Page 18 of We're At It Again

She hesitated. Her gaze flickered away before she met his gaze again.

“I found out a couple of minutes ago.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?”

She took a step back.

“I didn’t want to ruin your party.”

A glacial silence avalanched through the room as the onlookers gazed on in savage curiosity. I decided it was best to break the tense atmosphere.

“How about a game of Beer Pong?”

I cast a mischievous glance in Maya’s direction. She mouthed a curt thank you.

“Sounds like fun.” She said.

“Why don’t we make it a double challenge?” Jockstrap asked, with a devious grin on his face.

As he set up the table, the atmosphere crackled with energy. The clang of cups and the thud of ping-pong balls echoed through the room. Luna stood by his side; her eyes filled with determination as she was eager to beat us. Beat me. I glanced at Maya as we shared a smirk, motivated to take on the challenge.

The game began. The balls bounced back and forth across the table as we traded shots. It was tame, but as the game progressed, I grew bored. While Jockstrap was distracted with his shot, I shuffled over to Luna.

“How could you find that attractive?” I asked.

As if to prove my point, he made the shot and cheered with his friends, hitting his chest and howling like a wolf.

“Leave me alone, Hudson.”

With a mischievous gleam in my eyes, I leaned close to her, my voice low as I whispered in her ear.

“Nice perfume.”

Her cheeks burned as she returned to her boyfriend’s side. She was wearing the perfume I bought for her on her eleventh birthday. She was obsessed with it, wanting to be like the cool kids. I saved for months to buy it for her. It seemed she never stopped wearing it.

Her boyfriend took a shot and failed. I bit my lip, but it didn’t stop me from taking a jab.

“All talk, right, jockstrap?” I said, grinning in sinister pleasure, as it had the desired effect.

“Don’t listen to him,” Luna said and placed a comforting hand on his arm before directing a fiery glare my way. “He can’t help being a jerk. It comes naturally to him.”

“You wound me, Snow.”

I feigned sadness, receiving a scoff. As the game neared its end, the tension reached a fever pitch. The cups dwindled on both sides of the table, victory hanging in the balance. With a final, triumphant shot, I sunk the last cup, sealing our win and sending the room into cheers.

Maya and I hugged in celebration with a victorious grin. Chamber’s face twisted with rage. He slammed his hand down on the table, his eyes blazing with fury as he glared at me.

“You cheated.” He accused, his voice booming over the cheers.

I shrugged; my smirk unwavering as I leaned back against the wall.

“You win some, you lose some.”

He wasn’t having it. He shoved the table aside, sending cups and balls clattering to the ground. Luna whispered something to him, and he retracted as if she shocked him.

“Can you stop?” He said, anger seeped through his words. “I am so sick of you always trying to fix everything.”

Her eyes brimmed with tears as she attempted to defend herself.

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