Emily had replayed the scene so many times that even now, hours later, she could still hear Michael's voice in her head.
"You called her pathetic?"
She stared blankly at the notebook resting on her lap.
The same page had been open for almost twenty minutes now.
Maybe longer.
She hadn't written a single thing.
Her pen stayed motionless between her fingers as the argument replayed in her mind again.
Michael stepping forward.
James smirking like none of it mattered.
Emily slowly pulled her knees closer to her chest and let out a small breath.
She still couldn't believe how angry Michael looked.
She had never seen him like that before.
Emily lowered her gaze again.
Usually people ignored things like that.
They heard comments. They saw the embarrassment. And then they pretended nothing happened because it was easier.
But Michael didn't.
He looked furious the second he heard what James said.
Emily pressed her lips together quietly.
"That idiot called you pathetic?"
Even now, the memory made her stomach twist.
Things could have gotten so much worse.
For a second back there, she genuinely thought Michael was going to hit him.
And honestly?
James looked like he would've hit him back.
Emily rubbed tiredly at her face.
"This is such a mess…"
Her voice sounded small in the quiet room.
Tomorrow was going to be horrible.
She already knew it.
Silvergrove students treated drama like entertainment.
By morning, everyone would know.
People would stare. Whisper. Talk about the match. Talk about her.
The thought alone made her chest feel heavy.
And somehow the thing bothering her most wasn't even the basketball game.
It was the fact James never apologized.
Not once.
Emily frowned slightly at the notebook in her lap.
Part of her really thought he would realize he crossed a line.
Instead he laughed.
Turned it into a challenge.
A stupid game.
And now Michael was involved because of her.
Again.
Emily dropped her forehead against her knees with a quiet groan.
"I seriously ruin everything…"
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
Before she could answer, the door opened slightly and her aunt peeked inside.
"You're still awake?"
Emily quickly sat up straighter, almost guiltily.
"I was just finishing school work," she said softly. "I'm about to sleep."
Her aunt looked at the untouched notebook for a second but didn't comment on it.
Instead she smiled gently and leaned against the doorframe.
"You've been sitting in here for hours."
Emily looked away slightly.
"Sorry."
"What are you apologizing for?" her aunt asked with a small laugh.
Emily shrugged quietly.
"I don't know."
That made her aunt's expression soften immediately.
"You okay, honey?"
Emily hesitated.
For one second, she almost told her everything.
About James. About Michael. About the fight. About how scared she felt for tomorrow.
But instead she forced a small smile.
"Just tired."
Her aunt looked like she didn't completely believe that answer.
Still, she nodded slowly.
"Well, tired people should sleep."
Emily smiled faintly.
"I know."
"You're still planning to go to school tomorrow?" Her aunt asked
Emily hesitated briefly before nodding.
"I don't wanna miss school."
"Mhm." Her aunt crossed her arms lightly. "Look at you being responsible."
Emily let out the smallest laugh at that.
Aunt Rae smiled proudly like she had just won an award for making her niece laugh once.
"Goodnight, sweetie."
Emily's smile turned more genuine this time.
"Goodnight, Auntie Rae."
Her aunt pointed lightly toward the notebook.
"And maybe actually do the homework tomorrow instead of staring at it dramatically."
Emily groaned quietly.
"Aunt Rae…"
"I'm just saying."
Laughing softly to herself, her aunt finally closed the door.
The room became quiet again almost instantly.
Too quiet.
Emily looked back down at the notebook in her lap.
But instead of homework, all she could hear was Michael's voice again.
Cold. Angry. Protective.
"Because she didn't deserve it."
Emily's chest tightened painfully.
And somehow, that scared her more than tomorrow's game.
---
The next morning felt worse.
Not physically worse.
Emily wasn't sick.
But the nervous feeling sitting heavily in her stomach made it hard to eat breakfast anyway.
Every thought in her head somehow led back to yesterday.
What if they actually fight?
What if everyone knows already?
What if Michael gets hurt?
What if this becomes my fault again?
That last thought wouldn't leave her alone.
Even during the drive to school, her chest felt tight.
She kept staring out the window quietly, fingers nervously twisting the sleeve of her hoodie.
Maybe nobody would care that much.
Maybe the rumors hadn't spread yet.
Maybe people would forget about it.
But..
The second she walked through Silvergrove's front gates, she realized how stupidly hopeful that thought was.
Everyone already knew.
Of course they did.
Two students near the entrance looked toward her immediately before whispering something to each other.
Another group farther down the hallway suddenly went quiet the second she passed them.
Emily lowered her gaze instantly.
Her stomach twisted harder.
She could already hear pieces of conversations around her.
"Apparently Michael almost punched him."
"No, James shoved him first."
"The game's after school."
"Isn't that Emily?"
She walked faster immediately.
Pretending not to hear helped sometimes.
Today it didn't.
The whispers followed her down the hallway anyway.
By the time she reached her locker, her hands already felt cold from anxiety.
Then suddenly-
"There you are."
Emily turned quickly.
Sam was already walking toward her fast, looking both annoyed and exhausted at the same time.
Her bag nearly slipped off her shoulder from how aggressively she was moving.
"Everything is everywhere," Sam said immediately.
Emily blinked nervously.
"…What?"
