Chapter Six: Lines and Loyalties
683 Words
It was Monday morning, and the hallway at Cresthill High buzzed louder than usual. A football victory over a rival school had the guys walking tall, and girls gossiping about the after-party that followed.
But Alex?
She was still floating from Saturday night.
Every time she remembered the way Aaron had looked at her… touched her… held her — it sent a ripple down her spine that she couldn’t shake. The kind of ripple that whispered, You’ve crossed a line, and there’s no going back now.
And she didn’t want to.
But someone else was definitely not on the same page.
Aaron found Seth sitting on the hood of his car after practice. The sun was setting, casting long gold shadows across the parking lot. He’d known this conversation was coming — it had to — but it didn’t make it any easier.
Seth didn’t look up when Aaron approached.
“Told you to back off.”
Aaron leaned on the opposite side of the car. “I know.”
“And you didn’t.”
“No.”
Seth finally looked at him, eyes hard. “You sleeping with her?”
Aaron clenched his jaw. “Not that it’s any of your business, but… no. And when — if — that ever happens, it’ll be because she wants it. Not because I’m trying to get laid.”
Seth was quiet for a moment, then said, “She’s different now.”
“I know.”
“I mean it, man. She’s got guys throwing themselves at her left and right, and she has no clue how magnetic she’s become.”
Aaron’s eyes softened. “She’s always been that magnetic. The rest of you just didn’t see it.”
That earned him a sideways glance.
Seth rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s serious about you.”
Aaron nodded slowly. “So am I.”
“You gonna screw her over?”
Aaron didn’t hesitate. “Never.”
Seth exhaled. Long and heavy. “Then I’ll stay out of it. For her. But you ever hurt her…”
“I know.”
They stood in silence for a while, two best friends on the edge of something bigger than them.
And then Seth cracked a smile. “Still can’t believe it’s you. You, of all people.”
Aaron smirked. “What can I say? I’ve got great taste.”
That night, Alex was in her room, hair up in a messy bun, glasses slipping down her nose as she logged into Warfront Heroes.
Potatokiller was waiting.
AuburnArrow: Guess what?
Potatokiller: You’re thinking about Saturday night again. 👀
AuburnArrow: Maybe.
Potatokiller: …Same.
She bit her lip, grinning.
Potatokiller: I talked to Seth.
AuburnArrow: WHAT?
Potatokiller: He didn’t punch me.
AuburnArrow: Miracles are real.
Potatokiller: Told him I was serious about you. That I’m in this. For real.
She blinked at the screen, a sudden heat rushing to her cheeks and chest.
AuburnArrow: You are?
Potatokiller: Alex. I see you. All of you. And I’m not walking away.
Her heart fluttered.
And then the screen lit up with an invite:
Potatokiller has invited you to a private co-op mission.
The next day, word got around that the crew was planning a lake house weekend — one of those tradition things before the playoffs. Seth was going, Tatum was going, Sophie insisted she was going, and Alex… well, she didn’t want to miss it.
Sophie cornered her in the locker room between classes.
“You have to come. And you have to bring that one black bikini.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “The one you made me try on while saying ‘this screams main character energy?'”
Sophie grinned. “Exactly. Because if you think things were hot on that porch last weekend... wait till you’re alone with Aaron by a lake, under the stars, in a bikini.”
Alex flushed bright red. “Oh god.”
Ben walked by at the perfect moment, tossing his scarf over his shoulder dramatically. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Which gives you lots of options.”
- Writer
