A/N: Soo it's close to midnight here, and I'm so sorry for those of you who have been waiting >_< I'm such a bad person ;__; Here it is! Enjoy my darlings~ and by the way, I have a feeling that Kim is taking over the world o.o

Chapter 20: Smiles, Pranks, and Fouls

[Chip]

Ace's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and he stepped back from Xander's hard gaze.

"Um...d-did I say something wrong? Sorry if I offended you—" Ace began, and he actually seemed sincerely apologetic.

Uwah, is he really Vicky's brother?

Xander's face showed no expression.

"Go away. And don't you dare touch Chip again." His eyes were fierce with warning, his tone dangerously soft as he pulled me back against his chest.

A strong heat rose to my cheeks and I quickly lowered my head to the ground.

"Don't say I didn't warn you, I might—might just accidentally kill you."

"On purpose," Xander added, smiling a little.

Oh no, I think Kim is taking over the whole world. Now Xander's acting like her.

Ace gulped. "Okay. I'll just...go..."

I raised my head a little, just to take a peek.

I'm not sure if Xander saw it, but I was sure that Ace had a smile on his face before he left.

An awfully sad smile.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

[Xander]

I glanced at Chip, the tight knot in my chest easing just a little as the Ashton kid jogged back to his group of friends.

"Angel, if you want to learn Volley you could have asked me you know," I commented, turning to the small frame in front of me.

Then I realized that Chip's eyes were slightly glazed over—as if they weren't focused.

"Chip? Are you okay?"

Still, he didn't reply.

"Chip?" My tone was urgent as I squeezed his shoulders gently.

My angel's head snapped up, and his gaze focused on me. "Yes?"

I slapped a hand to my face in relief. "You scared me there—are you alright? Is it too hot under the sun?"

Honestly, this is one of the very few times I actually cared for someone. I don't even think I've heard myself say those words ever before.

Chip shook his head gently, and smiled. "I'm fine, really. Thank you, I'm sorry I made you worried..."

I realized that Chip was looking at me but he wasn't seeing me. His thoughts were still somewhere else.

And that was the first time he didn't stammer.

"Hey, why don't we get you some sunblock? Your skin's starting to have a pinkish tint," I chuckled, a dirty idea forming unconsciously in my head.

This time, Chip was all ears.

"E-Ehh? Sunblock? I didn't bring any...b-but I don't think I need it—"

"Yes you do, come on," I took hold of his soft hand and led him to the beach umbrella where my bag was.

Fishing out a tube of sunblock, I unscrewed the cap and squirted a well-estimated amount of white lotion.

"Come here," I ordered, motioning for Chip to lie on the beach towel.

"I-I can do it be myself you know..." My angel protested weakly, but obliged all the same.

Aw he doesn't have the will to reject me.

I smirked, proceeding to apply the lotion on his neck and arms. Chip fidgeted a little but didn't complain.

When I slipped a hand under the back of his shirt, he gasped but willed himself to stay still. He was trembling a little from how hard he was trying to remain lying down.

"I-I think that's enough for now—" He stopped midsentence when my hands passed his midsection.

"W-Wait! That...that tickles! St-stop!" Chip managed to gasp between fits of mirth, but I continued (partly for the sake of amusement).

"Not there! Ahaha—no—mph!"

My angel collapsed on the beach towel, trying to catch his breath.

Aw he's ticklish.

"Oi Xander! What are you doing? Get your lazy ass over here!" I heard Blake call from the net.

Always at the wrong time. I cast my gaze skywards for a second or two, and turned to Chip.

"Sorry Angel—Looks like I'm wanted. Is Jack doing anything? Maybe you guys can spend some time together while Kim and her friends are playing ball with us," I suggested apologetically.

"O-Oh...it's okay, I'll...go do some other things then," He smiled convincingly, but not enough. His previously bright, baby blue eyes dulled a little, and his shoulders drooped in disappointment.

So easy to read.

