third person pov

once malani didn't show up at home, and midnight hit. fezco assumed something happened between ashtray and malani, also because of ashtrays pissy mods he had been in all day.

ashtray didn't think malani had cheated on him, it not something she would do.. but it was the fact he saw that text and then troy was next to her, it all seemed true. and it pissed him off. maybe he was overreacting a little bit, or acting before taking to her about it, like he should've done. but it was too late now, malani didn't show up at home, and he hasn't talked to her since he told her to 'fuck off' at school.

fezco pushed himself up from the couch, grabbing his keys and walking out the door without telling ashtray where he was going, like he usually does.

he didn't know exactly where malani was, but the last time she didn't show up home, she was at her friends house.. the place he was heading to, in hopes she'd be there.

it was raining too, which worried fezco, that if she wasn't there.. if she was outside, sitting in the dark and in rain.

once he reached hazels hosue, he pulled over next to her house, getting out and walking up to her door.

he let a breathe, knocking on the door.

he could hear music inside, and a loud voice before the door swung open. but he wasn't met with malani, it was hazel.

"is malani here?" he asked her, and her eyes squinted as if she couldn't see.

"are you a cop?" she asked, making him sigh. "no."

she stayed there for a second, before letting out a laugh. "malani!" she yelled, and seconds later malani came running.

it was clear she was drunk, as she grabbed onto hazels shoulder so she didn't loose her balance, and laughed a little. malani looked up, meeting eyed with fez.

"fezzzzz." she dragged out, moving from hazel.

"cmon." he sighed, grabbing her arm gently.

"aw.. i have to leave?" malani frowned, making fez sigh. "yeah, mal. cmon."

she whined a little, before turning back to hazel. "bye!" and then let fezco pull her to his car, both of them getting wet by the rain.

once sitting malani in the passenger seat, he went over to the drivers side and sat down, letting out a sigh before turning to malani who was already looking at him, a smile on her face.

"i missed you, fez! my head hurts, though." she said, grabbing her head.

he chuckled, shaking his head, but didn't start the car.

the rain seemed to sober malani up the tinniest bit, but fezco wanted to wait longer before starting the car and driving home.

malani laid her head on the seat, looking at fez.
"where are we goin?"

"home.. in a minute." he answered her, turning to see if he had a water bottle in his car, even if it was hot and old, he wanted malani to sober up. and eventually he found one.

"here." he opened it, handing it to her, and she gladly took it from him.

after a little while, fezco started the car and started heading home. "mal.. did something happen between you and ash?"

malani turned her head to him, "ashtray.. oh, yeah."

fezco noticed her sudden mood change, and let out a breathe, he pulled into the parking lot but started talking before malani could get out. "what?"

malani seemed hesitant to tell him, but continued anyway. "uh.. i guess he thought i cheated on him. but i didn't! i wouldn't."

he nodded, bitting his lip. "you know mal.. that's why i didn't  want anything going on between y'all."

malani raised her eyebrows, her mind immediately going to.. 'the talk'

"i didn't want you guys to break up and me be in the middle of it." he laid his head back on the seat. "i love you both.. you know? i didn't want to have to pick a side and shit."

malani grew more nervous, now feeling guilty. but fezco continued talking.

"but y'all seem to like each other..." he made a cringe face, making malani chuckle a little.

"just promise me.. whatever happened between y'all, i'm not in the middle of it." he turned to her, and she smiled, nodding her head.

"you won't be." she held out her pinky, and he smiled, locking his with hers.

the two always made pinky promises, since malani was little she told him she didn't like when people broke pinky promises, and she swore she'd never break any of her. so when they did this.. it was more a believable promise.

fezco pulled her into a hug, and malani felt okay again. aside from the argument her and ashtray we're having, her mom calling and trying to ease her way into her life, and sage ended their friendship, in this moment... she was okay.

they pulled away, and then both headed inside. before malani could walk off to her room, fezco spoke up again. "talk to ash alright?... he'll come around."

she nodded, a small forming on her face. and then turned again, but this time she didn't know if she should go to her room or ashtrays.

'talk to ash' she shrugged, walking over to ashtrays door and knocking lightly. she knew it was close to two in the morning, so he could be sleeping.

"ash?" she spoke, still standing outside his door. and once he didn't answer after awhile, she sighed, and walked away.

he'll come around.

AUTHORS NOTES:

okay now i have no clue what to write, but i'll figure it out 😭 i wanna end this soon so i can start the next book before school starts, cause when it does i won't be able to write as much

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