The Quiet Game
Aurodon Prep was a school built on labels. The jocks ruled the social scene, and the nerds quietly stuck to their corner. Chloe had long since accepted her role as the quiet, bookish girl who kept to herself. At least it was predictable, easy to manage. It also allowed her to stay under the radar.
Red, on the other hand, was the confident, brash athlete everyone gravitated toward. She was the star of Aurodon Prep’s most popular sport—tourney, a competitive, high-octane game played with an inflatable ball, involving both strategy and physical prowess. Red, the captain of the tourney team, could practically command any room she walked into. To the rest of the world, they seemed like complete opposites—Chloe, the shy, studious girl, and Red, the tough, bold athlete. But what no one knew was the secret they shared, hidden away from their classmates.
The school day had barely ended when Chloe found herself in the hallway, locking her books away. She had just finished a few extra credit assignments for one of her classes and was looking forward to some quiet time in the library. But as she turned to walk away, she heard the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps behind her.
“What’re you reading?” Red’s voice rang out with playful teasing.
Chloe barely flinched. She had gotten used to this routine by now. Red, always loud and attention-grabbing, was the last person Chloe would expect to find herself hiding from.
Before Chloe could even respond, Red was standing in front of her, casually leaning against her locker with one hand, effortlessly blocking the path. A few of Red’s teammates were nearby, laughing and exchanging jokes. They clearly enjoyed watching Red mess with the quiet girl from the other side of the school. Chloe’s teammates or friends wouldn’t dare to interrupt their public game.
"You know, you really need to get out more," Red continued, her voice dripping with mock concern. "You spend all your time in the library. You’ll start growing roots in that place."
Chloe blinked at Red's over-the-top concern. "And you should try reading sometime,” she replied with a sly grin.
The teasing banter continued with Chloe throwing some sarcastic remarks back. But there was a certain playful comfort in the way they exchanged jabs—Chloe had learned a long time ago not to take it too seriously. It was just part of their routine.
"Right. Because books are so much more exciting than tourney," Red shot back, her voice louder, making sure others could hear.
“Totally,” Chloe said, barely holding in her laughter.
Red smirked, letting Chloe’s retort slide off her like water. The teasing continued, but Chloe noticed something beneath the surface. Red might put on an act for her teammates, but there was a subtle softness in her eyes when they made eye contact. It was so faint that no one else noticed, but Chloe did—and it always made her smile to herself.
Behind Red, her teammates chuckled. One of them stepped forward, smirking as he nudged Red, then reached out and swatted the books from Chloe’s hands. The heavy thud of textbooks echoed down the hallway, and Chloe stiffened, instinctively glancing up at Red.
For a second, Red’s jaw tightened, and her fists clenched by her sides, her knuckles white. She shot her teammate a glare sharp enough to cut through steel, though she quickly forced a chuckle, trying to play it off.
After a few more back-and-forths, Red finally stepped back from Chloe’s locker, putting on her usual teasing tone. “Don’t get too cocky, bookworm. If I ever let you join us on the field, you’d be out of breath in five minutes.”
Chloe rolled her eyes, brushing herself off. “I think I’ll stick to cheering you on from the sidelines, thanks. I’m not about to risk my delicate health for a game of tourney.”
“Yeah, right,” Red chuckled, flashing a quick wink Chloe’s way as she turned back to her teammates, leaving Chloe to pick up her books.
After the bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Chloe headed straight to the art room. It was one of the only places in the school where she could find some peace and quiet, and maybe even some inspiration. The room was nearly empty after class, the only sound coming from the rhythmic hum of a few lights hanging overhead.
She opened the door, expecting solitude. But as she entered, her eyes fell on Red, sitting at one of the tables, working on a sculpture. It was an odd sight—Red, the tough, football-playing jock, absorbed in something as delicate and intricate as sculpting. Chloe lingered at the door for a moment, watching her. Red’s face was a little flushed from concentration, her hands carefully molding the clay.
Red didn't notice Chloe at first, so Chloe took the opportunity to sneak up behind her. Without a word, she slipped her arms around Red’s waist, resting her chin on her shoulder.
Red stiffened at the sudden touch but didn’t pull away. Instead, she huffed lightly and continued working, though there was a subtle warmth in her posture that Chloe caught.
“What’s this? Getting all clingy, Chloe?” Red teased, trying to act unaffected, but her voice was softer than usual, the teasing tone a little less sharp.
