THE DORM – 7:00 AM
Charlie woke up to the sound of Wesley humming.
Not humming a song. Humming the national anthem. Badly. On purpose.
"Shut up," Charlie said.
"Good morning to you too."
"It's seven in the morning."
"Perfect time for patriotism."
Charlie threw a pillow at him. Wesley caught it without looking.
Oliver sat up slowly. He'd slept in his practice jersey. He looked like he hadn't slept at all.
"You okay?" Charlie asked.
"Zuru sold me the drugs that almost killed me."
"Oh. That."
"That."
Wesley stopped humming. "So what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. Be angry? Be grateful she's gone? Both?"
"Both is exhausting."
"Welcome to my life."
Aaron walked in. He'd been awake for hours. He looked like he'd been hit by something.
"She's really gone," he said.
"Vicky told me," Charlie said. "She came by at midnight. Crying. Yelling. Throwing things."
"Where is she now?"
"In her room. Zizi's with her."
Aaron sat on his bed. Stared at the wall.
"You did the right thing," Oliver said.
"Did I?"
"You got a drug dealer off campus. Yeah."
"She was also Vicky's friend."
"She was also Vicky's problem."
Charlie stood up. "Okay. Enough. We're all sad. We're all angry. We're all tired. But there's a football qualifier in five days and a basketball game in three and I need to figure out why Josephine won't kiss me in public."
Wesley raised an eyebrow. "That's your priority?"
"She kisses me in private. But in public, she acts like I'm a stranger. It's weird."
"That's not weird. That's self-preservation."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
Aaron stood up. "I'm going to find Vicky."
"She doesn't want to see you," Charlie said.
"I know."
"Then why are you going?"
"Because she needs to see that I showed up."
He walked out.
Charlie looked at Oliver. "He's going to get his heart broken."
"He's going to break his own heart. There's a difference."
"Is there?"
"Not really."
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 8:00 AM
Vicky was sitting on her bed, staring at the wall.
Zizi was beside her, not talking, not leaving. Just existing.
Ese was in the corner, reading. She'd been reading the same page for twenty minutes.
"She's gone," Vicky said.
"She's gone."
"She was my friend."
"She was also a drug dealer."
"People can be two things."
"Not good ones."
The door opened. Aaron walked in.
Vicky didn't look at him. "You're not supposed to be here."
"I know."
"Then leave."
"No."
She looked up. Her eyes were red. "What do you want?"
"I want to know if you're okay."
"I'm not okay. My best friend sold drugs to your best friend. My other best friend knew and didn't tell me. My boyfriend cheated on me with a girl who calls everyone a cunt. And I'm on a list that could get me expelled."
"That's a lot."
"Fuck you."
"Fair."
She stood up. Walked to him. Poked his chest.
"You did this. You told Zuru to leave."
"Someone had to."
"You could have told me first."
"You would have tried to stop me."
"Yes."
"Because you're loyal. Even to people who don't deserve it."
She stared at him. Her face was crumbling.
"I hate you," she whispered.
"I know."
"I'm never going to stop loving you."
"I know that too."
She kissed him.
It was not soft. It was not romantic. It was desperate. Angry. Sad.
He kissed her back.
Zizi looked at Ese. Ese turned a page.
They pulled apart.
"That was stupid," Vicky said.
"The stupidest."
"Don't do it again."
"I won't."
She sat back on her bed. He stood there.
"You should go," she said.
"I should."
He walked to the door. Paused.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"All of it."
He left.
Vicky lay back on her bed. Stared at the ceiling.
Zizi looked at Ese. "That was insane."
"That was Tuesday."
---
THE CLINIC – 10:00 AM
Chuks was holding court.
A patient had come in with a fish bone stuck in his throat. The man was panicking. His wife was crying. Their toddler was screaming.
Chuks looked at the man. "Open wide."
The man opened his mouth.
Chuks reached in with a pair of tweezers. Pulled out the bone. Held it up.
"Fish," he said.
The man stopped panicking. His wife stopped crying. The toddler kept screaming.
"You're a hero," the man said.
