Against the Edge

A Heart-Stopping Moment

The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the campus basketball court as Miguel and his team drilled plays and practiced shots in preparation for the upcoming Campus Olympiad. Ethan passed the ball to James, who pivoted and threw it back to Miguel, who sank a flawless three-pointer. Max and Oscar clapped, and the team exchanged excited cheers, feeding off each other's energy.

The court buzzed with activity, and as they practiced, more and more students gathered around, catching glimpses of the team's intense routine. Whispers floated from the crowd, especially from a group of girls who had paused to watch Miguel. Some pointed out his smooth moves on the court, while others gushed about the recent magazine interview, where his photos had already caused a small frenzy among the student body.

From the bleachers, Blanca, Mia, and Louis sat, chatting and cheering the team on. At one point, Louis leaned closer to Mia with a sly grin as they overheard a pair of girls whispering excitedly about Miguel's magazine spread.

"Did you hear that?" Louis chuckled, nudging Mia. "Miguel's got himself a fan club. Those girls are practically swooning over the photos."

Blanca shifted in her seat, subtly glancing toward the girls, her jaw tightening ever so slightly.

Mia caught on instantly and grinned at Blanca. "Oh, look at that, Blanca! Seems like you've got some competition. Miguel's practically the campus heartthrob now," she teased.

Blanca folded her arms, her expression calm but giving herself away with a tiny pout. "Please, I'm not jealous. He can have all the fan clubs he wants. He's still going home with me," she said, though her voice hinted at the faintest tinge of irritation.

Louis and Mia exchanged an amused glance.

"Uh-huh," Louis smirked. "You're not jealous at all. Not even a little bit, right?"

"Not. At. All," Blanca insisted, her eyes straying back to the girls watching Miguel. "Besides, those girls are just... admiring from afar. It's harmless."

Mia laughed, patting Blanca's arm. "Sure, it's harmless. But your eyes are sending daggers."

Blanca finally broke into a smile, laughing despite herself. "Fine. Maybe just a tiny bit. But can you blame me? Look at him!"

As she spoke, Miguel dribbled past Ethan, skillfully avoiding his defense before sinking another perfect shot. Blanca's face softened, pride gleaming in her eyes.

From the edge of the crowd, Nick watched Miguel and his team, his gaze sharp. Oliver and Andy, his friends, sat beside him, eating sandwiches as they observed the scene.

"Look at Anderson, soaking up all that attention," Nick muttered, rolling his eyes.

Andy shrugged, biting into his sandwich. "What's new? The guy's got skills, I'll give him that. Though it's probably those magazine pics everyone's here for."

Nick scoffed. "He's not as great as everyone thinks. I'll prove that soon enough."

Oliver glanced at Nick with a smirk. "Trying to take him down a peg?"

"Exactly," Nick replied, his gaze never wavering from Miguel. "He's been at the top for too long."

Back on the court, Miguel caught sight of Blanca in the stands, her gaze warm and fixed on him. He gave her a small wink before turning back to the game, feeling more motivated than ever with her watching. Blanca's heart gave a small leap as she returned his smile, the crowd's whispers forgotten.

Seeing her reaction, Mia laughed softly. "Oh yeah, Blanca, not jealous at all."

Blanca gave Mia a playful shove, unable to keep the grin off her face.