so you don't have to read this to follow the socmed au, sometimes i just like to write a short piece to get the tension in which isn't captured within the socmed au yk. anyway this is liked to part 15 of the kevaaron socmed au hehe
Kevin was used to getting disregarded by a short blond guy named Minyard— he just wasn’t used to getting ignored by Aaron like this. Whenever Aaron was around, it was always in such a sense that felt normal. Something Kevin wasn't always accustomed to in most of his other relationships. Kevin wasn't even sure if he knew the definition of what normal was supposed to be. His definition of normal had always been different to the sense of "normal" other people had in mind— but he knew when he was with Aaron, things were at the very least normal in any sense that could have been normal.
He felt it in the way they played video games. He felt it in the way they spent lingering around each other when they were in Columbia. He even felt it during practice, when he would criticize Aaron’s way of playing Exy and Aaron would flip him off without missing a beat.
Maybe that was why Kevin was being so hard on Aaron during practice—maybe he was just waiting for Aaron to flip him off, waiting for some sense of proof that whatever was going on between them hadn't actually changed. Instead, Aaron only scoffed and rolled his eyes, brushing past Kevin without a single word as he took his position again. He didn't complain, didn't snap back, didn't even look up at Kevin long enough for it to mean anything. It was as if Kevin was barely worth a glance and it aggravated at Kevin more sharply than any insult Aaron had ever thrown his way.
So, of course, the only logical thing to Kevin could think to do was trip Aaron over as he watched him hit the floor. “What the fuck was that for?” Aaron snapped as he looked up at Kevin. Kevin hated how relieved he felt when Aaron finally looked up at him for more than two seconds. “You did that on purpose," Aaron accused him.
“You weren't paying attention." Kevin stated matter-of-factly. "Your stance is weak and sloppy. If you had been paying attention, you would’ve seen me coming two steps ago.”
“Fuck you,” Aaron snapped angrily as he got up, cheeks flushed with frustration. “You’ve been on me all practice now.” Aaron said as he shoved Kevin, gesturing at the rest of the team slowing their drills to watch. “Go bother them— it's not like you suddenly think they're doing an amazing job."
Dan jogged over before Kevin could answer. “Hey, what’s going on here?” she asked, already bracing for a fight between the two. Neither of them acknowledged her. Aaron brushed past both of them, ripping off his helmet with far more force than necessary. He made his way toward the sidelines and snatched his bottle of water like it had personally offended him.
“Trouble in paradise?” Seth called out, far too delighted.
Kevin shot him an annoyed glare. “Stay out of it.”
Coach Wymack's voice got Kevin's attention back to the court. “Enough. Let’s keep it moving.” Kevin watched as Coach pulled Aaron aside for a moment, saying something in a low voice to Aaron. Whatever it was, Aaron's expression didn't change. Aaron didn't bother answering. Instead, he gave the smallest twitch of acknowledgment before jogging back to his position on the court.
Aaron didn’t spare Kevin another glance, which only infuriated Kevin all over again. This time, Aaron seemed to have made it his mission to avoid Kevin entirely. Unfortunately for him, Kevin knew his way around the court better than anyone.
Kevin didn’t try to trip him again. Instead, he swung his racquet with deliberate force. Aaron stumbled back a few steps as the ball clattered against the wall with a sharp noise, echoing across the court.
“You should’ve gone right.” Kevin remarked indifferently.
“I was exactly where I wanted to be,” Aaron snapped, his eyes flashing with irritation. “And you shouldn’t have been there at all,” Aaron argued. “That should’ve been Seth’s mark. Go bother him instead.”
“You’re distracted,” Kevin pointed out in a low voice, stepping closer as he moved to reset his stance. “It leaves gaps in our game.”
“Oh, because you’re not?” Aaron fired back instantly, his voice low and sharp.
Kevin froze as his grip tightened on his racquet. “What’s that supposed to mean?” His tone was calm, but the underlying heat made it obvious Aaron had hit a nerve.
Aaron scoffed. “What? You think you’re so perfect, pretty boy? You’re just as distracted as I am, if not more.”
Pretty boy. It wasn't quite an insult. It almost sounded like their usual banter— the kind that made Kevin think maybe they were fine after all. At least, he would have hoped it was if it wasn't for Aaron's bitter laugh that followed.
“That’s not true,” Kevin scoffed, though his voice betrayed him.
“No, you just go around moping to my friends about how weird I’m being around you, right?” Aaron's voice was low as he accused Kevin.
“That has nothing to do with Exy.” Kevin argued. “And I’ve done no such thing.”
Aaron's smile twisted, as he leaned in, scoffing in Kevin's face. “No?” Aaron mocked him. “So, Katelyn's lying when she tells me you’re asking about me? You just do that for the fun of it, then?” Kevin's jaw tightened at the accusation. “We share dorms. We’re on the same team. If you’ve got something to say to me, you can just walk up to me and say it yourself.”
“Is that so?” Kevin asked, scoffing in return. “Maybe I would’ve done that if you didn’t avoid me like the plague.”
“I’m not avoiding you,” Aaron argued, his voice defensive, almost too quick.
“You’ve barely said two sentences a day to me since we went up against the Trojans,” Kevin said. He almost missed how Aaron’s body froze at the mention of that night.
“Whatever,” Aaron muttered finally, his voice flat.
“You’re not denying it,” Kevin pushed.
Aaron's eyes flicked around them. “Everyone is watching," he said as his voice dropped. "I'm not talking about this with you right now.” Only then did Kevin realize Aaron was right. For a moment he had forgotten entirely where he was.
“Whatever,” Kevin muttered, forcing his voice to be steady. He adjusted his stick, swung it lightly, and moved back into position. He ignored everyone else's expressions for a moment, until he couldn't pretend not to notice and shot his teammates an annoyed glare as they all pretended to go back to what they were doing.
“I told you there’s sexual tension there.” He heard Allison whisper loudly to Seth. Kevin clenched his jaw as he pretended not to hear her.
Instead, his grip tightened on his racquet and his gaze followed Aaron.
