Beyond the Final Score

Harder To Pretend

Marian spent most of the morning trying not to think about what had happened in the gym.

It didn't work.

Every time she remembered Emerald saying, “Maybe I pay attention to you,” she felt that same strange warmth she had tried to ignore earlier.

She couldn't explain it.

They had been rivals. Then teammates. Then, somehow, friends.

But this felt different.

And Marian wasn't sure she was ready to find out what different meant.

At lunch, she was halfway through her meal when Emerald appeared beside her table.

"You're quiet."

Marian looked up. "I'm eating."

"You've been eating for ten minutes."

"So?"

"So you're usually complaining about the food by now."

Marian laughed.

"Maybe I'm learning to appreciate it."

Emerald sat across from her.

"I don't believe that."

"You're becoming very confident."

"I've always been confident."

Marian smiled.

"That's what got you into trouble."

"And somehow, you're still talking to me."

There was something about the way Emerald said it that made Marian pause.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "I am."

Emerald held her gaze for a moment before looking down at her food.

They continued talking, but Marian noticed that neither of them brought up their conversation from that morning.

Maybe they were both afraid of saying too much.

After school, Marian headed toward the gym. She expected practice to help clear her head, but the moment she saw Emerald, it became even harder.

During drills, Emerald kept catching her eye.

Sometimes it was because of a play.

Sometimes it wasn't.

Once, Marian caught Emerald smiling at her from across the court.

She smiled back before she could stop herself.

Tessa noticed.

"What's funny?"

"Nothing."

Emerald turned away, still smiling.

Marian shook her head and focused on the drill.

But the feeling didn't disappear.

After practice, Marian waited until most of the team had left before packing her bag.

Emerald was still there.

"You're waiting again," Marian said.

"Maybe."

"For me?"

"Maybe."

Marian smiled.

"You're becoming predictable."

"You're not complaining."

"No."

Emerald walked closer.

"Can I ask you something?"

Marian nodded.

"Do you ever think about us?"

Marian's heart skipped.

"Us?"

"You know what I mean."

Marian looked at her.

"Sometimes."

Emerald took a breath.

"Me too."

Neither of them spoke for a moment.

Marian knew they were standing at the edge of something neither had named yet.

She could have joked about it.

She could have changed the subject.

Instead, she said, "I don't know what this is."

Emerald nodded.

"Neither do I."

"Does that bother you?"

"Not really."

Marian smiled.

"Why?"

Emerald looked directly at her.

"Because I like where it's going."

Marian's chest tightened.

She didn't look away this time.

"Me too."

They stood there quietly, close enough for Marian to notice the nervous smile Emerald was trying to hide.

For once, neither of them needed to say anything else.

Whatever was happening between them wasn't a rivalry anymore.

And Marian was beginning to realize that she didn't want it to be.