The sun hung high in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the basketball court where Liam and the rest of the volleyball team were having a joint practice session. It was a bright afternoon, the kind of day where the air was thick with energy, the sound of bouncing basketballs and the squeak of sneakers on the court filling the space. The players were all drenched in sweat, their muscles straining as they went through the rigorous drills.
Liam stood tall among them, his focus sharp at first. His team looked up to him. He was the star of the court, always the fastest, the strongest, the most skilled. But today was different. The moment the whistle blew and the training started, it felt as though Liam was on autopilot, his body moving without his mind completely engaged.
"Let's go! Focus, Liam!" the coach barked as Liam passed the ball to Tommy, but it was too weak and off-target, barely reaching his teammate's hands. Tommy had to stretch for it awkwardly, almost losing his balance.
Liam muttered a quick apology, his brow furrowing as he reset himself, trying to shake off the fog that had settled over him. But it didn't get any better. The next drill was a quick 3-on-3 game, and Liam was supposed to be the pivot, controlling the flow of the play. He was the one everyone expected to make the perfect pass or take the perfect shot, but when it was his turn, he hesitated. The ball slipped from his hands after a simple crossover dribble, skidding away towards the sideline.
The coach's eyes narrowed, and there was an edge of frustration in his voice as he yelled, "Liam! What's going on with you today? You're better than this."
Liam, sweating and trying to shake off the bad vibe in his chest, said nothing. He just nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He wasn't thinking about the game anymore. He wasn't thinking about the team or the opponent waiting for them in the interschool competition—his former school, Willows Hill High. His mind kept drifting back to Oliver.To the kiss in the restroom that he couldn't stop thinking about. The words that had been left unsaid. The way he now avoided Oliver, the guilt he still carried, the confusion that never seemed to go away.
Another whistle blew, and they were back in formation for a full-court drill. Liam had the ball, and he started dribbling down the court. But instead of finding Tommy for a quick assist, his eyes locked onto the rim, and for a moment, it felt as if the whole court had blurred out, the noise of the game fading to the back of his mind. All he saw was Oliver's face, his eyes, his lips.
He drove forward, trying to snap himself out of it, but in his distraction, he completely miscalculated. Instead of a clean shot, he fumbled the ball, and it bounced off the side of the backboard, clanging loudly before falling into the hands of the opposing team. A loud groan from his teammates echoed across the court.
"Come on, Liam!" the coach shouted again, his voice sharp. "Focus! You're blowing this!"
Liam didn't respond immediately. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and stood still for a moment, staring at the floor. His chest tightened. He couldn't focus. His mind was too scattered.
Another drill began. A defensive posture drill this time. Liam was assigned to guard Tommy, but once again, he was slow on his feet. He missed his defensive stance by a mile, and Tommy easily drove past him, making an effortless layup. The team groaned in frustration, and Liam knew he was the one they were all staring at. He could feel the weight of their disappointment pressing down on him.
"Come on, Liam," the coach said, the edge in his voice cutting through the air like a knife. "Snap out of it. This isn't you. What's going on?"
Liam felt his patience wearing thin, his mind a chaotic mess. He wasn't sure what was happening, but everything just felt… off. The last thing he wanted to do was let his team down, but he wasn't in the right headspace. And it was so obvious to everyone else. He could feel their eyes boring into his back, could feel the unspoken thoughts running through their heads: What's wrong with him? Why isn't he playing like he usually does?
The air seemed to close in on him, the sounds of the court growing muffled as if he were underwater. His heartbeat pounded in his ears.
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He pushed the ball away and turned to the coach. "Coach, I need a break," he said, his voice quieter than usual, his gaze downcast. "I'm not feeling it today."
The coach looked surprised but didn't press the issue. "Alright, take five," he said, sounding a little defeated.
Liam walked off the court, heading to the sidelines, his eyes down. He needed space. He needed to clear his head, away from the court, away from everything.
Tommy, who had been watching from the sidelines, quickly followed Liam, his face filled with concern. "Liam, what's wrong with you today?" Tommy asked, catching up to him just as he reached the bench. "You've been off the whole session. You're always on top of your game. Did something happen?"
Liam didn't answer right away. He sat down on the bench and ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath. "I don't know, Tommy," he muttered, still staring at the court. "I can't focus. I'm just… I don't know."
