Very Social, Much Wow (Alanna)

[Jasper Blackwater]

Alanna Darlington added a photo of you.
October 28 at 5:32 PM

Jasper cradled his iPhone over his math homework; the notification had only arrived a few seconds ago, and his fingers were already moving. He tapped on his screen in several places, apparently overcome with purpose. After a brief moment, he paused, satisfied.

Only a handful of seconds passed before his notification alert sound—a short, subtle ding—rang out over the silence.

Marianne Keyser liked your profile picture.
October 28 at 5:33 PM

And again....

Marianne Keyser commented on your profile picture. “finally!!!  who took this?? you look so handso...”
October 28 at 5:33 PM

Unfazed, Jasper hit the home button at the bottom of his device and opened a blank text message.

New Message
To: Alanna Darlington
hey, its jas. thanks again for the photo!!
i made it my profile picture
my mom has already liked and commented lol
how are you btw??
5:34 PM

[Alanna Darlington]

Alanna had spent way too much time agonizing over that particular photo in lightroom, tweaking the shadows and highlights, saturation and clarity back and forth, trying to decide just what looked best. She wanted this photo to be perfect. She had finally worked up the nerve to post it, tagging Jasper in it just after.

She stared at her computer screen nervously, wondering how long it would be before he saw it. One notification, then two popped up. A like and a comment. However, her focus was quickly shifted when she heard the melodic tone of her phone. She grabbed it, hastily opening the text and blushing as she saw it was none other than Jas.

Closing the screen of her laptop, she moved to lay on her bed, her mind processing his text. After a moment, her fingers moved quickly across the screen. 

Hey! You're welcome. I'm glad you liked it and your mom too. 
I'm okay, just the same old song and dance, you know? How about you?

Alanna hesitated a moment, second guessing herself before finally pressing send and hoping she didn't somehow mess this up.  

[Jasper Blackwater]

Jasper, who was far more excited about his conversation with Alanna than he had ever been about a photo of himself, smiled.

it looks awesome!!
like, next level professional awesome!!!
i feel like i should pay you for it lol
glad your ok. im just doing my math homework, not really much
taking a break now
5:36 PM

There was a slight pause in his rapid-fire texting, wherein he worried for a single moment that he might be overwhelming her with his enthusiasm. He bit his lip; after a brief inward struggle, his typing continued.

was your day ok?
5:37 PM

[Alanna Darlington]

Her phone kept ringing, again and again. It seemed like Jasper was the sort to send a bunch of short texts, not that she minded that in the least. Besides, she was quickly distracted by the content of those texts. Alanna blushed fiercely as he complimented her photo, even going so far as to say it looked professional.

Aw, that's sweet of you to say

She was debating what else to say when another text came through.

Yeah, it was, thanks for asking. I hope yours was too.

After pressing send, she hesitated slightly before typing again. Alanna felt a little bad that she wasn't saying more. She didn't want him to think she didn't want to talk to him because she really did. She was just really bad at this sort of thing. There was a reason she didn't really have friends after all. The telepath bit her lip anxiously. 

I'm just taking a break from editing some photos and avoiding homework XD

[Jasper Blackwater]

its true!!!
your awesome
5:37 PM

Jasper was beaming down at his phone in a manner that, frankly, would have been embarrassing if anyone had been there to witness it. Even if someone had witnessed it, it probably wouldn’t have stopped him.

thats good!!!
mine was ok too, except the part where i dropped one of my french fries on the floor
that was sad
but otherwise good!! really good.
5:38 PM

There was another pause. He could see her typing; normally, he didn’t pay this any mind. Right now, though, it was making him a little anxious.

what do you use to edit photos??
like photoshop??
i wish i knew how to photoshop
5:38 PM

For a moment, neither of them typed anything. This unnerved Jasper, and he sought to fill the perceived technological silence.

do you ever photoshop random things
like
a cat head on a shark body???
that is what i would do
if i could photoshop
5:39 PM

[Alanna Darlington]

Alanna was blushing bright red now. Thankfully his tendency to send a slew of texts at once saved her from needing to figure out how to respond to his insistent compliments.

aw, poor french fry xD
glad your day was good otherwise though

Her smile grew wider though as he began to ask about photo editing and photoshop. It was odd, having someone be genuinely interested in her photography and she took a moment to just marvel at that. She was about to respond when a new influx of texts began. Her eyes grew wider at what followed. Still, she couldn't help but laugh a little.

I can't say I've ever tried that combo
It sounds mildly terrifying though lol
I mostly use lightroom for my photos
But I do use photoshop occasionally
still learning it though
hope you're not too disappointed xD

[Jasper Blackwater]

poor french fry indeed!!
5:40 PM

Jasper took a moment to read back over what he’d written a few seconds ago and make a face. One of these days, he’d learn to think before he texted.

Today was not that day.

