Chapter 8

The second I step into the apartment, Gabi is already standing in the middle of the living room, arms crossed, eyebrows raised. Like she's been waiting. Like she knows.

I freeze in the doorway, one foot still outside. "Hi?"

She squints. "Explain."

I sigh, shutting the door behind me. "First of all, nothing happened."

Gabi's expression doesn't change. "Uh-huh."

"No, seriously! Nothing crazy. Except for the fact that it was the single most embarrassing moment of my life." I groan, tossing my bag onto the couch before collapsing beside it. "I woke up this morning in Macklin's bed—"

Gabi's eyes widen.

"—and before you say anything, he wasn't in it! He slept on the couch." I bury my face in my hands for a second before peeking at her through my fingers. "Apparently, I was so blackout I forgot my own address. Will and you left early, and Macklin and I kept playing cup pong... which led to more drinking."

"Oh my God." Gabi plops down next to me, looking equal parts horrified and entertained. "You mean to tell me that while I was tucked in my nice, cozy bed, you were out there having a bender with Macklin Celebrini?"

"Not a bender," I correct. "But we were absolutely demolishing at cup pong. No one could beat us. We were reigning champs at the end of the night."

"That's actually kind of iconic," she admits. "But also... you forgot your address?"

I groan again, flopping onto my back dramatically. "Apparently! And Macklin didn't know what to do with me, so he just let me crash at his place. So embarrassing."

Gabi nudges me with her knee. "Honestly, sounds like he was a total gentleman about it. Kind of sweet."

I let out a long sigh, staring at the ceiling. "Yeah. He was really nice about it. But still. Embarrassing."

Gabi grins. "Well, Lexi, at least now we know your blackout self is an elite cup pong player."

I groan louder, shoving a pillow over my face. "Never let me drink that much again."

Gabi laughs. "Oh, don't worry. I'll be here to remind you. Repeatedly."

Gabi narrows her eyes at me, leaning in like she's trying to read my mind. "Are you sure you didn't do anything? Not even a little kiss?"

I roll my eyes. "For the last time, no."

She hums, unconvinced. "Not even a tiny one? A tipsy, oops-we're-so-good-at-cup-pong-let's-celebrate smooch?"

I groan, covering my face with my hands. "I asked him, okay?"

That gets her attention. She gasps, scooting closer. "Wait, you what?"

I sigh, letting my hands drop. "I woke up so confused, I had to ask if we slept together. And Mack was all chill about it—just straight-up told me nothing happened."

Gabi tilts her head, waiting for more. I chew on my lip, my face heating up.

"...And then I said, 'Oh. Okay. Good.'"

She blinks. "Okay?"

I shift uncomfortably. "And then I panicked and followed up with, 'I mean—not that it wouldn't be good if we did, but just—'" I groan, burying my face in my hands again. "And then I told him to forget I said anything."

There's silence. Then—

Gabi cackles.

"Oh my God," she gasps between laughs. "Lex, that's so bad."

"I know!" I wail, sinking deeper into the couch, wishing the cushions would swallow me whole. "It was the worst moment of my life."

Gabi, still giggling, shakes her head. "You are actually living in a rom-com, and I'm honored to witness it firsthand."

I glare at her. "It's not a rom-com. It's just my misery."

She smirks, still thoroughly enjoying my suffering. "Oh, it's definitely a rom-com. And I love it."

————

After a deep clean, everything shower that lasted way too long—because, frankly, I needed to scrub off every last ounce of last night's embarrassment—I finally step out of my room, feeling fresh and slightly less mortified.

Will and Gabi are sprawled out on the couch, controllers in hand, fully locked into a game of Super Smash Bros. The second Will sees me, he doesn't miss a beat.

"Finally!" he shouts, eyes still glued to the screen. "You take the longest showers, Lex. Like, an hour." He side-eyes me before dodging one of Gabi's attacks. "Macklin's the same way, which is why I'm so glad we have separate hotel rooms when we travel now."

I roll my eyes, grabbing a water bottle from the counter. "I needed a long shower after last night."

Will pauses mid-game. "Wait—what happened last night? Macklin's not saying anything. Every time I ask, he just brushes it off."

Before I can even come up with an answer, Gabi blurts out, "Lex didn't come home last night."

Will's jaw drops. He nearly drops his controller. "YOU SLEPT WITH MY BEST FRIEND?!"

