➶ ｡˚ CHAPTER SEVENTEEN !! ° ┊
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✧ ━━ ❛ red when you lie ❜

✧ °₊ ᴵᴳ !

coralicious123

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✧ °₊ ᴵᴿᴸ !

"CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?"

"again? chris, i've already repeated it twice!"

"please."

coraline exhales sharply through her nose, her fingers tapping against the stack of flashcards in her hand. it's a slow saturday morning at oscar's diner, the kind of shift that drags, where the clock seems to tick slower with each passing minute.

the smell of freshly brewed coffee lingers in the air, mingling with the faint tang of maple syrup and sizzling bacon. outside, the streets are quiet, the occasional rumble of a passing car the only sign of life in this sleepy corner of town. golden sunlight filters through the diner's wide windows, casting soft patterns on the scuffed linoleum floors and worn leather booths.

behind the counter, coraline and chris stand side by side, multitasking as they're going through another tutoring session while serving customers. coraline's hair is pulled into a loose ponytail, and her sleeves are still rolled up from during the breakfast rush. she's flicking through a deck of brightly colored flashcards with a critical look in her eyes while chris is leaning lazily against the counter, his apron slightly askew and smudged with coffee and whipped cream. his posture screams boredom, but there's a faint gleam of amusement in his eyes as he watches coraline's determined expression.

she sighs loudly, flipping through the cards to find the one she's already asked twice. "what does it mean when the net force on an object is zero?"

chris squints at the flashcard like it's written in an alien language, his lips pressing into a thin line. "the object, uhh... stops?"

coraline snaps the card down against the counter with a loud smack, earning a startled glance from the only other customer in the diner — a man sitting at the far corner booth with a newspaper. she lowers her voice, though her annoyance is clear. "no, chris. that's not the answer. i swear, if you paid half as much attention to this as you do to hockey—"

"i am paying attention!" he interrupts, his voice tinged with irritation as he straightens up slightly. "this stuff just doesn't stick in my head, okay?"

"it doesn't stick because you're not trying," she shoots back, her gaze narrowing. "we've been over this concept three times. it's not rocket science, it's literally just high school physics."

chris exhales dramatically, rubbing the back of his neck as he stares at the ceiling. "okay, okay. uhh... net force. net force is... zero. it means..." he trails off, his hand gesturing vaguely in the air. "it means like... fuck. i don't know, balance?"

coraline narrows her eyes. "and?"

"and... nothing"s falling over?" he tries, his voice laced with uncertainty.

coraline glares at him but relents, holding up the flashcard like it's a sacred text. "it means the object is in equilibrium because the forces acting on it cancel each other out. the net force is zero, chris. it's not that hard."

chris sighs, slumping forward and burying his face in his hands. "i'm never going to pass this."

"don't be so dramatic," coraline says, rolling her eyes as she gathers up the flashcards.

"no, seriously," he says, his voice muffled. "this is it for me. i'll fail the test, drop out of school, and become a professional—" he pauses as he gestures around the diner, "—burger flipper."

coraline smirks, looking down as she presses her lips into a thin line. "you're not even good at flipping burgers."

chris glares at her. "jesus, that helps," he deadpans, leaning back against the counter with a dramatic sigh.

coraline hides a small, satisfied smile. despite chris's obvious frustration, she can't help but find a bit of joy in his misery. well, after all the years of enduring his ridiculous pranks and infuriating antics, could anyone really blame her?

however, she tries to continue her job as the good tutor she is and she leans a hip against the counter, setting the stack of flashcards down. "stop complaining, you're going to pass. its not that hard."

chris scoffs, interrupting coraline's attempt at a pep talk. "it's easy to say all that bullshit as a straight A-student."

coraline has to restrain herself from rolling her eyes at this comment before she answers. "well, physics is just rules and patterns, like... your hockey plays. once you get the logic, it's not so bad."

chris sits hunched over at the counter, head in his hands, peeking at coraline through the gaps between his fingers. his voice sounds muffled as he speaks. "pretty sure newton never had to deal with getting body-checked mid-equation."

coraline raises an eyebrow, her lips twitching like she's holding back a laugh. the corners of her mouth are so close to curling upward, but she fights it. "actually," she says, her tone just the slightest bit smug, "newton's third law is all about action and reaction forces. so technically, body-checking applies."

chris groans loudly in response, dragging his hands down his face in slow, theatrical despair. his hair ends up sticking out in messy tufts, but he either doesn't notice or doesn't care. "great," he mutters, the word dripping with sarcasm. "so now i'm getting schooled by a dead guy and you. this just keeps getting better and better."

this time, coraline can't hold it in. the tiniest smile escapes before she tries to cover it with a quick roll of her eyes. "okay," she says, leaning forward on her elbows, her voice warm but teasing, "how about this: next time someone slams into you on the ice, think about newton. maybe it'll help you remember the concept."

