"You were incredible out there," Maya said, voice thick with admiration and a hint of fierce jealousy. "I told you not to hold back. And you didn’t."
"It’s only natural I went all out."
"Your dunk was amazing," she said softly, eyes wide with excitement.
He smiled, warm affection clear in his expression.
Fiona arrived last, still clutching her camera. She had taken what looked like a thousand photos, her cheeks the same shade of red they’d been in the Audi, but her smile was bright and genuine. "I—I got everything. The dunk, the threes, the chase-down block... everything."
"Thanks, Fiona."
"I’m sending the best ones to the school paper tonight. Is that... okay?"
"Yes it’s okay."
Gaining his approval, she nodded vigorously, already scrolling through shots on her camera’s screen, quietly thrilled.
Zack appeared at Stan’s shoulder, grinning ear to ear. "I’ll meet you back at campus. We’re doing a big thing at the dining hall to celebrate. You’re invited. Bring the entire entourage."
Before walking off, Zack gave him one last playful nudge. "Living the dream, man."
Stan’s gaze drifted then toward the opposite stands, the Velaris Crown section that had booed him most of the night. Amid the dispersing crowd, he searched for a moment and found her.
It was Mia. She was still standing in the same spot, hands clasped tightly in front of her, eyes locked on him with overwhelming emotion.
The wave from earlier had drawn attention, but now, after his dominant performance and the very public kiss of Stan and Sophie, the stares around her had intensified. After all some crown students who had noticed that Mia and Stan knew each other were curious as to what her reaction to this would be.
Yet Mia didn’t seem to care. Her beautiful face was lit with pure, radiant joy and deep affection, the kind only nine years of longing could produce.
When their eyes met again, she gave him another small, heartfelt wave, her blush visible even from across the court.
Stan’s expression softened into a warm, private smile. He lifted his hand once more and waved directly toward her side of the stands; a small, quiet gesture that somehow felt more personal than any grand celebration.
This time, far more people noticed.
Some were the same spectators who had caught him glancing in that direction earlier but hadn’t quite connected the dots. Others were only now paying attention after seeing him wave a second time.
A ripple of whispers spread through the section.
"He waved again?"
"Wait... wasn’t he looking over here before?"
"Who is that girl?"
"The one near the front?"
"No way. Is he waving at the same person?"
"Hold on... it’s definitely the same girl."
The realization began moving through the crowd like a slow-burning spark as people followed Stan’s line of sight.
Meanwhile, a completely different group remained hopelessly clueless.
"Maybe he’s just thanking the fans."
"Yeah, probably."
"He looked right at one person."
"Coincidence."
"Twice?"
"...Still coincidence."
The whispers only grew louder.
Mia barely heard any of it.
Her heart was already racing far too fast.
The noise of the arena faded into the background as warmth spread through her chest. A rush of happiness, pride, and shy excitement flooded her entire body.
’He saw me. He waved at me in front of everyone... twice.’ The thought made her feel giddy and special, her deep favorability turning the moment into something precious. ’My Stan. Dominating the court like that... and still making time to notice me.’
Sophie, Maya, and Fiona had followed Stan’s gaze. Sophie’s hand tightened on his arm, a flash of jealousy crossing her face before she masked it with a composed smile.
’Is that his childhood friend he said to have met a while back?’ Maya’s expression darkened noticeably, her competitive fire flaring into sharp jealousy as she watched the exchange. ’He just seem to keep getting more and more girls, but I’m afraid he’ll leave me if it tell him to stop’
Fiona stayed quiet, but her shy smile faltered slightly, a pang of insecurity hitting her.
Stan turned to the three of them. "Come with me for a second."
He led them across the court toward the stands. Mia had started making her way down the stairs, drawn like a magnet. When they met near the sideline, Stan smiled warmly. "Sophie, Maya, Fiona... meet Mia. An old childhood friend from Velaris. Mia, these are Sophie, Maya, and Fiona."
Mia’s blush deepened as she stood before the three stunning girls, all of whom clearly had history with Stan.
’They’re all so beautiful... and close to him. That kiss Sophie gave him...’ A sharp sting of jealousy twisted in her chest. ’I was gone for nine years. How can I tell her, any of them, to back off without sounding selfish? I’m just his childhood friend... but he’s so much more to me now.’
Still, she forced a bright, genuine smile, her voice soft but warm. "It’s nice to meet you all. Stan told me a little about you... thank you for cheering so loudly for him."
Maya surprised everyone by speaking up first, stepping forward with a friendly smile, Mia’s name surprised her. "Mia, right? That’s such a pretty name, it sounds a bit like mine. Maya and Mia... almost like sisters." She let out a light laugh, though her eyes held a competitive glint. "You came all the way to watch the game? That’s sweet. Stan was amazing out there, wasn’t he?"
Sophie’s arm stayed looped through Stan’s, her smile polite but her grip possessive. "Nice to meet you, Mia. Any friend of Stan’s is... welcome." The subtle emphasis on the word carried her emotions clearly, love for Stan mixed with wariness of new competition. Stan could feel a headache from handling this many girls, they were all competing so openly for him.
Fiona offered a shy wave, still clutching her camera. "Hi... you must be really important to him if he waved like that in the middle of everything."
Mia’s heart fluttered at the attention, but the jealousy from the other girls was palpable. ’They all care about him so much... I have to show him I belong too.’
"He’s important to me too," she said softly, eyes meeting Stan’s with deep, unspoken longing. "More than he knows."
Stan chuckled lightly, sensing the undercurrents but keeping things warm. "We should head out soon. Long drive back."
The group exchanged a few more polite words, the air thick with layered emotions, Sophie’s confident possessiveness, Maya’s determined jealousy, Fiona’s quiet admiration, and Mia’s heartfelt yearning mixed with insecurity after her long absence.
They eventually moved toward the exit together, the victory feeling complete on the court and quietly complicated off it.