letters to the boy who never cared

t h r e e {edited}

"Little Lexi." The singsong whisper came again, for the billionth time during my English class. It took a lot of expended effort to ignore Reed, but it got a little harder once he started throwing tiny balls of paper at the back of my head.

"Yo. Big Al!" he chuckled, and then there was another tiny ball of paper. I finally turned around and glared at him. He simply grinned in response, wide as ever.

me: dude. srsly

the hot one from laser tag: what r u doing tonight

me: u rly threw those papers at me to ask me that?

the hot one from laser tag: no. i was asking for the answer to number 12. i wouldve asked u this eventually tho

I turned around just to roll my eyes at him. He shrugged.

me: I am NOT helping u cheat. im sleeping tomorrow night.

the hot one from laser tag: can I come?

me: REED MARLOWE. STOP IT

He sent me a winky face, and when I turned around, there it was. The signature wink, punctuated with a blown kiss.

the hot one from laser tag: but srsly I want to take you out, lex

My breath caught as I read and reread the message. He really wanted to take me out on a date? I struggled for my text to sound blasé, like I wasn't having a million mini heart-attacks.

me: ok. what time?

the hot one from laser tag: around seven.

me: ok

How I managed to not melt before the end of English class, I dont know. I was shot through with excitement, fear and nerves. I was actually going on a date with Reed Marlowe.

---------------

"A DATE?!? ALEXA, WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME EARLIER?"

I cringed at Grace's strident voice as it pierced my ears through the phone. "Jesus, Grace, he just asked me in English. I was still in shock until now." I leaned on the tiled wall in our school's bathroom and kneaded my temple. "God, Grace, what do I do? I don't do... dates. I have no clue what to wear, how to act... you guys have to help me."

"Well," Jen said through the phone. "I can come over tonight."

Summer's voice was distant in the background. "I'm free."

"Okay, so we'll come over and walk you through. Is your mom going to be home? I'm thinking of an outfit, but you can't let her see you leave the house in it." I rolled my eyes at Grace's constant need to send me out of the house in crazy outfits.

"Scratch it, then. I texted her right before I texted you."

"Oh. Well, where are you going?"

"The movies. But, Grace, c'mon, don't overdress me. I'm not the hot one. That's you."

"Oh, whatever. I know the hot one is just the slutty one to you. You've got to embrace that part of yourself sometime."

"Well, not this time," I insisted firmly. "Look, Grace, let's let Summer pick the outfit. You can do my hair if you want, and Jen can mess around with my makeup."

"Awww," I heard Jen coo. "It's our little Alexa's first date! We're so proud."

"Jen."

"What? Hey, we gotta go, but we're coming over. Don't try to lock us out or anything. Grace'll just climb through the window."

"Wonderful." I rolled my eyes. Leaning onto the sink, my fingers gripped the cold porcelain as I let out a rush of breath.

What had I gotten myself into?

~

"Alexa, hold your eye open! I don't want to pinch you."

I desperately wanted Jen to get away from my eye with the eyelash curler, but I'd made it this far. Summer had coaxed me out of my sweater and jeans and traded for a swingy tiered dress, and Grace had managed to get beachy waves to stay in my hair.

I looked in the mirror and tried to act like I didn't like it. "I look like such a... girl."

"A welcome change, " Grace muttered under her breath.

"Hey!"

"Alexa! Reed's here!" my mom called from.

"Oh, God." My eyes darted between my friends in panic. "I think I'm going to throw up."

"Not on my watch," Summer growled, pushing me out of my room. She dragged me to the top of the stairs, then escaped back to my room. "Good luck!" she singsonged, and slammed the door in my face. No turning back now.

"Alexa!" my mom called again. I took a deep breath and headed down the stairs.

A/N that's Grace up there, but you probably already knew what she looked like, at least.

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