The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

"Because!" Jackson bursts out, tossing out his hands. "It's Luca fucking Grant, Jesse! Even I had heard of him, and I haven't heard of anyone! And he's...he's good with women! And he can talk to her, and make her laugh! And he's like...good looking, or whatever! How the hell am I supposed to compete with that!?"

Jesse stares at Jackson for a long moment before a slow grin starts on his face.

Jackson scowls, hating him a little bit. "What?" he snaps. "What are you smiling about? Are you laughing at me? Seriously!?"

"I'm not laughing at you, Jacks," Jesse says, shaking his head but continuing to smile. "It's just - you have no idea what you have going on, do you? This bridge you grew up under, did it not have a mirror?" Jackson just stares at Jesse for a long moment before he cocks his head. Because...was that a...compliment? Hidden beneath all of those insults?

"Listen," Jesse says, reaching an arm around Jackson's shoulders and pulling him close like he's sharing a deep secret, "I'm going to speak plainly, so pay attention - because this doesn't happen often. But Jackson women like you."

"How can women like me - I don't know any women -"

"Fine," Jesse says, grinning, clearly enjoying himself. "When you get to the Capital, and you hang out with all of the girls we're going to introduce you to? They're going to like you. Like, a lot - in a romance kind of way. They're going to like you as much as they like Luca, or more. But none of that matters, because Ariel really likes you, man! Despite all the odds, and in a way that I truly do not get - you make her laugh just as much as Luca does!"

lot that night during the Examination, remembering how good it felt to make

Jesse continues. "Okay? So...stop acting like it's a done deal. I had to stop Ariel from chasing you out of that room tonight and leaving Luca Grant behind. That is...not insignificant,

to look back into Jesse's face, shocked at the weird wisdom of this guy who always

know precisely the right thing to

give you a pep talk every day,

asks, baffled about why Jesse is being so

you're my friend, even if you don't yet realize that I'm yours!" "Wait, but like...why?" Jackson asks, smiling a little more and shaking his head. "Why do you like

good guy, and you're interesting, and you're.. well, you're so weird that you make me laugh

me because I'm Ariel's mate?" Jackson's voice is so hesitant

if you weren't," Jesse murmurs with a smirk, working hard to hide his impulse to wrap Jackson in a bear hug. "Because now I have to worry about walking in on

Then, to Jesse's

him, hurrying to catch up.

"I'm going back, Jess, to get my