➶ ｡˚ CHAPTER TWENTY !! ° ┊
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✧ ━━ ❛ pretend? ❜

✧ °₊ ᴵᴿᴸ !

CORALINE PUSHES THROUGH the crowd, her pulse pounding in sync with the deafening noise of cheers and shouts echoing through the rink. the air is thick with the scent of sweat and ice, the cold seeping through her clothes despite the packed bodies pressing in around her. she doesn't know what possesses her to step closer to the ice — she still doesn't know what possessed her to even agree to all this in the first place — but before she can think about it properly, she's standing at the entrance.

and that's when it hits her just how stupid this is, because she's in full view of everyone — not just chris's team, but the entire stadium. a hundred pairs of eyes, maybe more, locked on her like a spotlight.

chris is still on the ice, grinning as his teammates shove at him in celebration. his hair is damp with sweat, clinging to his forehead, his jersey clinging to his shoulders. he looks alive, electrified. and then his gaze finds hers — not in a dramatic or obvious way, but just enough for her to notice. his grin softens, his posture straightens, and then, without hesitation, he pushes off toward her, leaving the chaotic huddle behind.

the closer he gets, the louder the blood rushes in coraline's ears.

chris's team notices. they don't say anything — at least, not yet — but the air changes in some sort of way. curious glances flick between chris and coraline, a silent question hanging in the space he left behind.

coraline forces a smile and tries to force herself to sound normal. "congrats! you did great!"

nope. that was awful.

the words tumble out too quickly, too brightly, and the second they leave her mouth, she wants to cringe. she wants to crawl in a hole and never come out again. she's never been the type to fawn over someone's athletic abilities, and now, she's botched her attempt at even pretending.

but chris doesn't seem to mind. his hands, still gloved, lift slightly like he's debating whether to touch her before he decides against it. coraline beats him to it, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his still-cool jersey in the strangest hug she's ever given.

well, it's what he asked, right? he asked her to hug him after the game.

it's weird though. hugging chris sturniolo is weird. his body is warm beneath the cold, damp fabric of his jersey. his breath brushes against her shoulder as he leans in slightly, steady and real, and she has the sudden, unnerving realization that she doesn't hate this. not the way she should.

chris chuckles, the sound low against her ear. "you actually watched, huh?" his voice is low, teasing, and when she pulls back, his smirk is already waiting for her. "so," he continues, tilting his head. "are you a hockey fan now?"

coraline snorts, rolling her eyes. "absolutely not."

"ouch."

she smirks at chris's sarcastic reaction. "i just figured if i'm dating a hockey player, i should at least pretend to care."

he tilts his head slightly, something amused flickering in his eyes. "pretend?"

before coraline could even think about something to answer, a voice slices through the moment, sharp and teasing. "yo, chris! c'monn, be a gentleman and give your girl a proper welcome!"

the call comes from the cluster of his teammates near the bench, their grins wide in a way it almost makes coraline shiver. chris exhales sharply through his nose, his groan barely audible over the growing laughter. "mind your business, AJ!"

AJ only grins wider, completely unbothered by the warning. meanwhile, another voice cuts in, also carrying a teasing lilt. "don't be shy, cap! we gotta make sure you didn't forget your tricks after your little break with clem!"

a ripple of laughter spreads through the team, the kind that feeds off itself, growing louder with each voice that joins in. chris rolls his eyes, shaking his head. "you're all a bunch of sickos, you know that?"

but they don't stop, of course, they're having way too much fun. voices keep overlapping, and AJ skates over to chris, nudging him with the blade of his stick.

"c'mon, man," he drawls. "quit making us wait."

"i'm very comfortable with waiting to be honest," coraline suddenly hears her brother's voice above all the others. "i don't want to see how my sister and my hockey captain make out."

"thank you, eli," chris sighs, finally finding an ally in all the chaos. he groans, tipping his head back in exaggerated exasperation as he turns to all the others again. "you have serious issues."

