THE GYMNASIUM – 7:00 AM
The stands were already filling.
Oliver stood in the tunnel, his jersey clinging to his chest, his heart pounding against his ribs. He could hear the crowd. The buzz of voices. The stomp of feet. The distant thump of music.
Peculiar appeared beside him.
"You're going to be late," she said.
"I'm not late. I'm early."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
She straightened his jersey. "You're going to win."
"How do you know?"
"Because you're the only one who wants it."
She kissed his cheek and walked away.
Oliver stepped onto the court.
The lights were blinding. The noise was deafening. The opposing team was already warming up on the other side.
Coach Ogun walked to the center of the court. "Listen up!"
The team gathered.
"Today, we play. Not for ourselves. Not for our parents. Not for the school. We play for each other."
He looked at Oliver.
"Captain. Say something."
Oliver stepped forward. His throat was dry. His hands were shaking.
"I'm not going to give a speech," he said. "I'm not going to tell you we're the best team on this court. We're not."
The team was silent.
"But we're the only team that's been through what we've been through. We're the only team that's lost a brother and kept going."
He looked at each of them.
"Tomorrow, we might lose. But today, we're going to make them remember us."
The whistle blew.
The game began.
---
THE STANDS – 10:00 AM
Aaron sat with Charlie, Wesley, and Vicky. Mandy was a few rows back, watching. Zizi and Ese were on the other side of the gym.
"Oliver looks good," Charlie said.
"He looks terrified," Wesley said.
"Same thing."
"It's not."
The first basket was scored by the opposing team. The crowd groaned.
Oliver got the ball. Dribbled down the court. Passed. The ball came back to him. He shot. Scored.
The crowd cheered.
Aaron leaned forward.
He's playing like he has something to prove, Aaron thought. He's always playing like he has something to prove.
---
HALFTIME – 11:00 AM
The score was 42-38. Oliver's team was losing.
They huddled in the locker room. Sweating. Breathing hard. Tired.
Coach Ogun looked at them. "What's wrong?"
No one answered.
"You're playing scared. You're playing like you're afraid to lose. That's why you're losing."
Oliver stood up.
"Coach, give me the ball."
"What?"
"Give me the ball. I'll carry us."
Coach stared at him. "You're not even the best player on this team."
"Then why am I the only one who's still standing?"
The room was quiet.
Coach nodded. "Fine. Get the ball. Win the game."
The whistle blew. Second half began.
---
THE GYMNASIUM – 12:00 PM
Oliver was unstoppable.
He drove down the court. Dribbled past two defenders. Laid it up. Scored.
The crowd erupted.
He stole the ball. Passed to his teammate. The teammate scored.
The gap closed.
The final minute. The score was 72-70. Oliver's team was losing.
Oliver got the ball. Dribbled down the court. A defender was in front of him. He crossed left. The defender stumbled. He crossed right. The defender fell.
The basket was open.
He shot.
The ball flew.
The buzzer rang.
The ball went in.
The crowd exploded.
73-72. Oliver had won.
He fell to his knees. His teammates mobbed him.
Peculiar was in the stands, crying.
Nelly was in the stands, clapping.
Aaron was in the stands, smiling.
Oliver looked up at the ceiling.
I did it, he thought. I really did it.
---
THE LOCKER ROOM – 1:00 PM
The team was loud. Celebrating. Singing.
Oliver sat on a bench, staring at his hands.
Aaron walked in. "You did it."
"I did it."
"I knew you would."
"How?"
"Because you wanted it more."
Oliver looked at him. "You're not a bad captain."
"Neither are you."
"I'm not a captain."
"Then what are you?"
Oliver smiled. "I'm the guy who won."
Aaron laughed.
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 3:00 PM
Vicky sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone.
Zizi was reading. Ese was in the corner, her book open.
"Oliver won," Vicky said.
"I heard," Zizi said.
"He was amazing."
"Did you see Aaron?"
"No."
"I did."
Vicky looked at her. "What did he do?"
"He smiled."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
---
THE ABANDONED STUDIO – 5:00 PM
Rose stood alone in the dark.
The list was on her phone. Four students expelled. Three from her garden.
Her phone buzzed.
Kelly (5:05 PM): The Watchmen are having another meeting tonight.
Rose (5:06 PM): Where?
Kelly (5:06 PM): The administration building. 8PM.
Rose (5:07 PM): I'll be there.
Kelly (5:07 PM): Alone?
Rose (5:08 PM): Alone.
She put down the phone.
---
THE PARKING LOT – 6:00 PM
Ese sat on the hood of Jon's car.
Jon stood beside her, his hand on her knee.
"Oliver won," he said.
"I know."
"You didn't go to the game."
"I was watching."
"Watching from where?"
"From the shadows."
"That's not healthy."
"It's not supposed to be."
He squeezed her knee. "You're going to burn out."
"I'm going to survive."
She slid off the hood.
"I have to go."
"Where?"
"I have to see someone."
She walked away.
Jon watched her go.
---
THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING – 8:00 PM
Rose walked into the meeting room.
The Watchmen were there. The dean. The task force members. The student informants.
She sat in the back row.
The dean stood up. "We've identified several more students who pose a threat to the values of this institution."
He read the names.
Four more.
Three of them were in Rose's garden.
Rose stood up.
"Dean Okonkwo."
The room turned.
"I have information about the people who are really threatening this institution."
The dean looked at her. "Proceed."
Rose walked to the front of the room.
"Aaron Obi," she said. "Oliver Onwuachi. Charlie Nwachukwu. Wesley Adebayo."
The room was quiet.
"They're the ones who are selling drugs. They're the ones who are leading others astray. They're the ones who are destroying our community."
She looked at the dean.
"Expel them."
---
THE DORM – 9:00 PM
Aaron was on his bed, scrolling through his phone.
A notification appeared.
MU Academic Affairs: Notice of Disciplinary Hearing
He opened it.
Student: Aaron Obi.
Charges: Drug possession. Distribution. Moral corruption.
His heart stopped.
Hearing Date: Tomorrow. 9 AM.
He read it again.
Then again.
"Charlie," he said.
Charlie looked up.
"What's wrong?"
Aaron handed him the phone.
Charlie read it.
His face went pale.
---
THE GIRLS' DORM – 9:15 PM
Vicky was on her bed, scrolling through her phone.
A notification appeared.
MU Academic Affairs: Notice of Disciplinary Hearing
She opened it.
Student: Vicky Eze.
Charges: Moral corruption. Association with known offenders.
She read it again.
Then again.
"Zizi," she said.
Zizi looked up.
"What's wrong?"
Vicky handed her the phone.
Zizi read it.
Her face went pale.
---
THE ABANDONED STUDIO – 10:00 PM
Rose stood alone in the dark.
Her phone buzzed.
Kelly (10:05 PM): It's done.
Rose (10:06 PM): All of them?
Kelly (10:06 PM): All of them.
Rose smiled.