Modern Family 06

[ 3 months later ]

Summer is in full swing in LA. The school year wrapped up with Alex proudly holding her spot at the top of her class though for the first time, her stellar grades weren't her only source of happiness. Her relationship with Jake has become something steady and quietly intense, and it's obvious to anyone paying attention that Alex has blossomed.

She laughs more, spends less time alone with her books and even goes out on weekends, sometimes with Haley dragging her along, sometimes just because Jake has a new spot he wants to show her.

Jake, for his part, has become a fixture in her life. They've slipped into an easy rhythm of texting, late-night calls, sneaking him over whenever they can or going to his studio.

[ Dunphy House ]

Alex paces in her room, nervously adjusting her shirt. Downstairs, Claire is bustling around the kitchen, Phil is setting up the grill in the backyard, and Luke is already plotting how to embarrass his sister.

Jake is coming over officially for the first time not as the mysterious boy, not sneaking up to her room at midnight, but as Alex's boyfriend, invited for family dinner.

When the doorbell rings, Alex's stomach flips. She bolts halfway down the stairs before catching herself and slowing to a casual walk or what she hopes passes for one.

Phil opens the door to Jake's easy smile and confident handshake. Claire stands a few paces behind, arms crossed but eyebrows raised with obvious curiosity.

"Hi, Mr. Dunphy, Mrs. Dunphy." Jake says smoothly, flashing that charming grin that melts Alex every time. "Thanks for having me over."

Phil beams, clapping him on the shoulder. "Any guy who makes our Alex smile like she does these days is welcomed here! Come on in."

Claire, ever the cautious mom, gives him a longer look before offering a polite. "Hello, Jake."

Jake nods, then his eyes flick to Alex, softening. She rolls her eyes at him but can't stop her grin.

The sun dips low, string lights turning on overhead. Everyone's gathered around burgers, salad, and chips spread out between them. Jake sits next to Alex, their knees brushing.

Claire keeps sneaking these little scrutinizing looks at Jake, while Phil is all warm smiles. Luke's inhaling food. Haley is half-texting, half-watching the show.

Jake sets down his fork. "Thanks again for having me over, Mr. and Mrs. Dunphy. It means a lot."

"Come on in, have seconds, thirds we're Dunphys, we don't judge stomach capacity." Phil says.

Jake laughs. "I'll keep that in mind. Seriously, this is great. I haven't had a big family dinner like these."

Claire arches a brow. "Oh? What about your parents, Jake?"

Alex tenses. Jake gives her knee a reassuring squeeze under the table.

"Never knew them. I was in foster care, bounced around a bit. Learned to rely on myself pretty early." He answers.

For a moment, everyone goes quiet. Even Luke pauses mid-bite.

"Well, you seem incredibly well put-together. Sharp kid. Responsible. Didn't even try to sell me a pyramid scheme yet!" Phil leans in, smiling wide.

"Dad!" Alex groans, face in her hands.

Jake grins. "Not my style. I stick to websites work. Keeps me busy."

Claire tilts her head slightly. "Tech work, huh? That's.. impressive. How did you get into that?"

Jake shrugs. "Always loved computers. Figured out people always need someone to fix things or build sites. Pays the bills. And keeps me in date money."

Alex elbows him, cheeks pink. "Oh my god, don't say that in front of my parents."

Haley smirks, putting her phone down for the first time. "Look at you, Alex. Dating the mysterious self-made guy. So much hotter than your eighth grade spelling bee crush."

"Haley!" Alex shoots her a death glare.

Luke perks up. "Wait, Jake, if you're good with tech, can you make me a fake ID?" He asks and Jake laughs at that.

Claire nearly drops her fork. "Luke!"

Phil leans back in his chair, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "So Jake, tell me you like sports? Because I've been trying to get Alex to watch more basketball with me. She claims it's 'statistically improbable nonsense.'"

"That is not what I said. I said the fouls system is inconsistent and-" Alex rolls her eyes.

Jake laughs. "I like sports, Mr. Dunphy. Play some pickup basketball, hit the gym. Keeps me sane. But honestly, I'd rather watch Alex try to explain physics to me."

Haley snorts. "Oh my god, are you guys seriously this gross all the time?"

"We're not gross! We're normal." Alex blushes.

Claire raises her eyebrows. "Well, normal is relative. Though you do seem to make Alex happy, Jake. That's worth more than any GPA or trophy around here."

