-Ash POV-

"Schite!!"

"Unlucky shot, conrad"

"That's the fourth time!"

"As I said: Unlucky"

"Unlucky my arse! I'm the best at pool in Hereford, and everyone knows it!"

"Maybe you just lost your touch?" I heard Seamus growl at Shuhrat's proposition.

"I'm still in touch" Seamus smirked.

"Is that why you sunk the cue four times, then?" Shuhrat asked. I smirked.

"Gotcha there, Seamus" I spoke from the couch.

"'Liza, hush! I need complete focus." Seamus commented as he lined up his next shot.

"Just let him focus, babe" Shuhrat spoke in my direction. "He needs to focus so he can sink another cue." he smirked. Seamus rolled his eyes, and took another shot. I watched as the cue ball rolled into the 8 ball, sending them in opposite directions, and sinking them both. Seamus growled.

"Bullshite!" he shouted, tossing his stick onto the table.

"And the king has been dethroned" I smirked as Shuhrat plopped down on the couch next to me. I snuggled into him as Seamus growled again.

"Next game, I will redeem myself." he promised, locking eyes with Shuhrat.

"Time and place" Shuhrat challenged. Seamus just rolled his eyes and left the lounge, leaving me and Shuhrat alone on the couch.

"Emotional game" I commented. Shuhrat shrugged.

"Apparently, he takes it pretty seriously" he smirked. I nodded, hopping up off the couch, making my way over to the pool table. I ran my fingers along the raised edge as a though crossed my mind.

"Let's play a round" I challenged, grabbing a stick off the table. I rubbed some chalk over the tip as Shuhrat got up and joined me at the table.

"I know we're not just playing to play, Eliza. What are the stakes?" he asked, grabbing a stick. I smirked as I handed him the chalk.

"You know me too well" I commented. He let out a chuckle.

"Seems so" he nodded, grabbing the triangular ring to set up the balls. "So...what ARE the stakes?" he asked. I gave him an inquisitive smile, and bit my lower lip seductively.

"Winner gets top" I spoke. Shuhrat eyed me for a second before shrugging.

"I just won, so I have no fear" he shrugged, pulling the triangle ring off the balls. "That being said, you break" I nodded, setting the cue down on the table, and lined up my shot. Feeling confident, I took the shot, and caused a pretty successful break, sinking a striped ball, and sending the rest across the table in every direction.

"Okay, so I'm stripes" I said, happily. Stripes were always my lucky ones. I made my way over to the cue, and lined up the next shot. I let out a breath as I struck the que ball. Apparently, it didn't have enough power behind it, as it barely touched the next striped ball. "Dang It!" I complained. "You're up"

"Yep" Shuhrat hopped off the barstool he sat on, and lined up his shot. He hit the que with such power that it sent his first solid ball into the corner pocket, and the que ball rolling quickly into his next one, lining it up perfectly with the middle pocket.

"This is going to be a long game" I spoke as Shuhrat sunk his second ball.

-Half hour later-

"Strategizing?" Shuhrat asked.

"SHHH!" I shushed him, as I rested my chin on the table, lining up the cue with the 8 ball. As I had predicted, the game was pretty lengthy. Filled with misses, and a few back-to-back sinkers, I let a few yawns escape my mouth during the game, to which Shuhrat chuckled, giving me that small smile of his. The smile I grew to love. Except for now. As he is using that smile against me. "Left corner" I call out, indicating my target. I take a deep breath, and shoot my shot. I watch as the que hit the 8 ball, and sends it rolling towards the left corner pocket I aimed for. All hope drained from me as the 8 ball came to rest a mere inch from the pocket.

"Damn. This is going to be a rough shot" Shuhrat spoke as he made his way around me. Confused, I looked over to the que ball, and saw it was sitting an inch from the left corner pocket on the other side of the table.

"Haha!" I cheered, pumping my fist into the air. Shuhrat chuckled before leaning in to line up his shot. I barely payed attention as he took the shot, sending the que ball towards the middle of the table. I was about to get ready for my shot when the que ball began rolling towards the 8 ball, almost if by magnetism. My eyes widened as the que hit the 8 ball into the corner pocket, and the que stayed on the table. It was game over. He won. "How!?" I asked, dumbfounded. It was a genuine curiosity. I honestly didn't care whether I was top or bottom on our voyages, however, I seriously needed to know how Shuhrat pulled off that shot, so that I could use it against anyone when I play them.

"You just need a very powerful hit that's way off to the side of the ball. The opposite side f where you want to go" Shuhrat explained. "You wanna swing out right, hit the left side, and vis versa." I raised an eyebrow.

"You could've just said 'Hit the side that you want the ball to eventually go'" I sneered, earning a chuckle from him.

"Maybe" he nodded, planting a kiss on my lips. I melted into i, but was disappointed when he pulled away from me.

"Wha-"

"Save the good stuff for tonight, 'Liza" he spoke, softly. I gave him a seductive smile.

"Roger that"

Plan on writing at least two holiday one shots next so look forward to that! Hope y'all enjoy these!