You're right. I've been lazy. Unknown texts are a crutch. No more.
THE BASKETBALL COURT – MORNING
The list was posted at 8:00 AM.
Oliver stood in front of the bulletin board, surrounded by taller, louder, more muscular guys. They pushed. They shoved. They shouted.
He didn't move.
His eyes scanned the names. Alphabetical. By position. By jersey number.
His name wasn't there.
He read it again. Slower. Then again.
Nothing.
"Better luck next year," someone said. Laughing.
Oliver walked away.
His legs felt like lead. His chest was hollow. He'd done everything right. Stayed clean. Showed up early. Stayed late. Wanted it more than anyone.
It wasn't enough.
He sat on the bleachers, alone. The court was empty now. The tryouts were over. The team had been chosen.
"Oliver."
Peculiar stood at the bottom of the bleachers. She'd been watching.
He didn't look at her. "I didn't make it."
"I know."
"I did everything."
"I know."
"Their forwards were selfish. They never passed. They played for themselves." His voice cracked. "I played for the team."
She climbed the bleachers. Sat beside him.
"That's why you deserved it," she said. "And that's why they didn't give it to you."
He looked at her. "What does that mean?"
"It means the world doesn't reward people who play fair. It rewards people who win. However they can."
Oliver stared at the court. The hoops. The lines. The cracks in the concrete.
"I'm tired," he said.
"Then rest."
"I don't know how."
She took his hand. "Then learn."
They sat in silence.
The sun rose higher.
THE FOOTBALL PITCH – AFTERNOON
Aaron ran drills with the team.
They'd qualified. The national competition was three weeks away. Coach Okafor was pushing them harder than ever. Sprints. Tactics. Set pieces. The same drills until his legs forgot how to hurt.
Femi passed him the ball. Aaron controlled it. Dribbled past a defender. Passed to Kehinde. Kehinde shot. Scored.
"Good," Coach shouted. "Again."
They ran it again.
And again.
And again.
After practice, Aaron sat on the grass, pulling off his cleats. Kosi sat beside him.
"You're playing better," Kosi said.
"I have to."
"Why?"
Aaron looked at the pitch. "Because if I don't, I'll fall apart."
"That's dramatic."
"It's true."
Kosi nodded. "What's really going on?"
Aaron was quiet for a long time. Then: "Someone's been texting me. Someone who knows things. About Mandy. About Vicky. About the party."
"Who?"
"I don't know. The number is always different. Burners."
Kosi's face was still. "Have you told anyone?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't know who to trust."
Kosi looked at him. "You can trust me."
Aaron wanted to believe him.
He wasn't sure he could.
THE LECTURE HALL – LATE AFTERNOON
Dr. Adeola stayed after class.
Nelly was still at her desk, packing her bag slowly, pretending not to notice.
"You're Nelly," Dr. Adeola said.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Your sister is Kelly."
"Yes, ma'am."
Dr. Adeola sat on the edge of the desk. "Can I give you some advice?"
Nelly looked up. "Okay."
"Be careful who you trust. The people closest to you are the ones who can hurt you the most."
"Are you talking about someone specific?"
Dr. Adeola smiled. It didn't reach her eyes. "I'm talking about everyone."
She stood up. Walked to the door. Paused.
"And Nelly?"
"Yes?"
"Oliver is lucky to have you. Even if he doesn't know it."
She left.
Nelly sat alone, her heart pounding.
THE CLINIC – 5:00 PM
Chuks was in rare form.
A patient had come in with a rash on his arm. A simple rash. Probably an allergic reaction. But the guy was convinced it was something serious.
"I saw it on WebMD," the guy said. "It could be lupus."
Chuks leaned back in his chair. "It's not lupus."
"How do you know?"
"Because it's never lupus."
The guy stared at him. "What?"
"It's a meme, my friend. From an old TV show. The point is, you have a rash. Take this cream. Come back in a week."
The guy took the prescription. Walked out. Still confused.
Chuks looked at Aaron, who was wiping down the exam table. "You see that? That's the problem with people. They want to be sick. They want to have something dramatic."
"Or they're just scared."
"Same thing. Fear is dramatic."
Aaron threw away the paper towel. "You're in a good mood."
"I'm always in a good mood. It's exhausting, but someone has to do it."
