#mlwwb

Second Place Hearts

After a year and a half with Alex, she hadn’t expected this to be what got to her some distant… cousin? Not-cousin? Honestly, she still wasn’t even sure what Jackie Howard was to the Walters.

She’d ask Alex, only… she hadn’t really seen Alex all week. Just Jackie with her perfect hair, neat clothes, and that polished, city-girl confidence.

And now, there they were again. Walking into school together. Laughing.

Maybe it was petty, but it was hard not to notice how Jackie looked like everything Y/N wasn’t, prettier, skinnier, smarter, put-together. And here she was, standing in the hallway in jeans and Alex’s old flannel, trying not to wonder if maybe she just didn’t fit his world anymore.

She hadn’t even realized she was crying until her eyes met with his and a look of concern flashed across his face He rushed over before she could even consider going in the other direction.

“Darlin’, what happened.” He cooed his hands cupped her cheeks, thumbs swipping the tears away. He was looking at her like she still mattered holding her in the right way but the thoughts in her head were too loud. Jackie’s prettier, Jackie’s smarter. He wants someone like her. When she doesn’t respond and only cries harder Alex frowns, pulling her into his chest awkward at first but quickly finding that puzzle piece like position. “It’s ok sweets you can just cry. I don’t need you to talk to me right now.” He kissed the top of her head. “Feel your feelings baby I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

The bell had rung ages ago but at some point, Alex had moved them outside, under the bleachers. He was still holding her, rubbing her back letting the built-up tears fall without judgment. There was no rush to make it better because he’d come to realise that sometimes she didn’t need him to make it better. Sometimes there wasn’t even a reason for the tears or the hurt in her heart, so strong you’d think she was dying… no sometimes it was just there just…hurt.

Her eyes were still closed tears soaked on her cheeks but no new tears threatened to join the already fallen soldiers of hurt.

“Ready to talk babe?” He hums softly.

 At first her head shakes and lip wobbles but eventually she starts to mumble against his chest.

“I’m glad you want to talk, darling, but I’m gonna need you to speak up, mkay?”

“Do you like Jackie?” She asks still softly but he can hear her this time.

“She’s a friend.” He shrugged confused. Then all in the same second his eyelids flutter a lightbulb going off in his head.

“You mean like how I like you? Hmm? Like... like like?” He asked softly.

She shrugged red rimmed eyes looking up at him.

“Talk to me sweetheart.” He whispered, cupping her cheek tenderly.

“I don’t know.” Her words a mumbled mess. “I just…Jackie came and I haven’t seen you…and…and shes just s..so…perfect.”

His head tilted and he looked down at her with a sweet smile on his face.

“Darlin’ girl,” He whispers. “I certainly don’t like Jackie the same way I like you, she’s nice an’ all but pretty sure she’s got a thing for Cole, and I… I have a thing for you.” He leaned down brushing his lips against hers.

Three Days Later

She swore she was good for at least a day after their talk but then she visited the Walters ranch and there Jackie was fitting in so perfectly and once again Y/N was left feeling insignificant. Katherine had always been all over her when she came over but now with Jackie there, she felt less like the honorary daughter of the Walters and more like a stranger in thier house and her own skin.

Which led her to pull away something that hadn’t gone unnoticed by Alex. Although he didn’t say anything to start not wanting to push her any more than she already felt.

 She’d reluctantly come over to the ranch, just to get out of the house and found Alex on the back of Murphy ready for a ride.

“Hey darlin’” He smiles at her. “Whatchya doin here?” He hums hoping off the horses back approaching her Murphys lead in one hand his other grabbing hers.

“I…I can go…if you’re going for a ride.” She awkwardly fumbled over her words eyes drifting to the ground.

“What’ve I done baby?” He whispers softly almost hurt. “You’ve gone all distant on me again…all up in your head.” His hand comes up brushing her hair behind her ear. “What’s going on in this head of yours?”

She pauses and for a while they stand in the silence her leaning into his hand desperately trying to keep her tears at bay. Him staring at her patiently waiting.

“Do…Do you ever feel like you’re just second best?” Her nose tickles, eyes watering as she speaks voice cracking, her throat tightened.

He waits a moment unsure how to respond before finally,

“Every damn day,” he says, a quiet laugh escaping through his nose. “Have you met Cole? He’s like a walking first-place trophy. Perfect smile, perfect record, Mom loves him…hell, everyone does.”

He shakes his head, giving a small shrug. “So yeah, maybe that makes me second place by default.”

His eyes flick up to hers, softening. “But you? You’re my first place. I don’t want Jackie, I don’t want anyone else. You, you are my one and only until you decide you’re too good for me.” He’s grinning but the way he looks at her the way he speaks the words is too real too pure for her to even consider accusing him of lying.

“What if I don’t ever want to be too good for you?” She whispers tongue darting out to wet her lips.

“Then we can feel like second place together, forever.”

A few weeks later things had settled down…well mostly. Alex had insisted she stay over for the night, and then the next and the next and the next… you get the point, She hadn’t really left, and tonight was no different…or so she thought.