"The argument. The match. You. Them." Sam gestured wildly. "People are literally talking about it like some Netflix finale."
Emily groaned softly and leaned against her locker.
"I knew this would happen…"
Sam looked around the hallway before lowering her voice slightly.
"I heard two freshmen placing bets."
Emily stared at her in horror.
"They're WHAT?"
"I know," Sam replied flatly. "This school needs psychological help."
Emily rubbed her forehead tiredly.
"This is so embarrassing…"
Sam's expression softened slightly seeing how stressed she looked.
"Hey." She nudged her arm lightly. "None of this is your fault."
Emily looked unconvinced immediately.
"It kind of is."
"No," Sam said firmly. "James being an idiot is James' fault."
Emily looked unconvinced.
"If James hadn't said that-"
"Then Michael still would've defended you somehow," Sam cut in quietly.
Emily looked up slightly.
Sam shrugged one shoulder.
"You know how he is."
That made Emily go quiet again.
Because honestly?
She didn't know anymore.
Michael had always been calm.
But yesterday felt completely different.
The look on his face when he heard what James said still wouldn't leave her head.
"He looked really angry," Emily admitted softly.
Sam glanced at her for a second before answering honestly.
"I've never seen him like that before."
Emily swallowed nervously.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
The hallway around them stayed loud with chatter and gossip, but Emily barely heard any of it anymore.
Somewhere across from where Emily and Sam stood, two boys were having a conversation loud enough for half the corridor to hear.
"This school seriously needs to stop believing every rumor it hears."
His friend laughed.
"Which one?"
The boy scoffed.
"The James one."
"What about it?"
"Like hell he's coming back here."
A few students nearby glanced over.
The boy continued confidently.
"After everything people know he did? He's seriously gonna show his face in Silvergrove again?"
His friend shrugged.
"I mean..."
"And even if he did come back," the boy interrupted, "why would he challenge Michael?"
He folded his arms.
"People act like he's some legend."
A smirk appeared on his face.
"Honestly, I'd beat him myself."
A couple students laughed.
Then-
A basketball bounced through the hallway.
The conversation nearby slowly died.
The boy's confidence disappeared almost instantly.
James was walking down the corridor.
Basketball in hand.
Four friends behind him.
Unfortunately for the boy, they had heard enough.
One of James' friends pointed directly at him.
"Were you talking about him, mate?"
The hallway immediately became interested.
The boy looked like he regretted every decision that led him to this moment.
James caught the basketball and looked at him.
For a second, he didn't say anything.
Then a smirk slowly appeared.
"You were gonna beat me?"
One of his friends immediately laughed.
Another shook his head.
"This is tragic."
The boy awkwardly raised his hands.
"No, I didn't mean-"
"You sounded pretty confident a second ago." James cut him off mid sentence.
The friend standing beside him took one step backward.
Wanting absolutely no part in this anymore.
James noticed immediately.
"Strong friendship."
A few students laughed.
The boy forced an uncomfortable smile.
"I was joking."
James stared at him for another second.
Then shrugged.
"Good."
He spun the basketball once.
"Would've hated embarrassing you before lunch."
His friends laughed again.
Then the group continued down the hallway as if nothing had happened.
The whispers started almost immediately after they left.
Across the corridor, Emily looked toward the interaction in confusion.
"What's happening over there?"
Sam didn't even bother looking.
"Another one of James' idiotic behaviors."
Emily blinked.
"Should we be worried?"
"No."
Sam crossed her arms.
"Forget about over there."
A second later, Sam suddenly looked past her shoulder.
"Actually."
Emily frowned slightly.
"What?"
Sam's eyes shifted farther down the hallway.
"He's here."
Emily's stomach dropped instantly.
Michael.
He walked down the hallway with his bag slung over one shoulder, expression unreadable like usual.
But he looked tired.
Like he barely slept.
Students whispered the second he walked past them.
"Michael's here."
"I heard he almost punched James yesterday."
Michael ignored every single comment.
At least he tried to.
Then he spotted Emily and Sam near the lockers.
Emily noticed him too and straightened slightly almost immediately.
For a second, Michael slowed down.
Yesterday flashed through his head again way too quickly.
Emily looking startled.
Him losing his temper.
He pushed the thought away before walking over anyway.
"…Hey."
Emily nodded softly.
"Hi."
The silence afterward felt awkward instantly.
Sam looked between both of them once before sighing dramatically.
"You look terrible."
Michael stared at her.
"That's a really nice thing to say before first period."
"I'm honest," Sam replied proudly.
Emily laughed quietly beside them before quickly looking away again.
Michael noticed immediately.
Good.
At least she looked a little calmer now.
Sam crossed her arms and glanced around the hallway.
"This school is actually insane."
Michael already sounded tired.
"How bad is it?"
Sam looked offended he even asked.
"How bad?" she repeated. "Michael, people are discussing the match like it's the Olympics."
Emily groaned softly.
"I seriously wanna disappear."
"It gets worse," Sam continued. "Someone made a poll."
Michael blinked once.
"A what?"
"A poll." Sam said.
"…Why?" Michael asked.
"Because teenagers are deeply embarrassing people." Sam replied.
Emily looked horrified.
"There's no way."
"There absolutely is," Sam replied. "You're currently losing to James by twelve percent."
Michael looked genuinely disturbed now.
