clumsy, small steps and where it would take us

14

10 seconds.

Everyone was on their feet. Isaac was under the ring; Anton was maneuvering. He was waiting to have his teammates in their places. Dribbling the ball between his legs, he saw Thirdy running. He took an instep before stepping back, confusing the opponent before passing the ball from his far right. Thirdy was there. He stepped on the three-point line before his fingertips pushed the ball off his hand. Everyone was roaring. Suddenly, all of his teammates swamped around him.

He won.

He looked at his two best friends. They were crying, pulling him into a tight hug.

They won.

Tears and sweat were all over their faces. The three boys looked around, hoping to find their other two friends. They smiled. They were approaching them, running with tears in their eyes. It was all well. Everyone was celebrating. Their cheers were louder than ever. They were waiting for the two to celebrate their win with them.

They saw Bea trip on her way to the court. Maddie, who was following her intently, managed to hold her up. The boys saw Maddie asking Bea if she was okay. The latter nodded, holding on to Maddie, and tried to pull herself up, but Bea fell again. She was staring at Maddie. Then Maddie turned to them; horror was written on her face. The three boys almost bolted, confused with what was happening, until pairs of hands pulled them back. It was their team. They had to line up to receive their award. People —photographers, news reporters, school tabloids— were around them. They couldn't see their friends. The three boys pulled their hands back and walked away, hoping Bea was all right.

But Maddie and Bea were no longer on the spot where they saw them last.

Calm down, Thirdy said to himself. He turned to his two friends, and he knew, with those eyes, they were thinking the same thing.

Calm down. Everything would be all right.

Medals were hung on their neck; people were asking them for pictures. They tried to pull off their best smiles.

(But they couldn't get rid of the image in their head. The way Maddie looked at them. She was scared. She was asking for help. The three of them knew that there was something wrong. And they intend to find it out.)