Hearts on the Court

Chapter 13: Spark In The Court

We both sat down on a bench in the gym, the cool air from the empty court swirling around us. William, who had been so serious and tense earlier, was finally smiling, and seeing him like that made me feel a bit more at ease. 

I didn't realize how much his mood had been affecting me until he laughed for the first time in hours. I shifted on the bench, stretching out my legs when, out of nowhere, his face became serious again.

"Hey, what were you talking to Alex about earlier?" he asked, his tone casual but his expression far from it. His question caught me off guard, and I found myself rubbing the back of my neck nervously.

"Oh, that? Uh, nothing much," I replied quickly, trying to ease the tension. "I was just telling him I was going to stay and train for a bit longer. That's all."

William's eyes lingered on me for a moment before he nodded slowly. "Oh, okay," he said, but something still felt off. His feet shuffled against the ground, and he hesitated before speaking again. "I was just wondering if you and Alex were close."

His words hung in the air, heavier than I expected. I blinked, taken aback by his sudden question. "Uh, not really," I answered. "I mean, we talk here and there, but we're not that close. Why?"

There was a moment of awkward silence between us, and I could feel a slight tension build. William's lips pressed into a thin line, and he avoided my gaze, staring at the floor as if it held the answers to the universe. His mood seemed to shift again, and this time it felt almost like... jealousy? But why?

"Hey," I ventured cautiously, "are you mad at me? Did I do something wrong?"

He looked up, surprised by my question, and his brows furrowed as if he hadn't realized he was acting any different. "No, you're fine," he assured me. "Why would you think that?"

I exhaled, feeling a bit more relaxed but still curious. "Well, you seemed kind of upset, so I thought maybe you were angry at me."

William sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he leaned back against the bench. "It's not that," he admitted. "I don't know why, but I've been feeling off lately. It's not you. I'm just... distracted, I guess."

I tilted my head, studying him. He looked tired, as if something had been weighing on him for a while. "Well, if you ever need to talk, you know I'm here, right?" I said softly, offering him a small smile.

He glanced over at me, his expression softening. "Thanks, that's really nice of you."

I smiled back, feeling a warmth in my chest. "I'm just happy to see you smile."

His lips curled into a faint smile, and the tension between us seemed to dissolve. He stood up, dusting off his shorts, and extended a hand to me. "Come on," he said, his voice lighter. "Let's get back to training. We've got to make sure we're ready for the tournament."

I took his hand and stood up, our fingers lingering for just a moment longer than necessary before we both stepped back onto the court. We trained together, running drills and playing one-on-one, the hours passing by until the gym was bathed in the soft, orange glow of the setting sun. By the time we finished, we were both sweaty and exhausted, but the strange tension from earlier had completely disappeared.

As we parted ways that night, I couldn't help but smile. I waved goodbye to William, watching as he walked toward his dorm before turning and heading back to mine. My heart felt light, and for some reason, I couldn't stop thinking about that little moment when our hands touched. It was nothing, really. Just a brief touch. But it lingered in my mind like a sweet memory.

The next morning, I woke up with more energy than I had felt in weeks. I jumped out of bed, practically bouncing through my morning routine, and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Maybe it was because of how well our training had gone, or maybe it was something else—something about William and the way he had opened up to me just a little bit more.

The week flew by in a blur of classes and training sessions, and before I knew it, Friday had arrived. After our final practice of the day, Coach gathered us all on the bench to go over the tournament details. We already knew most of what he was saying, but hearing him remind us of how important the upcoming games were sent a jolt of excitement through the team.

"I hope you all give it your best out there," Coach said, his voice steady but firm. "We've been working hard, and I know you're ready. Just have fun and remember, you're a team. Play like it."

Tom stepped forward, grinning. "We've got this, guys. 

Rely on each other, and don't hesitate to ask if you need anything." He raised his hand, and we all gathered around, placing our hands on top of his. "One, two, three—let's go!" we shouted in unison, laughing as we broke apart.

As everyone headed home, I felt a sense of camaraderie wash over me. I knew we were ready. But still, there was a part of me that couldn't stop thinking about William.

The next morning, I met William for a study session at a little café near campus. I had asked him to help me with some coursework, hoping that focusing on schoolwork might take my mind off the upcoming tournament. 

But as we sat there, books and notebooks spread out in front of us, I found myself getting distracted—by William, of course.

I caught myself staring at him, watching the way his

eyes flicked across the page, his brow furrowing in concentration. He looked so focused, so determined, and I couldn't help but smile. But apparently, I wasn't as subtle as I thought.

"Are you going to keep staring at me, or are you actually going to do your work?" William asked, looking up with a playful smirk.

I jumped, startled. "I wasn't staring!" I protested, feeling my face heat up. "I'm just... tired. And nervous about the tournament. Aren't you nervous?"

William leaned back in his chair, a calm smile on his lips. "Yeah, I'm nervous," he admitted, "but I'm trying not to think about it. I know we'll do great, so there's no point in stressing."

His confidence was contagious, and I found myself smiling back. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

We worked for another hour or so before William suddenly perked up. "Oh, I almost forgot!" he said. "The team is having a little party tomorrow to relax before the tournament. You should come."

I raised an eyebrow. "A party? Aren't we supposed to be resting?"

William grinned. "It's just a way to unwind a bit before the big day. You coming?"

"Yeah, sure," I replied, smiling. "You're going, right?"

"Of course," he said, his eyes twinkling. "And we're going together."

Hearing that sent a flutter of excitement through me, and I couldn't wait.