➶ ｡˚ CHAPTER ELEVEN !! ° ┊
[ real life, instagram ]

✧ ━━ ❛ wassup ❜

✧ °₊ ᴵᴿᴸ !

CORALINE EXPECTED NOTHING more from kenji than an an enthusiastic answer when she texted him a few hours ago. one thing she completely forgot, though, was that tonight is hockey practice. even though kenji suggested they hang out afterward, she couldn't bring herself to go there — the last person she wants to see now is that stupid brunette who happens to be the captain — so she had politely declined, using the excuse that her mother thought it was too late to walk around boston, even though she knew perfectly well that her mother probably wouldn't care.

but, as if kenji could read her mind through the phone, he messaged back almost immediately that chris wouldn't be there. "he called in sick," he had texted her. that made coraline's blood boil even more, because she knew for a fact that chris was not sick. unless he had a disease in the form of a blonde, dressed up barbie doll. 

still, the fact that chris sturniolo wouldn't be there was a pretty good thing, so she decided to go to kenji's practice anyway.

that's how she's currently about to enter the ice hocky rink, running a nervous hand through her hair. the familiar chill greets her, a biting cold that seeps through her clothes and sends a shiver down her spine. the icy air wraps around her, a stark contrast to the heated turmoil inside her mind.

she finds a seat in the bleachers, immediately cursing the fact that she has to sit on a cold, metal bench. she's here to watch a hockey practice, something she had sworn she would never do unless she gets deeply forced. she has zero interest in how the hockey boys from her school train for their next match — and yet, here she is. what on earth is she doing?

the sounds of skates cutting through the ice and the rhythmic thwack of pucks hitting the boards literally gives her chills — or maybe it's the cold. the rink's atmosphere, with its echoing sounds and biting air, seems to amplify her internal conflict, making her question her decision to come even more.

she wraps her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill. her eyes scan the rink, catching glimpses of familiar faces. her brother glides effortlessly across the ice, focused and determined. right behind him is kenji, with his confident demeanor and easy smile, a smile that makes coraline smile too. he's a good thing.

she watches how he scores a goal during a drill. he laughs as his teammates dap him up, a warm and genuine sound that echoes through the rink. the sight of his easy camaraderie with the other players brings a sense of lightness to coraline, momentarily lifting the weight of her earlier frustrations.

kenji's energy is infectious, and she finds herself relaxing more with each passing moment. his laughter, his easygoing nature, everything about him is a stark contrast to the turmoil she feels whenever chris is around. 

still, it feels different... a lot different. he is a lot different.

he looks up, noticing coraline at the stands. he instantly waves, an even bigger smile spreading across his face. despite herself, coraline waves back, feeling the tension melt away.

as the practice winds down, coraline watches kenji skate over to the bench, grab his things, and head toward the stands. he waves at her again, a bright smile on his face as he approaches. "hey, thanks for coming!" he says, still a bit breathless from the workout.

"no problem," coraline replies, trying to sound casual. "you looked good out there."

kenji grins, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "thanks. i'm going to change clothes quickly and then i'll meet you outside."

"alright," coraline says, watching him disappear into the locker room. she heads outside, waiting by the entrance, the cold night air nipping at her cheeks as she scrolls through her instagram.

✧ °₊ ᴵᴳ !

christophersturniolo

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liked by matthew.sturniolo , laurier_clem and 293,901 others

christophersturniolo wassup

13.623 comments:

user CHRISTOPHER.

user god created men and sent chris sturniolo as apology

user screams
↳ user girl delete that s

user SO fine

laurier_clem handsome!! <3
↳ christophersturniolo thanks clem
↳ user oh?
↳ user oop
↳ user chris buddy...

user are u trying to kill me

user i don't even know what to comment i'm speechless

user hi yes i'm obsessed with you i want to be your wife marry me?

nicolassturniolo woah there

nicolassturniolo it's crazy how everyone's going insane while you're just sipping pepsi on the couch
↳ christophersturniolo crazy
↳ user very crazy 😭😭

user ur such a slut

user oh to be coraline 😫 
♥ liked by author 

matthew.sturniolo lookin' good
↳ user REAALLLL

matthew.sturniolo kid is tough

user chris sturniolo don't ever dare to stop taking mirror pics
↳ user what she said!!!!!!
↳ user tell matt to take some too it's been a while

load more comments...

✧ °₊ ᴵᴿᴸ !

