ꔛ 𓈒 *🌊🖇˚ ᦃ ･ ﹆ ˚🛩️ ◞˚ₓ 🫀⁕˚彡

F I V E :
'please be honest, are we better for it?'
── i miss you, i'm sorry : gracie abrams
𝟶:𝟶𝟶 ──◍───── 𝟷:𝟹𝟶

❝ you said, "forever, " in the end I fought it
please be honest, are we better for it?
thought you'd hate me, but instead you called
and said, "i miss you", i caught it ❞

〖 🌊 ੈ✩‧₊🛩️ 〗

°。°。°。°。°。°。

Alexa woke up to the morning sun creeping through her curtains and the faint chirping of birds outside. She lay there for a second, collecting herself before she slipped downstairs, following the warm smell of coffee.

In the kitchen, Maverick sat at the table, looking more serious than usual, his eyes fixed on his phone but not really seeing it. He glanced up when she entered, the hint of a smile on his face but still with that odd look in his eyes.

"Morning," she mumbled, reaching for a cup and pouring herself some coffee, letting the warmth seep into her hands.

"Morning," he replied, watching her for a moment. He seemed to be weighing his words. "I was thinking... today's a good day for the beach. Got something in mind for everyone."

Alexa raised an eyebrow, both curious and a bit suspicious. "The beach? And you've got something planned?" She let a faint smirk slip in, knowing how rarely Maverick actually "planned" anything.

He grinned, a bit of that classic Maverick spark returning. "Yeah, it's been a while since we all just hung out. You, me, the whole team. No work, no stress. Just... downtime."

She studied him for a second. It sounded nice, maybe just what she needed to shake off the tension that had built up over the last few days. But she could tell there was something more under his casual offer, something he wasn't saying.

"Alright, I'm in," she said, trying to keep her tone light, though her curiosity was piqued.

Maverick gave a nod but didn't look away. "Good. But, while we're at it, think we should talk about yesterday... about the punch."

The words were like a pin in a balloon, deflating the easy mood she'd tried to set. She tensed, not wanting to dig into it yet, not when the memory still stung. She met his gaze, steady and almost pleading, but she just shook her head.

"I'd rather not," she replied, keeping her eyes on the counter. "Not today."

He was quiet, reading her in that way he did, his face softening with understanding. "Alright," he said, his voice low. "Just... don't leave it too long, Lex. Things left alone can turn into things you don't want to deal with later."

She met his eyes, and for once, she felt like he really understood. A tiny smile tugged at her lips. "Thanks, Mav. I'll think about it."

He nodded back, then, with his usual grin returning, slapped the table lightly. "Alright, then. Beach day awaits."

. . . . . ╰──╮~ 🛩️ ~╭──╯ . . . . .

Alexa watched, bracing herself, as Maverick walked up to his motorcycle, his grin somehow growing wider as he saw her expression—a mix of dread and resignation. She sighed, feeling the weight of inevitable defeat settle over her.

"You couldn't have picked something with four wheels?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she eyed the bike like it was her nemesis.

"Where's the fun in that?" Maverick replied, patting the seat behind him. "Come on, Lex. The beach isn't getting any closer."

She crossed her arms, stalling. "I'm just saying, a car wouldn't kill us."

Maverick chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling behind his aviators. "Trust me. You'll survive the ride."

With a resigned groan, Alexa walked over and climbed on behind him, trying her best to keep a loose hold as he pulled away from the curb. The bike lurched forward, and her grip reflexively tightened, her knuckles nearly white as they wound down the road.

"Relax, Lex!" he called over the rush of the wind. She could practically hear his smirk.

"Yeah, right," she muttered, though he couldn't hear her. Every curve in the road made her brace herself a little harder, but as the open ocean came into view, she started to focus on the scenery instead of the speed. The breeze was warm, the sky clear, and for a split second, she felt something almost close to... enjoyment.

When they finally pulled up to the beach, she let out a long breath, hopping off the bike with a barely contained sigh of relief.

