Page 13

DANIEL

I lace up my sneakers, the faint smell of polish and sweat grounding me. I have always loved the gym, probably my favorite place to be. The fluorescent lights overhead cast a familiar glow in the gym, and the sound of the basketball bouncing on the hardwood is like a heartbeat, steady and alive.

“Alright, team, bring it in!” I call out, clapping my hands.

Ethan jogs over, smirking. “What’s the pep talk today, Captain Sunshine?”

I shake my head but can’t help the grin tugging at my lips. “Pep talk’s simple: don’t let Ethan shoot.”

The team erupts in laughter, and Ethan throws a towel at me. “Funny, Danny. Real funny.”

Louis rolls his eyes. “Can we start already? Some of us have lives outside of basketball.”

“Yeah? Like what, Louis?” Caleb retorts. “Playing video games and eating chips?”

“Enough,” I say, stepping into the center of the group. My voice is calm but firm, and they quiet down. “Focus up. Let’s make this count.”

We break into two teams, red jerseys versus blue. I’m on blue with Ethan, Caleb, and a couple of sophomores we’re grooming for the starting lineup. Louis, of course, is on red—his preferred role as my rival.

The ball is tossed up for the tip-off, and Louis leaps higher, slapping it to his team.

The ball sails toward Louis’s team, and their point guard snatches it, darting down the court with quick, calculated steps.

“Get on him!” I shout, sprinting back to defend.

Louis trails behind the guard, looking for an opening. I stick close to him, cutting off his angles. The guard tries to drive into the paint, but Caleb steps up, hands high, forcing a pass.

Ethan intercepts, and we’re off.

“Go, go, go!” I yell, running alongside him.

Ethan dribbles with precision, dodging a defender before passing to me near the three-point line. I glance at the rim and see Louis closing in fast.

No time to second-guess.

I pump fake, and Louis takes the bait, lunging forward. I sidestep and launch the shot. The ball arcs perfectly, the net barely moving as it swishes through.

“Boom!” I shout, turning to slap Ethan’s hand.

“Lucky shot,” Louis mutters, jogging back with a scowl.

“Skill, buddy. You should try it sometime,” I quip, earning laughs from the blue team. Louis's team executes a clean pick-and-roll and he breaks free for a layup.

“Not bad,” I admit as he jogs past me.

“Better than you,” he shoots back, grinning.

We go back and forth, the score climbing steadily. The gym is alive with the sound of sneakers squeaking, the thud of the ball, and the occasional shout from a teammate.

“Switch on defense!” I call as Louis’s team sets a screen. Caleb adjusts quickly, staying on his man while I take on the shooter.

The red team’s guard attempts a deep three, but it bounces off the rim. Ethan grabs the rebound and immediately outlets to me .

“Run it!”

I sprint down the court, the ball bouncing in rhythm with my strides. A red jersey appears in my peripheral vision—Louis, of course. He’s fast, but I’m faster. I fake left, driving hard to the right, and hear his frustrated grunt as he tries to recover. Near the basket, I spot Caleb trailing behind me.

Without hesitation, I dish the ball to him, and he slams it home with authority. The gym erupts in cheers, the echo of the dunk reverberating in my chest.

“Teamwork makes the dream work!” Caleb shouts, grinning wide.

“Good finish!” I say, clapping him on the back.

With only a couple of minutes left on the clock, the score is tied. Both teams are drenched in sweat, breaths coming hard and fast, but no one’s giving up. Louis calls for the ball, his eyes locked on mine.

“Think you can stop me?” he asks, bouncing the ball lazily.

“I don’t think. I know,” I reply, crouching into a defensive stance.

He smirks and starts his drive. I stay with him, my feet moving instinctively. He spins, looking for an opening, but I anticipate it and block his path.

“Not today,” I say, swiping at the ball.

It’s loose for a split second before Caleb scoops it up. He passes it to Ethan, who sprints down the court.

“Finish strong!” I shout, trailing behind.

Ethan pulls up just beyond the three-point line, the defender a step too late. The ball leaves his hands, the buzzer sounding just as it arcs through the air.

Time seems to slow as everyone watches. The ball hits the rim, bounces once, twice, and finally drops through the net. The blue team erupts in cheers, and Ethan is mobbed by teammates. I grab him in a headlock, laughing.

“Clutch shot, man!” I say, shaking him playfully.

“You doubted me?” he teases, grinning ear to ear .

“Good game, guys,” I say, clapping Louis on the back as he scowls. “And Louis, better luck next time.”

“Don’t get used to it, Danny,” he replies, but his grin gives him away.

I laugh, heading to the bench to grab my water bottle. The court may just be a gym to some, but to me, it’s home.

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