RigbyE

But slowly, Jesper forgets any negative feelings towards Wylan Van Eck and is instead enchanted by the polo and vest combo he wears religiously and how he balances precariously atop a stool cross-legged while he paints. How the cuffs of his sleeves have paint stains because he refuses to roll them up. And the way, even when he's moving, he has a calculating stillness that draws Jesper in as if he is watching the other play a game of chess.

Wylan, on the other hand, falls for the way Jesper manages to look just as shocked as him when he says something ridiculous, how he trips and knocks over everything, and how he always finds a way to never wear the same outfit twice. Jesper throws himself into any challenge in front of him with an unwavering confidence in the unknown, disregarding any caution and need for forethought, something Wylan could only envy.

Every day, the two boys come to school and wait through their classes, go to the art room and pretend not to feel some force tying them together, and leave only to wait to come to the art room again the next day.

Jesper tells Wylan of his dropping grades because he feels that there is an engine inside him that won't stop running, and when he sits in class, or maybe even stands idly, he just can't stop this feeling of going, going, going. The only time he felt truly in comfort with himself was when he was running from some kind of danger with Inej and Kaz.

In response, Wylan talks about the pressure on him to get good grades from his father after dropping out of a prestigious private school only a couple of months before his mother died. And how, although he can solve practically any math equation in front of him and complete college-level science labs without blinking an eye, he will never be successful because he can't write a single essay, read a single test question, or complete any of his father's endless tests.

Although completely different people, they fall in love because they share the same feeling of having been made for a different world, and had instead been placed in this one.

Inej and Kaz use this information to start a school-wide, then a town-wide, and then almost the entire country-wide revolt against the Merchants Council, which includes thousands of people originating from different places in their world, leaving their school or their jobs every day to march in the streets and share their stories with others and demand that their government be rid of any corruption.

(And yes, Inej is the main face of all this, I think that Kaz would much prefer to pull the strings in the background.)

At first, Jesper is there for every march, every gathering, every meeting with her and Kaz. But after a while, Inej notices that things start to change. She searches for Jesper in every crowd and finds he is no longer there. And when she finds it's because he's been spending his time with Wylan Van Eck, she's beyond livid.

Inej and Jesper end up having a huge fight that leaves them both with a realization. Inej walks away thinking about how maybe the fact that not everyone was attending her rallies wasn't necessarily because she wasn't fighting hard enough or because they were bad people, but maybe because some people just weren't able to. Maybe some people couldn't afford to leave work, or let their grades drop, or maybe they're not able to express their opinion without getting themselves in danger.

For Jesper, he leaves thinking about how much he had given up so quickly for Wylan, and how it felt so natural he had done it all without thinking, but was it all worth giving up. Maybe what he felt for Wylan was something close to love, but was that worth giving up the many things he loved already?

Kaz's first: "Yes and no. It's always good to have a country in debt to you. Makes for friendlier negotiations." (Six of Crows, page 16)

Kaz's last: "That's the laugh." (Crooked Kingdom, page 463)

Inej's first: "This is a mistake. Geels is up to something." (Six of Crows, page 18)

Inej's last: "This was the first cut, Rollins, if you ever think about coming back to Ketterdam, we'll meet again so I can make the second." (Crooked Kingdom, page 468)

Jesper's first: "Three ships! The Shu sent them. They were just sitting in First Harbor, canons out, red flags flying, stuffed to the sails with gold." (Six of Crows, page 16)

Jesper's last: "Not one for goodbyes, is he?" (Crooked Kingdom, page 451)

Wylan's first: "He's not better. He's reckless." (Six of Crows, page 117)

Wylan's last: "How about I push you in the canal and we see if you know how to swim?" (Crooked Kingdom, page 450)

Nina's first: "Go, be at peace." (Six of Crows, page 75)

Nina's last: "Still as the grave." (Crooked Kingdom, 451)

Matthias's first: "Nina?" (Six of Crows, page 99)

Making them a cup of tea/coffee exactly how they like it

Tucking a note into their bag or pocket for later

Sending a "did you eat?" or "thinking of you" text out of the blue

Saving them the last bite of something you know they love

Warming their hands when it's cold

Turning on the heated seat / adjusting the AC before they ask

Saying "text me when you get there"

Wiping crumbs or lint off them without making it a thing

Complimenting something ordinary, like how good they smell

Thanking them out loud for everyday things

Saying “drive safe” even if they hear it all the time

Walking on the street-side of the sidewalk

Letting them pick the music even if it’s not your favorite

Saving them a seat or spot next to you

Opening the door or holding it just a second longer for them

Sending a "made it home?" text

Checking the weather and reminding them to bring a jacket

Setting an alarm earlier so you can wake up together