Maverick removed his helmet, giving her a satisfied grin. "See? Not so bad, right?"

Alexa shot him a look that said otherwise, but she couldn't quite keep the corners of her mouth from turning up. "Still would've preferred a car."

He laughed, patting her shoulder as they headed down toward the sand, where the team was already scattered across towels, tossing a frisbee, and setting up for the day.

"Maybe next time," he said, but the glint in his eyes told her that "next time" probably involved even more daring plans.

Alexa sat down on the sand beside Maverick, leaning back and letting the sun warm her face. It felt strange to have a quiet moment with him, with nothing to worry about, no urgency pushing them forward. She hesitated, then decided to ask something that had been on her mind.

"Do you remember taking me to the beach when I was a kid?" she asked, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Maverick glanced at her, his usual humor softened by something else, maybe nostalgia. "I remember you had no fear of the waves. It was like you thought you'd grown up by the ocean."

"I thought the waves were just... nice. Bradley always hung back, though," she added with a small laugh. "He hated getting sand in his shoes."

Maverick smiled at that, looking down at the sand. "He was more cautious. Thought it through, even as a kid. But he followed you anyway—didn't want to be left behind."

They both chuckled quietly, the sound of the waves and distant laughter of other beachgoers filling the silence between them. Talking about Bradley like this, casually, felt strange, but in a good way. It reminded her of how things used to be, back when everything was simpler.

Maverick looked over at her. "You two... you had something special. Doesn't mean you won't again."

She nodded, knowing he meant it. She didn't say anything else, though; it was enough to just sit there with him, feeling like they'd bridged some invisible gap.

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of engines approaching, and she glanced up to see Gretzky and Phoenix pulling up in one car, with Bob right behind them in another. Gretzky was out first, throwing a wave their way as he hauled a cooler out of the trunk. Phoenix followed, sunglasses on and grinning as she carried a few bags of snacks.

"Hope we're not too early," Gretzky called out, setting the cooler down beside Maverick.

"Just on time," Maverick replied, glancing around. "Now that you're here, the party's officially started."

Bob wandered over, carrying a beach chair in each hand. He offered one to Alexa with a sheepish smile. "Brought extra, just in case."

"Thanks, Bob," she said, unfolding the chair. "Looks like you planned for a real beach day."

Phoenix grinned. "Oh, we did. This is probably the closest thing to a break we'll get for a while."

Within minutes, everyone had trickled in—Coyote, Rooster, Fanboy, Payback, Fritz, Halo, Harvard, and Yale—all hauling coolers, snacks, and beach chairs. Hangman showed up last, sunglasses on and a cocky grin that made Alexa roll her eyes as he announced his arrival with a casual, "Hope y'all waited for me."

Maverick finally reached into his bag and pulled out a familiar leather football, giving it a toss in the air. As soon as Bradley saw it, he gave Alexa a look, and they both knew exactly what Maverick had planned.

Maverick grinned, holding up the ball. "Alright, team—who's up for a game?"

Without hesitation, everyone was on their feet, already starting to form teams. Bradley walked over to Alexa, bumping her shoulder with a grin.

"We're just here to have fun, right?" he asked, but his tone was already competitive.

She smirked back, already itching to win. "Sure, just for fun," she said, giving him a playful shove.

Maverick tossed the ball to Bradley, who caught it easily. "Let's keep it friendly," he called, though they all knew there was no such thing with this crew. "Maybe just a few tackles," he added with a wink.

The teams were split, with Alexa and Bradley on opposite sides. That old rivalry was there, like it always had been—unspoken, but simmering. Alexa could feel it, the tension in the air, like everything had shifted to that familiar game they used to play as kids.

Hondo blew the whistle, and the game kicked off with everyone running around, diving into the sand, and laughing. But Alexa kept her eyes on Bradley, already positioning herself, not even thinking about it. It was like they'd done this a thousand times. Just like back then. The field was chaos, but everything between them felt easy. They were back in it. The competitive energy was undeniable, but now it was almost like they had both forgotten the things that used to separate them. The past, the awkwardness, the bitterness—it just didn't matter anymore.