"god, i keep forgetting what a nerd you really are," chris answers, lifting his head slowly, giving her the flattest look imaginable. his dark eyes meet hers with all the intensity of someone truly offended. "because there's no way you think that's what i'll be thinking about in the middle of a game." he drags his hand through his hair again, making the strands stick up even more, and his face twists into the kind of expression that would make a toddler proud. "like — gee, thanks bro, for explaining why i just got flattened."

a laugh bubbles up out of coraline, soft but genuine, catching her by surprise. she quickly presses her lips together to stop it, but it's too late. "well," she says, her tone more playful now, "maybe you'll remember it now."

for a moment, chris just stares at her, his lips twitching at the edges. then, finally, his smirk appears, slow and cocky, though it vanishes almost as quickly as it came. he jerks his chin toward the stack of flashcards sitting in a messy pile between them on the counter. "can we just move on? what's the next one?"

coraline picks up the next card and holds it out right in front of chris's face. "what's the formula for acceleration?"

chris squints at her as if he can somehow pull the answer out of thin air by sheer willpower. his fingers tap an uneven rhythm against the edge of the counter. "acceleration, that's... something with velocity?"

"yes," coraline says, her voice dipping into that slightly softer tone she reserves for when she's trying to encourage someone without making it obvious. she tilts her head, watching him closely, her eyes darting between his furrowed brow and his restless hands. "what about velocity?"

chris's tapping speeds up as he rakes a hand through his hair again, making it messier still. "uhh, velocity over... time?" he says hesitantly.

"close," coraline replies, a hint of approval sneaking into her voice. she straightens up a little, tucking her hair behind her ear as she explains. it's the change in velocity over time. delta V over delta T."

chris stares at her, blinking as if she just switched to speaking in some ancient, forgotten language. "delta what?"

coraline suppresses a sigh, lifting her hand to draw the triangular greek letter in the air with her finger, her movements quick but precise. "delta means change. it's just a fancy math symbol. it's not that important."

chris narrows his eyes at the invisible symbol, his expression a mix of confusion and annoyance. "see, this is what i'm talking about," he grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. "why can't they just say 'change'? why do they have to make everything all complicated with greek letters and symbols?"

coraline leans forward slightly, her hands spread on the counter, her voice taking on that no-nonsense tone she uses when she's about to explain something she considers obvious. "because, idiot," she says firmly, "science is precise. it's supposed to be universal. 'change' can mean a hundred different things to a hundred different people, but 'delta' means the exact same thing to anyone who's studied physics. that's the whole point."

chris huffs out a breath. "sounds like an excuse to make it harder," he mutters under his breath.

coraline rolls her eyes, the smallest hint of amusement flickering across her face. "stop whining and answer the next question," she says, flipping to the next card. "what's newton's second law?"

chris groans again, throwing his head back dramatically like the weight of the question is just too much for him to bear. "gimme a hint," he pleads, peeking at her from the corner of his eye.

"no hints," coraline says, her voice firm but not unkind. she crosses her arms, watching him squirm with an almost sadistic sort of satisfaction. "come on, chris, you know this one."

chris straightens, giving her his best puppy-dog eyes, his bottom lip sticking out just slightly. "just the first word? please?"

coraline stares at him, her resolve wavering as she presses her lips together. "you're ridiculous," she first says, but finally, with a long-suffering sigh, she relents. "force."

his entire face lights up as if she just handed him the winning lottery ticket. he snaps his fingers, his grin growing wider by the second. "force equals... mass times acceleration!"

"finally!" coraline throws her hands up in mock celebration, her voice filled with exaggerated relief. "see? you do know this stuff, you just have to use your brain."

chris taps his temple with two fingers, smirking. "it's all up here, genius," he says, his tone dripping with mock confidence, before giving her a quick wink. without waiting for a response, he turns on his heel and strides toward the counter where a customer is waiting, leaving coraline glaring after him.

"unbelievable," she mutters under her breath, shaking her head. she picks up one of the flashcards and flips it between her fingers absentmindedly, when chris's voice, syrupy and smooth, reaches her ears.

"good morning, ma'am! coffee to start?"

her head snaps up instinctively, her gaze locking onto chris as he casually leans against the counter, his posture so relaxed it borders on smug. his lips curve into a grin, slow and deliberate, like butter melting over warm toast, while his sharp eyes lock onto the girl in front of him. he adjusts his apron slightly, his voice smooth and rich like the coffee brewing behind him.

the girl standing before him is polished, put-together in a way that immediately sets her apart from the usual rush-hour crowd. coraline quickly concludes from the way she looks that she is about the same age as chris, maybe a little older, because she's wearing very neat clothes. she's wearing a sharp blazer, the pale gray fabric tailored to fit her like a second skin, and her muted pink nails click softly against the counter as she offers a polite, measured smile. "yes, please. black coffee," she says, her tone professional yet friendly.

