➶ ｡˚ CHAPTER SIX !! ° ┊
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✧ ━━ ❛ care to dance? ❜

✧ °₊ ᴵᴹˢᴳ !

egghead 😕 ; chris
coraline ; coraline

egghead 😕
yo

coraline
omg i didn't even know i still have ur number saved
that's insane

egghead 😕
i'm picking you up at 7

coraline
huh
wdym

egghead 😕
jake's party bozo

coraline
and you're picking me up??
hate to break it to you but you don't have a license bud 🤣🤣
which is actually patethic btw

egghead 😕
fuck you
i meant with my bike

coraline
what
you mean bike like motorcycle??

egghead 😕
yeah evans i mean bike like motorcycle 🤓
disliked by coraline

coraline
why did i never see you with that thing before

egghead 😕
alr calm down
it's not just a thing it's a lifestyle

coraline
woah there biker boy

egghead 😕
you don't know what ur talking abt
it's a beauty
and it's fast
might mess up your hair a little bit

coraline
dw abt it
i'm not going

egghead 😕
yes you are

coraline
i'm sorry?

egghead 😕
can't show up solo and ruin my rep

coraline
just don't go then weirdo

egghead 😕
nope not happening
it's not just any party wisegirl it's jake's

coraline
ew don't call me wisegirl

egghead 😕
whatever
think abt the plot

coraline
i don't give a fuck abt the plot chris

egghead 😕
you'll need to if you want people to believe it

coraline
meh

egghead 😕
cmon it's not like you have smtn better to do

coraline
i'm
sorry what 🙂
anything's better than going to a party with you buddy

egghead 😕
well that's kind of a problem since you've agreed to date me

coraline
typing...
i'm literally not going to respond to that

egghead 😕
no need for words
be ready at 7

coraline
no

egghead 😕
i'll take you out tmrw

coraline
thanks but i'm good

egghead 😕
we'll go to a bookstore

coraline
a bookstore?
do you even know how to read

egghead 😕
yes i do
but it's not for me
it's for you

coraline
what

egghead 😕
don't try to fool me i know you love reading
you have always loved reading

coraline
how tf do you even know that

egghead 😕
i just do

coraline
🤨
ur giving stalker
not a positive thing btw!!

egghead 😕
i don't stalk i observe

coraline
right

egghead 😕
cmon evansss
i'll pay
i'll pay every single thing you pick

coraline
every single thing?

egghead 😕
every single thing.

coraline
are you blackmailing me?

egghead 😕
maybe
but it's working though

coraline
no it's not
you seriously need to lower your ego
it makes you look sad

egghead 😕
you love my ego

coraline
wtf
no i don't

egghead 😕
mhm
sooo
see you at 7?

coraline
yeah whatever
get ready to pay every single book in that store mf

egghead 😕
dw i will
promise is promise
also
i think it's time to unblock me on snap don't you think?
i've been blocked for a pretty long time yk

coraline
omg pls ur so extra i actually rolled my eyes
stop complaining i'll do it already
loved by egghead 😕

✧ °₊ ˢᶜ !

cora ❤‍🔥 unblocked Chris Sturniolo !

cora ❤‍🔥
| ☐ NEW SNAP !

opened !

Chris Sturniolo
| ☐ NEW SNAP !

opened !

| standing at ur door at 7
| be ready

cora ❤‍🔥
| jesus christ buddy i know
| you've only mentioned it like 5 times

Chris Sturniolo
| just making sure

cora ❤‍🔥
| yeah dw abt it i'll be ready

Chris Sturniolo
| k
opened !

✧ °₊ ᴵᴿᴸ !

CORALINE IS STANDING IN FRONT OF her mirror, carefully aplying her mascara, her movements precise and deliberate. the soft glow of her room's lighting casts a warm ambiance, reflecting off the delicate hues of eyeshadow she chose.

she gives herself a final once-over, smoothing down her outfit and takes a deep breath, steadying her resolve. she's gathering her essentials ― phone, wallet, a compact mirror and her favorite lip gloss ― when the doorbell rings. she stands still for a moment, but continues carelessly putting everything in her purse when she hears movement downstairs, meaning someone will open the door. then the realization hits her like a cold splash of water: chris is the one picking her up, which means he'll be the one standing at her door.

with curses whispered under her breath, she makes her way to the stairs, hoping she can make it down in time before one of her parents or her brother opens the door. but as she reaches the bottom of the stairs, it becomes painfully clear she's too late.