"and you have a girlfriend who came all the way down here just to watch you play," another voice cuts in. "the least you can do is thank her properly, am i right?"

coraline's pulse stutters as she watches everybody nod in agreement. oh god. the words seem to knock the air from her lungs, and she tries to ignore the weight of so many eyes pressed in on her. her thoughts are tangled mess — flashing between panic, heat, and something dangerously close to expectation.

chris is just casually bickering back, his tone sharp with playful irritation, like this is just another back-and-forth with the team. but for coraline, it's entirely different, because she doesn't know how to react. she has no idea what to do now.

her stomach drops as she feels the whole rink close in on her. why had they never discussed this? they'd planned for so many things — public appearances, family interactions, how they would hold hands when necessary — but not this. not a moment where they'd be surrounded by an entire hockey team, her brother included, with a demand hanging thick in the air.

coraline turns at chris, searching his face for something, anything, that tells her what to do, but he's just standing there, staring at her, his expression unreadable. his wild eyes are locked onto hers, and the anticipation crackles between them. he's not laughing it off anymore, but he's not backing away either. it's more like he's... waiting.

her heart is pounding — oh, she's so fucked. if she doesn't do something, anything, their entire lie will crack. if she keeps hesitating like this, her brother and the entire team will start doubting everything.

so she swallows hard and takes a step forward. chris's gaze follows her, locked onto hers, unwavering. and suddenly, without really noticing it, the entire world dulls into nothing more than static in the background. the only thing coraline can still hear is chris's breathing, still uneven from the game. she's close enough to feel it against her skin.

and then — without thinking, without planning, without even giving herself time to doubt — she moves. the hesitation snaps, the noise of the rink dulling completely as she steps forward, heart hammering, and presses a quick, fleeting kiss to chris's lips. a quick peck, nothing more than proof of existence. her lips barely touch his before she pulls back.

what follows is silence, a silence that feels like an eternity. the whole team freezes, probably realizing something is off. even chris goes statue-still for a second, totally caught off guard.

coraline's face is on fire, her hands curling into fists at her sides, but she can't look away from chris. he's still staring at her, his expression still unreadable, but mouth now parted slightly.

and for some reason, that terrifies her more than anything.

meanwhile, coraline's mind races, desperate for an escape. she'd do anything to get out of this painfully awkward situation, the discomfort twisting inside her like a knot. she looks away, staring at the light reflecting in the ice. nothing is more humbling than this.

she's thinking about walking home — even though it's quite far — to lock herself in her room and never come out again, when suddenly, a hand lifts her chin. she barely has time to process what's happening before chris closes the space between them.

and this time, it's not just a peck.

his lips crash into hers, firm and insistent, stealing the breath from her lungs. a spark ignites at the base of her spine, climbing higher, spreading fast. his hand slides from her chin to the nape of her neck, fingers threading into her hair, anchoring her in place. the other drifts to her waist, fingertips pressing just enough to send a shiver racing through her.

the stadium erupts around them: cheers, whistles, shouts, her brother's disgusted groan... and then everyone starts to leave around them, mumbling things like "we'll give you lovebirds some privacy" or "damn, chris, leave some for the honeymoon" but coraline barely registers any of it. all she registers is chris and the way he's kissing her, like he has been waiting his whole life for this.

coraline's stomach twists violently, and she hates it. she hates that she doesn't want to pull away, and how there are a thousand butterflies exploding in her stomach.

she should be thinking about how fake this is, about how they're only doing this for show, but her mind refuses to cooperate. all she can think about is the slight dampness of chris's lips, and the lingering taste of gatorade and adrenaline. she thinks about the way his mouth moves against hers, slow but deliberate, teasing in a way it makes her breath hitch. she thinks about the heat of his skin, and the way his fingers flex against her waist. she thinks about his thumb, brushing against the sliver of skin just above her jeans, warm and barely there, but enough to send a shiver up her spine.

she should be reminding herself that this is all part of the act, just another step in their carefully constructed lie, but her body isn't getting the message. instead, her pulse thrums wildly in her throat, her knees threaten to go weak, and for the briefest, most reckless second, she wonders — if she didn't know better, if she didn't already have the script memorized — would she believe it, too?

chris lingers just a second longer, his lips brushing against hers in a way that feels too intimate, too real, before he pulls away slowly.

coraline can hear his heavy breathing, and she slowly opens her eyes to find his filled with an intensity that makes her stomach flip all over again.

it also doesn't help that he's still standing so close to her that she can still feel the warmth of his breath against her lips. his eyes flicker down to her mouth for just a second — like he's considering something — before they meet hers again, dark and unreadable. and then, with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, he speaks.

