The next morning, Kiara's picture was going on all over the town media and she was actually the front page of the town's magazine for the day which was surprisingly crazy. Everyone was commenting on the picture on how the quality, angle and everything made sense, everyone wanted to know the unknown photographer who took the pictures.
" Hey, Peter" Leon said approaching Peter and Jason in the hallway
" What do you want this time Leon?" Peter asked tiredly
" Looks like your girlfriend has a secret admirer, you better watch out. Who knows?, your girlfriend might get snatched right in front of your eyes." He said and then he faced Jason "Oh, that's not a new thing to you. You do it all the time, you can give him so tips you know" Leon said
" Let's go Jason" Peter said dragging him away before he looses his temper again
" Losers, cowards" Leon said as they left
" Hey" Nancy said approaching Jason as he left Leon
" I'll meet you in class" Peter said leaving them
"what was that about?" Nancy asked referring to Leon
" It's nothing" Jason said
" I feel it's all my fault, I brought a lot of troubles onto you and...."
" Shush" he said interrupting her as he placed his finger on her lips
" You're not at fault, you stood up for yourself" Jason said holding her hands gently
" I would get past this, we would get pass this together. I just need to avoid Leon for a few days, maybe Mrs Brandy would let me play at the next game"
" About Mrs Brandy, you know how much she likes me cause I'm one of her best student."
" Yeah"
" Yesterday, I went to her office and explained the situation to her and she understood. She said she would let you both play in your next game but you aren't exempted from your punishments" Nancy said
" Really, that's so sweet of you. You're the best" Jason said giving her a quick peck on her lip
" Let me go share the good news with the boys" he said
" I would also be heading to training now" she said
" Let me escort you then" he said
" Don't go through that trouble" she said
" C'mon, its the same way to the field" he said
" No, it's not. It's the exact opposite. I'm going left, you're going right. I'll see you after training" she said giving him a peck on the cheeks before leaving
Kiara, Dani and Lucas sat down discussing about the team they're up against. Victoria and Angela were having a match with two opponents. Victoria kept slagging, kept misses her chances like she was distracted with something. Coach Henry noticed this and called Victoria aside during their water break
" Hey, what's wrong?" He asked
" Nothing, I'm good"
" You don't look, you aren't playing like you're good"
" I'm just tired"
" I could ask the to expand the break for you to rest well" he said and she stared at him
" If you want" he added
" No, I'm fine"
" Vic, you've trained a lot to let anything bring you down. If you miss this, you're missing everything not only that you'll be a bad role model to Kiara. She has a lot of faith in you, I have a lot of faith in you. Do us proud, forget about anything else" he said and she nodded as she went back after they blew the whistle.
The second time, Victoria came back to her game. She was focused and determined, cleared her mind from any distraction. She just remembered how hard she trained for this and she wasnt going to let that go to waste. They managed to equalize with them by the end of the game and during the third they won.
" Looks like your head is back in the game" Angela said
" Was that a compliment, cause that would bring your level so low to zero" Victoria said smiling and Angela scoffed
" You can never change, can you?"
" I should be saying that to you"
" Anyways, I pick Dani from my team to face the opponent. Who is your representative, Kiara or Lucas?" She asked and Victoria became mute
"Hard choice to make, huh?" Angela said
" Kiara, Lucas isn't under me. He didn't sign up for the tennis team at all, he's only training with us" Victoria said
" Kiara, get yourself ready" Victoria said waking away
" Wait, you didn't sign up?" Kiara asked Lucas
" Yeah" he said
" Why?" She asked
" He doesn't want to be in the same team as his brother so it won't be partial to others" Dani said
" His brother?" Kiara asked
" Coach Henry" Dani said
" Oh... Yeah" Kiara said trying to remember if she knew they were siblings
" That's not what you should be worried about right now, you're having your first game in few minutes" Lucas said
" That's right, can you take me through the rules again" Kiara asked
" Dani, you're up" Angela called
" Wish me luck guys" Dani said
" You'll do great" Lucas said pecking him on his hand
" Thanks" Dani smiled before he left
Within few minutes, Dani match was over and he won like a piece of cake.
Then Kiara was up, she was facing someone who has won single three times in different competitions. If Kiara won the match, it means they would automatically win that stage and be planning for the finals soon.
" Hey, you can do this" Lucas said and she nodded
The match began and within minutes, just one strike Bethany Dorman the best champion present has gained a point.
