Chapter 17

Alexandria

I had just finished dinner: baked salmon, brown rice, and roasted Brussels sprouts when my phone blared out SexyBack by Justin Timberlake. I groaned, knowing exactly who it was, before answering the call on speakerphone while I finished washing the dishes.

"Yellooo," I greeted, making my voice light and playful.

"Tonight. 10 p.m. Be there or forever forfeit our friendship," Will's voice came through flat and serious.

I rolled my eyes. "Wow, Will. I seriously have to teach you basic manners. Hi. Hello. How are you?"

"Are you coming to my house or what?" Will responded, completely ignoring my joke.

I smirked. "Sure, but it's gonna be late. Can I sleep over?"

"Yeah, that's fine. See ya."

I sighed, throwing my phone on the counter. I grabbed a random black tank top and my green plaid pajama pants and got ready to leave. Ten p.m. came quicker than I thought, and after ordering an Uber, I found myself standing in front of Will's house, using the spare key he'd given me ages ago.

I entered the house, which was dimly lit, the glow of a random Disney movie flickering in the background.

I plopped onto the couch beside him, my legs tucked underneath me. "Alright, what's up? Why so serious at this hour?"

Will turned to me with a smirk. "We're playing Truth or Dare... but mostly truth. If you don't answer a question, you get a dare. No chickening out."

I raised an eyebrow. "You so have an agenda with this, don't you?"

"Maybe. Maybe not." Will grinned, his eyes twinkling. "You in or what?"

I sighed, already knowing I'd regret this. "Fine. But if you ask anything weird, I will throw a pillow at your face."

"Noted," Will said dramatically as he leaned back, rubbing his hands together like he was about to get down to business. "I'll go first."

Will leaned back on his hands, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Alright. First question; do you think Macklin is attractive?"

I nearly choked on my own spit. "Excuse me? What happened to simple questions like what's your favorite color?"

"You heard me." Will smirked. "Do you think Macklin is hot?"

I grabbed a pillow and chucked it at his head. He dodged, laughing. "That's not an answer, Lex."

"Ugh," I groaned, hiding my face in my hands. "Fine. Yes, okay? Objectively, he's attractive."

Will snorted. "Objectively? Please, you get all awkward whenever he goes next to you. It's like watching a penguin try to flirt."

"I do not get awkward," I shot back, but my face was already burning.

"You so do," Will teased. "Alright, your turn."

I tapped my fingers against my thigh, considering. Then, with a smirk, I said, "If you wanna play that game then if Gabi asked you out first, would you have said yes?"

Will froze.

"Ohhh, struck a nerve?" I wiggled my brows.

Will exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Shit," he muttered. "Okay, fine. Yes, probably, I just don't think it'll happen... I mean it's Gabi."

I smiled knowingly, aware that Gabi was just as into him as he was to her, but I let it go without revealing either of their secrets. "Alright, your turn," I said.

Will recovered quickly, his smirk returning. "When did you first realize you might like Macklin?"

I groaned, slumping into the couch. "Can I take a dare?"

"Oh, come on!" Will threw his hands up. "That means it's juicy."

"I hate you," I grumbled, grabbing a handful of chips. "Fine. Maybe when we almost kissed but I don't know, maybe it was also just... little things. Like when he remembers random stuff I say. Or when he lets me rant about school and actually listens. Or—"

"Or when he takes off his helmet and shakes his hair out like he's in a goddamn shampoo commercial?" Will interrupted.

I glared. "Shut up."

Will howled with laughter. "Oh, this is amazing."

I huffed. "Your turn. What's stopping you from asking Gabi out?"

Will's face dropped. For a second, I thought he might actually take the dare.

He sighed. "I don't want to fuck it up."

I frowned. "You? Mr. Confidence? Afraid of messing up?"

Will threw the puck up and caught it again, avoiding my gaze. "I mean... yeah. She's different. She's not some girl I flirt with just because it's fun. If I mess this up, it's Gabi that I lose. And that..." He exhaled sharply. "That would suck."

I softened. "Will."

He waved me off. "Next question. If Macklin kissed you right now, would you kiss him back?"

I sucked in a breath. "You are evil."

Will grinned. "Well?"

I bit my lip. "... Yeah."

Will's eyes widened as he pretended to be shocked. "WOW, I would have never guessed."

