THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING – THURSDAY, 8:00 AM
Oliver stood in the hallway, his heart pounding against his ribs. Charlie stood beside him, holding a folder with printouts of the sign-in sheet, witness statements, and a timeline of events. Wesley leaned against the wall, arms crossed, playing the role of quiet support.
They'd been waiting for twenty minutes.
The door to the athletic boardroom was closed. Behind it, five people were deciding whether Oliver deserved a fair chance or whether nepotism would win again.
"I can't feel my hands," Oliver said.
"That's anxiety," Charlie replied.
"That's not helpful."
"It's not supposed to be. It's just diagnostic."
The door opened. A woman in a navy blazer stepped out. "Oliver Onwuachi?"
"Yes."
"We're ready for you."
Oliver looked at Charlie. Charlie nodded. Oliver walked inside.
THE BOARDROOM – 8:30 AM
Five people sat behind a long table. The athletic director. Two coaches from other sports. A faculty representative. A student representative Oliver didn't recognize.
They looked tired. They looked bored. They'd done this a hundred times before.
"Mr. Onwuachi," the athletic director said. "You've submitted a complaint regarding the men's basketball team selection process."
"Yes, sir."
"Please state your case."
Oliver took a breath.
"I tried out for the team. I attended every practice. I stayed late. I came early. I did everything that was asked of me."
He slid the sign-in sheet across the table.
"The coach's nephew did not try out. His name is not on this sheet. And yet he was given a spot on the team. A spot that should have gone to someone who earned it."
The board members looked at the sheet.
"You're accusing Coach Ogun of nepotism," the athletic director said.
"I'm stating facts."
"You're making serious allegations."
"I'm telling the truth."
The faculty representative leaned forward. "Do you have any evidence that the coach's nephew was given preferential treatment?"
"I have the sign-in sheet. I have witnesses who can confirm he wasn't at tryouts. I have my own record of attendance."
"That's circumstantial."
"It's more than what they have."
The room was quiet.
The student representative spoke. "I was at tryouts. I saw the coach's nephew. He wasn't there."
Everyone turned to look at him.
"You're certain?" the athletic director asked.
"I'm certain."
The athletic director nodded. "We'll review the evidence and make a decision."
"When?" Oliver asked.
"Within the week."
"That's not good enough."
"Excuse me?"
Oliver stepped closer. "The competition is in two weeks. The team is practicing every day. Every day I'm not on the court is a day I lose."
The athletic director's face hardened. "We understand your urgency."
"Do you? Because it doesn't feel like it."
Charlie, who had been watching from the doorway, stepped forward. "He's right. The longer you wait, the harder it is for him to catch up. Even if you rule in his favor, he'll be behind."
The athletic director looked at Charlie. "And you are?"
"His friend. And the person who helped him gather the evidence."
The faculty representative sighed. "We'll make a decision by Monday."
"That's four days," Oliver said.
"That's the best we can do."
Oliver looked at the student representative. The student nodded. A small gesture. Almost imperceptible.
"Monday," Oliver said. "I'll be waiting."
He walked out.
THE HALLWAY – 9:00 AM
Charlie punched the wall.
"Monday? MONDAY?"
"Calm down," Wesley said.
"Don't tell me to calm down."
"You're not helping."
"I'm expressing myself."
Oliver leaned against the wall. His hands were still shaking.
"We did everything right," he said.
"I know."
"And they're still going to make us wait."
"I know."
"I hate this."
"I know."
Charlie stopped pacing. "What now?"
"Now we wait."
"That's not a plan."
"It's the only one we have."
THE CAFETERIA – 12:00 PM
Vicky sat alone.
Zuru was across the room, talking to someone. Zizi was at the library. Ese was nowhere.
Mandy walked past with her tray.
"Fuck you," Vicky said.
"Good afternoon to you too."
"Don't pretend to be polite."
"I'm not pretending. I'm just existing."
"You're existing in my space."
Mandy sat down across from her. "You have a lot of space. Thought I'd share."
