I don't usually wake up that early.
But that day, I did.
No alarm. No reason. Just one of those mornings where your eyes open and the world feels a little quieter than usual.
The sky was still soft, the kind of pale blue that hadn't decided to become day yet. The air carried that light chill that disappears the moment the sun takes over.
I stepped out without thinking much.
And of course—
Nash was already there.
Near the garden.
Racket in hand.
"Since when do you wake up early?" I asked.
"Since always," he replied. "You just don't."
"I'm here now."
"You're still late."
I picked up the extra racket. "Play?"
"You'll lose."
"You say that every time."
"And I'm right most of the time."
We started.
No warm-up.
No talking.
Just the sound of the shuttle, sharp in the quiet morning air.
Back and forth.
Fast.
"You're off," Nash said.
"You're lucky," I replied.
"That's skill."
"That's luck."
We kept going.
The kind of game where you don't think, you just move.
The world felt small. Just the court, the net, and the rhythm between us.
Then Nash missed.
Badly.
"Wow," I said. "What was that?"
"Distraction," he replied.
"There's nothing here to distract you."
He didn't answer.
He just looked past me.
I turned.
Grace.
And Siena.
They were jogging along the path, slowing down as they noticed us.
Grace adjusted her pace first, then stopped.
Siena followed.
"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.
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 said anything about teams.
Then Nash looked 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. "You're scared."
"I'm smart," Nash corrected.
Siena nodded lightly. "It's fine."
So that was it.
Me and Grace.
Nash and Siena.
For a second, I didn't say anything.
I didn't even know why.
It wasn't like it mattered.
It was just a game.
Still…
Nash glanced at me.
Just for a moment.
Then smiled slightly.
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.
Returned the shot clean.
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 holding back.
We ran.
Turned.
Missed once.
Got it the next time.
At one point, Grace went for a shot she couldn't reach.
I stepped in.
Hit it back.
She looked at me for a second.
"Thanks."
"Anytime," I said.
"Stop helping each other," Nash said.
"That's literally the point," I replied.
We kept going.
No one wanted to lose.
Not even a little.
The last rally stretched longer than expected.
Back and forth.
Faster.
Closer.
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 both raised our hands.
High five.
Simple.
But it stayed a little longer than it should have.
We stepped back, catching our breath.
The morning had shifted now.
No longer quiet.
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 just smiled.
As we ate, the conversation shifted.
"Which school do you go to?" I asked.
Grace and Siena exchanged a 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," she said.
Quiet.
Almost like she didn't mean 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 felt different now.
Busier.
Louder.
"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.