"Why do numbers exist for this?"
Sam shrugged.
"Public opinion."
"This school needs help." Michael murmurs.
Emily laughed quietly again.
Michael glanced at her automatically.
The nervous look on her face had eased a little.
Not completely.
But enough.
A few students walked past them whispering loudly.
"Michael definitely looks more athletic."
"James plays dirty though."
Emily immediately looked uncomfortable again.
Michael noticed right away.
His expression tightened slightly before he looked back at Sam.
"How does everybody even know already?"
Sam snorted.
"Michael, rich teenagers survive entirely on gossip and caffeine."
"That explains a lot actually." Michael says.
Emily shook her head slightly.
"I still can't believe people care this much."
Sam pointed around the hallway.
"People here would livestream a hallway argument if they could."
Michael rubbed tiredly at the back of his neck.
"It's literally just basketball."
Sam stared at him.
"You almost started a fist fight yesterday."
Michael defended himself immediately.
"He started it."
"You grabbed his shirt." Sam added.
"Well he deserved it." Michael responded.
Emily looked down instantly after that.
Michael noticed too late.
He sighed quietly before changing the subject.
"You eat breakfast?"
Emily blinked in confusion.
"…What?"
"Breakfast.." Michael repeated. "You look stressed."
Sam pointed dramatically at him.
"See? That's exactly why people think you're gonna murder someone later."
Michael looked offended.
"I asked if she ate."
"You asked it like a divorced father trying to hold the family together." Sam replied.
Emily laughed harder this time, immediately covering her mouth afterward.
Michael nearly smiled seeing it.
Nearly.
Then a basketball bounced loudly somewhere behind them.
Once.
Twice.
The hallway noise shifted almost instantly.
Students started whispering louder.
Sam slowly closed her eyes.
"…Speak of the devil."
The basketball bounced one last time before stopping completely in James' hand.
He walked toward them too casually, like he didn't care about the attention anymore.
And this time, he wasn't alone.
Four guys followed behind him, laughing about something quietly until they noticed Michael standing there.
Then the laughter changed.
Interested now.
Like they already knew drama was about to happen.
Half the hallway was staring already.
Whispers spread immediately the second people noticed James walking over with his group.
His eyes moved between the three of them before a smirk slowly appeared.
"You all look weirdly calm for eight in the morning."
Sam rolled her eyes instantly.
"And you look way too proud of yourself for someone who almost got punched yesterday."
One of the guys behind James laughed quietly.
"Damn."
James only shrugged carelessly.
"You people get bored easily."
Michael's expression had changed the second James stopped in front of them.
The small bit of ease from earlier disappeared immediately.
His face turned serious again.
Emily noticed it instantly.
And somehow that made her even more nervous.
James bounced the basketball lightly against the floor once before catching it again.
"So," he said casually, looking directly at Michael, "I hope you haven't backed out already. Or did you?"
Michael answered flatly.
"You talk a lot."
James smirked faintly.
"That a yes?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Michael said.
James tilted his head slightly.
"Don't know. Yesterday got pretty emotional."
A couple of his friends snickered quietly behind him.
Sam frowned immediately.
"This isn't some game, James."
James looked at her lazily.
"It literally is a game, sweetheart."
Sam shot him a glare instantly.
"Keep talking."
That only made the guys behind James laugh harder.
Michael's jaw tightened immediately.
"Funny," he said coldly, "considering you're the one who made it personal."
James let out a short laugh.
"Says the guy who agreed to play."
Before Michael could answer, Sam spoke again.
"You also chose to insult someone who helped you."
James looked completely unbothered.
"She'll survive."
One of his friends quietly said,
"Bro…"
But he was smiling while saying it.
Like he still found this entertaining.
Emily lowered her gaze instantly.
The whispers around them suddenly felt louder.
People were watching.
Watching her.
Michael noticed Emily looking down.
And his expression darkened immediately.
"You seriously don't know when to shut up," he said coldly.
James raised an eyebrow.
"What? You angry again?"
Michael stepped forward instantly.
Fast enough that James finally lowered the basketball completely.
The smirk stayed on his face, but his grip tightened slightly around the ball.
Even James' friends straightened slightly now.
Not nervous.
Interested.
Like they were waiting to see if Michael would actually swing this time.
Emily's stomach twisted painfully.
Not again.
"Michael…" she said quickly.
He didn't look away from James.
His jaw clenched tightly.
James tilted his head slightly.
"What?" he asked casually. "You gonna grab my shirt again?"
One of the guys behind him muttered quietly,
"This is getting good."
Michael took another step forward.
Sam immediately tensed beside Emily.
The hallway had gone almost completely silent now.
Emily panicked at the thought of this turning physical again and grabbed Michael's sleeve lightly.
"Please don't…"
That stopped him.
Michael glanced toward her for half a second.
And James noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
A slow smirk pulled onto his face again.
"Hear what your side chick said?" he said casually. "Stop bothering me."
A couple of his friends immediately reacted.
One laughed quietly. Another went, "Crazy."
Emily froze instantly.
Sam looked genuinely horrified.
And Michael-
Something in his expression changed immediately.
Not irritation anymore.
Not even anger.
Pure fury.
"You wanna repeat that?" Michael asked quietly.
Even James' friends stopped smiling for a second after hearing his tone.
