Teach Me, Jake

Chapter Twelve

Alice stirred her coffee in slow, absent circles, the spoon clinking gently against the ceramic like it was trying to shake her back into focus.

"You haven't said a full sentence in eight minutes," Emma said, nudging her across the table. "I'm starting to think you've been replaced with a mannequin. A very chic mannequin with insomnia."

Alice blinked, coming back to herself. "Sorry. Just tired."

"Right. Because all you've done this week is go on three dates with the city's most polite man, get rescued at a billionaire mansion party, and go viral on accident. Totally low-key week."

"I didn't ask to go viral," Alice muttered.

"No one asks to go viral. That's what makes it viral. You were glowing in that photo, by the way."

"I was sweaty and about thirty seconds from yelling at a hedge fund guy."

Emma sipped her matcha. "Same thing."

Alice sighed and slumped into her palm. The café hummed softly around them, just enough white noise to let her thoughts spiral.

Emma leaned forward. "Okay. Be honest. Is this about Alex?"

Alice hesitated. "...Kind of."

"You like him?"

"I should."

"Oof."

Alice winced. "I do like him. He's sweet. Smart. Actually listens when I talk about books instead of pretending he's read them."

"But...?"

Alice stared into her coffee like it held the answer. "He doesn't shake the ground under me."

Emma arched an eyebrow. "And someone else does."

Alice didn't say it. She didn't have to.

Emma leaned back, exhaling. "Jake."

"I didn't say anything-"

"You didn't have to. You look like someone who's trying very hard not to be in love with her best friend."

Alice groaned and dropped her head to the table. "Don't say it out loud."

Emma grinned, unbothered. "Sorry, but I have eyes. And also a heart. You two have the weirdest chemistry I've ever seen. Like, enemies-to-lovers but... besties-to-slow-burn-tragedy."

"We're not tragic."

"You will be if you keep pretending there's nothing there while he's out here kicking a creep out at the party for you and looking at you like he wants to rewrite his entire life."

Alice didn't answer, mostly because Emma wasn't wrong. That look Jake gave her-she hadn't imagined it. But what was she supposed to do? Walk away from Alex? Admit she'd been half-in with him the whole time?

Before Emma could say more, she perked up suddenly and pointed across the room.

"There he is."

Alice followed her gaze to the far corner of the café, where a guy in a grey hoodie and round glasses was reading The Myth of Sisyphus like it was the most thrilling book in the world.

Emma grinned. "That's my existential crisis prince."

Alice's brows rose. "That guy?"

"He quoted Camus during a workshop. I swear I blacked out from attraction."

"Are you okay?"

"No," Emma whispered. "I'm deeply unwell. Do you think he'd like me more if I started wearing turtlenecks and pretending I hate joy?"