meant to be/ vinnie hacker

002

so that night the three of them met up and went to their favorite place in the city: it was nothing special, just a café they discovered for the first time one day after school in sophomore year and since then, they wouldn't have never betrayed that café with any other of the city. it was their place.

"so how's it going with your mom?" scarlett asked as she was taking a sip of her milkshake.

"the usual, she's there but it feels like she's not. she barely says anything when i'm in the house, but then she claims she wanna know everything, she's so messed up.." vivi said sighing.

it had been two years or so since her parents divorced, but it seemed like her mom never moved on. for sure it is a difficult thing to accept and to deal with, especially with two kids, but a parent should always be present in their kids' lives. and vivi's mom was not.

"i get how you feel, vivi, but also try to understand her. she was cheated on by your dad after, what, 21 years of marriage? she's still recovering, give her some time. also she's worried about you and your sister." alexa said trying to comfort her.

"i know it's hard for everyone, but in the meantime my sister is living her life with dad as if nothing happened, while i'm here stuck in this fucking city."

vivi and her sister, faith, who was 3 years older than her, had a beautiful relationship until the divorce happened. vivi stayed with her mom in her hometown, while faith moved in with her dad in a different city that was 2 hours away.

still, vivi used to go visit them in the weekends, whenever she felt like to, or also when she didn't want to feel guilty for spending more time with her mom.

alexa never understood the reason of that guilt, maybe because she wasn't going through it, or maybe because she felt like her best friend was doing nothing but being a perfect daughter, despite everything she had gone through.

alexa and scarlett weren't vivi's blood sisters, but it felt like they were. they would always make sure to check on vivi and also on each other. their type of frienship was the purest one.

"not to freak you guys out, but vivi.." scarlett said looking beyond her friend. "there are some creepy guys who are looking at you."

"oh my god, where? should we call someone? shit, where's my phone? they took it!" alexa wasn't the calm-down-and-breath type of person as you can see.

"lex. chill! your phone is in your left hand and also i know those boys." vivi said standing up and hinting those boys to go there.

alexa calmed down after noticing she had her phone and there was nothing to worry about and she took a better look at those two boys.

they didn't look familiar at all. she knew all the boys of vivi's group since sometimes she hung out with them and they definitely weren't part of her group.

so who were they?

they were two boys of about the same height, 5'11 as alexa would say, but they were pretty different.

the one on the left had short, black hair, no facial hair and his skin was slightly tanned. the other one had curly, light brown, or maybe it was more blond, hair and some freakles on his nose.

"vivi hi! what's up?" the black haired one hugged vivi.

"we were almost sure it was you when we came in, but it's been quite some time, so we waited some time to be 100% sure." the curly headed guy said.

"i know! it's been like a year. what did you guys do all this time? oh you two have to update me about everything! ugh please tell me there are some girls that stole your hearts!!" you could tell vivi was excited to see them both.

but still, neither alexa nor scarlett knew them. and it was a little awkward for the two of them standing there, just smiling and nodding.

"uh, yea, we can meet up some other time, since you're here with your friends." the black haired boy said looking at both scarlett and alexa. "you have our number right?"

"uh yeah i do, but the thing is i don't know if i'm gonna be in town next week.." vivi said, then she turned around towards her friends: "why don't you sit here with us? i promise you my friends don't bite."

both alexa and scarlett looked at each other, wondering if the thing vivi just said could have made their night better or worse, but it was only a matter of time before finding out. the two boys took a seat next to vivi and they introduced each other.

"by the way i'm austin." finally alexa could give the black haired boy a name. "i'm sure you've heard a lot about me."

alexa awkwardly smiled, thinking it was the usual boy full of himself, and introduced herself as well: "i'm alexa, but everyone calls me lex, nice to meet you."

"well, lex..." the curly headed guy said getting alexa's attention. "i'm scott, nice to meet you too."

as soon as scott said those words, alexa felt someone's arm touching hers, but she didn't give it importance because she thought it was only a coincidence, but then she felt it again. she looked over and it was scarlett pointing out her phone.

scarlett                                                                    wooow have u seen it?

alexa                                                                          seen what?

scarlett                                                                    cmon don't be blind                                                scott was def hitting on u

alexa                                                                            just bc he called me lex as anyone else?!?

scarlett  is typing...

"so lex? are you even listening to us?" vivi brought alexa back to the reality. "your cheeks turned red, are you okay?"

alexa didn't even notice, but as soon as vivi said those words, she realized she was blushing. «it's all scarlett's fault»she thought.

"yeah, i'm fine, i just need some fresh air." alexa stood up taking her bag with her. "i'm also gonna smoke one of these." she hinted at the one cigarette she took out of the package.

"uh, if you don't mind, i'll join you." scott said standing up and shaking the tobacco bag in his right hand.

alexa stopped halfway as she heard scott's voice and after waiting for him, the two of them walked out of the café, only after scott opened the door for her, letting alexa walk out before him, as a true gentleman.

alexa well noticed it and she thought about what her friend scarlett told her earlier. scott and alexa met barely 10 minutes ago, but there was something as if they had known each others for years.

if some minutes earlier alexa thought scarlett definitely was crazy to think that scott was hitting on alexa, even slightly, now she wasn't that sure and wanted to give it a chance and see how it could have gone.

after all, she had nothing to lose.