"Shut up, quit overreacting."

"No, no, no. This is groundbreaking, but honestly, I knew, I just wanted a verbal confirmation."

I groaned. "Obviously. He's Macklin. He's nice and funny and—ugh. Next question."

Will still looked smug as hell, but he let it go.

I smirked. "Have you ever been jealous when Gabi talks to other guys? And when?"

Will groaned, rubbing his hands over his face. "I hate you."

I cackled. "Payback, baby."

Will exhaled sharply. "Okay. Yeah. Once."

My eyes sparkled. "Oh, do tell."

"It was last month," Will muttered. "That stupid guy from her psych class, Liam or Lucas or whatever."

I gasped. "Oh my God. The TA?"

Will made a face. "Yeah. She was all giggly with him, and I hated it."

I burst into laughter. "Will. You pouted that entire night."

"I did not pout."

"Oh, you so did."

Will huffed. "Whatever.. Anyways," he said, stretching his legs out in front of him. "Be honest; do you want Macklin to ask you out?"

I blinked. "Jesus, love going straight to the point don't you?"

Will shrugged. "Hey, you signed up for this. Answer the question."

I chewed the inside of my cheek, avoiding his gaze. The problem was that I did want Macklin to ask me out. It wasn't even a question anymore. But saying it out loud? To Will? That was a different battle entirely.

"Yeah," I mumbled. "I wouldn't mind."

Will gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. "You wouldn't mind? Oh, my God, Lex, just say you want to jump his bones and go."

I groaned. "Fuck off, Will."

"I knew it," he sang. "This is so good."

I threw a chip at him. "My turn, asshole. If Gabi started dating someone else, how would you feel?"

Will's grin dropped fast.

I smirked. "Oh? What's that face for?"

Will exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I mean..." He shifted uncomfortably. "I guess it'd suck."

I raised an eyebrow. "Just suck?"

Will groaned. "Okay, fine. I'd hate it. I'd lose my shit. Happy?"

I grinned. "Awww, Will likes Gabi!"

Will threw a chip right back at me. "Shut up."

I cackled, but before I could rub it in more, Will spoke up again. "Okay, next question; have you had any weird dreams about Macklin?"

I froze.

Will's eyes widened. "Oh, no way."

I avoided his gaze. "Pass."

Will's grin turned downright evil. "Ohhh, Lex. That means yes."

I groaned, shoving my face into a pillow. "I hate you."

Will was practically vibrating with excitement. "What happened in the dream? Was it spicy? Were you two running off into the sunset together?"

"I refuse to answer," I mumbled into the pillow.

Will smirked. "Fine. But that means you take a dare."

I peeked out, instantly regretting it when I saw the look in his eyes. "Why do I feel like I'm about to regret this?"

Will leaned forward. "Text Macklin right now and say, 'I've been thinking about you.'"

I shot up. "Absolutely not."

Will shrugged. "Rules are rules."

"You are a menace."

"And you have a text to send."

I groaned, grabbing my phone. "I hate this game."

Will just watched with amusement as I typed out the message, my fingers hovering over the send button like it might explode. "This is so painful to watch," he commented. "Just do it."

I sucked in a breath and hit send.

I immediately chucked my phone across the couch and buried my face in my hands. "I am never living this down."

Will cackled. "I hope he replies immediately."

I groaned. "My turn. What has Macklin said about me? And not just basic shit like 'she's nice.'"

Will hummed, tilting his head. "Oh, you mean all the sweet things he's said about you?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Spill."

"he was talking about how you laugh at all his dumb jokes and he was like, 'I don't think she even realizes how pretty she is when she's laughing.'"

My face burned. "Shut up, don't fuck with me."

Will grinned, totally unbothered. "I am not making this up."

I buried my face in my hands. "Next question before I die of embarrassment."

Will tapped his chin, pretending to think. "Okay, if you had to describe your type, what would it be?"

I groaned. "Ugh, I don't know. Tall, sweet, a gentleman, considerate, funny, can joke around—"

Will cuts me off. "You literally just described Macklin."

I froze.

I grabbed a pillow and smacked him in the face. "I hate you."

Will, still laughing, leaned back with his arms behind his head like he was the king of the world. "This was the best decision I've ever made."

I groaned. "I swear to God, if Macklin responds to that text, I am deleting my entire existence."

