;

wally smiled, raising his hand to order a tray of six shots. “you remember that girl whose boyfriend i fucked that really homophobic. well, i gave her the chance to leave me alone after pestering me..and she decided to run her mouth so i told everyone about the soccer player she was fucking behind his back.” wally ran his hand through his hair. “and when i said that, he punched me in the eye. alex, the jock who i was hooking up with in high school held me back.” wally shook his head. “good try, brady.” he lifted a second shot, quickly drinking it. “you’re not getting this one out of me.”

brady let out another chuckle as his friend relayed the story to him. “well, shit, wally. you’re already making enemies?” he gave his friend a nice pat on the back. “well, i’m proud of you.” he went to down the next shot but paused before it reached his lips, raising his brow as he set it back down. “alex, huh?” brady gave wally a look, but rather than saying anything else, he just simply nodded, deciding not to press his friend any further. “so now that i know that you and your ‘mystery man’ have... plans, i gotta figure out what i’m doing after this. or rather, who.”

wally didn’t need to put any more ice on his eye for the night, and brady would definitely be able to see the black eye. he could already see the man was making his mark, looking across the room and definitely looking to score whatever he was looking to score. he knew the man would be coming over to see him, and smiled wider when he saw the shots of tequila. “always.” he toasted, and downed the shot. “please, i’ll even buy a round. i already want to go home but i…got a hotel room and plan on hanging with someone.” wally didn’t want to mention the person, so he chose to leave it open. “and don’t ask about it, b. not saying anything.”

brady turned to look closer at his friend as he examined his eye. “what the hell happened to you? you look like shit.” he let out a chuckle as he shook his head, downing his own shot. “you know i’m gonna hold you to that.” he gestured to the bartender for another round. “oh, really now? come on, wally. who’s the lucky guy? i can keep a secret... sometimes.”

She snorted softly, shaking her head. “I only slept with one person in high school, and it wasn’t you,” she explained, ordering them a couple more shots. “Sorry to burst your bubble.”

Honey had tried so hard to keep herself on the down low, just wanting to enjoy the night with some old friends but that didn’t stop people from begging her to do some sort of performance or take pictures with them. She obliged the photos and autographs but she didn’t feel right performing without a reunion committee member arranging it beforehand. She sat at the bar, sipping on a glass of champagne when a shot of tequila was slid to her. “I probably could,” she admitted with a laugh, raising the shot to him before taking it. “Thank you, much appreciated.”

; 𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓭𝔂.

she rolled her eyes playfully at his response, arms crossed around her chest. “alright, so whaddaya got then? two-liners?” she nudged his shoulder, scoffing jokingly with a small smile on her face.

brady chuckled. “that’s not really my style. i usually prefer to just speak from the heart.” he joked as he placed his hand over his heart, giving his chest a couple light pats. “do you want a two-liner though? because for you, i’m sure i could even come up with some three-liners.” 

“i suppose we can’t all be perfect, right?” he lifted an eyebrow at the other male. “there’s plenty of fun in it but it won’t get you anywhere in life. it’s all about the risks you take.” he didn’t want to preach or anything but alex’s entire life had been about risking his life for others, even up to his current one. “no, that’s weird.” his nose crinkled. “i’m not lying. i can’t say i’d be turned on if my car was keyed over sex in high school. i’d be pretty pissed, though.”

“i’m almost thirty years old. i think it’s a little too late for me to start rethinking all the choices i’ve made in my life. besides, i’m pretty content with where i’ve landed.” brady declared, more-so trying to convince himself of this than anyone else. “well, clearly you and i are two very different people with different priorities.”

“i can tell you want to put your money where your mouth is, but i’m not interested in doing it in your car like we are still 18 years old. actually, i think you are wrong on all accounts. you must be thinking of one of the hundreds of bimbos you fucked during that time. it’s a honest mistake though, i’m willing to let it slide. i do remember you getting quite, what’s the right word i’m thinking of, possessive perhaps? when other guys would try to sweet talk their way into bed with me. maybe it’s you that has something to be jealous over. or my memories could be foggy as well.  

“why not? isn’t that the whole point of reunions - to relive the good old days?” he leaned in closer to the woman. ”you’re really telling me that the idea of us fucking in the back of my car isn’t the slightest bit appealing to you?” he raised his brow, his smirk remaining steady on his lips as he slowly pulled back. “though i’m pretty sure there was no mistake made on my part. actually, i seem to remember our time.” he paused before correcting himself. “sorry. times together pretty vividly. unlike all the other ones, i actually had to work for you, so believe me, i was going to take in every single moment. you can trust that i remember a lot more than you may think.” he let out a chuckle before shaking his head. “possessive? that’s cute. you see, that would insinuate that i thought that any of those other guys actually stood a chance. which i didn’t. not when you had already been with me. i knew i had you.”

