By the time Aella arrived at the football field the next day, the air was already buzzing with excitement. The news of Grayson and Alex's match had spread like wildfire through the school, and almost everyone had shown up to watch. The bleachers were packed with students, eager to witness the showdown between the two cousins, and the tension was palpable.
Aella felt uneasy as she made her way toward the field. This was not what she had wanted. Sure, both boys were competitive by nature, but a football match over her? It all felt a little ridiculous. Still, she couldn't deny the butterflies in her stomach. The way both Alex and Grayson had acted, as if her attention meant something to them-it was confusing. And thrilling.
As she reached the sidelines, Aella spotted Alex standing near the goalpost, stretching and warming up. He saw her approach and waved her over with that same easygoing smile that had made her blush the day before.
"Hey, Aella," he said, his blue eyes twinkling in the afternoon sun. "Came to cheer for me, right?"
Aella laughed, rolling her eyes. "I'm not picking sides," she teased, though her smile softened when she saw how relaxed Alex was, even with the looming competition. "But I'll wish you good luck."
"That's all I need," Alex replied with a wink. "Your smile is enough motivation."
Before Aella could respond, she noticed Grayson watching them from across the field. His expression was hard to read, but the tension in his body was obvious. He cracked his neck, his jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed as he watched her and Alex exchange friendly banter.
Aella felt a pang of guilt-though she wasn't sure why. She hadn't done anything wrong, but the weight of Grayson's gaze made her heart beat faster.
The match started with a burst of energy. Both teams were evenly matched, and the game quickly became intense. Grayson, as expected, dominated the field with his skill and agility, weaving past defenders and sending sharp passes to his teammates. But Alex wasn't far behind. His confidence and strategic play kept him a step ahead, and the rivalry between the two was evident with every move.
Aella watched from the sidelines, torn between the two. Every time Alex made a good play, she found herself smiling, wanting to encourage him. But she couldn't ignore the way Grayson's presence pulled at her, especially when he glanced her way with that smirk of his, as if daring her to cheer for him instead.
As the first half of the game came to an end, both teams huddled for a brief interval. Aella sat down on the bleachers, taking a sip of water, trying to make sense of her own feelings. She couldn't figure out what was more confusing-the fact that two boys were fighting for her attention, or the fact that she wasn't sure who she wanted to win.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Emily, Grayson's biggest fan, standing with the other cheerleaders. Emily had made sure to wear the shortest cheerleader outfit possible, her eyes glued to Grayson the entire game. She strutted over to him with a towel and water bottle in hand, flashing a flirtatious smile.
"Grayson, you must be exhausted. Here, take this," Emily said, her voice dripping with false sweetness as she extended the towel.
Grayson barely spared her a glance. Instead, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and walked past Emily without a word. Aella, watching the whole scene unfold, blinked in surprise as Grayson made a beeline straight for her.
"Uh... Grayson?" she muttered, caught off guard as he stopped right in front of her.
Without saying anything, Grayson took the water bottle out of Aella's hands, his eyes never leaving hers. He unscrewed the cap, took a long drink, and handed it back to her, the tension between them palpable. The gesture, simple as it was, felt anything but. It was possessive, and the way his eyes lingered on hers made her breath catch.
YOU ARE READING
RIVALS IN THE HALLWAYS
Romance"Aella and Grayson were inseparable as kids, the perfect duo-until middle school hit. What once was friendship turned into fierce rivalry, with both determined to outshine the other at every turn. Now in high school, their competition has only heate...
