The air in the gym still lingered in Marcus's memory the next morning. The cheers, the way the crowd had turned from Adrian's flash to his grit, the quiet smile Lena had given him. He replayed it all in his mind as he sat on the edge of his bed, lacing up worn sneakers even though he had nowhere to go yet.
For the first time in a long while, he felt like he had climbed out of the pit he had been buried in. But there was no comfort in that thought. He knew Adrian was not the kind of man who accepted defeat quietly.
And he was right.
By evening, word had already spread around town. People in diners, barbershops, and even small shops were whispering about Marcus's domination. But with the talk came something else. Rumors that Adrian wanted revenge. Whispers that the NBA star had been embarrassed and would not let it stand.
At practice the next day, Hammond sensed the tension. He walked into the gym, his cane tapping against the floor, and scanned his team. His eyes settled on Marcus.
"You changed the game last night," Hammond said, his voice low but steady. "But you stirred the hornet's nest too. Be ready for what comes."
Marcus nodded. He knew what the old man meant. Adrian was prideful, and pride mixed with anger could be dangerous.
The team ran drills, but the mood was sharp. Players who had once laughed off Marcus's presence now gave him quick nods of respect. Even Walt, who had been slow to trust him, passed the ball his way with confidence. Yet beneath that new respect, Marcus could feel their unease. They all knew Adrian was coming back, and when he did, the storm would hit all of them.
Later that week, the storm arrived in the form of an invitation.
A charity game was being organized, one that would feature Adrian as the headliner. The event was set in the largest arena in the city, with sponsors, cameras, and a crowd expected to be in the thousands. But the buzz around the game was not about Adrian anymore. It was about whether Marcus would show up.
Flyers spread like wildfire. Social media posts carried headlines like Hometown Hero vs. NBA Star.
Marcus did not even have to say yes. His name was already on the posters.
Lena found him that evening sitting outside Hammond's small office, staring at one of the flyers. She sat beside him, folding her arms.
"You know you have to play," she said softly.
Marcus did not answer right away. His eyes traced the bold letters under Adrian's smiling face.
"Part of me wants to stay away," he admitted. "Not for me. But for the team. For Hammond. If Adrian wants to prove something, he might not care who gets in the way."
Lena tilted her head, studying him. "And if you stay away? What then? People will say he scared you. They will say you ran. Is that what you want?"
Her words cut, not cruelly, but with truth. Marcus shook his head. "No. I cannot run anymore."
They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the sounds of bouncing balls and sneakers from the gym. Then Lena said something that made Marcus turn to her.
"My father is excited about this game," she said. "Not because of you. Because Adrian is playing. He has been telling my mother that it will show me what a real man looks like. That Adrian is the kind of person I should be around."
Marcus's chest tightened. He wanted to ask her what she thought, but he already knew. Her eyes gave him the answer. She had chosen her side. But the thought of her parents cheering for Adrian in the stands while judging him like an outsider lit a fire deep in his chest.
"Then I will give them a show they will never forget," Marcus said quietly.
The night of the charity game arrived faster than anyone expected. The arena was buzzing before tip-off, the stands packed, lights bright, cameras ready. Adrian strutted across the court during warm-ups, pulling off dunks that sent the crowd roaring.
Marcus, meanwhile, warmed up with steady focus. No tricks. No flash. Just work.
When the announcer introduced Adrian, the cheers shook the rafters. When Marcus's name was called, there was a moment of surprise, then a growing cheer that seemed to rise from the people who had watched him fall and now rise again.
The first whistle blew.