James looked almost amused again despite the tension.
"What?" he replied. "Did I hit a nerve?"
Michael stepped forward again instantly-
Then the bell rang loudly through the hallway.
The sharp sound cut straight through the tension.
Students immediately started moving again around them.
For one second, nobody moved.
Michael was still staring at James like he wanted to hit him.
Emily still had a grip on his sleeve.
James slowly stepped backward before spinning the basketball once again.
Then he smirked faintly.
"Well," he said casually, "after lunch."
One of his friends grinned while walking backward.
James laughed quietly before turning away.
And the second they disappeared down the hallway, the whispers exploded again.
Emily slowly let go of Michael's sleeve.
Then a tear slipped down her cheek before she could stop it.
She looked down immediately.
But Michael noticed.
And the second he did, something in him cracked.
Emily had been holding everything together alone since morning.
People talking about her like she wasn't standing right there hearing all of it.
And then James saying that in front of half the school?
That was what finally broke her.
Michael went completely silent.
Because seeing Emily upset like this made the anger settle deeper inside him.
He hated it.
Hated that she looked like she was trying not to cry harder.
Hated that James was the reason for it.
Sam noticed the tears too and her expression changed instantly.
"Oh, Emily…"
Without thinking twice, she pulled her into a tight hug immediately.
Emily looked startled for half a second before slowly holding onto her back.
Sam rubbed her shoulder gently.
"Trust me," she said quietly, "James is not worth your tears."
Emily shut her eyes tightly for a second.
Sam held her a little tighter.
"Nobody in Silvergrove is."
That almost made Emily cry harder.
Because nobody usually comforted her like this.
She quickly wiped under her eyes herself, trying to calm down.
But the exhaustion on her face said enough already.
Michael stood there watching silently.
His jaw clenched tightly.
He'd never felt this angry over words before.
Not even when James insulted him.
But Emily?
Emily, who barely had anything to do with all this?
Seeing her cry because of that idiot made something in him snap completely.
Sam glanced toward Michael briefly and immediately noticed the look on his face.
It almost concerned her.
Emily finally stepped back from the hug slowly, still avoiding eye contact.
"I'm okay," she said softly.
Neither of them believed that.
Sam sighed quietly.
Michael still hadn't said anything.
He just looked down the hallway where James disappeared.
And for the first time since agreeing to the match, one thing became painfully clear in his head.
This wasn't a game.
It never was.
But now?
He needed to win.
But to shut James up for good.
To wipe that smug look off his face.
And make him apologize to Emily for every single thing he said.
---
They were barely focusing in class anymore.
Teachers talked, boards filled up, pens moved across notebooks, but none of it stayed in their heads long enough to matter.
Emily spent most of the classes staring at the same page without actually reading anything on it.
Sam kept catching people turning around to look and she looked more irritated every single time.
And Michael had gone quiet again.
The kind that made people avoid talking to him completely.
By the time lunch arrived, the tension somehow felt even worse.
The three of them walked through the corridor together toward the cafeteria, and immediately the atmosphere felt wrong.
Too many glances.
Too many whispers.
People knew something.
Maybe not the full truth.
But enough.
The second they stepped inside the cafeteria, conversations lowered slightly around them.
Emily lowered her gaze instantly.
Then she heard it.
"Emily's trying so hard to get their attention."
Another girl laughed quietly.
"She's lucky Michael even looks at her."
"But people are saying Michael's obsessed with her now."
One more voice added,
"I seriously don't get why two perfect guys are fighting over a girl likeher."
Emily felt her stomach twist painfully hearing that.
She kept walking without saying anything.
Once they finally reached their usual table, Cameron and Liliana looked up immediately.
And judging by their faces, both of them already knew enough.
Cameron broke the silence first.
His voice genuinely sounded worried.
"Whatever basketball game thing is happening between you and James…" he said carefully, "this got way bigger than that."
Liliana nodded quickly.
"Yeah, and even if we don't fully know what happened between you guys yesterday, people are making up rumors now."
Michael frowned slightly.
"What rumors?"
Liliana hesitated for a second before answering honestly.
"Michael… people are saying complete bullshit."
"And most of it's about Emily," Cameron added quietly.
Michael's jaw tightened immediately hearing that.
Sam leaned back in her chair with disbelief written all over her face.
"These people are actually fucking insane."
Emily stared down at the table quietly.
"This is all my fault…"
Michael cut her off immediately.
"No, Emily."
She looked up slightly.
Michael's voice stayed calm, but frustration sat underneath every word now.
"Silvergrove was already like this before you came here. People here just like targeting anyone they think is different."
Sam nodded immediately.
"He's right. Stop talking like that about yourself."
Liliana nodded too.
"Most people here just gossip because they're bored with their own lives."
"And because drama makes them feel important," Cameron added.
People kept slowing down near their table while passing by.
Pretending not to stare.
Pretending not to listen.
Michael overheard another group nearby.
"She definitely likes the attention."
"I heard she cried in front of Michael this morning."
"She's not Michael's type."
"Or James."
Michael's expression darkened instantly.
Because now he understood exactly why Emily looked so overwhelmed.
Liliana quietly studied Emily's face for another second.
Emily genuinely looked exhausted now.
Emotionally exhausted.
