A/N: I'm off work today, so I'm publishing this chapter earlier than normal just for you guys! I hope you like it! Also, right off the bat there is some Willex development, which I LOVE and am excited for you guys to read! Lemme know whatcha think! xo Bex
"Guys! I'm pretty sure Willie just asked me out!" Alex barged into the girls' house and rushed into the living room where Julie and Carrie were working on homework on Wednesday evening.
"Dude, that's awesome!" Julie replied.
"Oooh! Give us all the details!" Carrie added, immediately closing her laptop and patting the seat next to her on the couch.
Alex sat down on the couch and kicked off his shoes. "Well, he and I have been texting a bit."
"Wait wait, Flynn's gonna want to hear this too, but I think she's in the shower. Lemme check real quick!" Julie interrupted.
Alex laughed a little as Julie ran down the hall and knocked on the bathroom door. "Flynn, you done?"
"Almost!" her best friend replied. "I'm just working on my eyebrows!"
"Can it wait? Alex is here and has news!"
The door flung open, Flynn in leggings and a t-shirt. "Definitely!" And she raced to the living room. "Alex! What happened?"
"Willie asked me out. I think."
"Ahhhh! Tell us everything!" Flynn squealed as she dropped onto the floor opposite the coffee table from him.
"Well, like I was telling Jules and Carrie, Willie and I have been texting some."
"Like, flirty texting or just casual texting?" Carrie interrupted.
"I don't know? A little of both, I guess?" Alex asked, handing his unlocked phone to her.
"Mmm, definitely some flirty texting, but not entirely" she confirmed before passing it to Julie.
"I want no part of this privacy invasion!" Julie said, trying to return it to its owner, but Flynn intercepted it.
"Oh my gosh, you guys are adorable!" she said, scrolling through Alex's texts.
"Well, we've been texting, and studying together this week, and so today, we met up to get some writing done. Willie said he focuses better when there's someone else there studying too."
"Dang if that's not smooth," Flynn commented.
"Right? Like, maybe a little too smooth?" Alex asked.
"No, not too smooth. It's casual. Gives you guys the chance to hang pressure-free, right? Julie?"
"Yeah, I'm with Carrie. Appropriately casual. But go on! What happened today?"
"Well we were chatting a little as we studied, and I mentioned how I love the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga. I told him about how my parents and I used to go over Christmas break every December when I was a kid, and how when I was little I wanted to be a marine biologist. Well, then Willie told me his older brother's old college roommate works there now and gets free tickets all the time. He asked if I'd wanna go for a day trip over Fall Break next week and I said 'yeah, sounds great' and he was like 'cool, it's a date.'"
"Oh my gosh, Alex, that's great!" Flynn exclaimed.
"But like, did he really mean 'it's a date' like 'it's a date?' Or was it more like 'cool, it's a mutual event that we shall both be attending at the same time in a totally platonic way?'"
"Alex, it sounds like a date, but if you want clarification, you could always ask him! He once told me that gay guys like guys who are straightforward."
"I don't know! Cause what if he says no, it's just friends hanging out platonically? Then I'll feel like an idiot for getting my hopes up!"
"But at least you'll know instead of being in this weird, anxious limbo for a week!"
Alex sighed nervously and grabbed his phone. "I guess you're right… is it weird if I text him?"
"Don't do that!" Carrie warned, grabbing his phone out of his hands. "It looks desperate and a little immature."
"I don't know, it could just come off as chill, unconcerned ya know? If he says it right." Flynn responded.
"Guys, I think it's probably best if Alex just talks to him in person!" Julie interjected before her roommates could start debating it. "Alex, it'll be okay. Look, we're studying together the three of us tomorrow, right? I'll get up and run to the bathroom and you can ask then. And then if it's weird, I'll be there to break the tension and provide emotional support. And if it's not weird, great! You'll have your answer!"
He took another deep breath. "Okay. But I think maybe not-me should hang onto my phone until then? Because I'm really tempted to text him."
Julie laughed. "You got it. Carrie has a system for that."
"Yeah, but you should probably stay with us until then, so one of us can watch your phone. You know, just in case someone important calls or texts you and you need to know about it," Carrie said matter-of-factly.
"Fine, but I need to head home to pick up a few things." He stood up and walked back toward the exit, but stopped as he reached the door. "You guys are kind of intense," he observed.
"I know for a fact that Julie warned you of that," Flynn responded. "And we know you love us anyway!"
"I never said I didn't!" Alex laughed as he walked out the door to his car.
"So who's gonna be responsible for his phone? My gut says Julie since she has class with him and is studying with him tomorrow night," Flynn said calmly.
Julie shrugged. "I can if you guys don't want to. But you know I'm the most likely to give him his phone back without thinking about it."
"True…" Flynn acknowledged. "Carrie?"
"I can do it, sure. Until tomorrow afternoon? I'll meet Julie on campus after class, right before she and Alex go to study with Willie, and she can give it back to him then, once he's talked to Willie."
"Sounds like a plan. I'll meet you outside of the library? Around 3?"
"Perfect."
Having made their arrangements, Carrie and Julie got back to their homework and Flynn returned to the bathroom to finish her eyebrows. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. "Come on in!" Julie shouted, and the door opened. "You didn't have to knock, Alex, we knew you were coming back," she said, not looking up from her laptop.
"Wait, so Alex isn't here?"
Julie was startled to hear Luke's voice. She looked up from her paper about Ophelia's autonomy in Hamlet and saw Luke, standing there, looking excited.
"No, he went home to get a few things. Why did you think he'd be here? And why are you looking for him?"
Luke looked a little sheepish at Carrie's questions. "We all share our locations always, just to be safe. His phone is here, and I needed a little help with something… personal. And time-sensitive."
Carrie rolled her eyes. "You boys are some other kind of committed to each other."
"We're family," Luke said defensively. "We're the best family we've got, anyway. Especially for Reggie, but Alex and me too."
"So what was so urgent you couldn't just text Alex?"
Luke's face flushed, and Flynn laughed. "Oh boy. This is gonna be good."
"I forgot Reggie's birthday today, which also happens to be my parents' anniversary," Luke mumbled, but Julie heard him anyway.
"Oh my gosh, is it Reggie's birthday?" she squealed. "Why did no one tell us?"
"Well we need to organize a celebration!" Carrie said, closing her computer and standing up. "Julie, run down the street to Sweet Loaf and see if they have a chocolate cake. Then run to Dominoes. I'm ordering some pizzas for pick up." Julie nodded and started packing up her stuff, which was strewn much more widely across the coffee table and couch than she had realized.
Flynn emerged from the bathroom and came towards them. "What's with all the noise? He didn't text Willie after all, did he?"
"No, apparently the boys forgot Reggie's birthday. Can you do something to make this place look a little more festive? Streamers or balloons or something?"
"Girl, you know I'm a master decorator! How long have I got?"
Carrie looked at Luke with a raised eyebrow. "Uh, he gets off work in about an hour?"
"Perfect. It'll take me half that to get some balloons from Party City and decorate this place to the nines," Flynn said confidently.
"Great. Luke, I need you to go home and wait for Reggie, then make up an excuse to get him here. But first, is there anyone else who he'd want to celebrate with?"
"Alex needs to be here. And maybe that girl Kayla? From Dirty Candy? He was totally vibing with her after the showcase. Really, you could just invite them all. He thinks you guys are great." Julie saw Flynn flinch a little. She had definitely not noticed anything there, and was suddenly very surprised that she hadn't. They would have to discuss it later.
Carrie nodded and grabbed her phone. "Great. No coworkers he'd want to invite? Other friends?"
"Nah, most of our friends left town after high school, and his coworkers are pretty annoying, apparently."
Carrie snorted. "Fine, well in that case, head home and wait for Reggie. And like I said, make up an excuse. Do NOT tell him why we need him here."
"Understood." Luke gave the girls a mock salute and rushed out.
"Okay, I'm waiting for Alex to get back, and when he does I'm going to have him clean up a little. Then I'm running out to get gifts. I was thinking a nicer strap for his bass, because the one he has is looking a little rough. Maybe one with studs, that feels pretty rockstar. Then maybe a gift card to his favorite store? Where does he shop, do y'all know?"
"He gets a lot of his stuff from that vintage shop on Carter street," Flynn responded without missing a beat. When Julie gave her a look, she blushed a little and shrugged. "We've been shopping there together a couple times."
"Great, that's not far. Any other ideas for gifts?"
"He loves jazz and country. Oooh. What about a pair of cowboy boots? To help him look the part whenever he's ready to give up the rockstar look for the country star vibe?" Julie suggested.
"Great, I love it, I'll text Luke to get his shoe size. And I'll throw in a stetson, too, just to complete the look."
"Hey, I don't have to go right away, so you go ahead and leave, I'll wait for Alex and give him his marching orders before going to grab the pizza. And I'll call Sweet Loaf ahead to make sure they have a chocolate cake already frosted with a corny birthday message."
"Excellent. Then I'm heading out. See you girls in a bit!" Carrie said, grabbing her purse and walking briskly out the front door.
Reggie was totally surprised when Luke pushed him through the door of the girls' house and there were all his favorite people yelling "Surprise!" He was bowled over.
"Oh my gosh, guys! I thought you had forgotten my birthday!" Reggie exclaimed, pulling Luke and Alex into a hug.
"Reggie, no way! Besides, turning 20 is a huge deal!" Alex said, while Carrie and Julie exchanged eye rolls.
"Dude, come have pizza and cake!" Julie said, pulling him out of his roommates' embrace.
"Chocolate cake?" Reggie asked excitedly.
"Is there any other kind?" Julie joked. "It even has red sprinkles, just for you."
Reggie beamed at her. "Thanks! Also, this place looks great! And the music is awesome!"
"That's all Flynn! She's an excellent decorator, and she clearly knows your musical interests well!" Julie said proudly.
