1 Week Later
Alex's phone buzzed.
Jasper: Gorgeous, I'm outside. But fair warning: if you look anything like what I'm imagining right now, I might crash the car just looking at you.
Her heart skipped. She glanced once more at her reflection in the mirror—deep red, off-the-shoulder dress that clung in all the right places, with a daring slit running up her thigh. Her dark curls cascaded in soft waves, her lips painted a bold red, a quiet rebellion against the image everyone had boxed her into.
She grabbed her small clutch and took a deep breath.
Time to shock the world.
As she descended the stairs, silence fell over the Dunphy household like a dropped pin.
Phil's jaw dropped, his spoon falling into the bowl with a splash. "Whoa... whoa—Alex?! Is that really you? You look like a Bond girl meets Hermione Granger and I love it!"
Luke blinked rapidly. "This is, like, when Clark Kent takes off the glasses and suddenly he's Superman. Holy crap."
Haley raised a brow, almost proud. "Well damn. Okay, now I believe you're related to me."
But Claire… Claire was not clapping.
"Alexandra Dunphy," she said slowly, voice dangerously high-pitched. "What are you wearing? That dress—that slit—you're going out dressed like that?"
Alex calmly descended the last few stairs. "Yes. That's kind of the idea."
Claire stepped in front of her. "And when exactly were you planning to tell me you were letting Gloria dress you like some kind of—"
"Confident eighteen-year-old girl with a body, a brain, and taste?" Alex cut in. "Gloria helped me because she listened."
Claire looked wounded. "I do listen!"
"You hear. You don't listen," Alex said flatly. "This isn't about you, Mom."
Phil, now peeking through the window with Luke, gasped. "Forget the dress, people—that car! That's a black '61 Corvette. Jasper's officially the coolest teenager alive."
Luke pressed his face to the glass. "It's purring. You can tell just by looking. I bet it has a V8."
Claire whipped her head around. "Are you people serious? She's eighteen, wearing that dress, getting picked up by a guy in a muscle car, and no one sees a problem here?"
Haley: "Relax, Mom. At least she's not sneaking out the back window like some people did in high school."
Alex opened the door—and time stood still.
Jasper stood there, leaning against the Corvette, wearing a black button-up shirt with two buttons open, a tailored black blazer, and just enough casual confidence to make it all look effortless.
But when he saw her—really saw her—his expression changed.
He straightened up slowly, blinking like he'd just seen the sun for the first time.
"You…" he whispered, almost breathless. "Alexandra Dunphy, you look like sin in poetry form."
He stepped forward, holding a single red rose. "You're so beautiful I forgot what I was going to say. I… damn."
Alex flushed but held her head high. "So you're not crashing the car yet?"
"No promises," he muttered, eyes still roaming over her like he was afraid she might vanish.
Phil popped out from behind the doorway. "Hey! Jasper! You drive a classic and you compliment like a gentleman. Ten out of ten, buddy."
Luke gave him a thumbs up. "Respect."
Claire, arms crossed, stood unmoved. "Jasper, do you even know what time she's supposed to be home?"
Jasper grinned. "Of course, Mrs. Dunphy. Midnight. Cinderella rules."
Claire stared at them both. "You will be back on time. And Alexandra, we're going to have a long conversation tomorrow morning."
"Looking forward to it," Alex said dryly.
But as she took Jasper's arm and walked down the driveway, Claire watched with something complicated in her eyes—disapproval… maybe a little pride… but also the sinking realization that her daughter wasn't a little girl anymore.
She was becoming someone fierce, someone bold.
And she wasn't waiting for permission to do it.
As they walked down the driveway, the engine of the Corvette roared to life, the low hum vibrating through Alex's bones. The sound made her feel like she was stepping into something different—something that could be dangerous, thrilling, and unforgettable all at once. Jasper opened the passenger door with a grin, gesturing grandly like he was inviting her into a spaceship.
"After you, gorgeous," he said with a wink, his voice impossibly smooth.
