Only Young Once

Episode One and One Half

1 1/2– Sweet vengeance

lanes 💕🔐: mason's on his way over ahh beyond psycheddd! ♥️

lanes 💕🔐: text me when u get home?

brie 🧀: i will! have fun love u x

lanes 💕🔐: 😘

Brie sat alone in their corner booth, scrolling through Lena's texts when Sebastian joined her, flashing his charming smile. She kisses him sweetly, toying with strands of dark curls on the back of his head.

"Hey." she greets, and he responds,

"Hi, baby. You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" She hummed in affirmation. Tucking the crown of her head underneath his chin, he envelops her with his arms. The warmth of his body close to her mixed with the smell of fresh peppermint and soap was enough to bring her comfort.

"Dunno. You just haven't been hanging out with the girls much today."

Being part of the basketball team meant that Sebastian often took her to "hangout" with his friends. Today, however, only four of them showed up due to that cafeteria stunt Reed and Evan pulled this morning. Terry's was their usual spot after practice, where the boys could play pool until their heart's content and the girls exchanged gossips. Well, Skylar, Maisie Park and Hannah Perkins gossiped, anyway. Gabriella mostly sat in their booth, either with Lena or, when she's alone, scrolling through social media and texting Lena. Like right now.

Despite the whole two months of dating Sebastian, Brie often felt like she didn't belong. Like she'd always be the outsider they simply tolerated. However, when she's with Lena, she was somehow okay with being an outsider. She had that rare effect.

"Just tired, I guess. Besides, Skylar and Hannah aren't even here. It's just Maisie." She lied to Sebastian, but he nods like he understood and accepts it anyway.

Just as she was going to question Sebastian about today's incident at the cafeteria, Reed suddenly announced his presence.

"Wright." He spoke in a deep, familiar tone, shedding his jacket to reveal a black short-sleeved t-shirt that highlighted the stark contrast between his pale skin and the dark, intricate tattoos on his left arm. Brie's eyes unconsciously trace the pattern of blank inks on his arm, and scolds herself when she realized she's looking a little longer than she'd like.

"Your move." Reed holds the cue stick towards Sebastian, who nodded in acknowledgment. He untangles himself from Brie and with a look, seemingly inquiring if she's comfortable being left with Reed on her own. Brie gave him an assuring smile and he made his way to the pool table to join Leo Rhodes.

It may be hard to believe but there was a time when she regarded Reed Stevenson as one of her few good friends. Now, he's just a stranger with a band-aid on his cheek, slipping into their booth, regarding their previous display of affection with great distaste. Brie can see the crease on his forehead as he plops down the seat across from her but he didn't say a word. He pulls out his phone and she shot him an uneasy look, deciding to focus on hers as well. Anything to avoid having to talk to him.

Occasionally, she would peek over her phone screen, half-expecting Reed to be plotting her untimely demise. After all, he is no longer the little kid she played in mud puddles with at age five. The incident at the cafeteria this morning was just one of the many proof that the Reed Stevenson she knew was gone.

Reed summons the waitress for a glass of water, and she quickly brings it over. It's then that Brie notices the angry blue spot on his left cheek, partially covered by the band-aid, and the tender cut on his lower lip. As he takes a sip of water, he catches her eye, and she urgently returns her gaze to her phone.