Sam's gaze shifted irritably across the cafeteria.
Fiona's table.
Fiona sat beside Terra pretending to have a normal conversation while clearly paying attention toward Michael's table every few seconds.
Terra leaned closer slightly.
"Apparently Michael grabbed James' shirt yesterday because he insulted Emily."
Terra added quickly,
"And I heard Emily cried in front of him today."
That caught Fiona's attention immediately.
Her expression shifted slightly.
Interested now.
Her eyes flickered toward Michael again.
And this time she noticed something properly.
The way Michael kept checking if Emily was okay. The way his expression changed every time Emily went quiet. The way his attention kept drifting back toward her without him even realizing it.
Fiona slowly leaned back in her chair.
"Things got serious way too fast," she said quietly.
Terra looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Fiona kept staring toward Emily's table for another second before speaking again.
"That new girl somehow got Michael's attention to herself already."
Terra looked confused.
"You think Michael likes her?"
Fiona didn't answer immediately.
Her fingers tapped once against the table.
Thinking.
"I don't know yet."
Moon glanced toward her.
"That sounds threatening."
Fiona ignored the comment completely.
"Michael doesn't get emotionally involved easily."
Terra frowned.
"So?"
Fiona finally looked away from Emily for the first time.
"So if people are right…" she said quietly, "then this stops being harmless."
Terra blinked.
"You seriously think it's that deep already?"
Fiona's expression stayed unreadable.
"I think Michael's acting different."
Terra looked even more confused.
"Because of Emily?"
Fiona didn't answer immediately again.
That silence alone already felt unsettling enough.
Then finally:
"I just need confirmation first."
Terra frowned harder.
"Confirmation about what?"
Fiona's eyes drifted back toward Michael one more time.
Whether he realized it or not, his attention still kept returning to Emily.
Every single time.
And Fiona noticed all of it.
"If Michael actually cares about her," Fiona said softly, "then Emily just became important."
And somehow the way she said it made Terra feel uneasy immediately.
Terra leaned closer immediately, lowering her voice.
"So you're seriously gonna ask Michael if he likes Emily?"
Fiona's eyes stayed fixed toward Michael's table for another second before she answered calmly,
"I'll ask whether the rumors are true."
Terra frowned slightly.
"And if they are?"
A slow smile appeared on Fiona's face.
Cold.
"And if he says something more than what I wanted to hear…" she said quietly, "the good girl act disappears permanently."
Terra blinked.
"What does that even mean?"
Fiona finally looked toward her.
"It means," she said simply, "I'll make her regret going for Michael."
Terra looked uncomfortable hearing that.
"Fi, Emily literally hasn't done anything."
Fiona shrugged carelessly.
"She didn't have to."
Terra stared at her for a second.
"You're taking this way too seriously."
Fiona laughed quietly under her breath.
"No. Michael is."
That shut Terra up immediately.
Because honestly?
She had noticed it too.
The constant checking on Emily. The way Michael's mood changed depending on her expression. The way he got angry whenever somebody mentioned her.
Fiona leaned back in her chair again, watching the table from across the cafeteria.
Michael was saying something quietly to Emily now.
Emily looked exhausted.
And somehow Michael still kept paying attention only to Emily.
Fiona hated how obvious it was becoming.
Terra spoke again carefully.
"So… you're gonna ask him now?"
Fiona shook her head slowly before letting out a quiet chuckle.
"No way."
Her eyes flickered toward the windows leading outside toward the basketball court.
"Let the fun begin first."
Terra frowned.
"That sounds evil."
Fiona ignored her completely.
"I'll watch the game first," she said calmly. "Then I'll ask."
Terra looked confused.
"What's the game supposed to prove?"
Fiona's smile faded slightly.
"People show their real emotions when they're angry."
Her eyes drifted back toward Michael again.
"And Michael's already losing control because of her."
That sentence alone made the atmosphere around their table feel heavier.
Because Fiona wasn't gossiping anymore.
She was observing.
The scene shifted back toward their table again.
Liliana was staring down at her phone, scrolling through Vibe.
Then suddenly her eyes widened.
"Oh Lord."
Sam immediately looked up.
"What now?"
Liliana covered her mouth slightly, still staring at the screen like she couldn't believe what she was reading.
Cameron leaned over a little.
"That bad?"
Liliana slowly turned the phone toward them.
Someone had already posted about the match.
Not even subtly either.
A blurry picture of Michael and James from the hallway was posted with dramatic captions all over it.
AFTER LUNCH MATCH: JAMES VS MICHAEL.
Emily's stomach dropped instantly.
"You're kidding…"
Cameron sighed tiredly.
"I heard people from other grades know about it now too."
Michael frowned immediately.
"What?"
Cameron nodded.
"Apparently they're already talking about how they're gonna watch it."
Sam stared at him.
"You're joking."
"I wish." Cameron said.
Emily looked confused for a second before quietly asking,
"Can people from other grades really watch?"
Liliana shook her head slightly.
"No, mostly our grade."
Then she grimaced.
"But others can probably watch through classroom windows if they're lucky."
Sam clapped lightly once.
"Amazing. Love that for us."
Cameron rubbed his forehead.
"One freshman apparently asked if teachers are supervising the match."
Michael stayed quiet.
But the more he listened, the worse his expression got.
