🎱. . .CHAPTER 25 ! -----
( real life . . . )
❛ you're staring ❜

ᵣₑₐₗ ₗᵢfₑ !

Rides to school haven't been as exciting with abel compared to with her other friends because ever since they skipped school together, he's been picking her up and dropping her off everywhere. it's a kind gesture that mikayla is grateful for, but after he posted that instagram story she felt like his intentions have seemed like more than friends.

she isn't ignoring her friends because she'll still meet with them after school and talk to everyone throughout the day, meeting on weekends too as long as chris isn't there. of course mikayla feels kinda bad that she hasn't giving him a proper chance to explain what happened, but the best thing to do is to move on and forget about everything they went through.

chris has been doing absolutely everything to try and fix things with mikayla, but with her not even making eye contact with him, and nate ignoring him he feels like he's at a loss. so as he watches mikayla exit abel's car alongside maria and lucille from the parking lot outside the school building, there's a large frown on his face.

he feels a gloomy, thunderous cloud practically hover over his head as he notices abel pass her a cup of coffee, the thing that he should be doing, not some random new guy. it's as if chris is forcing her to make eye contact with him with the way his eyes are glued to her giggling with a familiar sparkle in her eyes.

mikayla hugs abel as a 'thank you' and chris' jaw visibly ticks at the sight of miks being happy with someone that isn't him. "you fumbled the bag," mason mumbles from behind chris, making him whip around to face him. "if you think she's gonna give you a second chance, you're dead wrong chris. it's game over," he says with a sigh and chris just shakes his head, refusing to believe it.

"i'm getting my girl back mason," chris mutters but with a certain tone in his voice — it seems like he doesn't even believe it himself. "i just gotta get her to come to my lacrosse game tonight, and make things right with nate."

matt chuckles as he leans back in the driver's seat, resting his arm on the rolled down window. "nate literally hasn't spoken to you since he left the group chat," he chuckles dryly from inside the vehicle at the monotone expression plastered on chris' face. "you failing to keep it in your pants ruined everything. now i can't even pick maria up for school everyday."

"for the final time, talia kissed me," chris throws up his hands defeatedly while a huff escapes from his lips. he can't help the repeated frustration at the fact that he ruined something special and everyone continues to remind him about it.

"welllllll," matt drags out with a small grin. "maria's coming to the game, with mikayla and abel."

chris' face scrunches up at the consistent mention of abel. i mean, what the fuck? he comes out of nowhere like he's some sort of saint, and it seems like it's obvious to only chris that abel has negative intentions with mikayla. he needs miks back and the only way to do that, is to get rid of abel because the jealousy that chris feels whenever he sees them together isn't healthy.

nick scoffs from the backseat of the minivan as he continues to stuff his face with his mcdonalds breakfast, not even paying attention to chris and his groans of frustration. "team mikayla," he utters while continuing to chew on his pancakes drenched in syrup.

as chris thinks of making a snarky comeback, he feels a tap on his shoulder, causing him to quickly turn around but his tense shoulders drop when he realizes that it's noah. he was suspended from school for two weeks for a situation that surprisingly wasn't his fault, making chris roll his eyes as he recalls their conversation about mikayla a couple weeks ago.

noah instantly pulls chris into a headlock, laughing loudly and obnoxiously as he messes up his hair. "i know you missed me sturniolo!" he says through gritted teeth just as chris releases himself from the tight grip. "you wouldn't believe the things i've heard and seen about you bro."

chris lacks any interest for this conversation; the expression on his face shows exactly how uninterested he really is when it comes to talking to noah, who seems to lack multiple brain cells. "they letting you play today?" he instantly inquires, fixing his hair and trying to change the subject with the big lacrosse game tonight.

"yeah and it's a shocker bro," noah nonchalantly replies with his lips pursed. "but hey, maybe having some new kid steal your girl'll make you almost as skilled as me," he flashes a shit-eating grin, nudging chris' shoulder before he walks away. chris hates the smugness on noah's face, wanting to wipe it off.

"that guy is genuinely the most annoying fucker," matt raises his eyebrows as he exhales, shaking his head. "should've kept him suspended."

chris just shrugs, his attention only being on mikayla as the girls continue to talk to abel as he leans on his car. so what abel can drive, he's attractive and he makes miks laugh? to chris, nobody can do it as good as him so he's barely even worried about getting her back.

it's just nate, and the fact that he's destroying his relationship with his best friend all because of a stupid kiss. "i gotta get to practice, i'll see you guys later."