I gave him my best smile, and glancing around to make sure no one was looking, I kissed him on the forehead.

Chip blushed fifty shades of red, his lips slightly parted in surprise. "W-What! Xander th-that's not...appropriate in public!"

I laughed, running my fingers through his hair longingly before we parted.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

[Chip]

I walked back to our beach umbrella, catching Jack taking a light snooze with Anya's magazine covering his face.

Smiling to myself, I nudged him gently.

"Jack? Jack, I'm bored..."

"Mmm..."

"Jack can we do something?"

"Sleep..."

I pouted. "But I want to build sandcastles!"

Jack shifted his head so that he wasn't facing my direction. "Build it yourself..."

"Ehh? But it's more fun with two people!" I protested, shaking Jack's body as much as possible to wake him up.

After a few minutes of persuading, Jack brought out two buckets and a small plastic shovel. We made our way to the middle of the beach, not too far from the net, and settled there.

Jack began loosening the sand while he instructed me to get water from the sea.

With the strong wind blowing in my face, I neared the shoreline.

Glancing back, I saw that Xander was having fun with his friends, and I smiled to no one in particular.

I waited until the shoreline receded, then inched closer to scoop up some water.

Come on...just a little more—MMPH.

All of a sudden, I was hit with a strong wave that reached up above my waist, knocking off my balance.

I felt my feet slip and my knees give in, and I went underneath the surface.

Panicking, my hands unconsciously let go of the bucket as I struggled to push myself off the sand and into a standing position.

The wave drew back into the sea and the current knocked me down once again—but I was able to breathe.

I gasped, coughing and spluttering while I scrambled away from the shoreline, completely forgetting about the bucket.

My clothes heavy from the extra weight of water, I trudged back to where Jack was.

"Jack, I'm sorry, I—"

"I know, you probably had a mini wrestle with the waves and lost the bucket, right?" Jack asked in a rather amused tone.

My mouth hung agape.

"H-How did you—"

"Oh, it never happened before," Jack said sarcastically, chuckling to himself.

I pouted indignantly.

"I...I couldn't breathe okay! Aren't you worried or anything?"

"The only thing I'm worried about is you flashing your nipples to everyone," Jack shrugged.

I looked down, and felt my cheeks burn.

My entire body was wet and my clothes clung to my sides in the most un-glamorous manner. E-Even...even my...n-nevermind.

I quickly crossed my arms across my chest, covering them.

"W-What do I do? Jack do you have extra clothes?" I asked urgently, beyond embarrassed.

Jack squared his shoulders again, "Don't think so. F-Y-I, Xander's eye raping you," He added for extra measure.

Panicking, I glanced over to the net and—Xander was staring at me!

It was the same look he had when we were eating popsicles that time with Giselle.

As if I was a piece of steak or something.

Embarrassed, I hastily lowered my head and nudged Jack.

"What do we do now? I don't want to go back to the shoreline..."

"Roll in the sand, maybe it could get the water off too." Jack suggested.

I stared at him suspiciously but got down to a lying position and rolled on the sand, wringing the water off my clothes.

"Oh, that's good. The sand is moist. Let's start!"

That escalated quickly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jack and I were halfway through our sandcastle when we heard a high-pitched voice.

"How old are you guys? Like—four?"

Jack rolled his eyes, "Got a problem?"

I turned my head to the source of the voice.

Oh, it was Bicky. Ah—I m-meant Vicky.

"Hi Vicky," I greeted, turning back to our sandcastle. Vicky circled our work, as if examining it to give a certain grade. She leaned down, a bit too much, because when Jack and I looked up, we could practically see everything inside her swimsuit/underwear.

"Um...is there something we can—" I began, only to be interrupted.

"It's so ugly," Vicky frowned, picking at the tower of our rook. "It's like—uneven, and it doesn't even look like a real castle."

Uwa, that hurt...

