"GOOD CLASS TODAY."

I spun, clutching my clipboard to my chest to find Jace smiling at me, still dripping and shirtless. He held his towel in his hand, casually ruffling it in his hair to dry it.

I blinked, trying very hard not to glance down at his bare chest. Shit. Did I glance already? Did he notice? I shook my head, deciding to stare at my clipboard instead. I spun my pen between my fingers, glaring at the paper as if I hadn't already filled it out and signed it off.

My breath caught and I realised I hadn't replied.

"You think?" I asked finally, my voice cracking slightly. I cleared my throat, my face warming. "It was the same as always."

"No, no," he brushed off. He stepped closer, the water dripping off his shoulders onto the tiles around us, and I could see the faint outline of his chest muscles just over the top of my board. I swallowed hard. "Your whistling was extremely strong today. Really admirable."

I snorted, rolling my eyes. "Gee, thanks. I've been practising."

"I could tell," he said. "That whistle after the warmup? Whew – that was a good one. One of your best so far."

I couldn't help my laugh this time. It burst from my lips and I quickly caught myself, glancing over the top of my clipboard to see Jace grinning at me, considerably closer than before.

"She finally looks at me," he teased. I warmed, shoving his shoulder lightly. God, was he always this muscular? "Ouch. Why so violent, Ali?"

"I didn't realise you were keeping track of my whistling," I joked, raising a brow.

He shrugged, running a hand through his damp brown hair. "I can't help it. I appreciate good music. I mean, that technique? Hard to miss."

"So hard to miss that you had to come up to me right after class?" I asked.

"Had to." He tilted his head, his words echoing in a low drawl. "You had me distracted the whole time."

My face felt hot and my breath caught in my throat.

"Because of the whistling," I managed, though the words sounded strangled.

"Right." Jace lifted a brow. "Because of the whistling."

My grip on my clipboard tightened and I felt my heart pounding in my throat, blood rushing in my ears. He watched me, those brown eyes glittering with amusement, his lips twitching.

Behind him, voices began chattering and I cleared my throat, quickly glancing around him. I gestured vaguely to the changing rooms behind him. The rest of the class was already exiting, dry and dressed and waving goodbye. "Look. You missed out on towelling of with Frank and the boys."

Jace shivered. "I think I could miss out on that for the rest of my life."

"I don't blame you." I quirked a brow, my face still burning, and glanced at the group of elderly men leaving the centre. Beyond them, Jenna's next class waited for their session. I clipped my pen onto the clipboard, turning towards the office. "Well, I'm headed home."

"Home?" he echoed, lifting a brow. "On this fine Saturday morning?"

"Yes," I said. "I have a whole season of America's Next Top Model downloaded and waiting to be watched."

"Ah, right. The America's Next Top Model. Can't miss that, huh?"

I shrugged. "Priorities."

"Priorities," he agreed with a laugh. He shuffled on his feet for a moment before saying, "I'll walk you?"

I blinked, glancing over my shoulder to see Jace smiling sheepishly at me.

"Really?"

"Yeah," he said, shrugging nonchalantly. "I mean – you know. If you want."

I smiled, narrowing my eyes at him. "Alright, but only if you're dry and dressed by the time I unlock my bike. I'm on a very tight schedule."

He blinked. Then, his eyes widened, and he turned, sprinting down the side of the pool towards the changing room. I laughed, shaking my head.

"Don't run in the pool area, you idiot!"

"I have a date to get to!" he shouted back before disappearing into the changing rooms.

Date?

I stiffened. The clipboard felt alien in my fingers. Then, blood rushed to my face and my chest pinched. Date.

Was he joking? Did he think this was a date?

Did he want it to be a date?

There was no time to question it all. I turned, marching to the office and placing the clipboard and pen where they belonged before heaving my backpack onto my shoulder. I made my way out of the physio centre, heading straight for the bike rack.

My light blue bike was the only one there, locked up with the same old, slightly scuffed bike chain I'd been using for the past year. I fished for the key in my pocket, my fingers knocking cold metal and fumbling it out.

All I could think was, why did I say that? I told him I'm on a tight schedule. And America's Next Top Model? God, that was not necessary information, Jasmine!

My fingers trembled as I tried to fit the key into the lock. It took me five solid tries before I could get it in. With a twist of my wrist, I unlocked the chain, watching stupidly as it clattered onto the floor. I'd forgotten to hold it before unlocking it.