People weren't treating this seriously anymore.
To them, it was entertainment.
Something fun to watch.
Emily quietly stared down at the table again.
And Michael noticed immediately.
Then suddenly-
Bounce.
The sound of a basketball echoed from somewhere outside the cafeteria.
The entire table went silent automatically.
Just for half a second.
But it was enough.
Emily noticed even Michael tensed hearing it.
Like his body reacted before his brain did.
Then somebody from another table suddenly shouted loudly,
"James said he's ending this in ten minutes!"
A few people laughed immediately after.
Sam deadpanned,
"I'm ending this school in ten minutes."
Even Cameron snorted quietly hearing that.
Michael finally spoke after staying silent for so long.
"He talks too much."
Emily looked toward him quietly after hearing it.
And suddenly she realized something that made her chest tighten again.
Michael wasn't treating this like a stupid basketball game anymore.
He was taking it personally now.
Then the sound came again.
Bounce.
Closer this time.
A few students near the cafeteria entrance immediately turned their heads toward the doors.
Another bounce echoed inside the cafeteria.
Intentional.
Like somebody wanted attention.
Sam looked up first.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Cameron sighed heavily.
"Please tell me that's not-"
Bounce.
The basketball rolled into the cafeteria entrance before stopping completely.
And a second later, James walked in after it with his friends behind him.
One of James' friends suddenly clapped his hands loudly, making half the cafeteria look over immediately.
"Attention, Silvergrove," he announced dramatically.
Another one pointed toward James like he was introducing a celebrity.
"Today after lunch, our boy James will humbly accept donations, prayers and emotional support for the other team."
Laughter spread across the cafeteria almost instantly.
One of the guys stepped forward pretending to hold an invisible microphone.
"In the left corner," he announced loudly, "we have anger issues and emotional attachment."
Another added immediately,
"And in the right corner, James. Still handsome. Still undefeated."
A few students laughed harder hearing that.
Sam looked genuinely disgusted.
"Do any of them hear themselves when they talk?"
Cameron stared at them in disbelief.
"These guys are actually embarrassing."
Another one of James' friends raised his hand dramatically.
"Other grade students may watch the match however they like," he announced. "As long as no teacher involvement occurs."
One guy behind him added loudly,
"Yeah, because paperwork ruins the vibe."
More laughter spread again.
"And girls," another friend continued seriously, "no throwing love letters at players this time."
Sam looked ready to launch her tray across the cafeteria.
Michael stayed completely silent through all of it.
Which honestly looked worse.
James casually spun the basketball in one hand while letting his friends keep talking.
Like he was enjoying every second of the attention.
And somehow that irritated Michael more.
Finally Michael spoke coldly,
"You all done?"
The mood shifted immediately.
Because his tone killed half the joking instantly.
James smirked slightly.
"Relax," he said casually. "They're just building hype."
Michael's expression stayed hard.
"You act like this is entertainment."
One of James' friends immediately answered,
"It literally is."
Emily quietly looked toward Michael after hearing that.
And suddenly she realized something properly.
Michael genuinely hated what this turned into.
All of this.
Then James glanced toward Emily briefly.
Like he was checking her reaction.
And somehow that annoyed Michael even more.
James spun the basketball once before saying casually,
"I just hope nobody cries this time."
The cafeteria immediately got quieter.
Not silent.
But quieter enough.
Michael moved instantly.
His chair scraped harshly against the floor as he almost stood up.
"Michael-"
Cameron grabbed his arm immediately.
"BRO. SIT DOWN."
James' friends reacted instantly too.
Half amused.
Half waiting for something to happen.
Sam muttered angrily,
"He seriously never shuts up."
Michael was still staring at James like he genuinely wanted to hit him.
And James noticed.
That stupid smirk stayed on his face anyway.
Then Liliana quietly leaned closer toward Michael just enough for only their table to hear.
"Michael," she said carefully, "lunch is ending soon anyway."
Michael didn't look away from James.
Liliana continued softly,
"Just wait for the court. Don't react now."
Cameron nodded immediately.
"She's right. He wants you to start something again."
James bounced the basketball once against the cafeteria floor before catching it again.
Then he smirked faintly.
"See you at the court."
And somehow that sounded less like a game now.
More like a warning.
The bell rang almost immediately after James left the cafeteria, his friends following behind him.
The second the sound echoed through the room, the entire cafeteria seemed to explode with noise.
Students stood up from their tables.
Chairs scraped against the floor.
Conversations immediately grew louder.
Excited.
Like they had all been waiting for this moment.
"I can't believe it's actually happening."
"James is definitely winning."
"No way, Michael looks ready to kill."
"Let's go before the good spots are taken."
Students from their grade began moving toward the court almost instantly.
Meanwhile, students from other grades rushed toward their classrooms, hoping to claim the best window views before everyone else did.
To them, it was entertainment.
To Emily, it felt like a nightmare.
The crowd moving around them suddenly felt too loud.
Too overwhelming.
Emily's thoughts wouldn't stop.
What if they get hurt?
What if they fight again?
What if this gets worse?
Sam and Cameron exchanged a look.
Because the second the bell rang, Michael changed.
Whatever little patience he had left seemed gone now.
He wasn't angry.
He was focused.
Cameron quietly leaned toward Sam.
"He's taking this way too seriously."
