Train Tracks // Nick Wilkins x OC

alcohol

A/N GET READY

"Who's a hot jock?" He asked. Alyssa put on a wide grin. Her eyes never smiled as much as her mouth.

"Oh, I– who are you?"

"I'm Jared," he said. Scarlett broke out into a giggle. "Liv, did you actually just call a Jared?"

"No," I whispered. "I called Nick."

The table fell silent.

"Alyssa's... boyfriend?" he asked, confused. I beamed. "Oh!" I said. "Hi, sit, sit, Lyssa never... mentioned you."

"Oh," he muttered and sat in the booth directly next to Alyssa. "Babe, why didn't you– nevermind."

"Sorry Jared," I heard her mumble. "It never really came up in conversation."

I decided not to mention the fact that it did, or that he was honestly being really weird about it. Suddenly he stood up again. "Lys, come on, let's go get some drinks."

"Wha– how old are you two?" Scarlett asked, then hid her face. I didn't doubt that Jared was over 21, but Alyssa looked younger.

"I'm 26, she's 20," he said in a monotone voice before trotting off holding Alyssa's arm.

Millie finally spoke. "Sorry, that was a pretty bad first impression. He's usually pretty chill. He was probably just weirded out because I don't think he knew Alyssa went out without him."

Hands went over my eyes from behind and I heard Scar laugh. "Guess who?" Nick's voice said before laughing awkwardly and scooting in beside me.

"Hi, Nick!" I said and gave him a hug. Millie eyed us with curiosity. "Oh– we're not–"

"Lys, who the heck is this?" Jared placed a large beer in front of him and smiled at Nick, despite his tone.

"I don't know."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not," Alyssa looked almost about to cry. She looked up at Nick again. "Oh, you're Nick Wilkins!"

Nick's face went red as usual and I tried not to look at it too much. Did he think Alyssa was hot? Anyone would think she was pretty. Did he like her? Already? I don't know. "Yeah, you're right– hello!"

"How do you know him?" Jared asked with genuine curiosity in his voice. "Oh, he's from TikTok," she said. I stared at Jared. His hair was parted in the middle, like Nick's, but he looked more obnoxious. "Oh, okay, hi, I'm Jared," he murmured.

Scar glared at him. "I think you need to be a little less protective," she said. I whipped around. Jared wiped off his scowl and spoke in a comforting voice. "Sorry," he said. "She said she thinks it's cute when I am. If you want me to stop, I will."

Scar shrugged. "I'm just looking out for my girl."

"Me too," he sighed. "Sorry, I was acting really lame, wasn't I?"

I laughed. "You're okay. Sorry Scarlett yelled at you."

Nick sat closer to me. "So how long have you been dating?"

"Ever since her parents divorced," he said. "So, 5 years."

Scarlett made a small grimace and then immediately went back to her neutral face. Alyssa spoke in a stronger voice than usual. "They didn't love each other, so Jared decided to love me instead. I don't know what I'd do without him."

Millie spoke for the first time in a while. "It was probably best they broke up. All they caused was one kid who's scared all the time and one kid who's scared all the time but always hides it. I basically parent her sometimes. That's what happens as the older sister." She traded her phone into her purse for a thick book, which I recognized as The Inheritance Games. I had read it multiple times before.