I don’t just dribble—I dance. Fast feet, spinning through defenders like they’re cones in a drill. The first three-pointer? Nothing but net. The crowd roars. I don’t hear them.
Second shot—reverse layup, one-handed, no look. It lands.
Third time down the court, I dunk so hard the backboard shudders and the entire gym sucks in a collective breath.
I glance up at the stands just long enough to see Jade rise to her feet, lips parted. Kannon puts a hand on her shoulder, says something. She shrugs it off.
I smirk. I want her mad. I want her rattled.
Every drive, every pivot, every block—it’s not for the jersey or the school colors or the highlight reel.
It’sfor her.
She left. She turned her back. But she doesn’t get to forget me. Not when I’m still carved into her skin.
By halftime, we’re up by twenty.
Coach is shouting, the bench is hyped, Tristan’s doing that thing where he chest bumps me so hard we almost fall over.
“Yo, Leo—” Xavier’s grinning, breathless. “You playing for the scouts or the queen tonight?”
I wipe sweat from my brow, staring up at her again. She’s sitting now, chin in her hand, jaw tight.
“All hail,” I mutter under my breath. “Let’s see if her highness can ignorethat.”
Because I’m not just trying to win the game.
I’m trying toruin her silence.
And so far?
I’m The gym was electric. Smoke still hung in the rafters from the pre-game pyros. We’d just sealed the win with a double-digit lead, and the whole place was thundering with cheers. Cameras flashing. Students chanting. My name echoing like it belonged in Madison Square Garden.
I should’ve been thinking about the scouts.
About the game.
About the future.
But all I could think about was her.
Jade.
Sitting high in those stands in that dark green jacket that hugged her waist, her long legs crossed like she didn’t even know how damn bad she was. Her new hair spike out around her face, glossy and wild. She looked like a girl no one could touch—but every part of me wanted to try.
I tugged my jersey straight and stepped up to the center court interview like I owned the floor.
The Jumbotron flickered to life. Giant. Glowing. Everyone watching.
The school reporter held the mic with wide eyes and adrenaline still in her voice. “Leo Holt. You’re back. First game of the season, co-captain, and you dropped twenty-six pointslike it was nothing. We’veneverseen you play like this. What changed? What lit that fire tonight?”
I didn’t hesitate.
Didn’t blink.
Didn’t care who was watching.
I looked straight up, found her eyes in the crowd, and let my voice carry through the speakers.