“i think there’s a really solid case in here somewhere for why you shouldn’t sleep with sisters, because it’ll always come back to bite you,  no matter how clever or sneaky you may think you’re being,” she shrugged her shoulders, trying hard to suppress a laugh. “there’s a new level of crazy for ten years of pent up rage, though.”

brady thought for a moment before shrugging, a smirk on his lips. “it was still worth it. i mean, come on. sisters.” he tried to reason with the other. “did i really teach you nothing in high school? come on, caroline. you need to loosen up and live a little. how many opportunities do you think i'm going to get in life to sleep with two sisters? probably not many. now i can cross that one off the bucket list.”

“You were never one for seeing the bigger picture. honestly, you need to pay more attention or you may end up in a ditch somewhere. Looking like that doesn’t come easy, you know? You’ve got to be more responsible.”

“you may have noticed that i much prefer to live in the moment — think about the consequences later. though, you do have a point. with great power does come great responsibility. this face is a gift and if used incorrectly, the repercussions could be deadly. you know, thanks for opening my eyes, elliot. i appreciate you.”

“well, i hate to break it to you but guys are less likely to fuck up your car. and trust me, the shit i’ve done is something you don’t want to know.” his car was currently in new york, as he flew here and borrowed the car his mother never drove. “do you want me to say i did it so my parent’s are forced to cover it?” wally didn’t care, and his parents could use something else to yell at him about because the other shit was getting tiring. “and we both know that you’d have my leftovers. i was much cuter than you.” he stated, even though he didn’t get a beard until around 8 years ago. “these softcore drugs are in my room and i bought 2 ounces.” wally pointed at his house, as he planned on going back in anyway. he watched as his friend took a giant drink of the flask, his eyes widening. “we are going to have a great time.” he patted his friend on the back. “well, welcome to the ‘being at home is a traumatic experience’ club. if you ever need an escape feel free to come over. my parents love you.” wally started walking towards his house. “come on in.” he guided the man inside, slamming the door behind him to let his parents know he came back. “we have company, so please, save your yelling for later.” he immediately went to the fridge, grabbing the pizza his mom ordered for him and walked the man to his room and immediately laid on the bed patting a spot for the other. “there’s vodka, beer, and tequila on the table over there. pick your poison.”

brady chuckled as he shook his head. “i couldn’t ask you to do that for me, wally. really. your parents already give you enough shit as it is. the last thing you need is to give them an actual reason to make your life even more of a living hell.” brady was well aware of the relationship between wally and his parents. back in high school, it really wasn’t unusual to find the other asleep on brady’s couch most nights. “can’t disagree with you there. i may have had the charm, but you definitely had the looks.” he let out another chuckle as he gave the other a light pat on the cheek before raising his brow. “there’s a club, huh? well, i’m happy to join and i might just have to take you up on that offer.” brady really wasn’t looking forward to spending any time with his mother. the two had barely even had a real conversation since his father had gotten arrested a few years back. “your parents love me? you know, that reminds me — how is your mom doing?” he joked with the other as he followed him into his home, making his way toward wally’s room. the man’s eyes skimmed over his booze collection before settling upon a beer. “gotta work my way up to the harder stuff.” he cracked open the bottle before plopping down alongside his friend and taking a swig. he paused for a brief moment before offering the bottle over to his friend. “so how are you feeling about this whole reunion thing?”

“okay, i was going to back you up and agree that this is a little too much, but sisters? and you couldn’t call either of them back? now i’m starting to realize why they got your car,” her eyes widened. “it’s a little weird, yeah. they’ve probably been plotting this for a while, because they knew everyone would be back in town for the ten year. that’s kind of evil genius, i like it.”

“look, i had a lot going on back in high school. if i were to call back every single girl i’ve ever slept with, i’d be making phone calls til i’m dead. that’s not exactly my definition of an ideal friday night. maybe i could have handled the situation better, sure, but i prefer a clean break. i mean, really, how was i supposed to know she was crazy?”

“aren’t used to the compliment or you aren’t used to it not being immediately followed by a vapid girl giggling as you charm her into bed?” she rolled her eyes before meeting his once more. this back and fourth banter brought her back to senior year. “i bet you could show me better than you could tell me. but sadly for you, i’m not in the mood for a quickie. and that’s all it probably would be because last time i checked, you don’t do long-term by any means.” she smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. “are you trying to say you have in fact thought about me? as in, more than a fleeting thought or two?

