DAMSEL RULES

TI'

the entire gym falls away. The noise, the b

the gravity waiting to catc

d?" Tim asked, to

sed. Tossed it

n-s

net, fast and hard. J

ollapsed at the slightest pressure. Our libero, Nate, had already racked up three digs that sent

t

ching som

texts, not even a whisper to the cheerleader beside her. Just... wa

e the tournament. But now

ira Denzel Ramos. Sounded like 'damsel'

stly cold ones. And losin

eside me. "Keep staring like that a

ot sta

ust doing it all b

inter

d. "You don't usual

n't r

he wasn'

opped letting myself feel anything real. I'd gone numb. Played

that damsel made me

e wonder what she saw when she looked a

this up,"

d

e: 3–0. Ma

's captain, then looked toward the stands. Dams

ey and sat on the bench while the others joke

Biatrice said, voice l

urn

rossed, eyes sharp. "The chess girl. S

. "I didn'

you di

want me to sa

t answer

"Be ca

h wh

ng att

at her. "

Because she's not on

ned back against the cold

el R

as about her. But I kne

st maybe, she

elf distracted during mor

! Eyes

, Co

m entrance, half-expecting her to walk in again, clipboard in

di

g for?" Luke asked

on

. "You're doing t

t th

. You're one tragic backstory a

nore

his breath. "You rea

ust... d

trip over her words ju

n't care

pulling you in, huh? The fact that sh

yb

her silence said more

chimed in, voice dripping with mock horror. "Don't curse us

good thing for you

en that idiot started clapping

thinking philosopher. "If they're busy pining, all the girls will

arm at the same time, as

time for volleyball coaching seminars and exhibition matches. I was walking out of th

ee, headphones on, a chess notebook bal

lmost. But something pu

d, stopping

d up slow

xpect to se

I don't teleport b

t. S

tside the t

om is being used for a math

ay next. It felt like she

e surpr

ay," she said. "Less over-re

. "You wa

ith a shrug. "Your weak spot was

ost s

for the

to her book. But she hadn't told