Max leaned back on the couch, his eyes glued to the TV screen as he and Chris argued over which game to play. Scarlet sat cross-legged on the floor, sorting through a pile of board games Evan had dumped onto the coffee table.
"Come on, Chris, no one wants to play Monopoly," Max groaned.
"It's a classic!" Chris argued, waving the box like it was a prized possession.
Evan snorted. "It's a friendship-ruiner, that's what it is."
Scarlet glanced up from the pile with a smile. "How about something that doesn't end with everyone hating each other?"
Chris gave a dramatic sigh. "Fine. What about charades?"
Scarlet brightened. "I'm in!"
Max smirked. "You just want to make a fool out of me."
Scarlet grinned mischievously. "Maybe. You're just bad at acting."
Chris and Evan burst into laughter as Max shot her a playful glare. They eventually settled on charades, forming teams: Max and Scarlet against Chris and Evan.
The game started off lighthearted, with Evan dramatically failing to act out a kangaroo, hopping in circles until he tripped over the coffee table. Everyone burst out laughing, and Max couldn't help but notice how Scarlet's laughter seemed to light up the room.
When it was Chris's turn, he wiggled his eyebrows at Scarlet. "Alright, this one's just for you." He struck a ridiculous pose, mimicking a stereotypical love-struck character, complete with exaggerated winks and a hand over his heart.
Scarlet raised an eyebrow, trying to hold back a laugh. "Are you...a prince?"
"Nope," Chris replied, making a dramatic swooning motion. "Guess again."
Evan caught on first, snickering. "Dude, you're being so obvious."
Chris gave an exaggerated sigh. "I'm clearly the guy who falls head over heels for Scarlet after one smile."
Max's jaw clenched just slightly, but Scarlet only laughed. "That's terrible acting, Chris."
Chris smirked. "Or maybe I'm just being honest." He shot Max a sideways glance, and for a second, Max could feel his grip on the game piece tighten.
Scarlet nudged Max with her elbow. "You okay?" she whispered.
He nodded, forcing a small smile. "Yeah, just...thinking about how bad Chris is at acting."
Chris kept up the teasing throughout the game, making a show of sitting a little too close to Scarlet or dramatically complimenting her guesses. Max didn't say anything, but his eyes kept flicking to Chris with a hint of annoyance.
Eventually, they moved on to card games, with Scarlet leaning back against the couch near Max. She caught his subtle glare at Chris and couldn't help but smirk.
When Chris excused himself to grab snacks from the kitchen, Scarlet nudged Max again. "You're not jealous, are you?"
He looked at her, clearly caught off guard. "Jealous? Of Chris? No way."
Scarlet raised an eyebrow, grinning. "You've been glaring at him every time he looks at me."
Max huffed, trying to keep his cool. "I just don't like when he acts like that. It's annoying."
Scarlet leaned closer, her smile softening. "Relax. You don't have to worry. I know he's just messing around."
Max swallowed hard, his pulse racing when she looked at him like that. "I'm not worried," he muttered, though his tone lacked conviction.
Scarlet's eyes glinted with amusement. "Good. Because if I wanted to flirt with someone, I wouldn't pick Chris."
Max couldn't help but smirk. "Who would you pick, then?"
She tilted her head thoughtfully, eyes never leaving his. "Maybe someone who knows how to throw a punch and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty."
Max's heart pounded, and before he could respond, Chris came back in, tossing a bag of chips onto the table. "What'd I miss?"
Scarlet just smiled, giving Max a knowing look. "Nothing important."
The night continued with more games and jokes, but every now and then, Max couldn't help but glance at Scarlet, wondering just how much of her teasing was real.