spark (Tory Nichols x Fem!Reader)

chapter six: bad news

Y/N's dad had confiscated her phone, but he had left the house for a work meeting and had made the mistake of leaving her phone out in the open on the kitchen counter. Y/N's dad hadn't even pulled out of the driveway when she darted quietly into the kitchen, took her phone and turned it on.

Her phone was practically exploding with notifications. Unlocking her phone, Y/N saw that she had been added to a group chat with Hawk, Miguel, Tory, Aisha and Moon. She had also received several texts from an unknown number. She swiped left on her screen to view them.

Unknown number: Y/N

Unknown number: GUESS WHAT

Unknown number: ITS ME TORY BTW

Unknown number: MIGUEL AND I KISSED

Unknown number: I STRUCK FIRST

Y/N had expected to feel excited or happy for Tory, but instead she felt as if she had taken a punch directly to her sternum, the air stolen from her lungs. For a few seconds, she felt like she really couldn't breathe and had to hold onto the kitchen counter with one arm to steady herself. She couldn't even think about replying to Tory's text. All she could feel was the burning of jealousy in her stomach.

Of course it was going to happen. Y/N remembered what Tory had said about Miguel at the beach club. And she knew for sure it wasn't Tory she was jealous of. She wasn't attracted to Miguel, though like Tory had said, he wasn't bad-looking.

Y/N came to the conclusion that she was, in fact, attracted to Tory. Head over heels in love with her.

No, not in love. She hadn't even known Tory for more than a week, and it took years for people to actually fall in love. But still, the fact was there. She liked Tory in that way. It was a relief to finally figure out what that sparking feeling in her chest was. It was simply affections for Tory. The bad news was that Y/N had only figured that out after Tory had gotten with Miguel. 

Y/N closed her eyes and felt tears slip down her face. Who had she been kidding anyways? It's not like she even had a chance. There was nothing to indicate that Tory also liked girls as well. It might've been doomed from the start. 

----

Y/N tried to keep herself distracted at training the next day, and it worked. The physical exertion took her mind off of Miguel and Tory for some time, and it felt good. But then, she would see Tory shoot a playful grin at Miguel, or see Miguel whisper something in Tory's ear, and feel a stab of pain shoot right through her heart. 

Now, they were sitting in a circle. Kreese would call two students to the mat and have them spar. Johnny wasn't there, apparently having personal commitments to attend to.

Y/N was unable to focus sparring, more preoccupied with Tory and Miguel, who were sitting directly across from her. She sighed as she watched Tory look flirtatiously at Miguel, and whisper some sort of joke in his ear, causing him to crack a smile. Y/N had come to the conclusion that she had no one but herself to blame. She should've struck earlier. 

"Y/N?"

Y/N was pulled out of her trance by hearing her name spoken aloud, and saw that Kreese was staring at her expectantly. "On the mat." Kreese commanded. 

Y/N got to her feet and moved to stand in the center of the mat, wondering who her opponent would be this time and frantically hoping it wasn't Hawk. 

Kreese pointed to Mitch, a round, plump boy with curly hair. "You. On the mat as well." 

"Fighting positions." Kreese declared. Y/N moved into the stance that she had learned, with her left foot forward, her knees bent and ready, and her fists raised to guard her face. Mitch did the same thing. Y/N inhaled, taking a deep breath.