The Next Challenge
817 Words
The ball bounced once before rolling toward the sideline.
Emerald caught it and turned back to Marian. “That was your last shot.”
Marian shook her head. “No, it wasn't.”
“You said one more.”
“I said one more when you were shooting. You never said I couldn't take another.”
Emerald laughed. “That's not how the deal worked.”
“Then you should have been more specific.”
“You're impossible.”
“And you're still here.”
Emerald smiled. “Maybe I don't mind.”
Marian was about to respond when they heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. Tessa appeared at the gym entrance, holding her phone.
“There you two are. I've been looking everywhere.”
Marian picked up her bag. “What's wrong?”
“Nothing's wrong. Coach sent a message to the team group.”
Tessa looked between them.
“Apparently, our next game has been scheduled.”
Emerald's smile faded slightly. “Already?”
“Saturday.”
Marian looked at her.
“That's soon.”
“Very,” Tessa agreed. “And Coach wants everyone at practice tomorrow morning. She said we're going to focus on defense and turnovers.”
Marian nodded. “Makes sense after yesterday.”
Tessa glanced toward the empty court.
“You two have been here this whole time?”
“Just shooting,” Emerald said.
“For almost an hour?”
Marian shrugged. “We lost track of time.”
Tessa gave them a suspicious look but didn't comment.
They left the gym together, and Marian noticed how different things felt compared with the first week Emerald had arrived at Westbridge. Back then, walking beside her would have been the last thing Marian wanted. Now it seemed strangely normal.
The following morning, Coach Daniels wasted no time.
“Northside exposed some weaknesses in our defense,” she told the team after warm-ups. “You played well enough to win, but if you want to go further in this competition, you can't rely on one or two big plays to save you.”
Marian listened carefully. She knew Coach was talking to everyone, but she still felt responsible for the team's mistakes.
“We'll divide into two groups,” Coach continued. “Marian and Emerald, you're running the first defensive drill together.”
Emerald glanced at Marian.
“Again?”
Marian smiled. “Looks like it.”
They took their positions as the rest of the team spread across the court.
This time, there was no awkwardness between them. They communicated almost automatically, calling out screens and switches and covering for each other whenever one of them was pulled out of position.
After several minutes, Coach blew the whistle.
“Better. Much better.”
Marian caught her breath while Emerald walked over.
“We're getting good at this.”
“Don't sound so surprised.”
“I remember when you wouldn't even pass to me.”
Marian gave her a look. “We're not bringing that up again.”
Emerald laughed. “Fine.”
Coach called them back into position, and practice continued.
By the end of the session, Marian was tired, but she felt good. The win against Northside had given the team confidence, and the changes Coach was making were already starting to show.
As everyone gathered their things, Coach stopped Marian.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?”
Marian nodded.
Emerald continued toward the locker room, but she glanced back once before disappearing through the doors.
Coach waited until the others had left.
“You've improved since the Northside game.”
“Thank you.”
“But I want you to remember something.”
Marian looked at her.
“You're captain, Marian. That doesn't mean you have to carry every possession yourself.”
Marian knew exactly what Coach meant.
“I understand.”
“Good. Because Emerald is proving she can handle the pressure too. Trust her.”
Marian nodded.
“I do.”
Coach smiled slightly. “Then keep playing like it.”
Marian left the gym and found Emerald waiting outside.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. Coach was just talking about the game.”
Emerald adjusted the strap of her bag.
“She was probably telling you to stop trying to do everything yourself.”
Marian stared at her.
“How did you know?”
“Because she tells me the same thing.”
Marian laughed.
“Maybe she's right.”
“Definitely.”
They started walking down the hallway together.
Saturday was getting closer, and Marian knew the next game would be harder than the last.
But for once, that didn't scare her.
She had spent so much time worrying about whether Emerald would take something away from her that she hadn't noticed what they could accomplish together.
And now she was beginning to wonder just how far they could go.
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