FIRE AND TEASING
981 Words
-----
Sophia stomped down the hallway, her shoes clicking against the tiled floor with the force of tiny thunderclaps. The applause from the competition still echoed in her ears like an annoying song stuck on repeat.
Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.
Her fists clenched at her sides as she muttered under her breath. He didn’t even look nervous. Not once. He just sat there smirking like some kind of—ugh! She threw her hands dramatically into the air, earning a confused look from a passing fifth grader.
Lily, her best friend since forever, trotted after her, trying not to laugh. “Soph, you do realize you only lost by one point, right? It’s not the end of the world.”
Sophia whirled around, her hazel eyes blazing. “Not the end of the world? Lily, it’s Max Carter. Do you know how many times I’ve had to watch that smug face collect a medal? He’s basically building a shrine out of them!”
Lily pressed her lips together, failing to hold back a snicker. “I mean, you have a decent collection yourself. You’re just mad because he winked at you again.”
“I am not mad because of the wink!” Sophia exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air again. “I’m mad because he’s… he’s…” Her brain searched for the word. “He’s infuriating! Like… like a mosquito that won’t stop buzzing in your ear!”
Before Lily could respond, a familiar voice drawled from behind them.
“Funny, Soph, I was just about to say the same thing about you.”
Sophia froze. Slowly, she turned her head, and there he was — Max Carter, walking casually toward her with his best friend Jake in tow. That insufferable grin was plastered across his face like it was permanently stitched there.
“Go away, Max,” Sophia snapped, already preparing her defenses.
Jake raised his eyebrows at Lily, giving her a look that clearly said, here we go again. Lily rolled her eyes in return.
Max leaned against the wall as if he had all the time in the world. “What’s the matter, second place? Can’t handle a little competition?”
Sophia gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “Oh no, please don’t remind me, Carter. My poor delicate heart simply can’t take it!”
Lily snorted. Jake openly laughed.
Max smirked. “Careful, Soph. If you keep talking like that, people might think you’re secretly in love with me.”
Sophia’s jaw dropped. “WHAT?!”
Lily patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Soph. I think he’s just projecting.”
“Projecting?!” Max repeated, feigning offense. “I’ll have you know, I don’t need to project. I’m already amazing.”
Sophia groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I can’t do this. I cannot physically listen to him talk right now.”
Sophia peeked through her fingers, glaring at Max. “Why are you even here? Shouldn’t you be polishing your shiny little medal?”
Max tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Hmm… I could do that. Or…” He leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough to make Sophia’s heartbeat quicken, “I could spend my afternoon reminding you how good I am.”
Lily nearly choked on her laughter. Jake elbowed Max. “Dude, one day she’s actually going to punch you.”
“Correction,” Sophia said, pointing dramatically at Max. “That day is today.”
She raised her fist in mock seriousness, and Max immediately held up his hands in surrender. “Whoa, whoa, violence is not the answer, Sophia.”
“Violence is absolutely the answer when you’re involved.”
Lily stepped between them, laughing. “Soph, chill! You’re acting like he committed a crime.”
“He did commit a crime!” Sophia cried. “The crime of stealing my rightful place as first.”
Jake smirked, crossing his arms. “Pretty sure that’s just called ‘winning.’”
Sophia groaned loudly, throwing her head back like she was starring in a tragic play. “Why is everyone against me?”
“Because you make it too easy,” Max said, grinning.
Sophia snapped her gaze to him. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?”
“I don’t think,” Max replied smoothly. “I know.”
Lily and Jake both groaned at the same time, like they’d rehearsed it.
“Tell me,” Sophia said, narrowing her eyes, “do you practice these lines in the mirror? Or does being this annoying just come naturally?”
Max shrugged. “A gift, really. What can I say?”
Sophia opened her mouth to retort, but Lily cut her off. “Okay, okay, before Sophia explodes and Max develops an even bigger ego, let’s all just… breathe. Soph, you lost by one point. One. That’s nothing.”
“It’s everything!” Sophia argued.
Jake smirked. “You know what I think? I think you two enjoy this way too much.”
Both Sophia and Max spun toward him at the same time. “WHAT?!” they chorused.
Lily grinned, enjoying the chaos. “Jake’s right. You guys fight like an old married couple.”
Max raised his brows. “Old married couple? Ouch.”
Sophia sputtered. “Do not—DO NOT—compare me to being married to him!”
Jake looked thoughtful. “Yeah, because you’d probably kill him within the first week.”
Max leaned closer to Sophia, his grin softening just slightly. “Don’t worry, Soph. I’d make it two weeks.”
Sophia blinked at him, momentarily thrown off, and then quickly shook her head. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love it.”
Her cheeks warmed, but she quickly turned away before anyone noticed. “Ugh! You’re so full of yourself.”
Jake and Lily exchanged a knowing glance.
---
- Writer
