LEXA WOKE UP TO THE SOUND OF CASH TRYING TO GENTLY CLOSE HIS BEDROOM DOOR, "Now where have you been you little tramp?"

Cash went shy as his cheeks went red, as if he'd been caught in the act, "I, uh... Just for a walk. I was walking."

"In your clothes from the night before?" Lexa sat up with the biggest, proudest smile, "You're growing up."

"N-nah, nah, we just kissed... made out," Cash stammered defensively, Lexa chuckling to wave his concern, "And that's absolutely perfect. Com on! Did you likeeee it?"

He was quiet for a moment, moving to sit at the edge of his bed, "I did. I just, I reckon Darren's like expecting more."

"Are you kidding? They're like the horniest of all of us," Lexa blurted out, though she covered her mouth, "What I meant was you guys have just started out and Darren's great person. You're in safe hands."

"Lexa."

"You're exploring your options," Lexa shrugged, "So long as you're open with them about it, you'll be sweet."

"Yeah right," Cash nodded, pausing after, "You're serious?"

"Don't go shy now! You're number one about being honest," Lexa yawned, "Better for both your sakes so you don't give them the idea you aren't into them. Just that you're figuring out what you want."

"It can't be that deep."

"Of course it can."

——

SCHOOL WENT BY QUITE FAST IN THE MORNING, she hadn't really run into any of her friends just a couple waves across the halls. Notably, she just couldn't get a moment to see Spider nor could she quite find Malakai. She'd texted him again to see if he'd made it to school, though the boy hadn't replied.

Eventually, Lexa came across Dusty and Spider in the hallway, both boys halting when they saw her. The three of them all said, you alright? in their own way; Lexa toward the boys and them to her.

"I'm fine," Lexa then looked up at Dusty, "How did Malakai pull up? I haven't seen him uh..."

Dusty trailed off, correcting himself after sheepishly, "Haven't seen him around this morning."

She scrunched her face in the slur of his words, "You used to be alright with hangovers."

He wasn't so amused with her, the boy's face blank, "This one was rough."

Before Lexa could get another word in, Dusty locked eyes with her, "How you feeling after last night too?"

"Fine," She answered, though of course he wouldn't let go of her sight, "I'm fine Dusty. Ask Cash, even. I knocked out and I was good."

"Good," Dusty repeated, "Good."

"God you're making this awkward," Spider yawned as he stretched out his arms, Dusty for once shooting him a stern look. The glare strengthened when Lexa brushed some fluff off Spider's shoulder, "Well, glad you two haven't started arguing yet, hey?"

Lexa rolled her eyes, "Cry me a river, Dusty. Seriously."

"I wanted to talk to you actually," Dusty nodded at the girl, his eyes darting to Spider with such a sting of bitterness, "That cool with him? Or do I have to ask permission to talk to my ex?"

It seemed Spider had instinctively sighed, looking as if he was going to retreat. So instead, Lexa held onto Spider, "We've got next period together, can't be late."

Dusty's eyes narrowed, his frustration evident — like he was absolutely burning to get something off his chest to her, "Whatever you've got going on doesn't need to-"

She didn't wait for the rest of his response, simply tugging Spider along as they headed toward class. Spider had glanced back at Dusty, then to Lexa; a mix of confusion and gratitude.

"You're something else," He smirked, the two continuing their walk to the next building, "Not into whatever he's spinning today."

"Mhm," Spider mumbled back, his tone turned to annoyance, "He was worried about ya though. Knows everything. Knows how you react, how you-"

"Are you trying to win me back for him?" Lexa retorted, Spider retorted, "Was just trying to be less of a dick."

Lexa yawned, "Spencer, if I know him like I do he's probably going to throw like everything at the wall to see if it sticks. Including playing the whole I know you the most ever! bullshit. Don't take it to heart."

"But he does have that, he's got that on me. I'm not the one who's been your boyfriend."

"Last time I checked, you've been there for me," Lexa explained, "Maybe not when Dusty and I got together but... I haven't been friends with you for nothing."

"Yeah but Dusty's been your guy. He saw you at your highs and lows."

"It's not my fault you never had the balls to do anything with me," She objected.

"Like it was that easy," He replied, Lexa's eyes flickering over his.

"You're the one I slept with for the first time, the one I trusted then," She said with a grin, Spider unable to hide the slightest of smirks forming, "Alright, alright."

"It's true. Not my fault you never had the guts to do anything with me after that," She affirmed with her past annoyance slicing through, the boy still pecking her lips before talking, "Does he know that?"

"Don't ruin this with your ego yeah?" Lexa lifted her brows, "Shouldn't matter."

"I know," He hummed, "... Well, where were your balls then? How come you didn't make a move?"

"Cus I didn't have to," She shrugged, "I always thought you lost interest after we slept together, then Dusty swept in. I mean, I still don't know why you stopped calling, stopped texting."

Spider paused, of course he knew why.