elijah is standing there, looking utterly shocked, his jaw practically unhinged as he stares at the boy in front of him. the air is thick with a mix of surprise and the unspoken questions lingering in her brother's gaze. coraline sighs, this is exactly the scenario she'd hoped to avoid.

chris is already leaning casually against the doorframe when coraline makes her hasty approach, each step echoing her mix of dread and resignation. his presence, as always, is underscored by an aura of unwavering confidence. the smirk playing on his lips, the ease in his stance, and the spark in his eyes ― all trademark chris sturniolo.

coraline pauses for a fraction of a second to take him in, mentally preparing herself for what's about to happen. "hi chris," she greets awkwardly.

sensing coraline's hesitation, chris wastes no time in taking charge of the situation. "hey," he responds smoothly, his grin widening into a charismatic smile, "stunning as always."

coraline forces herself to put a smile on her face, but it quickly fades when her brother turns around. he doesn't look angry, which coraline kind of expected since he just discovered that she's basically dating one of his hockey friends who also happens to be the biggest player in the whole school. still, her brother's reaction stresses her out, because she has no idea how to read the look on his face. he just looks shocked, very shocked.

"this is your boyfriend?" he asks in disbelief.

coraline can feel her cheeks heating up, but she doesn't say anything. instead, she just shrugs.

"you do realize that's chris, right?" elijah stupidly asks, "like chris sturniolo?"

coraline nods slowly, "i'm aware."

there's a silence hanging in the air after coraline's words, thick with tension and unspoken questions. she shifts from foot to foot, her gaze darting between her brother's bewildered expression and the smug grin on chris's face.

elijah's expression remains caught between shock and disbelief, his brows furrowed as he tries to process the absurdity of the situation. he opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out, leaving the silence to stretch on awkwardly.

chris, ever the master of deflection, seems unfazed by the palpable tension, his grin widening into a smirk as he awaits elijah's response. he's still casually leaning against the doorframe, exuding an air of confidence that only seems to exacerbate the discomfort of the moment.

coraline's cheeks burn with embarrassment as she searches for something ― anything ― to break the awkward silence. but before she can gather her thoughts, elijah finally finds his voice again.

"chris sturniolo?" he repeats incredulously, his tone tinged with disbelief, "you're dating chris sturniolo?"

coraline winces at the emphasis on chris's name, feeling a knot form in the pit of her stomach. she nods slowly, unable to meet her brother's gaze as she braces herself for his reaction.

chris, ever the smooth talker, pushes himself off the doorway to fill the silence once again. "hey, don't sound so surprised," he says with a casual shrug, though there's a hint of arrogance in his tone, "can't blame her for having good taste, huh?"

elijah blinks twice. "this is ridiculous," he mutters under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief as he walks back into the house, leaving them alone in the doorway.

coraline releases a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. the tension that had been coiled tight within her begins to unwind, replaced by a sense of cautious optimism.

chris turns back to coraline with a smirk that seems to challenge the seriousness of the moment. "well, that went better than expected," he says, his voice laced with a hint of humor that shows he actually enjoyed every single moment of what just happened.

coraline, still processing the rapid shift from confrontation to calm, can't help but shake her head, a smile tugging at her lips despite herself, "you have a weird definition of better than expected," she counters, her tone teasing.

chris chuckles, "come on, we have a party to crash," and with those words he turns around, walking over to his bike.

his bike. coraline had completely forgotten she has to step on that thing with him.

as he starts his motorcycle, a low growl breaks the suburban silence. the girl stands at her front door, arms crossed, a skeptical eyebrow raised. despite their well-known animosity, here they are, about to share a ride.

chris throws her a helmet, "try to not fall off," he says, a smirk playing on his lips.

catching the helmet, coraline rolls her eyes, her response laced with the sharpness they've both come to expect from each other. "in your dreams," she retorts, securing the helmet under her chin.

coraline swings a leg over the motorcycle with an elegance that belies her trepidation, settling onto the seat behind chris. there's a moment, brief yet heavy with hesitation, as she looks around, the question of where to place her hands looming large in her mind.

chris, his usual cocky demeanor ever-present, glances back at her with a smirk playing on his lips, "you might as well put your hands around me, evans," he says, his tone dripping with arrogance, "i promise i won't bite... unless you ask nicely."

coraline narrows her eyes at his remark, annoyance flickering across her features. she hesitates for a moment, debating whether to play along or maintain her usual standoffish demeanor. then she decides her safety is more important than her ego, so she wraps her arms around him, ignoring the smug grin on his face.

