The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy
Chapter 0238

Chapter 0238

“Because!” Jackson bursts out, tossing out his hands. “It’s Luca fucking Grant, Jesse! Even I hadheard of him, and I haven’t heard of anyone! And he’s…he’s good with women! And he can talk toher, and make her laugh! And he’s like…good looking, or whatever! How the hell am I supposed tocompete 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 youlaughing 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 amirror?”

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’ssharing a deep secret, “I’m going to speak plainly, so pay attention - because this doesn’t happenoften. 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 hangout with all of the girls we’re going to introduce you to? They’re going to like you. Like, a lot – in aromance kind of way. They’re going to like you as much as they like Luca, or more. But none of thatmatters, 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!”

Jackson lifts his eyes just a little, remembering that they did laugh a lot that night during theExamination, remembering how good it felt to make her laugh. Jesse’s grin deepens.

“Luca Grant doesn’t have anything you don’t,” Jesse continues. “Okay? So…stop acting like it’s adone deal. I had to stop Ariel from chasing you out of that room tonight and leaving Luca Grantbehind. That is…not insignificant, Jacks. And it’s the only thing you need to be concentrating onright now.”

Jackson turns his head slowly to look back into Jesse’s face, shocked at the weird wisdom of thisguy who always seems so flippant, so easy.

How…how does he know precisely the right thing to say?

“I’m here for you, man,” Jesse says, tightening his arm and giving Jackson’s shoulders a squeeze.“I’ll even give you a pep talk every day, if you want it.”

“Why?” Jackson asks, baffled about why Jesse is being so damn nice to him right now.

“Because I like you, you idiot!” Jesse laughs, punching Jackson on his arm in playful frustration.“Because 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 likeme?”

“Oh my god,” Jesse groans, laughing more and dropping his arm from Jackson’s shoulders.“Jacks…you seriously need some therapy. I like you because you’re a good guy, and you’reinteresting, and you’re…well, you’re so weird that you make me laugh even when you don’t meanto. And also because you’re obsessed with my cousin, who I also like. And because we have thesame stupid hobbies of running around and punching things. Why wouldn’t I like you?”

“So, you don’t just…like me because I’m Ariel’s mate?” Jackson’s voice is so hesitant that it breaksJesse’s heart again.

“No, I’d probably like you more if you weren’t,” Jesse murmurs with a smirk, working hard to hide hisimpulse to wrap Jackson in a bear hug. “Because now I have to worry about walking in on you guysmaking out and stuff, which is…not ideal for a friendship.”

Jackson laughs, he can’t help it, and then he nods once, decided. Then, to Jesse’s shock, he startsto stride away, a new confidence in the set of his shoulders.

“Wait!” Jesse calls after him, hurrying to catch up. “Where the hell are you going!?”

“I’m going…” Jackson hesitates, looking between Jesse and the castle, “I’m going back, Jess, to getmy girl! Like you just told me to!”

“Oh my god, you weird foundling, don’t do that now – you’ll look desperate!”

“What!?”

“You’ve got to let her sweat a bit!”

“Whatttt the hell,” Jackson moans, covering his face with his hands for what feels like thethousandth time that night. “Why am I supposed to make her wait!?”

“Because, Jacks,” Jesse says, slipping an arm around his shoulders again and making him slow hispace to the castle. “Ariel did you dirty over the past few months, you need to let her feel a little guiltyabout it, even if just for a night! If you just barge in there and tell her it’s all okay, then she’ll get theimpression that she can do that whenever she wants.”