CORALINE STARES AT THE pictures, her heart beating faster despite herself. chris's smug expression and casual pose infuriate her, and the comment from clementine only add fuel to the fire. she can feel the heat rising to her cheeks as she realizes once again how annoyingly handsome he is.

but there is no way she's going to let him get into her head again, she's not that stupid anymore. she knows chris made that post just to piss her off — and she has to admit it's working — but that doesn't mean he wins the stupid game he keeps playing.

she takes a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions, as she hears footsteps approaching. kenji emerges from the locker room, now dressed in jeans and a hoodie, his hair still damp. he waves at her, his bright smile cutting through her frustration. "ready to go?" he asks, his voice cheerful.

"definitely," coraline replies, shoving her phone back into her pocket. she follows him to his car, where they hop in and hit the road. 

she watches the city lights blur past, the rhythmic hum of the car engine soothing her frayed nerves. after a short drive, they pull into the parking lot of a quaint little shop. coraline looks up at the sign, reading, "froyo haven."

"a frozen yogurt place?" she asks, her curiosity piqued.

"yup," kenji grins. "best in the city. thought you might like it."

"i do love frozen yogurt," coraline admits, smiling.

they head inside, greeted by a cozy and cheerful atmosphere. the frozen yogurt shop is small and cute, with pastel-colored walls adorned with playful murals of fruit and swirling yogurt. the space is filled with soft, sweet colors — pinks, blues, and yellows — giving it a whimsical, inviting feel. string lights hang from the ceiling, adding a warm, twinkling glow that enhances the charming ambiance. the scent of sweet, tangy yogurt fills the air, mingling with the aroma of fresh fruit and baked toppings.

coraline's eyes fall on the list of choices, and her mouth falls open in disbelief. there are so many flavors and toppings to choose from, each one more tempting than the last. rows of colorful dispensers filled with candies, nuts, and sprinkles line one wall, while another section boasts fresh fruits, syrups, and baked goodies like brownies and cookies.

"pretty cool, right?" kenji says, grabbing a cup for himself and handing one to coraline. "i still haven't tried all the toppings."

"yeah, it's amazing," coraline replies, still a bit overwhelmed by the options. she carefully selects a mix of flavors, topping it off with fresh fruit and a drizzle of honey. kenji goes for a more adventurous combination, piling on a variety of toppings that make coraline laugh.

with their yogurt cups in hand, they head to the register. coraline reaches into her bag, pulling out her wallet, but kenji gently pushes it back with a smile. "nope, this is on me," he says.

"kenji, you really don't have to," coraline protests, but he shakes his head.

"don't worry about it," he insists. "my treat."

she hesitates for a moment before nodding and putting her wallet away. "thanks," she says, grateful and a little touched by his gesture.

"no problem," kenji replies as he pays for their yogurt. "consider it a thank you for coming to the rink tonight."

coraline nods meekly as she walks over to a corner booth, wedging herself in the seat. kenji joins her a minute later, sliding into the seat in front of her. she digs her spoon into the yogurt, savoring the cool texture. "this is really good," she says, her mood lifting.

"told you," kenji replies, digging into his own cup.

"what did you get?"

kenji looks up from his cup, grinning. "honestly? no idea."

coraline laughs. "you just went for the mystery mix, huh?"

"pretty much. i like to live on the edge," he jokes, taking another bite. "so, what about you? what's your story?"

coraline shrugs, stirring her yogurt. "you already want to know my story?" she asks, raising her eye brows. "i don't know you that well yet, mr. mysterious mix."

"oh, come on," kenji says, leaning forward with a playful grin. "we'll get to know each other."

coraline stares at him, a smile slowly tugging on her lips. "sure, where do we start?"

"let's see... favorite movie?" kenji begins, thinking for a moment. "probably back to the future. classic, right?"

"nice choice," coraline nods. "what about favorite drink?"

"dr. pepper," kenji answers. "it's a staple at home. what about you?"

"hm, that's a tough one," coraline thinks for a moment before she answers. "probably iced coffee."

kenji cocks his head. "really?"

"yeah, definitely," coraline answers firmly.

"alright. favorite color?" kenji continues.

"blue," coraline says. "yours?"

"green," he answers. "it represents hope."

coraline finds herself momentarily stunned. "that's actually so beautiful," she murmurs. "mine's just blue because it's... blue."

kenji laughs. "blue's also beautiful. something about freedom and inspiration."

coraline shakes her head, amazed. "jesus, it's crazy how you know all that stuff."

"i just needed to study it once, guess it never left my head," kenji shrugs. "alright, favorite food?"

"pizza, obviously," coraline says with a grin. "yours?"

"sushi. hands down," kenji says, taking another bite of his yogurt. "favorite book?"

"oh my god, don't ask me that," coraline groans, rolling her eyes. "that's the most horrible question to ask a person who reads a lot."