Chloe smirked, leaning into her even more. "I just wanted to see how the great Red spends her time,” she said, her voice light but affectionate. “You know, when you’re not busy bullying me in the hallway."
Red shot her a sideways glance, the corners of her lips twitching upward. “I don’t bully you," she muttered. “I just mess with you.”
“I know,” Chloe replied, her arms tightening slightly around Red’s waist. “And it’s cute. You act tough in front of everyone, but I know better. You’re a softie, Red.”
Red’s fingers faltered for just a moment as she was caught off guard. She looked down, trying to hide the small blush that crept up her neck. “Shut up,” she mumbled. “I’m not soft.”
Chloe chuckled softly, pressing her face into Red’s neck. “I think you are,” she murmured teasingly, her breath warm against Red’s skin. “You’re a softie—and a terrible liar.”
Red tensed, but only for a moment, before she relaxed into Chloe’s touch, not pulling away this time. There was something endearing about the way Chloe always saw through her tough act, and even though Red tried to act unaffected, it was hard not to let Chloe get away with it.
Chloe stayed close, savoring the warmth of Red’s embrace. “I’d rather die than let anyone else see this side of you,” she murmured with a teasing smile, her arms still wrapped around Red’s waist. “I like it when you let your guard down just for me.”
Red froze again, her face flushing a deeper shade of red. “Seriously, stop it,” she muttered, though her voice lacked its usual bite. “Keep this up, and I might be tempted to act this way in public.”
Chloe just smiled, holding Red tighter. “No, please don’t,” she whispered softly against Red’s ear, her breath hot against her skin. “Besides, my favorite part is when you blush—your ears go all red.”
Red shifted slightly, letting herself melt into Chloe’s embrace. A soft sigh escaped her lips as Chloe’s breath warmed her neck, her pulse quickening with every gentle brush of Chloe’s lips against her skin. The quiet hum of Chloe’s touch made her head spin, the weight of the moment intensifying as she leaned further into Chloe’s arms. Chloe’s hands moved slowly down Red’s sides, her fingertips teasing over the fabric of Red’s clothes, sending heat pulsing through her. Every inch of contact felt electric, their closeness deepening with each soft breath they shared.
Chloe’s lips lingered just below Red’s ear, her breath hot and heavy, and Red couldn’t help but shiver at the feeling. Chloe’s hands slid lower, tracing the curve of her waist, pulling her even closer until there was no space between them. Red’s heart raced, her body responding to every touch, every whisper. Chloe held her like she was the only thing that mattered, savoring the moment—every second of this quiet, heated intimacy that only the two of them knew.
For a while, there was nothing but the soft sound of Red’s breathing and the occasional scrape of a sculpting tool on clay. Chloe had never felt more at peace. No one else would ever understand what they shared, but that was fine. She didn’t need anyone else to know. This was their secret.
It was game day—tourney—and Red was in her element. The entire school buzzed with excitement, the gymnasium filled with the sound of cheering and the rhythmic thud of the ball being bounced on the court. Red’s team was preparing for a big match, one that everyone had been waiting for. Chloe wasn’t surprised to see Red in her usual element, confidently giving instructions to her teammates.
But as Chloe watched from the sidelines, there was a subtle change in Red’s demeanor. When their eyes met for a brief moment across the court, there was an unspoken connection—a softening in Red’s eyes that no one else seemed to notice. Chloe smiled to herself, enjoying the secret they shared.
After the match, which Red’s team won effortlessly, Red sauntered over to Chloe, a grin plastered on her face. The usual tough, cocky athlete was back, but Chloe noticed the slight blush creeping across her cheeks. She’d seen that blush before.
"Not bad, huh?" Red said, wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, trying to act all casual.
“Impressive,” Chloe replied with a playful smile. “I knew you were cute, but athletic? That’s the whole package.”
Red’s grin faltered for a second, and she cleared her throat. “Shh, princess. I’m here to play, not to get teased.”
“Sure, sure,” Chloe teased back. “But when you’re done flexing in front of your teammates, I’m waiting for you.”
Red glanced around at her teammates, who were too busy celebrating their victory to pay attention to the two of them. Her gaze softened just a little before she met Chloe’s eyes again. “I’ll see you later, okay? Don’t go anywhere.”
Chloe winked at her, watching Red head back to the locker room. For a moment, she stood there, feeling a flutter of excitement.
It was moments like this—small and quiet—that made all the teasing, all the pretenses worth it. She wouldn’t have it any other way.