"If you have nothing better to say then go away, we don't need you here," Jack snapped, proceeding to cut out a staircase with some fallen branches that we gathered.

Just as Vicky opened her gorgeously lip-sticked mouth, we heard another voice call from across the beach.

"Vicky? Babe—who you talking to?"

Our heads turned simultaneously.

The blonde whipped around, hair flying into my face. "Oh baby! It was no one," I saw her cast a flirtatious wink in the direction of a well-built player making his way towards us.

Jack snorted, rolling his eyes. "Great, our names are reduced to no one."

I patted his back, slightly used to the treatment. Vicky seemed too distracted by the attractive beach guy to notice our exchange either way.

"Those nobodies?" The guy nodded towards us, raising an eyebrow at my precious sandcastle before resting his gaze on Vicky once again.

She whined, going over to run her hands along his biceps. "Babe, I told you—I only have eyes for you. Besides, those losers aren't even worth my time."

My best friend made a motion of disgust; while I remained silent.

"Really?" The attractive guy who I assumed to be Vicky's boyfriend snaked an arm around her waist. "Then what's this talk about the Xander guy? Val said you two were screwing."

I blinked, slightly taken aback by his words.

Jack resorted to ignoring the obvious public display of affection in front of us, turning his attention back to our sandcastle.

"Oh, why would I?" The pretty girl's arms swept around her partner's head as she pulled him in for a passionate kiss. I averted my gaze, feeling the heat of embarrassment on my cheeks.

U-Uwa! How does one even have the courage to do that in public?

I wouldn't want to be judged in public when kissing another...um, male. 

Um. Or maybe it's just me...

Ah...it's just me, isn't it?

Yeah. It is.

"You're cute when you're jealous baby," Vicky made a strange noise that caused Jack to mimic vomiting. "But I found out a couple of weeks back that the Xander guy has an autistic sister with like, crossed eyes. And he hangs out with those losers over there," She began twirling a lock of her luscious blonde hair.

"I wouldn't let him touch me even he begged," Vicky teased, laughing for good measure.

I felt a heated displeasure in my chest; a sort of suppressed ire that seemed to remember its own existence when Giselle was mocked at.

Then came the guilt—that some people would see Xander for who I was, when the truth was that he's so much better than I am.

Jack clicked his tongue loudly, snapping me away from my thoughts. "Wow Chip, what perfect weather huh?"

Vicky and her boyfriend were close enough to have heard him, but even if they did, they refused to acknowledge the nonsense that he was saying.

"U-Uh, what?" I paused, turning to Jack.

"Too bad someone's blocking the scenery, they're so fat I can't even see the shore!" My best friend yelled senselessly, and I finally caught on.

"O-Oh! Um, um yeah! I...I can't even see the sun!"

Jack gave me a look that said: "Seriously?"

I recoiled sheepishly.

"Wish the dirt in my eyes would go away yeah?"

"Y-Yeah!"

"They should burn in hell yeah?"

"Yeah!"

"They should just get a room in the beach house yeah?"

"Yeah!" I repeated, nodding vigorously—although not too sure what Jack was referring to.

"Baby, let's get away from these losers and perhaps..." Vicky suggested finally as she drew circles on her boyfriend's back. "Go for a quickie?"

Quickie...? What's that?

Maybe it's like Brekkie.

Breakfast.

Well at least they're leaving for something. Yippie!

Jack grimaced as if he got sand in his mouth at the word, shuddering as he went back to the finishing touches of our sandcastle.

But as soon as he turned away, a strange smile appeared on his face—as if he had something in mind.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

[Xander]

"Okay, so...by agreeing with her, we get our revenge?" I felt doubt creeping into my mind as soon as I heard Kim's idea. "Kinda ironic, but what's the point?"

Chip's best friend rolled her eyes and began to explain as her girls planted the evidence in Vicky's pink beach bag. "Well, the last thing she'd ever want is to be associated with some 'losers' right? So we put them in her bag, then when her boyfriend comes to get the condoms—"

"Wait," Blake put up a hand in confusion, "but how do you even know her boyfriend's gonna see all those—"

"How do you even know about the condoms in her bag?"