Tommy, still standing next to him, frowned. "This isn't like you. It's not just about the game, right?" he asked, his voice softer now.
Liam exhaled heavily. "I don't know what's wrong with me," he lied. "I just… I can't get my head straight."
The other players on the court looked over at them, exchanging confused glances. They had all been wondering why Liam was off today, but now it seemed clear: something was bothering him. Some of them started whispering amongst themselves. They were preparing for a big competition, one that was supposed to be a redemption for Liam. Willows Hill High was their rival, and they knew that Liam's history with that school had only made the competition more intense. But now they were worried. Was Liam losing interest?
"Hey, man," Tommy said, sitting beside Liam on the bench. "You don't have to go through this alone, you know? If something's on your mind, you can talk to me."
Liam didn't say anything for a moment, his gaze still on the court. He could feel Tommy's concern, and for a brief second, it almost made him want to open up. But he couldn't. Not yet. Not about what was really eating him inside.
"I know," Liam finally said, his voice distant. "Thanks, Tommy."
Tommy looked at him for a moment longer before he nodded and got back up to join the others. As Liam watched him walk back onto the court, he felt the weight of everything crash down on him. He wasn't just struggling with the game. He was struggling with everything.
He couldn't stop thinking about Oliver. About the kiss, about the way Oliver had looked at him that night, about the mess he had created by making that single mistake. Liam hated himself for it. And now, it was affecting everything. His game, his focus.
The practice session continued, but Liam felt further and further removed from it all.
Oliver and Julian stood at the edge of the basketball court, watching the intense training session unfold. The sound of sneakers squeaking on the court, the basketball bouncing, and the occasional shout of the coach echoed in the air. But amidst all that noise, Oliver's attention was solely on Liam.
Liam, usually so focused and sharp on the court, was anything but today. His movements were sluggish, his shots off, and his passes seemed careless. He kept missing easy shots, his usual smooth jumps falling short. Oliver could tell something was wrong with him, but he wasn't sure what.
Liam was the best player on the team, easily. He had always been the kind of person who thrived under pressure, who made those flawless shots when it counted. But today, he looked... distracted. And it worried Oliver.
As Liam jogged across the court, narrowly avoiding a ball that could've been an easy catch, Oliver felt a pang in his chest. This wasn't like Liam at all.
Julian, noticing Oliver's frown, glanced over at him. "He's been like this all week," he said quietly, his voice laced with concern. "Have you noticed?"
Oliver didn't respond immediately. He just kept watching, his brow furrowed. "Yeah," he muttered, barely able to keep the worry out of his voice. "It's not like him. And the competition is coming up. What if he's not ready?"
Just then, Liam stopped mid-dribble, a frustrated look crossing his face. He wiped a hand across his forehead, and after talking with the coach for a moment, jogged off the court to sit on a bench at the edge of the field.
Oliver's heart sank.
Tommy, who had been watching from the sidelines, walked over to Liam.
The two exchanged a few words, Tommy's usual confident tone now subdued, almost concerned. They talked for a while, but Oliver couldn't hear what was being said. He didn't even try to. He just kept watching as Tommy eventually returned to the group, and Liam remained sitting, staring ahead as if lost in thought.
It was then that Liam, as though sensing he was being watched, turned his head slightly. His gaze immediately locked onto Oliver's.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them. Liam didn't look away this time. He held Oliver's gaze, eyes intense but unreadable, as if trying to communicate something without words.
Oliver's pulse quickened. The air around them seemed charged, thick with unspoken thoughts. He felt his heart race, but still, he couldn't tear his eyes away.
Julian, still beside him, nudged him gently with his elbow. "You okay?" he asked quietly, as if sensing the tension in the air.
Oliver blinked, his gaze still fixed on Liam. "Yeah," he answered quickly, trying to cover up how rattled he felt. "I just—he's not acting like himself."
Liam didn't look away for another moment before standing up, his movements slow and deliberate as he walked away toward the locker room, not sparing another glance at Oliver.
Oliver's stomach twisted. He wanted to go after him. He wanted to know what was wrong. But the moment passed too quickly.
"Did you see that?" Julian muttered, glancing over at Oliver with a raised eyebrow. "What's going on with you two?"
Oliver didn't respond. He just watched as Liam's figure disappeared into the locker room, his heart heavy with thoughts he couldn't quite put into words...