The week of the tournament felt different even the air in the hallways buzzed a little louder Ryan spent every lunch in the gym the sound of the ball echoing long before anyone else arrived I told him he was obsessed he said maybe but I’d rather be obsessed than distracted I didn’t tell him I was both

On Friday the bleachers were packed everyone shouting names I sat near the back camera ready pretending I was there for a school assignment The whistle blew the first quarter blurred into noise and movement Ryan moved like light through water every pass a little faster every shot almost perfect When he scored the crowd roared and I caught it the frame mid-jump his eyes lifted toward the hoop his mouth open in a half-smile that looked like flying

During half time he ran over sweating said how’s it look I said like a movie He said hope it ends happy then ran back before I could answer

The last minutes were chaos the score tied the gym too hot the smell of dust and adrenaline mixing into something electric He took the final shot the ball hit the rim rolled once fell through The buzzer screamed people jumped banners flew I stood frozen camera still recording even when everyone else ran onto the court

After the noise faded I found him by the lockers sitting on the floor shoes off hair damp He looked up smiled tired but bright said did you get it I said every second He said good then added I think I only played that hard because you were watching I didn’t know what to do with that sentence it landed somewhere deep and stayed there

We walked outside after dark the air cool against our skin He said the team’s going out to eat but I’d rather walk for a bit I said me too The campus was quiet the streetlights humming The reflection of his medal flashed once like another heartbeat He said it’s weird everything ends and begins in the same breath I said maybe that’s what makes it real He nodded kicked a pebble across the road said you ever think about after all this what happens when people stop cheering I said maybe you find someone who still does He looked at me for a long moment and said maybe I already did

We reached the old court behind the gym the one with cracks in the paint and one light that never stayed steady He tossed me the ball said your turn I laughed said not tonight He said come on just one throw for luck I took it aimed missed as always The ball bounced away he caught it without looking said progress I said you always say that He said because it’s always true

We sat on the bleachers again silence stretching comfortable I could hear crickets somewhere the faint buzz of the city beyond the fence He leaned back looked at the stars said you know I never liked crowds much feels easier when it’s just us I said same He said maybe that’s why you’re good at noticing things everyone else misses I said maybe that’s why you’re easy to notice

He laughed low soft said that sounds like something you’d write under a photo I said maybe it already is

When we finally left the gym lights had gone out behind us the court swallowed by shadow He walked me halfway to the gate like always before saying see you Monday I wanted to say see you tomorrow or maybe tonight but the words stayed quiet so I just nodded

That night I watched the footage again frame by frame each shot a small truth the way he smiled after missing the way he looked for me in the stands the moment the ball fell through the net I paused there the image frozen on the curve of his grin and whispered to the empty room progress