"so... are you gonna say something, or should i assume you want a round two?"

chris's voice pulls coraline back to reality, jolting her out of the daze she hadn't even realized she was in. she blinks rapidly, her gaze darting around as she realizes what the fuck just happened.

oh god. she just kissed chris sturniolo.

no — he kissed her... but she let him, and worse, kissed him back.

she takes a step back, needing space, needing air, but chris doesn't move, just watches her with that insufferable smirk like he knows exactly what's going on inside her head. he knows she hasn't stopped thinking about it.

she crosses her arms over her chest, more for something to do than anything else, and forces her voice to sound even. "don't flatter yourself," she mutters, though it lacks her usual bite.

chris tilts his head, considering her, then takes a slow step forward, closing the distance she just created. "too late," he says easily. "i already did."

she should shove him away, glare at him, say something sharp enough to cut through the unbearable tension hanging between them. but she doesn't.

because her mind is still reeling, and all she can think about is the way he looked at her before he kissed her. with his beautiful, stupid blue eyes — those stupid eyes that have always distracted her.

✧ °₊ ᴵᴳ !

shshighlanders

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liked by aj.bratt03 , matthew.sturniolo and 18,998 others

shshighlanders Another epic win for Somerville High against Brookfield Academy with a nail-biting final score of 5-4! 💥

The game kicked off with both teams coming out strong, but AJ Bratt set the tone early with a quick assist to Max Hughes, who found the back of the net for the first goal. Somerville trailed 4-3 heading into the third period, but the team dug deep and played with grit, holding Brookfield to just 1 goal in the final period.

Senior Captain Christopher Sturniolo scored 2 goals tonight, including the game-winner with just 5 seconds left on the clock to seal the win for Somerville! 🥅🔥

The defense was on point all night—Kenji Beckham, Max Hughes, and Kyle Thatcher were everywhere, blocking shots and shutting down every chance. Nate Doe, replacing our very own Matthew Sturniolo, kept pushing the offense, and AJ Bratt and Elijah Evans stepped up with key assists.

Somerville Scorers:
Chris Sturniolo 2 Goals (1 Game-Winner)
Max Hughes 1 Assist
Elijah Evans 1 Assist
Kenji Beckham 1 Assist

The boys showed out tonight, securing another W for Somerville! But honestly... the real highlight? 👀

📷 Captain Christopher Sturniolo spotted post-game with his girlfriend! 👏🔥 Looks like the biggest win of the night wasn't just on the ice. 😉

Big shoutout to @damondavidson for these amazing shots! 📸

#somervillehighschool #gohighlanders

2.381 comments:

user watched the live stream what the fuck

user i love hockey 🏒❤
↳ user the sport or the players?
↳ user THE PLAYERS 100% #needthat

elijah.evanss @chrissturniolo the GOAT!!! 🐐🐐
↳ k_thatcher he's a beast for real 🔥

aj.bratt03 great game 💯

user 5 seconds? what a legend

user okay i'm in desperate need of a hockey wedding rn

kenjiiiiix FIRREEEEE

user WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT THE STURNEVANS PIC
↳ user FR LIKE HELLOOOO

user chris scoring a goal in 5 seconds okay pro!!!

mmax_hughes W W W W W :)

matthew.sturniolo 🔥🐐
↳ user MATTTTT come hime the kids miss u
↳ user ugh i missed you watching the live stream td
↳ user missed u in the game bro

christophersturniolo 💯😁

user chat we have a new somerville high IT couple i'm telling you this is gonna be in the history books
↳ user what happened to clementine?
↳ user oooohhhh girl don't bring that up lol!!! 😝

user BRO i thought sturnevans was a joke i'm soooo here for it

laurier_clem good game everyone! ❤❤

nathandoe8 let's gooooo

user y'all are sleeping on elijah evans bro
↳ user FRRRRR i watched the game for elijah and elijah only
↳ user he has a gf though
↳ user uhh yes #me ?

nicolassturniolo congrats!!! ❤🏒🔥

user oh how i love a good, sweaty hockey man

user the reason this live stream got so many views is PURELY bc all sturniolo fans were in there LMAO
↳ user real and i do not shame

load more comments...