"ah, you're a reader," kenji notes with a smile.

"yeah, big reader," she confirms with a smile. but as she looks into kenji's bright blue eyes, she can't help but think of someone else with eyes just as striking. 

chris sturniolo had known she was an avid reader — hell, the guy even bought her books and she had never even told him how much she likes reading. he just noticed it, and somehow — wait, hold on a second.

chris? really? even when she's on a date with another guy he finds a way to get into her head. okay, gross, let's focus, she thinks.

"what about your favorite animal?" kenji asks her.

"cats," coraline says immediately. "it has always been cats, and it will always be cats. you?"

"jellyfish," kenji says with a smirk.

"you're joking," coraline replies, eyes wide with disbelief.

"dead serious," kenji insists, leaning forward with a grin.

"your favorite animal can't be jellyfish."

"why not?"

"because they're weird and scary," coraline says, her eyebrows raised.

"weird?"

"yes, weird. they have electricity in them, don't tell me that isn't weird."

"i think they're fascinating," kenji responds, his grin widening.

"how?" coraline asks, her curiosity piqued.

kenji leans in, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "well, they don't have brains, hearts, or bones, yet they survive and thrive in the ocean. plus, they've been around for millions of years, long before dinosaurs. i think their simplicity is kind of elegant."

coraline raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "i guess i never thought about it that way. i just see them as weird blobs that can sting you."

kenji laughs. "fair enough. but that's what makes them so interesting to me. they're unique and a bit mysterious."

"well, it's definitely a very unique answer," coraline admits, a small smile playing on her lips.

their conversation continues, and coraline feels a genuine sense of happiness wash over her. each laugh, each shared story, and each moment of playful banter lifts her heart a little more. for the first time in a while, she feels light, unburdened by the usual tension and frustration.

"honestly, i can't believe you're one of those people that hates pineapple on pizza," kenji teases, shaking his head in mock disappointment.

"and i can't believe you're one of those people that doesn't," coraline laughs, "it's a fruit, it doesn't belong there!"

kenji grins, about to retort, when coraline's phone buzzes on the table. she glances at it and sees a message from her brother.

big fucking goof
it's 8pm loser
mom and dad are almost gonna be home
just a heads-up
now

coraline presses her lips together as she reads the message. she hadn't told her parents she was going out because she thought she didn't need to since they were away. 

"hey, i just got a message from eli. my parents are on their way home, and i didn't exactly mention i'd be out," she says, her voice tinged with urgency.

kenji nods understandingly. "no worries. let's get you home."

they quickly finish their yogurts and head to kenji's car. the drive back is filled with more light conversation. they talk about their home towns, music, and some of their most embarrassing moments, making the short trip feel like a continuation of the delightful evening they had just shared. kenji's laughter is infectious, and coraline finds herself joining in wholeheartedly, her earlier frustrations and worries fading into the background.

as they pull up in front of coraline's house, kenji turns off the engine and looks at her with a smile. "you know, tonight was really great. i had a lot of fun."

coraline returns his smile, feeling a warmth in her chest. "yeah, me too. thanks for inviting me. i needed this."

they sit in comfortable silence for a moment, the car's engine ticking as it cools down. finally, they both open their doors and get out of the car. kenji walks her to the door and as they reach the front step, coraline can feel him hesitate a little before he pulls her into a brief hug. "good night, cory."

"good night, kenji," she replies.

as coraline enters her house, she feels a sense of contentment. the evening had been a pleasant distraction, and for once, she feels hopeful, as if maybe, just maybe, things could be different. 

she kicks off her shoes and heads upstairs to her room, her mind still replaying the evening's conversations. she'd almost forgotten about chris entirely.

but across the street, a different scene is unfolding. 

chris sturniolo stands at his bedroom window, his gaze fixed on coraline's house. his eyes, filled with a mixture of emotions that might just include a hint of jealousy, follow her as she enters her home. he had noticed kenji's car outside and the way coraline had smiled as she stepped out of it. 

he turns away from the window, running a hand through his hair in frustration. why did it bother him so much to see her with kenji? he had agreed with coraline that their relationship was fake, just a cover for family and friends. but now he can't help but be angry as he sees her happy with someone else — with kenji beckham.

but the thing that icks him the most about everything, is that he knows it's his fault.

ᵣₒₓ !!

L chapter i know nobody cares about kenji 🙄 i promise next chap will be better!!

bro those mirror pics of chris are doing something to me and i'm saying this as a SECURED matt girl that boy's insane

don't forget to leave a vote and comment! it motivates me :) ❤ ily