𝙞. 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙨

HYPERSONIC MISSILES - SAM FENDER 

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|• 3:57

⋆ . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

—"NAHHH YOURE A DICKHEAD!" harry exclaimed as the group all made their way to the football pitches, harry groaning in annoyance from owen splashing his water on his 'new' nike tracksuit bottoms, the same bottoms that his principal gave out to him about cause they weren't the proper school uniform, thankfully — the all girls school wasn't that strict on p.e uniforms. most girls wore black flared leggings or black sweatpants like elizabeth and saoirse. 

mia was complaining about how disgusting the bibs smelled, which was true, it smelled proper rank as if it hasn't been washed in over decades. charlie was doing keepy ups some reason as harry was already trying to organise a rematch. 

"i swear, miss gave us extra laps just because we laughed at her playlist," saoirse said, kicking a pebble down the pavement. "nah, it was 'cause charlie called it 'throwback thursday'," harry grinned. "even though it's literally friday."

charlie just shrugged. "couldn't help it, mate. she played oasis. i stand by it." "what a gimp" elizabeth rolled her eyes and owen laughed, shoving his hands in his pockets as he walked beside elizabeth. she had let down her hair from the ponytail she had up all day but her hair was flowy, looked soft and somehow it just made his chest feel weird.

"you're quiet," she said, glancing over. "just savin' my energy for when i destroy everyone at the pitches," he replied. she smirked. "right, 'cause that went so well in p.e." "oi," he protested. "that was teamwork issues.""sure it was," she teased, bumping his shoulder lightly as they turned the corner, not far from the pitches. "you can't tell me p.e. wasn't brutal today," she said. "was fine," owen shrugged. "apart from charlie trying to do stepovers like he's in the premier league."

"that was class, actually," elizabeth said with a grin. "he nearly fell over""nearly?" charlie shouted from up ahead. "i recovered." "you didn't," saoirse called back, laughing.

elizabeth smiled, then looked at owen again. "so what, you actually fancy another match after all that?"

"course," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "gotta redeem myself after missing that open goal." "yeah, that was actually tragic" elizabeth snickered.

the pitches came into view just past the corner of a row of houses. wide, flat, and still damp from the morning rain. the faint smell of grass and mud hung in the air, and the low sun made the goalposts throw long shadows. "right, let's get this started," charlie said, dropping his bag and tossing the ball onto the grass. "me, owen, and saoirse versus harry, mia, and liz."

"why am i with you?" saoirse asked, hands on hips.

"team balance," charlie said confidently. "ooooohhh" liz and mia teased the pair while giggling. "team chaos, more like," harry muttered. the game kicked off messy — lots of shouting, missed passes, and charlie claiming he "meant to do that" every time he tripped. elizabeth darted past owen twice, grinning every time, and owen pretended not to be flustered but definitely was.

"you're a dancer, how the fuck are you this good at football?!" charlie panted beside liz as he tried to steal the ball off her. "bit sexist" she laughed as she passed it to harry. the match dissolved into laughter after that. harry fell over celebrating a goal that didn't even count, charlie got mud on his knees and blamed the grass, and saoirse somehow managed to score an own goal. they played until the sun dipped low over the rooftops, turning everything golden. sweat, laughter, shouts — the whole thing felt like the sort of afternoon that'd stick in their heads for ages.

when they finally gave up, everyone collapsed onto the grass. harry flopped down dramatically and said, "i'm actually dead. like, call it. tell my mum.""you're such a drama queen," mia said, chucking a bottle of water at him.

"i'm knackered," charle said, lying flat on her back. "same," harry said. "i'm not moving ever again." "shop run," saoirse said suddenly. "fizzy drinks and crisps before we all die."

everyone groaned in agreement, except owen, who was still sitting up, tying his laces slowly. elizabeth sat down beside him, brushing grass off her socks. "y'know your hairs a mess" she teased, "how nice" he rolled his eyes with a smile on his face. they cut through the back path that led from the pitches toward the row of shops by the main road. the pavement was cracked, bits of gravel crunching under their trainers. it still smelled faintly like rain and grass, and the air had that kind of sticky evening warmth that made everyone lazy.

harry and charlie were ahead, arguing about who'd scored more goals, while mia and saoirse trailed behind them, deep in a conversation about something on tiktok.

that left owen and elizabeth walking side by side, a little behind the rest.

"so," owen said after a minute, "you actually live near here, right?"

"yeah," she nodded. "like ten minutes that way." she gestured down one of the side streets. "mum'll kill me if i come home covered in mud again, though." he grinned. "you're fine. just tell her you were training for england."

