The music was loud, the bass thumping hard enough to rattle the walls of the off-campus house. The party was packed, with students crammed into the living room, kitchen, and even spilling out onto the porch. The faint smell of cheap pizza and spilled drinks hung in the air as conversations and laughter filled the gaps between the pounding beats.
Jaden leaned against the kitchen counter, a soda can in his hand, scanning the crowd. Parties weren't really his thing, but Tank had dragged him out after practice, insisting the team needed to unwind.
"Come on, Silk," Tank had said earlier. "We've been grinding nonstop. A little fun won't kill you."
Now, as Jaden watched Tank destroy a stack of chicken wings on the far side of the kitchen, he wasn't so sure.
"Enjoying yourself, superstar?"
Jaden turned to see Ava Martinez standing nearby, her arms crossed and a teasing smirk on her face. She wore a casual leather jacket over a simple black dress, her sharp hazel eyes sparkling in the dim light.
Jaden chuckled faintly. "Didn't expect to see you here, Martinez."
"I'm full of surprises," Ava said, leaning against the counter beside him. "So, what's the verdict? Best party ever or biggest waste of time?"
Jaden shrugged. "Somewhere in between. Tank seems to be having the time of his life, though."
Ava followed his gaze and laughed softly. "I think Tank would have fun at a funeral if they had snacks."
The two of them shared a quiet laugh before Ava tilted her head slightly, her expression softening. "You doing okay, Hunter? You seemed... distracted today."
Jaden hesitated, his fingers tapping lightly against the soda can. "It's just... the team. Feels like we're barely holding it together right now."
Ava nodded, her gaze steady. "You'll figure it out. You always do."
Before Jaden could respond, a loud crash echoed from the living room, cutting through the music and laughter like a knife.
Jaden pushed his way through the crowd, his chest tightening as he reached the source of the commotion.
Tyler stood near the center of the room, his fists clenched and his jaw tight. Across from him was Nate Harper, a senior football player known for his hot temper and quick mouth.
"What's your problem, Crane?" Nate spat, his voice sharp and mocking. "Too good to hang out with us regular folks now that you're Mr. Basketball Star?"
Tyler took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Say that again, Harper. I dare you."
Nate smirked, his arms crossed. "I said you're overrated. All that hype, and you're barely holding your spot on the team. Guess daddy's money can't buy you talent, huh?"
The room fell silent, the tension so thick it felt suffocating.
Jaden stepped forward, placing a hand on Tyler's shoulder. "Hey. Not here. Let it go."
Tyler shrugged Jaden's hand off, his eyes still locked on Nate. "Stay out of this, Hunter."
"Crane, I'm serious," Jaden said, his voice firm. "This isn't the time or place."
But Nate wasn't done. "Listen to him, Crane. Wouldn't want to embarrass yourself in front of your little teammates."
Tyler snapped. He lunged at Nate, shoving him hard enough to send him stumbling backward into the coffee table, which cracked under the impact.
The crowd erupted into chaos as people scrambled to get out of the way.
It took three people to pull Tyler and Nate apart. Tank and Ethan dragged Tyler back toward the kitchen, while Nate's friends restrained him on the other side of the room.
"What the hell was that about?" Jaden demanded, stepping in front of Tyler.
Tyler's chest heaved, his face twisted with frustration. "You wouldn't understand, Hunter. You don't know what it's like to have everyone expect you to be perfect all the time."
Jaden's eyes narrowed. "You think you're the only one feeling the pressure? You think the rest of us aren't carrying the same weight?"
Tyler glared at him but didn't respond.
Tank stepped in, his massive frame blocking Tyler's view of Jaden. "Alright, everyone chill. Let's get out of here before this gets any worse."
Reluctantly, Tyler let Tank and Ethan guide him out of the house, leaving Jaden and Ava standing in the aftermath of the chaos.
The walk back to campus was silent, the cool night air doing little to ease the tension. Tyler walked a few steps ahead, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.
Jaden finally broke the silence. "You've got to get your head on straight, Crane. The team needs you, and this... whatever this is, isn't helping."
Tyler stopped abruptly, turning to face Jaden. "I don't need a lecture from you, Hunter. You're not my coach, and you're definitely not my friend."
The words hit harder than Jaden expected, but he kept his expression neutral. "Fine. But if you don't figure it out soon, you're going to drag the whole team down with you."
Tyler's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He turned and kept walking, leaving Jaden standing alone under the dim streetlights.
Later that night, Jaden sat on his bed, staring at his phone. His fingers hovered over Marco's name in his contact list, but he didn't press call. Instead, he set the phone down and leaned back against the wall, his mind racing.
The team was fracturing, and Tyler was at the center of it. But deep down, Jaden knew that Tyler wasn't the only one struggling.
If they didn't figure out how to come together soon, the season might fall apart before it really began.
Jaden let out a slow breath, his resolve hardening.
He didn't know how he was going to fix this yet.
But he would.
Because failure wasn't an option.