POV: Valeria Cruz

I didn't expect the noise, the crowd, or feeling. It's everywhere. In the air. In the stands. In the way people lean forward like they already know something big is about to happen. Mateo grips the edge of the seat in front of him, practically vibrating. 

"They're really good, right?" he asks, not taking his eyes off the field.

"You'll see." Elena smiles beside me.

"Is he nervous?" Sofia whispers leaning into me.

I look toward the field. Rafe didn't look nervous, he looked locked in…focused in a way that  shuts everything else out. Like nothing outside that field exists. Then the whistle blows and everything explodes. The game starts fast, too fast for me to fully keep up at first. Players moving, crowds shouting, but then I find him. And once I do, I can't look anywhere else.

He moves differently. Not just fast, certain. Like every step already has a purpose and he already knows what’s coming before it happens. 

"Who is that?” someone behind us asks. 

"That's Vega," another voice answers. "Quarterback." 

“He always plays like this?"

"Yeah. But," A pause, "he's playing better today."

I feel that, even if I don't fully understand the game. A shift, the energy, the way the entire field seems to move around him.

The ball snaps. He steps back and throws. It's fast, precise, and just perfect. Touchdown. The crowd erupts.

"That was him!” Mateo says, jumping to his feet, turning to me like I didn't just watch it happen. 

"I saw,"' I say, trying not to laugh. 

"He did that!"

"Yes, Mateo. He did." 

"He's really good,'' Sofia adds, clapping excitedly beside us. 

“Told you,” Elena glances at me. But it's not just that he's good, it's the way he carries the confidence. Not loud, showy, just there. Unshakable.

The game keeps going, play after play, and somehow he doesn't slow down. If anything he gets better; faster, sharper, something is pushing him. Something matters. At one point, he looks up toward the stands but not scanning, more like searching. And when his eyes land on me something shifts; it's small, barely noticeable, but I feel it. And suddenly my chest tightens, it looks like it wasn't random. That was intentional.

"I think he saw you,” Mateo says quietly, leaning closer to me. I don't answer. Because I think he's right and I don't know what to do with that. 

Then the final whistle blows. They win, of course they do and the crowd is loud again. People are standing, clapping, talking all at once.

"That was amazing.” Sofia says

"I want to play like that." Mateo nodded quickly.

"You should." Elena smiles.

We make our way down toward the back, where players come out of the locker rooms. It's less crowded here, but more intense. People are waiting and watching. I stand near the wall, adjusting the sleeves of the jersey without thinking. And then I see her.

Camila.

She was standing with her group. Of course she's here. Her eyes find me immediately, then they drop to the jersey and back to my face. Slow. Sharp.

"Well," she says, just loud enough. "This is new."

I don`t respond. I don't give her that. But Sofia shifts beside me.

"Don't talk to her like that,"' she says.

"Sofia,” I warned softly.

"No.” she insists. "She's being mean."

“She doesn't have to talk to you," Mateo steps closer too. Elena moves slightly forward; calm and steady.

"Let it go,” she says. But Camila smiles.

"Oh, I'm just curious,” she says. "Did he lose a bet?” Her friends laugh with their phones already out. Waiting, always waiting. I step forward.

"It's not worth it,” I say quietly, it's enough.

"But," Sofia looks at me.

"It's not,” I repeat. Because I won't do this, not like this or for her.

Before anything else can happen the locker room doors open, players start coming out. Loud and laughing. Then Rafe. Mid-conversation with Nico, relaxed. Until he sees and everything changes. His expression hardens instantly, Nico's too. They see it; the tension, her, and me.

Camila moves first. Of course she does. She steps forward then suddenly stumbles, right into him, like she was pushed. Like it wasn't intentional, but I didn't touch her, I didn't even move.Rafe catches her but only for a second then immediately steps back. Putting distance, clear and intentional. Then he looks at me.

"You okay?” he asks.

Not her. Me. Always me. I nod, because I am, I didn't let her get to me. Camila recovers instantly. Like nothing happened.

"Rafe," she says smoothly. "You were amazing.”

He doesn't respond. I open my mouth but before I can speak he steps closer. Lifts his hand and gently tilts my chin up.

"Hey," he says quietly. "You hungry?"

Everything stops; my brain, my breath, just everything. Because that wasn't small and I feel it. The heat in my face and the way my heart stumbles. 

"...yeah.” I manage. He nods and then turns.

"Nico," he says. "You coming?"

"Always." Nico smirks. 

"We’re in." Elena says, stepping in beside us.

“Were going with them?” Sofia asks, grabbing my hand again.

"Yes," Mateo says, still staring at Rafe like he just witnessed something life changing. Just like that we start walking, leaving them behind like they don't matter. And for the first time they don’t.