" Hey, you good?" Lucas asked as she took a break
" No, I can't do this. I will lose and let everyone down" Kiara said panicking
" Kie, you can do this" Dani said
" No" she said
" Hey" cyma said coming with the rest
" You guys?"
" Dani told us you're having your first official match, so we had to show for you" Leo said
" Don't you guys have game to?"
" You're more important" Vinny said
" You guys" she said about to tear up
" Hey, you got this" Tyler said
" She's better than me"
" She's not, no one is better than you kie. You've overcome a lot, and you're not the type to give up" Leo said
" Leo is right" cyma said
" Hey" Peter said approaching them with his phone
" You got him here to?" Kiara
" Your mum is on the phone" Peter said
" You got my mum on the phone?" She asked
" Is that a bad thing?," Peter asked
" Why would you?" Kiara asked
"Victoria said I should. She said it would help you boost your confidence if your mum gave you advice" Peter said before giving her the phone
" Hey Kiara" her mum said
" Hey mum" Kiara said
"You're struggling." her mum said and Kiara didn't hide the sarcasm.
"Thanks for the analysis." she said
"You're too focused on power. She's baiting you to go wide, and you keep falling for it." her mum said and Kiara froze as her eyes narrowed.
"wait,…you've been watching?" Kiara asked looking at the guys
" Victoria thought it was a good idea" Dani whispered
"Yes. And you're good, Kiara. But you're playing on emotion. You've always done that." Her mum said
" I never even play tennis, how do I always do that"
" You did when you were younger, you wouldn't even stop at night as well"
" What's with the story" she asked but her mother didn't flinch.
"You just need to play smarter." her mum said and then she paused before she softening her voice
"Your opponent, she's not stronger. She's more patient. She's wearing you out. Stop giving her depth on your second serve. Start hitting it flatter and fastermake her scramble. On your returns, step in early. Cut off the angles. She loves cross-court; force her down the line. And above all… stop reacting. Start dictating." her mum said and Kiara blinked.
She hadn't expected real advice. Not this.
"Keep her on her backhand side. Don't finish early—drag her out. Then strike." her mum said
"Play with your heart but with a clear head. You win this by thinking, not just hitting." her mum added and there was a long pause as Kiara stared at the screen.
"You can win this, I know you can. You know you can, everyone knows you can" her mum said
" Go out there and show them who you are, remember Flat second serve, attack the backhand, cut off her angles, dictate the match. You got this" her mum said
"Yes" Kiara said quietly.
" Win this for you" her mum said
"I will." she said hanging up
The umpire called them back to court and Peter took the phones, studying her.
"You good?" he asked and Kiara gave a small nod, her face harder now.
"Better than that." she said focused
She stood up, adjusted her wristband, and turned toward the baseline. She could feel it—her power, her control, and now… her clarity. And as she bounced the ball before her serve, a faint smile touched her lips.
Kiara adjusted her sweatband, her ponytail flicking back. Her breathing was heavy, her legs burning. Across from her stood Bethany Dorman, tall, built like a professional, and unshakably calm, Bethany gave her a cold, practiced stare.
"Final set," the umpire announced.
The scoreboard read:
Bethany Dorman: 6 – 4 – 4
Kiara Jones: 2 – 6 – 5
One game left. One shot at the title.
From the sidelines, Victoria called out
"Dig deep, Kiara! You've got this!" she yelled out
" You sure she got this?" Jason asked as they stood among the crowd
"She will win," Peter said, almost to himself, fists clenched.
Serve.
Bethany slammed the ball with force. Kiara darted right, barely returning it. Bethany returned with a backhand. Kiara chased it down. The rally began—fast, brutal, precise.
Kiara was gasping now, but her feet danced on muscle memory.
Point Bethany
"C'mon, Kiara!" her classmates screamed.
Bethany served again, just as sharp. Kiara crouched low and this time, she smacked it with a spin so sharp the ball kissed the line.
Point Kiara.
Bethany blinked. That was new.
Rally. Point. Rally. Point.
The crowd was quiet now, breath held. It was 30–30.
Bethany served high, and Kiara saw it—the same motion she'd repeated all game. She leaned forward just a little earlier than usual.
She guessed the angle, Kiara charged the net, Bethany's eyes widened too late.
Kiara smashed the ball down with every ounce of frustration, discipline, and grit she had been building up all season.
40–30. Match point.
She stepped back. The world felt muted now. Her breathing slowed. She closed her eyes. Everyone cheers and word of encouragement was echoing in her ear especially her mother's.
