How Shocking Could It Be?
1068 Words
Zane’s POV
We were scattered across the locker room after practice, a usual scene of chaotic exhaustion. Noah tossed a ball my way while I shoved my gear into my locker, catching it without looking. He was in high spirits as usual, planning the biggest house party of the year.
“So, Zane,” he called, “who’re you bringing to the party?” He was half-grinning, his tone light, but I could see the curiosity in his eyes.
I shrugged, feeling casual, but I knew this would get a reaction. “Sydney.”
Noah raised an eyebrow. “ Yeah, obviously, I mean…you go everywhere with Sydney. But, like, who’s your date?”
I smirked and repeated, “Sydney.”
That made him pause, and I could see him processing it. “Wait, hang on. You’re bringing Sydney as your date date?”
“Yep. Asked her last night,” I said, focusing on keeping my tone nonchalant. Not that I could let him know the full story behind it. Practice dates? Even I barely understood how we’d landed on that.
Noah’s face went through about five different expressions before he finally settled on a laugh. “Alright, let me get this straight. You’re bringing Sydney as your date…that you’d actually, you know, make out with in the other room?”
I nodded, feeling a weird twist of both pride and nerves. “Yeah. I said Sydney.”
The whole team went quiet for a second. They’d all gotten used to us as a package deal. Where one went, the other was usually tagging along. But not like this.
“What do you mean, Sydney?” Noah asked, the incredulity in his voice clear. “Aren’t you guys just friends?”
“We were,” I said, casually shrugging. “But now…I don’t know, I asked her out. So yeah, we’re going as dates.” That took Noah a minute.
“So, you’re finally, like, out with it, then? Going public or whatever?” He leaned back, arms crossed, looking like he’d just won some kind of bet. Before I could respond, he added with a smirk. “Because I was pretty sure that friends-with-benefits thing you two had going was over. Or that it never even started, honestly.”
I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out if he was just messing with me.
“We were never friends with benefits,” I said, emphasizing each word. He gave me a look that was half-smug, half-amused.
“That’s not what I heard, man.” He muttered. I tried to brush it off, but a weird pang of curiosity hit.
“What exactly did you hear, Noah?” Noah chuckled, shaking his head.
“Nah, it’s whatever. Just…you two’ve been around each other so much, you can’t blame people for thinking things.”
For a second, I wondered what else was being said around school. But Noah was quick to brush it off, launching into some story about his cousin’s last party as the rest of the guys laughed along. I tried to laugh, but my mind was already running over this whole Sydney thing. Maybe it would be better if people started seeing us as a couple. Besides, I was starting to like the idea.
The school day dragged on, the hallways buzzing with the usual party chatter. I was half-paying attention in class, replaying that conversation in my head, wondering how things would go on Saturday. Practicing dating with Sydney sounded good in theory, but here it was, becoming reality faster than I’d expected. And I couldn’t deny it felt a little strange. There was no turning back now, though, not with half the school bound to notice us together.
I spotted her by the lockers as I turned the corner. Sydney leaned against the cool metal, arms tucked casually into her hoodie pockets, her expression calm and a bit detached as she talked with someone I didn’t recognize. For a moment, I forgot where I was supposed to be headed.
Her hair, dark, shoulder-length, and slightly tousled, fell in loose layers around her face, and something about the way she just held herself, leaning on that locker like she owned the place, felt… effortless. She wasn’t trying to look cool; she just was. In a way that wasn’t about showing off. Just… Sydney being Sydney.
The girl beside her was probably the one Sydney had told me about yesterday. Her hair was dyed a soft teal, a choice that clashed with our school’s standard-issue looks, but it worked for her. She was watching me too, her eyes flicking to Sydney as if to warn her I was sneaking up.
The closer I got, the more I picked up little details about Sydney’s outfit. Simple but somehow cooler than everyone else’s. She had on a loose, dark hoodie that hung just right and a pair of worn sneakers that showed more personality than half the people in this place. She was… well, she was just Sydney. That part I couldn’t explain, even to myself.
I held up a finger to my lips, signaling for the new girl to stay quiet. She smirked, probably guessing I was up to something, but didn’t say anything.
When I got close enough, I leaned over her shoulder and whispered, “Boo.”
Sydney jumped, spinning around, eyes widening before narrowing as she saw me. She punched my arm lightly, laughing despite herself. “Oh my god, Zane! You i***t, don’t do that.”
I shrugged, grinning. “Do what?” I shot back, feigning innocence as she crossed her arms, trying not to smile. “You know you adore me.” I shrugged.
Sydney rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile there. “No, I do not,” she replied, crossing her arms defiantly.
“Sure you don’t,” I said, with a smirk. “You don’t have to say it. You can just feel it right here.” I lifted a finger and poked her lightly in the center of her chest, right above her hoodie’s logo, with a kind of teasing charm that I knew drove her nuts.
She just stared at me for a moment, like she was trying to think of the right comeback, but couldn’t program her brain to produce any.
Atleast I rendered her speechless.
Score one for Zane.
- Writer