✧ °₊ ᴵᴹˢᴳ !

cheesy fries 👩‍❤‍💋‍👩

wh*re ❤ ; jasmin
ems 🦄💖 ; emilia
coraballs 🙊 ; coraline

ems 🦄💖

caught in 4k 📸
staring.
absolutely mesmerized.
mouth slightly open.

wh*re ❤
jesus this is a full rom-com moment
#nothoughts, just chr*s playing hockey!

coraballs 🙊
BRO DELETE THAT

ems 🦄💖
no way this is going in the archives

coraballs 🙊
i hate you wtf
i was NOT staring

ems 🦄💖
sweetie you literally looked like you were gonna write poetry abt him

coraballs 🙊
NOT TRUE

wh*re ❤
damn she's down bad 😬
sonnet #1: ode to a hockey boy

ems 🦄💖
ode to MY* hockey boy
she's also wearing his jersey lollll have u noticed that, jasmin? 😝

wh*re ❤
ohhhhh intresting...

coraballs 🙊
I WAS COLD.

wh*re ❤
dw wearing his clothes is a perf solution girly don't be ashamed

ems 🦄💖
yeah babe just admit ur a full-fledged hockey gf now, it's fine

wh*re ❤
it's lowk giving hockey wifey ngl

coraballs 🙊
STOPPPP OMG
it's not even like that
you make me sound like one of his lovesick fangirls

wh*re ❤
well, if the shoe fits...

ems 🦄💖
LMFAOOOO

coraballs 🙊
the shoe does not fit shut up 😐

ems 🦄💖
it's giving devoted girlfriend watches bf play his sport with heart eyes ❤‍🔥❤‍🔥

wh*re ❤
WAIT i kinda ship ngl
they're cute

coraballs 🙊
I WAS JUST WATCHING LIKE A NORMAL PERSON
you guys are so dramatic it makes me sick

ems 🦄💖
says the girl who was literally clinging to his jersey like it was a security blanket
and KISSED him in front of the whole rink

wh*re ❤
YESSSS WTF?
saw the picture and almost died what the hell

coraballs 🙊
i was under the influence of peer pressure

ems 🦄💖
right
and poor me waiting on the stands while bsf sucks fine shyt's face off 😓😓

coraballs 🙊
don't complain you were busy too
drooling while staring at raven!!!

wh*re ❤
RAVEN WAS THERE??
bro i missed so much the fomo is consuming me

coraballs 🙊
yes! raven was indeed there!

ems 🦄💖
you're just trying to change the subject you dirty mf

coraballs 🙊
...
not true

wh*re ❤
ems pls tell me you've talked to her

ems 🦄💖
coughs

wh*re ❤
GIRL
you pussy

ems 🦄💖
I'M NOT A PUSSY
she was there with her family jas
i can't go talk to her when her literal DAD is sitting next to her tf

wh*re ❤
#emiliacoward

coraballs 🙊
#emiliacoward

ems 🦄💖
BRO WHAT
it's emilia howard, not emilia coward ❤
the joke's getting a little old guys

wh*re ❤
it'll get old when u grow some balls and TALK TO HER

coraballs 🙊
FRRRR i'm literally handing over my title at this point

ems 🦄💖
cora baby that's not how titles work 😁

wh*re ❤
it's not that hard to say hi to ur crush
it's literally ONE syllable

ems 🦄💖
HER. DAD. WAS. THERE.

wh*re ❤
emilia it's not a propose 😭
just say hi

coraballs 🙊
even i had the courage to kiss chris in public like c'mon are we serious

ems 🦄💖
at least you know chris likes you back

coraballs 🙊
i didn't know that when we kissed for the first time

wh*re ❤
wait we've never heard that story before

ems 🦄💖
yes! i'm curious!

