I had never wanted to beat anyone so badly, not until I met Sophie. With Biana, our relationship was soft and sweet, the one person I didn't pretend around. My sister saw all my sides. Marella and I usually just tease each other. Keefe and I have our fights, same with Fitz and I, and Dex has been chill while I've known him. But Sophie? God I need to wipe that prideful smile off her face with my victory.

The group decided to go bowling for some reason, hanging out I guess. Usually I wouldn't care that much, do the bare minimum. That's what I was planning to do. We had too many people for one lane so we split into two. It was Biana, Keefe, Sophie, and I on Lane Eight, then Linh, Marella, Dex, and Fitz were on Lane Nine.

We didn't use bumpers to make it more "fun" in Biana's words. I could tell she completely regretted it after getting gutters on her first turn. Keefe was doing just as bad, but at least he had knocked down a few pins. Since I was going third, I didn't try as hard as I could've given that Sophie was going to do just as bad.

I struck down eight pins on my first go, then another one on my second. I could just barely see Sophie's maniac grin as she passed me for her turn. She got a strike. And from the look in her eyes, she didn't doubt herself for a second. And I couldn't let this measly American beat me. She's an American! This is my home, and I had to defend it.

Later on I realized that these thoughts were unlike me, and I sincerely apologize to any readers who may have noticed. I let my emotions get the better of me. It doesn't happen often and it won't happen again.

Biana got three pins on her first roll then one more on her next. I didn't even bother paying attention to Keefe but I could tell he didn't do good. I got a strike, giving Sophie a smug look. Sophie got eight pins down, leaving with one on each side. I laughed, knowing it would be impossible to get both and I would get caught up.

I knew as soon as she turned to me with that little smirk of hers—so much like Keefe's—that she planned this. She approached the lane and released the ball. It rolled rapidly towards the gutters and just barely balanced on the edge, then turning and hitting the pin on the right at just the right angle to send it flying into the pin on the left. She passed me and bumped into my shoulder. Oh this show-off was going down.

The only reason I would ever admit to my defeat is the fact of the witnesses. Everybody who was there already knows. She beat me by one singular point. I blame it on not trying too hard on my first bowl.

"If you think you could've beat me," Sophie started with a smug smirk, "then how about a rematch? You can pick the game." I immediately knew.

"Fine then, let's go to the park."

If I had known Sophie played basketball in America—and was top of her league—I wouldn't have challenged her to it. She's an unknown type variable, and I need more information. There's no way the five foot nothing girl could jump right over my head and dunk the ball. At my six-one height it shouldn't have been possible, yet there she was. Something had to be wrong with her, there's no way she was that good at all sports and I'd beat her eventually. I never trust someone who doesn't lose.

The little psycho picked volleyball next. We played two vs two full court, getting to pick our partners. I almost laughed out loud, this was going to be easy. I obviously picked my girlfriend as my partner. She had been playing volleyball for forever and was a great outside hitter. She always made an ECV team (Eternalia Club Volleyball) so I knew I could win with her. I finally had the upper hand in knowledge.

Sophie picked Dex and I almost laughed again. I could definitely beat Dex. No matter what little clubs they made in America, they couldn't beat Eternalia. ECV was one of the best volleyball clubs in the world, people came from all over to try out.

"I'm feeling generous." Sophie told me where we stood in front of each other with the net between us. "You can serve first." She had that infuriating smirk again (way too much like Keefe's) and it made me want to lock her outside in the rain like I did with Linh when she got on my nerves.

I took the ball and backed up past the serving line. I noticed Keefe looked away and blush when Sophie squatted into ready position. I copied one of his smirks, knowing full well this meant he was head over heels for her. I used a four step float serve that Biana taught me and aimed for right in between my opponents. I was expecting them to either run into each other or think the other was going to get it. What happened instead was Sophie gracefully getting under the ball with a perfect dig, Dex setting it, then the blonde girl using a five step approach to make it to the net and slam it down far enough in front of me that I couldn't reach it in time.

Biana and I couldn't get the serve back for the entire game. I couldn't believe it, I thought Dex would at least suck but both of the cousins were too good. This made me trust them even less.

"How'd you do that?" Biana asked, clearly upset about her loss. I squinted at Sophie when she looked away like she didn't hear, looking uncomfortable.

"We were both in clubs in California." Dex told her. "I started playing when Sophie joined the club, though I'm pretty sure she had been playing since she was little." His use of words confused me. He was pretty sure his cousin had played for a long time? Wouldn't he know?

I had to shrug it off as we went to the next competition. I was going to get a win this time, I just knew it.

We went to the tennis court, a second home to me. It wasn't something people would or should associate with me so that's why only Biana had known about my love of the sport. I didn't care that the others were finding out about it, all I cared about was crushing Sophie Foster to the point where she wouldn't even be able to show her face without the shame of how bad she lost.

