Flames

eleven

I followed Louis down the stairs, careful not to step on someone’s hand or make direct eye contact with anyone - as I could feel the stare of some people on us. Most of them were probably curious as to what other event could possibly go down between us, and I could imagine a secluded group that thrived on knowing we were still fighting. Of course that was all in my head, and the reality was probably more in terms of everyone being super annoyed that we were doing something again, and quite frankly, I would be over ‘us’ too.

Once we reached the squeaky gym floor, we took the last seats of the row that had been set up for the game. Both chairs were back to back, and so I took my seat, facing the crowd of the opposite side of the gym.

I scanned the area, trying to take in what the student’s expressions might be saying, but I stopped once I made eye contact with Zayn, as he was sitting directly in front of me - by the second row. Neither of us looked away, until the sound of the presenter’s voice made me flinch back to the game I was supposed to be playing.

“Alright, we’re gonna start by saying a question, and both of you have to answer what you think you’re partner might have written down. If you’re correct, you get a point and so on, so let’s begin!” The girl cheerfully explained. I sighed, running a hand through my short hair before grabbing the paper sized board and the black pen below my chair.

“Okay, first question is to the person on the left,” –that would be Louis- “…and the question is, what is your partner’s favorite movie?”

There is a ten second limit to answer, so as soon as I wrote down my pick and while Louis cautiously wrote down his answer, I stared at my hands, trying to avoid looking at Zayn or anyone for that matter.

“On the count of three, turn your answers toward the judges and crowd so we can check if it’s right, so, one…two…three!” I slowly moved the board forward, displaying the answer to the eager audience. Looking backwards, Louis and I made a quick two-second eye contact before I shifted my gaze to stare at his answer instead.

It’s wrong.

In his sloppy handwriting, ‘The Dark Crystal’ was written on the board, while mine had ‘Say Anything’ on it.

I grimaced, for I was certain Louis knew my favorite movie. We only watched it together about fifteen times, and I would often joke about him reenacting the scene where the main guy lifts a boom box up in the air, underneath his love interest’s bedroom window, in hopes that she would hear it and forgive him. He knew how obsessed I was over 1980’s teen movies, and how much I despised The Dark Crystal because of the hideous looking creatures.

“Oh, seems the only ones who didn’t get it right where our last team but everyone else gets a point!” The girl announced.

I had no idea what game Louis was playing, or what his intensions were, but I was getting anxious and slightly irritated.

“Okay, the next question is for the people on our right, and the question is…what is your partner’s favorite sport?”

I scribbled down my answer immediately, for the question was a complete no brainer. When it was time to lift up the board, I noticed a couple people from the audience look around in confusion, and I quickly caught up once I saw that although my board read ‘soccer’, Louis’s board read ‘basketball’.

Now it was just getting absurd, for most people in the school knew Louis played soccer and was indeed, captain of the team. He never played basketball, nor did he want to, because he had told me multiple times how much he hated it. He was just confusing everyone - including myself - and I had absolutely no idea why.

Five more questions in, and every single time, all his answers would be the opposite of the truth. Most of the questions were incredibly easy, and most couples were able to answer them, but even when they were slightly questionable and hard to think about, I was certain of my answers and the answers Louis had to put, but every single time his answers were not what I expected, and were the opposite instead.

By the seventh question, I was so embarrassed I couldn’t even peak a glance at the students or Zayn, for most of them knew something was going on after the soccer question, yet Louis looked incredibly happy and oblivious as he continued on with whatever scheme or plan he was doing.

“What is your partner’s favorite food?” the overly excited girl repeated the question as we wrote down our answer. This game was getting boring and old, really fast. On the other hand, it was obvious that Louis was enjoying every single reaction from both the audience and I. He was constantly smirking at our inverse answers, which made my hands turn into fists at his mocking. It’s like he wanted people to know that he was over me, and to see me get angry. It was working, as we were the only couple that did not have any answers correct.

It was pathetic, and I refused to stand for it.

“Next question is, who does your partner look up to? It could be their hero or a mentor.”

I flinched at the tenth and final question, for I had no idea who I would choose as a hero or mentor.  I never had to think about someone who I looked up to because I simply didn’t have one - therefore I had absolutely no clue who I could write down as an answer. The only person I ever admired for anything was Louis, and writing his name down on the board did not seem like the right choice at the moment, considering the fact that this was a scheme and I was completely and utterly pissed at him for making me look like a fool.

Luckily by now, I had deciphered his little plan, and it was obvious that he would write the complete opposite of what the answer should be. Following this theory, I scribbled down what I presumed Louis’s answer would also be, even if the answer brought a pain to my stomach, and half-smiled once I saw I was correct.

Written on both of our boards was ‘my father’ and ‘her father’, just like I hoped. Louis’s smile immediately dropped at the alteration, which was soon followed by a grimace.

As much as it pained me to write down my father’s name and have everyone’s stare and confused glances directed toward us, a small feeling of joy rapidly grew inside me after figuring out how to end this. I turned back from Louis to stare at the audience, only to make eye contact with Zayn – a small smile spreading across his face as he looked at me.

He knew what was happening, and he was proud.

Yet, I couldn’t help but let out a massive grin from side to side, for I felt victorious, and it felt damn good to win for once.

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A/N:  this is unedited, short, not how I wanted it to be, and more like a filler, but even at spring break I'm still doing hw. Ehh. I don't know when the next update will be, so please don't ask. It happens when it happens, and I never know when that is. 

On another note, please leave feedback, and check out the playlist made for this story. You can find it on www.http://8tracks.com/liltommo/flames !!! Thanks to: @brittcarey @xXgoneawayXx @nat_resendiz123 @brightonbeach @Snow_inSeptember for helping find some of the songs, especially Kodaline. 

Lastly, Flames is up for a contest that I would really love if you could vote for. It's on @crisscrossdirection's profile for 'Best Louis' on Season 3, #5. You can find the page on the external link. If you DO VOTE, please leave a comment saying 'voted' and after checking if you did, I will check out your stories and comment or vote if I like it, please and thank you! 

850 goal votes before next update please? It's just a goal though.