It’s Gracie, back at it again with the trash writing :) I hope y'all enjoy! Sorry for typos 💖
I shut my eyes. God, I’m an idiot. I knew this would happen. “I know what you’re going to say.”
I stared at her, begging, pleading her to forget everything and change her mind. But… Quinn was nothing if not stubborn. “Yeah,” I took a breath, trying to compose myself. “I’ll go.”
I headed towards the door silently, not wanting to let myself look back.
“Stop calling me that!” A seven year old Brooks whined.
I laughed at him and pulled him over. “Now, dude, I know you’re not too good with girls-”
“Shut up! I don-I don’t even l-like gi-girls…”
My eyes widened. “Are you saying you’re g-gay.” I made fun of his stuttering.
His face turned a deep red. “What do you want, Jace.”
I grinned mischievously. “Watch this.” I dragged him towards a bush and had him duck with me behind it. “Girls love it when you mess with them.” He nodded along, finally beginning to listen to my wise 10 year old words. “Be quiet.”
I threw my arm back and hurdled the tennis ball I had been holding forward. I watched as it slammed into Quinn’s back. I put my hand in front of Brooks, silently asking for a fist bump, but he seemed distracted by something in front of me.
I turned forward and watched as Quinn whipped her head in my direction, pure rage in her eyes. My jaw dropped. Oh no… I’m so dead.
Brooks looked over to me with a worried expression. “You’re on your own.” He dove in the bush next to us, doing his best to avoid the wrath of his sister. Darn kid.
I bolted from the gardens towards the palace. I turned around slightly and saw Quinn chasing me. “Come here, Jace!”
“Are you crazy?! No!” I tried picking up my pace as I heard echoes of Nate’s laughter.
Finally, Quinn caught up with me and pushed me forward. I hit the wall, full force. I spun around to face her, groaning in pain. She grabbed my shirt and pushed me against the wall yet again. “I swear to God, you wannabe baseball player, I will break your arm the next time you throw something at me.”
My eyes were wide with terror as my best friend’s little sister threatened me.
She let go of me and let me stumble forward. “I hate you, Jace Bennett,” she exclaimed as she stormed off back towards our parents.
I couldn’t help my smile. Girls love it when you mess with them.
“It’s your ball, man,” I said as I tossed the basketball back to Nate.
He caused it easily. “First to 21, yeah?” I nodded. Nate began to dribble the ball and rush towards me. He jumped to dunk the ball, but I blocked him… maybe with a bit more aggression than necessary. Nate hit the floor with a loud thud. “What the hell?” He lifted his head and rubbed the back of it.
“Shake it off, Schreave.” I retrieved the ball and looked over towards him, noticing he had gotten up, but didn’t seem too pleased.
He raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been doing this all game. What’s your problem?”
“It’s nothing, Nate. Just play the damn game.” I threw the ball towards him roughly.
“You need to chill out.” He threw it back harder.
“I’m fine.” I ran forward, swerving by him to make my shot. He grew his arms up, coming in front of me. I searched for an escape but found none, so I shoved him instead. As he stumbled back. I made my basket.
“Jace. What is wrong with you?!“
“What’s wrong, little prince? Can’t take the heat?”
Nate’s expression darkened. “What’s your problem,” he said, hardly a question.
“I don’t have a problem,” I gritted out.
Nate stared at me before walking towards the bleachers to grab his things. “Yeah, whatever.” He took a gulp of his water and turned back towards me. “Give Quinn my best regards,” he said flatly and left the gym.
I threw the basketball forward, in no particular direction. Damnet. I ran a hand through my hair
I pulled out a seat by Nate in the library. “Can I help you,” he asked.
I let out a breath thinking of what to say. “Hey, bro, I’m sorry.” Nate snorted. “Shut up, I’m trying to be a good friend.”
He shut his book. “You tried to assault me in a game of one on one. Yes, Jace, you’ve won friend of the year! Congrats.”
I scratched the back of my neck, awkwardly. “Not my finest moment, I know.”
“Do you want to tell me what’s wrong or are you here for some prison themed rematch?”
“Maybe next time,” I shrugged. “I wanted to apologize and explain.”
Nate rolled his eyes. “It’s the only thing you ever get upset about.”
Nate cut me off with his hand. “I don’t know if I want to hear about you and my sister.”
“There is no me and your sister.”
He scoffed. “Yeah, okay.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“As long as the two of you breathe, there will be something going on,” Nate shrugged.
In some ways, he was right. Even if Quinn and I weren’t together, there was always something there connecting us. It sounding downright stupid, and I’d probably throw my head back in laughter if anyone had said something like that out loud. Sounds like shit Brooks would say. I chuckled to myself. What a geek.
“So… are you going to talk to her?”
I thought it over. “Yeah, I should.”
I opened the door of my guest room and found Quinn there, seemingly about to knock. “Oh, hi. Sorry,” she lowered her fist.
“I was just about to go find you,” I smiled tentatively at her.
“Well, I guess I beat you to it,” she mirrored my expression. “Take a walk with me?”
I nodded and reached behind me to grab a coat. I handed it to her. “I saw you didn’t have one and it’s November, so…”
She took it gladly. “I’m impressed you thought ahead.“
“Only when it comes to you.” I shut my mouth quickly, but she just smiled. Huh… Usually that type of thing would freak her out. Okay, she either doesn’t care at all anymore or she’s past it.
“Let’s go.” We made sure to keep a safe distance from each other as we headed towards the palace grounds, somewhere we used to play as children.
I gestured over towards a wall. “Hey, remember when you tried to break my arm.”
“I did not! I said I would if you threw that stupid ball at me again.
“You got the message,” she grinned.
I tapped a finger to my ear. “Loud and clear, princess.” She let out a small laugh. “I do have to say, though, that was very unladylike.”
“My apologies, did I repulse you.”
“On the contrary. I was thoroughly impressed with your speed and strength. Admirable traits to look for in a woman,” I joked.
She rolled her eyes, playfully and looked down for a moment. “I feel as though I should talk about why I asked you to speak with me.”
Well shit, I thought. Here comes the time for her to crush me once again.
“You must hate me,” she stated.
“I’ve been horrible to you. And when you kissed me-”
I shut my eyes and waved a hand to cut her off. “Can we not relive it. I get it, okay? It was a mistake. You don’t have to make me understand. I already know.”
“Quinn, I’m serious. I completely understand. I shouldn’t have kissed you and I won’t do it again.” I spun on my heel to walk away.
“Jace!” Quinn called out but I continued to walk. I heard a frustrated groan before getting hit in the back with something. I turned around back towards her.
“Now you know how it feels.” I looked over and saw it was a tennis ball she hit me with. I nearly smiled. “And you don’t have to kiss me.”
“Nope,” she stopped me and pointed to herself. “I’m talking now.” I shut my mouth and let her continue. “You don’t have to kiss me. I’ll kiss you myself.”
She stormed towards me and my eyes widened. She pulled me forward and pressed her lips to mine. I grinned into the kiss and we pulled away. “I was being stupid, I know,” she began, “but I love you and I’m sorry.” She seemed a bit scared, which made my smile grow wider.
“A good arm too? I’m wildly impressed.” Her ears turned pink as she became slightly embarrassed.
“Shut up,” she said before lifting herself up to kiss me again. I reciprocated it fully.
titsay
ellievsbear
theartofmadeline
pixelskylines
snowghoul
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
stormborns
gracieabrams