"Are you sure they're gonna come to the beach house to make out?"

My friends began to fire questions of doubt, but Kim seemed adamant about her plan. "You'll see what I mean. The best kind of revenge is one that lets them taste their own medicine," She shrugged.

"Vicky started it on her own. She was the one who spread rumors about Chip and your sister in the first place."

Blake and Seth stared at Kim in fear and in awe. "You're hot, but...I wouldn't wanna get in your bad books."

Kim nodded in approval. "Well said. We're done here, let's—"

Footsteps.

"Babe? Where are you going?" Came a faint voice from the corridor, and we snapped to attention.

Hide! Kim mouthed, and we scrambled for cover.

I dived into the closet, catching a glimpse of Blake sliding under the bedframe and one of Kim's friends darting behind a couch.

The thought of seven people (not including Vicky and her...boyfriend) hiding in a room felt absurd and almost impossible not to discover—in which we will then all get into some weird shit.

"I'm just going to get my bag," Whined the...duck. I could hear the click of her heels on the flooring as she entered the room, the footsteps of her partner close behind.

Not daring to breathe or move, I crouched still in the small closet—cursing my height for once.

"You should have just told me you had a room," Mused her boyfriend, who must have gotten excited at the sight of the bed.

This is the most awkward situation I've ever been in a long time.

"My girls and I booked this room for a sleepover tonight. After the party you know," Vicky replied airily, but I could tell she was trying to lower her voice for some sort of seductive measure.

Unfortunately, her boyfriend was easy enough—judging from the sound of the door closing, I knew the seven of us were thinking the exact same thing.

Some deep shit we're in.

I tried to zone out; thinking about the different sort of Quicks Blake would signal later during the match, positioning, stuff like that. I mean—who'd want to listen to their archenemy have sex?

Fine, not archenemy; but you get me.

Anyway, as a thankful result, I missed out a couple of lines of their dirty talk and was unfortunate enough to hear a few seconds of their elaborate kissing techniques—

Then Vicky dropped the bomb.

"Hurry babe."

I swear I felt my stomach retaliate the moment the words left her mouth, and I felt the urge to throw up. Figuring that the rest of my friends were probably in the same situation, I simply hoped that this would end as quickly as possible.

"Where's the lube?"

"My bag."

"You came prepared?" Vicky's boyfriend didn't sound so surprised at that. He probably knew what she wanted anyway.

There were footsteps making their way to Vicky's beach bag, which was leaning on the closet I was hiding in. Holding my breath and keeping my body as still as possible, I listened for any sound of shock or anger.

See the fucking thing already!

From the slit between the doors of the closet, I could see a vague silhouette reaching down. There was a sound of him rummaging through the contents of the bag and then...

"Vicky? What's this?"

Score.

"Hm? What's what?" The blonde sounded slightly annoyed but she probably figured that keeping the low voice would retain the mood. There was the sound of heavy footsteps across the laminate flooring.

"Come on babe, let's not get distracted—"

"Not really in the mood anymore, actually," Her boyfriend laid out simply all of a sudden. I tried so hard to contain my laughter.

Shuffling of papers; photographs.

"W-What? This isn't—"

"Hey, 'sokay. You don't really have to explain yourself. You'll just tell more lies," Vicky's partner didn't sound as disappointed as I expected him to be. "I kinda knew you were lying to me all along. 'Cuz...you lie to everyone."

"Ugh! Zach, what? Doesn't everyone else lie too? Like—"

"Yeah, sure. But the lies you tell aren't nice. The rumors you spread about others might have all been exaggerated all along too," Bitch's boyfriend, Zach, laughed bitterly. "Who knows? The pictures suggest you dated this Xander guy and he probably dumped you—that's why you spread rumors about him right?"