"believe me, i'd rather be anywhere else than holding onto you," she says.

chris chuckles in response, "sure you would," he retorts, the smirk audible in his voice as his second foot also leaves the ground, steadying the bike beneath them.

with a confident rev of the engine, they lurch forward into the flow of traffic, the city lights blurring into streaks as they accelerate.

"WHERE THE FUCK DO YOU even need to enter?"

coraline evans is standing frozen on the lawn of jake's giant villa, her jaw literally open as she takes in the building in front of her.

it's like a behemoth, an imposing structure that seems to defy the boundaries of architectural extravagance. its facade is a grand display of opulence, boasting a symphony of intricate details and lavish ornamentation. the exterior walls are crafted from pristine marble, gleaming under the moonlight, reflecting the wealth and prestige of its owner.

towering columns flank the entrance, reaching skyward like guardians of wealth and privilege. the windows of the villa are large and numerous, and each is framed by elaborate trimmings, further enhancing the grandeur.

the whole party is plain to see, and coraline can't help but get a little nervous as she sees the silhouettes of people dancing in a haze of purple and blue lights.

"nobody gives a fuck about how you enter a party, evans," chris mumbles from her left, taking the helmet that coraline's still holding from her hands to put it with his bike.

she glances at chris, who seemed more concerned about his appearance than the sheer magnificence of their surroundings.

"seriously, chris?" coraline mutters under her breath, rolling her eyes at his futile attempts to perfect his appearance in the reflection of his bike's mirrors, "we're going to a party, not entering a fashion show."

chris ignores her comment, going through his hair one last time before he turns around, facing the party. "alright, let's do this." he holds out his hand, "take my hand."

"no thanks," coraline says as she wrinkles her nose, looking at chris' hand in disgust, "i don't want to touch your filthy hands, chris."

"just smile and take my fucking hand, evans."

the girl sighs exaggeratedly in response, taking chris' hand with a roll of her eyes.

so there she was, holding hands with christopher sturniolo, a guy she had spent a good portion of her time bickering with, all for the sake of blending in. coraline couldn't help but wonder about the absurdity of the situation.

as they make their entrance, the music pulsed like a heartbeat, driving the party's energy to new heights. the scent of expensive perfume mingled with the tang of alcohol, creating a heady mix that was almost intoxicating. coraline finds herself swept up in the moment, the initial awkwardness of holding chris' hand fading as they made their way deeper into the party with a whirlwind of people ― some familiar, many not ― yelling, laughing and dancing around with a cup of beer. a small group is standing around a table, playing beer pong.

while coraline looks around with wide eyes at the insanely large living room she's standing in, chris is perfectly fitting in, being his charming self. since the minute they'd walked in, his name had been shouted no less than ten times. the entire party seems to know and adore him.

weird, right? what's even more weirder is that so far, he hasn't turned into the dude-bro coraline had imagined him to be in a party situation.

he hasn't left her by herself to go talk to his hockey mates, he hasn't done a keg stand... god, he'd passed on beer and is now drinking water because he has to drive later.

who is this guy? the guy she'd assumed him to be would've beer-ponged while driving.

guess he's taking the whole fake dating thing very serious.

"chrissy!" a pretty blond girl squeals and gives him a big hug. coraline recognizes her as ashley, also one of the cheerleaders at somerville high. she's one of clementine laurier's friends, but coraline has never really had anything against her, because she's friendly, most of the time.

now she finds ashley with the ex of clementine, and it almost makes her chuckle. it's crazy how no one of clementine's friends seems to take their relationship serious, because coraline knows for a matter of fact that ashley is definitely not the only one hunting down chris sturniolo.

she pulls back as she continues talking to him, "what took you so long? i've been looking for you everywhere!"

"i had to pick up someone," he says, gesturing toward coraline, but the girl doesn't even turn around.

she's standing just two inches away from chris as she says, "you look really good tonight."

coraline can't help but feel a twinge of amusement as she watches chris squirm under the blonde's attention. it's clear that he's uncomfortable with the girl's overly familiar demeanor, despite her obvious admiration for him.

he swallows, taking a tiny step back, "thanks, ash."

coraline's gaze shifts from chris to to the girl, noting the latter's obliviousness to chris' discomfort, then she decides to intervene.