Insecurity, fear, doubt, his inferiority to Dusty...

That sinking feeling he would fuck everything up, as expected.

And yet, all he could muster to her was, "Ah, probably had to make room for all the other girls on my phone."

"You're so lucky I know that's not even half a truth," Lexa wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "Was always curious though if you copped a wristy from Kylie Barnes back in Year 9 on formal night though."

"Fuck off," He laughed, Lexa smiling back, "Hey, I had my revenge hook up with Dusty I thought you were just really committed."

Revenge hookup?

"You didn't think another day about me after he asked you to formal," Spider shook his head, "Be real."

"Uh, total bull," She remarked, "I thought we were trying to one up eachother till you didn't give a flying fuck."

"Now that's actually fucked up."

"Yeah well, sleep with a girl and then don't call her," Lexa blinked her eyes, "That's just how it goes."

"It just seemed like the right thing to do when Dusty said he wanted you," Spider inadvertently admitted, Lexa growing intrigued, "You just backed off 'cus he was interested?"

"Every girl in Hartley wanted him, and I mean, turns out you did too."

"This feels like the convo's gonna get real ugly, real quick," Lexa squinted her eyes, Spider shaking his head, "Didn't go so bad."

"Sois un bon garçon et tais-toi," Lexa mocked as Spider chuckled, "Vraiment?"

"Chill with the French before this actually gets ugly," Lexa said as Spider nodded, "Yeah, your accent's pretty bad."

——

"SO, WE ALL AGREE THAT PORN HAS GIVEN US UNREALISTIC IDEAS of what sex should look like," Miss Obah began her SLT's class of the day, "But, is it all bad?"

Lexa had sat beside Cash hoping for some sort of update, though, she felt relieved when she saw Malakai walk in the door and take a seat beside her — Spider in the back laughing with Ant. He watched as she tried to open her mouth, Malakai holding a finger up with a light-hearted tone, "You can either ask for a pen or say nothing at all."

"Since when do I ever write anything in this class," Lexa rolled her eyes, "Unless you have coloured pens, then I want them to draw."

"That's fine by me," Malakai answered, sliding over a blue and green pen to her. She held them up mockingly, "Okay, I already knew they weren't going to be glitter gel pens but green and blue? Is that the best you've got?"

"Better question, how the hell did I end up with a green pen?" He laughed, though he went quiet when he realised Amerie had his eye on him. Lexa finally pried, "You dodged her like you did me?"

"You take everything pretty personally don't you?" He tried to joke, though Lexa wouldn't budge, "I spoke to her in the morning. My phone died last night so I couldn't get back to anyone. Couldn't find a charger."

"For days?" Lexa squinted her eyes as Malakai scrambled, "Yeah, well... I dropped it too. Pretty funny story."

"Wow! And I'm laughing so hard," She replied with a blank face, "Here for you, yeah? Let me know if you need-"

"This is strictly about pens," Malakai dramatically sighed, "Not sure if the green pens' really all that-"

"Okay well is the blue pen doing alright?"

"Why am I now the blue pen?"

"Because my eyes are green, it makes sense. Now answer my pen question."

Malakai shrugged, "I'm good, Lexa."

"Alright," She nodded like she'd succeeded. The two slowly started to zone back into the class, porn still the main topic Miss Obah was leading with.

"When you watch as much as Ant does," Dusty sent the class into light laughter, Quinni throwing her hand up after, "I mean, it can be helpful if you don't know what you like."

"Or who you like," Sasha added, "I one-hundy percent figured out I was into girls by watching lesbian porn."

"Oh my god, me too," Spider affirmed, Lexa seemingly digging her pen into paper at the sound of his remark.

"I thought I learned everything I needed to know about gay sex from porn, but it's not real," Darren spoke up, "Well, you can't just jump on a dick without warning. I mean, you have to douche first it takes..."

Darren spun around their chair to face Spider who'd scoffed in the back, "Sorry, is there something you want to say?"

"No," Spider muttered, as Darren held their heart to their chest, "It must be hard hey? Being jammed so far in the closet you're practically in Narnia."

And when the laughter hit, Spider flushed red and rebutted, "You wish."

"Lexa, might wanna get your leash out," Darren remarked, Lexa sending an outright, harsh glare Darren's way, "Your dogs on the lose."

"Classy," Lexa scowled as Miss Obah regained control, "All right, come on. Let's get back on track."

"Miss!" Missy begun, "I find porn a bit hectic. Like, if that's what sex is supposed to look like, I don't think I want it."

"Yeah," Amerie agreed, "It feels like it's all about getting a guy off."

"Isn't it?" Spider added fuel to the fire. She couldn't help but feel a couple stares on her, the class in truth actually wondering how a grade-A assshole like him had somehow been sleeping with Lexa Madden.

And that popularity contest snuck back into her, Lexa hovering over her table, "Said every guy ever who's had sex with a woman that had to fake it."