Forever and Always

One Month Later...

Alexa’s POV

“Hey Cupcake,” Felix greeted as he wrapped his arms around me, planting a sweet kiss on my cheek. I smiled at his affectionate gesture and turned to face him, returning the peck. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah,” I replied with a grin.

“You look absolutely stunning, by the way,” he winked playfully.

“Thanks, but you’re looking pretty good yourself,” I remarked, taking in his attire. I was wearing a black dress that had a small cut revealing a hint of cleavage, while Felix was sporting black ripped jeans, a white shirt, and a black denim jacket.

And, well, he looked incredibly handsome.

The car came to a stop, and I could already hear the loud music and see the vibrant lights emanating from the party venue. As we stepped out of the car, Felix and I headed into the house, hand in hand. It was a party we’d been invited to, mainly thanks to some cheerleader girls from our school who had their eyes on Felix. Initially, I was hesitant about attending, but Felix convinced me by promising a weekend just for us afterward.

The music was blaring as we entered the house, and I immediately spotted Emily in the crowd. She noticed us and practically squealed with excitement, rushing over to give me a tight hug. I laughed and hugged her back.

“Girl, you should try the whiskey. It’s the best!” Emily shouted over the music, her voice barely audible above the noise. I grinned and shook my head.

“Sorry, but I don’t drink!” I called back. She rolled her eyes playfully.

“Everything has a first time, Lexi!” She grinned mischievously. I couldn’t help but giggle at her enthusiasm. As we chatted, I began scanning the room for one person in particular.

Felix.

He was deep in conversation with Mike, and soon enough, Grace joined them. She managed to drag Felix onto the dance floor, despite his initial reluctance. They were dancing closely, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of unease watching him dance with another girl. I frowned slightly, trying to shake off the feeling.

My attention was diverted when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around to find Mike smirking down at me.

“Wanna give it a shot? Might hurt a little less,” he teased, pointing to the glass in his hand. I raised an eyebrow at him, intrigued, and took the glass. I gulped down the liquid in one go, feeling the warmth spread down my throat.

Emily came over and ushered both of us to the bar, where she ordered shots for us. I joined in and took a few more sips.

Surprisingly, I was feeling pretty good despite the drinks. Felix made his way to me, a charming smile on his face. He pulled me into a tight hug, but my mood wasn’t as cheerful as his.

“Why the grumpy face, Muffin?” he asked with concern lacing his voice. I didn’t immediately respond, still feeling a bit down. He held me closer, sighing softly. “I missed you.”

I sighed too, my frustration showing. “I missed you too.” I replied with a huff, though I couldn’t help but soften at his affectionate words.

Okay, maybe I was a little bit drunk.

“Are you mad at me? What did I do?” he probed gently.

I leaned my head against his chest, my words slightly slurred. “You didn’t dance with me. You danced with that pretty girl.” I glanced down, feeling a mix of jealousy and vulnerability.

He smirked, his voice teasing. “Are you jealous?” he asked, clearly amused.

I shook my head rapidly. “N-no.” I lied, my cheeks heating up with embarrassment. I wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding my feelings.

“Fine, Cupcake. You wanna dance? Let’s dance,” he declared, pulling me back onto the dance floor. I followed his lead, allowing the music to wash over me as we moved together.

Minutes turned into moments, and soon we were dancing with fervor, our hands wandering and our lips meeting in between the music.

One of the cheerleaders, the host of the party named Jess, joined us. “Come on, you two! We’re playing ‘Never Have I Ever’,” she shouted over the music. She had a mischievous grin on her face, and I found myself smiling back.

Felix and I were ushered over to a semi-circular couch where the game was about to begin. I found myself seated on Felix’s lap, close to him and feeling his warmth. The game kicked off, and we took turns sharing our ‘never have I ever’ statements.

“Okay. Never have I ever... had sex in a car,” Jess started with a smirk. Everyone except Emily, Felix, and I took a drink. I raised an eyebrow at Felix, who chuckled at my reaction.

“I’m not playing, Cupcake,” he whispered, brushing a hand over my hair before kissing my cheek. My cheeks flushed, but I played along.

As the game continued, I found myself having fun despite my initial reservations. We laughed, shared stories, and even took some more shots. Emily was getting quite drunk, and Mike decided it was time to take her home. As the party wound down, I realized I was ready to call it a night too.

I thanked Jess for the invite and told her I had a blast. Felix and I headed back to the car, ready to head home.

“Are you sure you’re not too drunk to drive? I can call Dad to pick us up,” I suggested, concerned about Felix’s state. He shook his head, holding the car door open for me.

“No need, Cupcake. I’ll drive us home safely,” he reassured me. I nodded and got into the car.

As we drove down the straight road, a car suddenly appeared out of nowhere, heading directly towards us. Felix swerved sharply to avoid a collision but ended up hitting a tree.

My heart raced as the impact jolted me, and I could feel my face hitting the airbag.

In an instant, life went from a high to a heart-wrenching crash.