coraballs 🙊
fuck you emilia now YOU are the one trying to change the subject
laughed at by ems 🦄💖

but uhh there's not really a story lol

ems 🦄💖
liar liar pants on fire

coraballs 🙊
FUCK. YOU. EMILIA.
i don't want to talk abt this

wh*re ❤
why not

coraballs 🙊
because it's rlly not that special we just kissed and decided it was
um
nice
that's literally it

ems 🦄💖
nice 😭

wh*re ❤
when

coraballs 🙊
what

wh*re ❤
when did you guys kiss

ems 🦄💖
fr bc we only knew abt it bc of the insta posts ❤

coraballs 🙊
ok so
i'm going to say this one more time and then we'll all forget this, okay? 😊
i'm sorry i didn't tell you guys before the insta posts, i'm a dick and i will never do it again
from now on, if anything major happens in my life, you guys will be the first to know I PROMISE

ems 🦄💖
my heart doesn't forget

coraballs 🙊
em pls stop i can't take this anymore
i am DEEPLY sorry

wh*re ❤
it's fine ignore ems
when did you kiss

coraballs 🙊
jasss idk

ems 🦄💖
liar liar pants on fire pt 2

wh*re ❤
emilia stop being annoying

ems 🦄💖
WHAT THE FUCK?

coraballs 🙊
why does it matter 😭

wh*re ❤
bc i need it for the timeline in my head
i'm a control freak cora you know this 🙄

coraballs 🙊
idk when we kissed jas
i think like
jake's party?

ems 🦄💖
you think?

coraballs 🙊
whatever i forgot

wh*re ❤
how can you forget the first time you kissed with your bf

coraballs 🙊
IDK

wh*re ❤
IT'S FINE
it's just weird bc if that was me i'd have it written down in my notes app with the exact date and time likeee

ems 🦄💖
well that's also you, jas ❤

wh*re ❤
you really get on my nerves today, em ❤
emphasised by coraballs 🙊

coraballs 🙊
not everyone is obsessed with romance like you jas
pls let it go 🙏

wh*re ❤
we're literally your best friends you knew we were gonna grill you for details

ems 🦄💖
fr i feel like you're hiding something...

coraballs 🙊
HIDING WHAT???
we kissed at the party, that's all there is to it

wh*re ❤
so he just walked up to you like "hey wanna make out?"

ems 🦄💖
or did YOU walk up to HIM like "hey wanna make out?" 😏

coraballs 🙊
nunya business 😘
anyways igtg

ems 🦄💖
convenient timing

coraballs 🙊
chris is done changing i HAVE to go

wh*re ❤
oh well!
tell chris we said hi

ems 🦄💖
and maybe kiss him again so you don't forget this time 😇

coraballs 🙊
you guys are so insufferable i'm gonna throw my phone into the nearest lake

✧ °₊ ᴵᴿᴸ !

THE LOCKER ROOM DOORS burst open with a loud creak, and a wave of players spills out, voices overlapping in laughter and shouts as they step into the hall. the scent of soap, sweat, and the sharp tang of lingering adrenaline clings to the air, a heady mix that follows them even after they've left the ice. some of them are still toweling off their damp hair, others playfully shoving each other, like they haven't just spent the last few hours slamming into the boards and throwing their bodies across the rink.

coraline sits on the bench just outside, ankles crossed, phone clutched loosely in her hands. the screen glows against her fingers, but she isn't actually looking at it. her gaze keeps flickering upward, scanning the stream of players as they trickle out one by one, eyes darting from face to face until—

chris.

his damp hair is a mess, strands curling slightly where they cling to his forehead like he's run his hands through them too many times. a hoodie hangs over his frame, the fabric stretched just enough across his broad shoulders to make it impossible not to notice. a towel is draped over one of them, slipping slightly as he moves. he's laughing at something one of his teammates says, head tipping back just enough for the sound to be effortless, easy, like he isn't the reason her entire night has spiraled into chaos.

coraline watches him, waiting for him to notice her. her fingers tighten around her phone, irritation curling in her chest. she should leave, she should've left fifteen minutes ago. instead, she's still sitting here, staring at him, waiting for him to acknowledge her. how pathetic.

as if he can sense it, chris's head finally turns, and their eyes meet instantly. his gaze is sharp, unreadable. he doesn't smirk, doesn't grin — just watches her, like he's trying to gauge her reaction, like he's waiting for her to speak first.

she won't, by the way.

then, he exhales, the sound barely perceptible, and starts walking toward her. coraline doesn't move until he's standing directly in front of her, close enough that she can feel the residual chill clinging to him from the rink. the second he stops, she pushes herself up from the bench, crossing her arms tightly over her chest.

they stand there, neither saying anything, tension stretching between them like a live wire. the hallway, once loud with voices, feels distant, like everything outside this moment has blurred.