"black coffee," chris repeats, drawing out the words like they're the secret to life itself. he nods approvingly, the motion exaggerated for effect. "that's a strong beverage for a pretty girl like you."

the girl's lips twitch upward in a small, amused smile. "it's the best," she replies with a light shrug, her tone carrying an effortless charm that matches her appearance.

chris leans forward, resting his elbows on the counter, his grin deepening as if they're old friends sharing a private joke. "finally, someone who understands. do you know how many times i've been forced to drown perfectly good coffee in quadruple caramel syrup? it's practically a crime against caffeine." his voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper, his expression exaggeratedly grave. "and don't even get me started on the whipped cream mountains. i guess some people just want dessert in a cup."

the blonde girl chuckles, the sound warm and genuine, her eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. "well, i'm glad i'm not a suspect in your caffeine crimes, then," she says, playing along.

from her spot at the counter, coraline's still watching chris and the girl. her brows knit together, her focus zeroing in on the scene in front of her. she can't explain the way she hates chris flashing that infuriatingly charming smile that she's seen him use a million times. her grip on the flashcards tightens, the edges pressing into her fingers as she watches his performance with barely concealed irritation.

chris though, oblivious or simply ignoring her glare, twirls a pen lazily between his fingers. "what about food?" he asks, his tone conversational but still dripping with charm.

the girl tilts her head, clearly enjoying the attention, though she hesitates for a moment. "a bagel, toasted, with cream cheese," she finally says, her voice steady.

chris lets out a low whistle, shaking his head in mock admiration. "a true classic. simple, elegant, perfect. i like it."

coraline's jaw tightens as she flips her flashcards harder than necessary, the sound a sharp slap against the counter. her scowl deepens as she mutters under her breath, loud enough to interrupt, "you're supposed to work, not flirt."

chris doesn't respond immediately. instead, he takes the girl's order with a practiced smile, jotting it down on a notepad. "one coffee, black, and a toasted bagel with cream cheese," he repeats back, earning a nod from the customer. turning to the coffee machine, he sets to work without sparing coraline another glance, but the smirk tugging at his lips betrays that he heard her.

as the coffee machine hisses to life, he finally speaks, his voice light and teasing as he places a mug under the spout. "oh, come on, evans," he says smoothly, not bothering to turn around. "this is work. making customers feel valued is part of the job description, look it up."

"valued," coraline repeats, her voice laced with heavy sarcasm. "right. that's what you're doing. so selfless of you."

"exactly." chris grabs the steaming mug and places it on a tray with almost theatrical precision. he moves to the glass display, retrieves a bagel with a pair of tongs, and slices it cleanly in half. the rhythmic click of the toaster dial turning echoes through the space as he drops the halves inside. while waiting for the toaster, he glances over his shoulder at coraline again, his smirk widening. "you'd understand if you ever tried being nice for once."

coraline's glare sharpens, but chris turns back to his task, spreading cream cheese over the toasted bagel halves with deliberate care. he adds the bagel to the tray, grabs a napkin, and slides the whole setup across the counter with a warm smile. "enjoy your breakfast," he says politely, his tone smooth and pleasant.

"thank you," the girl replies, her voice cheerful as she takes the tray and heads to a nearby table.

chris watches her go for a moment, then turns his attention back to coraline, leaning casually against the counter. "sour lemon cake, by the way," he says suddenly, his tone conversational but clearly teasing. "that's what you'd recommend. matches your attitude perfectly."

coraline's head snaps up, her eyes narrowing into daggers. "i cannot stand you," she bites out, her voice cutting through the air like a whip.

chris chuckles, low and amused, as he grabs a rag to wipe down the counter. "i could be wrong here, but i feel like you are a little jealous, evans," he speaks, his voice dipping into something softer, more intimate.

her hands freeze for half a second, a barely perceptible pause before she recovers. "what? no, you are so wrong. why the hell would i be jealous?"

chris tilts his head, studying her with a smirk that grows wider by the second. he straightens, crossing his arms over his chest as if he's caught her in some kind of trap. "because i'm supposed to be your boyfriend, remember?"

coraline doesn't look up, her fingers flipping to the next card a little too forcefully. "you can see other girls, idiot," she mutters, her voice sharp and clipped. "it's not like we're actually dating."

chris leans closer, his grin softening into something more playful as he drops his voice. "evans," he says, dragging out her name like a challenge. "look at me."

she hesitates, her jaw tightening as if she's weighing the consequences, but eventually, her gaze flickers up to meet his. the second their eyes lock, chris's grin stretches impossibly wider. he doesn't say anything for a moment, letting the silence hang between them.

and then he steps back, clearly satisfied with whatever's going on, tossing the rag onto the counter. he walks straight to the storage room, but pauses briefly at the doorway, glancing over his shoulder. his voice, low and teasing, cuts through the air just before he disappears inside. "you get red when you lie."

coraline's cheeks flare hotter, her mouth opening and closing as she sputters, trying to form a response. but chris is already out of sight, leaving her stewing in frustration as his smug words linger in the space he's vacated.

ᵣₒₓ !!

i'd like to just say that i have no knowledge whatsoever about physics i used chatgpt so dont come at me if something is wrong!!! it's christmas break get off my ass

have a holly jolly christmas guys xo