Beyond the Final Score

What Changed between Us

By the time Marian reached school the next morning, she had already decided that whatever had happened between her and Emerald after practice needed to stay there.

It had been nothing.

At least, that was what Marian kept telling herself.

They had talked. They had stood together in an empty gym while the rain came down outside. Emerald had looked at her differently, and Marian had felt something she couldn't quite explain, but none of that meant anything.

She had a team to lead, a championship to prepare for, and a position she was still trying to reclaim.

That was what mattered.

She walked into the gym after school and found Emerald already there.

Emerald was sitting on the floor near the sideline, stretching her legs while scrolling through something on her phone. She looked up when Marian entered.

"You're early."

"So are you."

Emerald smiled. "I thought you liked being first."

"I do."

"Then I won't take it away from you."

Marian tried not to smile, but she couldn't stop herself completely.

She dropped her bag beside the bench and began changing into her practice shoes.

For a few minutes, neither of them said anything.

It should have felt normal.

Instead, Marian was suddenly conscious of every small thing Emerald did.

The way she pulled her hair back before practice. The way she tapped her fingers against her knee while thinking. Even the way she looked at Marian whenever she thought Marian wasn't paying attention.

Marian finally glanced up.

"What?"

Emerald raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You keep looking at me."

"I could say the same about you."

Marian immediately looked away.

"I wasn't looking at you."

Emerald laughed softly. "Right."

Before Marian could respond, the gym doors opened and the rest of the team began filing in.

Tessa came in with two teammates, talking loudly about something that had happened in class. Coach Daniels followed a few minutes later with a clipboard under her arm.

"All right, everyone. Bring it in."

The players gathered around her.

Coach Daniels looked over the team before speaking.

"We've got another game coming up, and after what happened against Northside, I want us focused. We played hard, but we're still making the same mistakes we've been making all season."

Her eyes moved between Marian and Emerald.

"Communication is one of them."

Marian nodded.

Emerald did the same.

"So today we're going to work on two things," Coach Daniels continued. "Ball movement and trust. I don't care how talented any individual player is. If you don't trust the person beside you, you won't win when the pressure gets high."

The words stayed with Marian as practice began.

They started with passing drills, and Coach Daniels immediately paired Marian with Emerald.

Marian caught the ball and looked at Emerald.

"Seriously?"

Coach Daniels heard her.

"Problem?"

"No, Coach."

"Good. Get started."

Emerald took her position opposite Marian.

"Looks like we're stuck together."

"For practice."

"I know."

They began passing.

At first, Marian kept her movements controlled and predictable. She passed, Emerald returned it, and they repeated the drill.

Then Coach Daniels called out, "Faster."

They increased the pace.

"Faster."

Again.

Soon the ball was moving between them almost without thought.

Marian passed before Emerald fully raised her hands.

Emerald caught it.

Then Emerald changed direction unexpectedly, sending the next pass slightly to Marian's left.

Marian reached for it and caught it before it went out.

She looked at Emerald.

"You did that on purpose."

"I wanted to see if you were paying attention."

"And?"

Emerald smiled.

"You were."

Something about the answer made Marian's chest tighten.

She turned back toward the drill.

"Again."

This time, when Emerald moved, Marian moved with her.

They began anticipating each other without needing to speak.

Coach Daniels watched from the other side of the court.

"That's what I'm talking about," she called. "Keep that connection."

Marian heard her, but she wasn't sure whether she was talking about their passing.

For the rest of practice, she tried not to think about it.

She failed.

After practice, the team slowly cleared out.

Marian packed her things while Emerald stood near the doorway, waiting.

"You heading home?" Emerald asked.

"Yeah."

Emerald hesitated.

"Can I walk with you?"

Marian looked at her.

There was nothing strange about the question. They went to the same school. They had walked together before.

Still, Marian found herself searching Emerald's face for a reason.

"Sure."

They left the gym together.

For the first few minutes, they talked about practice, the upcoming game, and Coach Daniels' decision to change some of their plays. It was easy, almost normal.

Then Emerald became quiet.

Marian glanced at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You've said that before."

Emerald smiled faintly.

"I was just thinking about yesterday."

Marian's steps slowed slightly.

"The practice?"

"The conversation."

Marian looked ahead.

"There's nothing to think about."

"Maybe for you."

Marian didn't answer.

Emerald stopped walking.

Marian took another step before realizing she was alone. She turned around.

Emerald was watching her.

"I don't know what's happening between us," Emerald said quietly. "But I know something has changed."

Marian's heart began beating faster.

She wanted to deny it.

She wanted to say that nothing had changed, that they were still rivals, teammates, nothing more.

But the words wouldn't come.

Emerald gave her a small, uncertain smile.

"You feel it too, don't you?"

Marian looked at her for a long moment.

And for the first time, she couldn't find a convincing lie.