THE FIELD – 6:00 AM
The morning of the qualifier was cold and gray.
Aaron stood at the center circle, alone, watching his teammates warm up. Femi was running laps, his face set in stone. Kosi was stretching, his eyes focused. The rest of the team moved with a nervous energy that crackled through the air like static.
Kehinde was in the hospital. His knee was shattered. He wouldn't walk properly for months. He wouldn't play again this season. Maybe never.
Aaron had taken his spot. Striker. The position he'd never played competitively. The position that now rested entirely on his shoulders.
Coach Okafor walked onto the pitch. His face was calm. His eyes were not.
"Listen up," he said.
The team gathered.
"We've lost a brother. We've gained a responsibility. Kehinde gave his knee for this team. The least we can do is give our hearts."
He looked at Aaron.
"Captain. Say something."
Aaron stepped forward. His heart was pounding. His mouth was dry.
"I'm not going to give a speech," he said. "I'm not going to promise you victory. I'm not going to tell you we're the best team on this field. We're not."
The team was silent.
"But we're the only team that has each other. We're the only team that's bled together. We're the only team that's lost a mother, a knee, and a friend and still showed up."
He looked at each of them.
"Kehinde can't be here. But he's watching. He's waiting. He's hoping we do what he would have done. Fight. Until. The. End."
Femi picked up a ball. Dribbled to the penalty spot. Shot. Scored.
One by one, the others followed.
They ran drills until the whistle blew.
---
THE STANDS – 10:00 AM
Vicky sat with Zizi and Ese.
She hadn't spoken to Aaron since the kiss. She hadn't spoken to Zuru since she left. She hadn't spoken to Mandy since the cafeteria.
She was alone in a crowd.
"Are you okay?" Zizi asked.
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"I'm always lying."
"That's not healthy."
"Neither is this conversation."
The crowd roared. The opposing team had scored. The first goal. The stadium shook.
Vicky watched Aaron run back to the center circle. His face was a mask. His body was tense.
He's going to break, she thought. He's going to break and no one will catch him.
She stood up.
"Where are you going?" Zizi asked.
"To the field."
"You can't go to the field."
"I need to."
She walked down the stairs. The crowd was loud. The noise was overwhelming.
She reached the barrier.
Aaron was on the other side.
He didn't see her.
---
THE FIELD – 11:00 AM
The score was 2-1. MU was losing.
Aaron's lungs were burning. His legs were screaming. His head was pounding.
Femi passed him the ball. A defender came at him. Aaron cut left, stumbled, recovered. He crossed the ball into the box. Kosi headed it. The keeper saved it.
The rebound bounced.
Aaron ran.
His body screamed. His knee twisted. He slid. Connected.
The ball rolled into the net.
2-2.
The stands exploded.
Aaron lay on the ground, chest heaving. Kosi pulled him up.
"One more," Kosi said.
"I can't."
"Yes, you can."
Aaron looked at the clock. Five minutes left.
He looked at the stands.
Vicky was at the barrier. Watching.
He ran.
---
THE FINAL MINUTE
The ball was at Femi's feet.
He dribbled down the wing. A defender came at him. He passed to Aaron.
Aaron controlled it. A defender was in front of him. He cut right. The defender stumbled. Aaron cut left. The goal was open.
He shot.
The ball flew.
The keeper dove.
The ball hit the back of the net.
3-2.
The whistle blew.
MU had won.
Aaron fell to his knees. His teammates mobbed him. Shouting. Crying. Laughing.
Vicky was still at the barrier.
He looked at her.
She was smiling.
---
THE LOCKER ROOM – 12:00 PM
The team was loud. Celebrating. Singing. Someone had brought speakers. Someone had brought drinks.
Aaron sat on a bench, staring at the floor.
Kosi sat beside him.
"We won," Kosi said.
"I know."
"You should be happy."
"I'm tired."
"That's not the same thing."
"It is today."
Aaron pulled out his phone. A message from Mandy: Saw you win. Congrats, cunt. A message from Vicky: Good game. A message from his mother: I'm proud of you.
He replied to his mother first.
Then Vicky.
Then Mandy.
He put the phone away.
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 4:00 PM
Vicky sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone.
Zizi was reading. Ese was in the corner, her book open.
"I saw Aaron after the game," Vicky said.
"Did you talk?"
"No. I just looked at him."
"That's not talking."
