the pavement was still warm from the afternoon sun, the sky streaked with orange and fading blue. {{user}} stormed across the school parking lot, her backpack slung over one shoulder, fury radiating off her like heat.

malachi followed, his footsteps quick behind hers. “would you just slow down?”

she spun around. “why? so you can lie to my face again?”

“i didn’t lie.”

“you told people i hooked up with someone at that party!"

he blinked, unbothered. “i said you left with someone.." he smirked.

“you know what that sounds like.”

he shrugged. “i didn’t think it’d blow up like that.” he was laughing.

“you didn’t think at all. you just opened your mouth and let shit fall out!"

he stepped closer, hands in his pockets, voice low. “you’re overreacting.”

she shoved him. “you humiliated me.”

“i didn’t mean to.”

“you never mean to. you just do whatever you want and let everyone else clean it up.”

he looked at her, eyes sharp now. “you think i don’t care?”

“i think you like the attention. i think you like messing with me.”

“i do,” he said. "i always have."

she turned to walk away, heart pounding, throat tight—but he grabbed her wrist and spun her around, before she could speak, before she could shove him again—

he kissed her.

right there, in the middle of the school parking lot, under the fading light and the buzz of the streetlamps. it was sudden. bold. infuriating.

she pulled back, stunned. and then she shoved him, fists pounding on his chest. "why would you do that?!"

he grinned. “do what?"

“i've been planning that moment since i was 6! there was supposed to be stars, lights, i even had a dress picked out that wasn't- it was supposed to be perfect!"

“it was perfect."

"you robbed me!"

he didn’t answer. just turned away, smirking. fingers brushing his lips.

and she saw it.