The Low-Class Prince Charming

Chapter 28

"I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm more of an academic than a sportsman," Mason said, sending his friend a hopeless stare at the back of his head before once again focusing on the racket that Rhys had thrust into his hands before they'd left the building.

Once again, Mason's heart jumped a little in his chest as Rhys turned to face him and his bruised cheek was on full display. Mason couldn't help but frown at the sight and Rhys automatically knew why, so he turned away again before jogging ahead towards the courts.

"Ah, you'll get the hang of it!" Rhys shouted back at him as he ran ahead to the rest of the club members already at the courts, leaving Mason to follow along behind him. Mason sighed but followed regardless.

Their court was already set up and ready by the time Mason reached him; Mason couldn't deny it impressed him when they could start playing right away. After showing Mason how to serve, Rhys ran around to the distant side of the court. It took Mason a few tries, but he eventually hit the shuttlecock – only to have it not even fly over the net; Rhys burst out laughing.

"I told you badminton club wasn't for me," Mason muttered as Rhys made his way back over to him to show him how to do it once more.

"Everyone joins at different skill levels. Yours just happens to be exceptionally low, that's all," Rhys said, eyes glinting in amusement. "How about we practice the serve until you get the hang of it?"

So that's what they did. It took a while, but eventually Mason served well enough to hit the shuttlecock hard enough to make it fly over the net. Satisfied, Rhys made his way back over to the far side of the court and they started to play.

He'd got the serving down but returning a hit was something else entirely; Mason sighed in agitation each time he missed and Rhys couldn't stop himself from laughing.

Sky couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she watched Mason miss the shuttlecock yet again. He'd told her to go on ahead although they were supposed to walk back together but she'd said she wouldn't mind waiting - and she really didn't.

Still, it amused her how bad he actually was.

As she watched the two play, she couldn't help but think of Gale. Gale had been a huge fan of badminton and her smile slowly faded as she remembered the times when she used to play with him. She'd been just as bad as Mason, if not worse, and she'd always been embarrassed by that. Gale, on the other hand, always got stitches from laughing at how bad she was – almost like Rhys was probably getting right now.

As Sky felt the unfamiliar feeling of her throat closing up and her eyes tearing up, she knew she had to leave before she showed any signs of weakness on the school grounds. She quickly looked away and began walking back home. Even when she heard Mason call her name from behind, she decided she'd just send the car to pick him up later.

Mason was confused when Sky didn't turn around, for he was sure he'd shouted loud enough for her to hear. He lowered his arm again as he looked after her with a confused expression before he bent down to pick up the shuttlecock which he'd once again failed to hit. He turned back around so that he was facing Rhys once more; Rhys sent him a sympathetic expression.

"Maybe she just didn't hear you," he said.

Mason shot him a small smile. "Yeah, maybe." Although Mason didn't believe that. Had he perhaps done something wrong?

The two continued to play for another half hour before Rhys decided they should give up; he said that Mason was a hopeless case, but Mason knew that his lack of concentration was to blame. Why had Sky ignored him like that? He just couldn't seem to get over it.