Vicky's jaw tightened. "You're unbelievable."
"So I've been told."
They sat in silence.
Mandy ate her rice. Vicky stared at her.
"What do you want?" Vicky asked.
"I want to eat my lunch without being yelled at."
"Then eat somewhere else."
"I like this table."
"It's my table."
"I don't see your name on it."
Vicky stood up. "You're a cunt."
"And you're a broken record."
Vicky grabbed her tray and walked away.
Mandy kept eating.
THE FIELD – 4:00 PM
Football practice.
The team was running drills. The national competition was twelve days away. Coach Okafor was relentless.
Aaron stood at the center circle, watching his teammates.
Something was off.
Femi was slow. Kehinde was sloppy. The energy was low.
"Stop," Aaron said.
The team stopped.
"What's wrong?" Coach asked.
"I don't know. But something's wrong."
He walked to Femi. "You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"I'm always lying."
"Not to me."
Femi looked at the ground. "My mother is sick."
Aaron's chest tightened. "How sick?"
"She's in the hospital. They don't know if she's going to make it."
The team was silent.
Aaron put a hand on Femi's shoulder. "Why didn't you say something?"
"Because I didn't want to be a distraction."
"You're not a distraction. You're family."
Femi's eyes were wet.
Coach Okafor clapped his hands. "Practice is over. Go home. Be with your families. Be with each other."
The team dispersed.
Aaron stayed on the field, alone.
His phone buzzed.
Mandy (4:15 PM): I heard Vicky called you a broken record. She's not wrong.
He didn't reply.
THE DORM – 6:00 PM
Charlie was on his bed, scrolling through his phone.
Josephine had texted him. You're sweet. But I'm still not looking for anything serious.
He'd replied: Who said anything about serious?
She'd replied: You did. With your eyes.
He didn't know what that meant.
Wesley was reading. Oliver was staring at the wall.
"Monday," Oliver said.
"Still Monday," Charlie said.
"It's not going to change."
"No. It's not."
"What if they say no?"
"Then we figure out what's next."
"What if there's nothing next?"
Charlie put down his phone. "There's always something next."
Oliver looked at him. "How do you know?"
"Because I've been at the bottom. And I'm still here."
They sat in silence.
Aaron walked in. His cleats were muddy. His face was tired.
"How was practice?" Charlie asked.
"Femi's mother is sick."
"What kind of sick?"
"The kind that might not get better."
The room went quiet.
"Damn," Charlie said.
"Yeah."
THE APARTMENT – 8:00 PM
Rose stood by the window.
Kelly was on the couch. Zara and Chloe were on the floor. Nelly was in the corner.
"The Watchmen have a new list," Rose said.
"More names?" Kelly asked.
"Different names. They're focusing on first-years now."
"Anyone we know?"
Rose turned around. "Chloe's roommate."
Chloe's face went pale. "What?"
"Someone reported her. Something about her social media."
"That's ridiculous."
"Of course it's ridiculous. But that doesn't matter."
"What do we do?"
Rose smiled. "We protect our own."
"How?"
"We find out who reported her. And we handle it."
The room was quiet.
Nelly spoke. "And if it's one of us?"
Rose looked at her. "It won't be."
"But if it is?"
"Then we handle it differently."
Nelly held her gaze. Then she looked away.
THE DORM – 10:00 PM
Aaron lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Charlie was on his phone. Wesley was reading. Oliver was lying down, eyes closed, not sleeping.
"I'm scared," Oliver said.
"Of what?" Charlie asked.
"Of Monday. Of the board. Of losing."
"That's not fear. That's anticipation."
"Same thing."
"It's not."
Oliver opened his eyes. "Then what's the difference?"
Charlie put down his phone. "Fear is when you're not ready. Anticipation is when you are."
"What if I'm not ready?"
"Then you fake it."
"That's not comforting."
"It's not supposed to be. It's just real."
Oliver closed his eyes again.
The fan hummed.