"ashley? oh my god, it's been so long!" she exclaims as she throws her arms around the girl, "how have you been?"

a flicker of surprise crosses ashley's face, "oh, hey coraline! i'm good, thanks for asking! how about you?"

chris shoots coraline a grateful look as he slowly backs off, letting her engage ashley in the conversation as he lets out a sigh.

look, interactions like that are everything but his fault. chris has always had a natural, casual charm that effortlessly attracts people, especially girls. it's a facet of his personality he neither actively seeks nor shies away from. to him, these encounters are spontaneous, arising from circumstance and mutual attraction rather than any deliberate pursuit.

he doesn't hold himself responsible for the attention he receives or the situations he sometimes finds himself in, like finding someone in his bed after a night out. to chris, these occurrences are part and parcel of social dynamics, where connections form fastly and may dissolve just as quickly. he cherishes these fleeting moments for what they are ― transient experiences without implicit promises for the future.

yet, this perspective, liberating for chris, sometimes overlooks the emotions and expectations of others involved. it's a gap in comprehension that occasionally leads to complications and tensions when his casual approach clashes with someone else's desire for something more substantial, like with ashley.

a few weeks ago, she invited him over after a party, and the next morning chris woke up in her bed. he had successfully sneaked out that morning, without waking her or any members of her family. but since that one night they'd shared, ashley couldn't leave him alone. she keeps texting him, asking him to hang out, and honestly, chris would love to, but he knows that she doesn't see their relationship like he does. it would be wrong to take advantage of that.

well, it doesn't really matter anymore, since chris is in a position where he must distance himself from such encounters altogether, given his current involvement with coraline.

"mission accomplished," he turns around at the sound of coraline's voice, "your admirer has found new company."

she's standing in front of him, smiling proudly as she crosses her arms over her chest. chris can't help but chuckle at the sight.

"thanks," he says, "i guess we're even now, with me helping you out with your brother earlier."

coraline frowns, "helping me out?"

chris nods in response, a smug grin forming on his face, "hm, eli got completely blown away by my charm."

coraline lets out a sarcastic laugh, "yeah right, buddy," she says, "you're so self-centered."

the grin on chris' face only grows wider, "you say self-centered, i say self-assured," and coraline decides to ignore that comment.

chris looks down at her, and as they stand there, surrounded by the mesmerizing hues of purple and blue lights, coraline feels a familiar sensation wash over her ― a blend of frustration and fascination that she's come to associate with the boy in front of her. it's a feeling that's as undeniable as it is infuriating, a testament to the power he wields effortlessly with just a look.

she hates it, she really does ― the way he can render her speechless with a single glance, as if he holds the key to unlocking something deep within her that she'd rather keep hidden. it's a skill he seems to wield with every girl he encounters, effortlessly charming them with his easy smile and magnetic presence.

and yet, despite her protests to the contrary, coraline knows deep down that she's not immune to his charms, no matter how hard she tries to convince herself otherwise. there's a part of her that's drawn to him, inexplicably so, and she hates it as much as she hates him.

chris' voice breaks the silence, lowering so he's eye to eye with coraline, a movement that only serves to accentuate their height difference. despite chris standing at a modest 5'8", coraline finds herself irked by the fact that he still towers over her, if only just. it's another one of those small, seemingly inconsequential thiangs that she can't help but notice, adding to the complex tapestry of feelings she harbors towards him.

"care to dance?" he asks, his voice carrying a hint of challenge, as if he already knows what her answer will be.

"no way," coraline shoots back almost immediately, arms crossed over her chest as a defensive shield against his unexpected invitation.

but chris, undeterred, only smirks at her refusal, a cocky tilt to his lips that suggests he's not about to take no for an answer.

"what, scared you'll actually enjoy it?" he teases, leaning in slightly, the playful glint in his eyes impossible to ignore.

coraline feels a spike of irritation at his words, mixed with an inexplicable urge to wipe that smug look off his face. the playful glint in his eyes, so full of confidence, grates on her nerves, yet piques her curiosity in equal measure.

"enjoy it?" she fires back, rolling her eyes, "as if dancing with you could be enjoyable."

but despite her words, the idea begins to take root. the thought of accepting his offer suddenly doesn't seem so unappealing. if she's here anyway, why not have a little fun?

"you know what? let's do it, let's dance," she declares, surprising even herself with her sudden change of heart.

chris' response is immediate, his smile widening into a victorious grin, "that's more like it," he says, and he takes her hand, leading her to the dance floor with top tier confidence.

ᵣₒₓ !!

i have no idea what this chapter is but okay!!

glad to confirm that art deco chris is indeed frat boy era chris thought you'd like to know ☺☺