The Outlaws

seventeen.

Picture: Francisco Lachowski as my other option for Christian Dacquel

I still think Ash suits Christian better. :)

ALEXIS

"So... How has football season been?" I ask Jeremy, taking the last bite of my garlic bread.

It's our first date after-sort of-getting back together and he took me to an Italian restaurant about a half hour away from my house.

As I look at the boy in front of me, I realise that half of me is clinging on to that bit of hope that everything will work out between us. The other half of me feels like I could be happier without him.

But if my other half is right, I'm not meant to be with Jeremy, and there's someone else that I'm supposed to be with.

Doesn't this mean that I'm, in a way, wasting my time, trying again with Jeremy, when I could be looking for that one guy?

And now, when I think about this, a tiny piece of me has a feeling who that one guy may be.

But a larger piece of me is denying it.

Do I really want to replace the friendship that we have with something much, much more? What if I'm only meant to be with him because I'm meant to get my heart broken in the end?

That's what I'm afraid of.

I've never really fallen in love with anyone-not Jake, and not Jeremy. And I honestly don't think I can fall in love with either of them.

And for that one guy? Well... I'm not sure if I'm ready to feel so strongly for a person in the first place.

That's why I'm avoiding it at all costs.

"Lex...?" Jeremy calls, looking at me expectantly.

I blink repeatedly, focusing on him. I've been staring at him for a minute, wrapped up in my own thoughts, with a spoonful of soup held in front of my mouth.

"I'm so sorry!" I gasp. "I zoned out. What were you saying?"

"That's okay," he chuckles. "You asked me how football season has been and I said it's been great. We lost a few games, but most have been successful."

I nod. "That's awesome. You missed quite a few classes though."

"Yeah... That's one reason why football season sucks. I mean, I can't have studies and football," he explains after taking a sip of water. "Thing is, I have to study but I want to play football, which is why I still play even though I miss classes."

I reply, "I guess you have to make huge sacrifices for the things you love."

CHRISTIAN

"Yes!" Daniel raises his hands in the air, an Xbox controller in one of them. "Told you I'd beat you."

"I was warming up," Isaiah protests.

"Fucking loser," Daniel mutters, smirking to himself.

It's Saturday and we're having guys' night. We do this once a month, on the day that my and Daniel's mum has the day off. We spend the afternoon with her, but at night, she usually takes the kids to see a movie, while Daniel and I meet with the other two at Isaiah's house.

All we do here is eat, make music, play video games or watch movies. We lock ourselves up in Isaiah's basement-which is like our man cave-and most of the time, we spend the night here, and other times, we pull an all-nighter. It is also our chance to laze around in our boxers, which is why we don't invite the girls. I mean, for the other three guys, it could end up pretty well. I, on the other hand, would be pretty fucking bored.