Luke leans forward suddenly, mouth full. "So did you two, like, meet in the library or something?"

Alex groans. "Not quite. Physics class."

"And then I kept accidentally running into her. Hard to resist." Jake smirks.

Haley laughs, shaking her head. "Wow. Jake, just so you know, if you ever screw up, I'm totally taking Alex's side. Sister code."

Alex rolls her eyes but smiles. "Thanks, Haley. I think."

"Well. As long as you both remember school is still your priority.. I suppose this all feels nice." Claire glances between them, finally giving a small approving nod.

Phil claps his hands together. "Group photo!"

"Wait, what?" Jake blinks.

But it's too late. Phil's already whipped out his phone, gathering them all in for a squishy, slightly chaotic Dunphy family selfie, Jake awkwardly leaning in with a big grin as Alex clutches his arm.

They finishes the dinner then starts to clean off the table. Jake grabs a couple plates, following Alex into the kitchen.

"You don't have to do that," Alex says, bumping her shoulder against his with a tiny smile.

Jake shrugs. "Want to. Besides, I like seeing you in domestic mode."

"'Domestic mode'? I'm rinsing dishes, Jake, not baking a pie in a 1950s sitcom." Alex scoffs.

He sets the plates down, then slips an arm around her waist, tugging her closer. "Still cute. " He whispers before kissing her, quick and soft.

Alex stiffens for half a second, eyes darting toward the doorway, then melts, her hands catching the sides of his shirt. "Stop," she whispers against his mouth. "My parents are literally right-"

"Hey, lovebirds, careful with the breakables!" Phil calls as he pops in, startling them apart. He's grinning, though. Claire comes in right behind him, carrying more glasses.

"Actually, Jake," She says, setting them down. "we were just saying you don't have to keep calling us Mr. and Mrs. Dunphy. It's Claire and Phil."

Jake blinks, caught off guard, then smiles. "Got it."

"Perfect. Now you're basically family." Phil claps him on the back.

"Dad.." Alex groans and Jake laughs.

Claire shakes her head, but she's smiling too as she starts rinsing glasses. "You two can dry. And maybe keep the smooching to a minimum?"

Jake gives Alex's hand a squeeze. "No promises."

Alex just sighs, but there's a softness in her eyes as she elbows him lightly and starts stacking dishes.

When they're done, they join Haley in the living room, where she's half-watching a reality show. Jake flops down on the couch, pulling Alex into his lap. She squeaks again but doesn't move, letting herself lean against him.

"There's that night market by the pier tonight. You guys should come with me I don't feel like going alone." Haley says.

Jake perks up immediately. "That actually sounds fun."

"Ugh. No. People. Loud music. Sticky funnel cake fingers." Alex says.

Haley rolls her eyes dramatically. "Which is exactly why you need to come. You might spontaneously combust if your life isn't scheduled down to the minute."

"C'mon, Alex. I'll hold your hand the whole time. Keep the crowds from getting too close. Maybe win you something stupid." Jake looks at Alex with a grin.

Alex crosses her arms but she's already starting to smile. "Fine. But if it sucks, I'm blaming both of you."

As they starts to prepare to move out Phil pops his head out from the kitchen.

"You kids heading out?"

"Yeah, night market at the pier." Haley answers.

Phil nods enthusiastically. "Cool! Text us when you get there. And also when you leave. And when you're halfway home. And-"

"Dad." Haley cuts in, deadpan.

"Right. Have fun!"

Claire appears beside him, drying her hands on a dish towel. "Jake, thanks again for helping cleaning out. And really call us Claire and Phil, okay?"

Jake smiles, squeezing Alex's hand.

"Yes.. Thank you for dinner Claire." He says a bit awkwardly.

"Good." Claire says with a smirk.

Walking out to Jake's car Haley nudges Alex with her elbow.

"Bet you five bucks he tries to win you something cheesy."

Jake throws an arm around Alex's shoulders, pulling her close. "Oh, it's not a bet. It's a guarantee."

"I swear, you two are going to be the death of me." Alex groans but she's laughing, snuggling into his side.

The pier is buzzing with energy strings of lights crisscross overhead, booths selling everything from churros to henna tattoos crowd the walkway, and there's a stage set up with a local band blasting covers of old pop songs.

