Cool sweat beads on my forehead and temples as a slow exhale escapes my lips.
Come on, Kiara. You got this.
I toss the ball above my head, small bits of fuzz tinkling onto my hair before I slam it onto the other end of the court's box. My opponent reacts just as fast, returning a sharp forehand. The ball spins dramatically mid-air, threatening to veer off-course. I sprint toward it, my sneakers squeaking loudly against the court as my lungs scream for air.
Every muscle in my body protests, but I push through, determined not to let this slip away.
The ball is coming at me faster than expected. My grip tightens on the racket as I weigh my options. Power or finesse? A full-force hit could send it flying, but a light tap could completely throw her off.
I decide on the latter.
Time seems to slow as I angle my racket and lift it gently. The ball clears the net by a whisper, landing just inside the line. My opponent scrambles forward, her feet pounding the ground, but she misses by mere centimeters.
Cheers erupt from the small crowd gathered around the court. My parents' voices cut through the noise, Mom's distinct laugh pairing with Dad's booming cheer. I hear Cadence somewhere in the mix, shouting my name in that high-pitched way only a little sister can manage.
"That's game!" the referee announces, and a rush of adrenaline floods through me. "Kiara West for the win!"
I can't stop the grin spreading across my face as I straighten up, my calves tightening. Winning— I love it; The way it feels like all your hard work, your late nights, and your early mornings are finally worth it.
Sports are huge in my family. Dad used to win medals for his track records in high-school and college, and Mom was a head cheerleader for her cheer committee. Dad doesn't think cheer is a sport, but I don't interfere when they argue about that. It's the only thing they argue about, and even then, it's fairly amusing.
Not that I'd ever join Dad's side, anyway.
I walk toward my opponent, extending a hand with a friendly smile. "Good—"
Before I can finish, she brushes past me, her ponytail whipping the air as she storms off. I'm not sure if I was hallucinating or not, but I swear I caught a glimpse of her middle finger pointed at me.
My hand lingers in the air for a second, awkward and useless, before I lower it.
"...game," I mumble as she disappears into the crowd.
So much for friendly competition.
I grab my water bottle from the bench and gulp down the cold liquid, letting it cool my throat as I try to shake off the way I was just dismissed from my opponent. Losing sucks, but you shouldn't get sour over it.
The sun beats down on me relentlessly, so I quickly huddle into the shade, glancing around at the spectators as they begin to disperse. I'm about to fall asleep from tiredness before a voice I know all too well snaps me awake.
"Ari!"
I turn just in time to see Cadence barreling toward me, her arms outstretched. Her hair is a mess of curls bouncing wildly with each step.
"Hey, Cadence!" I say, kneeling down as she launches herself at me. Her arms wrap around my neck, and I can't help but smile as her familiar cinnamon-marshmallow scent washes over me.
