𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚌 𝚃𝚘 𝙼𝚢 𝙴𝚊𝚛𝚜 - 𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗 𝙱𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎

"This is the worst fake ID I've ever seen. You realize you made yourself 68?" Andrew asked Brian as Alex walked past. They turned to look at her but she kept straight ahead, climbing up the big stone steps toward the front of the library. She made it to the landing, away from view, and slid down the wall. She hugged her knees to her chest. She reached for her headphones, but groaned when she realized she left them with Bender. She wasn't going back for them.

John was quick to follow Alex once he had figured out why she'd left. He came over and knelt on the landing in front of her, pressing his hand against her face to make her look at him. She frowned.

"I know you think I'm just some deadbeat who likes to sleep around, but it's not like that." He said quietly. She huffed a laugh.

"Then what is it like, Bender? You pull this shit all day, get all personal and then what? Is that what this is? What I am to you? Another fucking girl you get to stick in your wallet and 'consider'?" She retorted, tears running fresh tracks down her cheeks. John winced at her final word, realizing just how much her feelings actually meant to him.

"No. No you're not." He replied simply. Alex raised an eyebrow in disbelief. John took a deep breath before looking up into her eyes. "You never were. I get that I have a reputation, but I like you, Alex. I really do. You're funny, smart, beautiful," Alex frowned but it couldn't hide the blush that crept onto her face. Bender stopped for a minute before pulling her headphones from around his neck and placing them around hers. "And you understand. You understand me, and what it's like. That's fuckin' sexy." Alex couldn't help but huff a small laugh at his joke, and Bender put his hand back on her face and tilted it to meet his gaze again. Alex shook her head before giving him a small smile.

"Don't make me regret forgiving you." She said after a minute. Bender grinned.

"Does that mean you like me back?" He wiggled his eyebrows and Alex rolled her eyes.

"I suppose-" She was cut off by Bender quickly leaning forward and pressing his lips against hers. She gasped into the kiss before leaning into it, resting her hands on the sides of his face. He smiled onto her mouth before pulling back and looking at her in the eyes. She raised an eyebrow at him before he stood up, holding his hand out to her. She took it, standing with him before he pulled her off the landing and down the stairs, holding her hand tightly.

"Come on, the dill-weeds are probably suffering without me." He said confidently, making Alex roll her eyes playfully before following after him.

♦

The group had moved to a different spot in the back of the library, and were now seated on the floor, leaning against various things, talking about whatever came to mind. It surprised Alex when Bender wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap as he leaned against a pillar. She was startled, but content to lean into his chest. He was content to hold her, feeling her heartbeat against him and soak in the presence of someone who knew just how he felt. Someone who knew him, without even knowing him.

"What would I do for a million bucks?" Andrew repeated aloud. "I guess I'd do as little as I had to." He stated, shrugging. Alex made a face and Claire shook her head.

"That's boring." The preppy girl stated blatantly.

"Well, how am I supposed to answer?" Andrew asked.

"The idea is to, like, search your mind for the absolute limit. Like, would you drive to school naked?" She answered, raising her eyebrows. Andrew giggled. Giggled.

"Um, uh. Would I have to get out of the car?"

"Of course."

"In the spring? Or winter?"