Chapter 12: Footwear

Noah stepped into the corridor and pulled the door nearly shut behind him.

Raven stood at the gap and watched.

"Same as always," Noah said quietly.

He put a paper bag into Thompson's hand, and Thompson held it against his chest.

"I didn't know who else," Thompson said. "I'm sorry. I know what I did."

"Not to me," said Noah.

Thompson looked past him, through the gap, and found Raven's eyes.

He said nothing for a long moment.

"Friday," he said.

"Friday," said Raven.

The gym on Friday was full to the rafters, with students standing in the aisles and a banner hung over the far basket.

It said FOOTWEAR in red marker, and under it, smaller, GO RAVEN.

Raven's mother had a new sign.

Benjamin had laminated her old one.

Thompson came out in a clean jersey with his jacket zipped to his chin, and the rulebook rolled in his fist.

He stopped at centre court.

"Under Section 4.1 of the Alpha Athletics Code," he began.

"Footwear!" roared eleven thousand people.

Thompson shut his mouth.

The tip went up.

It was a hard game, and an honest one, with no one holding anything back.

Thompson was six foot four and furious, and he drove into the lane hard every time.

Raven gave ground, took the shot he was given, and gave ground again.

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