THE COMPETITION
1136 Words
Chapter Ten — The Competition
By the next morning, I had made a decision.
I wasn't going to ask Ethan about his injury again.
Not yet.
He had made it clear that he wasn't ready to tell me everything, and as much as I hated admitting it, I knew pushing him wouldn't make him trust me.
Besides, I had my own problems.
Coach had told me I still had a chance to earn a starting position.
And I wasn't going to waste it.
I arrived at the training facility before everyone else and immediately started warming up.
I was halfway through my second lap when Maya joined me.
“You're serious today.”
“I've always been serious.”
“Not like this.”
I glanced at her.
“What do you mean?”
She pointed toward the field.
“Look.”
I followed her gaze.
A girl I'd never seen before was walking toward Coach.
She was wearing our team's training uniform.
I frowned.
“Who is that?”
Maya shrugged.
“No idea.”
We watched as Coach spoke to her for a moment.
Then he turned toward us.
“Everyone! Come over here.”
The team gathered around.
Coach gestured toward the new girl.
“This is Sophie Carter. She's joining the team today.”
Sophie smiled.
“Hi, everyone.”
A few players welcomed her.
I didn't think much of it until Coach continued.
“She'll be competing for one of the starting positions.”
My stomach tightened.
Another competitor.
Great.
Sophie looked around the team.
Then her eyes stopped on me.
“Lena, right?”
“Yes.”
“I've heard you're one of the best players here.”
I wasn't sure whether that was a compliment.
“Thanks.”
She smiled.
“I'd love to play against you sometime.”
I smiled back.
“You probably will.”
Maya leaned toward me.
“She seems nice.”
“That's what worries me.”
Maya laughed.
---
Training began.
Coach divided us into three groups.
Sophie was placed in mine.
For the first few drills, she was impressive.
Her passes were clean.
Her footwork was quick.
And she didn't seem nervous at all.
I watched her carefully.
She wasn't just here to be part of the team.
She wanted a starting position.
And she was good enough to compete for one.
During a passing drill, Sophie sent the ball directly to me.
I returned it.
She moved quickly and sent it back.
We continued for several passes.
“You're good,” she said.
“So are you.”
“Thanks.”
Then she smiled.
“Competition makes things more interesting, doesn't it?”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Definitely.”
Across the field, Ethan was watching us.
When our eyes met, he looked away.
I couldn't tell why.
---
Later, Coach organized another scrimmage.
This time, Sophie and I were on opposite teams.
The moment the whistle blew, we both went after the ball.
She reached it first.
I chased her.
She moved left.
I followed.
She tried to pass around me.
I blocked her.
The ball rolled toward the other side.
I got there first.
“Nice try,” I said.
She laughed.
“Not bad.”
I passed the ball to Maya and ran forward.
The game continued.
Neither of us gave the other an easy chance.
Every time Sophie made a good move, I answered with one of my own.
By the end of the scrimmage, we were both exhausted.
Coach blew the whistle.
“Good work.”
He looked at Sophie.
“Very impressive for your first day.”
Then he looked at me.
“Lena, you need to keep pushing.”
I nodded.
“I will.”
I noticed Ethan standing nearby.
He looked at me and smiled.
“You have competition now.”
I wiped sweat from my forehead.
“I can handle it.”
“I know.”
His answer was simple.
But something about the way he said it made me feel strangely confident.
---
After practice, I was packing my things when Sophie approached me.
“Hey.”
I looked up.
“What's up?”
“I wanted to ask you something.”
“Sure.”
She hesitated.
“Are you and Ethan together?”
I nearly dropped my water bottle.
“What?”
She laughed.
“Sorry. I just noticed you two seem close.”
“We're not together.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
She smiled.
“Okay.”
“Why?”
“No reason.”
She walked away.
I shook my head.
People were starting to notice things that I didn't even understand myself.
I turned toward the field.
Ethan was standing there alone.
Again.
And once again, his hand was resting against his side.
I watched him carefully.
He noticed me.
His hand immediately dropped.
I walked toward him.
“You're doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Hiding it.”
His expression hardened.
“I told you, I'm fine.”
“And I told you I don't believe you.”
He sighed.
“Lena.”
“What?”
“I appreciate that you're worried.”
I froze.
He continued.
“But you need to stop watching me every second.”
“I don't watch you every second.”
He raised an eyebrow.
I looked away.
“Fine. Maybe sometimes.”
He smiled.
“Sometimes?”
“Don't push it.”
He laughed softly.
Then his expression suddenly changed.
For a moment, he looked like he was in pain.
I stepped closer.
“Ethan?”
He took a breath.
“I'm okay.”
“You don't look okay.”
He straightened.
“I just need a minute.”
I wanted to argue.
But I didn't.
Instead, I sat beside him.
We stayed quiet for a while.
Then he said, “Sophie is good.”
I looked at him.
“Yeah.”
“You worried?”
“About her?”
He nodded.
“No.”
I paused.
“Should I be?”
He smiled.
“I don't know.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You're annoying.”
“You've said that before.”
“And I'll keep saying it.”
He laughed.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
No competition.
No scholarship pressure.
No secrets.
Just two teammates sitting together after practice.
Then Ethan stood.
“We should go.”
I nodded.
As we walked toward the exit, he slowed slightly.
I noticed.
Again.
He thought I didn't.
But I did.
And this time, I made myself a promise.
I wouldn't force Ethan to tell me his secret.
But I wouldn't stop paying attention either.
Because whatever was happening to him wasn't going away.
And sooner or later, it was going to catch up with him.
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