Bradley looked over at her, his eyes narrowing with that old, cocky glint, and she felt a pull of something familiar. The same pull that used to exist when they were younger—before whatever it was that happened between them had torn them apart.

"You think you can keep up, Alexa?" he called out, his voice cutting through the noise.

She shot him a look as she pivoted around, dodging a tackle from Hangman. "I always keep up."

They both knew it. The ball was snapped. The game had shifted into something between them—there were no grudges now, just the shared rhythm of a game they'd always played together.

Bradley was quarterback. Alexa was wide receiver, just like old times. The ball came to her, and for that moment, it felt like they were both kids again, running on this beach with the whole world forgotten.

As she caught the pass, she heard Bradley shout out from behind her, "That's a decent throw, but next time I'll make it more interesting."

Alexa couldn't help but laugh. She hadn't expected to enjoy this as much as she did. But there was something about the way they fell back into this. It wasn't forced, it wasn't awkward. It was just... right. No longer the strained silence between them, no awkward tension or bitter words.

When she got to the end zone, she turned back to face him, a grin tugging at the corner of her lips. "You're getting slower, Bradley," she teased, letting the ball fall into the sand at her feet.

Bradley jogged up, grinning like he had won the world. "Don't flatter yourself," he shot back, giving her a shove. It wasn't aggressive, more playful than anything.

They both stopped for a second, catching their breath, and in that moment, it was like they had forgotten they weren't supposed to like each other.

Maverick threw the ball in the air, catching their attention. "Alright, let's spice this up a little. Everyone in," he called, a grin spreading across his face as he motioned everyone in.

Bradley and Alexa exchanged a quick glance, both smirking. The game was far from over.

"Let's just have fun," Bradley said, voice low but with the kind of ease that suggested things had shifted. And in that moment, everything was fine.

The game went on with energy building as they all ran up and down the beach, the sound of feet hitting sand and laughter filling the air. Bradley was on fire. He dodged and weaved through the players, his eyes locked on the end zone. He took the ball, side-stepping Payback, then throwing a perfect pass to himself on a quick route to the goal.

He sprinted for the final stretch, throwing a glance behind him. Hangman was hot on his heels, but Bradley was too fast this time, crossing the line for a touchdown with a triumphant shout. The sand kicked up as he planted his feet and threw his hands in the air, a grin spreading across his face.

"Ha!" Bradley shouted, then turned around to meet Hangman. Without missing a beat, Hangman ran up, and the two collided in a massive chest bump that sent them both stumbling backward in the sand, laughing.

"You got lucky!" Hangman laughed, slapping Bradley on the back.

"Or maybe you're just getting old, man!" Bradley teased with a grin before doing a little dance, which Alexa really liked watching. It wasn't anything fancy—just a goofy, carefree move that had everyone in stitches.

Bradley watched as Maverick was playfully tackled by Coyote, the older man laughing as he hit the sand. The team burst into laughter, the lightheartedness of it all filling the air. It wasn't a hard tackle—just a joke—but the whole group found it hilarious.

Bradley quickly jogged over and extended a hand to Maverick, pulling him up with ease. Maverick brushed the sand off himself with a grin, but there was no need for words between them. It was just one of those moments, and Bradley didn't hesitate to help him up, the laughter from the team still echoing in the background.

As Maverick straightened himself, the group started to playfully boo. "Slow down, Mav!" Hangman yelled, still chuckling.

Everyone joined in, some shouting playful jeers, but the tone was light—everyone knew it was all in good fun.

Maverick, looking unbothered, waved it off with a small grin and walked toward the sidelines. The teasing continued, but it wasn't harsh. They all knew the old man could still outplay most of them, but he wasn't about to let the jabs get to him.

