Epex Oneshots (short stories) /imagines

Jeff- Popular Boy

Jeff was used to being the center of attention. Captain of the soccer team, top of his class, and someone who seemed to know everyone. Wherever he went in school, people waved, nodded, or called out his name. It was a life he enjoyed, a role he'd grown comfortable with. Dating had always been casual for him, nothing he took seriously. But everything changed the day Y/N walked into his English class.

She was new — that much was obvious by the way she scanned the classroom, looking slightly out of place, her eyes a mix of curiosity and caution. Her hair was tucked behind her ears, and she held her books close to her chest as if they were a shield. Jeff couldn't look away. There was something different about her, something quiet and intriguing.

"Jeff?" His friend Ayden nudged him. "Dude, you're staring."

Jeff blinked, snapping out of his daze. "What? No, I'm not."

Ayden chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Sure, whatever you say."

Ignoring his friend, Jeff looked back just as their teacher introduced her to the class. "Everyone, this is Y/N. She just transferred here, so let's make her feel welcome."

Jeff felt a strange urge to say something, to somehow make her feel at ease. But he just watched as she took a seat near the back of the room, slipping into it quietly, her eyes focused on the desk.

The rest of the day, he couldn't get her out of his head. It wasn't like him to be so interested in someone he barely knew. He'd met plenty of new people at school, but something about Y/N drew him in. She didn't seem fazed by the attention her arrival had brought — in fact, she seemed almost determined to avoid it.

That evening, Jeff found himself scrolling through the school's social media page, hoping to find some mention of her. When he didn't, he felt a strange disappointment. She was a mystery, and it was driving him crazy.

The next day, he got his chance to talk to her. They ended up paired together in biology for a lab assignment. As he slid into the seat beside her, he gave her his friendliest smile.

"Hey," he said, trying to keep his tone casual. "I'm Jeff."

She looked up, meeting his gaze with a polite but guarded smile. "I know. Everyone knows who you are."

"Fair point," he said, chuckling. "But you're new, and I don't know you yet."

She raised an eyebrow, her smile teasing. "And you're saying that like it's a problem."

Jeff grinned, feeling oddly flustered. She was quick, sharper than most people he talked to. "Well, yeah. It's only fair, right? So... where'd you move from?"

She hesitated, looking down at the lab book they were supposed to be working on. "A small town upstate. Pretty different from here."

He nodded, sensing her hesitation. "Must be a big change. Are you liking it so far?"

"It's... fine," she replied, not giving away much. But then she glanced up at him, her gaze softening. "It's just hard to adjust, you know?"

There was something vulnerable in her expression, something that made Jeff's heart ache in a way he didn't understand. "Well, if you need someone to show you around, I'm happy to help."

She smiled, and this time it felt genuine. "Thanks, Jeff. I might take you up on that."

Over the next few weeks, Jeff found himself drawn to Y/N more and more. They'd chat during class, and sometimes she'd join him and Ayden at lunch. But she never seemed to get swept up in the social whirlwind the way most people did. She stayed a little apart, kept a bit of distance, as if she was guarding herself from something. And somehow, that only made Jeff want to know her more.

One afternoon, as they were sitting together under a tree outside after school, Ayden sprawled out on the grass nearby, Jeff took a chance.

"So, you've been here for a few weeks now," he began, trying to sound casual. "Any thoughts on the place?"

Y/N laughed softly. "I like it, actually. But... I don't know, sometimes I still feel like the new kid. Like everyone's waiting for me to fit in."

Ayden, ever the outspoken one, chimed in. "Hey, we're not all bad. If anything, this guy" — he pointed at Jeff — "has been weirdly obsessed with you since day one. Trust me, he doesn't look at anyone else like that."

Jeff shot Ayden a glare. "Real subtle, man."

But Y/N just looked down, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "I think I noticed that too," she said, glancing up at Jeff, her gaze searching his face.

Jeff felt his heart skip a beat. Ayden rolled his eyes and stood up, brushing grass off his jeans. "I think that's my cue to leave you two alone," he muttered, grinning as he walked away.

Once they were alone, Jeff shifted nervously, his fingers picking at a loose thread on his backpack. "So... um... Ayden isn't exactly wrong," he admitted, feeling a bit awkward. "I guess I just... you're different, Y/N. You're not like everyone else."

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "Different how?"

He hesitated, struggling to find the words. "I mean, you're... you're real. You don't care about popularity or impressing anyone. You're just... you." He looked up, hoping he wasn't making a fool of himself.

Y/N studied him, her expression unreadable. Finally, she gave a small nod. "You know, I always thought you were just some... typical popular guy. But you're not, are you?"

He shook his head, a smile breaking across his face. "I guess we both had the wrong impression."

The days that followed felt like something out of a dream. Jeff and Y/N spent more time together, sometimes with Ayden tagging along, other times just the two of them. They'd sit by the lake, talking about everything and nothing, or grab coffee from the small shop near school. Jeff found himself telling her things he'd never shared with anyone — his dreams, his fears, the pressure he felt being in the spotlight. And in return, she opened up to him, sharing stories from her old school, her own insecurities, and how hard it was for her to trust people.

One night, they sat together on a park bench, watching the stars. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with an unspoken understanding. Jeff finally reached over, taking her hand in his. She looked at him, surprised, but didn't pull away.

"I don't know when it happened," he murmured, "but... I think I'm falling for you, Y/N."

She didn't respond right away, and he felt his heart pounding, terrified that he'd made a mistake. But then she turned to him, her eyes soft, a small smile on her lips. "I think... I might be falling for you too, Jeff."

He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face, and for a moment, they simply sat there, the world around them fading away.

The next day at school, Ayden spotted them walking hand-in-hand down the hall. He stopped, his jaw dropping in mock surprise. "Well, well, well. Look who finally made it official," he teased, smirking.

Jeff just rolled his eyes, squeezing Y/N's hand a little tighter. "Yeah, yeah. You knew before we did."

Y/N laughed, playfully nudging Ayden. "I guess we owe you one, huh?"

Ayden grinned, crossing his arms. "I'll just add it to the list of favors you two owe me."

As they laughed together, Jeff felt a warmth in his chest, a sense of happiness he hadn't known he was missing. He looked at Y/N, her laughter lighting up her face, and felt certain that somehow, despite all the odds, they'd both found exactly who they needed.