"NO!" I shout immediately, nearly choking on my water.

Will squints at me. "Yeah, but you did sleep at his place, right?"

"Well—yeah, but—"

"AH-HAH!" He points at me, victorious. "Knew it!"

I groan. "You guys are crazy. Nothing is going on between him and me. We just met! Plus, I need to focus on school, and he has hockey. And after what happened with my ex..." My voice trails off, and I rub the back of my neck.

Will crosses his arms. "You ended things with your ex a year ago."

"Yeah, but the relationship started off so good, and by the last few months... you wouldn't have expected such a sweet guy to turn into a manipulator." I shake my head, exhaling.

Gabi tilts her head. "Okay, yeah, you lost me. Would you want to explain what happened?" Gabi and Will both put down the controllers as I sit beside them on the couch

"At first, Jackson was perfect. He was charming, thoughtful—he made me feel like the most special person in the world. No one would've expected him to be anything but the golden boy."

I chew on my lip. "But then, slowly, he started... changing. He became controlling. Manipulative. Always made me feel guilty about what I wore or how I spoke. He'd nitpick everything I did—how I texted, how I laughed, even how I tied my shoes once. It built up this tension, like I was constantly walking on eggshells, always trying to be the 'perfect' girlfriend for him. And the worst part?" I let out a bitter laugh. "I didn't even realize how bad it had gotten. I don't even know how it ended up that bad."

Will clenches his jaw, clearly remembering.

"As time went on, he got... possessive. Controlling. Even if I was just talking to Will, he'd get mad." I glance at Will, guilt flickering in my chest. "Which is why I distanced myself from you for those four months."

Will's expression softens. "Lex, you didn't have to—"

"I did, though," I say. "Because every time he saw me with another guy—even you, my childhood best friend—he'd lose it."

Gabi shifts beside me. "Jesus."

I exhale, my fingers tightening around my water bottle. "One time, we were hanging out because our moms were, and we went to get milkshakes. Jackson flipped." I bite my lip, shaking my head. "He grabbed me—right in front of Will—yelling about how I was his girlfriend, so he could 'do whatever he wanted.'"

Will's grip on his controller tightens. "I yelled at him. Told him he couldn't talk to you like that. But before I could stop him, he shoved you into his truck and drove off."

Gabi's eyes widen. "What?"

I nod, taking a slow breath. "He took me to an empty parking lot. We argued. I told him I didn't like the way he talked to me, especially in front of Will. And he just... got defensive. Started yelling. I barely recognized him anymore." My voice wavers. "Then he slapped me."

The room goes silent.

Gabi's mouth parts slightly, but no words come out.

Will's face is stone cold.

I swallow. "I was in shock. But I knew, right then, that it was over. I jumped out of the truck and ran as fast as I could. As soon as I knew I was far enough, I called my mom to come get me."

Will lets out a sharp breath. "And the next day, you ended it. Right in front of his entire football team."

I nod. "Didn't care to explain. Just told him we were done."

Gabi is still staring at me, her expression unreadable. "And then?"

"For weeks, he wouldn't stop. He followed me around, begged me to take him back. Said he was sorry." My grip on my water bottle tightens. "But other days, he'd be furious. He'd grab my arm, try to force me to listen." I shake my head. "I ignored him. Always pushed him away."

Will exhales, running a hand down his face. "Eventually, I made sure he stayed away from you. Told him if he ever went near you again, he'd regret it."

I smile slightly at that. "Yeah. And after a while, he gave up. But he was always... watching."

Gabi finally speaks. "Lex, that's—" She shakes her head. "That's horrible."

I shrug, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, now you know why I'm not looking to date any time soon."

Will looks at me, eyes full of something I can't quite name. "You deserved way better than that, Lex."

I smile softly. "I know."

And for the first time in a long time, I actually believe it.

-=+=-Oooohh spooky backstory, I'm really hoping you guys like it and I really hope this was a good and sorta seamless way to introduce Lex's dating history. For further context I wasn't sure how to include:Lex and Jackson met in highschool and started dating at 16 ended it at 17 then now lex is 18 and Jackson free and in a completely different state since lex grew up in Massachusetts. So she safe

What do you guys think so far?

ALSO BIGG THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO BEEN VOTING AND APPRECIATING MWAHH 🤭❤️