text messages {#1} | ?

It has been three days after Christmas and Jace still hasn't texted me yet.

Wait, why should I care?

I internally groaned, not wanting my brother to suspect anything since he's always so observant of me.

We're watching a cooking show on TV. Well, I'm watching it. Max has been busy tapping away at his phone for the past thirty minutes.

"Who are you texting?" I asked.

"Hm?" his eyes flickered to me before focusing back on his phone.

"You've been tapping away on your phone for like, thirty minutes now. Who are you texting? A girl? Oh my gosh, did you finally get a girlfriend?!" I smirked at him, earning myself a glare.

"No, I don't have a girlfriend."
"Oh. Boyfriend, then?"
"What the-"
"It's okay, Max. I totally understand. I won't tell mom and dad if you're not ready to get out of the closet and-"
"May, you idiot. I'm not like that."
"Oh."
"Why the hell do you sound disappointed?"
"I just thought-"
"I was texting Alec, okay?"
"Is he-"
"The hell he is! May, you need to get your head straight. Literally."
"It's just a joke, bruh." I put my hands up in mock surrender and laughed at him.

He gave me another glare as I struggled to breathe due to my non-stop laughing.

"You're impossible," he shook his head, turning back to his phone.

My laugh slowly ceased to a stop.
"But seriously though, what's the hot topic that you and Alec can't seem to stop texting each other about?"

"Not much. He's just way bored out of his mind and complaining stuff about his family day during Christmas and shit," Max shrugged.

"Why don't you guys just hang out or something?" I asked.

"He doesn't want to come over. Says he has to deal with some stuff," Max replied.

"Then why don't you go over to his place?" I asked again.

"May, you're a genius!" Max exclaimed, grinning at me.

I gave him a smug smile. "I know."

"Oh, wait. He changed his mind. He's coming over."

◎

Fifteen minutes later, Max was still lounging on the sofa, now watching a football game while carelessly eating a bowl of popcorn which I made for him.

"Max, don't leave crumbs!" I scolded.

"Relax. That's what vacuums are for, little sis," he waved me off.

I rolled my eyes and walked over to the kitchen for a glass of water.

Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Go get it!" Max yelled to me from the living room.

Grumbling, I made my way to the door, opening it.

Dirty blond hair and pale blue eyes came into view.
Is this Alec? Cause honestly I have no idea what he looks like because of his hoodie that day.

The boy gave me a small smile. "Hi."

"Hey. You're Alec, right? Sorry, I'm a forgetful person," I smiled sheepishly.

"Yeah-"
"Jace! What on earth are you doing here?" my brother's loud voice said from behind me.

I looked at him with a questioning look.
Jace?
Relax, my Jace is not the only one with that name.
Wait, my Jace?!
Oh my god, you did not say that.