I don't usually wake up that early.
But that day, I did.
There was no alarm, no reason—just one of those mornings where your eyes open on their own and the world feels quieter than it normally does. The sky was still soft, a pale shade of blue that hadn't fully decided to become day yet, and the air carried a light chill that would disappear the moment the sun settled in.
I didn't think much about it.
I just stepped out.
And of course—
Nash was already there.
He stood near the garden with a racket in his hand, like this was something he had planned all along.
"Since when do you wake up early?" I asked as I walked up to him.
"Since always," he replied casually. "You just don't."
"I'm here now."
"You're still late."
I picked up the extra racket lying nearby and gave it a small spin in my hand. "Play?"
"You'll lose."
"You say that every time."
"And I'm right most of the time."
We started without warming up, without saying anything else. The sound of the shuttle cut cleanly through the quiet morning air as we played—sharp, steady, rhythmic.
Back and forth.
Fast.
"You're off," Nash said after a point.
"You're lucky," I replied.
"That's skill."
"That's luck."
We kept going.
It was the kind of game where you don't think—you just move. The world felt smaller, reduced to the court, the net, and the rhythm between us. Everything else faded out.
Then Nash missed.
Badly.
I stopped for a second. "Wow. What was that?"
"Distraction," he said.
"There's nothing here to distract you."
He didn't reply.
He just looked past me.
I turned.
Grace and Siena were jogging along the path, slowing down as they noticed us. Grace adjusted her pace first, coming to a stop, and Siena followed a second later.
"You guys play this early?" Grace asked.
"Sometimes," Nash said.
"When he wakes up," I added.
She smiled slightly. "Do you have extra rackets?"
I held one out. She took it without hesitation. Siena picked up the other.
"Let's play," Grace said.
We moved back into position.
"Doubles?" Nash asked.
"Yeah," I said.
For a moment, no one spoke about teams. Then Nash glanced at Grace.
"Who's better? You or Siena?"
Grace smirked. "Probably Siena."
Siena didn't react.
"Good," Nash said. "Then I'm with her."
I looked at him. "What?"
He shrugged. "I don't know her game. And you're already the best player I know."
"That's not a reason."
"It is," he said. "Otherwise it's unfair."
Grace laughed softly. "You're scared."
"I'm smart," Nash corrected.
Siena nodded once. "It's fine."
So that was it.
Me and Grace.
Nash and Siena.
For a moment, I didn't say anything. I didn't even know why.
It was just a game.
Still…
Nash glanced at me briefly.
Then smiled.
Like he knew something I didn't.
"Ready?" he said.
"Serve," I replied.
The game started—and this time, it wasn't casual.
Grace moved fast. Faster than I expected.
"Left," she said once.
I adjusted immediately and returned the shot cleanly.
Point.
"Nice," I said.
She nodded. "You too."
Across the net, Nash grinned. "Not bad."
"Focus," Siena said quietly.
He laughed. "Yes, captain."
The rallies got longer.
Faster.
No one held back.
We ran, turned, missed once, recovered the next time.
At one point, Grace went for a shot she couldn't reach. I stepped in and returned it.
She looked at me for a second. "Thanks."
"Anytime."
"Stop helping each other," Nash called out.
"That's literally the point," I replied.
No one wanted to lose.
Not even a little.
The final rally stretched longer than expected, each return sharper than the last.
Until—
Grace placed a clean shot just past Nash.
Too far.
Too late.
Silence.
Then—
"We won," I said.
Nash shook his head. "Barely."
"Still counts."
Grace smiled slightly.
We raised our hands and high-fived.
Simple.
But it stayed a little longer than it should have.
We stepped back, catching our breath.
The morning had changed now. It wasn't quiet anymore.
Just… alive.
"I forgot to ask," I said, "where's Axel?"
"Sleeping," Grace replied instantly.
"Of course," Nash said.
"That's his routine," Siena added.
"You wake up this early every day?" Nash asked.
"Sometimes," Grace said.
"Today we just felt like it," Siena added.
"I slept early yesterday," I said.
Grace looked at me. "Any particular reason?"
"Didn't watch the episode."
She frowned slightly. "You didn't say anything."
"I thought you'd be busy."
"You could've messaged," she said.
"I didn't want to bother you."
There was a pause.
Not long.
But enough.
She looked at me properly this time.
"It wouldn't have bothered me."
Something about the way she said it—
stayed.
I looked away slightly. "I didn't think—"
"It's fine," she said, then smiled again. "Next time, I'll message."
"That's unfair."
"I won't care if I bother you," she added, almost joking.
Nash smirked. "That sounds dangerous."
"It is," Grace replied.
"I'm hungry," Nash said suddenly.
"Same," Siena agreed.
"There's a food truck nearby," I said.
"Winning team pays," Nash added.
I looked at Grace.
She looked at me.
Then smiled.
"Sure," we both said.
We jogged there—not racing, just moving, talking in between. Nothing important, everything normal. By the time we reached, we were tired again, but lighter.
I paid before anyone could say anything.
Grace noticed immediately. "You didn't have to do that."
"It's fine."
"You could've let me help."
I shook my head. "It's for the noodles."
Nash looked confused. "What noodles?"
"Inside joke," I said.
"That sounds suspicious."
"It's not."
Grace didn't say anything.
She just smiled.
As we ate, the conversation shifted.
"Which school do you go to?" I asked.
Grace and Siena exchanged a brief glance.
"We're changing," Siena said.
"Current one isn't great," Grace added. "Teachers don't really pay attention."
"Where are you planning to go?" I asked.
"Manchester High," Siena replied.
I paused.
Then smiled.
"That's my school."
Grace looked at me.
Softly.
"I know."
It was quiet.
Almost like she hadn't meant to say it out loud.
"Did you say something?" I asked.
She shook her head. "No."
Then smiled and looked away, focusing on her food.
We stayed there a little longer. No one rushed.
No one needed to.
By the time we walked back, it was close to ten.
The building had changed again—busier now, louder, like the rest of the world had finally caught up.
"I'm done for today," I said.
"Same," Nash replied. "I'm going out in the evening."
"I won't be here either."
I looked at Grace.
"If Axel wakes up… tell him we're not playing today evening."
She nodded. "I will."
We stood there for a moment.
Not saying anything.
Not needing to.
Then slowly—
we went our own ways.
Nothing big had happened.
Nothing you could point at.
But something about that morning…
stayed.