THE GYMNASIUM – 6:00 AM
Oliver couldn't sleep.
He'd been lying in bed since midnight, staring at the ceiling, running through every play, every pass, every shot. His body was tired. His mind was not.
He got up, dressed, and walked to the gym.
The doors were unlocked. Someone had been here before him.
Peculiar was sitting in the stands.
"You're early," she said.
"You're earlier."
"I couldn't sleep."
"Neither could I."
She patted the seat beside her. He sat.
"Tomorrow's the game," she said.
"I know."
"Are you scared?"
"I'm terrified."
"Good. That means you care."
"I've always cared."
"I know. That's why you're going to win."
He looked at her. "How do you know?"
"Because you're the only one who wants it."
---
THE LECTURE HALL – 9:00 AM
Dr. Adeola was quiet today.
The class was quiet too. Everyone knew about the Watchmen. Everyone knew about the list.
"The expulsions will be announced today," Dr. Adeola said. "I don't know who's on the list. I don't want to know. But I want you to remember something."
She walked down the aisle.
"The people who are expelled today are not bad people. They're not evil. They're not dangerous. They're just different. And this world has never known what to do with different."
She stopped at Nelly's desk.
"Some of you will survive. Some of you won't. But all of you will have to live with what you did. Or what you didn't do."
She moved on.
"That's the real punishment. Not expulsion. Memory."
---
THE STUDENT CENTER – 11:00 AM
The list was posted at 11:00 AM.
A crowd gathered around the bulletin board. Names. Expulsions. The first round.
Nelly pushed through the crowd. Her heart was pounding. Her hands were shaking.
She scanned the list.
Her name wasn't there.
She scanned again.
Vicky's name wasn't there.
Aaron's name wasn't there.
She saw a name she didn't expect. Someone from her class. Someone she'd sat next to. Someone who had never hurt anyone.
"Blessing," Kelly said, appearing beside her. "First-year. Quiet. Nobody."
"She didn't do anything."
"Nobody does anything. That's the point."
Nelly stared at the list.
"What are we going to do?"
"We're going to let it happen."
"Kelly—"
"Listen to me." Kelly grabbed her arm. "We can't save everyone. We can only save ourselves."
Nelly pulled away.
She walked out of the student center.
---
THE ABANDONED STUDIO – 1:00 PM
Rose stood alone in the dark.
The list was on her phone. Four students had been expelled. Three of them were in her garden.
She'd lost three girls in one day.
She stared at the wall. The names. The checkmarks. The crosses.
Her phone buzzed.
Kelly (1:05 PM): They're going after you next.
Rose (1:06 PM): I know.
Kelly (1:06 PM): What are you going to do?
Rose (1:07 PM): I'm going to fight.
Kelly (1:07 PM): How?
Rose (1:08 PM): I'm going to give them something they want more than me.
She put down the phone.
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 3:00 PM
Vicky sat on her bed, staring at the wall.
Zizi was reading. Ese was in the corner, her book open.
"Four students," Vicky said.
"Four," Zizi said.
"Three of them were in Rose's garden."
"I know."
"What happens now?"
"Now we wait."
"I'm tired of waiting."
Zizi put down her book. "Then do something."
"Like what?"
"Fight back. Stand up. Don't let them win."
Vicky looked at her. "How?"
Zizi stood up. "First, you stop being afraid. Then, you start being loud."
---
THE FOOTBALL PITCH – 4:00 PM
Aaron was running drills.
The qualifier was over. The national competition was two weeks away. Kehinde was still in the hospital. Femi was still grieving.
Aaron was still trying to keep everyone together.
Kosi passed him the ball. Aaron controlled it. Dribbled past a defender. Shot. Scored.
"Good," Coach Okafor said. "Again."
They ran it again.
And again.
After practice, Aaron sat on the bench, alone.
Vicky appeared.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey."
"Can I sit?"
"Sure."
She sat beside him.
"I saw the list," she said.
"Me too."
"Three of Rose's people."
"I know."
"What are you going to do?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"I can't save everyone."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
She was quiet for a moment.
"Oliver's game is tomorrow," she said.
"I know."
"Are you going?"
"I'll be there."
"Good."
They sat in silence.
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 6:00 PM
Mandy was on her bed, scrolling through her phone.
Vicky walked in.
"Can I talk to you?"
"You're already talking to me."
"Can I talk to you without you being a cunt?"
"No."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
Vicky sat on the edge of the bed. "Tomorrow is Oliver's game."
"I know."
"I want to go."
"Then go."
"Alone?"
Mandy looked at her. "You want me to come?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to be alone."
Mandy put down her phone. "Fine."
"Fine?"
"Fine. I'll come."
Vicky nodded. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I'm only coming to see Oliver lose."
"He's not going to lose."
"He's going to lose."
Vicky almost smiled.
---
THE GYMNASIUM – 8:00 PM
Oliver was alone.
The court was empty. The stands were empty. The ball was in his hands.
He shot. Swish.
He shot. Swish.
He shot. Missed.
He picked up the ball. Shot again. Swish.
The door opened.
Nelly walked in.
"Don't you have a game tomorrow?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Then why are you still here?"
"Because I can't sleep."
"Neither can I."
She sat in the bleachers. He kept shooting.
"Tomorrow's a big day," she said.
"I know."
"Are you ready?"
"I'm ready."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
She watched him shoot. Swish. Swish. Swish.
"Oliver."
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"Sorry for everything."
He stopped shooting. Looked at her.
"It's not your fault," he said.
"Yes, it is."
"Oliver."
"Nelly."
She walked down to the court. Took the ball from him.
"Tomorrow, you're going to win. And you're not going to think about me. You're not going to think about Zuru. You're not going to think about anyone but yourself."
"That's selfish."
"That's survival."
She handed him the ball.
He shot. Swish.
---
THE PARKING LOT – 10:00 PM
Ese sat on the hood of Jon's car.
Jon stood beside her, his hand on her knee.
"You're quiet tonight," he said.
"I'm thinking."
"About?"
"Tomorrow. Oliver's game. The Watchmen. Everything."
"That's a lot."
"It's always a lot."
He squeezed her knee. "You don't have to carry it all."
"Yes, I do."
"Why?"
"Because no one else will."
"Ese."
"Jon."
"I'm here."
"I know."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
He kissed her forehead. "I'll be here. Tomorrow. Always."
She closed her eyes.
---
THE DORM – 11:00 PM
Aaron lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Charlie was on his phone. Wesley was reading. Oliver wasn't back yet.
The door opened.
Oliver walked in.
"How are you feeling?" Charlie asked.
"Tired."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
He sat on his bed. Pulled off his shoes.
"You're going to win tomorrow," Aaron said.
"How do you know?"
"Because you want it more than anyone."
Oliver nodded.
The room was quiet.
Aaron looked at his phone.
A message from Vicky: See you tomorrow.
He typed back: I'll be there.