You Don't Know..What you Don't Know

Chapter 45- Winter

Chapter 45- Winter

The state championship had turned Richmond into the center of our universe.

The entire school seemed to make the trip to VCU. Classes barely functioned as excitement spread through every hallway. The coaches hosted the biggest pep rally I'd ever seen. Sam and I stood alongside Phillip and Jim while the student body, faculty, alumni, and half the town cheered us on. By the time we boarded the buses, our names had already made the front page of the local paper.

The marching band played us out of the parking lot while cheerleaders lined the sidewalk.

Just before climbing aboard, I spotted Randy and Justin waiting near the buses.

I slipped away from the crowd.

Without saying a word, Randy held out a single red rose.

"I gave you up for two and a half months," he said, his storm-gray eyes never leaving mine. "Make today worth it... and I'll make tonight even better."

That crooked grin appeared—the one that always made me forget every clever comeback I'd ever known.

For once, I had nothing.

The driver called for everyone to board, and I climbed onto the bus with the rose still clutched in my hand and my heart beating somewhere in my throat.

Nothing could have prepared me for walking into that arena.

As our names were introduced, we ran onto the court one by one. My entrance music—"This Is Me"—echoed through the speakers while my season statistics flashed across the giant video board.

I couldn't stop smiling.

You did it, Tia.

Athena folded her arms proudly.

A legacy worthy of Jim.

The arena was packed. Thousands of faces blurred together beneath the lights.

Somewhere in that sea of people sat Randy.

I searched for him instinctively.

Instead, my eyes found Mom and Dad in the family section.

Relief washed over me...

...until I looked at the row directly behind them.

"Oh my God."

Steve.

Nick.

Torri.

All three were standing, applauding.

For one terrifying second I forgot where I was.

What were they doing here?

No one had told me they were coming.

Torri and I hadn't spoken beyond the occasional How's life? text in months.

My pulse skipped.

Tia.

Athena's voice cracked like a whistle.

Not now.

The arena is enormous. Randy is somewhere else entirely.

This is the biggest game of your life.

Focus.

I inhaled once.

Then I turned toward center court.

The game became an all-out war.

Every possession ended with bodies diving across the hardwood. Every drive drew contact. Every rebound felt like it belonged to whoever wanted it more.