"oh, right. i'll just ring gareth southgate, yeah?""he'd probably say no," owen said. "you'd show everyone up." "oh whatever, y'gimp" she joked, scrunching her nose bridge. everyone was talking over each other as they cut through the estate toward the corner shop.

"bet you anythin' charlie's the first to complain he's tired," mia said. "nah, harry'll do it," saoirse replied. "he gets dramatic when his sugar levels drop."

"oi, rude," harry said, pretending to look offended. "i'm an athlete. i need fuel." "mate," charlie said, "you tripped over your own shoe five minutes ago."

owen laughed quietly, walking a little behind the group with elizabeth. she'd tied her jumper round her waist, hair coming loose from her ponytail, and every now and then she'd glance over at him. "hair up or hair down?" she turned to look at him. "hm?" owen hummed. "hair up or hair down" she repeated. "hair up, it looks nice down but you've been playing footy all day" he said with a shrug. "alright, thanks" liz smiled, taking the hair tie off to redo her ponytail.

the shop smelled like crisps and cheap cleaning spray. it wasn't busy — just them and an older woman arguing with the cashier about a receipt.

charlie and harry instantly vanished down the crisp aisle, arguing about which flavour of walkers was superior. saoirse and mia went to the sweets section, deep in debate over chocolate versus haribo. owen wandered to the drinks fridge, hands still in his pockets, eyes scanning the rows of lucozade, coke, and energy drinks. he opened the door, the cold air hitting his face, when elizabeth appeared beside him.

"you're so predictable," she said.

"what d'you mean?" he asked

"you always go for lucozade. every single time." she crosses her arm "that's 'cause it's elite," he said, picking up the orange one. "orange? boring." he turned, pretending to be offended. "what do you mean boring? orange is the classic." "nah," she said, shaking her head. "original's better."

"that's criminal behaviour, that." "dramatic much?" she snickered, grabbing a pink lucozade. "you said you like the original was better like 1 second ago?!" he exclaimed in confusion. "it is, but i want the pink one cause overall the pink lucozade is top tier—don't even try to debate me" she crossed her arms as she looked at him and owen chuckles, rolling his eyes as they both leave to try and find the group

they spilled out of the shop into the cool evening air, the sky fading into that dusky purple that meant it'd be dark soon. the street lamps were just flickering on, buzzing faintly. charlie threw his arm round harry's shoulders. "right, i'm off. mum'll murder me if i'm late again."

"same," harry said, checking his phone. "she's already texted like three times."

saoirse groaned. "yeah, i need to go too. got homework and—" she made a face "—family dinner. perfect."

"bless," mia said, raising her drink in mock sympathy."cheers," saoirse said, rolling her eyes with a grin as she hugged the girls before jogging off with harry and charlie down the opposite street. 

and just like that, it was only the three of them —mia, owen, and elizabeth, walking down the quiet path past the row of houses.

mia kicked a pebble along the pavement. "today was actually fun," she said. "even though charlie plays like he's got two left feet."owen laughed. "yeah, he's tragic. but entertaining.""you're just saying that 'cause you like showing off," she teased—giggling. 

owen simply  grinned. "nah, i just like winning." mia raised an eyebrow. "you didn't win." "details," owen said, hands in his pockets. she laughed, bumping his shoulder lightly. "you're actually impossible. elizabeth walked a few steps behind them, sipping her drink. she could hear them laughing — owen's laugh, low and easy — and mia's voice, warm and teasing. she didn't know why it made her stomach twist a bit. it wasn't like owen was flirting back. not really... she hoped.

but still. 

their conversation kept going, liz scrolling on tiktok and sending snaps to saoirse—when she heard what mia said.. 

mia tossed her hair over her shoulder and said, "you know, you're actually kind of funny when you're not trying." "cheers, i think?" owen said, smirking. "yeah, like, you've got that... quiet confidence thing. girls love that."

he looked at her, half-amused. "are you givin' me advice?" "maybe," she said, grinning. "someone's gotta help you out."

"right, 'cause i clearly need help," he said, tone playful.

behind them, elizabeth stared down at her trainers, pretending to check a message she didn't have. she hated how her chest felt heavy — like she was the extra wheel all of a sudden?.

her phone started buzzing, and she was almost relieved. she did not want to sit through that absolute shit show

"it's my mum," she said quickly, stepping aside to answer. "hi, yeah... no, i'm just on my way back... yeah, i'll be home soon... okay, see you in a bit." she hung up and shoved her phone back into her pocket. "gotta go," she said, forcing a small smile. "mum's making tea."

"ah, tragic," mia said. "see you tomorrow, yeah?""yeah," elizabeth said, glancing at owen. "see you." "want me to walk you back?" he asked. "nah, it's fine," she said quickly. "you're headed the other way." he hesitated for a second. "alright... text when you're home, though."

