BORN TO BE WILD, alex p. keaton

xxiii. only over you

➢ 𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕘 𝕤𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟: 𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕓𝕪 𝕛𝕖𝕗𝕗𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕚𝕣𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕖

The Nightingale Residence—1987

SHUTTING THE DOOR behind her on her way over to the van, the sheer bell sleeves having gotten caught to force her to open it again embarrassed. Tonight was the concert, feeling like the two months went by in a blink since she had gotten them. Unaware really if Alex was going to join them she didn't stop to think about the tyrant for too long. If anything she always had Greg. One of her boys being around was good enough for her given the time between her needing to leave and all.

"Well look at you." Martha turned back and stared confused at the person in front of her. Thinking the boy to be a total stranger despite his causal manner she settled into her stunt. She looked to both sides of the street and then back to him again. "Marti, it's me?"

Stepping forward she continued to play this bit up to annoy Alex further. "You sound like my friend Alex. But Alex wouldn't be caught dead in anything but formal business attire. Maybe the occasional business casual."

He looked down to the colorful button up now tucked into the corduroy pants he was wearing. Shrugging as if it weren't anything special Alex took her hand to swing it in his. "Just something I had around."

Laughing over this lie she raised her brow in suspicion. "Alex really, what's this all about?"

"Well, you're leaving soon and—"

"Who the hell is this!" Greg came behind Alex to take him by surprise and looked between the two of them eagerly. "Thought you were one of Marti's new boyfriends I hardly recognized you." Having interrupted them unknowingly they only exchanged a brief glance to one another before acting as if nothing had happened prior to his being here.

She watched as he quickly found an excuse for his appearance. The comment being along the lines of him finding it necessary to dress like a clown in order to better fit in with them tonight. Smiling to herself as she knew it wasn't that, Martha raised a hand to slam the driver's side door of her van eagerly. "C'mon boys, places to be, a band to see."

Half a mixtape later and eventually the van was soon parked in the parking lot of the outdoor venue. "How'd you even get an outfit like that anyways?" Martha asked him curiously, situating herself between the two as they made the trek up the hill towards their seats.

"Oh, y'know, I went out to the Salvation Army. Shopping secondhand and all."

Not buying the idea of Alex anywhere near a secondhand shop, Greg hopped onto this with a smug grin. "Mallory picked everything out for you, huh?"

He stared him down, finding it hard to seem believable when in reality that was what had occurred. "Is it so hard to believe I can go into a secondhand store, take in the musty smell of the room, and buy myself a nice outfit?"

"Yes." Alex glared at his two friends for having said this simultaneously. This subsiding when noticing Martha beaming at the merch tent, opting to pull Greg's hand to lead him quickly. A tinge of jealousy came up, something he hadn't addressed any other time they acted this way together. Unprovoked, the feeling was unsettling him as he followed close behind the inseparable pair.

Watching Martha beaming and pointing at the specific t-shirt she wanted, Alex wedged himself between the two to get a better view of the booth. Noticing him this way she smiled to release her grip on Greg and hold onto Alex's arm instead. Leaning down to whisper in her ear she smirked beside him. "You doing okay down there, Smartie? Handling the crowd alright?"