Archery

Lilith's heart raced as she skillfully navigated the delicate dance of half-truths. "Everything is great with Ava," she replied with a practiced smile, masking the turmoil that churned within her. She had to maintain this facade, for Ava's mother and for herself. The lies tasted bitter on her tongue, but it was a necessary performance.

She could feel Ava's mother's piercing gaze, as if she could see through her deception. She wondered if she knew the truth, the dark secret that threatened to destroy their relationship. She wondered if she would ever forgive her for what she had done.

Just then, Ava arrived, breaking the silence that had fallen. "Hi," Ava greeted both her mother and Lilith. The tension in the air was palpable, as if the unspoken words were pressing against the confines of the garden. Lilith felt a surge of guilt and fear, as she met Ava's eyes. And then silence again.

Ava's mother broke the silence, addressing Lilith. "Where can I do some archery?" she asked, her curiosity evident. The mention of archery lit a spark within Lilith, a glimmer of genuine enthusiasm. "Yes, of course," Lilith replied, leading Ava's mother to a designated area where archery equipment was set up.

As Lilith explained the details, Ava followed, her gaze shifting between Lilith and her mother. Lilith's voice was animated, and the information she provided seemed to captivate Ava's mother. "So you like archery?" Lilith inquired, her voice carrying genuine interest.

Ava's mother took a bow and arrow, a sense of nostalgia in her eyes. "Yes, it's a great way to improve your aim," she replied with a small smile. She aimed at one of the targets and let the arrow fly, hitting a 7. "I'm not as good as I used to be," she admitted with a sigh.

Now it was Lilith's turn. She picked up the bow and arrows, her fingers wrapping around the familiar feel of the equipment. With a practiced motion, she cocked the bow, her focus unwavering as she released the arrow. It hit the bullseye, a perfect 10. The surprise and awe in Ava's mother's voice were hard to miss. "Wow," she exclaimed, clearly impressed.

Lilith glanced over at Ava, expecting a similar reaction. However, Ava's expression remained unchanged, seemingly unmoved by Lilith's prowess. "Anyone can do what you just did," Ava retorted with a provocative tone. Irritation prickled at the edge of Lilith's consciousness, her competitive nature flaring.

Lilith approached Ava, her tone laced with playful challenge. Lilith wanted to prove herself, to show Ava that she was not the only one who could handle a bow.

"Well, let's have a competition then, and may the best person win," Lilith said, thrusting a bow into Ava's hands, almost daring her to participate. She saw a flash of surprise in Ava's eyes, followed by a smirk of acceptance. Lilith felt a surge of excitement, mixed with a touch of nervousness. She knew Ava was a formidable opponent, but she also trusted her own abilities.

The archery contest unfolded in three intense rounds. Ava and Lilith traded impressive shots, each arrow slicing through the air with precision. The target seemed to shrink with each round, demanding more accuracy and concentration from the competitors. Despite the evident rivalry, Lilith could not help but noticed how Ava's hair glinted in the sun, how her eyes sparkled with determination, how her lips curved into a smile whenever she hit the bullseye.

Lilith did not let these distractions affect her performance, however. She focused on her breathing, her posture, and her aim. She felt the bow in her hands, the string against her fingers, the arrow against her cheek. She released each shot with confidence and grace, hitting the target with remarkable consistency.

Despite the close competition, Lilith's determination proved to be unmatched. She won each round, her accuracy and focus on full display. She felt a surge of pride and satisfaction as she saw her final score, beating Ava by a narrow margin.

As the final round concluded, Lilith's victory was undeniable. She turned to face Ava, expecting to see a similar expression of joy and relief on her face. Instead, she was met with a cold stare, a clenched jaw, and a furrowed brow. Ava's expression darkened, her pride wounded by the defeat.

"I wasn't ready. Let's do it again," Ava declared, her voice holding an undertone of irritation. She grabbed another arrow from the quiver, ready to start another round.

Lilith, her competitive spirit still aflame, shook her head with a smirk. "Sorry, Ava, but I think it's clear who the winner is." Her words dripped with playful mockery, a challenge to Ava's ego.

Ava glared at Lilith, her eyes narrowing into slits. "You got lucky," she muttered under her breath.

Lilith laughed softly, not wanting to escalate the situation further. "Come on, don't be a sore loser," she said gently, hoping to ease the tension. "You did great. You're an amazing archer."

Ava snorted, unconvinced by Lilith's compliment. "Yeah, right," she said sarcastically.

Before Lilith could try to break through Ava's wall of resentment, they were interrupted by another voice. It was Ava's mother who had been watching them from the sidelines.

Ava's mother chuckled from the sidelines as she approached them with a warm smile on her face. Her amused voice intervening in their argument.

"You're already arguing like an old couple," she teased them gently as she reached them.

Lilith blushed slightly at Ava's mother remark while Ava smiled awkwardly.

Ava's mother seemed to sense their discomfort and decided to give them some space. "I'll leave you two alone," she said as she began to walk away slowly.

She left them alone with a final remark that made them both feel even more awkward and confused.

"Maybe you should kiss and make up," she suggested with a wink as she walked away leaving them speechless.

Once Ava's mother was out of earshot, the tension that had momentarily ebbed seemed to return with full force. Ava and Lilith looked at each other nervously not knowing what to say or do next.

Ava's demeanor shifted again as she remembered their earlier dispute. Her cold air reemerging as she put some distance between herself and Lilith.

She felt angry and embarrassed by her mother's comment. She did not want to admit that she had feelings for Lilith. She did not want to admit that she had lost the competition. She did not want to admit that she was wrong.

She decided to end the conversation and leave before things got more complicated.

"It's no use trying to talk to me," Ava declared, her words cutting and final as she turned and walked away, leaving Lilith standing there, the weight of their complicated relationship heavy in the air.