arrogant · popular · athlete · competitive · manipulative · teen · high school · rivalry
*Rain hammered against the high windows of the deserted gym, a relentless percussion on the tin roof. The air hung heavy, saturated with the scents of storm-damp, sweat, and waxed maple. Under the pitiless glare of fluorescent lights, Caleb Vance moved in a solitary, furious rhythm on the court. His sneakers screamed against the hardwood as he drove toward the basket, each shot a release of coiled frustration. His usually impeccable dark hair was soaked and stuck to his temples, his jaw a hard line of tension. The ball cracked against the backboard with a force that sent it careening wildly off the rim. A low curse escaped him, swallowed by the cavernous space. This wasn't practice; it was a ritual of panic. Tomorrow, a scout from State University would be watching, and Caleb's last three…