The final P.E. bell rang loud and sharp across the field.
Seventh grade had combined P.E. that week — 7A, 7B, and 7C all mixed together. The field was louder than usual. More crowded. More eyes.
Grace wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, slightly out of breath. Zoey and Ella were beside her, still arguing about who ran faster.
Across the field, the boys were gathering near the basketball court.
Dylan spun a ball on his finger dramatically.
Ethan tried to snatch it and failed.
David laughed at both of them.
Nate, Adrian, Julian, and Theo were already near the court too, stretching and talking.
It was basketball practice day.
Dylan jogged over first.
"Hey," he said, slightly breathless. "We've got practice. You guys wanna watch?"
Ethan followed behind him. "Yeah, we'll probably destroy everyone today."
David rolled his eyes. "Ignore him. But yeah… come?"
Grace didn't even hesitate. "Sure."
Zoey and Ella exchanged a look.
"We'll come," Ella said, "but you guys have to wait five minutes."
Zoey nodded. "We need to get changed. We had combined P.E. with 7A and 7B, remember?"
Dylan groaned dramatically. "Five whole minutes?"
Ethan clutched his chest. "That's tragic."
Grace laughed softly. "You'll survive."
David shrugged. "We'll wait near the court."
"Five minutes," Zoey repeated, pointing at them.
Dylan gave a mock salute.
They walked back toward the basketball court.
Grace felt it before she saw it.
Eyes.
Near the court, 7A and 7B students were still lingering.
Lucy stood beside Audrey and Claire.
Peyton and Denise were sitting on the low wall nearby.
Nate leaned against the fence.
Adrian and Julian were mid-conversation.
Theo was holding a basketball.
And then Dylan said something loud enough for everyone to hear:
"Grace! Don't take ten minutes!"
A few heads turned automatically.
Grace looked up.
And that's when it happened.
Lucy noticed her first.
Her gaze paused. Just slightly longer than normal.
Audrey followed her line of sight.
Claire whispered something.
Peyton nudged Denise subtly.
Adrian stopped mid-sentence.
Julian's eyes flicked toward Grace.
Nate straightened from the fence.
Theo looked up last.
And when he did…
He froze.
Grace was standing between Ella and Zoey, sunlight catching in her hair, laughing at something Zoey had just said.
She wasn't looking at him.
She was looking at Dylan.
Or maybe Ethan.
He couldn't tell.
But she looked… comfortable.
Like she belonged there.
Julian noticed Theo go quiet.
"Practice," Julian muttered gently.
Theo bounced the ball once. Harder than necessary.
Lucy's expression shifted.
Not angry.
Not yet.
But aware.
She leaned closer to Audrey. "They're coming to watch?"
Audrey shrugged. "Looks like it."
Claire smirked faintly. "Interesting."
Five minutes later, Grace, Ella, and Zoey walked toward the court in fresh uniforms.
The boys were already warming up.
Dylan waved dramatically when he saw them.
Ethan pointed at a bench. "VIP seats."
David laughed. "Ignore them. Sit wherever."
Grace smiled and sat on the low bleachers with Zoey and Ella.
And that's when the real shift happened.
Theo noticed she didn't even glance toward his side.
She was watching Dylan attempt a dramatic layup and fail miserably.
She laughed.
Not politely.
Genuinely.
Adrian leaned toward Nate. "They seem close."
Nate shrugged. "They're in the same class."
Lucy's jaw tightened just slightly.
Julian noticed everything.
He noticed Grace wasn't trying to catch Theo's eye.
He noticed Theo kept glancing at her between drills.
He noticed Lucy watching both of them.
During a short water break, Dylan jogged over.
"Did you see that shot?" he asked Grace.
"You missed," she said.
"By choice."
Ethan called from behind him, "Liar!"
Grace laughed again.
Theo gripped the basketball harder.
For the first time in a long time…
He felt replaceable.
And Lucy saw that too.
She looked at Grace.
Not with anger.
Not yet.
But with calculation.
And for the first time, the distance didn't feel quiet.
It felt like something building.