“see, that’s where you’re wrong. that was ten years ago. that brady was young. he was naive. i was still perfecting my technique. but i’ve had lots of time to practice since then and, not to brag, but i do believe that i’ve made some major improvements. actually, now that i think about it, i don’t remember you ever actually complaining about my performance back in high school. in fact, correct me if i’m wrong, but i don’t remember you saying much at all. there really wasn’t much time for small talk between your deafening moans and nonstop begging.” his eyes stayed fixated on the woman. “but that was ten years ago. maybe i’m just remembering it all wrong.”

; 𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓭𝔂.

“hey, listen, i never said i wanted you to change; you’re free to be whoever you want.” she shrugged casually, chuckling at his response. “a better man for me? you’ve still got the one-liners, after ten years? wow, you really are determined.” she shook her head in amusement, crossing her arms over her chest.

“thank you. i’ve been waiting ten years to gain your stamp of approval to just be whoever i want and now that i finally have it, i feel like my life is only just beginning.” he spoke in a dramatized tone, a smirk falling upon his lips as he did so. “you consider that a one-liner? please, marina. i’m actually insulted that you think i would resort to cheesy one-liners to gain your affection. you and i both know you deserve better than that.”

“i suppose you should have kept it in our pants, as always, brady.” alex shook his head, standing up straighter and giving the brunette a look. he couldn’t say he was surprised. he knew brady all too well around school. “yes, it’s a little weird. i mean, we’re talking about something that happened ten years ago. though, some people get turned on by the weirdest things so maybe this is yours. who knows?”

“i should have done a lot of things back in high school, but where’s the fun in playing it safe?” brady shook his head as he looked to the other, raising his brow. “you’re telling me that you wouldn’t be at least a little turned on if you were in my position? you’re really just going to lie to my face like that, alex? alright then. i guess you’re just a better man than i am.”

“babe, at this point in life you could be a changed angel and shit can still happen to you. but yeah, you deserve something that doesn’t involve your car getting keyed.  i don’t like seeing you suffer, but this is funny. i’m not a good person, that you know.” wally stated, always with the self deprecating humor. “i’m well aware of your charm considering you could make girls fall so in love with you that they were speaking to ME about it.” he pulled the man in for a hug, before immediately doing the most wally thing and taking a giant drink from his flask. “oh, my life is a total trainwreck but i just supress my emotions with alcohol and softcore drugs. my parents still control a lot of aspects about me and i hate most things about myself.” he teased. “-but what else has new. what’s my first love been up to?” wally just had that dynamic with the male, always calling him his boyfriend and other pet names.

“you’re a better person that i am, wally. that’s for damn sure. if you need any proof of that, just go out and take a look at my fucking car.” brady shook his head as he tried to hold back a smirk. “if you were into women, that really wouldn’t have been such a bad thing, you know. many guys would have killed to have my leftovers.” the man joked as he playfully hit his friend’s arm, his smile fading a bit as his friend filled him in on his own life. “suppressing your emotions, huh? well, i know about that one all too well. though you’ll have to tell me more about these so-called ‘softcore drugs’ later.” he watched as his friend took a swig of his flask before grabbing it from wally’s hand and doing the same. “let’s see. my life.” brady paused for a moment in thought. “well, i’ve been working at a friend’s garage up in boston for the past few years. not exactly my ‘dream job’ but it pays the bills. as far as my sex life goes, that part of my life has remained pretty consistent, not that you asked or anything. and now that i’m back here, i’m forced to reconnect with my mother who i haven’t talked to or seen in, well, five or six years.” brady let out a big sigh as he downed the rest of the flask, his fingers tracing alongside the now empty bottle. “yeah, i’m gonna need some more of this.”

“that’s very cute allen. but what exactly would i have to be jealous over?” the blonde shrugged as she looked over at him. “i wasn’t worried to begin with. but i’m glad to see nothing about you has changed. if a girl was so upset about your lack of commitment she took out her anger on your car, that sounds like her problem. and yours. i could simply sit back and enjoy the show.” emily raised an eyebrow, resisting the urge to scoff at his implications.

"so now i’m cute? you know em, i’ve been called a lot of things in my life, however it’s been a while since someone’s used that word to describe me.” a chuckle escaped his lips as he began to repeat the woman’s question “what do you have to be jealous over? well, i could tell you, though i’m sure you can think back to our high school days and figure that one out for yourself ... or do you need a quick refresher?” brady winked at the woman. “really though. am i supposed to believe that in ten years, you haven’t thought about me? not even once?”