Danced by fate

The selection

Zane
The echo of sneakers squeaking against the polished gym floor mingled with the rhythmic thud of basketballs being dribbled. I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold before me. It was just another day in practice for the team, but for me, it felt like a slow descent into madness.

“Come on, Zane! Get in here!” coach barked, motioning at me to join the scrimmage.  I grimaced, my instinct to retreat further into the shadows. I prefer watching, studying the game from a distance rather than jumping into the fray, where the pressure of competition and expectations loomed over me like a dark cloud.

“Don’t be a baby, Zane!” one of my teammates shouted, chuckling as he bounced the ball off the floor with exaggerated flair. The laughter of the other guys grated on me, like nails on a chalkboard. They thrived on camaraderie, while i felt like a misfit puzzle piece that didn’t belong.

With a resigned sigh, I pushed off the wall and strode to the court. I felt the familiar knot of anxiety in my stomach, tightening with each step. Basketball had always been my escape, but today, it felt like another performance i didn’t want to give.

The whistle blew, and i took my position on the court. As the play unfolded, i found a rhythm, my instincts taking over. I moved with a grace that belied my usually brooding demeanor, the adrenaline pumping through me, if only for a moment. I sunk a couple of shots, earning a few claps and cheers.

Just then, Iris entered the gym, her laughter ringing through the air like a bell. My gaze flickered to her, my annoyance mingling with something else—curiosity? She was talking to a couple of girls, clearly in her element, while i struggled to feel like i belonged in the rough and tumble world of basketball. The contrast was stark.

“Zane! Focus!” Coach shouted, snapping me back to reality. I caught the ball passed my way, barely registering the command. I dribbled hard, the rhythm grounding mr as i pushed aside thoughts of Iris’s bright smile and how it seemed to light up the entire gym. She had a way of making everything feel easy, while i felt like i was constantly battling against a tide of frustration.

The practice continued, and i pushed myself harder, trying to drown out the noise around him. Each shot, each pass was an attempt to escape the tug-of-war between my desire to connect and my instinct to isolate. I scored again, and for a fleeting moment, i felt a sense of accomplishment, a glimmer of the boy i used to be before the world had darkened around him.

But the moment was short-lived. As the whistle blew, signaling the end of practice, I was greeted with a dap and a hair rub by my best friend Jace.

I told him he stinks and he should probably shower only for him to throw his stinky sweat soaked shirt at me. With disgust and regret I made my way to the shower.

As soon as I stepped under the warm water I forgot all my worries and drowned in the perfect temperature of the shower. I hear chime and turn around to the direction of the sound.

I pick my phone up and hold it away from the shower my vision blocked by my hair.I step out the shower wrapping a towel around my torso. I enter the locker room invited by another chime.
                           JACE
"HEY!!!"
"DON'T KILL ME!!!"
                                                           "What?"

Then I see it a notification from the dumb winter dance app it says...
"CONGRATULATIONS YOUR PARTNER FOR THE WINTER DANCE IS IRIS HAYES"

what the hell....