There was a loud snap and crushing of papers as Vicky, I assumed, raged in disbelief.

"Zach—I can't...you believe all this? That I dated a guy with an autistic sister? That hangs out with complete losers like that weak gay guy?" She fumed, hissing.

"Yeap. Just like I believed all your little lies," Zach sighed, and I heard the sound of him zipping up his pants. "You guys were screwing all along—okay. Er, actually I've been cheating on you with Emily."

Ohhhh.

Busted.

This guy's pretty mean.

"I don't care anymore!" Vicky screeched—quite unglamorously, I might add. "We are over!"

Zach shrugged. "Did we even start?"

BURNNN—

I heard the quick procession of the opening and slamming of the door, suggesting that Vicky was alone in the room. (Well, technically not alone because there are seven other people hiding in here, and thankfully we didn't witness their...awkward sex.)

The blonde girl was cursing incoherently, kicking whatever that was in her way and grabbing the photos again only to let out a crazed scream. "Those fucking losers!" She shrieked. "Wait till I get my hands on his stupid sister—"

I let out a snort.

I swear—it was an accident.

There was a pause;

Then, footsteps.

The doors of the closet flung open and Vicky's horrified face came into sight.

I smiled, a bit sadistically. "Hi."

.

She fell back, screaming. "What the hell are you doing here, loser?"

"Xander you bitch, you blew our cover!"

Like I said, "It was an accident you bastard—"

"What? Who are...why are all of you—"

"Uh..."

"Kim? Would you like to explain?"

Chip's friend rolled her eyes. "Well..."

"Helllooo?? I asked a question?? Like—what are you doing here? Did you come thinking you'd get a glimpse of my hot body while you're hiding??" Vicky flipped her pin-straight hair haughtily.

...

We left the room without replying, and with her duck-like quacks shrieking at our back.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The announcer's voice blasted through the speakers, "Players please get ready—for the next match will be starting in 10 minutes!"

I slapped Blake on the back, half in contempt for what happened previously, and also half in encouragement.

But since we were going against the Ashton kid (Ace, or whatever), I wasn't going to let my guard down.

I wanted to win.

Well, who doesn't?

However, that was before I caught an actual glimpse of our opponents. On the other side of the net stood Ace and—Zach. Vicky's boyfriend (er, ex actually). Not to mention, that guy was obviously shooting me dirty looks; dagger-like glares.

"You're Xander?"

I raised a brow. "Got a problem?"

"Oh yeah," He smirked, getting into position. "Big one."

O—kay...

"And I should...care?" I asked, sarcastic, letting the arrogant me surface for a moment.

"Oh yeah," Zach repeated as his teammate, Ace, took his position behind. "You should."

Maybe I don't want to win anymore.

I will win.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The whistle sounded and I released the ball into the air, jumping, smashing it over the net.

I cursed inwardly when they received perfectly, set, and spiked it back.

Sprinting towards the ball, I saved it in the nick of time.

Shit. The spike was hard.

I could practically feel the power of the Ashton kid's smash—and it wasn't small.

The heat was crazy, and so was the tension.

Blake faked a set in a different direction, and I dashed towards the ball, leaping and spiking it.

Hard.

The ball spiraled to the sand—out of their reach, and we scored first blood.

The captain and I fived, and got back to our positions.

Crap, I'm really tensed.

Ace was looking at me weirdly, and I could also feel the burn from his hard gaze.

Win;

Win—

Win.

This is fucking weird. Both guys on the other side of the net are related to Vicky. Wow, and she's disgusted with me being related to Giselle.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

We were finally down to the last match, 2 sets to us, and 1 to them. Please, please let us get this one.

My calves were aching from sprinting in sand, and my arms strained from spiking so hard.

It was a given that the finals wouldn't be a breeze, since both teams had given their all down to this last match.

"Xander, you okay?" Blake asked, panting slightly as the referee got into his seat.

I nodded firmly, hands resting on my knees to support my body.

