THE FIELD – 6:30 AM
The scrimmage was tied.
Aaron's team had fought back from a two-goal deficit. Femi had scored the equalizer, his first goal since his mother died. The team mobbed him. He didn't smile, but he didn't cry either. He just stood there, breathing hard, accepting their hands on his back.
Then Kehinde went down.
It wasn't a tackle. It was a twist. His foot planted, his body turned, and something in his knee popped. The sound was wet. Wrong.
He screamed.
The team froze.
Coach Okafor ran onto the pitch. "Get the medic! NOW!"
Aaron knelt beside Kehinde. His face was gray. His eyes were wide.
"Don't move," Aaron said.
"It hurts. FUCK, it hurts."
The medic came. They stabilized his leg. They carried him off on a stretcher.
The team stood in silence.
Coach Okafor looked at Aaron. "Captain. Talk to them."
Aaron gathered his teammates.
"Kehinde is out. We don't know for how long. But we have a qualifier in six days. We have a team to field. We have a spot to claim."
He looked at each of them.
"So we cry now. Or we scream now. Or we punch the ground now. And then we get back to work."
Femi picked up a ball. Dribbled to the penalty spot. Shot. Scored.
One by one, the others joined him.
They ran drills until the sun was high.
---
THE HOSPITAL – 10:00 AM
Kehinde's knee was shattered.
The doctor used that word. Shattered. Aaron sat in the waiting room, his hands covered in mud and sweat. Kosi was beside him.
"He's done for the season," Kosi said.
"Maybe forever."
"That's not true."
"It might be."
Kosi leaned back. "Who's going to take his spot?"
"I don't know."
"You. You're going to take his spot. You're going to move to striker and we're going to find someone else to cover midfield."
Aaron looked at him. "I'm not a striker."
"You are now."
The door opened. Kehinde's mother walked in. She was crying. Aaron stood up and hugged her. She held onto him like he was the only thing keeping her standing.
"He's going to be okay," Aaron said.
She didn't believe him. He didn't believe himself.
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 12:00 PM
Vicky hadn't moved from her bed.
Zuru was on the floor, pretending to study. Zizi was reading. Ese was in the corner with her book.
"Kehinde broke his leg," Vicky said.
"How do you know?" Zuru asked.
"Charlie texted me."
"You're still in the group chat?"
"I never left."
Zuru put down her highlighter. "Are you going to the qualifier?"
"I don't know."
"You should go. Cheer for Aaron."
"We're not together."
"You still love him."
Vicky sat up. "I don't."
"You're lying."
"I'm always lying."
"That's not healthy."
"Neither is this conversation."
Zuru threw her hands up. "Fine. Don't go. Stay here. Rot in this room."
Zizi looked up. "You're being dramatic."
"I'm being honest."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
The door opened. Kelly walked in. Uninvited.
"You're here," Vicky said.
"Rose is having a meeting tonight. She wants everyone there."
"I'm not going."
"She said especially you."
Vicky's jaw tightened. "Tell her I'll think about it."
Kelly nodded. She looked at Ese. "You too."
Ese didn't look up. "I don't go to meetings."
"You're going to this one."
"No, I'm not."
Kelly walked out.
The room was quiet.
Ese turned a page.
---
THE BASKETBALL COURT – 2:00 PM
Oliver was in the gym alone.
The team had the day off. He didn't take days off. He shot free throws until his arms burned. Then he did it again.
Peculiar walked in. "You're obsessed."
"I'm focused."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
She sat in the bleachers. "I talked to Nelly today."
Oliver stopped shooting. "Why?"
"She wanted to know if you were okay."
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her you were playing basketball."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
He picked up the ball. Shot. Swish.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I don't know."
"Then why do you keep playing?"
"Because when I'm playing, I don't have to think."
She stood up. Walked down to the court. Took the ball from him.
"Then stop thinking. Just play."
She passed it back.
He shot. Swish.
---
THE APARTMENT – 7:00 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.
"We're missing people," Kelly said.
"I noticed."
"What do we do?"
"We wait."
The door opened.
Vicky walked in.
Rose smiled. "So glad you could make it."
"Save it. I'm here because I want to know who put my name on the list."
"And you'll find out. In time."
"No. Now."
Rose walked to the center of the room. "The Watchmen have twelve names. We know ten. We need the other two."