"will do."

she gave a small wave and turned down her street. she could still hear them behind her, laughing about something — mia saying "you're actually such an idiot" and owen replying with that familiar grin in his voice.

she smiled faintly to herself, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

as she walked, she opened her drink again just for something to do. it fizzed quietly, the sound filling the silence

⋆⭒˚.⋆ 

elizabeth turned the corner onto her street, the sky dimming into that deep blue that meant the day was properly over. she reached her front door,  pushed it open before kicking her trainers off and dropping her gear bag after locking the front door.

"that you, love?" her mum called from the kitchen "yeah," elizabeth said, hanging up her bag. "just got back." her dad poked his head round the living room door, remote in hand. "you lot been at the pitches again?"

"yeah," she said. "charlie nearly broke his ankle, as usual." liz giggled her dad laughed. "as long as it wasn't yours this time."

"i'm fine," she said, smiling a little. "we went to the shop after, just for drinks."her mum appeared, wiping her hands on a tea towel. "you eaten?"

"not yet."

"there's pasta on the stove. help yourself." "thanks," elizabeth said, grabbing a bowl. she poured some out, the kitchen warm and smelling of tomato and herbs. her mum sat down at the table, watching her for a second.

"you okay, love? you seem quiet."

"yeah, i'm fine," elizabeth said quickly, forcing a small smile. "just tired."

"alright," her mum said softly. "don't stay up too late."

"i won't."

when she went upstairs to her bedroom, her room smelled faintly like her vanilla candle, even though she hadn't lit it in days. she threw her bag onto the floor, flopped down on her bed, and stared at the ceiling for a bit — her mind still running through everything that'd happened. the football match. the shop. owen's stupid grin. then mia, laughing beside him on the walk home.

ugh.

her phone buzzed — a text from owen.

owen: u get home alright?elizabeth 🤎: yeah just got in xowen: good good 👍

she stared at the screen for a second, smiling despite herself—quickly snapping herself out of it when she grabbed her phone and scrolled for a bit, then tapped saoirse's name.

"'ello?" saoirse's voice came through after a couple rings, half-asleep sounding. "you're in bed already?" elizabeth snickered, rolling onto her side. "obviously. i'm exhausted. that match killed me."

"you missed stuff," elizabeth said.

saoirse perked up instantly. "oh?" gossip voice immediately turned on "what happened?"elizabeth smirked. "mia. and owen." "oh my god, what about them?"

"nothing major," she said quickly. "just... they were kinda flirty on the walk home."

"flirty how?" saoirse asked, instantly invested.

"like... mia was being mia, you know how she is. teasing him, bumping his arm, saying he's 'funny when he's not trying' or whatever." saoirse rolled her eyes, scoffing. "okay no offence but .. ew? fuck does she mean 'you're funny with out trying'?, like shut up" 

"and owen?"

"he wasn't flirting back," elizabeth said, maybe a bit too quickly. "he was just being nice. he's always nice." "hmm." saoirse dragged the sound out. "you sound jealous."

"i'm not," elizabeth said, sitting up, replying a bit too quick. "mhmmm..." saoirse hummed teasingly, saoirse laughed. "you so are. it's okay though, i'd be too. they'd look like a right cute couple."

"thanks," elizabeth said dryly, flopping back again.

"aww, come on, i'm joking," saoirse said. "you know owen likes you. everyone can see it." elizabeth went quiet for a second. "he texted me when i got home."

"see!" saoirse said triumphantly. "he totally likes you." "shush man.. but  he also offered to walk me home sooo" liz giggled, feeling her cheeks turn pink at the thought of it. 

"that's basically a love confession, liz." elizabeth laughed, covering her face with her pillow. "you're so dramatic."

"me? you're the one lying there overthinking it," saoirse said. "listen, he's into you. mia flirts with everyone. stop worrying."

"i'm not worrying," elizabeth said softly, even though she definitely was."sure you're not," saoirse teased. "alright, i'm off. tell me if anything else happens, yeah?"

"yeah, alright. night."

⋆⭒˚.⋆ 

after the call ended, elizabeth lay there in the dark for a long time, her room lit only by the little string lights above her bed. she could still hear saoirse's voice in her head — he totally likes you  and she wanted to believe it. she really did. but that tiny voice in her chest, the one she hated, kept whispering something else.

that maybe owen didn't know what he wanted.and maybe she didn't, either.

she rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling, her blanket twisted round her legs. her head was full of half-thoughts — the way owen had smiled at her earlier, the way he'd laughed with mia after she left, the stupid orange lucozade bottle they'd argued over.

they mixed well together, it's like the pair effortlessly understood each other, same humour, same passion for sports and same  chemistry. liz's mind ran through a million thoughts. 

