Ethan sprinted across the schoolyard, his heart pounding with excitement. The soccer ball was at his feet, and just a few meters away, Liam was ready to receive his pass. They had played together since they were kids, an unbeatable duo on and off the field.
"Over here, Ethan!" Liam called out, waving his arms.
Ethan grinned and kicked the ball, sending it rolling perfectly to Liam, who maneuvered past another player and scored. The small crowd of students watching cheered, and Liam jogged back to Ethan, bumping fists with him.
"Another perfect pass," Liam said with a smirk. "We make a great team."
"Always have, always will," Ethan replied confidently.
After the game, they sat by the bleachers, sipping water and catching their breath. Ethan leaned back, looking at the sky. "Do you ever think about the future? About how things will be when we're older?"
Liam shrugged. "Not really. I just know that no matter what, we'll always have each other's backs."
Ethan smiled. That was all he needed to hear. In his mind, nothing could break their friendship. But fate had a different plan, and soon, everything would change.
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch break. Ethan and Liam grabbed their bags and headed toward their next class, still chatting about their victory on the field. The hallways were buzzing with students, but Ethan hardly noticed—he was too busy talking to Liam about the upcoming soccer tournament.
"Coach says the championship is going to be tougher this year," Liam said. "But I know we can handle it. We've been playing together for so long, it's like we can read each other's minds."
Ethan nodded. "Yeah, we just have to train harder. This could be our chance to prove we're the best team in school."
As they entered the classroom, Ethan noticed a few students whispering and glancing in their direction. He brushed it off, assuming they were just excited about the tournament. But a small nagging feeling settled in his stomach. Something felt... off.
The lesson went by quickly, but Ethan couldn't shake the unease that crept into his thoughts. After class, he and Liam made their way to their lockers when a group of students approached them.
"Hey, Liam," one of the boys said, smirking. "You coming with us later? We're planning something fun."
Liam hesitated for a split second before nodding. "Yeah, sure."
Ethan frowned. "Wait, what's going on?"
Liam scratched the back of his neck. "Nothing, just... some plans after school. I'll catch up with you later, alright?"
Ethan felt a strange sting of disappointment. They always hung out after school, but lately, Liam had been spending more time with this new group. Still, he forced a smile. "Yeah, sure. See you later."
As he watched Liam walk away with the others, that uneasy feeling in his gut only grew stronger.