"I'm a nurse. There's a difference."
He handed the man a lollipop. The man looked confused.
"It's for the kid. Not you."
The family left. Chuks turned to Aaron, who was standing in the corner, watching.
"You look like someone died."
"Someone almost died."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
"Close enough." Chuks sat down. "Tell me."
Aaron told him. Zuru. The drugs. Oliver. Vicky. The kiss.
Chuks listened. Didn't interrupt.
When Aaron finished, Chuks leaned back.
"Let me tell you something," he said. "When I was your age, I was in love with a girl who sold drugs."
"You're lying."
"I'm not. Her name was Amara. She was beautiful. She was funny. She was also selling cocaine to secondary school students."
"What happened?"
"I reported her."
Aaron stared at him. "You did?"
"She was hurting kids. I couldn't watch."
"Did she go to jail?"
"She went to rehab. She's a lawyer now. She has three kids. She sends me a Christmas card every year."
"That's insane."
"That's life."
Chuks stood up. "You did the right thing. It's going to feel wrong for a long time. That's how you know it was right."
He walked away.
Aaron stood there, alone.
---
THE CAFETERIA – 12:00 PM
The lunch rush was chaos.
Kelly was at the center of it, arguing with a food vendor about the price of plantain.
"I paid for extra," she said.
"You paid for regular."
"I paid for extra. Check the receipt."
The vendor checked the receipt. "Regular."
Kelly's face went red. "This is theft."
"This is business."
"You're a thief."
"I'm an entrepreneur. There's a difference."
Kelly grabbed her tray and stormed off. She sat down next to Nelly, who was eating in silence.
"You won't believe what happened," Kelly said.
"Nelly."
"The vendor overcharged me."
"Nelly."
"Are you listening?"
Nelly put down her fork. "Zuru sold drugs to Oliver."
Kelly's mouth fell open. "What?"
"She's been selling since first semester. She almost killed him."
"How do you know?"
"Rose told Vicky. Aaron made her leave."
Kelly sat back. "That's... that's insane."
"That's our friend."
"She wasn't our friend. She was a liability."
Nelly looked at her. "Is that what you think?"
"That's what Rose thinks."
"And what do you think?"
Kelly was quiet for a moment. "I think I need to be more careful about who I trust."
Nelly went back to her food.
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 2:00 PM
Mandy walked in.
Vicky was on her bed. Zizi was reading. Ese was in the corner.
"You're not supposed to be here," Vicky said.
"I'm not supposed to be anywhere."
"What do you want?"
"I want to know if you're okay."
"Why do you care?"
"I don't. But Aaron asked me to check on you."
Vicky sat up. "Aaron asked you?"
"He's worried. He's also an idiot. Those aren't mutually exclusive."
"You're a cunt."
"And you're a broken record. But here we are."
Mandy sat on the edge of the bed. "Zuru is gone. That's good. Oliver is alive. That's also good. You're still on the list. That's bad."
"I know."
"Rose wants you to come to another meeting."
"I'm not going."
"You should."
"Why?"
"Because if you don't, she'll find a way to hurt you. That's what she does."
Vicky stared at her. "Why are you helping me?"
Mandy stood up. "I'm not helping you. I'm helping Aaron. He asked. I said yes. That's it."
She walked to the door. Paused.
"Also, you're not as terrible as I thought."
"Fuck you."
"You already did. Metaphorically."
She left.
Vicky lay back on her bed.
Zizi looked at Ese. "This is exhausting."
Ese turned a page. "This is Tuesday."
---
THE BASKETBALL COURT – 4:00 PM
Oliver was in the zone.
The starting lineup had been announced. He was in it. His name was on the sheet.
He shot. Swish. He shot. Swish.
Peculiar sat in the stands, watching.
"You're going to hurt yourself," she called out.
"I'm going to win."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do."
She walked down to the court. Took the ball from him.
"What if you lose?"
"Then I lose."
"And then what?"
"Then I try again."
She looked at him. "You've changed."
"I've grown. There's a difference."
She smiled. "Is there?"
"Not really."