Sam glanced at Michael once.
"You're just noticing?"
Michael's eyes were already fixed toward the cafeteria exit.
Liliana stood up before moving over to Emily's side.
She gently squeezed her shoulder.
"You okay?"
Emily nodded immediately.
"Yeah."
The lie was painfully obvious.
Liliana gave her a look.
The kind that said she wasn't fooling anybody.
"Emily."
Emily lowered her gaze.
Liliana's voice softened.
"This is happening either way."
Emily didn't answer.
"You can't spend the next twenty minutes imagining every possible disaster." Liliana said.
A small laugh escaped Cameron.
"Trust me. I've already done that for everyone."
Nobody laughed.
Cameron's smile slowly disappeared.
"Right. Tough crowd."
Liliana looked back at Emily.
"You gotta breathe."
Emily swallowed.
Then nodded quietly.
She knew Liliana was right.
But knowing that didn't make the feeling disappear.
Around them, students continued rushing toward the court.
The noise growing louder.
The excitement growing bigger.
And with every passing second, Emily felt her anxiety growing right along with it.
---
As they reached the court building, it became painfully obvious just how far things had spread.
Students were already gathering near the court.
Others leaned against railings above.
Several classroom windows were open despite classes having started.
Cameron slowly looked around.
"This is actually ridiculous."
Sam folded her arms.
"Half these people aren't even here for the game. They're here for the mess."
Cameron pointed toward a group of students nearby.
"That guy literally brought snacks."
Liliana turned toward him.
"You're joking.."
A few students rushed past them.
"Move!"
"We'll lose the window spots!"
"I wanna see who wins."
"They're already warming up!"
Cameron stared after them.
"These kids are treating this like a championship final."
Emily looked up toward the classrooms.
Students were already leaning out of windows.
"Can they actually see from there?"
Liliana followed her gaze.
"If they're lucky."
Sam shook her head.
"Nothing motivates students more than avoiding actual schoolwork."
A small laugh escaped Cameron.
"That's probably the truest thing you've ever said."
Emily's eyes drifted toward the court.
James and his friends were already there.
Laughing.
Passing the ball around.
Shooting casually.
Like they weren't the reason half the school was standing around.
Emily quickly looked away.
Liliana noticed immediately.
"Don't look at them."
Emily nodded.
A few students walked past.
One of them slowed down.
"That's Emily."
Another frowned.
"She looks nothing like I imagined."
"I thought she'd be prettier."
Sam turned so quickly both students nearly jumped.
"Funny. I was just thinking the same thing about your personality."
Neither of them replied.
They walked away immediately.
Cameron watched them leave.
"People are getting way too comfortable."
Emily lowered her head again.
Liliana gently nudged her shoulder.
"Ignore them."
"I'm trying..." Emily says quietly.
"Good." Liliana replied.
For a moment nobody said anything.
The noise around them only seemed to get louder.
More students arrived.
More whispers.
More staring.
And somehow, standing in the middle of all of it, Emily felt smaller than ever.
The locker room door opened.
Almost immediately, some of the conversations around the court died down.
Heads turned.
Michael walked out wearing the blue sleeveless basketball jersey, the school logo printed across the front.
The color somehow made his eyes look even brighter.
Unfortunately for everyone around him, that was not the thing people noticed most.
It was his expression.
No smile.
Just focus.
Cameron stared for a second.
"Okay..."
Nobody looked away from the court.
"Now he looks scary."
Sam glanced over.
"Now?"
She folded her arms.
"He's been scary ever since this whole thing started."
Liliana quietly nodded.
"True."
Her eyes followed Michael as he walked toward the court.
"But this feels different."
Emily didn't say anything.
Her stomach twisted.
This was actually happening.
There was no more waiting.
The match was about to start.
And she had absolutely no idea what would happen next.
That scared her more than she wanted to admit.
Across the court, James noticed Michael approaching.
A grin slowly pulled across his face.
Like he'd been waiting for this exact moment all day.
He was already wearing his red sleeveless jersey.
One of his friends said something that made the group laugh.
James barely reacted.
His attention stayed on Michael.
Locked on him.
Michael stopped on one side of the court.
James stood on the other.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The crowd somehow grew quieter.
Then James spun the basketball once against his hip.
"There he is."
Michael's expression didn't change.
James smirked.
"I was starting to think you'd changed your mind."
"I didn't." Michael replied.
"Good," James says, as he bounced the ball once. "Would've been a boring afternoon otherwise."
Michael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"This isn't entertainment."
James laughed.
Judging by the crowd around them, half the school disagreed.
Before either of them could say anything else, the coach stepped between them.
"Alright, enough."
His eyes moved between Michael and James.
"We don't have all day. Unless both of you suddenly want to go back to class and continue this there."
Neither Michael nor James reacted. Their attention stayed fixed on each other.
James casually tossed the basketball toward the coach.
The coach caught it easily.
"Good."
He spun the ball once in his hands before continuing.
"Best of three."
The crowd immediately reacted.
The coach raised his voice.
"First to score three points wins."
His gaze sharpened.
"Normal rules."
Then he added,
"And if either of you starts anything beyond basketball, you're both off the court."
James smirked.
Michael remained silent.
The coach took that as agreement.
"Good. Positions."
The noise around the court grew instantly.
