One Shot Collection #2

9 - Rockstar & Firecracker

It all started when Margot and Jude were just kids, thrown together by fate in a small, bustling classroom. From the very first moment they met, something about their personalities clashed. Jude was the loud, competitive jock, always quick with a snarky comment, while Margot was the quiet, studious type, focused on her books and perfectly content in her own little world. They didn't understand each other then, and it didn't take long for the friction between them to escalate.

Their school days were marked by constant squabbles—debates over group projects, petty arguments over who should answer the teacher's questions, and even those awkward silent moments when they were forced to work together. The animosity between them felt almost like a force of nature, inevitable and unrelenting. Jude would steal her pens and make snide remarks, and Margot would shoot him icy glares and shoot back sharp retorts. They didn't know why they hated each other so much, but it didn't matter. The tension was palpable.

By the time graduation came, both of them were relieved. Their paths separated, and they didn't speak for years. Margot focused on building her career as a graphic designer, immersing herself in her work, while Jude pursued his love for music, traveling around with his band. Life had a funny way of distracting them from the bitter past they had shared. And so, their worlds drifted further apart, with their mutual disdain becoming just a distant memory.

But life, as always, had a way of throwing them back together. A mutual friend, Lily, whom both Margot and Jude respected, invited them to a work gathering. She had a way of bringing people together, even if they hadn't spoken in years. Both Margot and Jude were hesitant at first, the ghosts of their school days lingering. The thought of being in the same room with someone they had once loathed didn't seem appealing. Yet, in the end, they both agreed to attend, the desire to support their friend outweighing any lingering animosity.

The event was a lively affair. Laughter echoed around the room, and glasses clinked as people mingled and chatted. The awkwardness between Margot and Jude, however, was undeniable. They were careful not to look at each other, each choosing to stay in their own circles of conversation. But every so often, their eyes would meet across the room, and for a brief moment, a flicker of recognition would pass between them—a reminder of their shared past. But neither of them moved to approach the other.

That was until the night began to wind down. Margot, seeking a quiet moment, made her way to the bar. She ordered a drink, trying to clear her mind of the odd tension she still felt in Jude's presence. It had been years, but the memories of their arguments were still sharp, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something unresolved hung in the air.

And then, there he was. Jude, standing at the bar with a drink in his hand, his signature smirk playing on his lips as if he had never stopped being the same cocky guy she'd once clashed with.

"Margot," he greeted her, his voice casual but tinged with something that she couldn't quite place. "It's been a while."

She raised an eyebrow, trying to keep her composure. "Yeah, it has. Don't tell me you still play in that band of yours?" she asked, her tone teasing but guarded.

Jude chuckled, running a hand through his messy hair. "Actually, yeah. Believe it or not, I'm still rocking out on stage, just a little more refined now. What about you? Still creating all those fancy designs?"

Margot felt a strange pang in her chest at his question. Despite everything, she had to admit, she had missed the way their conversations used to flow. The playful banter, the sharp remarks—they had always shared an effortless rhythm.

"Some things never change," she said, smiling faintly. "Yeah, I'm still designing. It's what I do. But what about you, Jude? Still trying to conquer the world with your guitar?"