. . . . . ╰──╮~ 🛩️ ~╭──╯ . . . . .

The sun was setting, casting the sky in a warm mix of oranges and purples. The beach, once alive with laughter and play, had quieted down. The only sounds now were the steady crash of waves against the shore and the distant chatter of a few lingering voices. Alexa sat on the sand, arms wrapped around her knees, staring out at the water. It was a peaceful moment, but the tension still clung to her like sand to her skin.

Bradley appeared beside her after a while, sitting down without a word. They both stayed quiet, watching the horizon. It was one of those moments where the silence between them felt familiar, but also different. Like there was something that needed to be said but neither of them knew how to start.

Finally, Bradley broke the silence. "You ever think about how we ended up here?"

Alexa turned her head slightly, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. "All the time. But I don't know if I wanna talk about it."

He nodded, eyes still on the waves. "Yeah, me neither."

For a while, neither of them spoke. Alexa wasn't sure if it was because they didn't know what to say or because it felt like the air between them was thick with everything they hadn't said. But there was a certain comfort in it, too. They were here. Together. Even if it didn't make everything okay.

When Alexa finally did speak, her voice was quieter. "I didn't mean to push you away. It's just... I didn't know what to do with everything. With us."

Bradley glanced at her then, his expression unreadable. "I know. I get it."

She let out a breath, unsure of what else to say. There was a lot she wanted to explain, but the words didn't seem to come out right. She glanced down at her hands, picking at the sand between her fingers. "I don't know how to fix it. All the things I should've said, should've done... I didn't. And now here we are."

Bradley didn't respond right away. He just watched her, as if waiting for her to say more. When he finally spoke, his voice was calmer. "Yeah, well... I guess we've both got a lot to figure out."

There was a long pause before Alexa spoke again, the words feeling heavier this time. "I'm sorry. For... everything. I should've been better. But I wasn't. And I don't know how to make up for that."

Bradley didn't flinch. He just looked at her, no anger or frustration in his eyes. Just that quiet understanding. "I'm sorry too, Lex. I should've known when to back off, when to stop being... whatever I was being."

Alexa nodded slowly, letting the words settle between them. It wasn't a fix, but it was something. Maybe it was enough for now. She turned her eyes back to the ocean, feeling the weight of the moment finally start to ease, even just a little.

There was another pause, but this time it wasn't as heavy.

Bradley broke it with a soft laugh, leaning back on his hands. "So, you wanna get ice cream or what?"

Alexa looked over at him, an eyebrow raised. "You think an ice cream run is gonna fix all this?"

He smirked, a bit of his old cockiness slipping through. "Hey, it's worth a shot."

She couldn't help but let out a small laugh, though it was softer than usual. "You really think I'm gonna let you off the hook that easily?"

Bradley shrugged, standing up. "Guess we'll find out."

Alexa stood as well, brushing the sand off her legs. "Fine, ice cream. But it's not some magic fix, you know."

He walked a few steps ahead of her, glancing over his shoulder. "Never said it was. But it's a start."

She let out a small sigh but followed him anyway. The sun was dipping lower in the sky, casting the world in a dimmer light.

Bradley unlocked his blue Bronco with a click, the headlights casting a soft glow across the sand as he leaned against the door. Alexa climbed into the passenger seat, the familiar scent of his car—like a mix of leather and the ocean breeze—greeting her. The sound of the door closing behind her felt oddly comforting. The night seemed to stretch out ahead of them, full of something lighter, maybe even a little freer.

"Alright," Bradley said, sliding into the driver's seat, his voice carrying that playful tone he always used when he was feeling good. "You ready for this life-changing ice cream run?"

Alexa smirked, rolling her eyes but playing along. "Please. It's just ice cream."

He grinned, starting the engine with a rumble. The radio came to life with an old rock song, one of those classics that made the whole car feel like it belonged to another time, a better time. He cranked up the volume, and for a second, they were both transported back to the days when things were simpler, before all the mess of everything that had happened between them.

