𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐓

Chapter Ten: Rising Tension

Ｑｕｅｎｔｉｎ 

Things were changing, and for the first time, it felt like the world was finally taking me seriously. Positive coverage flooded in from everywhere—my skills, my potential, the brand deals. After that Levi's commercial with Kiara, people weren't just talking about my game; they were talking about me as a rising star. And I had to admit, it felt good. Really good.

It felt like everything I'd been working toward was finally within reach. The noise, the hype, all of it was positive for once, and I was determined to keep it that way.

After practice, Coach gathered everyone up, looking serious. He scanned the team, his eyes lingering a little longer on me, Malik, and Isaiah. The three of us exchanged glances as Coach cleared his throat, his gaze steady.

"Alright, team, listen up. I've been paying close attention to how each of you has been stepping up," Coach began, his voice even. "I'm seeing growth, dedication, and heart in each of you. But every strong team needs strong leadership."

My heart started pounding. I could see the wheels turning in Coach's mind, and I had a feeling he was about to make a big announcement. I glanced at Malik, who looked equally intrigued, but Isaiah kept his eyes forward, his expression unreadable.

Coach looked between the three of us. "I'm naming team captains today," he said, voice steady and clear. "Malik, Isaiah, Quentin—you three have been chosen to lead this team. I expect you all to set the tone, both on and off the court."

I felt a rush of pride, and Malik slapped me on the back with a grin. "Congrats, man. We're captains!" he said, giving me a nod.

I nodded back, feeling the excitement buzzing through me. "Feels good, doesn't it?"

But when I looked over at Isaiah, his face was tight, his jaw clenched. He wasn't celebrating. He gave a curt nod as Coach continued to talk, but I could see the irritation simmering beneath the surface.

As Coach wrapped up his speech, he made a point of patting my shoulder. "Quentin, you've shown tremendous growth these past few months. Keep it up. Lead by example."

The other guys clapped, and I could hear a few of them congratulating me as Coach headed off. Malik threw me a proud grin, but Isaiah kept his distance, giving me a hard look as he gathered his things.

As we walked toward the locker room, Isaiah caught up to me, his smirk anything but friendly. "Well, well, look at you. Mr. Golden Boy finally gets to play captain," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

I clenched my jaw but forced myself to stay calm. "It's not like that, Isaiah. We're all captains. Coach made that clear."

"Oh, right," he scoffed, crossing his arms. "Like we're supposed to believe that. Everybody knows who Coach is banking on, Q. You're the one he's parading around, getting all this attention. We're just here to make you look good."

I took a breath, trying to keep my voice steady. "Isaiah, I'm here to play for the team, same as you. We're supposed to be in this together."

He let out a harsh laugh. "Together? You wouldn't know the first thing about that. All I see is you soaking up the media attention, the brand deals. You're just here for the hype."

I could feel the anger building in my chest, but I pushed it down. "That's not true, and you know it. I put in the work, just like everyone else. Maybe if you focused on your own game, you wouldn't be worried about what I'm doing."

"Oh, that's cute," Isaiah sneered, leaning closer. "Real cute, Q. You're out here pretending like you're some big shot, while the rest of us actually grind every day. Don't act like you're on my level."