THE GYMNASIUM – 6:00 AM
Oliver woke up before his alarm.
Not because he was nervous. Because he was ready. The game was in three days. He'd been waiting for this his whole life.
He dressed in the dark. Black shorts. White jersey. His lucky socks, the ones with the hole in the left toe.
He walked to the gym. The doors were locked. He sat on the steps and waited.
---
Peculiar found him there an hour later.
"You're early," she said.
"I'm ready."
"That's not the same thing."
"It is today."
She sat beside him. "What happens if you win?"
"I don't know."
"What happens if you lose?"
"Same answer."
She leaned her head on his shoulder. "That's not healthy."
"It's not supposed to be."
They sat in silence.
---
THE LECTURE HALL – 9:00 AM
Dr. Adeola was in rare form.
"Today we're talking about loyalty," she said.
The class groaned.
"Not the boring kind. Not the kind you read about in textbooks. The real kind. The kind that makes you lie for someone. The kind that makes you break for someone. The kind that makes you lose yourself."
She walked down the aisle.
"Who here has ever been loyal to someone who didn't deserve it?"
No one raised their hand.
"Good. That's the first symptom."
She stopped at Nelly's desk.
"Nelly. What's the difference between loyalty and stupidity?"
Nelly looked up. "I don't know."
"Then you're not paying attention."
Dr. Adeola moved on.
"Loyalty is when you stay because you believe in someone. Stupidity is when you stay because you're afraid to leave."
She reached the back of the room.
"The question isn't whether you're loyal. The question is whether you're loyal to the right person."
---
THE CAFETERIA – 12:00 PM
Vicky sat alone.
Zizi was at the library. Ese was somewhere else. Zuru was gone.
Mandy walked past with her tray. Stopped.
"Can I sit?"
"Why?"
"Because you look like you need company."
"I don't need company."
"That's exactly what people who need company say."
Mandy sat down.
They ate in silence.
Vicky broke first. "Why are you being nice to me?"
"I'm not being nice. I'm being present. There's a difference."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
Vicky put down her fork. "Nelly put Aaron on the list."
"I know."
"Did you know before?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you would have done something stupid."
"I'm always doing something stupid."
"I know. That's why I didn't tell you."
Vicky stared at her. "You're a cunt."
"And you're a broken record. But here we are."
Vicky almost smiled.
---
THE BASKETBALL COURT – 3:00 PM
Oliver was in the zone.
The team was running drills. He was faster than everyone. Sharper than everyone.
Coach Ogun pulled him aside.
"You're ready," Coach said.
"I know."
"Don't get cocky."
"I'm not cocky. I'm confident. There's a difference."
"Is there?"
"Not really."
Coach Ogun shook his head. "Just play your game."
Oliver ran back to the court.
---
THE ABANDONED STUDIO – 5:00 PM
Rose stood alone in the dark.
Kelly had sent the list. Eighteen names now. Someone had added Oliver's name.
Rose stared at the wall.
Who is trying to destroy the garden?
Her phone buzzed.
Kelly (5:05 PM): The Watchmen are having a meeting tomorrow. They're going to announce the first round of expulsions.
Rose (5:06 PM): Who's on the list?
Kelly (5:06 PM): We don't know yet.
Rose (5:07 PM): Find out.
She put down the phone.
---
THE DORM – 7:00 PM
Charlie was pacing.
Josephine was coming over. For the first time. To meet his friends.
"You're going to wear a hole in the floor," Wesley said.
"Shut up."
"You're making me dizzy."
"Shut up."
Wesley closed his book. "What are you scared of?"
"I'm not scared."
"You're terrified."
"I'm terrified."
"Why?"
"Because she's amazing. And I'm not."
"That's not true."
"It is."
Wesley stood up. "Let me tell you something. Josephine isn't amazing because she's perfect. She's amazing because she chose you. That's her decision. Not yours. You don't get to second-guess it."
Charlie stopped pacing. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"I'm not nice. I'm honest."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
The door opened.
Josephine walked in.
She was wearing a black dress. Simple. Elegant. She looked like she didn't care. She looked perfect.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi," Charlie said.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"I'm always lying."
She walked over. Kissed him. Quick. Soft.
"Now you're not."
---
THE DORM – 9:00 PM
Aaron sat on his bed, staring at his phone.
Vicky had texted him: Mandy told me about Nelly.
He typed back: I know.
She replied: Are you okay?
He typed: I'm fine.
She replied: You're lying.
He typed: I'm always lying.
She replied: That's not healthy.
He typed: Neither is this conversation.
He put down the phone.
Charlie was laughing with Josephine. Wesley was reading. Oliver was stretching.
The room was full.
Aaron felt empty.
---
THE GYMNASIUM – 11:00 PM
Oliver stood alone on the court.
The lights were off. The stands were empty. The ball was in his hands.
He shot. Swish.
He shot. Swish.
He shot. Missed.
He picked up the ball and shot again. Swish.
The door opened.
Nelly walked in.
"I didn't know where else to go," she said.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"I'm always lying."
He put down the ball. Walked to her.
"Nelly."
"Oliver."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For everything."
She looked at him. Her eyes were wet.
"It's not your fault," she said.
"Yes, it is."
"Oliver."
"I'm sorry," he said again.
She hugged him.
He hugged her back.
---
THE APARTMENT – 11:30 PM
Rose stood by the window.
Kelly had texted her the list. The Watchmen's meeting was tomorrow. The expulsions would be announced.
Rose stared at the wall.
The garden was shrinking.
She picked up her phone.
Rose (11:35 PM): We need to fight back.
Kelly (11:35 PM): How?
Rose (11:36 PM): We give them something they want more than us.
Kelly (11:36 PM): What?
Rose (11:36 PM): A bigger target.
She put down the phone.
---
THE DORM – 12:00 AM
Aaron lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Vicky had stopped texting.
Charlie was asleep. Wesley was reading. Oliver wasn't back yet.
The door opened.
Oliver walked in.
"You okay?" Aaron asked.
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"I'm always lying."
Aaron sat up. "What happened?"
Oliver sat on his bed. "Nelly came to see me."
"Why?"
"She wanted to apologize."
"For what?"
"For everything."
Aaron lay back down.
The room was quiet.