The Outlaws

twenty.

Picture: Random Guy as Matthew Asbury

This chapter is longer! :)

ALEXIS

"Hey, guys," I greet with a smile, when Jeremy and I meet Kayleigh and Daniel at the restaurant.

"Hey!" Kayleigh replies enthusiastically.

I guess she's the only one excited about this double date.

The boys simply nod at each other, but Daniel smiles warmly at me. I take the seat next to him, and Jeremy sits opposite me, next to Kayleigh.

"You look great," Daniel compliments, quietly, so only I can hear.

"Thanks," I whisper back. I lick my lips. "Um... How is he, by the way?"

"He's... Okay..." Daniel responds unsurely.

"I'm real-" I begin.

"I think I'll just have the plain old spaghetti bolognese," Jeremy interrupts, smirking, like he knows something the rest of us don't. "How 'bout you, babe?"

I frown.

When did he start calling me 'babe' again?

I glance at Daniel, who has an eyebrow raised at me. I give him a small shrug.

"I, um, haven't decided," I say, looking back at him. After flipping through the rest of the menu half heartedly, I continue. "I think I'll have the beef burger."

His eyebrows retreat to his hairline. "Oh. Okay."

I chuckle lightly. "What's with the surprise?"

"I just thought you'd go for something a little less 'hands on'," he shrugs.

"Why?" I ask, puzzled.

"I didn't know girls eat stuff like burgers in front of guys."

"Excuse me?" I scoff at his slightly sexist remark.

Kayleigh's eyes widen. "Oh, look! The waiter's coming."

Funny how Kayleigh thought the fight would be between the two guys.

***

A hand gently wraps itself around my upper arm.

"Hey," Daniel murmurs, pulling me backwards.

The four of us were just exiting the restaurant, with Jeremy and I ahead of the other couple, when Daniel stopped me.

"I have to talk to you," he tells me in a soft voice.

Kayleigh gives me a small smile and takes her queue to leave, catching up with Jeremy so that Daniel and I can talk privately.

"Yeah? What's up?" I ask, though I already know the answer.

"Look," Daniel begins, stuffing his hands in his pockets and looking at the ground as we continue walking. "Christian is... Being a dick right now. He doesn't know what he's doing, and he doesn't know what to do. He just wants to protect you. I get that he isn't exactly showing you that in the right way, but I, on his behalf, want you to know that he's trying and he wants to make this better for the both of you."

I nod slowly, unsure of whether he's done speaking.

"He does care about you but he's an idiot when it comes to expressing that," he sighs. "I hope you understand and will forgive him. He isn't really okay."

It's really sweet of Daniel to talk to me about this. Despite being Christian's best friend and brother and everything, Daniel isn't blaming me for any of this-none of them are-and I'm thoroughly grateful for that.