Of course, this would only be the start of my winning streak. She already won two games and I had to win more than her. And I would, I knew I would.

We had changed into the appropriate attire for each sport, and I could tell Keefe liked this one the best for Sophie. She was wearing the customary tennis skort and a tank top, both red. Her hair was tied back in a braid my sister did. I wanted to laugh at the heart eyes the prince was giving her. I knew Biana was giving me the same eyes when we started playing. She seemed to like it most when I was doing something enjoyed, which was hardly anything. But when there was something that I liked doing, like tennis, she wanted to come to all my games and watch me have fun. And crush the competition.

Sophie didn't even look worried when I beat her. Maybe because the next game was her pick, but I knew I could beat her in it too. All until she said those three dreaded words.

We made it to our destination fairly quickly, even when I tried to slow us down. Keefe, Dex and Fitz could not stop laughing at me and I knew I had to do something about it. Sophie was getting ready and I couldn't stall for any longer.

"I'm not doing this." Sophie looked at me and smiled.

"Why not?" She asked with a fake innocence. I gave her my best glare. It didn't even faze the little monster.

"This is for girls and not even a real sport. I refuse." The blonde girl's eyes widened.

"What do you mean it's 'not a real sport?' If it wasn't a real sport why are their Olympics for it? Why do tons of people put their hearts and souls into it? If it's not a real sport, why do people train and compete like it is? Competitive figure skating is as real of a sport as basketball or football. It's like saying dance isn't a real sport." She didn't even look competitive anymore, just disappointed. I wanted to feel bad, but I couldn't back down now, it wasn't like me. Until Biana spoke up.

"Why would you say that? You know I'm in dance, Tam, and you know how much it means to me." I sighed and looked down, not wanting to disappoint my girlfriend any more.

"I'm sorry, Biana. I didn't mean it like that. I guess it is a real sport, but I still refuse to do it."

"Are you really that insecure about your masculinity?" Sophie raised her eyebrow.

"Of course not!"

"C'mon Bangs Boy!" Keefe added. "Just do it!"

"How about this! Whoever doesn't participate in the game gives it up to the other person like they played and lost." Linh suggested. "So since Tam is refusing to play, Sophie won?" I hated it, but I agreed because it was better than falling on my face for everyone to see. Sophie smirked as we walked out of the ice skating rink.

We went back to the gym where we played basketball, volleyball, and tennis, and went to the soccer fields outside. I'd been playing soccer as long as tennis, so I knew I had to crush her in this. So far she's only been good at the indoor sports so I was hoping outdoor might get me the upper hand.

It was one vs one, except we each had a goalie. Sophie again picked Dex while I picked Marella. The fiery blonde girl was goalie for Foxfire's girls' soccer team, so I knew she was a good choice.

When I really thought about it, Marella and Sophie looked a lot alike. They had pretty similar face structures, height and hair. I wouldn't have been shocked if they eventually got confused for twins, or at least sisters. The clear difference between the two was their eyes, Sophie's being a warm brown while Marella's were ice blue. The only other difference was their builds. Sophie had clear defined muscle, like she goes to the gym every day, while I knew that Marella couldn't have muscle showing no matter how hard she tried. We knew it was a touchy subject for her, since it also led to her being what she calls "flat as a board."

I was so distracted that I didn't realize the game had started and Sophie ran right past me, getting a goal past Marella while I just stood there. Didn't Marella say her parents had family in America? Could they be related?

"TAM!" Marella shouted, angry that I wasn't even trying to stop Sophie' viscous kicks. I quickly snapped out of it and after ten minutes, got a goal for myself. I tried to not think about Sophie and Marella until after our competition was over.

Sophie had won, my only excuse being when I zoned out. The rest of the group decided to end our competition given that lots of us had to leave for dinner or curfew. The only good thing that came from this competition was my good sportsmanship and some information.

Blackmail, and the good kind. I never failed to notice with each game the way Keefe would look at Sophie. If he was a cartoon character, he would've had heart eyes bulging from his head. She was too focused on the game to get a good read, but now that I knew how Keefe felt, I could be watching for her, too.

And who knows, I might keep it a secret, or I might end up telling them. You might never know.

Boom! Surprise Bangs Boy chapter! Also I'm sorry this is so blocky, but I feel like the fact that it's over 2000 words compared to the usual 1000 something makes up for that. I'll tell you, I struggled trying to write him right. I just didn't know how to do it so I'm sorry it doesn't really sound like him. I really wanted this chapter to be in his pov though so you'll just have to suffer with that. Thanks so much to all my lovely readers, you guys are great! Love you all!

Avery, out ->

🫳

🎤