there she goes - jschlatt

the sweetest competition

the party had reached a fever pitch, laughter and music swirling around the bonfire like sparks in the night. I had been enjoying myself a little too much, drinks flowing and laughter ringing in my ears. somewhere between the teasing jabs with schlatt and the competition with sierra, I lost track of how many shots I had taken.

"hey, char! you okay?" tucker's voice floated through the haze, his concerned expression cutting through my buzz.

"I'm fine! just... celebrating my marshmallow-roasting victory," I declared, trying to keep my balance as I gestured dramatically.

"sure, just don't celebrate too hard," he warned, chuckling softly. "I'll be right back."

as he walked away, I turned back to schlatt, who was leaning against the fire pit, a smug smile on his face. "what's wrong? not impressed by my roasting skills?"

"impressed? no. slightly entertained? definitely," he replied, his tone teasing. "you know, if you keep this up, you're going to end up carrying your own marshmallows home."

"not if I can help it," I said, swaying slightly. "I've got a reputation to uphold."

"what reputation? the tipsy marshmallow queen?" he quipped, laughter dancing in his eyes.

"exactly!" I exclaimed, my laughter spilling out more freely than intended. "I mean, who wouldn't want to be that?"

schlatt stepped closer, his eyes flickering with amusement. "you're definitely winning at that tonight."

as the night wore on, I felt a warmth spreading through me, a combination of the fire's heat and the alcohol's influence. I found myself gravitating toward schlatt, the connection between us pulling tighter, even as the world around me started to blur.

"you know," I said, leaning closer to him, my voice slightly slurred. "I really like hanging out with you. you're... fun."

"fun?" he echoed, leaning against the railing as he watched me with an amused smirk. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"it is a compliment!" I insisted, swaying a bit as I tried to keep my balance. "you're like... a breath of fresh air. and I don't just mean the smoke from the fire."

"you're really getting poetic now," he chuckled, shaking his head. "should I be flattered or concerned?"

"both," I replied, a playful grin spreading across my face. "but mostly flattered."

the world around me began to spin as I leaned against him for support, the heat from the fire mingling with the warmth radiating off him. I could feel the tension between us shifting, and I wanted to lean into it more.

"you're not like anyone else, you know?" I said, my voice dropping to a more serious tone, the alcohol giving me courage I usually lacked.

"what do you mean?" he asked, his expression softening.

"you're just... you," I replied, glancing up at him, my heart racing. "you don't pretend to be someone you're not. I like that."

"you're a little drunk, aren't you?" he teased lightly, but there was an underlying warmth in his voice.

"maybe a little," I admitted, feeling the flush rise in my cheeks. "but it's true! I just wish I could be more like you—confident, fun... not a total mess."

"hey," he said, leaning closer, his tone turning serious. "you're not a mess. you're just having a good time. and honestly, I think it's nice to see you like this. it's... refreshing."

"you really think so?" I asked, surprised by his sincerity.

"yeah," he replied, his voice dropping to a whisper. "and I think you should let loose more often."

the warmth of his body was intoxicating, and before I realized it, I was leaning in closer, my head resting against his shoulder. the world faded, and it felt like it was just the two of us amidst the laughter and chaos.

"you know," I mumbled, "you're really cute when you're being all serious."

"cute? now that's a compliment," he said, a hint of teasing in his voice. "but I wouldn't call myself cute."

"why not? you're like... a bad boy with a soft side. it's... hot," I said, my words tumbling out in a slightly drunken haze.

"is that so?" he replied, a smirk playing on his lips. "well, I guess I should start charging for my services then."

I giggled, feeling bold as I looked up at him. "how much would you charge me?"

"depends on how much you're willing to pay," he said, his voice low and teasing.

I leaned in even closer, feeling reckless. "I might be willing to pay a lot. you know, for tips and stuff."

"tips?" he echoed, an eyebrow raised. "I might have some advice for you."

"like what?" I challenged, tilting my head.

"like maybe you should stop leaning on me so much before you get any ideas," he said, a playful glint in his eyes.

"no way," I protested, a little too loudly. "I like leaning on you. it feels nice."

just then, sierra walked over, a smile plastered on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. "what's going on here?" she asked, her tone light but her gaze sharp.

"just having a little fun," schlatt replied casually, but I could sense the tension rising.

"fun, huh? seems like you two are getting pretty cozy," she remarked, her smile faltering.

"we're just talking," I said, trying to deflect. "schlatt was giving me advice on marshmallow roasting."

"oh, really?" sierra said, crossing her arms. "because it looks like he's giving you a little more than that."

the atmosphere shifted, and I could feel schlatt's body tense beside me. I wasn't sure if I was imagining it or if there was real jealousy simmering just below the surface.

"we're just having fun, sierra," schlatt said, trying to ease the tension. "don't read too much into it."

"right," she replied, her tone dripping with skepticism. "just keep it friendly, okay?"

I felt a pang of irritation at the way she was addressing him, the protective edge creeping in. "we are friends, sierra," I said, my voice firm. "I'm just enjoying the night."

"whatever you say," she replied, her eyes narrowing slightly. "just remember that."

the air was thick with unspoken words as sierra turned away, leaving me feeling unsettled. I glanced up at schlatt, who was now watching me with an unreadable expression.

"sorry about that," he said softly, his tone shifting back to something more genuine.

"it's not your fault," I replied, feeling a bit vulnerable in the aftermath of sierra's words. "but... I don't want to create drama."

"neither do I," he said, his gaze steady. "but I don't want you to feel uncomfortable either."

"thanks," I mumbled, the weight of the night settling in again. "I just... I like being around you. even if sierra is a little intense sometimes."

"she's just protective," schlatt replied, a hint of understanding in his voice. "but don't worry about it. let's just enjoy the rest of the night."

I nodded, feeling a mix of emotions as I clung to him a little tighter, wanting to soak in this moment before the night ended. the fire crackled, the laughter continued, and I felt a rush of adrenaline course through me, mingling with the lingering warmth of the alcohol.

"so, what's our next move?" I asked, a playful glint returning to my eyes.

"how about we find some more marshmallows and challenge sierra to a rematch?" he suggested, a smirk on his face.

"you're on," I said, my heart racing at the prospect of the night unfolding with him by my side, the tension hanging between us thick and enticing.