𝐈𝐍𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 c.sturniolo

013. ❝christopher kind of has a thing for you❞

CHAPTER THIRTEEN!
013.
❝christopher kind of has a thing for you❞
(real life)

after the game, the group began to walk to the practice gym, with jack and valentine trailing behind them.

jack's shoulder bumped into val in a casual, yet purposeful way as they spoke about the game.

"come on." matt was holding open a door and gesturing for the two to hurry. "get in before someone sees us."

val playfully rolled her eyes at him muttering a small "okay champ," before following him through the door and into the practice gym.

nick and adam had found a ball near the drinking fountains while the other guys decided teams.

val had to admit, she was lowkey missing bella so she wouldn't be the only girl there. watching guys argue over who would be in whos team made her skin crawl.

"you playing anderson?" chris gave her a look that said she should say yes, but she knew her skill level would do nothing to help her.

"i am so good sturniolo!!"

"sturniolo?"

"you always call me by my last name, i feel left out," valentine sarcastically remarked before grinning and sitting on a bench.

chris walked backwards to where the game was starting, not taking his eyes off of val until he had to.

and just like that, they were all in on their game; chris and adam on one team, and jack, matt and nick on the other.

jack made some really good shots, but he was overshadowed by chris, who seemed really really good at basketball.

after a while, the game was over, with chris and adam winning. nick was arguing with adam as they both laughed, and chris was doing some terrible dance move beside them, also laughing.

there was something sweet about the way that they went from sworn athletic rivals, to literal best friends, the minute that metaphorical whistle blew the game over.

"what are you smiling at?"

val jumped and turned her head at an awkward angle to see jack standing beside her, looking down at her face.

"you scared me!"

"sorry." he gave her a little smile, and valentine's stomach flipped all the way upside down. his eyes were warm as he asked, "you wanna shoot around?"

"i am terrible at basketball," val said and she caught a glimpse of chris in her peripheral vision. she made the mistake of turning her head in his direction, and he gave her a double thumbs up with a cheesy smile.

jack dribbled and said, "you can't be that bad."

valentine returned her attention to him. "i so can."

"come on." he stopped dribbling and held out a hand to pull the girl up. "i'll help you."

she grabbed his hand, and warmth shot through her body as he pulled her to her feet. val followed and as soon as they got to the open hoop, jack let a shot fly and it went in. "lets see your shot."

val inhaled deeply before throwing the ball and missing so far away from the basket. as she started to laugh, jack just stood there smiling at her.

"are you biting your cheek so you dont laugh?"

"you can see that?"

"i see everything jack."

"well," he retrieved the ball. "if you can see everything, you can probably see that christopher kind of has a thing for you."

"whatttt? no!"

"im telling you val," he passed her the ball. "kid told me."

suddenly the lie wasnt as easy to manage as she'd thought it would be. chris had already talked to him? what was she supposed to say? val bounced the ball, trying to focus on not letting it get out of control.

"oh. um. i like chris, but only as a friend."

"you should reconsider, he's a really good guy."

"chris is not a really good guy jack- come on. hes..." she stopped dribbling. "chris is fun and unpredictable and the life of the party. he's got good qualities, but he is not good."

but as she said it, val didn't quite feel it anymore. that was how she'd always thought of him, but it was becoming clear to her that either he'd changed or she'd been wrong all along.

jack gave a small nod. "still."

he came behind val and moved her hands so she was holding the ball, ready to shoot. even though her mind was quite literally racing, she managed to shoot the ball and get it in.

"did you teach her that thorne?" val turned away from the basket and there was chris, walking up beside jack. "because theres no way she knew how to do that before she got here."

she picked up the ball. "how would you know?"

"i know everything anderson."

val rolled her eyes and dribbled in the other direction.

"i may have given some pointers, but that shot was all little val." valentine cringed. "and by the way about my hair."

val stopped dribbling and glanced over her shoulder. chris' eyebrows were quirked like he was both confused and interested to hear what was about to follow.

"i use this styling cream from walmart on the front, and then i just put a little gel on the sides."

"i see." the corners of chris' mouth looked likr they wanted to smile.

"your hair would probably do the same thing, honestly if you grew it out and got a good cut."

val almost laughed when she saw the change on chris' face as he realised jack was dead serious. "you really think so?"

"for sure." jack gave chris a pat on the shoulder and said; "you can be your own hair hero."

"um jack?" valentine needed to step in and shut it down.

"yeah?"

"um." val was struggling to think, she had to say something. "um, have you given any thought about prom? if you're going with someone? maybe a friend or whatever."

fuck! val was being way too forward. "and what about you chris- are you going? it just seems like a lot of people are skipping it this year. i heard."

jack's eyes were on her, like he had considered her for the postion and valentine felt electric. he started, "im still-"

at that same second, val heard adam yell "heads up!!"

which was half a second before a fucking rapid basketball slammed into valentine's face and knocked her flat onto her ass.

guys am i literally back in my active era🥰🥰