At the mention of the Parker family, Max saw Alex frown. Hearing about siblings talk about their mother shouldn’t be surprising—unless the person who heard knew something.
Unsure if the twins would appreciate an eavesdropper, Max did the one thing he thought that would drive Alex away.
He wrapped an arm around his shoulder, “Isn’t brotherly love so nice?”
“Jealous, Max?” Alex replied, shrugging off his arm and walking up to the building. Max smirked to himself for the success of his mission. Then, he followed behind him. He observed the little guy from behind.
With Alex’ small stature, he passed through the crowd with ease by sneaking into the small spaces. On the other hand, people avoided Max because of his tall height and his toned muscles. This gave him a clear path as he walked.
Alex didn’t look over at his direction once. When he had reached his locker, Max watched as he pulled the handle several times—even lifting it up so the latch on the door would slip off.
“We need to get some meat in your skinny limbs” Max leaned against a locker, his arms crossed, “How on earth will you attract the ladies?”
Alex didn’t offer him a glance and simply arranged his things, “Well, I’m not interested in attracting the ladies.”
“So it’s true that you’re gay?”
His dramatic gasp must have caught Alex’ attention. He tilted his head back and looked towards Max, a warning look in his eyes, “I am not gay.”
Max remembered the time he saw Alex glared at Logan. The close proximity made that feeling about ten times worse.
He raised his hands in defense and replied, “Hey, buddy if you’re gay. It’s totally okay.”
Alex shut his locker, it clattered with a loud sound, and walked away. That alone was enough to remind Max about his baseball skills. If he didn’t know before how Alex would beat him up, he did now.
“Okay, okay. Sheesh” Max caught up to him easily and pestered him with a teasing smile, “Does that mean you have someone special?”
“And why would I tell you about it?”
“Ha! So there is one! Has she returned your feelings?”
“Why would that matter to you?”
“Listen, Alex. If you need some help in the love department, I can totally help you out. Even double date with you if you need some back up!”
“I decline.”
Max cursed in his mind. Logan definitely didn’t joke about Alex being closed off. He’d thought Alex would at least give him a hint about how he felt about her. From his bedroom window last night, he saw Lauren return Alex’ gray hoodie. That looked like pretty solid evidence of something.
They entered the room for their first class together. As Max expected, Alex chose the front row. He preferred the middle but he couldn’t let Lauren down. He needed to at least give them a little push.
Max pouted as he sat next to Alex, “Come on, you didn’t even give it a thought.”
Alex rolled his eyes, still refusing to glance at him , “That’s because I would still arrive at the same conclusion, Max.”
“Oh, I just love the way my name rolls on your tongue.”
Alex gaped at him, “Do you flirt with any human being?”
Max tsked at him like he was ignorant. When he spoke again, he sounded like a teacher lecturing about a phenomenon, “Alex, there is a certain way I operate. When I flirt with girls, it’s because they’re hot. Now, if I flirt with girls that are my friends, it’s for the fun of it. But, above all, when I flirt with guys, it’s a sign of my affection. Don’t ever take it lightly.”
Alex’ reply was quick to be sarcastic, “You surely have a way with words”
“What can I say?” Max laced his hands together and cradle the back of his head, “I’m God’s gift to the female population.”
“You are what now?” A newcomer interrupted.
Max looked over his shoulder and saw Lauren walked into the room. He admired how she didn’t need a lot of makeup. Her natural beauty emanated enough radiance to light up a room.
Just like the sun.
Lauren sat behind Alex and gave him a smile, “Good morning, Alex.”
“Good morning, Lauren” Alex grinned back at her.
Max would have to be blind to not see the chemistry between them. He hadn’t seen them interact until yesterday and they already seemed really close. Maybe he could ask Alex what Lauren would like for a gift.
Or he could…
A new light shined in his violet eyes and he said, “Hey, Lauren. Did I already tell you look hot today?”
Lauren made a disgusted sound, “Do you ever stop?”
“I’m an unstoppable force of nature, baby.”
“That is really gross. Don’t ever do that again.”
“Boo…! Don’t be such a downer” he told her, “But, hey! Listen, you just gave me a good idea.”
“Whatever it is, I don’t like the sound of it.”
He rolled his eyes and turned to Alex instead, “Hey, Alex remember when I said I would make you the most sought out bachelor of our school?”
“Uh, no?”
“I did! When I told you I’d help you out with your girl!”
At this, Lauren’s ears perked up.
“Alex has a girl?” She exclaimed.
Wasn’t it you? Max replied in his mind. Man, it seemed like he had to work hard to make this happen. Good guys were hard to come by so he’d rather set up Lauren with Alex now than wait later.
He noticed Alex gave Lauren a glare at her sudden interest. To his disappointment, Lauren only fluttered her eyelashes at him. Then, Alex turned back to Max, “That is not what you said and what I do remember is me distinctly rejecting your help.”
“Alex, Alex, Alex” Max tsked, “You don’t see the big picture here. When you become the school’s most sought out bachelor, there would be no doubt that this girl would return her affections.”
“And I already told you that I am not interested.”
“Both of you wound me” he sighed, the playfulness suddenly gone from his features, “I really do have a serious question to ask you, Lauren.”
Lauren cocked an eyebrow, “What is it?”
“Will you double date with Alex and me?”
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“What?” Lauren and Alex hissed.
Max rolled his eyes again, this time at their reaction, “I meant would you be Alex’ date for the double date?”
