𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 | ✓

𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤

(edited)

The afternoon sun bathed the schoolyard in soft gold, warm rays stretching across the concrete and painting long shadows behind the swings and trees. Vince and I were lounging on a bench tucked away under a budding cherry tree, the pink blossoms swaying gently in the breeze. The week had passed in a blissful blur. Seven full days since Myles and I had started dating, and I was still floating somewhere between giddy disbelief and complete adoration.

It was heaven! Actual heaven!

I never imagined I could be so lucky. Myles was everything. Gentle. Thoughtful. Sweet in ways that made my heart ache. He had a way of making me laugh at the worst moments, of holding me like I was made of glass and looking at me like I was his whole world. And his eyes... God, those eyes... Every time he looked at me, it was like the stars had come down to dance in them, and that soft, tender smile of his? Melted me. Every. Single. Time.

But right now, the one next to me was far from romantic. Vince sat beside me, hunched forward, completely absorbed in his phone as he scrolled through Instagram with the intensity of someone researching ancient scrolls. His face was bathed in that bluish glow, completely unaware of the mischievous cousin plotting chaos beside him.

We hadn't seen each other much lately. School had swallowed us up in projects and late-night cramming, and in between my time with Myles and his with his ever-growing group of friends, our cousin-bonding time had taken a hit.

Now, watching Vince scroll in peaceful oblivion, an idea curled itself into my mind, tempting and devious.

I was in the mood to cause trouble.

Moving as quietly as I could, I inched closer, careful not to alert him with the scrape of my shoes on gravel. My breath caught in anticipation, heart thudding in my chest. And then, lightning fast, I snatched the phone from his hands and bolted with a squeal, my laughter echoing behind me.

"Hey! Come back here, you little thief!" Vince shot up, his voice trailing after me like a war cry.

Giggling wildly, I darted across the yard, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I could hear his footsteps pounding behind me. Heavy, determined, and gaining fast.

'If he catches me, I'm dead. Actually dead!'

I rounded the corner, clutching the phone like a trophy, shoving it hastily under my blouse. The playground loomed ahead, blissfully empty. The toddlers were likely napping and the older kids were probably stuck at their desks doing math. I veered toward the slide, hoping to hide, but two strong hands clamped down on my shoulders before I could make my escape.

"Nope!" Vince grunted, dragging me back with a grin. "Gotcha!"

The next thing I knew, I was flat on my back, head down on the yellow plastic slide, Vince pinning my wrists above my head. His eyes danced with amusement, the corners of his lips curled in a victorious smirk.

"Give me back my phone, or I'm letting you slide all the way down!"

I bit back a laugh, shaking my head with exaggerated stubbornness. "Never!"

"Wrong answer!" he said, leaning forward.

I squealed as he tilted me just enough for gravity to do its work. My hair splayed out behind me, and I felt myself sliding down a few inches. "Vince!" I shrieked, laughing uncontrollably.

He arched an eyebrow. "Give. Me. The phone."

"Nope!" I shouted gleefully, wrapping my arms tighter around the phone tucked under my shirt.