The Space Between Us
754 Words
The next morning, Marian expected things to feel different.
She couldn't explain why. Nothing had happened between her and Emerald that could justify it. They had practiced together, laughed a little, and spent more time on the court than either of them probably needed to.
That was all.
Still, when Marian walked into the gym and saw Emerald sitting on the bleachers, tying her shoes, she found herself smiling.
Emerald noticed.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
Marian picked up a basketball. “You're imagining things.”
Emerald stood and walked toward her. “But you were.”
“No I wasn't..”
“Maybe.”
Marian tossed her the ball.
“Come on. We're wasting time.”
Emerald caught it. “That's the Marian I know.”
They joined the rest of the team as Coach Daniels called practice to order.
“Today we're working on game situations,” Coach announced. “And I want Marian and Emerald running the offense together.”
A few heads turned.
Marian glanced at Emerald.
Neither of them complained.
They took their positions.
The first drill started quickly. The defense closed in, forcing Marian toward the sideline. Normally, she would have tried to create space herself.
Instead, she looked up.
Emerald was already moving.
Marian passed.
Emerald caught the ball and drove toward the basket before sending it back.
Marian shot.
The ball went in.
Coach Daniels blew her whistle.
“Good. Again.”
They reset.
This time Emerald was trapped near the baseline. Marian moved into position without being asked, giving her an open passing lane.
The ball came across.
Marian caught it and immediately returned it.
Emerald scored.
Tessa jogged past them.
“You two are getting annoying.”
Emerald laughed. “Jealous?”
“Of what?”
“Our teamwork.”
Tessa shook her head. “I'm just saying, yesterday you two looked like you wanted to fight.”
Marian glanced at Emerald.
“Yesterday was different.”
Emerald's smile faded slightly.
“Yeah,” she said. “It was.”
Marian wasn't sure what she meant, but before she could ask, Coach Daniels called them back.
They continued.
By the end of practice, Marian was exhausted, but there was a satisfaction she hadn't felt in a while. The offense was beginning to come together, and for once she hadn't felt like she was carrying every possession by herself.
As the team packed up, Coach Daniels stopped Marian.
“You're improving.”
Marian nodded. “Thanks, Coach.”
“You're also learning something.”
Marian waited.
“You don't have to control every play.”
Marian looked toward the court, where Emerald was putting her things into her bag.
“I know.”
Coach raised an eyebrow.
“Do you?”
Marian smiled faintly. “I'm working on it.”
“Good. Keep working.”
Coach walked away.
A moment later, Emerald approached.
“What did she say?”
“Nothing.”
“That's not true.”
Marian picked up her bag.
“She said I don't have to control every play.”
Emerald nodded. “She's right.”
Marian looked at her. “Don't start.”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
Emerald laughed.
They walked toward the locker room together.
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Then Emerald said, “You know, when I first came here, I thought you hated me.”
Marian glanced at her.
“I didn't hate you.”
“You looked like you wanted to.”
“I was annoyed.”
“Because I took your position?”
Marian hesitated.
“Yeah.”
Emerald nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
Marian looked at her more closely. “You do?”
“Being new isn't exactly easy either.”
There was something in Emerald's voice that made Marian pause.
She wanted to ask what she meant, but Emerald had already opened the locker room door.
“So,” Emerald said, looking back at her, “are we still rivals?”
Marian considered the question.
She could have said yes.
It would have been easier.
Instead, she smiled.
“On the court.”
Emerald smiled back.
“I'll take that.”
They walked inside together.
Neither of them noticed Coach Daniels watching from the far end of the hallway.
The Northside scrimmage was getting closer, and for the first time, Marian wasn't worried about facing them alone.
She had Emerald beside her.
And somehow, that felt like an advantage.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD