CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The next few weeks pass by in a blur of work, worry, and wages. Which probably isn't a good thing. The Kanaloa is still going under, though that's hardly new, and Alex continues trying to hook him up with people despite his protests. So he takes a break. He stops contact for a while, heads down to his dad's place, and just gives himself breathing room. Because Jonas is going to choke on the smog if he keeps trying to block out all the thoughts in his head. His father is more than happy to harbor him while he's there, and he's grateful for most of the advice given, but some of it is… less than ideal, to put it into better words.
When Jonas drags himself back into Portland as the sun goes down, he's exhausted socially, but at least a little bit better in attitude. He clambers up the steps and into bed before he can really think about it.
In the morning, he regrets sleeping in the jacket. No room to move. That might have brought on the nightmares, or made them worse. The ones from the chop shop. Jobs gone wrong, or someone fucking up bad enough to elicit punishment— all manner of things. But that was last night. Now, he has to be the Good Christian Boy again. At least, that's what Alex called him. He should text her. He's been radio silent for a while, but that was to everyone. So hopefully she doesn't hate him. Maybe should've thought this through better, too.
Alex
(Hey, Al.(
(Sorry for the disappearing act, headed up to my dad's for the week.(
)Yeah, wtf Jojo)
)I tried to bring this adorable twink to the Kanaloa and Reggie said you'd dipped)
)Also like give him some credit, he was really trying that night)
)Not sure how he's done since tho, I've been ehhhh busy)
)Heh)
.
Alex grins to her phone, stretching out on her bed. Up before noon. And not alone.
"Who you textin', babe?"
"Friend." She shrugs, sets the phone aside, curls in toward her bed-mate, cheek to stomach.
Her name is Frankie and she's the fuckin' best.
At least, to Alex she is. She's Alex's type— too bold by half, all sharp grins and leather jackets, shitkickers and take-charge attitude. Curves for days, hair a mess of dark brown waves with an undercut hidden on one side, a smile like the devil himself. The first night she hit on Alex, they ended up making out in the bathroom while Alex was on a fifteen minute break. (It was supposed to be ten.) In the next few days numbers were exchanged, texting happened (sexting happened) and then they were stumbling back to Alex's place some Wednesday night at 2am, all mouths and hands.
She's kind of great in bed. Giving in a way that feels closer to taking, which is— well, Alex likes it. There isn't a ton to their relationship beyond the sex, to be honest, but that's nothing new for Alex, and over time she's worn Frankie down a bit, worming her way just a tiny bit closer emotionally. Still, dates aren't much of a thing, mostly because of Alex's schedule (she thinks?), though Frankie has shown up at the Island practically every night, and Alex's breaks are often spent clutching at the top of a bathroom stall or biting the heel of her palm to keep from getting caught in the back room. And when they do go out, Frankie is always the one paying, the one guiding, the one proposing activities, and Alex feels straight up pampered.
Alex is smitten. Frankie is just… cool. She's so fucking cool. In a week Alex has already acquired a secondhand tube of black lipstick (and procured the stuff she needs to clean it off because the woman gets her mouth everywhere and Alex doesn't want all her clothes stained), and a few more tops exchanged for some of her own. Her favorite is a ripped up old tank that feels important , because it's all worn in, and when she asks Frankie says it's from her old high school. Which feels… Well, Alex feels kinda special. That something that has been with her- yeah, her girlfriend , Alex will go ahead and call her that— something that's been with her for so long has been passed on to Alex with that degree of trust.
They've been seeing each other basically nonstop for three, nearly four weeks. At first, Alex hadn't mentioned her to Jonas 'cause— well, she's his wingwoman, and he doesn't need to know about her hookups. But now Frankie is a bit more than just a hookup.
"Oooh, a friend." Frankie teases, hand winding into Alex's hair in a way that practically has her purring.
"Mmhm."
"A friend from the club?"
God, Alex can't concentrate with that little tug at her scalp. "Hm? Mm-mm."
"Friend from college?"
It's like a switch for her, the hand in her hair, tilting her head back for easier access as Frankie slides down to begin one of the most enjoyable interrogations Alex has ever endured. She's a puddle of happy noises as Frankie's mouth meets her skin. "Mm-mm."
"High school?" Giggles shake Alex's frame even as Frankie holds her still, a hand pushing her into the mattress as she straddles her.
"Are you jealous?" Alex teases.
That fucking grin. If Alex is the demon to Jonas's angel, she's in good company with Frankie. "So what if I am?"
"Good." Alex hisses for a second at the rough tug at her hair, before her grin is matching Frankie's. "What, don't like a little competition for my attention? ...Scared?"
For a few minutes they both forget about the texts, and the person who sent them, too caught up in the much more entertaining business of Frankie trying to extract an apology from Alex, who is loath to make it when the consequences are so fun.
.
Alex
(Still don't like you calling me Jojo.(
(At all.(
(Even then, why the hell would you send over a twink of all people? Jesus Al.(
He's texting one-handed as he unpacks his things, mostly just tossing them onto the bed to be found at a later time. Jonas is tired, and if they end up on the ground by the end of the day, that is a problem for Future-Jonas to deal with. Right now he's Present-Jonas, and Present-Jonas is still fucking exhausted. It's not surprising that Alex doesn't respond right away, based on the time and how she generally seems to be. What did she say her weekends were again? Monday Tuesday? Different than his, but working at a club, that's fitting. The Kanaloa should be fine for another day if he takes a small break. Just a little one. Fix his schedule, or something.
Alex
(Al.(
(If you're fucking you could at least have the decency to like(
(Tell me.(
(Being left on read is boring.(
.
"Your friend is getting real impatient," Frankie observes flatly.
Alex lets out a melodramatic sigh, sliding out from under her, hands lingering with a kind of apologetic promise, before she reaches for her phone. The message makes her smirk. With a kind of pointed playfulness, she holds her phone before her, turning on dictation as she stares straight at Frankie. "Busy. Period. Fucking. Period." And clicks send. "Better?"
.
Alex
)Busy. Fucking.)
(Oh my God.(
(You jackrabbit.(
.
It's not til Frankie has gone off to do… whatever she does for the day ( sales , whatever that means), that Alex finally flops onto her bed, flushed and grinning. Jonas's text nearly has her cackling.
Hot Jonas
(Hey, I'm trying to get you laid. Not my fault you're a prude ;P(
(And he was cuuuute(
(Reminded me of Ren tbh, might be why I thought of you(
(Next time I'll go for someone suuuper masc okay(
(He's asked about you btw(
(Ren did(
Well, specifically, he'd asked if they'd gotten together (among other things). Which meant Alex had to very carefully edit her recounting of the whole Dance Night Debacle to strategically exclude the whole you caused this with your ability to move on bit. But after sending far too many exclamation points in reaction to 'slept in his bed and wore his clothes with a whole lotta nothing underneath,' Alex had had to let him down with the whole 'now I'm gonna set him up with other people 'cause he's definitely not into me but I really don't want to lose him as a friend' thing.
…It's maybe a little complicated.
.
Alex
(You're trying and failing to corrupt me, really.(
(But it's not like I have much left to be corrupted if anything at all.(
(This is fruitless.(
(Also, Ren? Of all people you think I'd go for REN?(
(When you're RIGHT THERE?(
(No.(
Jonas is tired, and that wording is maybe a little off, but he can't help it. Just calling it like he sees. And right now he sees that Ren is a twiggy blonde who's already in a very committed relationship with a woman who he doesn't think he wants to fuck with. Sure, she's nice, but she could also probably kill him. Learned that from experience.
.
Hot Jonas
(Shhh I'm trying to let him live vicariously thru someone else(
(Basically we'd all bang you Jonas.(
(Literally everyone on earth.(
(Not to be creepy or anything(
He knows how she is. She's straightforward, that's all; tells it like it is. Alex rolls onto her back, kicking a foot over a lifted knee to bop aimlessly up and down. Fidgeting, rereading his text as the bubble pops up that he's replying.
Wait.
Her grin grows, and she starts another message.
She's already taken a screencap and is cropping it to just the relevant line, ignoring the first text from him before tapping back to messages and sending it back.
Hot Jonas
)So what you're telling me.)
)Is that you're letting Ren have some kind of weird long winded love affair with me.)
)But in his head.)
(:screencap of )When you're RIGHT THERE?):(
(Something you need to tell me Jonas? Unfortunately for you, I'm actually taken. ;P(
.
The message gives him pause. Apparently, he'd missed more than a bit of her social life while he was away, because that isn't something Jonas had been aware of beforehand.
Alex
(Since when?(
(Shit I missed a lot.(
)Since recently.)
)Admittedly not as ripped as you but)
)Better tits.)
(Since recently isn't a date, Al, but sure.(
(Guess I need to play a game of catchup.(
(Does she have a name, or do you just call her 'Better Tits'?(
)Since a few weeksish.)
)Well I will now, thanks for the idea. Sure she'll love it.)
)Admittedly, I did not say she was a she. So work on those pecs, angel.)
(Said she was a she now.(
(Also. How dare you.(
)Well drat, you've found me out.)
)Do your… press ups or whatever. Get some titties, Jonas.)
(That is NOT how you work out your chest.(
(Bench pressing or pullovers. The easy one is pullovers.(
(I'm not gonna continue with my original debate but there's that.(
)Bitch, do I *look* like I work out?)
)Do I look like I WORK?)
)I believe the term is pillow princess)
)Idk ask my girlfriend ;P)
(If you told me who your girlfriend WAS, I'd be happy to.(
(But right now I just have the phrase 'Better Tits' and the realization of she/her pronouns.(
(I ain't got shit.(
)I'll bring her by the bar.)
)You can marvel at her tits yourself)
)Tastefully)
(Or, other option:(
(I just don't do that.(
(At all.(
)You won't be able to resist.)
)Shame on you, lecherous boy)
)I'll bring her by tomorrow night, I'm not working and it's unofficial date night)
(Yeah no still not gonna.(
(Also - as in by the Kanaloa?(
(Cause if you do that then I'm legally required to tell you not to make trouble.(
)First off: how dare YOU)
)I have never once brought trouble to your workplace)
)(Apart from maybe that first night))
)(But that didn't go anywhere so I think I'm cleared on that))
)Secondly: with you as a good influence how could I ever misbehave?)
(…(
(You know what I'm not even gonna list all the things I could say as far as misbehavior goes.(
(Because there are A LOT. Like, a LOT a lot.(
(I mean you're basically a cyclone of trouble and misbehavior.(
(Still don't have a name for that girl of yours.(
)Pshhh Better Tits will meet you there.)
)In the meantime, how's things in your neck of the woods?)
)How was the trip to daddy-o's)
(Ugh, God, that's terrifying. Jesus.(
(It was fine. Hadn't seen him in a while, needed the time to catch up.(
(Visited my mom too, technically, but. Y'know. Can't talk.(
.
Alex hesitates, feeling that touch of hurt creeping in between her ribs.
Hot Jonas
(:heart:(
(Proud of you, though.(
She still hasn't mentioned Michael to him. That thought is enough to make her feel guilty and uncomfortable all at once. Her hands drop to her sides as she sighs. God, she wishes she could hug him right now. As much for him as for her, when it all comes down to it. But that's not happening.
.
It's not quite something he expects. Both her response, and the speed to it. Jonas has only told her the bare minimum of information on his mother, how she died, and all his life he's done everything he can to avoid it. But Alex is different. She just seems different, more protected, or open. Things he can't bring himself to be.
The guilt comes back, and his alarm goes off.
Alex
(Shit.(
(Sorry, gotta run.(
(Theo's texting me for a last minute training session.(
(But thanks.(
Notes:
More of that good good texting banter, gotta love it. Also, we meet Frankie! Yay Frankie! No worries, it's still Jonalex endgame, but this is a friends to lovers fic, so...
If you like this style of back-and-forth messages, you might want to go check out Blue Hair, Red Jacket, where there's some note-passing and texting. I've made a ton of note graphics for that on AO3 that could use the appreciation xD As always, thanks for reading! Drop any questions, comments, reactions, or fave moments in the comments ^^ -Turner