THE BASKETBALL GAME

Sia wasn't planning on going. A school basketball game wasn't her thing. But Sophie? Sophie thrived on social events.

"Come on, Sia," Sophie insisted, adjusting her top in the mirror before running her fingers through her curls. "It'll be fun. Plus, people need to start knowing you exist."

"I'm fine being invisible," Sia muttered, flipping through her book.

Sophie snatched it away. "Yeah, no. You're coming."

And that was that.

One moment, Sia was stretched out on her bed, scrolling through her phone. The next, Sophie was pulling clothes out of her closet.

"You're coming," Sophie repeated, tossing a top in Sia's direction.

Sia caught it without enthusiasm. "Why?"

Sophie was fixing her hair in the mirror, adjusting strands, tilting her head left, then right. She smoothed down her outfit, straightened her skirt, and, of course, applied another coat of lip gloss.

"Because," she said between swipes, "it's Friday, and you need to have an actual high school experience. Plus, this is our first game here. You're not just gonna sit in your room, are you?"

Sia considered saying yes but knew her sister wouldn't take it for an answer.

"I'm not even into basketball," she muttered.

Sophie turned, hands on her hips. "You're not into anything lately. C'mon, we'll make it fun. Jada's meeting us there."

Sia exhaled. Sophie could be a lot, but she wasn't wrong. She had been avoiding things—people, experiences, getting attached to this place.

"Fine," she said, grabbing the top Sophie had thrown her way. "But I'm not screaming or clapping."

Sophie smirked. "No promises."

---

The gym was packed. The bleachers buzzed with energy, students decked out in school colors, the rhythmic pounding of a basketball echoing through the space. Sia followed Sophie through the crowd, slipping into seats near Jada, who was already scrolling through her phone.

"You made it," Jada said, arching a brow at Sia.

"Against my will," Sia muttered, crossing her arms.

Jada laughed. "Relax. It's not that bad. Plus…" she nodded toward the court. "Some decent eye candy."

Sia barely glanced before settling into her usual habit—observing, not engaging.

And then—him.

Miles Moltenore.

He stood at the center of the court, hands on his hips, looking like he didn't care about the crowd, the game, or anything outside his own head. The team huddled around him, but he wasn't talking much. He didn't need to.

Something about him held weight. Like gravity shifted when he was in the room.

The moment the whistle blew, it was different.

Miles wasn't just playing—he was commanding the court. Smooth, calculated, every movement efficient. He didn't waste energy, didn't show off. But when he had the ball, the entire gym shifted.

Even Brad—who was playing too—seemed to orbit around him, like no matter how hard he tried, he'd never quite match that effortless control.

Sia wasn't into sports, but watching Miles was something else.

Something undeniable.

She hadn't even realized she was staring until Jada nudged her.

"That's him," Jada murmured, following her gaze.

Sia blinked. "Who?"

Jada smirked. "Miles. Moltenore."

As if on cue, Miles glanced toward the bleachers. Just for a second. Just long enough for Sia to feel like he saw through her.

And then—just like that—he was back in the game.

-------

After the game, students flooded the court, surrounding the team. Brad, sweaty and grinning, was soaking up the attention. Miles, on the other hand, barely acknowledged it.

Sia didn't expect him to notice her.

But as she moved through the crowd, his eyes landed on hers again. A second. Maybe two.

Then he turned away.

And yet—her heart was still pounding

Sophie, who had missed the exchange, nudged Sia. "Look at Brad."

Sia followed her sister's gaze and—of course—there he was, effortlessly leaning against the scorer's table, grinning at some girl who was *way too* into whatever he was saying.

Brad was different from Miles. Where Miles was controlled, almost distant, Brad was all charm, all easy confidence.

And then, as if he *sensed* her looking, he glanced up.

The smirk was instant.

Sia rolled her eyes and turned away.

Jada snickered. "Oh, he *loves* messing with you."

---

The game ended in a win, and as students flooded out of the gym, Sophie and Jada were still buzzing.

"That was insane," Sophie said, fixing her hair again in a hallway mirror. "Miles carried that team."

Jada nodded. "And let's not pretend Brad didn't put on a whole show for the crowd."

Sia didn't respond, just followed as they stepped outside into the cool night air.

They were halfway to the parking lot when he appeared.

Brad.

He walked up casually, hands in his pockets, like he had all the time in the world.

"Sia," Brad's voice cut through the noise. She turned, finding him near the gym doors, holding his car keys. "Need a ride?"

Sophie raised an eyebrow at her, smirking.

Sia blinked. "What?"

He tilted his head toward his car. "Home. I assume you're going there."

Sia hesitated. She should say yes. Brad was easy, familiar.

But her mind wasn't on him.

And she hated that.

"I'm good," she said instead.

Brad's smirk twitched, like he wasn't used to being turned down. But he shrugged. "Suit yourself."

And just like that, he walked off, disappearing into the crowd

The moment he was out of earshot, Sophie and Jada lost it.

"Oh my God, Sia," Sophie hissed, grabbing her arm. "He offered you a ride."

Jada nudged her shoulder. "That's not normal."

Sia frowned. "You two are being dramatic."

"Are we?" Sophie countered. "Brad doesn't just go around offering people rides. He barely notices girls unless they're throwing themselves at him."

Jada nodded eagerly. "And he notices you."

"You just rejected Brad Moltenore?" Sophie whisper-screamed like she still couldn't believe it, grabbing Sia's arm. "I could physically see his ego take a hit."

Jada shook her head, grinning. "No, because why was that so smooth? Like, 'I'm good?' Girl, you ate that up."

Sia rolled her eyes, adjusting her bag. "It wasn't that deep."

Sophie scoffed. "It was so deep. We're talking Mariana Trench levels."

Sia scoffed, but her stomach did something weird.

"Please," she muttered. "It was just a ride."

Sophie exchanged a look with Jada.

"Mmm-hmm," Jada hummed.

Sia sighed and walked ahead toward the car. "You two are unbearable."

Behind her, Sophie whispered excitedly to Jada, "She's so in denial."

Jada smirked. "Oh, absolutely."

---

That night, lying in bed, Sia found herself thinking about everything.

Not just Brad.

Not just the teasing from Sophie and Jada.

Miles, too. That brief, electric moment on the court. The way Brad seemed to be enjoying getting to her.

But the way Miles looked at her?

The way she felt pulled toward him?

She wasn't so sure.