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[2019]
Quinn and Patrick were seated at a small table in the hotel bar. Patrick's eyes were fixed on his coffee cup as he stirred the dark liquid with a small silver spoon. The hum of quiet conversation and clinking glasses filled the background, but between them, there was only a heavy silence.
"So?" Quinn asked after a few moments, her voice breaking the silence. She rested her elbow on the table and propped her cheek on her palm, her gaze steady on the guy sitting in front of her.
Before Patrick could start speaking, Quinn interrupted him again. "Wait. Why do you smell so bad?" Patrick's head snapped up, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What?" "You heard me," the girl replied.
Patrick sighed and rolled his eyes. "My card was declined at the hotel where I was supposed to stay... so I ended up sleeping in my car for a night," he explained. Quinn tilted her head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "Okay. Two nights. But it's not a big deal. I mean, it wasn't my choice." Patrick leaned back in his chair, his shoulders sagging as he ran a hand through his hair.
After a moment of silence, Quinn spoke up. "You can stay with me." She shrugged nonchalantly, then took a sip of her coffee. Patrick's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" he asked. The woman in front of him nodded, her expression calm. "Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have offered."
Patrick hesitated. "Are you sure?" Quinn rolled her eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh my god, Patrick! Is it that hard to accept a kind gesture? Do you want me to take it back?" A smirk spread across Patrick's face as he chuckled softly. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly. "Thank you."
"Anyway... what I wanted to ask you," Patrick began, clearing his throat nervously. His gaze dropped to the table, his fingers tracing the rim of his coffee cup. "In a couple of days, I have the Challenger Tournament. It's really important. I need you to train me."
Quinn almost spat out her coffee in shock. "Me? Train you?" she exclaimed, eyes wide. Patrick nodded. "I'm not a tennis coach, and I don't even know how to play tennis. You know that," she said, shaking her head.
"Please," Patrick begged, leaning forward, his elbows resting on the table as he brought his face closer to hers. "I know you don't play tennis, but you know all the rules. I'm sure you can help me."
Quinn continued to shake her head, leaning back slightly to put some distance between them. "You're a good player, Patrick. You don't need me," she insisted, but his determination was unwavering. "Yes, I do. Please." Quinn glanced around, unsure of what to say or do.
"I'll have to play against Art," Patrick suddenly added, his voice dropping to a more serious tone.
Quinn's eyes snapped back to him, her expression shifting to one of shock and confusion. "Art?" she asked as the name hung in the air between them, her voice softer than before, almost a whisper. "Art... Donaldson?"
Patrick nodded slowly. "Art Donaldson."
***
[2006]
Quinn began to notice how Art started to be flirty and touchy with her. But she knew the reason; she saw the jealousy in his eyes when he saw Tashi and Patrick together. So, she played along.
After all, she was a bit jealous too, wasn't she?
At first, it was subtle—a casual touch on her arm, a playful nudge during their conversations. But soon, Art's intentions became clearer.
His eyes lingered on her a bit longer, and his attention seemed to sharpen whenever Patrick and Tashi shared a moment. Quinn saw the frustration in his expression, the way he would glance away quickly, trying to hide his feelings.
She understood all too well.
She didn't mind playing along. When Art's hand brushed hers, she didn't pull away. When he leaned in close to whisper something funny, she laughed, even if the joke wasn't that great.
She found herself reciprocating his touches, leaning into the moments they shared. It was a way to distract herself, and the same went for him.
"What's going on between you and Art?" Tashi asked her best friend, adjusting her bag on her shoulder as they walked away from the field, leaving the two boys playing there.
Quinn chuckled softly, turning her head towards Tashi with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Between me and Art? Nothing, why?" she said, tilting her head and raising her eyebrows in an exaggerated display of innocence.
Tashi rolled her eyes and let out a laugh. "Come on, you know exactly what I'm talking about. You two are always glued to each other."
"Oh, that. It's nothing, really," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "We're just friends." Tashi gave her a skeptical look. "Friends who can't seem to stay away from each other? Right."
Perhaps it was just Quinn's imagination, but during that conversation, she noticed a strange look in Tashi's eyes, almost as if she was... jealous?
But Quinn tried not to dwell on it too much; after all, Tashi was with Patrick, and there was no reason to doubt their relationship.
"What's going on with Quinn?" Patrick asked the blond, setting his racket on the ground as soon as the girls walked away.
Art, who was positioned to serve the ball, straightened up and furrowed his brows. "What?" "Come on, you can tell me," Patrick teased with a wink and a smirk, stepping closer and placing a hand on Art's shoulder. "Is there something going on between you two?"
Art burst out laughing. "What are you talking about? We're just good friends," he explained, his laughter echoing around the court. Patrick responded with an eye roll. "Sure, just good friends," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Art had the impression that Patrick was...annoyed? 'It's probably just my stupid imagination,' he thought, and the two started playing again, as the rhythmic sound of the ball being hit back and forth filled the air.
***
[author's note]
here is the new chapterrr!! i hope you like it, because we are starting to get to the heart of the story ღ