"I do what I can for my people," Flynn said nonchalantly.
"Thanks Flynn!" Reggie pulled her into a hug next, and Julie inwardly cringed a little. If what Luke had said earlier was true, Flynn was in for a little bit of heartbreak.
"Seriously, don't worry about it!" Flynn pulled out of Reggie's hug. "Come get pizza! I'm hungry, and I bet you are too!" She dragged him to the table and handed him a plate.
He filled up his plate with pizza and followed Flynn to the living room where several other people were mingling. The pair dropped onto the couch side by side. "So tell me honestly, Luke and Alex forgot it was my birthday until like, 20 minutes ago, right?"
Flynn snorted. "They're a little better than that. It was like, a little over an hour ago when Luke barged into the house panicking."
Reggie laughed. "Well, I'm impressed you guys got so much done. It's like a real party."
Flynn gave him a bit of side-eye. "It is a real party. For you."
Reggie blushed. "Yeah, I know. Just, sort of a foreign concept."
Flynn set her pizza back down on her plate. "You have had a birthday party before, right?"
Reggie shrugged. "I mean, I've always celebrated my birthday. The guys always get me dinner and maybe a cupcake or a card. When we were kids, Mrs. Patterson always used to send Luke to school with a card and a box of brownies for my birthday. I'd tell her she didn't have to, and she'd say, 'Nonsense. Everyone deserves to celebrate the big days!'"
Flynn nodded, trying to keep her cool. "Well, she's right. And as long as you've got me, Carrie, and Jules in your life, you can count on being celebrated!"
Reggie smiled at her, and she picked her pizza back up, even as she was internally crying for her friend. She understood not having big celebrations every year, but never having had a birthday party before at all made her want to cry. Reggie was one of the biggest-hearted people she knew. If anyone deserved to be celebrated, it was him.
Just then, Kayla walked into the room and sat on Reggie's other side. "Hey Reg! Happy birthday!" He immediately turned and started talking to her, and Flynn felt a sinking in her stomach. She'd kind of liked Reggie for a while, and it totally sucked watching him flirt with some other girl. She got up and headed back into the kitchen. Julie saw her and waved her over to the corner where she was chatting with Jasmine, one of the other members of Dirty Candy.
"Hey, sorry Jazz, I need to talk to Flynn about something," Julie said with a smile before walking towards her bestie and pulling her into a hug. "Sorry I've been so wrapped up in my own stuff I didn't notice," she whispered, and Flynn squeezed her tighter.
"I was hiding. Not your fault," Flynn whispered back The girls pulled apart as Luke pranced over.
"I was thinking about that scout who-are you guys okay?"
Julie smiled, "Yeah, 'course. What were you saying?"
Luke didn't look convinced. "Oh, uh, nevermind. Look, thanks for doing all of this. Reggie's awesome and he deserves to be celebrated, but Alex and I suck at this kind of thing."
Flynn scoffed. "We noticed. But hey, you guys are family now, too, so we're always here for this sort of thing!"
"Speaking of!" Julie ran over to where her purse was sitting on the counter. She grabbed it and rushed back. "I went to the drug store to pick up birthday cards from all of us for Reg. While he's in the other room, sign! And add a little note, something that tells him he's loved!" She handed him a card with a cartoon horse on the front and Luke laughed.
"He'll love it!"
Julie handed Flynn one that had a picture of a cake on it. "Thanks, Julie!"
Julie smiled. "Of course! And uh, Luke? I grabbed this for you too…" She held out a card with a wedding cake on it. Luke looked confused. "You said it's your parents' anniversary today. I thought you might want to write them a note. After all, 32 years is kind of a big deal." Luke didn't take the card, and Julie started shoving it back into her bag. "Sorry, you don't have to, I just thought it might be nice and I was getting one for them from me anyway, but don't worry about it nevermind forget I said anything…" she rambled.
Luke grabbed the card before it was all the way in her bag. "Thanks, Jules. That was really cool of you."
Flynn clocked the intense gaze the pair shared, and let it go on for just a moment before clearing her throat. Luke scratched his neck and Julie blushed and Flynn couldn't help but internally groan. These two just needed to spit it out! "So did Alex tell you about Willie?" she asked.
"Yes! I'm so excited for him! But of course he's totally panicking."
"Yeah we know. Why do you think his phone was here when you came looking for him earlier today?" Flynn asked with a smirk. When the blank expression on Luke's face didn't change, Flynn sighed. "We're keeping his phone so he doesn't panic-text Willie and ask if it's a date-date or just a friend-date."
"Oh!" Realization dawned on Luke's face, and even Flynn had to admit it was adorable. She could see why Julie liked him so much. "That makes sense! That's a great idea! I wish we'd thought to do that in high school with Reggie! He might've had a shot with some of the girls he liked if he'd just stopped panic-texting them weird pickup lines." He laughed, and the girls laughed with him.
"I'm not totally convinced that any of you should have cell phones," Julie joked. "I know how you text."
