3

By the third day, the gym felt like its own battlefield.

No one said anything outright, but Ethan could feel it: sides were forming, tensions tightening like stretched cords. Who laughed at which joke. Who passed the ball to whom. Who stayed silent when the air turned thick. Every small move carried meaning now, and Ethan had learned quickly that Marcus’s presence amplified everything.

Marcus arrived early, as usual, calm and collected. Leaning against the wall, he scanned the gym with those unnervingly sharp green eyes, arms crossed. Ethan’s chest tightened without warning. He hated that he noticed it. Hated that Marcus’s mere existence could make him feel this… unsteady.

Ethan’s mind started turning. A plan formed. Not dangerous, not messy, just annoying enough to get under Marcus’s skin without leaving a trace.

He waited until Marcus went to grab a basketball. Then, silently, Ethan opened Marcus’s locker. He rearranged his shoes, stacked the towels differently, and switched the water bottle with a half-empty one from the supply shelf. Not enough to ruin anything, just enough that someone as precise as Marcus would notice. He closed the locker carefully and leaned back, pretending to stretch.

Marcus returned, retrieved his bag, and froze just for a fraction of a second. His green eyes flicked over the slightly altered arrangement. No words. No visible reaction. But Ethan caught the tiny twitch at the corner of his mouth—the faintest hint of irritation.

“You’re predictable,” Marcus muttered under his breath as he passed by.

Ethan smirked, bouncing the ball lightly. “Still proving nothing, huh?”

Marcus didn’t answer, just moved on, tossing the ball to a teammate. But something in his calm, measured movements suggested he’d noticed, that he’d registered the subtle jab. And that alone sent a rush through Ethan—small victories, he told himself. Tiny, almost invisible wins, but satisfying nonetheless.

Coach blew the whistle, calling everyone to the center. “Alright, scrimmage time. Pair up and make it work.”

Ethan groaned. His stomach twisted. Of course, the coach paired him with Marcus. Of course.

Marcus merely nodded once and moved into position. Calm. Efficient. Perfectly infuriating.

The scrimmage started, and Ethan’s nerves were frayed almost immediately. Every pass he made, every cut he took, he felt Marcus’s eyes on him. He couldn’t tell if Marcus was judging, observing, or waiting to pounce, Marcus hadn't exacted any revenge back and it was starting to scare him. Was he overdoing it? Either was Marcus kept looking at him and he could constantly feel his eyes on him at every turn.

Ethan dribbled aggressively, spun, and shot, forcing himself to ignore the twisting feeling in his chest. Every time their shoulders brushed, or Marcus pivoted just slightly too close, he felt his heart almost give out.

It’s just basketball, Ethan muttered under his breath. Just a game.

But it wasn’t. Not anymore.

Marcus moved with a quiet precision, passing seamlessly, anticipating plays before they happened. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t correct Ethan. He just… existed, smooth and calm, every movement controlled, every glance calculated.

Ethan tried to retaliate, throwing a hard pass in Marcus’s direction, hoping he’d fumble. Marcus caught it effortlessly and sent it back without a flicker of reaction.

“Predictable,” Marcus said again, low and casual.

Ethan froze. Heat flooded his face for a moment. “What was that?” he hissed, trying to sound annoyed.

Marcus didn’t answer. Just dribbled past him, shoulders brushing ever so slightly. Ethan’s jaw tightened. He hated that he felt so affected by this—so flustered by someone who hadn’t even said more than a few words to him.

By the halfway point, Ethan’s muscles were sore, sweat soaked his shirt, and his breathing was uneven. But every glance toward Marcus made it worse. Every quiet, calculating observation from those green eyes made his chest twist.

During a break, Ethan sank onto the bleachers, water bottle in hand, trying to convince himself he wasn’t… what? Intimidated? Flustered? Confused? Somewhat angry? He didn’t know. He only knew he hated that he felt watched.

Marcus leaned against the railing across the court, towel draped over his shoulders, casually watching the team. Ethan caught his gaze. Green eyes flicked to him, then away, like a predator marking territory without making a move.

Ethan’s stomach fluttered. He wanted to ignore him. To shove the ball at his chest and storm off. But none of it happened. He didn’t move. He couldn’t.

After practice, Coach blew the final whistle. “Good work today, team. Remember: teamwork wins games, not ego.”

Ethan grabbed his bag and headed to the locker room, muscles sore, heart still pounding from adrenaline—and from Marcus. He glanced toward the bleachers where Marcus was collecting his gear. Green eyes met his for a split second. No words. Just the same unnerving, calm stare that left Ethan fidgeting with his backpack straps.

As he walked past, Marcus tilted his head ever so slightly, as if acknowledging the morning’s locker prank. Ethan felt heat rise in his chest. Tiny, invisible victories—they were addictive.

Later, sitting in Algebra class, Ethan tried to focus on Mrs. Kearney’s lecture. Equations blurred in his vision. Numbers, variables, homework assignments—all faded into the background of Ethan's chaotic mind.

Mrs. Kearney glanced at him. “Ethan, are you with us? You’ve been falling behind lately. Keep it up, and you’ll need extra help after class.”

Ethan forced a nod, cheeks warming. Extra help, he thought bitterly. He hated it. Hated that he had to work harder than usual. Hated that he couldn’t stop thinking about Marcus.

It’s just… someone being good at basketball. Just a teammate.

Right. Sure.

He clenched his fists under the desk, trying to will the thoughts away. But they didn’t leave. They wouldn’t leave.

And by the time he slumped onto his bed that evening, muscles still sore from practice and brain buzzing with numbers and strategies, Ethan knew one thing for certain: the war wasn’t over.

And Marcus? He was winning.