Alice’s POV

I remember that first day like it was yesterday. It still sits so vividly in my mind. I can easily conjure up the smells of the tulips in my mother’s new garden, the shouts and screams of Monday morning greetings. I even remember Mrs Cope’s dreadful puke green cardigan with the luminous pink embroidery.

However, my most vivid memory of that day is the when I entered my first lesson at my new school. My hands were clammy, my breath was coming out in short gasps, and I began to feel queasy as the butterflies caused a riot in my stomach.

Then I saw you sitting there, third row back in the centre of the room, and all my anxiety disappeared. You were furiously scribbling on a piece of paper, not even raising your head when I introduced myself to the class.

The next time I saw you was in the cafeteria. You made your way to a small table that was occupied by a single girl. She had been tearing her sandwich into pieces before you arrived – but once she caught sight of you she leapt into your arms.

Your responding smile was dazzling. I remember the butterflies attacking my stomach again. The pizza in front of me became unappetising as I got up, and left the cafeteria. Not before seeing you capture her lips with your own.

I was really confused at the feelings coursing through my body. I hadn’t been in school five hours and already I was falling for some guy I had never spoken to. I didn’t even know your name.

This fact really bothered me; I was desperate to put a name to the face that had been haunting me for the last few hours. I made my way to algebra trying to ignore the nagging feeling that had secured itself into the deepest corner of my mind.

I was doodling aimlessly across my notebook when you approached me. “It’s Alice right?” were the first words you ever said to me. I remember feeling so euphoric that you knew my name. You made my day.

“I’m Jasper and Mr.Carte said your algebra scores are unbelievable. So, I was wondering if you could tutor me.”

In the ten seconds that it took to respond a million different thoughts and emotions played their way through my mind. First and foremost, I couldn’t believe my luck. I was almost shaking in anticipation.