CHAPTER SIXTEEN; Just One Game
830 Words
The first match lasted less than ten minutes.
"So..." Liam dropped the controller onto his lap. "Are we pretending that didn't happen?"
Henry looked at the television, then back at Liam.
"You got lucky."
"I won 4–1."
"Exactly."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"It doesn't have to."
Noah leaned over the back of the sofa, already reaching for another slice of pizza.
"I think Henry's in the first stage of grief."
"What's the first stage?" Ethan asked.
"Denying the scoreboard."
Laughter filled the room.
Henry pointed accusingly at Noah.
"I invited you into my house."
"And I'm grateful."
"You don't sound grateful."
"I can if you want."
"No."
"You sure?"
"Very."
Davi sat curled up in the armchair by the window, watching them argue over a football game as if it were the World Cup.
She couldn't remember the last time the house had been this noisy.
Usually, evenings were peaceful.
Predictable.
She liked predictable.
She liked knowing where everything was.
Who would be home.
What tomorrow would look like.
Tonight was different.
Strangely...
She didn't mind.
Aya nudged her arm gently.
"You've been smiling."
Davi looked at her.
"Have I?"
"Mhm."
"When?"
Aya tilted her head toward the boys.
"Since they started embarrassing themselves."
"They're just having fun."
"I know."
Aya rested her chin on her hand.
"It's kind of nice."
"It is."
Across the room, Henry suddenly shot to his feet.
"Rematch."
Liam folded his arms.
"No."
"What do you mean, no?"
"I've retired."
"You won one game."
"I want to leave undefeated."
"You are insufferable."
"I've been called worse."
"You've called yourself worse."
"That's beside the point."
Noah raised a hand.
"I'll play."
Henry looked relieved.
"Finally."
Three minutes later...
"I regret this."
Noah couldn't stop laughing.
"You said I couldn't score."
"You weren't supposed to!"
"I surprised myself."
Even Ethan laughed quietly, shaking his head.
Henry looked around the room.
"Is nobody on my side?"
Davi lifted her book slightly.
"I'm observing."
"Traitor."
"I never picked a side."
"You should've picked mine."
"I enjoy peace too much."
"Peace is overrated."
"So is your defending."
Liam nearly dropped his drink laughing.
After another round of games, Noah stretched his arms above his head.
"My brain hurts."
"You've been pressing three buttons," Liam said.
"Exactly."
"I'm exhausted."
Aya stood.
"I'm getting more juice."
"I'm coming," Davi said, closing her book.
The kitchen felt cooler than the living room.
The noise from the television faded into the background as Aya opened the fridge.
She stared inside for a few seconds.
"...Why did I come here again?"
Davi smiled.
"You said you wanted juice."
Aya snapped her fingers.
"Right!"
She reached for the carton, then paused.
"...Actually..."
"What?"
"I'm hungry again."
"You ate twenty minutes ago."
"So?"
"You had pizza."
"So?"
"You also stole Noah's chips."
"He wasn't looking."
"He definitely was."
"He chose peace."
Davi laughed.
Aya pointed at her dramatically.
"There!"
"What?"
"You laughed again."
"So?"
"You've laughed more tonight than you have all week."
Davi opened her mouth to answer.
Nothing came out.
Had she?
She thought about it for a moment.
Maybe...
Maybe Aya was right.
The thought lingered with her as they carried the drinks back into the living room.
Just before she reached the doorway, someone moved aside to let her pass.
Ethan.
He hadn't spoken.
He had simply noticed that both her hands were full.
"Thanks," she said softly.
He gave a small nod.
"No problem."
The exchange lasted only a second.
So small that no one else seemed to notice.
No one...
Except Aya.
Her eyes moved from Ethan...
...to Davi...
...then back again.
She didn't smile.
She didn't tease.
She simply tucked the observation away for another day.
Because whatever was happening...
Neither of them seemed to realize it yet.
And somehow...
That made it even more interesting.
The games continued late into the evening.
Someone suggested a horror movie.
Noah refused immediately.
"I'm not sleeping if we watch ghosts."
"They're fictional," Liam replied.
"So is my courage."
Henry laughed.
"I've known you for years."
"And?"
"I finally found your weakness."
"I have many."
"We noticed."
Davi settled back into the corner of the sofa, listening as everyone argued over what to watch.
For the first time in a long while...
The house didn't feel crowded.
It felt warm.
Comfortable.
Almost...
Like this was exactly where everyone was supposed to be.
She glanced around the room.
Henry was still arguing.
Liam was pretending not to enjoy it.
Noah had somehow found another bag of snacks.
Ethan sat quietly at the end of the sofa, listening more than speaking.
As if sensing her eyes on him, he looked up.
Their gazes met.
Just for a moment.
He smiled.
Small.
Barely noticeable.
But real.
Davi looked away first.
She wasn't sure why.
Only that...
Her heart had reacted before her mind did.
And that confused her more than anything.
She had felt something like this before.
She just couldn't remember when.
- Writer
