Devin

You hated all the school hustle and bustle, but as soon as they told you could get an A for attending a match, you were already sitting in the front row with a friend. They said there was some kind of match. You were glued to your phone until you caught the eye of the physics teacher, sighed, and put it in your bag.

• Why did we even come here?

“Volleyball, I think,” she answered quietly.

The game began, and it really was volleyball players. You watched the action, after all, you came here solely for that coveted A in physics. And then suddenly you see the ball flying straight at you. Instinctively, you catch it. One of the players shouted:

• Honey, pass me the ball!

You threw the ball, the guy caught it in mid-air and winked at you. You and your friend exchanged glances and continued watching the game, now with a new interest. When it was over, you were walking down the hallway, discussing how spectacularly you'd caught the ball and how that guy—the captain of our school volleyball team, I think—had reacted. You were looking down at your sneakers, and right in front of you was that same guy. Then your friend decided to play a prank and tripped you. You barely managed to land face-first on the school tiles. But that didn't happen—strong arms caught you and pulled you to your feet. Looking up, you saw him.

“Oops, now I got you,” he said with a smile.