Beyond the Final Score

Rivals

Marian arrived at school the next morning still thinking about Emerald Johns.

She had tried not to. During breakfast, she'd focused on her food. On the bus, she'd put her headphones on and stared out the window. None of it helped.

Every time she thought about basketball, Emerald's face appeared in her mind.

What bothered Marian most wasn't even the girl's confidence. It was what Coach Daniels had done with it. Emerald had walked into Westbridge for the first time yesterday and somehow walked out with Marian's position.

Point guard.

Marian had earned that spot years ago. She knew the team's plays, knew how her teammates moved on the court, and knew what Coach Daniels expected from her. She wasn't going to give all of that up simply because a talented transfer student had arrived.

By the time lunch ended, Marian had made up her mind.

If Emerald wanted the position, she'd have to prove she deserved it.

Practice started with conditioning.

Coach Daniels stood at the edge of the court with her stopwatch.

“Five laps!”

The entire team groaned.

Emerald didn't. She bent down, tightened the laces on her sneakers, and stood again.

Marian noticed.

Of course she doesn't complain.

“Ready?”

Emerald's voice came from beside her.

Marian glanced over. “For what?”

“To beat you.”

Marian gave her a look. “You've been here one day.”

Emerald smiled. “And I've already taken your position.”

Marian stopped walking.

Emerald took another step before realizing Marian wasn't beside her anymore. She turned around, and for a moment the two girls simply stared at each other.

“You think that's funny?” Marian asked.

“A little.”

Marian shook her head. “You're going to learn something about Westbridge.”

Emerald raised an eyebrow. “What's that?”

“I'm not easy to beat.”

Emerald's smile returned.

“Good.”

She took off running.

“Neither am I.”

Marian stood there for half a second before sprinting after her.

The first two laps passed without much competition. By the third, however, Marian could hear Emerald's footsteps close behind her.

Neither girl slowed down.

“Come on, Captain!” Emerald called.

Marian glanced over her shoulder. “Don't call me that.”

“Why?”

“Because you haven't earned the right.”

Emerald laughed.

Marian pushed harder and passed her.

“Try to keep up.”

For the first time that morning, Emerald's expression changed.

The teasing disappeared, replaced by a look Marian recognized immediately.

Challenge accepted.

Emerald accelerated.

They reached the finish line almost together.

The team erupted.

“Who won?”

“I couldn't tell!”

Coach Daniels looked at her stopwatch.

“Marian. By half a second.”

Marian turned toward Emerald, trying not to look too pleased with herself.

“Better luck next time.”

Emerald bent forward with her hands on her knees, catching her breath. When she looked up, she was still smiling.

“Enjoy it.”

Marian frowned. “Why?”

“Because I'm coming for you.”

That wiped the smile from Marian's face.

She had a feeling Emerald meant it.

The scrimmage wasn't much better.

Coach Daniels deliberately placed them on opposite teams, and from the moment the whistle blew, neither girl seemed interested in giving the other an easy possession.

Marian stole the first pass.

Emerald stole the next one.

Marian scored from the corner, and Emerald answered with a three-pointer of her own.

Marian found a teammate cutting toward the basket and delivered a perfect pass. A few seconds later, Emerald intercepted a pass intended for Marian's teammate and took it the other way.

Every time Marian created some distance, Emerald found a way to close it.

Every time Emerald gained an advantage, Marian answered.

The rest of the team eventually stopped trying to pretend they weren't watching.

Coach Daniels finally blew her whistle.

“Enough!”

Both girls stopped.

“Everyone else, take five.”

The team scattered toward the benches.

Marian reached for her water bottle, still trying to catch her breath. Emerald walked over with a grin that suggested she had enjoyed every second of the scrimmage.

“That was fun.”

Marian stared at her. “You call that fun?”

“Don't you?”

“No.”

Emerald studied her face.

“You smiled.”

Marian nearly choked on her water.

“I did not.”

“You did.”

“You're imagining things.”

Emerald laughed. “You're competitive.”

“So are you.”

“Exactly.”

There was something different about the way she said it this time. She wasn't teasing Marian. If anything, she sounded pleased to have found someone who could keep up with her.

Marian didn't know how to respond to that, so she looked away.

After practice, Marian stayed behind.

The gym gradually emptied until the sounds of conversation disappeared down the hallway. She kept shooting, telling herself she was there because she needed the extra practice.

One shot went in.

Another bounced off the rim.

She caught the rebound and tried again.

Miss.

Marian sighed and retrieved the ball.

“Your elbow is dropping.”

She spun around.

Emerald stood near the bleachers with her bag over one shoulder.

Marian frowned. “You're still here?”

“So are you.”

“I asked you first.”

Emerald shrugged. “I like the gym.”

“Then go like it somewhere else.”

Instead of leaving, Emerald walked closer.

“Want some advice?”

“No.”

“You need to bend your knees more.”

“I know how to shoot.”

“Then why are you missing?”

Marian glared at her.

Emerald pointed toward the basket.

“Again.”

Marian should have ignored her.

She didn't.

She planted her feet, bent her knees, and took the shot.

The ball went straight through the net.

Emerald smiled.

“See?”

Marian caught the ball and turned toward her.

“Beginner's luck.”

“Do it again.”

Marian shot.

Another basket.

“Again.”

She shot once more.

Swish.

Emerald nodded approvingly.

“Better.”

Marian shook her head. “Are you always this annoying?”

“Probably.”

“Good to know.”

Emerald laughed.

For a moment, the competition between them seemed to disappear. They stood on opposite sides of the court, neither one rushing to leave.

Then Emerald looked at her.

“You really want that championship, don't you?”

Marian stopped dribbling.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

The question caught her off guard.

Marian looked toward the empty basket.

“Because we lost last year.”

Emerald waited, but Marian didn't say anything else.

After a moment, Marian added quietly, “I don't want to feel like that again.”

The teasing disappeared from Emerald's face.

“I get it.”

Marian looked at her.

“You do?”

Emerald's expression became harder to read.

“More than you think.”

Before Marian could ask what she meant, Emerald picked up her bag.

“See you tomorrow, Captain.”

Marian watched her head toward the doors.

This time, she didn't bother correcting her.

The following morning, Marian walked into the gym earlier than usual.

She wasn't expecting anyone else to be there.

Emerald was.

She stood alone near the basket, shooting.

Marian stopped just inside the doorway.

Emerald hadn't noticed her. Without an audience, she looked different. There was no teasing smile or confident expression. She simply kept shooting, retrieving the ball and trying again whenever she missed.

One shot bounced off the rim.

Emerald caught the rebound.

She tried again.

Another miss.

She frowned, retrieved the ball, and shot once more.

Marian watched quietly.

Eventually, Emerald noticed her.

Their eyes met.

Emerald straightened.

“What?”

Marian shook her head.

“Nothing.”

She walked onto the court, but as she passed Emerald, she stopped.

“You're dropping your elbow.”

Emerald blinked.

Then a smile slowly appeared.

“Thought you didn't give advice.”

“I don't.”

Marian continued toward the other basket.

After a few steps, she added, “That's the only one you're getting.”

Emerald laughed behind her.

“Thanks, Captain.”

Marian shook her head, but she couldn't quite hide her smile.

For the first time since Emerald had arrived at Westbridge, Marian wasn't thinking about getting her position back.

She was wondering why, despite everything, she was beginning to enjoy having Emerald around.