What a game.
Sure, there were many places where technique could be improved, but a seriously good game.
I lower my half-raised arm, realizing how stupid it probably looked in Kiara's perspective to look at my beet-red face. But I'm pretty sure that her face was red too, if not redder.
It's not every day someone kicks your ass and still manages to switch up to blush at someone else after.
God, I'm just the best with girls, aren't I?
Grabbing my phone, which buzzes noisily with notifications that are presumably from my friend asking me whom I'm taking with me to the annual end-of-11th dance. Truth is, I don't have anyone to take.
Aadhi, my best friend, is taking his girlfriend to the dance, so any shot of me going with him as a friend is completely shot down. I might not be Einstein, but I'm definitely smart enough to not start third-wheeling.
No way.
Would asking Kiara to the dance be weird? Too soon? Yeah, probably. I barely know her. Plus, she's... intense, at least on the court.
I scroll through my various apps, the sun's glare harshly beating down on my back, and click on my messages.
Hannah- Theo, want to go to the dance with me? I'd be delighted!!!! [ three heart emojis ]
I sigh as I stare at the three heart emojis. She really wasn't getting the hint. How many times do you have to say 'no' before someone backs off? I should've taken Aadhi's advice about faking my death and living a double life.
At this rate, it might be my only way out.
Hannah Presley, a freshman at my school, practically follows me around the entire school day, asking me out on dates. Almost all the time, Aadhi would back me up by helping me escape her, but now there's no shot of him magically spawning here.
When did I even take her number in the first place?
I groan softly as I get into our car's backseat absentmindedly when my phone buzzes again. It's Aadhi this time.
Aadhi: Dude, you're not seriously taking Hannah to the dance, right?
Me: How the hell did you even know? And to answer your question, of course not.
Aadhi: OK, one, as your best friend it's my job to know who exactly is trying to ask you out.
Aadhi: Second, good. I was about to stage an intervention about you having chicken pox or some shit to make Hannah back out. You asking anyone else then?
I glare at my phone, typing and deleting various sentences about whether or not I should ask Kiara without sending them. I barely talked to her, let alone know if she goes to the same school as I do or not.
Aadhi: Hello?
Aadhi: Theo, dude?
Me: No. I'm not taking anyone.
I twiddle my thumbs over my screen, furrowing my eyebrows slightly before typing a few extra words.
Me: Not that I know of.
Maybe I should ask Kiara? My mind keeps circling back to her, like a tennis ball I can't quite get a clean hit on. It's weird, right? We barely spoke, but here I am, considering it.
Shoving my phone into my tennis bag, Aadhi's inquiring questions along with it, I rest my head against the backseat window.
The car's low rumbles indicate the arrival from the tennis courts to our house. I don't even bother to keep the door open for my dad or mom. They'll both stand there arguing about something new, like the dishes being left in the sink or the clothes not folding themselves.
At least my parents are predictable.
I trudge upstairs, muscles throbbing from the constant play in the last hour. I didn't realize that practicing serves was this painful. I set my worn bag on my bed and head into the bathroom, peeling off my damp shirt and turning on the hot water.
As the water hits my skin, I try to clear my head, but it's useless.
Kiara's there, in the back of my mind. Why am I even thinking about her this much? I don't know anything about her.
I scrub shampoo into my hair harder than necessary, as if that'll wash out the thought of her. She's probably got a boyfriend. Hell, she'll probably not even remember me tomorrow.
Why am I so set on this one girl who I met an hour ago?
I mean, she's a great tennis player, sure, but I don't even know what she's into.
She could love opera or knitting. She might be the kind of person who eats pineapple on pizza.
Am I seriously considering asking a girl to a dance without knowing where she stands on pineapple pizza?
That's risky.
Jesus Christ, she's in my head again.
At least she's good-looking.
No, she isn't.
Yes, she is.
Damn it, Theo, get it together. You can't even decide if you like her or not, and here you are planning a whole romantic scenario.
This is stupid.
Very stupid.
Too stupid.
A/n: I lowkey love Theo's character lol 🥹😭
He's so indecisive... also I promise he's not obsessed w/ her or anything cause that's just weird 💀💀
It's not even love-at-first-sight either, though, more like a slight nagging feeling at the back of ur mind to find out more about a person's compelling nature, yk??
Anyway ilysm and I'll see you in the next chapter 😘
