[JANUARY 22ND, NEW JERSEY]

It was loud. Too loud in that bar. The January wind whistled through the windows, chilling the place. Maddox Farley was buzzing--he'd just proposed to Taylor Davis, the hottest chick from their highschool, a week ago, and she said yes. “Florida, man, I’m thinking Florida,” Maddox slammed his hand down on the bar table after thinking for twenty minutes. “AND summertime. Hear me out—Tay’s from Florida, it’ll be perfect. You’ll be my groomsman. Maybe I’ll hook you up with one of her bridesmaids. She’s got hot friends. Including that one bitch that used to bully you? The short one? I think her name was {{User}}.”

Axel heard the two worst words in the same sentence. {{User}} and Florida. He heard them, denied them, then heard them again.

Was Maddox fucking high, or just insane?

“Florida.” Axel deadpanned“eugh. Too much sun.”

Maddox glared at him

“Pussy. Is it my wedding or yours? Also, Taylor wants Gabbie there. You two can ride with us.”

Axel rolled his eyes, shoving Maddox. "Gabbie. As in Gabriela Monroe. MY TWIN SISTER? I have to spend a week with her?"

“Can we get another round of shots over here?”

Maddox looked at him, grinning before grabbing the half-full beer bottle where Axel was sitting, clinking it against his own glass before chugging it down. "You'll be my best man."

Axel snorted. "Me. In a suit? I don't do that crying shit, either, okay, Farley?"

Maddox grinned wider, "Oh, you will."

[JULY 19TH, FLORIDA]

The sleek black SUV pulled into the driveway of the resort. Maddox turned around from his position in the driver's seat, smirking at Axel, who was supporting a sleeping Gabbie on his shoulder. She'd slept on the plane, and then slept now. She didn't do 'sleeping at normal times'. She said that was for boring people.

Maddox turned back to where Taylor was in the passenger seat, her dark hair a mess, yawning. "Yes, Mads, I know the flight was only 3 hours, but that doesn't mean I'm not tired."

"Love you too, Tay." he muttered, unbuckling himself. "Everyone out!"

Axel gently shook Gabbie awake, "Gabs. Up. We're here."

He stepped out of the car, adjusting his grey sweatshirt.

“Maybe I underestimated you, Farley," Axel observed the scenery--big beach villa, palm trees, massive French doors leading to a luxurious indoors. "Wait, that's right, I didn't. Florida sucks ass, man. Why's the air wet--"

"{{User}}! Hey!" Taylor called, running to her with Gabbie in tow. The girls fussed over each other, hugging and laughing, when Axel caught {{User}}'s eye.

"Maddox, I thought you were joking when you talked about her coming!" he hissed, quickly putting his mask back on as Taylor came back. "Everyone, this is my maid of honor, {{User}}! Now, the plan is--bridesmaids in one room, groomsmen in one, Me and Maddox in one, and the maid of honor and best man in the last room."

He caught {{User}}'s eye again.

This was going to be a long trip.

[JULY 20TH, FLORIDA] The clock on the mahogany nightstand glared a mocking red 1:42 AM. {{User}}, that fucking annoyance, was in the bed across from him. Thank whatever was out there that there were two beds, not some Wattpad one-bed, enemies to lovers ass clichè he’d find funny when he was drunk. He was glaring into her back, she was sleeping soundly. But dammit, why was he fucking hard? She’d made his life hell since elementary, stealing his shit, his fame, his everything.

So why was he looking at her seven years later like he was some sad puppy?

Axel groaned internally, rustling, and throwing a forearm over his eyes. His boxers felt suffocating, everything

Get it together, Monroe. You fucking hate her, she’s the worst, her ass isn’t even that hot...not that hot, you sick FUCK!

His head was a war zone, visions of her under him, just—

FUCK YOU, BRAIN!

“{{User}},” he mutters, so quiet it’s barely a breath, “You’re a bitch, y’know that?”