           Mikayla awkwardly stands outside of the boy's locker room, waiting for chris to appear through the crowd of lacrosse boys chanting and howling like animals. she leans on the nearby wall, humming along to a song in her head, trying to distract herself from the fact that this is the last place she should be, but for the past couple of days, a part of herself has felt bad for not letting him explain anything.

          so here she is, standing patiently as if he's aware she's waiting for him while her friends sit on the bleachers outside waiting for the game to begin. chris has genuinely seemed so pumped for it as it's all he spoke about when they were in their fake relationship, considering how he always referred to miks as his 'cheerleader'.

          miks chews on her bottom lip nervously as she picks at the skin around her nails, hoping that chris'll have a tame reaction and not completely hate her because of the fact she's been pretending like he doesn't exist. she hears familiar chuckles, straightening her posture as her eyes lock with chris' and it's like all of the memories come rushing back.

          there's a look of pure surprise on his face but he genuinely isn't complaining at all as he walks up to her. he has his helmet and his crosse in one hand, and an eye black stick in the other with a small grin on his face as he can't help but notice that she's wearing the lacrosse jersey she stole from his closet a while ago.

          she purses her lips as he stands in front of her, his hair wet and messy with water droplets occasionally falling – a sight that mikayla may have missed. "hey," miks whispers with her eyes stuck to the ground as his teammates pass them, cheering quietly, at the 'couple' talking again.

          "hey," he repeats while tightening the grip on his lacrosse equipment. "i see you're repping the team."

          miks pinches at the soft material, finally feeling somewhat comfortable after days of missing how it used to be with chris. "highlanders on top," she says through a grin and he chuckles, hoping that the jersey is a sign she's warming up to him again. "you need help with that?" mikayla questions, referring to the stick of eye black he's yet to put on.

          "yeah..." he mumbles, clearly trying to hide the strong feeling of excitement he has towards the fact that she's actually acknowledging him. chris passes it to her, and she takes it, their hands gently brushing against each other.

          they'd both be lying if they said that the split second of touch didn't immediately give them butterflies, and that pisses mikayla off entirely. as she shakes away the thoughts of being chris' again, "sit down," she orders and he instantly takes a seat on a nearby bench. mikayla stands in front of him, opening the stick.

          chris' hands rest on his thighs and he looks up at mikayla, focusing on the look of concentration plastered across her face as she softly drags the paint down his cheek, applying a thin black line. they're in a thick, comfortable and familiar silence as mikayla moves onto his other cheek, matching it.

          "you're staring," she breathes out, trying her best to not fold at the sight of chris looking up at her in admiration.

          "that's right," chris whispers, chewing on his bottom lip with a crease between his eyebrows. he genuinely has no idea what's made mikayla so nice all of a sudden, but he definitely isn't complaining.

          a piece of hair falls in front of her face and without hesitating the slightest, chris pushes it behind her ear. her nose scrunches up at his movement while her thumb subconsciously rubs his cheek. this moment feels unreal and every time they make eye contact, miks feels a whole zoo break out into her stomach. it's the fact that chris knows what he's doing just irritates her even more.

          but chris huffs, knowing that there's something he needs to address as he's already waited long enough. "listen miks about the kiss–"

          "i don't wanna talk about that right now chris," miks closes her eyes and shakes her head as she pulls away from him since she's finished with the paint. "we can talk about it after the game, okay?" she says with opened eyes, not wanting to distract him or ruin his mood, and chris agreeingly nods his head. she places the lid back on the stick, passing it back to him. "i'm gonna go to my seat, good luck number three."

          "thanks miks," he appreciatively utters. "i'll see you out there," she nods her head and chris watches her walk away, focusing on the number three and recalling a moment from years ago that creates a warm feeling in his heart.

          
10 years ago

Miks repeatedly jumps while clapping her hands as she watches chris run through the grass in their backyard with a tight grip on his lacrosse stick. "go chris!" she cheers between giggles and he waves at her.

it's a hot summer day and chris is showing off his lacrosse skills to mikayla as his brothers and nate splash each other in the pool, sharing loud laughs. miks unwraps her blue raspberry popsicle while chris takes off his helmet. he's sweaty as he runs towards the bench that mikayla's sitting on, snatching it out of her hand.

he holds it above her head, fully aware that she can't reach as she hops up from her seat, jumping to try and get it. "give it back chris!" she whines but he just laughs, standing on his tiptoes, annoying her even more. "please!"

"give it back to mikayla, chris," mary lou sighs from another bench and chris rolls his eyes, passing it back to her.

mikayla giggles again, and she shoves the popsicle in her mouth, "thank you number three."

chris' eyebrows scrunch up and he purses his lips, confused at the sudden nickname she gave him. "number three?" he questions.

"number three," she clarifies, referring to his shirt number he'd received since he got onto the team.

"that's stupid," chris narrows his eyes at her, internally knowing that he's going to treasure this nickname, especially when he becomes a famous lacrosse player as it's his biggest goal right now. "so stupid."

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ arianna speaks ¡
cute chapter bc i couldn't help it 🤍🤍

i love them