Jake buys a giant cup of beer, which he shares with Alex and Haley, the three of them wandering through the crowd shoulder-to-shoulder.

"Okay, okay, this way!" Haley says, tugging Alex's arm, nearly spilling their drink. "There's a stand with fried Oreos. We need them."

Alex snorts. "Haley, you literally had fried pickles ten minutes ago."

"Yeah, and they were gross. I need something to erase the trauma."

Jake just laughs, sliding an arm casually around Alex's waist, his other hand juggling the beer. "Don't look at me. I'll eat anything at these places."

After eating questionable fried food, they reaches the concert. The band shifts to a faster song, a mess of drums and guitar that people start clapping along to. Haley immediately drops her bag.

"Okay, this, we are dancing to." She says enthusiastically.

"No way. Nope." Alex's eyes widen.

Haley grabs both of their hands. "Oh yes. You too, Jake. Don't think you're off the hook."

Jake just laughs and lets himself be pulled into the crowd. Alex puts up a token fight, but soon the three of them are dancing in a messy, ridiculous circle Jake spinning Haley dramatically before pulling Alex in.

Alex is stiff at first, but then she starts laughing, hair flying everywhere, her glasses slipping down her nose. Haley whoops, raising their linked hands in the air.

They dance through a full album before getting away to catch a breather.

Alex is half-wheezing. "I can't believe you two made me do that."

"You were adorable. " Jake teases.

"Like an awkward little baby deer." Haley quips.

"Honestly, I'm impressed. Old Alex would've just found a bench and scowled at us the whole time." Haley smirks.

Haley leans closer, smiling at Alex. "I kinda like this new version."

Alex rolls her eyes but she's smiling. "Shut up."

They're all flushed from dancing and cheap beers, shoulders brushing as they walk. Haley's carrying a stuffed flamingo that Jake won at one of the rigged dart games, she refused to let Alex take it, insisting it matched her vibe better.

Jake unlocks the car, and Haley sighs dramatically.

"Okay, fine, you guys were fun tonight. Like, actually fun. I'm glad I dragged you out." Haley says.

Alex bumps her shoulder. "Yeah. Thanks, Haley."

"Don't get all sappy on me. Now let's get a mcflurry on the way home. I demand it." Haley grins

The inside of Jake's car smells like sugar and fried oil as they pull up to the glowing driving. Haley is practically hanging out the window from the back seat.

"Three KitKat McFlurries!" She shouts before Jake even rolls it all the way down.

Alex's head is tipped back against the passenger seat, her hair a little messy, glasses off. "Ugh, I'm gonna regret this tomorrow. I already feel like I swallowed a county fair."

"Shut up. It's a rule you always say yes to late-night McFlurries." Haley pokes her from behind.

Jake grins at Alex. "She's right. It's basically a federal law."

They all eat in the car, cold ice cream mixed with crunchy bits of KitKat, the radio low. Haley eventually stretches out across the back seat, the half-deflated flamingo as her pillow.

Alex tries to steal a bite of Jake's. He blocks her with his wooden spoon. "No way. You got your own."

"Mine's already gone!" She swats him.

"Not my problem. Actions have consequences, Alex."

She gives him a look, then leans across the console to kiss him, a tiny, minty cold press of her lips followed by her tongue teasing his lips. Jake blinks, then sighs dramatically.

"Fine. Take a bite. But only because you bribed me."

"Guys. I'm trying to have a food coma here. Stop being so mushy." Haley groans from the back.

They pull up to the curb just past 1h, Alex's curfew extended thanks to Haley and Jake presence. The house is quiet, one porch light still on.

Haley sits up, hair a mess, flamingo tucked under her arm. "Alright. That was actually kinda perfect. Let's do it again. Like.. not for another year, but eventually."

"Deal." Alex laughs.

They all get inside. Haley peels off to her room with a lazy wave. Jake and Alex pause at the bottom of the stairs. Jake steals one last kiss, his thumb brushing her cheek.

"Sleep good."

Alex slips upstairs quietly after locking the door, heart still racing a little from the night. She falls into bed.

Half an hour later, she sends a text to Jake.

'Next time I'm stealing all your fries too.' She sends.

'If you're ready to payback in bj then you're good' Jake responds to her text.

Her eyes go wide and she bites her lip, cheeks flushing.

'You're such an idiot!' She text back.

A second later she types again, fingers hesitating only briefly.

'But maybe' She clicks on send.