Night had settled over camp. The others were still arguing about food rations around the fire, their voices rising and falling in the distance. You and Jasper had slipped away quietly, finding a quieter corner near the edge of the woods where the glow of the flames barely reached.

The sky stretched endlessly above, stars brighter than you’d ever seen from the Ark. You sat on a fallen log, hugging your knees as Jasper paced nervously in front of you, clutching his ever-present spear.

“Y’know,” he muttered, “when I pictured being one of the first hundred kids on Earth, I thought I’d be braver. Like, a hero or something. Instead I’m just the guy who screams at tree branches.”

You laughed softly. “I don’t think you give yourself enough credit.”

He turned to you then, grinning that awkward, lopsided grin. But it faded when he noticed how serious you looked, your fingers fidgeting with the hem of your sleeve.

“Jasper…” You hesitated, then blurted it out before you lost your nerve. “I’ve never kissed anyone before.”

His eyes widened, and for once he didn’t have a joke ready. “Wait—you’ve… never?”

You shook your head, heat rising in your cheeks. “Not once. I just thought… if it ever happened, I’d want it to be with someone I actually cared about.”

The silence stretched between you, broken only by the chirp of distant insects. Jasper set the spear down slowly, then sat beside you on the log. His knee brushed yours, and his voice dropped to something softer, more certain.

“Well… for what it’s worth,” he said, “I haven’t exactly kissed a whole lot of people either. But if—if you want your first to be with me… I’d be honored.”

Your chest tightened. “I do want it to be you.”

That crooked grin returned, gentler this time. He lifted a shaky hand to your cheek, pausing like he was giving you every chance to pull away. When you didn’t, he leaned in. The kiss was soft, clumsy at first, but full of warmth. His lips lingered on yours as if he couldn’t believe it was real.

When you finally pulled back, both of you breathless, Jasper laughed under his breath. “Wow. Guess I can officially cross ‘kiss the prettiest person on Earth’ off my bucket list.”

You shoved his shoulder lightly, trying to hide your smile. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah.” he admitted, eyes locked on yours, “but I’m ridiculous about you.”

Your heart skipped. “You… like me?”

“I more than like you,” he said, earnest now, the humor stripped away. “Out of all the people down here, you’re the one who makes me feel like maybe—just maybe—I’m not completely useless. You make this place less terrifying.”

You felt your throat tighten with emotion. “I feel the same way, Jasper. You make it easier to breathe.”

For a long moment, you just sat there together, your forehead resting against his, fingers entwined. The stars wheeled above, and for once, survival and danger didn’t matter.

All that mattered was that your first kiss had been with Jasper Jordan—and it wouldn’t be the last.