Never Saw This Coming

Friends.

Xander

Rhys and I volunteered to pick up today's breakfast since Valdez wasn't home yet and Cgc came home until 4 in the morning, so he was still knocked out. We ordered some healthy breakfast bowls that our trainer suggests we eat more of. It's a restaurant called "Joe's" sort of like Chipotle, but healthier. I carry the six bowls to the car. Four of us and two more for the girls joining us for breakfast this morning.

Novalee and Maddy.

"What time did she leave last night?" Rhys asks me as we get back into his car. I put the bag of food on the floor and buckle my seatbelt as he starts the car. "Like two, why?" I ask. He shrugs, taking a drink from the water he ordered. "Just asking. I knocked out about ten minutes after you told me she got here," he tells me. He's a heavy sleeper too but Maddy kept quiet while we were having sex because she assumed he was asleep. "Don't act weird around her right now. Remember, she doesn't know you know," I warn him.

I didn't know she was coming over until Valdez texted us to get her something as well because she was coming with them. "I won't," he says, putting a toothpick in between his teeth. The drive back to the house is only five minutes but Rhys drives like a maniac, making it only three. "If I'm acting funny, just shoot me a glare or something," he adds. I glare at him now, "Don't act funny. I'd like my balls to stay on my body," I say. He chuckles, shaking his head.

"You scared of your own girl now?" he says. I rub my chin, not looking at him but ahead. "She's not my girl like that, man. We just having fun," I say. I don't know if I mean this or not, but Rhys doesn't have to know that. "Are you fucking anyone else?" he asks. "Naah, but not because she's my girl but because I just don't feel like it," I admit. He chuckles again, turning into our neighborhood. "You don't feel like it because she's got you fucking whipped that's why."

I shake my head. "It's not like that at all," I half-lie. He pulls into our driveway quickly, Valdez's car already in the driveway. He turns off the car and looks at me. "We'll see right now, playboy," he says, picking up the drinks. I roll my eyes and pick the food up, getting out of the car quickly.

⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶⊷⋆⊶⊷⊶⊷⊶

When Rhys and I walk into the kitchen, everyone's already sitting at the table, waiting for us. I avoid eye contact with Maddy, just like I always do when we're around all of our friends. Rhys and I both place the bag of food and drink in the middle of our dining table — more like the picnic table we eat on. We suck at furniture, getting some of the cheapest options when we moved in.

"What we talking about?" I ask. "Novalee's YouTube channel making me famous," Cgc answers. Nova smiles, grabbing her bowl from the bag. "He says a lot of girls are hitting him up. You know, more than usual," Nova says. It's true though. Ever since Nova started her Youtube channel, we've all been getting a good amount of followers. Nothing too fucking crazy, it's not like we're famous now or anything. Cgc, Rhys, and I have all gotten dm's from girls from different cities and states. It's fucking crazy.

"Thank you, Nova," Rhys makes praying hands before sitting next to me. "Aw, are you guys having phone sex now that you've run out of options at your own school already?" Maddy says, looking at Cgc who sits in front of her. "At least you have," she tells him. He smiles, a mouthful of a variety of fruit. "Don't be upset that we're getting attention and you're not, Madison," I say. She turns her head toward me, burning holes through me with her icy glare. "Shut it," she says. I smirk and pop a pretzel from the bag Nova and I share into my mouth.

"Hey, Maddy is getting followers and male attention too!" Nova says to me. "How do you know?" I ask her. "Because she lets me go through her Insta dm's and delete all the ugly guy's messages," Nova replies. Maddy smiles, looking at me. Why didn't I know this, I wonder. "You're not texting them back are you?" Chris asks, raising a brow at his girlfriend. She shakes her head quickly, "Maddy does. I think." Oh, nice. I don't reply to any of the girls who text me as I'm not interested in any of them.