"That's not my problem."
"It is if your name is on the list."
Vicky stepped closer. "Who. Put. My. Name."
Rose looked at Kelly. Kelly looked at the floor.
"Zuru," Rose said.
Vicky's blood went cold. "You're lying."
"I don't lie."
"Yes, you do."
"I withhold information. There's a difference."
Vicky turned to leave.
"Sit down, Vicky."
"No."
"Sit. Down."
Vicky sat.
Rose walked around her. "Zuru put your name on the list because she was protecting herself. Someone was going to report her. She needed a distraction. You were the distraction."
Vicky's hands were shaking.
"Why would someone report her?"
Rose stopped behind her. Leaned down. Whispered in her ear.
"Because Zuru is the one selling drugs on campus. She's the one Oliver bought from. She's the one who almost killed him."
Vicky stood up. "That's not true."
"It is. And now you know. So the question is: what are you going to do with that information?"
The room was silent.
Vicky walked out.
No one followed.
---
THE PARKING LOT – 9:00 PM
Vicky sat on the hood of her car, staring at nothing.
Zuru walked across the lot. She'd been waiting.
"Heard you went to the meeting."
"Rose told me everything."
Zuru stopped. "What did she tell you?"
"That you're the one selling drugs. That you almost killed Oliver."
Zuru's face went pale. "Vicky—"
"Is it true?"
"Yes."
Vicky slid off the hood. Walked toward her.
"You were my friend."
"I am your friend."
"You almost killed someone."
"I didn't know he was going to—"
"You sold him the drugs that put him in the hospital."
Zuru's eyes were wet. "I didn't mean to—"
"Mean doesn't matter. Results matter."
They stood facing each other.
"So what now?" Zuru asked.
Vicky stared at her.
Then she turned and walked away.
Zuru stood alone in the parking lot.
---
THE DORM – 10:00 PM
Aaron sat on his bed.
Charlie was on his phone. Wesley was reading. Oliver was stretching.
The door burst open.
Vicky stood there.
"Aaron."
"Vicky."
"Zuru is the one who's been selling drugs. She's the one Oliver bought from. She almost killed him."
The room went silent.
Oliver stopped stretching. "What?"
"Rose told me. It's true."
Charlie put down his phone. "Zuru?"
"Zuru."
Aaron stood up. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
He walked to the door. "I'm going to find her."
"No. You're not."
"Aaron—"
"This is not your fight. It's mine."
She grabbed his arm. "She was my friend."
"She almost killed my friend."
They stood there, staring at each other.
Then Vicky let go.
"Fine," she said. "But I'm coming with you."
"No, you're not."
"Aaron."
"No."
He walked out.
Vicky stood in the doorway.
Charlie looked at Oliver. "What just happened?"
Oliver lay back on his bed. "Everything."
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 11:00 PM
Zuru was packing a bag when the door opened.
Aaron walked in.
"Where is she?" he asked.
"Who?"
"Zuru."
"I'm Zuru."
"I know who you are."
She stopped packing. "What do you want?"
"You sold drugs to my friend. He almost died."
"I didn't know—"
"You knew enough."
She stepped back. "What are you going to do?"
Aaron walked toward her. "I'm going to tell you to leave. Tonight. Before I change my mind."
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll tell the dean. I'll tell the police. I'll tell everyone."
She stared at him. "You wouldn't."
"Try me."
Zuru picked up her bag. Walked to the door. Stopped.
"Tell Vicky I'm sorry."
"Tell her yourself."
She walked out.
The door closed.
Aaron stood alone in the empty room.
---
THE PARKING LOT – MIDNIGHT
Zuru climbed into her car.
She sat there for a long time, hands on the wheel, not starting the engine.
Her phone buzzed.
Rose (11:58 PM): You made the right choice.
She stared at the message. Then she threw her phone into the passenger seat.
She started the car and drove away.
The gate opened. The gate closed.
She was gone.
---
THE DORM – 12:15 AM
Aaron walked in.
Charlie was still awake. "What happened?"
"She's gone."
"Gone where?"
"I don't know. I don't care."
He sat on his bed. Put his head in his hands.
Oliver looked at him. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me."
"Why not?"
"Because I didn't do it for you. I did it because someone had to."
Oliver nodded.
They sat in silence.