—

Melanie had spent the afternoon with Mattias in Monet's. The two left the second they noticed that Clay and Alex were there.

Mattias didn't know why, but he didn't want to question Mel's need to get away from the pair, so he suggested they drove around a bit before going to a nearby corner store before heading home.

As he sat in the passenger seat of the girls car, his heart fell into his stomach the second his eyes landed on the group of jocks in the alleyway next to the store.

He adjusted his posture, catching Mel's attention.

"You okay?"

"Y-yeah." His voice cracked. He cleared his throat before finishing, "Yeah. I'm fine. Not feeling well. Headache."

"Oh." The girl furrowed her brows, her lips pulling into a frown as she put the car in park, "I'm sure there's aspirin in here."

"Ah, I'm not sure."

"Won't hurt to check." Mel shrugged. She was already pulling off her seat belt before he could protest any further, "Come on."

—

The chiming of the bell caught the attention of the few people in the store, everyone wanting to catch a glimpse of who was entering before all eyes returned back to what they were doing before hand.

All except two pairs.

Clay swallowed thickly at the sight of Melanie and Mattias together. His heart pounded even more when he remembered who was in front of him.

"That'll never not be weird." Bryce chuckled, shaking his head at the sight of the Dempsey and De La Cruz, "That's a weird pair, huh, Jensen?"

Clay didn't seem to respond quick enough for Bryce's liking, the Walker teen giving him a playful shove.

"Uh- what? No, nothing weird about it."

He truly believed there wasn't anything off about the two. Their siblings were friends, why couldn't they get along?

Bryce seemed to think he was joking.

"Hey, I get it."

The Jensen blinked, "What?"

"Melanie's gorgeous, but Matti's scary. Wouldn't want to get my ass beat by him either."

"Again?" Clay couldn't stop himself. He flinched, fully prepared for Bryce to swing on him. Yet, the feeling of a palm colliding with his shoulder and Bryce's laugh eased him slightly.

He eyes the hand awkwardly until Bryce pulled away.

"You're a funny dude, Jensen." Bryce smiled, reaching into the nearby freezer, "Here. Take a beer."

"I'm okay."

His smile fell, "Take it. Stand up on your tippy toes to make yourself look less like a middle schooler."

He wanted to breathe out in relief when Bryce gestured for him to go to the counter, though the Walker kept eyes on him the whole time.

"Oh, hey, Clay." Mel's voice caught his attention.

"Hey, Mel." He gave the girl a polite smile, the anxiousness in his voice going over her head. Though, not Matti's.

"You okay, man?"

"Yeah, all good."

Clay watched Mattias pay for their items, despite Melanie's protest. His blue eyes focused on the way she thanked him and received the most gentle of smiles in return.

The cashier cleared his throat, his brows raising when Clay placed a beer on the counter.

"ID?"

Clay hummed, awkwardly shuffling under the pressure of Melanie and Mattias' eyes as he rocked on his feet,

"Uh, I must've left it at home, or at my high school."

Mel and Matti shared a look, confused on why Clay would place the alcohol on the counter if he had no intentions of buying it. Though that confusion was taken away the second a familiar voice rang through their ears.

"I got both."

"I'll see you around, Clay." Melanie rushed out, reaching for Mattias' hand before brushing past him.

"Hey, Matti!" Bryce called out, "How you doing man?"

"How's your eye, Bryce?" He pettily shot back, his tone showing just how much he didn't want to talk to Bryce.

"I'll see you in a minute, man."

"No, you won't."

"I just let Monty know you're here." Bryce told him, "So, yeah, I'll see you in a second, Matti."

The second Mattias and Melanie stepped outside, their vision was blocked by the teen in question.

Monty looked between the two, a scoff escaping his lips. However, much to their surprise, he didn't comment on them hanging out, but instead shoved them over to his jeep.

"Mel? What are you doing here?"

"Now's not the time for questions, Zachy!" Monty interrupted before the girl could respond, shoving a beer in his brother's hand, "We're drinking!"

"I'm not drinking that."

"You're drinking it." Monty was leaving no room for him to decline, his eyes holding a steady glare on his brother. He nodded over to Melanie, "If you don't, she will."

Matti's gaze moved towards Mel, who grew more uncomfortable when Bryce joined the group, muttering something about how he ran into Clay in the store.

He saw how Zach kept a close eye on his sister, yet didn't intervene the second he noticed the obvious uncomfortable look that adorned his sister's features.

He watched as Melanie staggered back, her back meeting his chest.

His jaw clenched, as all eyes landed on him.

"Drink it." Bryce smirked.

Something told him that Mattias wouldn't let Melanie take the heat. He was proven right when the rim of the bottle met the younger teens lips.

Monty laughed, patting his brother's shoulder proudly as he emptied the bottle.

"Mel's turn."

As signs of amusement left at Bryce's words.

Justin's own smile fell, his hands moving the glasses from over his face as he looked on.

He let out a faint chuckle, one that only Melanie realized was fake, "Come on, man. Matti drank."

"And now it's Mel's turn."

"I'm okay." The girl denied, gently pushing Bryce's hand away from her face.

She met Zach's eyes. What she expected to see was a stern look telling her not to give in, but all she saw was pity.

She knew Zach wasn't gonna help her.

"Drink it." Bryce egged on.

"She said she's okay." Mattias' shoulders squared, his hand meeting the Dempsey girl's waist to pull her away.

The glare he held seemed to be enough for Bryce to back off. Or, maybe it was the fact that it wasn't only Mattias who was glaring at him, but Justin and Alex as well.

The latter teens didn't seem to understand why Zach didn't help his sister, and instead watched her grow more and more uneasy the longer Bryce's gaze lingered on her.

It was as if he didn't know the trouble Bryce had caused for Melanie. If he did know and just didn't care, it was safe to say they thought it was a bitch move.

As if God wanted to bless them, Clay Jensen rounded the corner, taking the attention off of Melanie and Mattias, giving them the chance to sneak away.

"You come all the way out to Blue Spot. You let Brycey buy you a beer—"

Was the last thing they heard before they were out of sight.

—
A/N: thinking of justin's death...