Chapter 3: Practice

The game between my brother and Matt ended in a tie. Even after playing so much, they didn't look exhausted—just satisfied. The sky was cloudy, and a cool breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees. The fresh air from the surrounding plants made the court feel relaxing.

I walked over and handed my brother a towel and a bottle of water. He took them with a nod, drinking until it was empty.

"Thanks, Aireriss," he said, then gave me a knowing look. "You okay?" My twin brother had always been sweet and attentive. I smiled. "Yeah, why?"

He wiped his face with the towel. "I saw you talking to Jacqueen earlier." I smiled and said, "We talk about random things and we decide to call each other nicknames."

"That's good," my brother said with a nod. It felt good. Like I had made a new friend.

Just then, Luke and Clerk walked up, grinning. "You were on fire, Matt." Luke said, clapping him on the back. "That last shot was crazy." as they show they're excitements.

"Yeah, but your brother had great footwork," Clerk added, nodding at my brother. "He knew exactly when to step in and when to hold back. That's what made the match solid."

Matt chuckled. "Had to stay sharp."

Then, Luke turned to me. "Aireriss, have you ever played before?"

Before I could answer, Jacq nudged me. "Come on, Riss, you should try." Jacq asked me if she can call her Riss and I'm gladly agreed.

I hesitated but shook my head. "Not really."

"Then let me teach you!" Luke grinned. "It'll be fun."

Clerk crossed his arms. "It's all about rhythm and control. If you get those down, you'll pick it up fast." he added.

The others chimed in, eager to see me play. My brother didn't object, giving me a reassuring nod.

I swallowed hard and glanced at Matt. Our eyes met, and a nervous knot formed in my stomach. Earlier, I had said I could do it. But this was my first time—and I really wanted to be good.

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●

Luke started teaching me the basics, just like he had promised. He showed me how to grip the racket properly and demonstrated a few simple swings.

"Keep your hold firm but not too tight," he said. "And when you swing, follow through—it's all about rhythm and control."

I tried to copy his movements, feeling a little stiff at first. Luke was patient, adjusting my stance and helping me get comfortable with the motion.

Clerk, on the other hand, gave me extra tips. "As a beginner, don't focus too much on hitting hard. Just aim for clean, controlled shots. Once you get the feel of it, power and accuracy will come naturally."

I nodded, taking everything in. I wasn't sure how well I'd do, but I wanted to at least try. 

Nearby, Jacq was stretching, getting ready for our match. My brother and Matt stood next to her, deep in conversation about tennis.

I chuckled but kept my focus on Luke. He tossed me a ball. "Alright, Riss, let's see what you've got."

I took a deep breath and swung. The ball barely made it over the net, but it did.

Luke grinned. "Not bad for a first try."

Clerk nodded. "Smooth movements. Don't rush."

I adjusted my grip, my nerves fading little by little. The match hadn't even started, but I was already excited to keep learning.

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●

Luke's POV

I met the twins for the first time today, but I already enjoy being around them—especially Aireriss. As promised, I started teaching her the basics of tennis. She's determined to learn, and I can tell she's having fun. It reminds me of my younger sister, who passed away five years ago in a car accident.

After a while, I let Clerk take over, offering Aireriss more advice.

Leaving them to it, I walked over to Matt and Cleo, who were deep in a tennis discussion.

"Your backhand is solid," Matt was saying, "but you need to work on your net game."

Cleo—Aireriss's brother, if I remembered correctly—nodded. "Yeah, I've been focusing on footwork, but maybe I should start practicing volleys more."

Matt smirked. "Exactly. A good volley can change the pace of a match."

Nearby, Jacq rolled her eyes. "Tennis nerds" she muttered playfully.

I laughed, shaking my head. Looking around at everyone—talking, playing, enjoying the moment—I had a feeling.

Maybe this school year will be fun and interesting after all.

○●○●○●○●○●○●○●

Claireriss's POV

The matches had been fun, but I was drenched in sweat. I've always liked sports—whether outdoor games or online ones—but today was something else entirely.

I did my best to keep up, but Jacq didn't go easy on me. I ended up getting hurt while trying to return her final swing. The score? 2-23. Not surprising. What was surprising, though, was the fact that, at my age, I had actually managed to get injured chasing a ball. My gosh.