I blinked, a dumb chuckle escaping my lips.

"What are you laughing about?"

My eyes widened and I turned to see Jace there, red-faced and dressed in a t-shirt covered in wet spots over the shoulders, where drops from his still-damp hair had fallen. I warmed, turning back to my bike, and kneeling to grab the chain.

I'm laughing about how stupid I turn at your presence. Like a little girl experiencing a crush for the first time.

"Nothing," I muttered. I stood, shoving the chain into my backpack, and wheeling my bike out from the rack. I raised a brow, my eyes dragging over his dripping clothes. His shirt had started to stick to his chest, and I forced my eyes back to his. "You got dressed fast."

"What can I say?" He shook his hair out, spraying me with water. I squealed, jumping back, and he shot me a cheeky smirk. "I dry off quickly. Priorities, you know?"

"Ah, yes. Priorities."

We stood in silence for a moment before he cleared his throat, gesturing towards the road. "Shall we? You've got a very important meeting with your laptop and Tyra Banks."

I warmed, realising I'd been staring at him. "Right. Of course."

I grabbed my bike, beginning our walk towards my house. My house was less than a five-minute bike ride from the physio centre – meaning it'd probably take us ten minutes to walk there.

I wanted more.

Would it be obvious if I took us the long way?

While I was busy thinking about the longest possible route home, Jace bumped shoulders with me and shot me a grin.

"What's got you looking so thoughtful all of a sudden?" he asked, quirking a brow.

My skin felt hot and I stared at the road ahead, avoiding his eyes. "Trying to decide if I think India will win or Tatiana."

"India for sure."

I spun to him. "Right? That's what I was thinking."

Jace burst out laughing, his eyes crinkling in the corners. "Jasmine, you know I have no idea what you're talking about, right?"

I scowled, nudging his shoulder. "Well that's on you for never having seen the greatest reality TV show of our generation."

"Oh?" he raised his brows at me, his lips tilting. "Maybe I should check it out then. What season did you say you have downloaded?"

"Season twenty-three."

"Hmm." He nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like a good season to start with."

I paused. Then, my ears turned hot. He couldn't be... could he?

"Jace Wilson, are you inviting yourself to my marathon?"

He was silent for a dreadful pause where my heart sank and I felt the sudden urge to shrivel up and never speak again – but then, his smile grew.

"You said it, not me."

I warmed, shoving his shoulder with mine, harder this time. His eyes widened, a grin stretching across his lips.

"What?" he sputtered.

"Jace Wilson," I scolded, shaking my head. "You're very forward, you know that?"

"Hey, you're the one who said it!"

"You're the one who implied it!" I shot back.

He raised a brow. "You got me there."

"I mean, you – you call things dates, and you hold my hand, and invite yourself over." I released a long breath. "Really, I'm going to get the wrong idea."

Jace watched me carefully, his eyes sharp on mine. His smile fell, and his cheeks turned pink.

"Well," he started slowly. "What if I want you to get the wrong idea?"

My heart pinched. My bike rolled to a stop. I could see my house at the end of the street. Jace, realising I'd stopped, halted beside me. He reached a hand to his neck, rubbing it awkwardly.

"Sorry," he said. "Too forward again?"

"No," I said. I blinked. My fingers tightened around my bike handles. "I just – I don't – I don't think I understand completely."

"Jasmine," he said, stepping closer. His hand drifted in the air between us. "I like you."

"You like me?"

He nodded, laughing slightly. "I thought I made that clear."

"Clear?" I repeated, my brows raising. "How did you make that clear?"

"I said I thought you were pretty."

"That could be platonic."

"I held your hand."

"That could be platonic, too."

"I almost kissed you."

"But you didn't," I said, the words that had been building inside of me for weeks. "You didn't kiss me."

He released a breath, turning away from me and shrugging. "It was bad timing."

My chest tightened. He was right. We'd been crying. We were both vulnerable. I probably had snot running all down my face. But that's how it always seemed to go with us. We were always vulnerable around each other.

When would it be the right time?

I scoffed, shaking my head and slowly pushing my bike onwards. "It's always bad timing with us."

"Jasmine –"

"No, Jace." I sighed. "It's alright. Really."

