Malachi has been dating Y/N for years. His friends just never knew. Until they see his lockscreen… a picture of him kissing a mysterious girl.
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@lover_13The apartment smelled like someone had microwaved pizza rolls and then forgotten about them twice.
Late afternoon light slanted through the blinds of Josh's living room, striping the couch, the coffee table, and the four people sprawled across both.
On the TV, a paused game screen idled in the background, forgotten. The real entertainment had relocated to the floor.
Mk
flat on his back, controller balanced on his chest Bro, I'm telling you. If you draft that team again I'm leaving. I'm walking out that door and never coming back.
Joshua Colley
grinning, elbows on his knees You say that every time.
Mk
And one day I'm gonna mean it.
Kylie Centrall
curled up in the armchair, scrolling her phone, not looking up He won't. He literally lives here.
The door to the hallway opened. Malachi came back in with a bottle of water, dropped onto the end of the couch, and immediately went back to losing an argument he wasn't even part of.
Malachi Barton
grins, cracking the bottle open Mk's right though. Your defense is trash.
Joshua Colley
MY defense?! You finished with like four points last round—
Malachi Barton
Four clutch points. There's a difference.
Kylie Centrall
There really isn't.
Then his phone buzzed. Malachi glanced at it, and something in his face went soft — quick, small, almost nothing. He typed back, still smiling at the screen.
Mk
eyebrows up Who's that?
Malachi Barton
locking his phone, pocketing it in one smooth motion Nobody. I gotta pee. Be right back.
He was already off the couch. The bathroom door clicked shut down the hall.
Kylie Centrall
eyes narrowed at his retreating back Nobody doesn't make you smile like that.
Mk
Nobody makes him smile like that.
For a beat, the room settled. The game screen hummed. Kylie turned a page on her phone.
Then Malachi's phone — abandoned on the coffee table, screen-side up — lit the entire room.
Joshua Colley
goes very still Uh…
Kylie's head snapped up. Mk sat up like someone had pulled a string.
The lockscreen blazed across the table. Malachi — mid-laugh, eyes closed, one hand cradling someone's face — kissing a girl. Dark hair. Her face half-hidden against his. The picture wasn't new. It had the faded, familiar look of a photo that had lived on a phone for years.
Mk
slowly reaching over I'm— okay. Okay, I'm looking at it. Yeah. That's a kiss.
Kylie Centrall
That is so a kiss.
Joshua Colley
That's his lockscreen.
Mk
grabs the phone, tilts it toward the light Who is that?? Is she an actress? Wait— has she been in something? She looks—
Kylie Centrall
leaning in over his shoulder You can't even see her face, Mk, how would you know?
Mk
defensive I'm just saying she could be famous. She's got that vibe.
Joshua Colley
She's got the vibe of someone Malachi's been hiding from us for a while. points at the screen That photo is old. Look at his hair.
They all stared at it. The pause stretched.
Kylie Centrall
quietly, like a realization landing Guys.
Mk
What.
Kylie Centrall
Remember that call he took in the middle of your birthday dinner? And he came back smiling?
Joshua Colley
He said it was his mom.
Kylie Centrall
His mom.
Mk
eyes widening Oh my god, remember last winter when he kept ditching us at the mall? Said he had "errands"?
Joshua Colley
Bro, he made me drive him to LAX. TWICE. In one month.
Mk
staring at the lockscreen again There's no way that's just some girl.
Kylie Centrall
nods, dead certain That's his girlfriend.
Joshua Colley
Okay, but WHO?
Footsteps. Down the hallway. All four of them whipped toward the door at once.
Malachi came back in. He looked at his friends. He looked at Mk's hand. He looked at his own phone in Mk's hand.
He went very still.
Malachi Barton
slowly …Why are you all looking at me like that?
Nobody answered. The silence got longer than was comfortable.
Mk pointed at the screen. Then held the phone up.
Mk
Who's the girl?
Malachi's eyes dropped to the lockscreen. Something flickered across his face — gone before anyone could catch it. He crossed the room, plucked the phone out of Mk's grip, and locked it without rush.
Malachi Barton
pocketing it Oh, her?
Joshua Colley
YES. HER.
Malachi Barton
shrugs Nobody.
Mk
blinks Nobody?
Malachi Barton
Mhm.
Mk
Malachi, that's literally a picture of you kissing someone.
Malachi Barton
already walking toward the kitchen You guys are imagining things.
Joshua Colley
up off the couch We are NOT imagining the picture—
Kylie Centrall
out of the armchair too Is she your girlfriend? Do we know her? How long have you been seeing her?
Mk
hot on his heels What's her NAME, bro?
Malachi Barton
over his shoulder, unfazed, grabbing a plate It's not important.
Mk
Not important?!
Malachi Barton
smiling innocently You guys are way too invested in my lockscreen.
The three of them stopped in the kitchen doorway and exchanged a look. Mk raised his eyebrows. Kylie's eyes said no way. Joshua crossed his arms.
From the counter, Malachi turned his phone face-down. Then face-up again. Then, quick as anything, snapped it face-down once more and kept his hand on top of it.
Kylie Centrall
crossing her arms You know we're going to find out.
Malachi Barton
unbothered, popping a cold pizza roll Have fun with that.