By the second week of school, Alex had already labeled AP English as her "tolerate zone."
It wasn't the subject—she loved the books. It wasn't the teacher—Miss Holloway was sharp and passionate and gave extra credit for well-argued points. No, the problem sat in the back row, with messy hair, sleepy eyes, and a pen that never seemed to stop scribbling in that mysterious black notebook.
Jasper Allister.
The human interruption.
And today, he was already there when she walked in. That was new. Early Jasper was a myth, like stress-free finals or a functioning group project. He was in his usual spot, leaned back, notebook balanced on one knee like he was journaling the meaning of life or doodling dramatic ravens.
Alex sat in her usual front-row seat and tried not to think about him.
Too much.
Miss Holloway walked in with her usual energy, clapping her hands once. "Alright, scholars. Time to put your brains where your books are. Let's talk Pride and Prejudice."
Alex perked up. Finally—her domain.
Miss Holloway smiled. "Let's start broad. Is Darcy a hero… or just a self-important jerk who got lucky in love?"
Alex's hand was in the air instantly. "He's a hero. His character arc shows growth, vulnerability, and emotional maturity. He overcomes his pride and takes accountability."
From behind her: "After insulting her, ignoring her feelings, and basically thinking he could buy her."
Alex turned halfway in her seat. "He didn't try to buy her. He proposed."
Jasper stretched like a cat. "Yeah. In the least romantic way possible. 'You're poor, your family's embarrassing, but I guess I like you anyway. Let's get married.' Real swoon material."
Miss Holloway's eyebrows shot up. "Mr. Allister, would you have done better?"
"I would've at least opened with a compliment," he said. "Maybe quoted something."
"Oh, please," Alex muttered.
He grinned. "What? 'You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.' I mean… that line's great—right up until he follows it with '...despite how absolutely cringe your entire family is.'"
The class laughed. Even Miss Holloway cracked a smile.
Alex refused to.
"Darcy was being honest," she argued. "He's flawed, but he grows. He learns humility."
Jasper raised a brow. "And that makes up for acting like he's better than everyone else because he owns half of Derbyshire?"
"It's called character development."
"It's called rich guy privilege."
Miss Holloway stepped in before it escalated. "Okay, okay. Let's hold the verbal fencing. But I love the passion. Literature is meant to spark fire."
Jasper leaned forward on his desk, tapping his pen. "Fire's good. As long as it doesn't turn into smoke and self-righteous monologues."
Alex shot him a glare. "Better than sulking in the back and pretending to be above it all."
He tilted his head. "Oh, I'm not above it. I'm just watching. Judging. Like Darcy."
"Then maybe take a page from his arc and improve."
Miss Holloway laughed. "Okay, that's enough before this turns into a duel. But seriously—fantastic engagement, both of you."
Alex faced forward, heart ticking just a bit faster than she liked to admit.
Behind her, she heard the quiet scratch of Jasper's pen on paper.
Probably writing another quote.
Or another annoying comment about how Darcy needed therapy.
The bell rang, and students started packing up, the energy still buzzing from the discussion.
Alex stood and shoved her notebook into her bag with more force than necessary. She didn't hate Jasper, exactly. She just… didn't get him. He was clever, sure, but he acted like everything was a joke. Like none of it mattered. And somehow, that made people like him.
"Hey, Elizabeth Jr.," Jasper's voice drawled behind her.
She turned, already annoyed. "What?"
He was slinging his bag over his shoulder, notebook still in hand. "You know, for someone who thinks love is all about emotional maturity, you get very worked up in discussions."
"I get passionate," she corrected. "It's called having standards."
"Sure," he said, smirking. "Just making sure you're not secretly hoping some rich, emotionally unavailable guy insults you into falling in love."
"I'm not," she said, too fast.
He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, no judgment. We all have our fictional weaknesses."
She eyed his notebook. "What do you even write in there? "
He looked down at it, then up at her with a lopsided smile. "Thoughts. Observations. Lists of people who argue with me before noon."
She snorted. "So it's just a collection of your own ego."
"And quotes," he added. "You can tell a lot about someone by what quote they choose to live by."
"Let me guess," she said, grabbing her bag. "Yours is something cynical and broody. Maybe Bukowski?"
He looked mock-offended. "What do you take me for? 'To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.'"
She paused. "Wilde."
He winked. "Smart girl."
She didn't say anything as they walked out of class together, though she pretended it was a coincidence.
Before they parted ways down the hall, Jasper called back over his shoulder, "You know, you'd make a great Elizabeth Bennet."
Alex rolled her eyes. "That supposed to be a compliment?"
He grinned without turning around. "It depends who's playing Darcy."
Alex stood there a moment longer, watching the black-haired boy disappear into the crowd, notebook tucked under his arm like some sacred artifact. She hated that he got under her skin. Hated how smug he always looked after contradicting her, like life was a private joke and he was the only one in on the punchline.
And those eyes—those stupid, brilliant blue eyes—like they were always reading something just behind your words.
She let out an annoyed breath and turned sharply down the opposite hallway, muttering to herself.
"Unbelievable. Black unruly hair, notebook full of riddles, and the emotional range of a smug cat in a sweater vest."
The worst part?
He wasn't wrong about Darcy.
And that infuriated her even more.
A/N: I am taking advantage of rewriting to develop more of the relationship between them