He ignored me, reaching out and grabbing my wrist. I stopped, turning to face him, failing to keep the venom out of my voice. "What?"

"Jasmine," he said. "I wanted to kiss you. Really. But you were crying, your feelings were all over the place – I couldn't do that. I couldn't take advantage of you. And – and –" He paused, taking in a haggard breath, and I knew whatever he said next would be the real reason. He wiped a hand over his face.

"What if something goes wrong?" He asked. "We have an argument. We fight. Tell me, do you really think either one of us could handle that?"

"So, we won't fight."

"We're fighting right now!" he snapped. My eyes widened and he glanced at me, his expression softening. He sighed, stepping forward and taking my hands into his. "I wanted to kiss you."

He leaned in, his lips hovering over my mouth. His breath mingled with mine and I felt my heart leap into my chest. His eyes dropped; his pupils blown wide.

"I wanted to kiss you," he continued. "And I've wanted to kiss you every day since. Every time I see you – God, Jasmine. You're just – indescribable."

"Jace," I murmured. I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut. "I wanted to kiss you too. I hate how reasonable you are."

He laughed in the form of a sharp breath hitting my lips. "I guess the only solution is for us to get better."

"You say it like it's easy."

"It should be," he said. "It's not, but it should be. Imagine how much better our lives would be if we could just wake up and things would be normal again."

I rolled my eyes. "There's no point dwelling on the impossible."

Jace smiled. His eyes softened and he squeezed my fingers. "Exactly."

He opened his mouth to continue speaking when his eyes darted just over my shoulder. His smile fell, his brow wrinkling instead.

"Jasmine," he started. "Is there someone at your house?"

"No," I said quickly. I spun to look at my front door. "My dad works Saturdays and my mom should be at –"

The sentence died in my throat, because although both my parents were out, there was a car parked in the driveway.

Piper's car.

And the curtain next to the front door – I was sure it just moved.

My heart pounded and I turned back to Jace, releasing his hands to push my bike forward with a newfound hastiness. God, tell me she didn't see. She'll tell my mother within seconds if she saw.

"What is it?" Jace called, jogging after me. "Is someone home?"

"Piper," I said curtly. "I think she saw us."

"She saw us?" he echoed. "Is that a bad thing?"

I scoffed. "I love Piper but she's a bit of an apprentice spy, with my mother being her employer."

"So, does that mean our reality show marathon is cancelled?"

We reached the edge of the lawn and I sighed, turning to Jace. "Sorry. Maybe next time?"

He shrugged, shooting me the calming smile I needed in that moment.

"Next time," he confirmed, pointing a finger at me. "I'm holding you to that."

I nodded, waving goodbye and pulling my bike up the porch steps. I waited until he rounded the corner before pulling the front door open.

As expected, Piper was there. Her shoes were left at the door. I shut it behind me, cautiously approaching the living room.

"Piper?" I called out. "You here?"

"In here!"

I turned down the hallway to find her lounging on the couch, her feet kicked up. She threw me a smile, waving her fingers at me.

"Hey," she said. "How was physio?"

"Good," I started. I glanced at the window behind her – the curtain I'd seen move.

"So, Jace is walking you home from the centre now?"

My eyes shot towards Piper. She stared ahead, watching the commercials on the TV. So, she had seen us. My lips pursed. What was she getting at?

"Just today," I said slowly. "We go the same way."

"Really?" Piper hummed. "I didn't realise. Anyway, America's Next Top Model marathon? Me and you?"

I frowned. Maybe she didn't see us. Maybe... Maybe she'd only seen Jace leaving. She certainly wasn't making as big of a deal as I'd expected. Hell, her phone wasn't even anywhere to be found. I stepped closer, slinging my jacket off my shoulders.

"Sure," I said. "Put it on."

Piper nodded, an unnervingly calm smile on her face, and she reached forward to play the first episode. I settled onto the couch beside her, barely hearing as the usual opening jingle played.

Piper didn't mention Jace again for the rest ofthe night, and somehow, that made me feel even worse.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

woooo so who expected that? also any guesses as to what happens next? Do you think Piper saw anything? Let me know your thoughts!

thank you as always for reading! the fact that i'm updating this instead of watching Shadow and Bone should show how much i love yall hahaha see you soon!

ps apologies for any typos, i got a new keyboard and have suddenly forgotten how to type