BAD REPUTATION [SCOTT REED]

TEN

"SHIT, I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO CLOSE YOUR EYES AGAIN!"
——

The last bell rang and teenagers rushed out to the hallways, eager to leave the school as fast as they could. Alona walks alongside of some of her friends with a slow pace, catching up with their chosen topic to gossip about. Alona wasn't one to focus or dwell to gossips that circulates Liberty because she knew the toxicity of the people moving around it.

Although they were at both ends of the halls, their eyes met spontaneously. Alona detached herself from the group and started walking up to him, "I'm here now. Where do you plan on taking me?"

Scott grinned at her discreet interest and nodded his head at the double doors. "Come with me and I'll show you how to have fun."

"This isn't a date, just to remind you." Alona tumbled out hastily and added, "And i'm only coming because this time, it's you who owes me, no longer the other way around."

"Sure, señorita." Scott's poor attempt to imitate their Spanish accent made her laugh and the boy brightened up, feeling accomplished to finally make her smile after she ignored him.

Alona remembered that she should be mad at him and she forced to transition her face back to a deadpan but Scott knew better. Alona may have masked her expressions but she doesn't know that her eyes says otherwise.

Scott drives them both around town, driving past the small shops and the usual places people usually go to. Alona asked but Scott only gave her an unreadable smile, refusing to tell her the details.

Alona — being the paranoid bitch she was — started jumping into conclusions and watched Scott with suspicion, narrowing her eyes.

"Just so you know, if you try to pull any kind of shit on me like what Bryce and Monty does, i won't hesitate to bludgeon my heels on your small dick."

Scott bursted out laughing, tapping his hands on the steering wheel. "I won't. Also, my dick isn't small."

"Fine, then they're not small." Alona shrugged. "They're microscopic."

Scott smirked at her, winking suggestively. "If I pull over the car and pull down my pants for you to see, would it change your mind?"

"Eugh. Estúpido." Alona rolled her eyes and started making gagging noises.

"So is that a yes?" Scott hopefully asked, his eyes darting back and forth from her and road in front of him.

"You didn't hear me say yes, did you?"

"I didn't hear you saying no either." Scott smirked. "I see where we're headed, Lonnie."

"I am so gonna kick your ass when we step out of this vehicle."

"I don't think you have the guts to do that." Scott countered. "I'm a total sweetheart, people love me."

"Eres tan molesto e increíble y un completo idiota!"

Scott stared at her for a long time, his eyes being unable to focus on the road. He licks his lips unconsciously as his eyes flickered to her lips. "Have anyone ever told you before how fucking beautiful you get when you speak Spanish?"

Alona's eyes widened in surprise at Scott's straightforwardness. She had never expected for a guy like him to blurt out something like that with so much softness and sincerity.

She knew it was gonna be a problem for her soon; Scott Reed breaking down the walls she protected herself with and finding his way to her heart.

♔

As Scott pulls the car to a stop, he cried out hurriedly. "Wait! I need you to close your eyes."

"We're not kids anymore, Scotty."

"Shut up and just do it." Scott reproaches and Alona sighed, closing her eyes as requested by the boy.

Scott pulls out his phone and sent a text message to a certain person, giving him a go signal. Scott got out of thr car and went to her side of the vehicle before helping her out. Alona's arms looped around his for guidance as he led them both at a public property of their town.

"You can open your eyes now!"

Alona opened her eyes and her eyebrows shoot up in surprise to see Scott sat at blanket, grinning proudly; beside him was a brown basket stuffed with foods that he packed for her. She looked around and recognized the familiar surroundings of the movie drive-in.

"Come sit down beside me. I had this all planned out for you." Scott gloats smugly and Alona chuckled, sitting in an indian seat beside him.

"What's inside the basket?" Alona asked curiously.

Scott grinned and opened the basket, he blocks her range of sight inside to see the contents and he wags his finger mischievously. "Uh-uh, no peeking. I'm the one making it up to you so sit back and let me do everything for you."

"Shit, I'm gonna need you to close your eyes again." Scott suggests, laughing sheepishly. Alona rolled her eyes but obeyed mutely.

"Okay, you can open your eyes now." Scott signalled and Alona did, having another exhibit of surprise as her eyes took in the food he prepared for her. The platter of Fajitas and Leche Fritas caught her eye and she gasped.

"How did you know these were my favorite?" Alona asked confusedly.

"I.. got someone to help me. He knows you very well to advise me to put Fajitas and Leche Fritas on top of the list and made it pretty clear not to add Croquettes because you dislike the taste of it." Scott answered honestly, a shy smile adorning his lips.

Alona deadpanned. "I'm guessing that's my brother."

"Jackpot." Scott confirmed with a wink and Alona groaned, burying her face in her hands.

"Ugh, that annoying brother of mine never fails to amaze the living shit outta me with his unbelievable tactics." Alona complained.

Scott laughed. "It's kind of useful for me though. He was the one who helped me set this all up."

Meanwhile, Joaquin watches Scott and his sister, Alona, in a distance with an impish smile.

Joaquin doesn't know Scott very well but all he knows is that he really cared for his sister.

And seeing the gleeful smile Alona wore around Scott, one thing he knows for sure is that she was happy.

His sister was happy. And that's all that matters.