BREAK POINT - chris sturniolo

CHAPTER 2

The sun shown directly into the bedroom of my apartment. Nestled on the west side, it was a short walk from campus and an even shorter walk to the beach. 

I laid, sprawled out under my comforter, listening to the hum of the air conditioning as it turned on. It was Thursday, the one day a week I had no classes. I still had 7AM practice, which I had almost everyday of the week, but at 11AM, that was already out of the way and I had a free day to myself. Charlotte almost surely hadn't woken up from her post practice nap yet, so I had to figure out something to do without her.

My phone vibrated at the edge of my nightstand, shaking the glass of water next to it.

Anyone down to study w me rn?

It was from Chris. I stared at my screen, waiting for anyone else in the group chat to respond.

Second week of school and I already have so much shit to do

He sent a follow up text that for 20 minutes, no one replied to. I would love to get out of the house and get some of my work done before my match tomorrow, but I'll be damned if I go hang out with Chris alone.

You guys are fake

The message lit up my phone as I buzzed around my room, finally out of bed to do some cleaning. Another message followed shortly after, and I assumed it was him once again so I didn't check.

When I sat down to do my skin care, I noticed it wasn't Chris at all, but Matt. Matt, Chris's triplet brother and best friend, was one of my closest friends in the group. He was quiet but I always felt the absence of pressure to talk when we hung out somehow made us closer.

Can we come to your game tomorrow?

I smiled at his text. Sometimes it felt like he was my biggest fan. I knew he doesn't love watching tennis, much less understand it, but he always showed up to support me.

i would love that

why aren't you answering chris?

I shot off two texts right in a row. He got back to me instantly.

Why aren't you?

Touche, but I left him on seen anyway. 

+

Today, I was sure Chris's gaze was lingering on me.

Matt, Jace, Nick, and to my surprise, Chris all showed up to the match. They squinted under the beating sun, looking around for me, and I jogged over to greet them.

"You guys!" I smiled, so excited to see that they all came. I wondered, for a moment, if he was here to see Sarah Grace, but right now I was sure that he was only looking at me. His eyes traced me up and down as I approached them.

I was in my blue UCLA skirt and matching white tank, with my hair slicked back into a braid. It was the first game of the year so I was much more eager to look cute than I was for the rest of the season's matches. While not a hard match, something about today just felt special.

After an awkward beat, the boys all looked to Matt. Suddenly, he pulled out a bouquet of flowers and I almost dropped to the ground right there in the parking lot.

"Happy last first game," he smiled coyly, handing me the bouquet of babies breath and lillies.

"This might be the nicest thing anyones ever done for me." I smiled and pretending to wipe away fake tears when I really was wiping away real ones.