Thirteen.
The silence is thicker than an oil slick. Cullen makes the first move, racking up the balls with an ease that sends whispers scattering around the group.
"I'll break," he says, not giving Ben an inch. I hang back, leaning against an abandoned table, torn between being pissed off and flattered. It might be some girl's dream to be caught in the middle of these two boys, but it's not mine.
I want to see the outcome. A small part of me wants to see what Cullen's point is. To threaten. To impress. To knock Ben down a bit.
It only takes a few minutes for everyone to realise Ben has met his match. Ben loses the arrogant swagger I thought was cool. Everyone holds their breath. Me included. Every time Cullen pockets a ball, a smile twitches my lips. Ben's scowl grows.
Rose comes over and rests her chin on my shoulder, whispering, "He's good."
I nod, not taking my eyes off him as he clears the table in one go. Sam whoops and claps Cullen on the back. He rolls his shoulders and cracks his neck, eyes searching for me. When he spots me, he winks.
I roll my eyes, thankful for the gloom in here. My cheeks burn.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Rose digs me with her elbow.
"Nothing at all."
She pinches the skin on my arm, and says, "Tell me."
"There's nothing to tell, I swear."
"Yet."
How one little word can cover so much potential.
Ben steps up his game and wins the next one.
"Is that all you've got?" he goads.
All I hear is Cullen's laugh, but he mutters something under his breath that lights the touchpaper of Ben's anger. It burns—blinding, bright. Ben's in his face in two steps, Rose grabs my arm as I take an impulsive step toward them. "Leave them."
Cullen stands his ground and Ben lets his friends pull him back.
"Not going to finish what you started?"
He shrugs his friends off. "Only so I can put you in your place."
"Good," says Cullen, throwing a handful of napalm on the flames. "Glad to see you picking on someone your own size."
"What the fuck?" Ben's face is purple, his usually neat blond hair ruffled.
"You want me to explain?"
"I want you to shut your fucking mouth."
"Do it then." The light's burned up in Cullen, he's a forest fire out of control.
Ben swings first, but Cullen ducks and lands a punch. They throw themselves at each other, cues clatter to the floor. No one knows what to do. Limbs are flying, no one can get close. They smash into a table and fall to the floor. I'm in shock that Ben is behaving like this. He's more mouth than action, but Cullen is a whirlwind, blood dripping from his lip, fists that don't miss. Ben is trying to match his intensity. He doesn't have a chance.
I race to the other side of the room and slam my hand on the fire alarm. It's the only thing I can think of. The shrill siren slaps sense back into everyone. They scramble, leaving Ben holding his jaw, Cullen flexing his fingers, both breathing heavily like a couple of snarling tigers.
One of them says my name, but I don't listen, getting out of there before Carmen finds us. I can't handle the heat.
AN: Thank you for reading and thanks for TLS for featuring this little ditty. Kim and Choc polished this for me. x