She kissed him. Quick. Soft.
"Good luck," she said.
"I don't need luck."
"Then why are you smiling?"
He didn't answer.
---
THE DORM – 6:00 PM
Charlie was on the phone.
"No, I understand. I'm not asking you to—I'm just saying—Josephine, listen."
He listened.
"I know you're scared. I'm scared too. But we can't just—"
He listened again.
"Okay. Okay. I'll see you tomorrow."
He hung up.
Wesley looked at him. "What happened?"
"She wants to take a break."
"Why?"
"She didn't say."
"Then ask her."
"I tried."
"Try harder."
Charlie grabbed his jacket. "I'm going to her room."
"Charlie."
"What?"
"Don't beg."
"I won't."
"You will. That's what I'm afraid of."
Charlie walked out.
Wesley picked up his book.
---
THE DORM – 8:00 PM
Aaron sat on his bed, staring at the wall.
Oliver was stretching. Wesley was reading. Charlie wasn't back yet.
"Charlie went to see Josephine," Oliver said.
"I know."
"He's going to get his heart broken."
"He's going to break his own heart."
"Is there a difference?"
"Not really."
The door opened.
Charlie walked in. His face was red. His eyes were wet.
"She said yes."
Wesley put down his book. "Yes to what?"
"She said she's ready. To be public. To be together."
Oliver sat up. "Really?"
"Really."
Charlie sat on his bed. Put his head in his hands.
"Why are you crying?" Wesley asked.
"Because I'm happy."
"That's not crying."
"It is today."
Aaron smiled. A real smile.
For a moment, the room was light.
---
THE FIELD – 10:00 PM
Aaron stood at the center circle, alone.
The floodlights were off. The stands were empty. The grass was wet.
He pulled out his phone. No messages from Vicky. No messages from Mandy. Nothing from the unknown number.
He thought about Zuru. Gone. He thought about Oliver. Alive. He thought about Kehinde. Broken.
He thought about the qualifier in five days.
His phone buzzed.
Coach Okafor (10:05 PM): Kehinde is out for the season. You're playing striker. Start practicing.
He stared at the screen.
Then he ran.
Laps. Sprints. Drills. Alone in the dark.
---
THE ABANDONED STUDIO – 11:00 PM
Rose stood alone in the dark.
Kelly had sent the final list. Fifteen names. Vicky's was still there. Mandy's was still there. Someone had added Aaron's.
Rose stared at the wall.
Someone was trying to burn down the garden.
She picked up her phone.
Rose (11:05 PM): Find out who added Aaron. Now.
Kelly (11:05 PM): On it.
Rose put down the phone.
The garden needed pruning.
And she had a new pair of shears.
---
THE DORM – 11:30 PM
Aaron walked in. His legs were dead. His lungs were burning.
Charlie was asleep. Wesley was reading. Oliver was lying down, eyes open.
"You okay?" Oliver asked.
"I'm tired."
"That's not the same thing."
"It is tonight."
Oliver nodded.
Aaron lay on his bed.
The room was quiet.
The night pressed on.
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 11:45 PM
Vicky lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Zizi was asleep. Ese was in the corner, her book closed, her eyes open.
"Ese."
"Yes."
"Do you think I'm a good person?"
Ese was quiet for a long time.
"I think you're trying to be. That's more than most people."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
Vicky closed her eyes.
The room was dark.
The night pressed on.
---
THE PARKING LOT – MIDNIGHT
Jon sat in his car, waiting.
The lot was empty. The lights were off. The air was cold.
His phone buzzed.
Ese (12:00 AM): I can't come tonight. Something happened.
Jon (12:01 AM): What happened?
Ese (12:01 AM): Everything.
Jon (12:02 AM): Do you want to talk?
Ese (12:02 AM): No.
Jon (12:03 AM): Then what do you want?
Ese (12:03 AM): I want to sit in silence with someone who doesn't need me to talk.
Jon (12:04 AM): I'll be here. Tomorrow. Same time.
Ese (12:04 AM): I know.
He put down the phone.
Started the car.
Drove away.