"you're mad," chris says, tilting his head slightly. it isn't a question.

coraline scoffs, shaking her head. "you think?"

his lips twitch, the amusement so brief it barely registers. "well, that's crazy. most girls like it when i make out with them."

her jaw clenches. "you're so—" she exhales sharply, cutting herself off before the words can spill out. "you are the one who kissed me, chris."

his gaze flickers downward, drawn to her arms, where her fingers are wrapped so tightly around the fabric of her jacket sleeves that her knuckles are almost ghostly white. the tension in her grip is almost enough to make him want to reach out and pry her hands loose, but he knows better than to touch her right now.

"i know," he says, the words coming out as simply as he could let them sound.

coraline blinks. it's almost imperceptible, just a slight flutter of her lashes. long enough for the weight of his words to sink in, to settle uncomfortably between them, thick and heavy like the humid summer air. her heart skips, just for a beat, then keeps going, though the rhythm's thrown off. she looks away for a moment, anywhere but at him, but when her gaze flickers back, he's still watching her, his eyes narrowing in on her as if he's trying to peel her apart, layer by layer.

"did you hate it?" he asks, his voice dropping lower, almost a whisper, but it feels like it's wrapping around her, like his breath is curling against her skin.

coraline's breath catches in her throat, trying to decide if she wants to answer his question honestly or avoid it altogether. the truth is, the weight of his question lands on her chest like a stone, but she refuses to let him see it.

"that's not the point," she mutters, her voice a little sharper than she intended. she steps back a little too quickly, but the distance doesn't feel like enough. nothing feels like enough at the moment.

chris watches her for a beat, his expression unreadable, but she can feel him weighing her, his gaze lingering on her. without warning, he leans in slightly, his presence sudden and overpowering as his voice dips even lower. "did you hate it, coraline?"

coraline.

coraline. coraline. coraline.

her breath hitches again, and she knows he notices. she wants to say something, anything, but the words are stuck in her throat. he's daring her to be honest, daring her to admit something she can't let herself feel.

"that's not the point!" she repeats, her voice firmer, but she doesn't step back this time. she stands her ground, even as the tension stretches between them like a taut wire.

before she can think of what else to say, a voice slices through the silence, sharp and sudden, pulling them both out of the moment.

"uhh — are you guys good?"

coraline snaps her head toward the sound. there, standing a few feet away, is one of chris's teammates — max, maybe? she doesn't know and doesn't really care either, but he's watching them with a look that's somewhere between curiosity and concern. his eyes flicker between them, lingering just long enough for coraline to feel exposed, like he can see through them both.

"you seem a little... tense," he says, his tone casual but not entirely oblivious. his eyes stay fixed on them, the suspicion in his gaze only slightly masked by his disinterest.

chris is the first to respond. he scoffs, the sound sharp and edged with amusement. he leans back slightly, arms crossing over his chest, the picture of effortless confidence. "tense?" he tilts his head, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "do i look tense to you, hughes?"

max raises an eyebrow, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "i don't know, man. you tell me."

"you want me to tell you?" chris just stares at him after he spoke, completely silent, like he's waiting for max to realize how stupid that sounded.

and, sure enough, after a beat of silence, max clears his throat. "oh, um... no! i don't know why i said that." he laughs awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "forget i — uhh — never mind."

chris smiles, tilting his head slightly. "yeah, that's what i thought."

max nods way too fast, the words practically stumbling over each other. "right. yeah, okay... cool, cool." his face flushes, clearly regretting ever opening his mouth. he throws a quick, uncomfortable glance at coraline, as if searching for some kind of reassurance.

coraline mutters a quick, almost robotic, "yeah, we're fine. it's fine." her words hang in the air like they're trying to convince both of them more than anyone else.

max looks at her one last time, his gaze lingering for just a second too long, before he shifts his focus to the ground and practically bolts off, leaving them in an awkward silence.

the silence between them stretches long and thick, like something heavy settling over the air. chris doesn't break it. instead, his eyes stay locked on max's retreating figure, his gaze unwavering. there's something almost predatory about the way he watches him leave, like he's savoring the moment, enjoying the awkwardness lingering in the air.

only when max has turned the corner, chris speaks again. his is voice low, not necessarily teasing but with that same confident edge that drives coraline up the wall.