She opened her eyes, calm, steady.
Bethany tossed the ball high for her serve.
Kiara moved before the ball even crossed the net. Anticipation. Timing. Trust.
She met it with a clean forehand.
The ball sailed deep…
Bethany scrambled, missed—
Ball hits the backline.
"GAME, SET, MATCH! KIARA JONES!"
The crowd erupted into a wave of thunderous applause. Peter stood up, yelling with his arms in the air. Jason laughed and punched the air. Jenna screamed.
Kiara dropped her racket, hands on her knees, stunned. She had won. She had really won.
Bethany walked over, offered her hand, breathless but respectful.
"You earned that." Bethany said and Kiara smiled, heart still racing, and shook it.
"Thanks. You're amazing." she said
The crowd had started to thin, though a few students lingered for selfies and shouts of praise. Kiara wiped sweat from her brow, adrenaline still surging through her. Her teammates patted her back, but her eyes were already searching — not for the spotlight, but for someone who felt like calm after the storm.
She spotted Dani, standing off to the side, away from the chaos, clapping with quiet pride. Without hesitation, Kiara made her way through the scattered crowd and threw her arms around him
"You're the best," she murmured. "You got my friends here, made it feel like home."
"You killed it, K. You owned that court. I just did the easy part." Dani grinned and she pulled back, her eyes glowing
"You did more than you know. Thank you."she says
They stood there a moment longer, until a familiar voice spoke behind her.
"Not bad for your first official comeback."
Victoria said Kiara turned quickly, straightening a little.
"Assistant Captain." she said and Victoria raised a brow.
"Since when did you get use to calling me that, huh?" Victoria asked Kiara chuckled, a little breathless.
"you are my assistant captain, aren't you?." kiara said with a smile
"I'm proud of you. You held your ground. Kept your mind clear." Victoria said as she crossed her arms, giving Kiara the once-over like a strict senior, but with that glimmer of respect she didn't offer easily and Kiara lowered her gaze.
"I tried." she said
"And" Victoria said
"I'm the one who told Peter to contact your mom. You can thank me later with a win in next week's semis." She added more softly
"You—?" Kiara blinked, surprised.
"I knew you'd want to hear from her even if you didn't admit it," Victoria said coolly, then nodded once.
"Don't let emotions mess you up. Channel them. Like you did today." she added
" I think that's meant for you" Kiara said jokingly
" I know it's not my place to interfere but I think you need to sort whatever that is out" Kiara whispered referring to the way Victoria was looking at Cherry and Fernando being all romantic and the coach who was laughing with another lady
Before Kiara could say more, Victoria walked off toward the locker rooms, already shifting back into drill-sergeant mode with the rest of the team.
" Not my place then" Kiara thought before facing Dani.
As Kiara and Dani shared a light moment, across the school courtyard. Peter stood with Jason, half-listening to whatever his friend was saying. His eyes, however, were fixed across the crowd—on Kiara and Dani.
"Dude, are you even listening?" Jason asking waving his hand and Peter blinked, finally pulling his eyes away.
"Yeah. Sorry. Just… watching something." Peter said and Jason raised a brow.
"Or someone." jason said
"She went straight to Dani," Peter muttered "You jealous?"Jason smirked but Peter didn't answer, his jaw was just tense.
Meanwhile, Leo had his own view of the scene while chatting with Vinny. His arms were folded, eyes narrowed just slightly as he caught sight of Kiara's closeness with Dani. Vinny noticed the look and nudged him.
"You okay?" Vinny asked and Leo forced a grin. "Yeah, I'm chill. Just... didn't know she was this tight with Dani" he said and Vinny tilted his head.
"Clearly, they are," Vinny said.
"You good?" Vinny asked as Leo still stared at them but Leo didn't answer right away.
"Bro. Say something before you combust." Vinny said side-eyeing him, Leo shrugged but didn't answer.
Back near the center of the court, Kiara looked radiant—flushed from the game, still buzzing with adrenaline. When she finally turned, she noticed Peter and Leo watching. She gave both of them a quick smile and wave, Peter nodded stiffly and Leo gave a tight smile but there was no mistaking the subtle shift in their eyes.
Jealousy hung in the air like humidity after a storm
"You should probably go cool the fire before it spreads." Dani said following her gaze and Kiara smirked.
"What fire?" she asked and He just raised a brow, and she laughed.
"Okay, okay. I'll go." Kiara said
"Thanks again, Dani. Really." She added as squeezed his shoulder gently before leaving
.