Kevin Day

Palmetto University's gym. Early morning. The smell of rubber and sweat. Coach Wymack stands in the center with a clipboard.

Kevin is already on the court, smashing the ball at the goal with fury, screaming at each shot. He demands Neil's accuracy: "You're throwing like a girl, Josten! Again!" Neil throws it, and the ball goes right. Kevin freaks out:

— Are you even listening? Left corner! LEFT!

— I heard! My hand slipped!

• Then buy a new hand!

Aaron from the other half, without turning around:

• Day, shut up. You're bothering everyone.

Kevin turns around abruptly:

• You weren't asked, Minyard.

"Didn't anyone ask you when you were screaming all night long?" Aaron turns around and wipes the sweat from his forehead. "Maybe we should put a ball in your mouth?"

Pause. Nicky quietly: "Oh my god." Dan: "Boys, break." Andrew looks at them both with interest.

Wymak taps on the tablet:

— Enough! Day, Josten—ten more pitches. Minyard, you're with me. The rest of you—hold off.

Practice ends. Everyone disperses: some to the benches, some to the water. Kevin is still angry, Aaron is silently drinking water by the window. Andrew is already standing at the exit, not turning around. Nicky is breathing heavily: "I thought we were going to die today." Dan: "Get used to it."

And then Alison claps her hands:

— Okay, that's it! After practice, let's go to the living room. We have something to talk about. And this isn't a request.

Kevin frowned. Aaron looked at her suspiciously. Andrew smiled for the first time all morning, almost imperceptibly.

"What's this conversation about?" Matt asked.

“You’ll find out,” Alison smiled mysteriously and went out first.