"you know," he starts, not taking his eyes off the corner max just turned, "he's right, though. we do seem a little tense."

coraline exhales sharply, the frustration she's been holding back finally bubbling to the surface. she rolls her eyes, but it feels forced, like she's pushing against the weight of everything that's been piling up inside her. she crosses her arms tightly over her chest, hoping it might somehow shield her from the flood of emotions threatening to break through.

"gee, i wonder why," she mutters under her breath, the words coming out sharper than she intended, her voice thick with annoyance.

chris watches her for a beat longer, his gaze never wavering. he doesn't look at her like she's angry or frustrated, he looks at her like he's studying her, like he's waiting for her to crack, for that little flicker of weakness to show.

then he sighs — deep and almost casual, like he's already heard everything she has to say and he's just humoring her now. but there's something about it, something in the way his shoulders relax as he breathes out, that feels almost like a challenge. "c'mon, evans..."

coraline's jaw tightens. she doesn't even think before she snaps, her voice biting through the air. "don't 'c'mon, evans' me." it's way sharper than she means it to be, but it doesn't seem to faze him. he doesn't even blink.

that flicker of amusement flashes back in his eyes, a subtle glimmer that's more knowing than anything else. "alright. then come with me and the boys."

her breath catches, and she blinks in surprise, the invitation catching her completely off guard. she opens her mouth to say something, but no words come out at first. "what?" she finally manages, her mind scrambling to catch up.

chris shrugs, not even a hint of hesitation in his movement. it's almost like he's been expecting this response. "we're going to a club for an afterparty, come with us."

coraline's brow furrows in disbelief. "you're not even twenty-one yet."

he doesn't flinch at the obvious contradiction, but just shrugs again. "we're going to the minus eighteen area."

coraline's eyes narrow. "don't lie." she's not sure if she's more annoyed or just... wary. maybe it's both, but something about the way he's so casual about it just irks her.

chris smirks, that damn glint in his eyes that wants to drive her crazy. "whatever." his voice drops a little lower, smoother now, and it makes coraline's pulse kick a little in her chest. "come with us, with me."

the way he says it — so easy, so assured — sets something off inside her. it's like a magnet pulling at her, even though she knows better.

"i'm not even eighteen yet, chris," she says, her voice thick with hesitation and resistance.

his smile widens at this. "doesn't matter. i'll get you in."

she shakes her head, the tightness in her jaw growing. she doesn't even know why she's still standing here, why she's letting him get under her skin like this. it's stupid, she's better than this.

"i don't—" she cuts herself off, unsure of what she's even trying to argue. she can't deny how easy it is for him to get inside her head, how quickly he makes her second-guess herself.

chris leans in just slightly, his voice dropping again, smoother, coaxing, like he's trying to lull her into giving in. "we are tense, coraline." his gaze locks onto hers, steady and almost predatory. "we need to loosen up a little."

her stomach twists, a combination of frustration and something else — something she doesn't want to acknowledge, something she doesn't want to feel. how the hell does he always do this? how does he make everything seem so simple, so effortless, when she's overthinking every damn word?

she stares at him, her jaw tight, her mind racing as she tries to untangle the mess of emotions swirling inside her. she hates how easily he does this — how he pushes and prods until she's questioning everything she thought she knew. how he always manages to make her feel things she shouldn't feel.

"i really hate it when you say my name like that," she mutters, the words quiet.

chris's smirk doesn't fade. "i know."

ᵣₒₓ !!

word count is at 5620 i feel like i'm going to explode

HAPPY 1Y TO ART DECO!!! i'm so thankful for everything i've achieved so far with this fic, and i'm more than excited to see what next year will bring ❤ #sturnevans 4L

we're also officially half way lollll (this will be around 40 chapters 😊)

i love and thank every single one of you! don't forget to vote and comment x