"I know."
Zuru was gone. Zizi was here. Ese was watching.
It was strange.
"Zuru texted me," Vicky said.
Zizi looked up. "What did she say?"
"She said she's sorry."
"Are you going to reply?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because sorry doesn't fix anything."
She put down the phone.
The room was quiet.
---
THE BASKETBALL COURT – 6:00 PM
Oliver was in the gym. Alone.
The team had the day off. He didn't take days off.
He shot. Swish. He shot. Swish.
Peculiar walked in. "You're obsessed."
"I'm focused."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
She sat in the bleachers. "I heard about the qualifier."
"Everyone heard."
"Your brother scored the winning goal."
"Goalie."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
She laughed. He almost smiled.
"Are you nervous?" she asked.
"About what?"
"About the game."
"I'm not nervous. I'm ready."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
She stood up. Walked down to the court. Took the ball from him.
"Then prove it."
She passed it back.
He shot. Swish.
---
THE APARTMENT – 8:00 PM
Rose stood by the window.
The room was full. Kelly. Zara. Chloe. Nelly. A few new faces. A few missing.
Vicky wasn't there. Neither was Ese. Neither was Mandy.
"We're missing people," Kelly said.
"I noticed."
"What do we do?"
"We wait."
The door opened.
Mandy walked in.
Rose smiled. "So glad you could make it."
"Save it. I'm here because I want to know who added Aaron to the list."
"And you'll find out. In time."
"No. Now."
Rose walked to the center of the room. "The Watchmen have fifteen names. We know thirteen. We need the other two."
"That's not my problem."
"It is if your name is on the list."
Mandy stepped closer. "Who. Added. Aaron."
Rose looked at Kelly. Kelly looked at the floor.
"Nelly," Rose said.
Mandy's blood went cold. "You're lying."
"I don't lie."
"Yes, you do."
"I withhold information. There's a difference."
The door opened.
Nelly walked in.
Mandy turned. "You put Aaron on the list?"
Nelly's face was stone. "Yes."
"Why?"
"Because he deserved it."
"He's done nothing to you."
"He slept with you. He cheated on Vicky. He lied to everyone. That's not nothing."
Mandy stared at her. "You're protecting Oliver."
"I'm protecting myself."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
The room was silent.
Rose stepped between them. "Enough."
She looked at Nelly. "You did the right thing."
She looked at Mandy. "You need to let it go."
Mandy walked out.
The door slammed.
Rose looked at Nelly. "That was dangerous."
"I know."
"But it was smart."
Nelly didn't answer.
Rose turned to the rest of the room.
"The garden is growing. So are the threats. We need to be smarter. Stronger. More united."
She looked at each of them.
"Anyone who can't handle that can leave now."
No one moved.
"Good."
---
THE DORM – 10:00 PM
Aaron sat on his bed, staring at the wall.
Charlie was on his phone. Wesley was reading. Oliver was stretching.
"Nelly put me on the list," Aaron said.
Charlie looked up. "What?"
"Mandy told me. Nelly added my name."
"Why would she do that?"
"Because she hates me."
"That's not a reason."
"It is for her."
Oliver stopped stretching. "I'll talk to her."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want you to."
Oliver sat on his bed. "Aaron."
"Oliver."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
The room was quiet.
Aaron lay back on his bed.
The night pressed on.
---
THE PARKING LOT – 11:00 PM
Ese walked across the lot. Jon was waiting.
"You came," he said.
"I'm always here."
"Not always."
"Tonight I am."
He opened the passenger door. She got in.
They drove.
---
THE APARTMENT – 11:30 PM
They sat on the couch. Not touching. Not talking.
Jon broke the silence. "Something happened."
"Everything happened."
"Tell me."
She told him. Zuru. The drugs. Oliver. The list. Aaron. Nelly. Rose.
He listened.
When she finished, he was quiet for a long time.
"You're in the middle of all of it," he said.
"I'm always in the middle."
"How do you stay calm?"
"I don't. I just don't show it."
"That's not healthy."
"It's not supposed to be. It's just real."
He took her hand.
"I'm here," he said.
"I know."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
They sat in silence.
The night pressed on.
---
THE DORM – 12:00 AM
Aaron lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Vicky's message was still on his phone. Good game.
He typed back: Thank you.
He waited.
She replied: You're welcome.
He waited again.
Nothing.
He put the phone away.