Chapter 85 - 85: Eight Ball III

(Third POV)

Steven frowned in distaste. Then, he grabbed the cue stick with a bridge head from the rack. 

"If you can't balance the cue stick with your hand, you should use this." Steven told Michelle in an even voice.

Andy and Lara looked at Steven in surprise. Thinking that he was warming up to Michelle. Their lips tilted up. Steven rarely initiates conversation with other people save for really close friends. 

Michelle received the stick with a grateful smile and thanked Steven. She did not place any special meaning behind his action. 

Steven nodded his head and moved to stand next to Lara.

Michelle took her turn followed by Lara.

While they were at it, Steven tried to reflect on himself. Again, he was baffled by his own initiative and the effect that Michelle has on him. 

Last night was akin to a nightmare for him. When he got back to his room, all he could think about was Michelle making out with Anthony, and doing God knows what after they left the party venue. He regretted not stopping them, but then, he had to ask himself, why should he? In the end, he was able to convince himself that he only felt that way because the two might be too drunk to make right decisions and they might start regretting the morning after. 

Next, he thought of what he felt when the scene of Andy making the moves on her played before him. He tried to deliberate whether it was the sight of Andy being near her that irritated him, or just Andy in general with his playboy ways. His body moved instinctively. Thankfully, he had enough sense not to pull Andy away from her.

Then, last, when he handed her the stick, as she looked at him and smiled, his heartbeat accelerated and felt full. 

Did he like her? But how could he? Yes, he admits that he is attracted to her, but attraction is just that. Logically speaking, he does not know her that much, and so, he could not have any emotional ties with her to feel the way he does. It is truly confusing him.

He heard Lara laughing and he looked at her who was in a celebratory mood after successfully pocketing a striped ball. Like always she was unrestrained in her joys, and he could not help his lips from tilting upwards.

No, what he feels for Michelle was just something momentary. Lara was the person who has been with him the longest, the one who knew him best and vice versa. The person who he could envision a future with. Yes, he knew they were young, but he has always been a serious type of person. 

Anyhow, he still acknowledged the fact that he was attracted to Michelle, if he were not careful, he might grow some real feelings for her and if he leaves it as is, it might fester and lead to no good. Thus, he vowed to limit his interaction with her, well not that there's much, but just, more than he already does. 

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(Michelle POV)

After Steven handed me the stick, I walked around the pool table to position myself nearer the cue ball and decipher which ball to hit next. While doing so, I chanced a glance at Anthony's direction. I was feeling a bit conscious because of what Andy did. What if Anthony misunderstands?

I saw that Anthony was just busy chatting with Vince and Jeff. Ugh! Ok, it's not that I was expecting his eyes to bleed out of jealousy but… my eyes passed Kate and she was looking at me. Ok, girl spy! She winked at me and even inconspicuously gave me a thumbs up with her left hand!

My eyes mooned as I tried not to grin like an idiot. Was Anthony only pretending not to look when he has been looking all the while in my direction earlier? Kate would definitely not give me that signal if Anthony had no reaction. Ah! Perhaps Andy's flirtatious self was kinda useful? Haha!

Anyway, using the cue stick with a bridge head, it was easier for me to hit the ball. Nice of Steven to give me one by the way. He's stuck up but he still has a good heart. I hope him all the best. Let me light some incense for Steve of my timeline, I'm quite positive that what happened last night just killed the possibilities between me and Steven of this timeline. Honestly, now that I think about it, I don't know how to feel.

The ball I hit did not enter the pocket and Lara took her turn. As she did so, Kate approached and told us that she'll be going ahead. 

Andy smiled and thanked her for the gift and joining his party, while I volunteered to accompany her back to her room. Kate declined, just saying I continue with the game.

After Kate left, we continued with the game while I would sneak glances at Anthony's direction from time to time. Though he seemed engrossed with his conversation with Vince and Jeff, I did catch him looking at me once. Of course, I quickly looked away as if I didn't see.

Steven took a shot and pocketed the number 13 ball leaving only the number 8 and number 5 ball on the table in addition to the cue ball. It was still Steven's turn. Shit. Were me and Andy going to lose? Truthfully, I was not up to crawling under the billiards table. But seeing how Steven played since earlier, what were the chances that he will miss? I took a step back to measure the headroom. Ugh. I can already visualize myself needing to crawl like a worm.

"Nice one Steven! Haha! Prepare to lose Andy! Sorry Michelle, but you too! Hahaha!!!" Lara cheered and taunted.

Andy gave me a wry smile. I gave him a mock glare in return. While this was happening, I did not notice that Anthony, Vince, and Jeff already joined us. 

"What's at stake for Lara to be cheering like a harpy?" Vince asked.

"Harpy your face, Vince!" Lara exclaimed annoyed at Vince. 

Vince made a face at her, trying to annoy her more. It was really childish but funny and I could tell that Lara was also enjoying the light banter.

"Loser's gonna crawl under the table!" Andy answered. Then, seeing that Steven has taken position to take the next shot, he started chanting, "Miss! Miss! Miss! Miss!"

I wanted to laugh, but I was so conscious of Anthony being there. Will he be turned off if I started acting like a child myself? 

Steven glared at Andy as he straightened himself. He took the blue hexagon chalk and used it on the tip of his cue stick. Before taking position again.

Andy chuckled, then to my surprise, he grabbed my hand and pull me towards him so that we were standing side by side. I pulled my hand from his hold the same time he let go. "It will work better if we do this together. Now chant with me. Miss! Miss! Miss! Miss!" he said enthusiastically.

Ok, I couldn't stop myself anymore. I giggled and not wanting to be a complete killjoy while secretly wanting to do what he was doing too, I chanted, "Miss! Miss! Miss! Miss!" 

Lara's eyes narrowed, "Not you too Michelle!!!! Go Steven! You can do it! Go! Go! Go!" She cheered again.

Steven furrowed his brows then, he hit the cue ball and let out a smirk. The cue ball hit the number eight and as if in slow motion, I saw the black ball roll towards the pocket to where Anthony was standing. 

It was a done deal. At least that was what I thought until Anthony used his hand to stop the ball from entering the pocket with his own hand! OH MY GOD!!!!! DID HE DO THAT FOR ME!!!!???!!!???

--

(Third POV)

Anthony frowned when he heard the consequence. He did not like the idea of Michelle crawling under the table. He recalled reading on the internet how a girl would be sore after having sex the first time. He noticed Michelle walking slowly and it was in line with what he read so he didn't want her to crawl. Well, of course, the knowledge of Andy crawling just behind her while most probably peeking under her skirt also played a part. He has seen him do it before, he would even playfully pull on the girl's ankle. He did not want him to employ it on Michelle.

He was just standing at the edge of the billiard table, looking at the balls, when from the corner of his eyes, he noticed Andy pull Michelle and told her to chant with him. She followed his instructions and started chanting like a child herself. If he wasn't feeling annoyed, err, concerned, with her being head over heels for Andy, who he just knew would never change his ways as a playboy and that she deserves someone better, he might think that even her chanting was cute.

Anthony shifted his attention to the table and watched Steven position himself. Thinking about it, Steven's team has an unfair advantage. Steven was better than Andy in playing billiards, while Michelle was a complete beginner. If she was partnered with him instead, then it would have been fair. Amongst his friends, he's the best player. In fact, he could be considered as a pro. Not that it's an important detail, but just saying.

Then, Steven hit the ball. 

He was just standing there, and the trajectory of the 8 ball was quite fast. He no longer had time to think, and his hand just instinctively caught the ball to block it from falling to the pocket.

Everyone looked at him with wide eyes.

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TBC