Avoiding Responsibility (Avoiding 2)

Lexi wasn't sure what it was about the looks that passed between the girls that made it seem confrontational. Yet it was there. Of course, there was a long history between them and as she had realized long histories usually came with lots of secrets...and animosity. One thing was for sure though. Maddie did seem to be the most normal of the bunch. In a different world, if they hadn't grown up together and Lexi had met her some other way, they could have been friends. She was going to stick close to her for the rest of the night for sure. Even though she knew that would probably only worsen her position with Bekah. Lexi didn't particularly care though.

"Lex?" Bekah asked the word slipping off her tongue.

Lexi cringed at Jack's pet name. She had tried to get over her distaste for the nickname so she could move on with her life. But hearing Bekah say it sounded pretty shitty. "Uh...yeah?" she asked realizing that she hadn't said anything and all the girls were staring at her.

"What do you think?" Bekah purred smoothing out an invisible wrinkle.

Lexi examined her more closely. The pink silk clung neatly to her body. A cute sweetheart neck accentuated her best feature, but her very narrow hips were just as obvious. Luckily for her, her long legs were sculpted and tan. Yet she wouldn't, no, couldn't tell her any of that. Lexi didn't care if she was pretty or not.

"That's a dress," Lexi said after a second. She couldn't help but be completely nondescript.

Amber furrowed her brow clearly understanding the statement. Just as she began to say something, Bekah smacked her on the shoulder as discreetly as possibly. "Thanks," Bekah said smiling brightly. "I love it."

All Lexi wanted to say was that it didn't matter what Bekah was wearing because she was such a foul person. But if she was restraining her entourage, then Lexi could hold back for a night.

"Oh," Lexi said jumping at the vibrations coming from her phone resting on the counter next to her purse. Maddie reached it first yanking it off the counter and looking down at the screen. "Don't," Lexi snapped reaching for the phone.

"Who's this?" she cooed playfully.

"I'm sure its no one...or none of your business."

"I was expecting Ramsey," Maddie said her eyes snapping back up to Lexi.

"I really don't like people touching my phone," Lexi muttered reaching out her hand. Old habits die hard. Her experience with Jack had made her perpetually terrified of people touching her phone...even when she had nothing to hide.

"Not so fast," Maddie said giggling and stepping away from Lexi. "Don't you want to know who's calling you?"

"Yes and if you'd hand it over," Lexi began. She had gone into panic mode by now. She had no idea who could be on the other line. She certainly had guesses none of which were too appealing with present company.

"Well I wanna know who it is Maddie. You're keepin' us all guessin'," Amber drawled taking a few steps closer to Maddie in hopes of getting a look.

"Now, now, now...you know the rules of the game," she said holding the phone close to her chest. "If you get it right, then you get the prize."

"That's not fair," mousy Kersey mumbled. "We don't know Lexi like we know each other and you've already taken Ramsey's name off the list."

"I didn't say it was fair, but rules are rules," Maddie said a sly twinkle in her eye.

"Um...that's my phone. I don't want it involved in any game," Lexi said stepping even closer.

"Come on Lexi, you heard the rules on the way here," Maddie said shaking her finger at her.

Lexi didn't have it in her to mention that she'd been entirely excluded from all conversations in the limo. She just shook her head helplessly realizing she wasn't getting her phone anytime soon. At least not anything short of tackling her and wrangling it free from her grasp. She was starting to see how Maddie fit in.

"B show her the list," Maddie directed pointing out their purses.

"Yeah Lex," Bekah snapped obviously enjoying what was going on. She produced a sheet of white paper with a list of instructions on them. "This is how I'm keeping my bachelorette party exciting. Ten things to do before the end of the night. And look you've helped start us out with number six," she said pointing her manicured finger over the rule.

Lexi snatched the paper from her hands and read the rule. Steal someone's cell when it rings. If bride, answer the phone and pretend to be the other person. Otherwise make others guess the name. Whoever guesses it right, gets to call them back. If no one guesses right, then the whole group calls them back on speaker. Retry until you get a guy.

"You should be glad it wasn't Ramsey," Maddie said wiggling her eyebrows up and down at Bekah.

"Oh gross," Bekah said making a gagging noise. "I'll leave that to you."

Lexi turned to face Maddie realizing what had just been said. Maddie had been with Ramsey at some point. Great. Just what she needed to know before spending the night with these four girls. She couldn't believe he had been with her when the first time he'd pointed them out he had seemed to be annoyed with them and their groupthink mentality. She didn't even want to contemplate the fact that Maddie had been part of the reason why he was annoyed. There was too much there...

"Oh woops Lexi...did you not know that?" Bekah asked playing coy.

"Bekah," Maddie snapped. "I'd rather not be reminded of the time you tried to kill me. Can we move on to the game please? You still have to guess."

Bekah's blue eyes were rimmed with anger at the change in subject. Some part of her must have not been expecting Maddie to change the subject so easily. "Ok M," she growled. Kersey put a comforting hand on Bekah's arm as if to remind her of where they were and who was around. Bekah took a deep breath. "Is it a guy?"

"This isn't twenty questions," Maddie replied raising one eyebrow.

"Fine, Chyna. That's your friends name right?" Bekah questioned turning on Lexi. She just nodded kind of amazed that Bekah remembered that from a year ago.

"Nope not Chyna," Maddie said glancing down at the name again. "I don't think anyone's going to get this."

"Wait," Lexi cried. "Do I get a guess?"

"After everyone else, but you still have to call the person back. Otherwise, we call on speaker," Maddie warned.