.
Haley let out a little squeal. "Okay, I totally get it. He's tall, hot, funny, and actually smart. Good taste, nerd."
Alex covered her face with her hands. "I can't believe this is happening."
Haley nudged her. "It's not a bad thing, you know. You could totally flirt with him."
Alex peeked through her fingers. "And how exactly do I do that?"
Haley grinned. "Lucky for you, I'm a professional flirt. Rule one: eye contact. Hold it just a second longer than normal."
Alex nodded, mentally taking notes.
"Rule two: Laugh at his jokes—even the dumb ones."
Alex frowned. "But his jokes are actually funny."
Haley wiggled her eyebrows. "Then you're really in trouble."
Alex let out a small laugh. Maybe talking to Haley about this wasn't such a bad idea after all.
"Alright," Haley continued, "Rule three: Find excuses to touch him. Like, a casual hand on the arm or a playful shove."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "So… harass him?"
Haley groaned. "No, just little things! Ugh, you're hopeless. Okay, just stick with me, and I'll make sure you land this guy."
Alex rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. Maybe this wasn't the worst thing in the world
Maybe… this could actually be fun.
Jon's Perspective
After an intense training session at the MMA gym, Jon took a long, refreshing shower. The sparring session with some of the gym's older fighters had been a nice challenge, and he could already feel his muscles relaxing under the warm water. Drying off, he got dressed and slung his bag over his shoulder before heading outside.
To his surprise, Samantha was waiting by the entrance, casually leaning against her car.
The gym lights cast a golden glow on her, making her striking features stand out even more. Samantha was beautiful in an effortless way—her long dark blonde hair framed her sharp, mischievous eyes, which carried an almost hypnotic confidence. She had full lips that curled into a teasing smirk, a toned, athletic frame that spoke of years of training, and smooth, sun-kissed skin that contrasted against the deep blue tank top and tight black jeans she was wearing.
Jon raised an eyebrow. "Were you waiting for me?"
Samantha grinned. "Maybe. Maybe I just like the view." She playfully poked his chest. "So, Jon Hale, any plans for the night?"
Jon smirked, amused by her directness. "Not really. Why? Got something in mind?"
Samantha tilted her head, her smile widening. "How about a date? You, me, coffee, and maybe some shameless flirting?"
Jon chuckled. "You're not exactly subtle, are you?"
She shrugged. "Life's too short to be subtle."
Jon liked that answer. "Alright then, let's go."
They ended up at a small café a few blocks away, a cozy place with warm lighting and the rich aroma of coffee and pastries filling the air. Samantha picked a seat by the window, and Jon slid into the chair across from her.
"So," Samantha began, stirring her iced coffee. "You're basically a martial arts prodigy, you're ridiculously fast. What's your deal?"
Jon smirked. "I eat my vegetables."
She laughed. "Oh, so that's the secret? And here I thought it was hard work."
Jon leaned back, enjoying the playful energy between them. "Hard work helps, but natural talent doesn't hurt."
They spent the next hour talking, trading stories about competitions they had won, fights they had lost, and the people they had met along the way. Samantha was sharp, witty, and had a boldness to her that Jon found refreshing. She wasn't shy about teasing him, but there was a warmth to it—like she genuinely enjoyed his company.
At one point, she rested her chin on her hand, studying him. "You're different from most guys."
Jon raised an eyebrow. "That a good thing?"
She smirked. "Very."
After they finished their drinks, Samantha leaned in with a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, wanna take this date up a notch?"
Jon chuckled. "What do you have in mind?"
She tossed her car keys in the air and caught them. "Get in. You'll see."
Samantha's car was parked in a quiet area near the café. The moment the doors shut, she wasted no time closing the distance between them.
Jon barely had time to react before her lips were on his, fierce and hungry. She kissed him like she had been waiting for this all day, like she wanted to memorize every second of it. Her hands ran through his messy black hair, nails lightly grazing his scalp as she pulled him closer.
Jon responded with equal intensity, his hands resting on her waist as he deepened the kiss. Samantha let out a soft sound against his lips, her body pressing into his. The heat between them was electric, her breath coming out in short, excited gasps every time they briefly pulled apart before crashing back together.
Minutes passed, but neither of them seemed to care. When they finally broke apart, Samantha's face was flushed, her lips slightly swollen from kissing. She was practically glowing, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath.
She let out a breathless laugh. "Wow."
Jon smirked. "That good, huh?"
She playfully nudged his shoulder. "Cocky."
Jon shrugged. "I just go off the evidence."
Samantha shook her head, still grinning like she had just won the lottery. "I was already a fan, Jon Hale. But now? Consider me obsessed."
Jon chuckled, enjoying the way her eyes sparkled with excitement.
Eventually, she sighed. "Alright, handsome. Let's get you home before I decide to kidnap you."
She drove him back to Jay's house, still buzzing from their date. When she pulled up in front of the house, she leaned in and pressed one last lingering kiss to his lips before pulling back with a smirk.
"Night, Jon."
"Night, Samantha."
As she drove off, Jon watched her car disappear down the street before turning toward the house. He ran a hand through his hair, still feeling the warmth of her lips on his.
Not a bad way to end the day.