Beyond the Final Score

Something Has Changed

The next morning, Marian arrived at school earlier than usual.

She told herself it was because she wanted a quiet start to the day, but when she walked into the gym and saw Emerald already there, she knew that wasn't entirely true.

Emerald was sitting on the bleachers, scrolling through her phone. She looked up when Marian entered.

"You're early."

"So are you."

"I asked first."

Marian smiled as she dropped her bag beside the bench.

"Maybe I wanted to see if you'd actually show up."

Emerald raised an eyebrow.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know. You said you'd see me tomorrow."

"And here I am."

Something about that answer made Marian smile again.

She sat beside her, leaving a small space between them.

For a while, they talked about nothing important. A teacher they both found annoying, a test they hadn't studied enough for, and the terrible cafeteria food from the previous day.

It felt strange.

Not bad strange.

Just different.

A few weeks ago, Marian wouldn't have imagined sitting beside Emerald and talking like this. Emerald had been the girl who walked into Westbridge and took the position Marian had worked so hard to keep.

Now Marian found herself enjoying having her around even when there wasn't a basketball between them.

Emerald suddenly looked at her.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you still think I stole your position?"

Marian thought about it.

"Sometimes."

Emerald laughed.

"At least you're honest."

"But I don't blame you anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because you didn't ask Coach Daniels to give it to you. You earned it."

Emerald looked at her for a moment.

"That means a lot coming from you."

Marian looked away.

"I'm trying to be less difficult."

"You're not difficult."

Marian turned back to her.

"You definitely thought I was."

"I thought you were angry."

"I was."

"I know."

Their eyes met, and neither looked away immediately.

The conversation suddenly felt different.

Marian wasn't sure what had changed, but she could feel it.

Emerald looked down first.

"I like this."

"What?"

"This."

She gestured between them.

"Talking without arguing."

Marian smiled.

"Me too."

Emerald leaned back against the bleachers.

"I was worried you'd never give me a chance."

Marian's smile faded slightly.

"I almost didn't."

"I know."

"But I'm glad I did."

Emerald looked at her again.

"So am I."

Marian felt an unfamiliar warmth spread through her chest. She tried to ignore it, but it was becoming harder to pretend she didn't notice the way Emerald looked at her.

She had spent so much time thinking about how much she disliked Emerald that she hadn't noticed when those feelings started changing.

Or maybe she had noticed.

Maybe she just hadn't wanted to admit it.

Emerald nudged her shoulder gently.

"You're thinking too hard."

Marian laughed.

"You always notice."

"Maybe I pay attention to you."

The words caught Marian off guard.

Emerald seemed to realize how they sounded, but she didn't take them back.

Instead, she smiled.

Marian looked down, trying to hide her own smile.

"You know you're becoming a problem again."

Emerald laughed.

"How?"

"Because I don't know what to do with you anymore."

Emerald's expression softened.

"You don't have to do anything."

For a moment, they simply sat there.

No competition.

No argument.

No pressure to prove anything.

Just the two of them.

Marian finally looked at Emerald.

"I think something has changed."

Emerald didn't ask what she meant.

She seemed to understand.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "I think so too."

The bell rang somewhere down the hallway, reminding them that school was about to begin.

Neither moved immediately.

Marian wasn't ready for the moment to end.

And that realization scared her more than she wanted to admit.