Fair fight during soccer practice.

Evan had enjoyed a surprisingly peaceful week since last week's prank that had gone too far. Though he didn't have Kai on his back anymore, he felt a strange void. He missed the excitement in a way, but also relished the calm. "I must be going crazy," he thought as he carefully changed into his practice clothes.

Everyone else had already left for practice, making Evan the only one in the locker room. He had been delayed by a teacher who needed help with some tasks. Stashing his bag in the locker, he slammed the door shut with a bang, struggling to fit everything inside.

His moment of solitude was abruptly interrupted when Kai entered the room. Evan groaned inwardly as his eyes settled on the intruder. He decided to give Kai the silent treatment, refusing to acknowledge his presence.

But Kai wasn't in the mood for silence. "Hey," he said, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and determination. Evan didn't even turn to look at him, maintaining his focus on the locker.

Kai's anger flared at the blatant disregard. He approached Evan, his steps quick and determined. "I said hey," he repeated, his voice rising as he forcefully turned Evan to face him.

Evan's eyes flashed with irritation. "What do you want? To cause trouble again?" he asked, shaking his head in disbelief.

Kai's jaw tightened. "No, I want to talk."

Evan scoffed. "Talk? After everything you've done?"

Kai's eyes softened slightly, a hint of regret flashing across his face. "Yeah, about that. I went too far with the prank. I'm sorry."

Evan raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by the apology but not entirely convinced. "Sorry? You think 'sorry' is going to fix everything?"

Kai took a deep breath, struggling to find the right words. "I know it won't, but I'm trying here. I didn't mean to hurt you like that."

Evan's expression remained skeptical. "You've been a thorn in my side since day one. Why should I believe you now?"

Kai looked down, feeling the weight of his actions. "Because... I don't want to keep fighting. This isn't fun anymore."

Evan's anger simmered beneath the surface. "You expect me to just forgive you?"

"I'm not asking for forgiveness right away. Just... can we call a truce?" Kai asked, his voice almost pleading.

Evan stared at him for a moment, his emotions a turbulent mix of anger and confusion. "A truce, huh?" He shoved past Kai, hitting his chest with Kai's hand as he stumbled back a little.

"Fine, a truce," Evan said over his shoulder as he left the locker room, heading to practice.

Kai stood there, watching Evan's retreating figure, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension. He knew it was just a small step, but a step nonetheless.

Oh, how wrong he was because Evan wasn't going to be so forgiving.

---

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the soccer field as the team split into two groups for practice. Evan, still fuming from his encounter with Kai, focused all his energy on the game. He needed to release his pent-up frustration and the field was the perfect place for that.

Evan played defense, his eyes never leaving the ball as it moved across the field. Kai, on the opposing team, played forward. The practice started smoothly, with both sides showing off their skills and coordination. Evan's team moved the ball with precision, passing it back and forth as they advanced toward the goal.

Kai, quick on his feet, darted between defenders, looking for an opportunity to break through. Evan's heart pounded with adrenaline, his muscles tensed as he watched Kai closely. The ball passed to Kai, who dribbled skillfully past a few defenders. Evan sprinted toward him, determined to stop him.

As Kai made his way toward the goal, Evan intercepted, sliding in to take the ball away. Kai jumped over Evan's legs, narrowly avoiding a collision. The game intensified as the teams battled for control, the sound of feet pounding on the grass echoing across the field.

It was during a particularly aggressive play that things took a turn. Kai, in an attempt to maneuver past Evan, misjudged his step and his cleat came down hard on Evan's ankle. Pain shot up Evan's leg, and he hissed through clenched teeth. He immediately assumed the worst—that Kai had done it on purpose.

"Watch it!" Evan shouted, pushing Kai hard. Kai stumbled and fell to the ground, his face contorting in surprise and then anger.

"What the hell, Evan? It was an accident!" Kai shouted back, getting to his feet.

"Accident my ass!" Evan spat, advancing on Kai. "You've been screwing with me since day one. I'm sick of it!"

Kai's fists clenched at his sides, his face flushed with anger. "I already told you I'm sorry! You need to chill out!"

Evan didn't back down. "Chill out? You think I'm just going to forget everything you've done because you said sorry?"

The other players began to notice the commotion, circling around the two boys. Murmurs spread through the group as the tension escalated.

"Guys, cut it out!" Jordan yelled, stepping between them. But neither Evan nor Kai seemed to hear him.

Kai's anger flared. "You always think the worst of me! Maybe if you weren't such a stick in the mud, you'd see I'm trying to make things right!"

Evan's jaw tightened. "Trying to make things right? By stepping on me?"

Kai took a step closer, his voice lowering to a dangerous tone. "I said it was an accident, but if you want to keep acting like this, maybe I should stop trying."

Without warning, Evan shoved Kai again. This time, Kai didn't just stumble—he lunged back at Evan, and the two boys collided in a flurry of fists and shoves. The team erupted in shouts, trying to pull them apart.

"Enough!" Coach Roberts' voice boomed across the field as he rushed over. The team managed to separate Evan and Kai, holding them back as they continued to glare at each other, chests heaving.

"Evan, Kai, what the hell is going on?" the coach demanded, his eyes blazing with anger.

"He stepped on me, Coach!" Evan shouted, still struggling against his teammates' restraining arms.

"It was an accident!" Kai retorted, equally restrained.

Coach Roberts looked between the two of them, his expression hardening. "I don't care who started it. This behavior is unacceptable. You're both off the field until you can learn to control yourselves."

The team released their grip, and Evan and Kai stood there, still seething. The other players watched in stunned silence as the coach pointed toward the sidelines.

"Now!"

With one last glare at each other, Evan and Kai stomped off the field, their anger simmering beneath the surface. The practice resumed, but the tension hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the unresolved conflict between the two boys.