Chapter 5: Bleachers (Venus's POV)

Remy and I were heading out to the field for lunch which was going to be cut ten minutes short for me because I have dance class after this and even though we don't do much, I still have to go and change into different clothes.

Remy takes art since she's interested in painting, so I don't have that class with her. "He snuck in and got to your window?" she asked, laughing.

"It's not funny, Remy." I smacked her arm, stifling my own laugh.

"Of course, it is. This is the second time he's doing this. Except this time, it was for a good cause. You think he's falling soft on you?" she asked, wriggling her eyebrows at me.

"Not at all," I scoffed. "He'll never stop tormenting me. We all know that."

"I don't get it. Why doesn't he just stay away from you if he hates you as he claims? That means he doesn't hate you. It means he likes you."

"Remy, what world do you live in? What actions of his or words of his have ever shown that he likes me?"

"He pretends to hate you, Vee. He's not allowed to like you, remember? You pretend to hate him too, I'm not stupid. I know you. You don't really hate him, do you?"

We walked past his blanket which was in a different spot today. I glanced at him, my eyes not moving from his as we continued walking. He smirked at me and I rolled my eyes, looking away.

"Of course I hate him. It's what I'm born to do I think," I snorted, pulling the blanket out and she brought the snacks. We switch occasionally. Sometimes I bring the food and she brings the blanket, like today, other times it's vice versa.

She was taking out the food she brought when my eyes drifted to Caden. He and Roman were getting up, walking over to the guys that were playing soccer. I groaned, running my hand through my hair. "I'm about to get hit in the face."

"He's not that cruel, come on," she chuckled.

I looked over, spotting him looking at me while kicking the ball around lazily. He passed it over to Roman, his eyes never leaving mine.

"Why does he look at me like that?" I mumbled more to myself.

She chuckled but didn't answer me.

I was wearing a sundress with small, white flowers on it, so I couldn't cross my legs. I just sat with my knees tucked under me and took the chocolate muffin she handed me. "Mrs. Kat made these?"

Mrs. Kat is her housemaid. Her mom passed away when she was four-years-old in an accident, so she only has her dad, Mr. Logan. He's very kind but he's a lawyer so he isn't home with her too often.

She nodded, "She added chocolate chips for you."

"Mrs. Kat is the best," I laughed in response. I was about to take a bite when I saw Caden got the ball again.

And he was facing right this way, ready to kick the ball over. I watched as Roman, smacked the back of his head, taking the ball away from him. I let out a small sigh of relief.

Towards the end of lunch, the ball rolled past behind me. It wasn't intentional, someone just accidentally kicked the ball around to this side and it went under the bleachers. Our bleachers aren't huge because we don't really have any matches or games, but they're enough for when we do have matches with students from other kingdoms.

"Venus!" I looked up, spotting Nate calling my name. "Can you pass us the ball, please?!" Nate is nice. We're friends, somewhat, his dad is on the council board for the royal family.

I sighed, standing up, putting my muffin down. I dusted my dress and walked over to the bleachers, crouching to get underneath them. I looked around, spotting the ball in the corner. I went and grabbed it, spinning it in my hands as I turned to get back out. I was trying to spin the ball on one finger but then I crashed right into what felt like a wall. I stumbled back blinking and realizing that it was Caden.

"The ball, please?" he asked.

"Nate asked me to get it. I'll go give it to Nate," I smirked, trying to walk around him.

He blocked my way. He stepped closer to me to take the ball but I held it behind me, both my hands behind my back, holding the ball. He sighed, "Why are you messing with me? I listened to you and shut up in the morning when you asked me to, didn't I?" he asked.

"So? Once in a blue moon, you listen to me. That was today and other times, you don't. So why should I?"

He glared at me.

"Because I'm better than you?" I asked. "Then say it. Say the words, 'Venus, you are better than me' and I'll give it to you," I grinned.

"I'm not saying that," he said, stepping even closer.

I had to tilt my head up to look at him. "Then I won't give it to you." I took a step back.

He sighed, grabbing my waist and jerking me forward. I gasped, nearly dropping the ball. "You should really learn to listen when I ask nicely," he said, his hands moving to the ball, snatching it out of my hands. I pulled my arms to my sides and he pulled the ball out in one hand, holding it between us. "Because in the end, I get what I want, hmm?" he smirked. He turned around and left, kicking the ball from all the way here, passing it onto the other guys.

I was about to follow him out but he crouched and came back in. I took a step back so he wouldn't bump into me and looked at him in confusion.

"Right, what were you saying?" he asked. "That you're better than me? Right? That's what you said?"

"Yes, I am better than you," I grinned.

"Oh, are you?" He kept walking forward and I kept walking backward. He rolled his eyes and grabbed my waist, pulling me closer and holding me in place. "And what did you want me to say? 'Venus is better than me' right?"

"You just did," I smirked.

He blinked in realization and I let out a chuckle. "No, I didn't."

"Yes you did," I nodded.

"No, I didn't, Jade."

"Yes, you did," I repeated.

He leaned in closer, his face merely inches from mine. "I didn't. Understand?"

I sighed, "Fine. You didn't. But I have dance class, let go."

"Why? Feeling shy, are you?" he smirked.

I shoved him off of me, glaring at him. "I don't want to be late," I huffed, walking past him.

He grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. My glare hardened. "Venus," he said slowly. "Will never be better than me."

"Venus," I said slowly. "Is always going to be better than you."

His eyes traveled down my face, a small, amused smile on his lips.

"Because you want her." I was taking a risk saying that. Only because Remy was saying that to me earlier.

"I want you?" he scoffed.

"You're the one who followed me under the bleachers, you tell me," I retorted.

He watched me silently.

"I have class to get to." I pushed at his chest before rushing out of there. I ran to my blanket where Remy was. Roman was standing above her, talking to her about something, they both were grinning. I grabbed my bag off the blanket, pulling it over my shoulder. "Hey, Roman," I said quickly. "Remy, I'm going to change for class, keep the blanket for me?"

She nodded.

"Bye," I sang, running to the gate and then through it, heading inside the building. I ran to the bathroom, catching the girls from my class walking out of the bathroom, already dressed for class. "No, oh no," I whined.

Our teacher, Ms. Beatrix doesn't make us do much in class, but she hates tardiness.

I rushed into a changing stall, throwing the dress off and pulling on my leggings. Then the tank top and then my sneakers. I pulled the bag onto my shoulder and unlocked the door, rushing out of the bathroom.

I was heading to class when someone grabbed my hand and yanked me into a classroom. I nearly screamed because of how unexpected it was but then when I looked up and saw Caden, I didn't bother. "I'm already late, what do you want?" I huffed.

"You're right," he nodded, trapping me against the wall.

"Huh? About what?" I blinked in confusion.

"I did follow you under the bleachers. Wanna know why?" he smirked, stepping closer.

"Caden," I said warningly.

"You wanna know?" he chuckled, clearly amused by making me flustered. He leaned down, our faces inches apart. He leaned in even further just a little slowly and I stopped breathing.

I've never been this close to Caden Locke.

I slipped away from under his arm and ran out of the room, clutching my bag and running for class.

What the holy hell was that? Was he just trying to flirt with me to... annoy me? Fluster me?

I pushed the door, stumbling into the room as the bell rang.

"Ms. Princeton, you're late."

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Chapter 5

I want to show the hate a little more, it's too cute rn

they're flirting and messing around but someone needs to be a dick, actually, they both do

next chapter: practice