Alex and Luke; A 'Julie and the Phantoms' AU

Part 4: The Fake Date

1995, late afternoon on a Friday

Nearly two weeks since the "fake date" idea was brought up, today was finally the day. It took Luke and Alex a bit of time to set up, going behind Reggie and Bobby's backs and all. The two decided they should keep this rendezvous of theirs a secret, at least for the time being, to avoid any unnecessary drama or awkward conversation. So, after school, they both immediately hopped on the city bus and headed to the beach.

There they were standing in a line at a food truck to get street tacos. Alex has his hands in his pockets and is constantly looking around, analyzing their surroundings as though they are wanted criminals on the run.

"What do you want?" Luke says, pulling Alex from his own mind. "Hmm?" Alex questions. Luke repeats himself, "I'm ordering, what do you want?"

Alex has been so distracted by his own thoughts, what he wanted to eat hadn't occurred to him. "Oh, uh... I'll just get whatever you get." He finally says. Luke nods and looks at the vendor in the truck, ordering two of the same thing. He pulls out his wallet, paying the man. Alex starts to pull out his wallet.

"How much was it?" he asks Luke. Luke shakes his head no, "Don't worry about it, I got it." Not understanding, Alex says, "What do you mean you 'got it'? You don't have to do that, I can buy my own food." Alex pulls out his wallet and starts to open it when Luke puts a hand on top of his own two, stopping him.

"Alex," Luke says, looking him in the eyes, "I asked you out, okay? So I pay. That's how it works." He takes his hand back, turning around to take their food from the man in the truck. Alex puts his wallet back in his pocket. "Well, yea, but, this isn't a real date." Alex says, making sure to emphasize the word 'real'. "Fine." Luke responds, turning back around with their food in his hands. "Then i'll make you a deal. If by the end of our date, you haven't had any fun..." he hands Alex his food, "you owe me 3 bucks." He flashes Alex a big smile. Alex smiles back and takes his food with a mumbled, "Whatever."

They walk over to a small table and sit down to eat their food. Alex takes a bite of his taco and is immediately met with a familiar yet unwelcome taste. He looks at Luke who is nonchalantly eating his food, obviously trying to stifle a laugh while watching Alex's disgusted facial expression grow. "Dude!" Alex shouts, setting the taco down, "Tomatoes? Really? I hate tomatoes." Alex starts to pick the tomato chunks out of the food. Luke is now outwardly chuckling at Alex's reaction. "I know." A smug grin forms across Luke's face, "That's what you get for not paying attention to me earlier." he says with a wink.

Alex stares as Luke with the same disgusted face as before. "Oh, ha-ha, you're so funny." he says in an annoyed tone. Luke stops laughing and says, "You're fine. Just pick them out ya big baby."

"I am not a baby." Alex retorts. After picking out all the tomatoes, they two go back to eating their food in silence.

When they finish their food, the two get up and throw their trash away, then begin to walk down onto the sand. Alex goes to sit in the sand, but Luke stops him.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Luke pulls a beach towel out from his backpack and lays it down on the sand. He sits down on it then looks up at Alex, waiting for him to sit next to him. Alex lets out a small laugh, then sits down on the towel. "You really thought about this haven't you?" Alex says with a raise of his eyebrows. "Hey," Luke says, defending his actions, "if i'm gonna give you dating experience, I'm gonna make sure we set your standards high."

Alex smiles, shakes his head and looks away as he leans back on his elbows. There is a small beat of silence before Alex speaks up.

"Alright, so, what do we even talk about on this 'date'? I mean, I know the usual getting-to-know-you questions you're supposed to ask someone when you go out with them for the first time, but..." Alex pauses. He looks at Luke with an endearing smile and jokingly says, "I already know I'm sick of you."