M+X

Prologue

A/N: Sorry if this is bad, it was kind of just to put something out there 

Okay listen

So it's about 20 minutes before lunch.

Mari (you) bumps into Xander by the computer lab

Because they have computers on Tuesday

And you are getting something from your locker, right after lunch.

And he taps your shoulder

And he says hi, really awkwardly

And you say hi back, nonchalantly.

Whats up, you say

Nothing much, he says, except there's something that's been bothering me

And he pulls a fancy little piece of paper out of his pocket

Well, not little, it's like the size of your hand

And you raise your eyebrows and begin to laugh and roll your eyes, and you say "that's not gonna fool me" because you think it's a prank to make up for the absence of April Fool's Day.

And a look of pure sorrow and regret just flashes across his face and he just shuts down and takes the letter from your hand and mumbles "never mind" and walks, slumped, back to the lab and during that walk rips in half and half again, and throws it into the recycling bin on the way in

Now, you wonder what was in the letter

So at the recess bell, when he and his class are long gone and you decide to stay in for, you go over to the recycling bin (where he dropped the pieces)

And you dig through (quietly, of course, so Ms. Ombnus) doesn't get mad at you)

And you find the pieces because of the same semi-messy scrawl (kind of like Matthew's writing but a bit messier

And you carry them back to class

(mouthing tell you later to Lise and Rina, two of your closest friends, on the way)

And you begin to tape them together, making sure they're in the correct order

And you turn it over, squint, trying to decipher the messy writing

And it says...

Dear Mari,

You're probably confused as to why I gave you this. You know, I was too, when your friend Lise suddenly knew my name and every other guy's names in my class. But eventually, she introduced me to you, and i have to tell you, i have never been so happy. You are smart, funny, and definitely fun. At first, i was totally down for being friends, and soon, best friends, with you and Leslie and Danny and Tonio and all the others. But soon, I couldn't stop watching you. You were just so amazing, i wanted to know as much as i can about you. We are so much alike, and yet different. I want to know you- the real you. I want to be your best friend, and more. I've already asked Danny and the rest of our fun little group, and they all supported the idea. 

We'll have fun together, laugh together, and maybe, if you'll let us, be together.

Will you go out with me?

~Adam ♡

Now, you're totally freaked out. You're filled with regret and an oh-god-i-was-such-an-idiot feeling.

You decide to catch him outside, pull him to the most private wall, and tell him the truth. You look at the classroom's clock- 17 minutes left of recess.

You run for your sweater in the lockers and then dash down the nearest stairs, putting it over your shoulders on the way.

The sound of your heart throbbing in your ears (you can't remember the last time you ran nearly this fast) almost completely blocks out the nearby conversation in the hall.

But one word, Xander, is enough to get through to you.

You stop, wait and listen.

Nothing.

Confused, you open the door and peek through.

A little group is standing near Mr. Farlet's door that consists of at least Xander. Miles. Phillip L. Adon.

Too late, you realize your mistake. If you can see the enemy, the enemy can see you, Lise's quoted words echo in your head as you dart behind the wall closest to the heater, the one that gives you the most cover; breathing heavily, door slamming loudly behind you.

You sense footsteps and tense up. The door opens, and you hold your breath, wincing at what comes next.

When your vision clears, you see it's merely Bahom and Steven making their way outside.

You begin to sigh in relief, thankful they obviously didn't notice you, and walk out from behind the wall and turn back towards the door, intending to see and hear more.

Your breath catches and your widening eyes and shocked mouth mirror that of Neall on the other side of the glass.

Unlike you, he recovers quickly, and after glancing back to where he came from, opens the door between you.

You have just enough sense to move out of the way, but said sense quickly disappears as he gives you a look so blank, so devoid of emotion, it chills you

In three strides, he marches over to the door leading outside and opens it, letting a glaring Steven and Bahom back inside. For some reason, those glares don't faze you as much as Neal;' look did.

He glances back at you with that same terrifying look and begins to speak.

"Listen. None of us wanted a repeat of last year. But whenever Xander mentioned you, we could hear the joy and enthusiasm in his voice.

When he asked us if he should ask you out, I think a lot of us really considered saying no- Miles and I especially. But we knew that you made him happier than he had ever been, even if you hadn't even been there in the flesh."

Your brain takes an insignificant note that his look has turned almost murderous, wanting to tear off said flesh.

"So all of us guys said "Yeah, go for it." Because though we didn't care for last year's drama, we all care about him- because he deserves to be happy and feel cared about, even if it's for a short time.

So you'd better give a rock solid reason why you could deny him of that."

"Come on", Steven says shortly, and Bahom gives a curt nod. You know your options aren't good: if you ran upstairs, Mr. Virero would likely catch you and give you detention for a week; if you ran outside, there was always a big possibility you would be seen by Elissa and the other girls; if you went into the hall, they would all see you.

So you stay, and you follow them.

Along the way, your mind whirls. You hadn't thought anyone could speak like that on the spot, much less Neall. It was almost if... he had prepared something to say for this very moment.

You snort and shake your head. The thought was too absurd, even for your own mind, and thinking like that was what had gotten you in that position in the first place.

You look up from your gaze at the floor and find yourself face to face with Xander (or rather, face to chin.)

He looks away quickly, and you likewise.

After seeing that nobody's going to talk here (obviously) Richar speaks.

"So, Mari, care to tell us why the hell you said no?"

Bahom elaborates.

"You know, normally we wouldn't care as much, but since we're all good friends with Xander here; plus the fact that since it's basically a rite of passage to talk to the first girl to capture one of our friends' interests, it seems pretty obvious why we would like to have a word with the first girl he really liked and that same first girl that broke his heart--"