Mock Debate Day. Chaos Included.
"Why are we doing this again?" Aryan asked, halfway through a bag of chips as the team rearranged chairs into an uneven half-circle around the front of the room.
"Because Coach is a drama king," Kiara said.
"Because apparently Jaanvi and Aditya are the poster children of 'rivalry makes sparks,'" Rey added.
"And because I want to see them fight with actual microphones," Saachi grinned.
"Great," Jaanvi muttered, hugging her binder.
"Don't be dramatic," Aditya smirked next to her. "You love public humiliation."
She side-eyed him. "Only when it's yours."
Coach Carter clapped once. "Let's begin. Singh and Vaidya on affirmative. Let's see if that 'chemistry' your team keeps raving about actually wins points."
Everyone sat up straighter.
Even the not-friends — the quieter, background members of the team, who didn't hang out with the group at lunch. They were watching, too.
The spotlight was back.
The Mock Debate started off clean.
Jaanvi opened.
Smooth, articulate, powerful. Even with her throat still sore, her delivery cut through the room.
Aditya followed.
Sharp, precise, just cocky enough to be charming.
Their synergy?
Undeniable.
Aditya read her cues like he'd written them. Jaanvi countered his points like she already knew what he'd throw next.
They weren't just good.
They were scary good.
But somewhere around crossfire, it derailed.
Because of course it did.
"You're twisting the intent of the resolution," Jaanvi snapped, hands flying as she gestured.
Aditya grinned. "I'm interpreting it — it's a debate, not a book club."
"You can't twist facts into fiction!"
"Says the girl who once used Harry Potter as a political metaphor."
"It was relevant!"
Laughter rippled across the room. Even Carter cracked the tiniest smirk.
"Alright," he said, cutting in. "That's enough."
They both stepped back, flushed — but not from anger.
That same thread between them?
Still there. Still pulling.
The room was buzzing when practice ended.
Even the not-friends looked impressed.
Coach didn't say much — just nodded once. "It'll do. Get your cases cleaned up for the real stage."
Later, as the others trickled out of the room, Aditya went back to grab his water bottle.
That's when he heard it.
Two teammates from the back row — the ones who never sat with them. Ben and Kayla, whispering as they packed up.
"I mean, she's good, sure," Kayla muttered. "But Carter's always so cold to her. Like, he barely praised her at all."
"Yeah," Ben said. "He told me yesterday she's 'not as naturally talented as Singh, she just works harder.' Kinda brutal."
Aditya froze.
They kept talking. Some offhand joke about how "try-hards like her always burn out."
He didn't say anything.
Didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
He waited until they left.
Then stared at the doorway for a long moment.
Because he knew.
He knew how hard Jaanvi worked. He knew how much pressure she buried. He'd seen her shake with fever and still show up. Seen her carry the team when Carter was blind to it.
And still... still Coach didn't see her.
Or maybe he did — and just didn't want to admit how much of their success was because of her.
He left the room.
But the words stayed.
And suddenly, so did the heat in his chest.
Some truths feel like punches.
Especially when they're about someone you swore you'd stopped caring about.
Especially when you realize... maybe you never did.
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