Cleo ran to me first, followed by the others, their faces filled with concern.

"I'm okay," I said quickly. "It was my fault, so no worries." Then, noticing Jacq frozen in place like she didn't know what to do, I added, "Really, I'm fine. I can stand too."

Or at least, I thought I could.

The moment I tried to get up, my knee buckled. My legs felt like they had no strength left.

Without hesitation, my brother caught me, looping my arm over his shoulder while I rested my right hand against his waist. With his help, I hobbled over to the nearest bench.

After Cleo applied first aid to my wounded knee, I thanked them for helping me. They packed up their things, preparing to head home. While waiting, I decided to take a picture of the surroundings—a memory to keep from today.

Then, suddenly, Matt stood in front of me, blocking the view I wanted to capture.

"How's your knee?" he asked gently, waiting for my response.

I put down my phone and stared at him. "It's fine. Thanks for asking," I answered with a smile, assuring him there was nothing to worry about.

He looked at me for almost a full minute, making me self-conscious. I knew my face was red—probably from exhaustion—and I was sweating so much that I couldn't help but wonder if I smelled bad.

"Really, I'm fine," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper as I avoided his gaze.

"If you're fine, then look at me when you answer," he said.

"Who's avoiding who?" I shot back, glancing up but deliberately looking past him.

"You" he said with a playful tone, leaning in slightly. "Just like now—you're still not looking at me."

That was it. I decided to meet his gaze straight on and, with a smirk, said, "I can." Then, playfully, I stood up to face him, our height difference now barely an inch apart.

He took a step back, chuckling. "Good. That's how you should talk to me," he said with a smile.

I sat back down, smiling as well, and with a softer voice, I replied, "Okay."

Just then, Jacq approached us, announcing that it was time to go. Cleo offered me a piggyback ride, and Matt picked up my bag. It was almost dinner, and everyone agreed—it was time to call it a day.

After walking for a while and saying our goodbyes, the group slowly parted ways. Three of them lived on the same block, and so did we.

As we continued down the road, Matt turned to my brother. "Want me to carry her?" he offered.

I glanced at Cleo—he looked exhausted. It was still three streets away from our houses, and I could tell he was getting worn out.

My brother hesitated for a moment before turning to me. "Is it okay if Matt carries you?"

He wait for my approval and after thinking, I nodded in agreement, and he carefully bent down, letting me steady my foot on the ground.

Matt crouched in front of me. "Let's go," he said. "I'll carry you."

Feeling a bit shy, I stepped closer and hesitantly placed my hands on his shoulders.

As we walked, my brother trailed behind, ready to support me if I lost balance.

Then I heard Matt's voice. "Lean on me so you won't fall," he said.

Before I could respond, he suddenly adjusted his hold, bouncing me slightly in his arms to secure his grip. The unexpected motion made me gasp, and without thinking, I wrapped my arms tightly around him, afraid I might fall.

Meanwhile, my brother, completely oblivious to what had just happened, followed behind us, carrying all our bags. 

Matt leaned in slightly and playfully whispered, "That's the proper way to hold on when someone carries you."

For a moment, his words lingered in my mind. Had he carried someone like this before? The thought made my chest feel strangely tight.

Then, as the wind blew, I caught his scent. He smelled fresh, like he had just stepped out of the shower, with a subtle hint of sophisticated wood—clean, warm, and surprisingly nice. It was the kind of scent that made you want to lean in just a little closer.

I glanced at him. Despite playing tennis for hours, he didn't look tire

d at all. His posture was steady, his breathing even, as if carrying me was effortless. Meanwhile, I was still catching my breath, sore from running around.

It was unfair, really.

As we were about to part ways, my brother thanked Matt, while I simply looked at him. A playful smile danced on his lips, as if he knew something I didn't.

"Good night, Claire," he said just as I turned away.

My brother stepped inside to put our things down, but for some reason, I found myself hesitating. I turned back once more, only to see Matt casually walking toward his yard, as if nothing unusual had happened—as if he hadn't just whispered my name like that.

Even as I lay in bed that night, his voice lingered in my mind.

I wasn't sure why, but a mix of emotions stirred inside me—confusion, curiosity, maybe even something else I couldn't quite name.