way up • stephen curry [au]

xviii. pick a side

^ im crying fucking blood tears this is how imagined the stephen in this story would dress 😭

Btw, i love y'all so much for real 😭

---

Arzaya

"I really can't believe he did that," Ben told me while I assembled the papers and placed them according on its order.

We were inside the org room and I was finishing my tasks before I head home but Ben suddenly stuck around to talk to me.

He leaned back on the table and played with an hourglass. "It's amazing how he tried to act on you, though. I can't believe you let him fool you."

I grabbed a stack of papers from the table and transferred it on the shelves.

"I was really convinced that he likes you," he added and laughed about it. "Look at him now. Messing around with Holly. Did you know I caught them a lot after practice?"

"Can we please stop talking about Stephen?" I snapped in frustration.

Ben looked amused but I clearly wasn't.

"I'm just saying," he said, raising his hands in surrender.

I sighed and walked back to the table. "I'm sorry. I just really don't wanna talk about it."

"Come here." He grabbed my arm and pulled me to him. He held me on the waist as he inched me closer to him. "You know I'm always here for you, right?"

I offered a small, appreciative smile.

Ben was staring at my eyes genuinely. "Arzaya, I will never ever do something like that."

"I know, Ben."

His hand lowered on my waist, our noses touching as he leaned in for a kiss.

"Please, don't," I said, moving my face away. It didn't feel right.

It had been two days since Shay beat Holly up in the cafeteria. Two days since I had been nothing but stubborn to Stephen. Somehow, he stopped pursuing me today and it affected my whole mood.

Ben released me, looking annoyed as he stood properly. "Look, the reason I'm here is because I wanna ask you to come watch the football game with me."

"I don't really know about football." I went back to transferring the rest of the stacks on the shelves.

"You gotta join the school spirit, though. It's Friday," he pointed out. "It will be fun."

Well, at least it's not a basketball game.

"Alright," I said and Ben smiled in triumph.

---

Like any other games in this school, the students were all out supporting the football team as they go up against a rival school.

It was hyped. I saw many of them with blue and yellow stripes on their cheeks and the crowd was a sea of gold.

It had more spectators since the school football field was stretched out and it was outdoor. As much as I want to feel the energy these people have, it was only my second time to be watching live football.