Chapter 2
“So, how long have you had a thing for Alex?” Luke asked as he dropped into the seat next to Reggie on the couch in the studio, a shit eating grin on his face. Reggie just stared at him with wide eyes.
“What?” He squeaked. He only figured it out last week, how did Luke already notice?
“Come on, man,” His grin softened, “It’s okay with me, honestly. I saw the way you looked at him when he performed with Carrie.” Reggie would later argue that he did not blush. “But that’s actually not why I’m here.”
“So why are you here?” Reggie closed his eyes, already sick of Luke’s shenanigans for the day.
“I have a crush on your sister.” Reggie’s eyes shot open.
“I’m sorry, you WHAT?” Luke held his hands out like he was trying to stave off a wild animal, “How are you gonna just drop a bomb like THAT on me?”
“I’m sorry!” Luke yelped, “I didn’t really think about it before, but then we got more serious with music and it just sort of happened.”
Reggie glared at his best friend, “I swear on everything I love-“
“So Alex.”
“-that if you ever hurt her,” Reggie continued, ignoring Luke’s comment, “No one will be able to find your body, Patterson.”
Luke gulped, nodding, “I don’t even know if she likes me, man. I just wanted to let you know so you didn’t think I was hiding it from you.”
“You give me headaches.” Reggie sighed, putting his forehead on his knees.
“Why does Luke give you headaches?” Reggie snapped his head up to see their drummer in the doorway.
“He has a crush on Julie.” Reggie groaned, leaning into Alex as the blonde dropped into the seat next to him.
Alex laughed, “Well, yeah, that’s what I tried to tell you the other night.”
“You told me he had a crush on someone perfect for him. You did not say it was my sister!” Reggie argued.
“Aw, you think she’s perfect for me?” Luke grinned, causing Reggie to shove him off the couch.
“You two are the worst friends ever.” Suddenly his phone went off, Carrie. “Never mind, I have a call from the person that gets that award. Yes, Carrie?” He asked as he answered.
“Reggie! Go out with me.”
“I’m sorry, what?” He blinked, Alex and Luke exchanging amused smiles.
“Can I meet you? I’ll explain everything.”
“Uh, yeah, sure, you wanna come by the studio?”
“Be there in five!” And she was gone.
“Today is about to get a hell of a lot weirder.” Reggie muttered, throwing his head back on the couch. He missed the fond smile Alex had as he watched him.
“You want me to do what?” Reggie almost yelled.
“Look, please.” Carrie begged. “My dad doesn’t know Flynn and I are dating.”
“I didn’t even know you and Flynn were dating.” Reggie pointed out. Luke and Alex were watching them like it was the most interesting tv show they’ve ever seen.
“It’ll only be when he’s in town. Nick used to do it, but my dad is friends with him on Facebook, and follows him on Instagram, so he’s seen pictures of him and Dylan. I’ve actually been banned from talking to him now.” Reggie didn’t like seeing Carrie like this. She was damn near pleading. “If you find someone you want to actually date, that’s totally fine. I just need you to help me. Just for a little while.”
“Uh, fuck.” He muttered, looking at his friends, who shrugged. “Fine. I’ll do it. But you need to work on your attitude, even if it’s fake, I’m not dating a diva.”
Carrie let out an indignant sound, “Alex is twice the diva I am!”
“Am not!” The blonde yelped out. “Why am I even being brought into this?”
“Because you’re his best friend.”
“Hey!” Luke interrupted.
“Shut it, Patterson.” Carrie demanded, “You know damn well it’s true. He loves you both, but he’s known Alex a hell of a lot longer.”
They couldn’t really argue with that. Reggie shook his head, already second guessing his decision. “My point stands.” He sighed, “I’ll fake date you, whatever, but you need to tone down the attitude.”
Carrie bit her lip, clearly weighing it in her head, “Okay, okay. I love Flynn, so if that’s what it takes to keep my dad from sending me far away from her, I’ll do it.”
“Great. So we need to post this on Facebook, right?” Luke announced, pulling out his phone, “Get close you two, and look happy!”
Sometimes Reggie hated his friends. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders but was not in the mood to smile, so instead he turned his head, closed his eyes, and kissed Carrie’s cheek as Luke took the picture. He completely missed Alex’s hurt expression.
As soon as Reggie walked into school the next day, he was flanked by Flynn and Nick. Flynn smirked, “So I hear you’re dating Carrie.”
“Funny, I could say the same to you.” Reggie replied with a smirk of his own. Flynn lost her smirk, taking on a dreamy expression.
“Yeah, yeah I am.”
“Gross.” Him and Nick said together. Flynn shoved them both. Nick laughed, “Sorry I couldn’t help her out this time, Flynn. And sorry you got stuck doing it, Reg.”
“No big deal. Not like anyone wants to date me anyway.” He laughed, but he didn’t miss the knowing look the other two shared. “What?”
“It’s not that no one wants to date you.” Flynn said simply.
Nick continued for her, “It’s that you only have one person in mind and don’t see anything.”
Reggie shrugged them off, heading to his first class, where Alex was waiting for him at their usual seats. “So how’s your new relationship going?” He grinned.
“You really think you’re funny.” Reggie sighed, “What about you? When you and Luke broke up, you said you liked someone. Is that guy from your math class? Willie?”
Alex waved him off, not meeting his eyes, “Willie moved last year, but no it wasn’t him. Don’t worry about it. The guy, uh, he’s seeing someone.”
“Aw, man, I’m sorry.” Reggie felt bad. He didn’t mean to poke a wound. “You’ve always got me.” And Alex had no idea how true that statement was.
Alex gave him a tight smile, “Yeah, I always have you.”