The campus slowly fills with movement-people walking to the class with coffee in hand, checking their phones and chatting with friends along the hallway. Henry finds Ava standing near a class looking at her phone, when she notices him approaching, she looks up, surprised.
"Hey," he says quietly, stopping a few steps away.
"I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have just left like that."
She crosses her arms, smiling "Yeah, you just kinda walked out on me after that call," she replies. "A-and I was worried, something might have happened to you."
He shakes his head immediately. "No. it wasn't a problem," he exhales, rubbing his head. "w-well there was a problem, to be precise it was false alarm rather than a problem."
There's a pause. The chattering thumps through the hallway.
"So why are you here now?" she asks, softer than before.
"Because I wanted you to know I'm sorry," he says, meeting her eyes. "and I wanted you to know that I had great fun yesterday."
Her expression changes. She smiles in agreement. "I had fun too, but next time," she says, "just don't walk out on me."
He gives a small, relieved smile. "Deal."
They stand there for a moment longer; her friend appears from behind, waving with friendly energy. "There you are," her friends say brightly. "I've been looking for you-we're late for our class."
The moment breaks. She turns, slightly startled, then laughs apologetically. "oh-sorry." She says to him, glancing back with slight of reluctance.
"Oh-hi Henry," her friend says. "sorry we have to go."
He smiles politely, stepping back to give the them. "Yeah, no worries. I'll see you around."
As they walk off together, she looks back once, offering a small, regretful smile. Seeing her smile, there's brief pull in his chest-a sense of loss and longing as if something meaningful just slipped out of his reach. He watches her for a little longer than he intended, noticing the way she moves, the sound of her footstep fading.
The gym is split by sound and motion. On one side, the player dribbles a basketball across the court, the steady bounce echoing as they practice shots at the hoop. Henry's focus is sharp but it keeps slipping.
On other side, Ava practices cheerleading with her squad. Their music plays softly from the speaker, counting beats as they rehearse jumps, turns and clean arm motions.
Between drills, he steals glances her way, pretending to adjust his grip, wipes his hands on his jersey. She catches him looking once and smiles-quick and effortless.
For a moment, their practices run in quite parallel: the rhythm of the ball, the clap of hands, the shared space of effort and passion. It's neither conversation nor confession, just two people chasing their dreams in the same gym.
The echo of bouncing balls and music as faded, leaving only the bustling sound in the gym. They've finished their practices while across the gym Ava gather her bag after cheerleading practices, hair slightly messy but still glowing with energy.
Hesitant from a moment, wiping sweat from his hands, then walks over before he loses sight of her.
"hey," he says, with a little breath.
She looks back and smile. "hey, good practice?"
"Yeah, it was." He nods toward the court, then gestures lightly toward her. 'You guys looked great out there."
"Thanks," she replies, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "you were great too."
He laughs nervously, scratching the back of his head. There's short pause, the kind where everything important sits just beneath the surface.
"so," he begins, voice steadier than he expected, "I was wondering…. Umm, if-I mean if you want, we could go out for a dinner."
She blinks, surprised, then smiles wider. "like…a date?"
"No no," he says hesitantly. "More of like making up to for walking out on you."
"Just us?" she asks curiously.
"Yeah," he says simply. "I guess it will be just us."
"Hahah," she laughs. "it sounds more a date to me."
"I mean you can count as one, if you like." He replies politely.
For a second, she thinks, then nods, "I'd like that."
"Can I get your contact," he asks nervously. He searches for his phone and realizes his phone is not with him. "I don't have my phone with me right now," he smiles awkwardly.
"It's okay," she eases his awkwardness with soft giggles. "Give me your number."
"Oh-right," He gives her his number and says "text me the time and place."
"I'll decide and let you know." She says while saving his number.
"okay. Thanks," he says politely. "See you later."
"Bye," she waves with smile.
Relief spreads across his face, and he smiles back, genuine and a little amazed. He stares at Ava, walking out the gym.
He walks back across the court, still replaying the conversation in his head, a faint smile he can't quite hide. His teammate awaits, curious of their conversation, looks at him with much anticipation. They stop upon noticing him approaching.
"well?" Asher ask with puppy eyes, already sensing something.
He shrugs, trying to play it cool but the smile gives him away. "we talked," he says simply.
Asher smirks. "talked about?"
He laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I thanked her for having me at her party yesterday."
"I saw two of you heading somewhere during the party," Noah sarcastically teases him.
"we were just lying on outside," Henry tried clarifying.
"Uh-huh," the teammates reply, clearly unconvinced.
The teammate stands up, giving him a light shove on the shoulder. "Spill it, boy." Pressured Asher.
"Okay-Okay," reluctant to answer, he says "I was telling the truth about yesterday."
"That's not the answer," Maverick smirks. "what about just now."
"I asked her for a dinner." Henry says bashful.
"AND?" the teammate asks curiously.
"Well," he pauses for a moment, smirks. "We are going out for dinner, tonight."
"Ohhh…" the teammate shouts unanimously, unconvinced.
"Not bad," The captain comments. "first you get invited to her and she accepts to go out."
"We are just going out for dinner," Henry curiously ask. "What's big deal about it?"
"She's captain of cheerleader and she was prom queen," William says in serious tone. "There's a line of boy wanting to go out with her. Ain't that the big deal?"
Seeing Henry in disbelief, "That's all for today," said the captain (Lucas) "let's disperse for now."