'should i text him?'

'nah that's embarrassing'

'he's just a friend, why am i overthinking it?'

'no but i'll look desperate—gross'

while elizabeth was contemplating whether to text owen or not, owen was feeling things of his own.

owen sat on the edge of his bed, phone still in his hand, staring at the text that said "yeah just got in x."

he'd been reading it on repeat for like ten minutes now, which was ridiculous, and he knew it. he typed out 'good night x'  twice, deleted it both times, then just locked his phone and groaned into his pillow. he liked her. he still liked her. nothing new there. but tonight, when he'd been walking with mia — she'd made him laugh so much his cheeks actually hurt. and now he couldn't stop thinking about that either.

it was all getting too messy.

his phone buzzed suddenly — a snap from harry🦈.he opened it: just harry pulling some stupid face with the caption "thinking about ur tragic football skills".

owen replied with a black screen: "pipe down, ur goalkeeping was worse"

a message came through straight after.

10:16PM 

harry 🦈 

harry🦈: u still up?

owen: yeah, can't sleepharry🦈: same. brain won't shut upharry🦈: anyway... u and liz eh 😉owen: what about us?harry🦈: bro. don't even start. u were proper looking at her the whole gameowen: was not 💀harry🦈: bruh u literally tripped over the ball cos she smiled at uowen: unlucky timingharry🦈: unlucky timing my arse 😂 u like herowen: maybe. dunno.harry🦈: how do u "dunno"?? u either do or u don't 🤦‍♂️owen: yeah but it's not that simple

harry left him on delivered for a second, then replied:

harry🦈: ahhh here we go. who's the other girl 😏owen: what??harry🦈: u said "not that simple" = there's defo someone elseowen: it's not like thatharry🦈: so there is someone elseowen: ehh is not really a big deal kinda stupid lowk

harry🦈: not stupid. who?owen: ...mia🤦‍♂️harry🦈: HA knew itharry🦈: u fancy mia and liz? bro u need helpowen: i didn't mean to. it just happenedharry🦈: "it just happened" lmao u sound like a drama seriesowen: shut up 😂harry🦈: nah fr tho. which one u actually like?owen: that's the problemharry🦈: messy proper messy bro owen: tell me about it

owen tossed his phone beside him and stared at the ceiling again. harry wasn't wrong — it was messy.

he liked liz first. everyone knew that. she was easy to be around, soft-spoken but sharp when she wanted to be. she made him laugh without even trying. he'd always thought they'd end up together someday — like it was just obvious.

but then there was mia  loud, bright, confident, always saying whatever she thought. and when she laughed, it made everything feel different somehow. he didn't know what to do with that.

he didn't want to hurt anyone.he just... didn't know how to stop liking both.

his phone buzzed again — harry again.

harry🦈: bro if ur gonna play two girls, at least make sure u can dribble first 😂owen: ur actually the worstharry🦈: love u too

with that, owen for sure thought it was done with the texts and he could just scroll through tiktok for a bit.

owen was still half-awake, scrolling aimlessly, when his phone buzzed again.this time, it wasn't harry.

elizabeth 🤎: wyd

he blinked at the screen, suddenly way more awake.

owen: not much, just in bed. u?elizabeth 🤎: same. can't sleep lolowen: probs all that running in pe caught up to u 😂elizabeth 🤎: nah it's ur fault for booting the ball at me rememberowen: nah nah that was harry's dodgy pass, not me 💀elizabeth 🤎: u literally apologised straight afterowen: ok yeah maybe it was me 😭

there was a short pause. owen stared at her typing bubble for a bit before she sent another message.

elizabeth 🤎: we should go out somewhere soon, before school gets mad againowen: yeah i'd like thatelizabeth 🤎: maybe go into town or smth, get food?owen: sounds good. only thing is... i might be busy for the next few weekselizabeth 🤎: busy doing what 😭owen: got filming again. we're back on set for like two weeks straight. long days tooelizabeth 🤎: ah right yeah i forgot u actually have a job n that 😭owen: yeah it's peak, but kinda fun too ngl i'm kinda stressing wi the script n stuff but wtv elizabeth 🤎: still, that's mad. proud of u tho xowen: appreciate it🙏elizabeth 🤎: i'll probably be busy too anyway i've got a big dance comp owen: oh shii good luckkelizabeth 🤎: literally can't dealowen: on a real one idk if i'm free but if i am i'll defo make time for uelizabeth 🤎: smooth talkerowen: only for u elizabeth 🤎: eww shut up 😂owen: nah u love itelizabeth 🤎: don't push it 😭

..and with that, they said their good nights with a big smile on both their faces as they went to sleep