SHATTERED

twenty-two

saylor

i watched with furrowed brows as jessie took a hit from her vape. "you're lying."

they let out a small laugh. "i wouldn't lie to you, pookie," they playfully jutted their bottom lip out. "i'm serious."

"i just can't believe you haven't been in a relationship," my eyes widened a bit.

they rubbed at the back of their neck. "i dunno, i'm not exactly relationship material," she mumbled a bit embarrassedly.

"what? of course you are," i argued softly. "why do you think that?"

"i don't know. i just don't think that i would do great in a relationship?" they said in a questioning tone. "i think i'd fuck it up one way or another."

"i don't think you would," i murmured. "i think you should have more faith in yourself."

she pulled her hood over her head, and she pulled the drawstrings so that it closed around her face. "mm, i guess so," they sighed. "what about you, miggy? have you been in a relationship?"

i looked up at miguel. my head was laying in his lap as he sat on the couch. jess was sitting on the couch as well, and my legs were in her lap.

"yeah, in high school," i said in a teasing tone as i reached my hand up to playfully pinch his cheek.

miggy swatted my hand away. "i wouldn't exactly count that. we were both so young," he made a face.

"you dated until you were twenty! i'd definitely count that," i nodded.

jessie's brows raised a bit. they then bit their lip. "well, i'm always down to try a relationship with you," she said in a playful tone as she made a fuck boy face at him.

"you don't even like men!" he accused.

"i like you. you're an exception. c'mon, baby boy," she made a kissy face at him.

"ew. never call me that again," his face scrunched up, which caused me and jessie both to laugh loudly.

jj poked me. "what about you, pookie? have you ever been in a relationship?" she tilted her head.

"a few, but i've only had one serious relationship," i shrugged. "we dated for almost two years. the relationship was over long before we broke up though, if that makes sense."

"yeah, it does," they nodded. "damn, i'm sorry."

i waved her off. "it's in the past; it's whatever."

i glanced over at alex. they were sitting in the chair that was across from the couch. they were smoking a cigarette, seemingly drowning out our conversation. i tilted my head.

"what about you, alex?" i asked.

their brows knitted together, and they looked over at me. "huh?"

"have you ever been in a relationship?" i rephrased. "you don't seem the type."

their jaw clenched. "the fuck does it matter to you?" they looked away as they took a drag from their cigarette.

i frowned a bit. "i'm just curious. have you?"

"it's none of your damn business."

i tilted my head with furrowed brows as they suddenly got up, walked to the front exit of the practice building, left and slammed the door closed.

damn. okay then.

i turned to jessie. "what was their problem?"

she looked at me with an almost helpless facial expression. they shrugged.