Practice the next day had a different energy. Not friendly, but focused. Like the team had collectively decided that winning mattered more than their feelings about Maya.
Progress. I think.
Coach gathered them for the pre-practice meeting. "Four days until the qualifier. Four days to prove we deserve to be in this tournament." His eyes swept over them. "I don't care about personal drama. I don't care about who likes who or who's mad at who. I care about one thing: can you function as a team?"
Silence. A few players shifted uncomfortably.
"Yesterday was better," Coach continued. "Not great, but better. Today needs to be even better. Because the team we're facing? Westfield Prep. They're good. Really good. And if we show up playing like strangers, they'll destroy us."
Tank spoke up. "What's the game plan, Coach?"
