SHAUNA SHIPMAN

It all started with Shauna Shipman, your biggest enemy, hitting you right in the face during practice. Always quiet and observant, she'd always let you know she was upset when you were around by rolling her eyes when you said anything or simply groaning in disapproval. All you knew was that Shauna wasn’t a fan of your existence and, honestly, you shared the feeling.

When Coach Martinez quickly intervened, sending you off the field with Shauna to "improve your relationship for the sake of the team", It felt like torture. Your nose throbbed, and now you were stuck with the person who caused it all. Ten minutes later, after insisting you didn't need to go to the infirmary, she was holding an ice pack against your bloody nose as you sat on the metal bench of the locker room.

The good news was that it wasn't broken, just looked really bad. The bad news? The company wasn't exactly the greatest.

"I didn't do it on purpose, you know," she finally breaks the silence, standing stiffly. Judging by her tapping foot and constant glances at the clock, she didn't seem too sorry.

"Then you should quit soccer, because your aim sucks," you snap, grinding your teeth. Sweat beads on your forehead, your face slick with discomfort.

It didn't get any better after this. Retorting each other in a childish manner and doing the opposite of 'improving your relationship', things escalated quickly.

"Spare me the victim act," she snaps at the time you decide to comfront her about her weird behaviour aroudn you. "I don’t hate you. That would mean I care, which I don’t."

"Really? Because you seemed pretty concerned when I was bleeding on the floor," you challenge, crossing your arms.

"Jesus Christ, do you ever shut up? Yeah, I was worried. I’m not a monster," she grumbles, rolling her eyes. "I’m just doing what needs to be done to keep your pretty face from looking like a mess."

You almost respond with more complaints, but then her words hit you. Pretty face. Your mouth drops open in shock. "Do you think my face is pretty?" you ask, arms softening as you try to process her words. Shauna freezes, regretting her choice of words.

"That’s all you took from this?" she mutters, defensively. "It would be a shame if you got noseless and it all went to waste, that’s all."

"Uh-huh, I see..." A small, smug grin forms on your lips as you watch her flounder. "So you don’t want my pretty face to be ruined so you can look at me with heart eyes and pretend you hate me?"

Shauna’s eyes widen, her cheeks flushing. For a moment, she looks ready to deny it but quickly regains her composure. "Heart eyes?" she repeats, trying to sound nonchalant despite her blush. "In your dreams. I don’t have heart eyes for you. I barely even like you."

"And if I kissed you right here and now, you’d pull me away since you don’t like me?" you ask, tilting your head, enjoying the situation.

Her face flushes deeper as your words get to her. Her heart races, and she tries to stay cool but can’t hide her reaction. "Of course I’d pull you away," she says, her voice higher pitched. "As if I’d let you kiss me."