The Last Semester at North Hills

Chapter 4: The Pep Rally

Thursday morning arrived like a headache. In North Hills, the day before the big game isn't just a school day—it’s a holiday. Everyone wears the school colors, blue and gold. The teachers don’t even try to teach; they just let everyone talk about the "Miracle on the Court" that was supposed to happen tomorrow night.

But for me and Julian, it felt like we were walking to the gallows.

The noise in the gym was deafening. Every student was packed into the bleachers, stomping their feet and screaming. The band was playing the school fight song so loud the windows were rattling. In the middle of the floor, the cheerleaders were doing flips, their pom-poms flashing in the bright lights.

I was tucked away in my usual spot—the shadows behind the bleachers. From here, I could see everything without being part of it. I saw the Principal standing by a microphone, grinning like he’d already won a trophy. And then, I saw the team.

The basketball players ran out onto the court, and the crowd went absolutely insane. They were chanting one name over and over.

"MIL-LER! MIL-LER! MIL-LER!"

Julian was at the front. He looked like a king, but I could see the sweat on his upper lip from twenty feet away. He was pale. His eyes were darting around the room, looking for an exit that didn't exist. He had to stand there and take it. He had to listen to three thousand people treat him like a god, knowing he was about to break their hearts for a few stacks of Miller’s cash.

The Principal grabbed the mic. "Tomorrow night, we don't just play for a win! We play for North Hills! And leading us to that victory is the best player this town has ever seen—Julian Miller!"

He handed the mic to Julian. The gym went dead silent. Everyone was waiting for him to say something legendary.

Julian gripped the microphone so hard his knuckles turned white. He cleared his throat. The sound echoed through the speakers, sharp and jarring.

"Uh... thanks," Julian said. His voice was shaky. "We’ve worked hard. We’re going to... we're going to give you a game you'll never forget."

The crowd cheered, but it wasn't the usual roar. People were looking at each other. It wasn't the confident speech they expected. He sounded like a guy who was apologizing before he’d even done anything wrong.

He handed the mic back and practically ran off the floor. I waited a few minutes, then slipped out the side door near the locker rooms. I knew he’d be there.

I found him leaning against a brick wall in the back hallway, gasping for air. He had his jersey pulled up over his nose, trying to breathe.

"You're going to give yourself a heart attack before the game even starts," I said, leaning against the opposite wall.

Julian looked up. He looked pathetic. Not the "star athlete" pathetic, but just a kid who was drowning. "I can't do it, Elena. Did you hear them? They're betting their rent money. My coach told me he’s finally going to be able to retire if we win this and he gets his bonus. I’m ruining everyone."

"You’re saving yourself," I said firmly. "Look at me, Julian. If you win that game by twenty points like they want, your dad goes to jail. Your house gets padlocked. You don't go to Princeton; you go to a homeless shelter. Is a 'bonus' for your coach worth your entire life?"

He didn't answer. He just stared at the floor.

"I moved the money this morning," I continued, keeping my voice low. "The 'Smart Money' is already shifting. Miller’s people are ready. All you have to do is miss a few easy layups in the first quarter. Get some 'foul trouble' early so the coach has to sit you on the bench. It’ll look like a bad night, nothing more."

"What if I'm not a good enough actor?" he asked.

"Then start practicing now," I said.

Just then, the locker room door swung open. It was Chloe, the head cheerleader and Julian’s "sort-of" girlfriend. She was beautiful in that way that made you want to look away. She saw Julian, then she saw me. Her eyes narrowed.

"Julian? What are you doing back here with... her?" she asked, pointing at me like I was a piece of trash she’d found on her shoe.

Julian straightened up instantly. The mask went back on. "Nothing, Chloe. Just getting some air. Elena was just leaving."

I didn't wait for him to finish. I turned and walked away. I didn't care what Chloe thought. I didn't care about the "queen bee" drama. I had bigger problems.

As I walked down the hall, I felt a vibration in my pocket. It was a text from an unknown number.

"The books are heavy, Elena. Make sure your boy doesn't get cold feet. I'd hate for something to happen to that pretty car of his. Or his dad's health."

It was from Miller. The pressure wasn't just on Julian anymore. It was on me.

The pep rally was over. The school day was ending. Tomorrow was Friday. The day the world was supposed to stop for North Hills.

I walked to my car, my heart thumping against my ribs. I had three more chapters of this life left before I could run away. I just had to make sure Julian didn't break before the final buzzer.