As he pulled out of the parking lot, the city lights began to blink to life in the distance, casting long shadows over the road. The air was cool now, the perfect kind of night for driving with the windows down.

"Remember that time we snuck out to the pier after curfew?" Bradley asked, glancing over at her with a grin.

Alexa laughed softly, her fingers tapping against the door handle. "Yeah, and you almost got caught by the cops when you tried to jump over the fence. You landed right on your ass."

Bradley let out a short laugh, glancing at her. "I was trying to be all smooth, too. Like some kind of secret agent. But no, I got caught in the worst possible way."

She shook her head, trying to hold back her laughter. "You were so mad, but you couldn't walk right for a week. You limped around like an old man."

Bradley chuckled at the memory. "I swear, I thought I broke something. But I was too proud to admit it."

The familiar rhythm of their banter had a way of easing the tension between them, like the old days when things weren't so complicated. As they kept driving, the night felt easier, lighter.

"And remember when we used to race each other down the beach with our bikes?" Alexa asked after a moment, the memories coming back to her as if they were just yesterday.

Bradley shot her a sideways grin. "Oh, I remember. You cheated, though. You always took that shortcut through the sand dunes."

"Hey, it wasn't my fault you couldn't keep up!" Alexa shot back with a playful grin of her own.

"I swear, every time we raced, you'd find a way to get ahead. And then you'd act like it was no big deal." Bradley laughed. "I'll never forget the look on your face when you crossed the finish line first every time."

Alexa leaned her head back against the seat, smiling at the memory. "You were always the sorest loser. It was impossible not to have fun messing with you."

The car swerved lightly as Bradley made a turn, and for a few moments, the conversation faded, both of them lost in the weight of the memories. But it didn't feel heavy this time. It felt... good. Comfortable. Like they were finding their way back to something they didn't know they missed.

"So, when was the last time you actually won one of those races?" Alexa teased, nudging him with her elbow.

Bradley rolled his eyes. "Are you serious? I was clearly the better rider. You just got lucky."

Alexa raised an eyebrow. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that."

Bradley glanced at her, then back at the road, the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'll get you next time, you know."

She laughed, and for a moment, the distance between them felt smaller than it had in years. Like they could still find that easy connection they used to have. It wasn't perfect, and it wasn't fixed, but for the first time in a while, Alexa felt like she could breathe a little easier. Like maybe, just maybe, things could start to be okay again.

As they pulled up to the ice cream stand, the lights glowing softly in the dark, Bradley grinned at her. "Alright, I'm picking the flavors. You'll love what I get."

"I'm not so sure about that," Alexa said with a skeptical look. "You have questionable taste."

Bradley opened the door, and she followed him, both of them laughing again. The night had slipped by almost without them realizing, and as they stood at the counter, picking out ice cream, it felt like the world had momentarily paused for them to just enjoy the simplicity of it.

No drama. No heavy talk. Just them, in the moment, a couple of old friends who had maybe lost their way but were finding their way back.

When they finally sat down with their cones, Bradley leaned back, looking up at the night sky. "You know, maybe this whole ice cream thing wasn't such a bad idea after all."

Alexa looked over at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I told you."

They sat there for a while, not saying much. Just enjoying the peacefulness of the night, the quiet laughter between them, and the feeling of something shifting, even if they weren't quite sure what yet.

. . . . . ╰──╮~ 🛩️ ~╭──╯ . . . . .

The drive back was quiet, but not in a heavy way. Bradley's Bronco rumbled along the road, the hum of the tires mixing with the soft tunes playing in the background. The night felt easy, the air crisp through the open windows. Alexa leaned back in her seat, the events of the day settling in her chest, each laugh, each shared memory with Bradley like a gentle reminder that things might just be okay.

Bradley glanced at her once, his eyes soft in the dim light. "You good?" he asked, his voice low but steady.

Alexa nodded, offering him a small but genuine smile. "Yeah. I think I am."

