The Girl I Couldn't Beat
The scoreboard read 48–47.
Three seconds remained.
Amara tightened her grip on the basketball.
One shot.
That was all she needed.
The gym was deafening—students shouting from the bleachers, sneakers squeaking against the court, her teammates yelling her name.
Then she saw Nia standing across from her.
Of course.
Nia had been guarding her all game.
And she was smiling.
Amara narrowed her eyes.
“What’s so funny?”
Nia shrugged. “Nothing.”
“You’re smiling.”
“Maybe I’m enjoying watching you panic.”
Amara scoffed. “You wish.”
The referee raised his hand.
Three…
Amara bounced the ball once.
Two…
She stepped back.
Nia moved with her.
One—
Amara shot.
The ball flew toward the basket.
The gym went silent.
It hit the rim.
Once.
Twice.
And dropped through.
BUZZ.
The crowd exploded.
Amara’s teammates rushed toward her, screaming.
They’d won.
But through the chaos, Amara’s eyes found Nia.
Nia wasn’t angry.
She was laughing.
Amara walked toward her.
“You almost had me.”
Nia tilted her head.
“Almost?”
Amara smiled.
“Keep practicing.”
Nia stepped closer.
“Don’t worry.”
Her voice dropped.
“I will.”
For some reason, Amara’s heart skipped.
She immediately looked away.
It was just adrenaline.
It had to be.
After all...
Nia was her rival.
And Amara didn’t have feelings for her.
Not even a little.
...Right? 👀🏀💗
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