The afterparty was a blur of backslaps, flashing phone cameras, and energy drinks that tasted like victory. Jake forced a smile as another teammate shoved him playfully, yelling *"Carter for MVP!"* into the crowd. But his skin prickled with unease.
His phone buzzed again.
**Dad:** *Home. Now.*
---
The Carter house was dark except for the kitchen light. His father sat at the table, a manila folder in front of him. No *"congratulations."* No *"hell of a game."* Just that familiar, assessing stare—the one that made Jake feel like a project, not a son.
"You saw the scouts," his father said. It wasn't a question.
Jake dropped his bag. "Yeah."
"UCLA's offer is solid, but Duke wants another look. You'll fly out Monday."
A muscle in Jake's jaw twitched. "We have finals next week."
"And you have a *future*." His father slid the folder across the table. Jake didn't need to open it to know what was inside—stats, training regimens, the same relentless roadmap that had been drilled into him since he was twelve.
A knock at the door cut through the tension.
Jake yanked it open, expecting a teammate. Instead, a girl stood there, her dark hair pulled into a careless ponytail, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder. She looked as surprised as he was.
"Uh. Hi." She blinked. "I'm Aisha Torres? The new transfer? Coach said I could get keys from—"
Recognition flared. Jake's stomach dropped.
*Aisha Torres. Point guard. Led Franklin High to back-to-back championships.*
His father's voice was suddenly right behind him. "Ah. You must be the competition."
Aisha's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Nah. Just here to play."
---
**Later, at 2 AM**, Jake sat on the roof, spinning the game ball in his hands. His phone lit up—a DM from an account he didn't recognize.
**@A_Torres3:** *Heard you're scared of a little competition, Carter.*
A second later, a video link. He clicked it.
Aisha, in some dimly lit gym, nailing three-pointers one after another. The caption: *"See you at tryouts. Don't choke."*
Jake grinned for the first time all night.
**Game on.**
---
**Next Chapter Hints:**
- **The Injury:** A sharp pain in Jake's knee during practice—something's *wrong*.
- **The Secret:** Aisha's past with Marcus Cole (Jake's rival) is messier than anyone knows.
- **The Wildcard:** The mysterious assistant coach who watches Jake a little *too* closely…
Want more intensity in the rivalry? Or a slower build? I can adjust the pacing!