Students shifted forward.
Classroom windows filled.
On the sidelines, Emily felt her heartbeat getting faster.
This was it.
The actual match.
Michael walked toward his side of the court.
Then, just before taking his position, he looked toward her.
Only once.
Emily noticed immediately.
For a second, everything around her seemed to disappear.
The crowd.
The whispers.
The anxiety.
Just that brief glance.
She couldn't even explain why it affected her so much.
Then-
TWEEEET.
The whistle cut through the air.
Emily blinked.
The moment vanished instantly.
The coach stepped back.
James rolled his shoulders.
Michael's expression hardened.
The crowd fell into anticipation.
And the game began.
The court exploded into motion immediately.
Ten players moved at once.
Shoes squeaked against the floor.
James' team got possession first.
The ball moved quickly between his teammates.
One pass.
Then another.
Michael's team immediately dropped into defense.
For the first few seconds, it almost looked like a normal basketball game.
Almost.
Because every time James touched the ball, the crowd reacted.
And every time Michael stepped in front of him, they reacted even louder.
"Pass it!"
A player on James' team cut toward the basket.
James tossed the ball over.
The shot went up.
Missed.
The rebound bounced high.
Michael grabbed it first.
Cheers instantly broke out from one side of the court.
"There we go!"
Michael didn't celebrate.
He immediately pushed forward.
One of his teammates sprinted alongside him.
The ball moved between them.
Fast.
Clean.
A layup attempt-
Blocked.
The crowd collectively groaned.
"OHHH!"
Sam nearly jumped from her seat.
"This is already annoying."
Cameron couldn't even argue.
The game had barely started and somehow everyone was invested.
Back on the court, possession changed again.
James caught the ball near the three-point line.
Students immediately started shouting.
"James!"
"Come on!"
"Cook him!"
James laughed.
Actually laughed.
Then pointed toward Michael.
"Switch."
One of his teammates grinned immediately.
The defensive matchups shifted.
Now it was Michael standing directly in front of him.
The crowd noticed instantly.
And the noise doubled.
Emily felt her stomach twist.
Even people leaning out classroom windows were shouting now.
James bounced the ball once.
Twice.
A smile slowly pulling onto his face.
"There you are."
Michael said nothing.
James shook his head.
"You've been in a terrible mood all day."
"Play." Michael says.
"Still angry?" James questioned.
Michael's eyes narrowed.
"Just. Play."
James smirked.
Then drove forward.
Fast.
The crowd exploded.
For a few seconds neither gave ground.
Michael stayed with him.
James spun.
Michael followed.
James stepped back.
Michael still didn't move.
The entire court seemed locked on them.
Even the other players noticed.
One of James' teammates yelled,
"Bro, pass the ball!"
James ignored him.
One of Michael's teammates shouted,
"Don't let him shoot!"
Too late.
James created half a second of space.
The shot went up.
Everyone watched.
The ball hit the rim.
Bounced once.
Twice.
Then dropped.
The court erupted.
James' friends shouted.
"TOLD YOU!"
"LET'S GO!"
James pointed toward the scoreboard.
1-0.
Then looked directly at Michael.
The smirk returned.
"Two more."
Michael simply took the ball.
No reaction.
Nothing.
Everyone's attention was on the scoreboard.
Except Fiona's.
Her eyes were fixed somewhere else entirely.
Michael.
More specifically, where Michael had looked right after James scored.
Emily.
Fiona caught it immediately.
The glance had been brief.
Almost nothing,
But it was enough.
Across from her, Terra noticed the look on Fiona's face, and that alone was enough to make her nervous.
Back on the court, the coach blew his whistle.
"Positions! Reset!"
Players immediately moved back into place.
The crowd settled again.
James bounced lightly on his heels before looking across the court.
A smirk slowly appeared.
"Still got time to quit."
Michael replies.
"Still got time to shut up."
The coach stepped aside.
The game resumed.
This time Michael had possession.
The noise around the court faded slightly.
Everyone was waiting.
Watching.
Wanting to see what he'd do after James scored first.
Michael dribbled once.
Then again.
Controlled.
One defender stepped forward.
Michael moved immediately.
Fast enough to force a reaction from the crowd.
The defender barely stayed in front of him.
A pass.
A quick return pass.
Michael caught the ball again.
One of James' friends moved to stop him.
Too late.
Michael slipped past.
James turned immediately.
Already moving.
The challenge clearly entertaining him.
Michael reached the basket.
The ball left his hands.
For a split second, everything seemed to freeze.
Then-
The ball dropped cleanly through the net.
The court exploded.
Students shouted.
Michael's teammates celebrated immediately.
"LET'S GO!"
"TIED!"
Sam threw a fist into the air.
"THANK YOU."
Cameron laughed in relief.
Liliana smiled.
And beside them-
Emily smiled too.
A small one.
But real.
The first genuine smile she'd had all day.
Michael saw it.
For a second, the noise around him disappeared.
None of it mattered.
Just that tiny smile.
And somehow it felt worth more than the point.
Unfortunately...
He wasn't the only one who noticed.
Across the court, Fiona's eyes narrowed.
Slowly.
Like a puzzle piece had finally fallen into place.
Beside her, Terra already knew that look.
And for the first time all afternoon, she genuinely felt bad for Emily.