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"Hey," I say, a little breathless, caught on the way the blue in the crowd pulls the color from her eyes. "I've got like ten seconds before—"

"Jace, I need to talk to you."

My heart drops straight to the grass, my mind reeling.

This is where history repeats itself.

This is where she tells me she isn't coming back.

"Okay," I say cautiously—still holding onto hope.

Lenny parts her lips. "I—"

"Yo!"

It takes me a second too long to realize it didn't come from her.

I twist when she looks past me and catch JJ at the foul line. "Let's go!" he calls, nodding toward where Cecily is walking Vienna out toward the flag.

"Just a second!" I call back.

I turn to Lenny again, reaching for her hand like I can keep the moment from slipping away. "Go ahead."

She lets out a slow breath. "Okay, so you know how I'm supposed to leave tomorrow?"

My jaw ticks. "Mhmm."

How could I forget?

"Well…"

She hesitates—and my body stiffens.

Suddenly I'm back in my dorm room. Water running. Scottie in the shower. My shoes still damp from the walk home after practice.

Sitting on my bed, waiting for her to say what she's really thinking.

"I think I—"

"Ladies and gentlemen…"

The announcer's voice cuts through the stadium.

"Yo, Jace!" JJ calls again.

My head spins as I find V standing with Cecily and JJ and the rest of my team lined-up along the foul line.

"Please rise and join us in the—"

"Shit," I mutter, squeezing Lenny's hand. "I'm sorry, I—"

"Go," she says quickly, nodding behind me. "We'll talk later."

Hope hits fast—sharp and sudden—as I lean in closer. "Yeah?" I ask, unable to hide it.

She nods, smiling—and something about it makes my chest ease just a little.

"Okay," I whisper. I lean down and press a kiss to her cheek, only pulling away when the first chord of the anthem rings out.