The Styles Triplets

Chapter 5

While I was sleeping, my phone began vibrating aggressively against my nightstand, rattling loud enough to drag me out of a deep sleep. I groaned and buried my face deeper into my pillow.

Who the hell is texting me right now? Seriously?

Half-asleep, I reached blindly for my phone, squinting at the bright screen as it unlocked. My exhaustion disappeared instantly.

[Hey babe, still awake? -Edward]

This little shit.
I snorted softly into my pillow.
Even though I hated being woken up, I couldn't stop the smile spreading across my face. Edward Styles sending a late-night you up? text was not something I had ever expected to experience.

[I am now]

The typing bubbles appeared almost immediately.

E: [Sorry, love. I was wondering if I could pick you up again tomorrow :) ]

I hesitated. My parents' questions from earlier replayed in my head. The looks at school. The whispers. The assumptions people were already making. Edward and I were just friends. Very attractive friends. Dangerously charming friends. But still friends...right?

I stared at the screen for another second before typing back.

[Sure :) I'm going to get back to sleep, Ed. I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight]

A reply came instantly.

[Goodnight, sweetheart ;) ]

My heart did a full somersault in my chest. I dropped the phone onto my pillow and stared at the ceiling. 

Sweetheart? 

Do I like Edward? No. Absolutely not. 

He wasn't my type. He was cocky, flirtatious, and entirely too aware of how attractive he was. ...But he was attractive.

Uh, Alex... did you just admit Edward was hot?

I groaned quietly and turned onto my side. Okay. Maybe I liked him a little. A harmless crush. Nothing serious. Definitely nothing that meant anything. Besides, he was my best friend's brother. Wasn't that universally understood as off-limits?

Marcel wouldn't be too happy with that...would he?

The thought lingered as sleep finally pulled me under again.

---

"Alex, wake up." Dave's voice cut through my dreams.

I groaned and dragged my pillow over my head. "Go away. It's too early."

"You should already be up," he said, amusement clear in his voice. "Edward is waiting downstairs."

I shot upright so fast I nearly gave myself whiplash.
I scrambled out of bed. "Dave, get out! I'm undressing!"

"Well that got you up and going." he laughed and closed the door behind him.

I checked the clock. It was already 7:30!
How could I have over slept?!

Panic mode activated instantly. I skipped doing my hair entirely and focused on makeup, throwing on a quick natural look before rushing to change. Shorts, white v-neck, ponytail — good enough.

I bounded down the stairs while tying my hair.

Edward sat comfortably at the kitchen table with my mom and Dave like he belonged there, smiling politely while they talked. Of course he charmed them already.