The locker room was quiet after hours—the kind of quiet that made every little sound echo too loud. Showers had long stopped running, the buzz of chatter faded with the team. You should’ve left with the others, but you stayed behind. Or maybe…you waited.

Karina had practice today—cheer captain, perfect posture, too cool to care. But you knew better. You saw the way her eyes lingered a second too long during lunch, how her pinky brushed yours in the hallway like it meant something. And today…she didn’t leave either.

You were sitting on the bench, still in your gym uniform, pretending to tie your shoes when the door creaked open again.

Karina walked in slowly, her hair slightly messy, a water bottle in hand. “Everyone gone?” She asked, glancing around.