[Alex's POV]

"Thanks for showing me around, Jasper," I say as we stand in line to buy some sportswear with the school's insignia on. Six people are waiting in front of us, which is a lot if Jaspers sigh is an accurate indicator. However, it looks like some of the people in the queue are only there as moral support, much like how Jasper has joined me. Which brings the number down to four, of which the first one has just left.

"No problem. Though, I think I'll have to be more selective about what I show next time. It's been over an hour since we started the tour," Jasper says, checking his watch.

"Oh? I don't know. It can be very useful to know the location of every single toilet on campus," I snicker as we shift a position forward in the queue. "And every broom closet! Who knew they could be so spacious!"

With fake modesty, I place a hand on my chest and flutter my lashes at Jasper.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it already! Just don't blame me the next time you get lost," Jasper snarks at me. "Now stop it. You're giving people the wrong idea, and I will not have you ruin my reputation, thank you very much."

"I don't think you need me for that," I laugh, all traces of innocence gone and turn my attention to the lady at the counter. "Three T-shirts, please. Thank you."

"Three T-shirts?! Hell, I've been attending this school for years, and I only have two! What do you need three for?" Jasper asks incredulously as I pay and shove everything in my backpack.

I use the created momentum to think. Even though Jasper doesn't know it yet, and I plan to keep the fact from him for as long as I can, it's true that I have no shortage of money. But three T-shirts aren't an act of decadency. It's a tolerated luxury. True, if I were truly prudent, and always make sure that one T-shirt is being washed while the other is being worn, two T-shirts should suffice. But life happens, and it isn't like the third T-shirt is doomed to rot away in an overstuffed closet. It is an acceptable buffer to make sure I'll never have to exercise in clothes which smell like last week's sweat.

So I look at Jasper in slight disgust and say: "I hate to smell."

He looks at me as if he is waiting for me to start laughing. But sadly for him, I do stand on good hygiene.

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"Ah, good point," he suddenly sputters when he seems to realise that I am not joking. "Maybe I should buy some extra too, considering my current ones are starting to get too small."

Jasper turns his attention back to the counter until he sees that the lady at the counter has moved on to the next customer already. Then he takes in the line that is still six people long, sighs and says; "On second thought, it can wait. Let's go home!"

"That sounds like a plan," I laugh.

"Go on, lead the way. Show me you've learned something from my teachings!" Jasper says in a loud and proud voice.

"Y- Your teachings?! Oh! I know! If we take a detour through these classrooms, we pass by three more broom closets!"

"Oh, very funny!" Jasper sneers, and I nod proudly, "Well, laugh all you want! I happen to have noticed that you are beelining to the exit. I'm so proud of you, my pupil!"

"Ugh, pupil?" I mumble in dislike. "That's sure to dent my self-esteem."

"What?! Oh, come on! That one was below the belt, bro!" Jasper whines unhappily.

"No, it wasn't!" I laugh. "We've played enough introduction games this morning for me to know that if you were to teach me something, I'd most likely end up with amnesia. That, and the fact that Michael should never take off his shoes."

My reply has Jasper snickering until he bursts out a laugh. I feel a smile tug at the corner of my mouth too. I like how honest and light-hearted Jasper is. He chose to laugh at my joke, even though I'm pretty sure I said a mean truth out loud. That, or he has a one track mind and I managed to distract him. I'm not quite sure which one it is yet.

"Oh! So true!" Jasper laughs. "Last spring he had dared to take off one shoe, and after five minutes the teacher was hanging out of the window for fresh air!"

"I can imagine," I say with a small smile. Not because I find what he said particularly funny, but because Jasper seems to have fond memories of the event.

We both slow our walk and stop when it becomes clear that our paths are about to split. We stand in silence for a moment. Both seeming to contemplate if there are things that need to be said today and can't wait until tomorrow, but there aren't. So I raise my hand and say: "See you tomorrow?"

"Yes! See you," Jasper agrees. We both wave each other goodbye and go our separate ways.