Still, Alanna had seemed only mildly terrified by the idea of a cat head on a shark body. That was at least a few degrees better than completely terrified, right? He hadn’t scarred her for life... right?

only mildly terrifying??
you have a heart of steel!!
5:41 PM

He was still smiling that lopsided smile that no one was there to see.

i dont know what lightroom is but that sounds cool too
good job!!!
if it helps, i was way more disappointed about the french fry
5:41 PM

There was another lull; he might’ve typed more, except a thought had occurred to him, and he wasn’t sure exactly how he could phrase it without sounding like a creep.

hey, what kinda stuff are you up to tomorrow??
5:42 PM

[Alanna Darlington]

She laughed even though no one was there to appreciate it. Her with a heart of steel? That was a funny thought. She was scared of so many things really... all the things that mattered at least.

Haha, something like that lol
It's made by adobe too, but its easier to use for basic photoediting
It's pretty cool though.
Well, clearly you have good sense, that poor french fry deserves to be mourned ;D

Alanna was surprised when he asked about her plans for the next day though she began to blush slightly as well.

Not sure. I need to get some photos for yearbook for all the clubs.
We're doing photos of all the members later in the year so I just need some filler photos
like photos of food for the culinary club
stuff like that.
Need to find some club members to help me though.
Still need culinary and sewing club.

She hesitated for a moment, worrying she had just flooded him with things he didn't really want to hear about.

How about you?

[Jasper Blackwater]

oh i see
lol, thats cool
5:43 PM

Jasper, who had grown up surrounded by a minimal amount of technology, was probably a little too impressed by her expertise. Mostly, though, he was just impressed with her. This wasn’t really anything new—Jasper was impressed by a lot of people and places and things.

The flutter in his chest when she told him her plans, though... that was new.

oh
well
since im in culinary club, i guess that means im making you food tomorrow!!
   
what kinda food you like???

5:45 PM

[Alanna Darlington]

Sorry, hope I'm not boring you

Alanna bit her lip, worrying that she had said something wrong. But the texts kept coming so she began to relax.

omg, really!?

She could hardly believe her luck.

chocolate!

That response was immediate.

Sorry, I have a huge sweet tooth 
You can make whatever you want really
I'm sure it'll be amazing, whatever you decide.

She paused another minute, considering.

I do love mexican food though and chicken parmesan with spaghetti too
What about you?

[Jasper Blackwater]

whoa, your totally not boring me!!!
im psyched 
5:45 PM

Jas was grinning again. The muscles in his cheeks were beginning to hurt.

i saw a badass recipe for snickers cheesecake
on tumblr
do you like cheesecake??
and peanuts???
5:46 PM

The flutter in his chest intensified when Alanna informed him that she had a huge sweet tooth. Could so much awesome really fit into one person? Was she even real right now?!

i make a mean chicken parm 
if you want we can eat lunch in the home ec room
after you take pics of it obviously  
5:47 PM

[Alanna Darlington]

His reassurance made her smile and let out a sigh of relief that she hadn't quite realized she had been holding.

omg that sounds too good to be true
can that much deliciousness exist in one package?

Her mouth was watering just thinking about that cake.

Sure! That sounds great! 

A soft pink blush colored her skin as she stared at the screen of her phone.

Looking forward to it ^_^

[Jasper Blackwater]

thats actually my meta power
i take deliciousness and stuff them into cheesecakes
which makes them like meta cheesecakes
5:47 PM

He grinned at his own joke. After a moment, though, he realized that there had been stranger powers by far, and sought to clarify.

...that was a joke
a bad joke, sorry 
lol
but for real i will do my best
cant have some subpar cheesecake in the yearbook, can we???
5:48 PM

His thumbs hovered uncertainly over his phone’s on-screen keyboard while he looked back down at his half-finished math homework.

awesome
me too.
and i would love to bombard you with texts until then but
unfortunately i still have homework
5:49 PM

He sighed loudly, for his own benefit.

but tomorrow for sure, right??? 
5:49 PM

[Alanna Darlington]

Alanna laughed loudly at his 'cheesecake' power - loud enough that she startled herself at least.

Now that's what I call an awesome power
I thought it was funny XD
I'm sure it will be awesome 
I'll just have to make sure it looks as good as it tastes lol

Her smile faded slightly - something her sore cheeks was grateful for if nothing else - at she glanced over at her not yet started homework.

it's okay, I do too.
Should probably get to work

Truth be told, she would much rather talk to him, strange as it was talking to anyone other than her parents.

Yeah, definitely. Can't wait ^_^

[Jasper Blackwater]

lol thanks!! 
hope you wont be too disappointed.
5:49 PM

Jasper knew that the conversation was winding down, but he couldn’t help trying to cling to it for as long as possible. Tomorrow just didn’t seem close enough.

see you tomorrow then!!!
good luck on your homework
and i hope you have a good night   
5:50 PM