"We got this. Aim at the line, as far as you can."

"Got it."

We got into positions, and I realized that Ace no longer standing in front, where the spiker was supposed to be—despite it being their rotation, the positions were messed up.

In his place was Zach.

They swapped roles?

Why?

I frowned, and the most horrible sensation stirred in the pit of my stomach.

They have something up their sleeves.

The whistle sounded and Zach jump-served across the net. I received, and Blake sprinted towards the ball, setting it towards me.

I jumped, spiking it across.

Ace received, he set the ball towards Zach and I waited, jumping at the right time to block the opponent's attack—

The spike hit my fingers, hard as hell, and the ball went spiraling out of the court.

Shit.

The whistle sounded, and they were up by one point.

I let out a sound of annoyance.

The hell?

"Xander, higher."

"I know," I said, slightly put-off. "I wasn't expecting that."

Again, Vicky's boyfriend started off with a jump-serve, and Blake received neatly, the course of the ball sailing towards me. I made for a straight down, but Zach received—leaving Ace to set it to him.

Higher, I reminded myself before jumping to block the spike. However, it seemed as if Zach loved to hit my fingers because the next thing I knew he was aiming for the tip of my right palm.

I saw his eyes zone in on the area, before his hands conceded and he directed the spike towards my fingers.

The angle of the spike, and the spin he put to it was just weird, and all I knew that it was purposefully aimed at my weaker fingers—ring and pinky.

Though the ball did not go out of court, which meant that the rally was not over; my fingers began to hurt like hell from the impact.

"One touch—"

"Got it!"

I jumped, angling my spike so that Zach wouldn't be able to receive.

Whistle sound—point to us.

"Hey, you okay?" Blake asked, noticing as I cracked my knuckles for a bit. I nodded, not wanting to say anything.

"He could've gone for a straight...wonder why he aimed at your fingers. Cost his team a point."

"Yeah," I pretended to laugh. "Dumb guy."

On the other side of the net, I could see Ace confronting his spiker, narrowing his eyes as he probably questioned the previous move.

"What was that for?" He hissed, albeit loudly. "We could have gotten that point."

His teammate shrugged, then readied the ball to resume game.

The scores inched up the board, and it appeared to be a point for point—but so was the state of my fingers.

It was obvious to Blake and I that Zach didn't really want to win though. He simply wanted to hurt me—which was funny, honestly.

I focused hard, knowing that if this minor thing caused our game my team and I would be destroyed.

I can't lose this.

I can't let him hurt me either.

His harsh spike hit the tip of my fingers once again, and they bent at a very strange angle. It was clear that Vicky's boyfriend could have went for an angled spike; quick A; or even a straight—but of course, the deliberate action was not technically a foul, and hence the referee remained silent.

To my distaste and surprise, it was Ace showing concern. He, too, had noticed his teammate's strange spikes and was not only miffed by the widening point gap, but also the pain in my fingers—as indicated by his constant looks of pity.

Great, he's the last one I need to be feeling sorry.

Great.

I wasn't expecting them to give in at this point of time, and so the moment I heard a strange crack after blocking another one of his spikes; my first thoughts didn't stray anywhere near my fingers—until I felt the sharp pain in my ring finger.

Blake didn't even bother to receive the ball. The crack was so loud that he turned to me immediately with a burst of panic. "What the hell was that—"

Well...never knew it could bend that way.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: *le gasp* Noooo Xander! DD: I hate people who foul but the referees don't notice. Honestly, when I watch Kuroko no Basket I literally curse all the Kirisaki Daiichi guys so badly until I feel guilty X'D 

Thank you for reading~

-Cuppiecake.

P.S: So to clarify some doubts, Cupcake here lives in Asia :D (Yes I'm Asian, the typical one who plays 5 instruments and does well in all her subjects—just kidding!—) My Saturday might be different from yours >_< I'll try my best to update around the evening on every Saturday ^0^

*hugs*

a