Teach Me, Jake

Chapter Five

Alice had spent all morning replaying yesterday's conversation with Alex in her head.

Every smile, every word, every pause. It wasn't a big moment-not really-but for her, it felt like stepping through a door she'd been staring at for weeks.

He noticed her.

He remembered her name.

And she hadn't panicked or mumbled her way through it.

For the first time, she felt like maybe all these lessons with Jake were working.

She was already on her second cup of coffee when Jake texted:

Jake: "Lesson at 7. Don't bail. Also wear something you can move in."

Alice: "Move in?? What kind of lesson is this??"

Jake: "Trust me 😎"

Alice: "That emoji should be illegal."

Jake: "Still showed up in your texts though, didn't it?"

She rolled her eyes, smiling down at her phone despite herself.

By the time seven rolled around, Alice had changed into leggings and a loose black tee. Comfortable. Nothing fancy. She pulled her hair into a lazy bun just as Jake knocked-four minutes late this time, which was practically early by his standards.

"Hey," he said as he stepped in, holding a bag of takeout in one hand. "You look... different."

Alice crossed her arms, trying not to squirm under the attention. "Different how?"

He tossed his jacket onto her desk chair. "More polished. Grown up. Confident-ish. Like someone who might ignore me at a bar."

She gave him a look. "That's not a compliment."

Jake just grinned. "It is when I say it."

He dropped the bag on her desk, then moved her chair aside, making room in the middle of the dorm. "Okay. Ready for lesson five?"

She narrowed her eyes. "What are we doing? Dance training?"

"Close," he said, holding out his hand. "Touch."

Alice blinked. "Touch?"

He nodded. "Today's about physical flirting. The little touches that show confidence, comfort, interest-without being weird."

"Sounds like something you'd be an expert in."

Jake placed a hand over his heart. "I'm wounded."

She raised a brow. "Are you seriously going to make me flirt with you right now?"

"You're not flirting with me," he said simply.

"You're learning."

Alice hesitated, but took his hand.

"Okay," Jake said, stepping slightly closer. "Rule number one: Keep it light. Touch shouldn't feel forced. It should feel like a natural part of how you talk. Like..."

He reached up and gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Alice froze.

His hand was gone in an instant, but her skin still tingled where he'd touched her.

"Like that," he said, voice low but casual. "Soft. Not too long. Just enough to be noticed."

Alice tried to ignore the flutter in her chest. "That's... harder than it looks."

"Try it," he said. "On me."

She stared at him.

"You're my best friend," she said flatly.

"And best friends help each other learn how to touch people without being awkward."

"That's not a thing."

He stepped a little closer, arms crossed, challenging. "You want to impress Alex or not?"

Alice groaned and reached out, her fingers brushing the sleeve of his t-shirt as she mimicked the move he just did-tucking a bit of imaginary hair behind his ear.

Her fingers grazed his jaw on the way back.

Jake blinked.

"Not bad," he said quietly. "Little forward, but... not bad."

She swallowed. "Should I have not-"

"No," he said quickly. "It was good."

They stood there for a second too long.

Then Jake cleared his throat and took a step back. "Okay, new rule: Keep the touch casual. Arm, shoulder, maybe a knee tap if you're sitting. Avoid face stuff unless you really want to send a message."

"Got it."

He grabbed her wrist gently, turning her arm so her palm faced up. "Now, say you're laughing at something Alex says. You can reach out and do something like this-"

He lightly traced his fingers across the inside of her wrist. "It's nothing, right? But it makes people feel noticed. Connected."

Alice couldn't answer. Her brain was too busy focusing on the way his fingers felt-how warm his hand was, how easy it was to forget this was just "practice."

"Here," Jake said, stepping back again and flopping down onto her bed. "Come sit."

She sat beside him, and he tapped her knee with his as they talked. Showed her how a small shoulder nudge during a joke could be playful.

How letting her fingers brush against someone's hand while handing them something could register without being obvious.

They practiced. They laughed. And even when things felt a little weird, they didn't stop.

Because this was the point, right?

Learning how to be comfortable. Learning how to be seen.

The next morning, Alice stood in front of her closet far longer than usual.

Jake's words echoed in her head."You look confident-ish."You're learning."Touch shows you're comfortable."

She pulled on one of the new tops they'd picked out together last week-nothing too bold, just a soft cream color that flattered her skin tone.

Paired it with jeans that actually fit right, brushed on some mascara, and lightly glossed her lips.

Emma whistled when they met outside the dorm.

"Okay, who is she and what have you done with my bestie?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "I'm a changed woman"

"Mm-hmm. And I just 'happened' to see Alex waiting for coffee outside the lit building."

That stopped Alice short. "You did?"

Emma grinned. "Yep. He's there now."

Alice's heart picked up a little. "Okay. Okay, I'm just gonna... walk that way. Casually."

Emma gave her a thumbs-up. "Go get 'em, tiger."

Alice laughed under her breath but made her way toward the campus cafe.

The sidewalk was crowded with students and buzzing with noise-but her eyes zeroed in on Alex immediately.

He was leaning against the brick wall, earbuds in, scrolling through his phone. Same worn gray hoodie. Same effortless look that somehow worked a little too well.

He looked up just as she passed by.

Their eyes met.

Alice smiled-small, not overdone. She nodded once in recognition. A light touch of her hair behind her ear, just like Jake showed her.

Alex smiled back.

And that was it.

But her stomach flipped all the same.

She kept walking, heartbeat loud in her ears, feeling more aware of herself than usual. Not self-conscious exactly-just awake.

And maybe for the first time... capable.

That evening, she texted Jake:

Alice: "Used your Jedi flirting powers today. Just a look and a smile. But it felt good."

Jake: "See? Told you. That stuff works."

Alice: "He smiled back."

Jake: "Of course he did. But remember what I said-people can feel when you believe in yourself."

Alice: "Still working on that part."

Jake: "That's a lesson for another time."

She smiled to herself and tucked her phone away.

She didn't have it all figured out.

But something was definitely starting.