Will smirked, clearly enjoying the chaos he'd created. "Too late, Lex. You're so down bad."

I sat there, heart pounding, waiting.. praying for my phone to vibrate. I kept sneaking glances at it like I could will a response into existence.

Nothing.

I groaned again, slumping back into the couch. "I hate you for making me send that text."

Will just smirked, lounging like the world's most insufferable older brother. "You'll survive."

Then, out of nowhere, his phone buzzed.

I didn't think much of it at first—until I saw the contact name flashing across the screen.

Macklin.

My head snapped toward Will. "Why the fuck did he text you and not me?"

Will's eyes widened slightly, but he yanked his phone away before I could get a good look. "Dunno."

I lunged forward. "Let me see."

Will held it above his head, grinning. "Nope."

"Will. You asshole."

"It's bro code," he said with a smirk that was way too smug.

I gasped. "Bro code? I literally texted him 'I've been thinking about you,' and he leaves me on read but texts you? What did he say?"

Will shrugged, tapping at his screen like it was no big deal. "Nothing important."

"Oh, bullshit." I scrambled onto the couch, reaching over his shoulder to grab his phone, but Will was faster. He darted to his feet, clutching the phone to his chest like it held the secrets of the universe.

I narrowed my eyes. "Give. It. To. Me."

Will took a slow step backward, his grin growing wider. "Lex, listen. You don't wanna do this."

"Oh, I very much wanna do this."

And then, he bolted.

I shrieked. "WILL!"

He was already halfway down the hall when I launched myself off the couch after him. He swerved at the last second, diving into the bathroom and slamming the door shut just as I nearly tackled him.

Click.

The sound of the lock sliding into place sent me into a rage.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" I yelled, banging on the door.

Will cackled from the other side. "I told you, bro code!"

"Screw your bro code, you traitor!"

Will just laughed harder.

I groaned, pressing my forehead against the door. "I hate you."

"I'm aware, you've said that a couple times this past hour," he called back.

I banged on the door one last time, then stomped back to the couch, crossing my arms. "This is so fucking unfair," I muttered to myself.

My phone remained painfully silent.

And Will? He remained locked in the bathroom, probably enjoying every second of my misery.

— NEW POV —Will's POV

I wasn't expecting my phone to buzz. I was too busy laughing at Lex losing her mind over her text to Macklin.

But then I saw the contact name on my screen.

Macklin.

Macklin: Lex just texted me 'I've been thinking about you.'Macklin: No way that was meant for me, right? Like, she sent it on accident?Macklin: Dude, tell me this isn't some cruel joke because this is too good to be true.

I blinked.

Holy shit.

This was so much better than I planned. I already knew Lex liked him and her refusing to answer the "weird dreams" question basically confirmed it but this? Macklin panicking because he thought it was too good to be true?

This was gold.

And the best part? Macklin had no idea this was all my doing.

Now, I could've told him the truth, that I'd forced Lex to send the text for my own entertainment as a date for not answering the question. But where was the fun in that? Instead, I did what any good friend and chaotic mastermind would do.

Me: Oh, yeah, man, that text was definitely meant for you.

Macklin took a minute to respond.

Macklin: ...Are you sure?Macklin: Like, you don't think she meant to send it to someone else?

Jesus Christ, this guy. He was so whipped and didn't even realize it.

Me: Dude. She sent it to you. Not some random dude. You should say something back. Flirt. Be cool. Do literally anything other than overthink.

Another pause.

Macklin: What the hell do I even say to that???

I grinned.

Me: Something smooth. Play it cool. Or, better yet, flirt.

He hesitated.

Then finally—

Macklin: ...Fuck it. Okay

—NEW POV—Back to Lex's pov

I was fuming.

Will was still locked in the bathroom like a coward, and my phone remained painfully silent. The audacity. The disrespect. I had put my dignity on the line (sent the text) and Macklin had the nerve to text Will first?

I was about to start banging on the door again when my phone buzzed in my lap.

My heart stopped.

I stared at the screen like it had personally wronged me. Because what if it wasn't Macklin? What if it was just some stupid spam text about my car's extended warranty?

But then I saw his name.

Mackyy.

Oh. Oh, shit.

I suddenly forgot how to breathe. My fingers hovered over the screen, but I couldn't bring myself to open the message yet. My heart was hammering against my ribs like I was thirteen again, clutching my phone and waiting for some boy in my class to text me back.