Aaron almost smiled.
Chuks studied him. "You look like shit."
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"I'm always lying."
Chuks nodded. "At least you're honest about it."
He stood up. Clapped Aaron on the shoulder.
"Listen. I don't know what's eating you. But I know this: you're too young to carry that much weight. Leave some for later. Trust me. Life gets heavier."
He walked out.
Aaron stood alone in the empty clinic.
THE GIRLS' DORM – EVENING
Zuru was telling a story. Loud. Dramatic. Probably false.
"So he takes me to this restaurant. Fancy. Candles. Music. The whole thing."
"What did you wear?" Zizi asked.
"Red. Obviously."
"Obviously."
"And then he drops the check. And his card declines."
Zizi raised an eyebrow. "No."
"Yes."
Vicky laughed. "You're lying."
"I'm not lying."
"You're always lying."
Zuru put a hand on her chest. "I am wounded."
"You're also full of shit."
Kelly walked in. Uninvited. Unannounced.
"Kelly," Zuru said. "What are you doing here?"
"Dr. Adeola told Nelly to be careful who she trusts. I'm being careful."
"That's not an answer."
Kelly sat on the floor. Crossed her legs. "I need to tell you something."
The room went quiet.
"About what?" Vicky asked.
"About The Watchmen. They have a new list. Longer this time. And there's a name on it that shouldn't be there."
"Whose?"
Kelly looked at Vicky. "Yours."
THE PARKING LOT – NIGHT
Oliver sat on the hood of his car. No Peculiar this time. Just him and the stars.
Nelly found him there.
"You didn't make the team," she said.
"No."
"I heard."
"That's the problem. Everyone heard."
She sat beside him. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I didn't want it enough."
"You wanted it more than anyone."
"Wanting isn't enough."
They sat in silence.
Nelly reached for his hand. He let her take it.
"You've been distant," she said.
"I've been busy."
"With Peculiar?"
He didn't answer.
She let go of his hand.
"I'm not going to fight her," Nelly said. "I'm not going to beg. I'm not going to wait."
"I didn't ask you to."
"But you didn't ask me to stay, either."
He looked at her. Her eyes were wet.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"For what?"
"For not being what you need."
She stood up. Wiped her face.
"Goodbye, Oliver."
She walked away.
He watched her go.
He didn't follow.
THE ABANDONED STUDIO – 10:00 PM
Rose stood alone in the dark.
Kelly had texted her the new list. Eight names now. Vicky's name was on it. Someone had reported her. Something about her relationship with Aaron. Something about her "unstable behavior."
Rose stared at the wall. The list. The garden.
She picked up her phone.
Rose (10:05 PM): We need to meet. Tomorrow. All of us.
Kelly (10:05 PM): Where?
Rose (10:06 PM): The apartment. 7:00.
Kelly (10:06 PM): What's this about?
Rose (10:07 PM): Survival.
She put down the phone.
The garden was shrinking.
She would make it grow again.
THE DORM – 11:00 PM
Charlie was on the phone with Josephine.
"Yeah," he said. "No, I get it. I'm not trying to... I'm not trying to be anything. I'm just... I'm just here."
He listened. Nodded. Laughed at something she said.
Wesley was reading. Aaron was staring at the wall. Oliver's bed was empty.
Charlie hung up. "She's coming over."
"Now?" Wesley asked.
"She's bored. I'm bored. It's science."
"That's not science."
"It's chemistry. Same thing."
Wesley closed his book. "You realize she's using you."
"Everyone uses everyone. At least she's honest about it."
"That's not how relationships work."
"Who said anything about a relationship?"
Aaron stood up. "I'm going for a walk."
"It's dark," Charlie said.
"Good."
He walked out.
---
THE FIELD – 11:30 PM
Aaron stood at the center circle. Alone.
The floodlights were off. The stands were empty. The grass was wet with dew.
He pulled out his phone. Scrolled to Vicky's name. Stared at it.
He didn't text her.
He scrolled to Mandy's name. Stared at it.
He didn't text her either.
He put the phone away.
The wind picked up.
Someone was walking toward him.
He couldn't see their face.
"Hello, Aaron."
He knew the voice.
Ese stepped into the light.
"I've been wanting to talk to you," she said.
"About what?"
She smiled. "About everything."