It wasn't perfect. She wasn't pretending everything was fine, but there was a peace she hadn't felt in a while. Maybe it was the ice cream or the way the night had unfolded, but it felt like a small, important step toward something better.

They drove in comfortable silence for a while. The world outside the Bronco seemed distant, like it was just the two of them, floating in this little bubble of calm. Alexa let the quiet wash over her, but she couldn't help but think back to how things had been between them all those years ago. How things had felt so different, and yet here they were, somehow managing to laugh again, even after everything.

As they neared her street, the glow of the streetlights casting a soft shadow over the pavement, Alexa shifted in her seat, a little reluctant for the night to end.

"Thanks for the ice cream, and the drive," she said, her voice breaking the silence. "I didn't expect it to be so... easy, you know?"

Bradley smiled, a small, knowing smile that she could never quite figure out. "I didn't expect it either. But I'm glad we did it."

He pulled up to her house, the lights from inside shining through the windows. The front door was cracked open, and Alexa could see Maverick's silhouette moving around in the living room.

"Well, here we are," Bradley said, the car coming to a slow stop. "Home sweet home."

"Yeah," Alexa murmured, staring at the house for a moment longer than she intended. She wasn't quite ready to go inside. Not yet.

Bradley turned off the engine and glanced over at her. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," she said again, this time with more certainty. "I'm good, Bradley. Thanks for... tonight."

He nodded, his lips curling into a small grin. "Anytime, Lex."

Before she could think too much about it, she opened the door and stepped out of the Bronco, the cool night air hitting her skin. As she closed the door behind her, she waved back at Bradley, watching as he slowly pulled away.

Alexa turned toward the front door and hesitated for a moment before walking up the steps. As she pushed open the door, Maverick looked up from the couch, his face lighting up as he saw her.

"Hey, kid," he said, his tone warm, like it always was when he saw her. "How was the beach?"

"It was... good," Alexa replied, her voice a little softer than usual. She leaned against the door, eyes still distant, lost in thought.

Maverick studied her for a moment, sensing something was off. "You okay?" he asked, his voice a little more serious now.

She looked at him, offering a half-smile. "Yeah. Just... it's been a long day."

He nodded, his gaze softening. "You want to talk about it?"

Alexa hesitated, then shook her head. "Not yet. I'll be fine."

Maverick seemed to understand, giving her a quiet nod. He didn't push her, which was something she appreciated. Instead, he patted the seat next to him on the couch. "Well, I'm here if you need anything. Always."

Alexa gave him a grateful look, walking over and sitting down beside him. They didn't talk for a while, just letting the silence settle between them. The weight of everything that had happened over the past few days hung in the air, but it didn't feel as heavy as it had before.

Maverick glanced at her again, then at the clock. "You know, I was going to wait up for you, but I figured you'd probably be out for a while. You're not too late."

Alexa smiled faintly. "I lost track of time."

Maverick chuckled softly. "Don't worry. I've done that a million times."

They both sat there, watching the soft flicker of the TV, the quiet comfort of each other's presence filling the space. It was still a little awkward between them, but in a way that felt familiar. Like they were getting back to something they had both lost along the way.

Eventually, Maverick stood, stretching. "Well, I'm off to bed. You should get some sleep too."

Alexa nodded, standing up with him. "Yeah. I think I will."

Before she could head toward the stairs, Maverick gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Goodnight, Lex."

"Goodnight, Maverick," she said, her voice soft but steady.

As she made her way up to her room, the weight of the day seemed to fall away little by little. There was still a lot to sort through, a lot to figure out, but tonight... tonight felt like a step in the right direction.

🛩️🛩️🛩️

AUTHORS NOTE !

yayyyyy !!!! i'm literally so happy with the end of this chapter, idk about the dogfight football scene though because i know absolutely NOTHING about football whatsoever, so if i said anything wrong about it, i'm sorry.

next chapter is going to be . . . a lot, to say the least. 

anyways, please tell me what you think about this chapter!