This was so embarrassing.

I inhaled sharply and finally forced myself to open it.

Macklin: Oh yeah? What exactly have you been thinking about?

I made a noise. A very undignified noise.

Like, half a squeak, half a wheeze.

The bathroom door creaked open, and Will strolled out like he hadn't just been hiding from me for the past ten minutes. "So," he said, smug as ever. "What'd he say?"

I shoved my phone into my hoodie pocket like he could somehow see the message through the screen. "Nothing."

Will squinted. "Bullshit. You just made a noise."

"I did not make a noise."

"You definitely did."

I glared at him. "Shut up."

Will just grinned, sitting on the arm of the couch. "You look like a middle schooler who just got a text from their crush."

"I truly hate you."

"Sure, sure." He leaned forward, eyes sparkling with mischief. "So? Are you gonna answer?"

I swallowed. Answering meant actually engaging with Macklin. It meant admitting that I had been thinking about him, which I had, obviously, but now he knew.

I pulled my phone out again, rereading the text like the words might magically rearrange themselves into something less flirty.

They did not.

I was going to kill Will.

Will, who was now watching me with barely contained glee.

Me: Wouldn't you like to know ;)

The second I hit send, I threw my phone across the couch like it was on fire.

Will cackled. "Oh, you're so into him."

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "I swear to God, Will—"

Another buzz.

We both froze.

I peeked at my phone. Will did too.

Mackyy is typing...

Oh. Oh, fuck.

I couldn't breathe. I literally couldn't breathe.

Will was leaning in so close that his shoulder was practically touching mine as we stared at the screen together. The little blinking dots indicating that Macklin was typing felt like they were in slow motion, dragging out every second of suspense until I was ready to burst into flames.

The text finally came through, and I swear, the whole room paused.

Macklin: Well, I've definitely been thinking about you too. You're hard to forget.

I froze. My brain couldn't quite process what I'd just read.

"I'm hard to forget?" I repeated, staring at the screen, completely floored.

Will let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. "Damn, Macklin's got game."

I couldn't even respond. I just sat there, blinking at the screen like I'd been hit by a truck. My fingers tingled. My stomach was doing somersaults. I swear to God, I was back in middle school with a crush on the guy who sat two rows over in algebra class.

"Say something, Lex," Will pressed, his voice low but amused. "Don't just leave him hanging."

I wanted to die. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. I couldn't respond to that, what do you even say to that?

I stared at the screen, fighting the urge to scream. I had just opened my mouth to say something—and God knows what it was going to be—when my phone buzzed again.

Macklin: Maybe we should hang out. Get to know each other better.

I felt my heart do a backflip in my chest. I stared at it for a long time, trying to make sense of it, trying to figure out if this was real. It had to be real, right? He wouldn't joke like this.

"Do it. Respond," Will urged, his voice low but amused. "He's practically begging you to say yes."

I couldn't. I literally couldn't.

What was I even supposed to say?

I stared at the screen, my brain short-circuiting as I tried to find the right words. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I sucked it up. I typed—

Me: I'd love to. When?

I hit send. Then I dropped my phone onto the couch like it was a hot potato.

"Okay," I said, voice trembling. "It's sent. I did it. I'm going to die now."

Will couldn't help himself anymore. He burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "You're so freaking cute."

"Shut up!" I snapped, but it was weak. My heart was still hammering, and I felt like I'd just been on a roller coaster for the first time.

We both froze when my phone buzzed again, I opened the message from Macklin.

Macklin: how's tomorrow at 7?

Me: it's a date, see you!

Macklin: can't wait to see you.

I read it. Then I read it again.

I looked at Will, my heart literally racing.

"Okay," I breathed, "I'm dead."

Will just grinned at me, his eyes sparkling. "Told ya. Whipped already."

"Shut up," I said, but even I couldn't hide my smile. My stomach was still doing flips, and it didn't feel like it was going to stop anytime soon.

-=+=-

Lowk wish I made gabi older bc will likes cougars but oh well for the plot

Awh I'm sorta gonna miss the innocent sexual tension and awkward flirting phase. Should I drag it longer 👩🏼‍🦲

YIPPEE 1k views 🤭🤭 thank you for supporting pls vote if you liked it ❤️