Fearless Lexi

Chapter 1

Fez stared as Cal's truck drove away into the empty, chill night. All that was left was a faint dim of Jacobs' tail lights—and an unspoken threat in the air. If Nate and the Jacobs knew any better, they would keep their mouths shut and carry on their fucked up, twisted lives being rich assholes in this bleak suburban town. Fezco shook his head and walked back inside, his mind rushing back to the people in the store.

"Lexi," He thought.

His blue eyes began to scan the aisles until he locked them with deep brown doe eyes, wide with fear and concern—- not sure if for him or her, he thought.

"I'm real sorry you had to see that shit forreal. You good?" He managed to get out. Seeing Lexi again after New Years' gave him hope about not fucking up his chances with her after he beat the shit out of Nate. He knew he needed to do it, but he would be lying if he didn't think back to how he could ruin his chances with the pretty girl on the couch if he tried to kill the arrogant prick.

His grandma's warnings flooded in his mind; like a gust of wind whipping him back to reality: "Don't ever fall in love, kid. It's the one instinct you can't trust."

Lexi cleared her throat lightly and looked down at her shoes, kicking herself for not speaking up quicker, just as she had intended. Truth was, she was blindsided when she saw Faye sitting there. Faye was probably cooler and prettier and much more experienced than Lexi—- enough to be better for Fez.

But the bad bitch in her was going to win. "Why you always gotta doubt yourself," she thought back to what Fez had told her the night they met.

"I'm fine...are you... uhm are you okay?" Lexi asked, looking up to see his captivating eyes. Lexi was not very good at reading boys and if they had any interest in her. But the fearless Lexi she knew she could be, needed to explore what little signs of budding love she could trace with Fez.

"I'm straight, I'm straight" He drawled out. Lexi smiled slightly, before frowning again.

"Fez..." She started.

"Lexi," he responded, smiling lightly in a pure and wholesome way. Lexi knew she could get used to this. Those smiles were meant for her, badass Lexi thought.

"I didn't come for a drink...I came to see you, actually but uhm..." Lexi's cheeks began to get a bit red and her shyness came flooding back. Her eyes flickered to Faye without noticing Fez followed her eyesight to the junkie he was keeping in his house as a favor.

Faye was staring blankly and quite frankly, confused at the whole situation. In Faye's foggy and drugged out mind, that man reeked of cop. But she barely knew where she was anyway.

"I see you and Faye might be busy," Lexi continued.

"Well I can always make time for you," Fez nervously sputtered to her. Fez was not dumb. He began to put 2+2 together as Lexi's eyes began to shift from him to Faye. She thought he was with her.

Lexi blushed and smiled again. Her face of determination returned and she looked him in the eyes.

"Thanks. I wanted to also see if I could talk to you about something. Do you have a moment?" Lexi said. Fez nodded as Fez led her to the side of the store, away from Faye's nosy presence.

"Listen, I just want to say, I am so so sorry but I'm pretty sure Cal Jacobs came here tonight because of my idiot sister." Lexi began. Fez's eyes furrowed as he listened intently on what she had to say. That was her favorite thing about Fez, at least one of them. He listened to her, like actually listened to what she had to say.

"He came by my house the other day and he threatened Cassie to go to the police if she didn't say who hurt Nate. Of course I knew he was bluffing but Cassie got scared and said something. I am so sorry Fez, I really tried to say we didn't see anything but Cassie's dumb as fuck and couldn't keep her mouth shut." Lexi finished, already expecting Fez to tell her to fuck off, ending any hope she had.

But he didn't. He smiled slightly and his hand grasped her shoulder, stooping his eyesight to her eye level, as he was a bit taller than her.

"It's not your fault, Lexi. And I ain't scared of them mutherfuckers. If the Jacobs' know any better, they'll keep their mouths shut and leave this whole shit alone. But don't trip, Lex, this ain't on you. In fact, thanks for trying to cover for me..." Fez smiled at her and he swore he saw her eyes twinkle.

"I just don't want you getting hurt and getting yourself involved in this shit, though. Forreal, you're too good for all this bullshit." Fezco knew he wasn't good for her. Fezco knew she had a bright future ahead of her. He knew she was too good for this fucked up town. He knew she was too good for his fucked up life.

But what he knew and what he felt...they were two different things that lived stocked away in him.

"I'm not scared of them either, I just don't want you to get hurt." Lexi said softly.

"Damn Lexi, you fucking fearless." He breathed out. She laughed and realized his hand was on her shoulder and she swore her shoulder was on fire from his firm but gentle touch.

"I'm glad you came to see me," Fez confessed.

"Me too," she said softly.

"I know I asked this already, and I don't want to sound like an insecure idiot but... are you and Faye..." Lexi left the rest out like when she asked a couple of minutes before.

"Nah nah I'm just doing a favor to someone and she's staying in my place, on my couch, I promise." He felt like he needed to be clear about Faye. Even though he found it cute that she was seeking answers about his relationship with Faye.

"Oh...okay." She felt silly for asking a second time. But she couldn't help it. She felt like she had a connection with him. Fearless Lexi wanted to explore this forreal.

"It's getting late, I should be heading out." Fez nodded and smiled at her.

"Listen, we should hang out sometime. I wanna hear more about the pagans and shit. I'm sure you got more interesting shit locked up in that head of yours." He laughed, making her giggle, flattering her once again.

"Okay, yeah, sure. I'll do that." She grabbed her bike, riding into the night, saying goodnight.

Once again, Fez watched the chilly and empty street, but this time it wasn't with any negative thoughts and feelings. It was a hopeful stare, a promising stare of something beautiful, maybe even dangerous—-but without a doubt, the best feeling he's felt in a while.