Crossed Lines

Eli

 The quiet before the storm. I'm used to the nerves, but today feels different. There's a weight in the air, a heaviness in my chest. It's game day. And not just any game—today is the biggest rivalry of the season: Cedar Ridge versus Hartford.

I glance around the locker room, seeing the rest of the team slowly trickle in. Levi's already getting his shoes on, Connor's got his earbuds in, and Alex is tapping his phone screen. Noah's at the other end of the room, talking to Coach. It's a routine we've all come to know—nothing special about the preparations, yet everything's on the line. 

It was game day, and there was a noticeable shift in the air—everyone was more focused, a little quieter, as if the anticipation of the game was too big to fill with casual chatter.

I pulled on my jersey, the cool fabric settling against my skin, and looked around at my teammates. They're ready. It's what I love about this team. We work hard, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. It keeps the mood light, even when it's crunch time. Levi and Connor are already talking about what plays they're going to run in the second half, Noah's swatting at the basketball like he's going to block every shot Hartford tries to take, and Alex is nodding, mentally preparing for every rebound he's going to snag.

"Yo, Eli, you good?" Levi calls out, pulling me from my thoughts. He's standing near the lockers, holding up a pair of fresh socks, looking at me like I've been spaced out for too long.

"Yeah, just... thinking," I say, tying my shoes a little tighter than usual. "It's our last game against Hartford, then we have March Madness coming."

"Yeah, but we're gonna get them this year." Connor says, nodding toward the entrance as Coach walks in, a look of determination on his face. "We're ready."

I look at my teammates—my friends—and nod. We've been preparing for this day for months. We've been running drills, studying their plays, working on our weaknesses, and strengthening our bond. All that hard work comes down to this one game. If we win, it's more than just a victory for Cedar Ridge—it's a statement. It's a chance to prove we're the best, not just in the region, but that we can hang with the top teams in the nation. That means a lot to me. It means everything.

We go through our pre-game warm-ups—stretching, shooting drills, going over defensive schemes—and I can feel the tension building. But there's something else too. A quiet confidence. This is our game. Hartford may think they can push us around, but they haven't seen the fire we've got in us. I know that if we stick to the game plan, if we execute, we'll come out on top.

"Alright, Eli, let's do this," Noah says, pulling me from my thoughts again as he slides his arm around my shoulders, giving me a smile that's full of both excitement and nerves.

I laugh, clapping him on the back. "Always. Let's show them what Cedar Ridge basketball is all about."

I give the team one last look as we head out of the locker room. My heart is pounding, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I'm ready for this. Ready for the game, ready to lead my team to victory, ready to prove ourselves.

The buzzer goes off signaling the start of warm-ups. My thoughts shift to the game. I'm not worried about my performance. I've been in this position a million times before. But there's another thought I can't shake. A thought that's been with me all day.

Mina.

She never mentioned again if she found someone to take her shift. I keep telling myself it's just a game, and it's not like I'm worried about impressing her—she's one of my best friends. But every time I think about the game, I can't help but imagine her sitting in the stands, her eyes on me.