Inevitable x Michaeng

10-12

Everything about tenth grade feels different.

They aren't just freshmen anymore, they move around the school with a new freedom, discovering their place in a way they hadn't before.

They aren't just Mina and Chaeyoung like they have always been. They spend more time apart as they fall into different groups, with Mina spending lunch in the dance room and her after school hours practicing with the Quiz Bowl team in Mr. Lee's empty classroom. Chaeyoung makes the varsity soccer team and starts sitting with them at lunch, any free time she has spent in practice or at home taking care of Junghoon.

Sometimes days pass without them seeing each other.

When that happens Chaeyoung's playing gets sloppier and Mina can't concentrate during Quiz Bowl practice, they are unfocused and out of sync until they meet up for Saturday night sleepovers, watching old movies and playing board games until they realign. They can be Mina and Chaeyoung again for a two whole days until Monday comes and pulls them back apart.

Sometimes they meet in between classes, leaning against lockers as they just take each other in, talking in quick jokes and light touches. Mina always walks Chaeyoung to her third period Math Analysis class, pressing a kiss to her cheek in the doorway before hurrying across campus to AP Euro.

*

Chaeyoung's practice is canceled after a fierce battle with boy's lacrosse for the field. Chaeyoung sneers at BamBam and his ilk, ushered off the pitch by her coach.

"We'll just skip practice today, ladies," Coach calls to the group, massaging his temple with his fingers, "you had a great game yesterday. It's well deserved." He shoots a glare at Chaeyoung and her teammates, "I expect you all to go on a run on your own, this is about pushing yourselves to be better." He glances back at the lacrosse team sourly before waving his hand at his girls, "All right, get outta here."

They scatter eagerly, scooping up heavy bags to sling over shoulders, chattering amongst themselves, excited to have such a commodity as a weekday off. Chaeyoung lags behind, untying her cleats and throwing them back in her bag. She figures Mina will still be at nerd practice, she might wait outside the classroom, walk her home. Her stomach lurches excitedly at the thought and she quickens her pace as she walks back toward the school. She passes a crowd of girls who cluster against the corner of the bleachers, clothed only in spandex and sports bras, pom-poms dropped carelessly on the asphalt. Most of the girls are setting up mats but one, tall and lean with dangerous cheekbones and delicate eyes, smirks at Chaeyoung.

"Better hurry, pretty girl," she says, mouth still curved into a smile as she watches Chaeyoung walk, "you're getting left behind."

Chaeyoung glances at her teammates ahead of her and then back at the Cheer girl. She opens her mouth to reply, but can think of nothing so she just nods, hoping the girl doesn't notice her burning ears and the nervous clench of her hands on her sports bag. The girl smiles wider, leaning toward Chaeyoung just barely before turning, helping one of the other cheerleaders heft a mat. Chaeyoung's eyes drop to the girl's well muscled arms and the taught ripple of her back before she shakes her head and keeps walking, refusing to look back despite the allure of the girl's smile and the weight of her gaze as she watches Chaeyoung leave.