As the locker room's ambience buzzes with chatter and the scent of after practice sweat lingers in the air, Van leans in with a playful glint in her eye, enticingly extending my water bottle towards me. "Wanna come to my place after school?" Her voice carries a hint of mischief, drawing me into her proposition.
I nod with a smile. As she delicately lifts my chin, guiding the water bottle to my lips, a few drops of water escape my mouth, causing Van to chuckle affectionately. I reach up to wipe the moisture away.
However, amidst this moment, I catch a glimpse of Misty Quigley observing the two of us from across the room. Her expression carries a hint of disapproval, but as my eyes meet hers, her frown softens into a smile. Returning the gesture with a friendly wave, I acknowledge her presence before turning my focus back to Van.
Now seated in front of me, Van's eyes lock onto mine, conveying an unspoken connection. The locker room's clamor fades into the background as I become captivated by her presence.
She places her hand on my thigh, a gentle touch that sends a subtle thrill through me, but at the same time, I feel eyes on us again, making the moment a bit awkward. Glancing over, I catch Misty staring at us once more. Trying not to make it too obvious, I smile at Van and say, "Uh, I'll be back in a second."
As I gracefully get off the bench and walk past Misty, I can feel her following me with her eyes. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I decide to step into a nearby storage room. Leaning against the shelves, I take a moment to gather my thoughts, and before I know it, Misty appears in the doorway. "I knew you'd follow me," I say, trying to sound nonchalant while straightening my posture.
She quickly tries to play it off. "I needed to get something" I raise an eyebrow, not fully convinced. "Yeah? What did you need?" I inquire, sensing there might be something more.
She nervously scratches the back of her neck and remains silent.
"You jealous?" I ask her. Her eyes dart to the floor, avoiding my gaze.
I can't help but smile at her attempt to divert the conversation. "Why would I be jealous?" She mutters. I shrug playfully, maintaining a playful tone. "I don't know,"
I decide to push a little further. "Are you?" I lean forward slightly, gently tilting her chin upwards, urging her to meet my gaze.
As our eyes locked, a gentle tension filled the air, and her gaze wandered hesitantly between my eyes and lips. Slowly, my hand found its way to her waist, drawing her a little closer. The atmosphere seemed to thicken, as her breath grew heavier with anticipation.
Then, Van interrupted the moment, opening the door and glancing at me expectantly. "You coming?" she asked. I nodded in response, Van looks between Misty and I and smiles before leaving the room.
With a lingering look at Misty, I whispered, "We will finish this tomorrow," I pulled away, feeling a mixture of excitement and uncertainty, before eventually leaving the room.
