EL'S

e is quiet. Arroga

aced between boards. The scent of waxed floors and nervous sweat clung to the air. Our interschool invitationa

l perfect posture and smug smiles, like they we

me. "They lo

pening plays will be," I murmured, tuggi

ubble of pink gum. "Although, full

eyball," I said flatly

ood apart from the others. Tall. Still. Like someone who knew the val

hen,

ed awa

res too long, give them

atch

Carmeli's top seed, sat across

she sai

idr

ld acknowledg. We bot

ded. The lights dimmed in my mind. All that r

4

ntered

ian Defense. She

So w

continued around us, but ours had gravity. People l

atched me earlier-stood wi

ored

s was a

r old replays. She thought I'd take the bait. I

ips t

ed me to advance the bishop. I pretende

to position, cutting her

ec

But her fingers

d. Calculated. C

e in fiv

fr

lmost grudgingl

are

ked away witho

d, leani

loud. This wasn't

ence? That

stepped

i's volleyball captain. He look

ame," h

e was lo

ed. "You don't lo

t I recogniz

watching is the

once. Quiet and surprised,

Bas

dn't

mirk from his li

hat," he said. T

him go,

ed beside me. "

w

atch. The

entences. That

"Maybe not. But the look in

e stands with Hannah and Rheiza, wat

ain. And of course, Luke. The danc

girl in the front row a

," I m

Rheiza said.

ching his

-hu

es drifte

st

ead. Not flashy. Just sharp. Every spi

't look

ed. Like he could feel my eyes.

ted

n't let them know t

ly when

TI'

enzel. Sounds

a Denze

ust shrugged and muttered something abo

looked when she walked aw

't smirk. Just said "Check

e without blinking. Like she wasn't imp

was

yed hard. Not for the cr

she'd watch me th

e

. But it

ing water break. "

I'm

hat haunted sta

n't a

she was gone. I

room, Biatrice lean

s watch

s s

end you did

at if

e careful. She's no

dded

s the

EL'S

y in bed staring

one b

at: Cros

: girl

look he gave

a match.

omeo just happened

the screen f

n t

good

en though I won, I felt like something else had jus