Alex hesitated, glancing back at her house, her mom's disapproving eyes burning into the back of her head. But it wasn't just about them anymore. It was about her—about being more than the "overachiever," the quiet girl who sat in the front of the classroom, the one who was always overlooked, always ignored. Tonight, she was Alex Dunphy, eighteen years old, enjoying her life, at least for one night.
She slid into the car, the leather cool beneath her fingertips. Jasper closed the door behind her, then quickly walked around to the driver's side. He slid in, a comfortable ease to his movements, like he had already conquered the world and was now just enjoying the ride.
"You good?" he asked, looking over at her.
"Yeah," Alex replied, a small smile playing on her lips. "Just… still processing."
Jasper chuckled as he started driving, smoothly merging into the night traffic.
"You know," Jasper said, his eyes flicking to her for a split second before turning back to the road, "I wasn't kidding about you being the most beautiful girl in this room. I mean, you're like… the embodiment of everything I thought was unreachable."
Alex's breath caught in her throat, and she looked away, trying to hide the warmth spreading across her cheeks. She wasn't used to this. Not this kind of attention.
"I don't know about that," Alex muttered, her gaze dropping to her hands resting in her lap.
Jasper shot her a playful look. "Don't downplay it. You're everything, Alex. You always have been."
She glanced up, catching his gaze. There was something in his eyes, something she hadn't seen before. It wasn't just admiration. It was something deeper, something that made her heart race a little faster.
Before she could respond, he swerved the car smoothly onto a different street, and she could hear the distant bass of music vibrating through the air. The party.
When they arrived, the house was already packed, lights flashing from every window, and the beat of the music reverberated so strongly it felt like the whole neighborhood was vibrating with it.
Jasper turned off the engine, but before he opened his door, he looked over at her with a sly smile. "Ready to make an entrance?"
Alex snorted. "I don't think I have much of a choice now."
"You could stay in the car, but then I'd have to call you a coward," he teased, his voice light, yet there was something almost comforting about the way he said it.
Alex rolled her eyes but grinned. "Well, we can't have that."
Together, they stepped out of the car, the night air cool against her skin. The party was already in full swing, but as they approached the front door, all eyes turned toward them. Alex could feel the weight of everyone's gazes, and for a second, the old insecurities crept in.
But then, Jasper's hand gently brushed her lower back as he opened the door for her, guiding her inside with an effortless grace. His presence was a shield—a silent reassurance that she could handle this.
They made their way through the crowd, and Alex couldn't help but notice how every person they passed seemed to be whispering, stealing glances at them. Was it because of her? Was she really standing out this much?
Then she realized—it wasn't just her. It was the way they looked together. She was with him. Jasper Allister, the guy who had made her feel something more than just 'the smart girl.'
They reached the drink table, and as she reached for a glass of punch, Jasper leaned in closer, his voice a quiet hum against her ear. "Just so you know, you're killing it tonight. They can't take their eyes off you."
Alex couldn't suppress the small laugh that bubbled up. "That's because I'm probably the only one here wearing a dress that doesn't look like it belongs at a prom."
Jasper smirked. "Exactly. You're not like anyone else here. You're you, and that's what makes you stand out."
They continued to make their way through the crowd, and soon the music changed to a slow ballad. Alex felt her pulse quicken.
Before she could process it, he was already leading her toward the center of the room.
"May I have this dance, beautiful overachiever?" Jasper's voice was teasing, but there was an undeniable warmth in his gaze.
Alex hesitated for only a second, but then, feeling the magnetic pull of his presence, she nodded. "Sure, why not?"
He took her hand, pulling her gently into his arms, his grip warm and steady around her waist. They swayed to the music, the room blurring around them. Alex found herself surprisingly at ease. The way Jasper moved, the way he held her close, made her feel like she wasn't just Alex Dunphy, the overachiever. She was just Alex, and that was enough for this moment.
As they danced, Alex realized something—this night was more than just a party. It was the beginning of something new. Something she hadn't expected, but couldn't ignore.