Eniola took a deep breath of cool midnight air, soaking in the atmosphere as it filled her lungs. Sleep never seemed to agree with her so she went out of her room instead she found herself looking at the neon glow Los Angeles skyline. The ads and holo-boards still shone brightly, weaving in between the neon buildings. The low whirr of autocars permeated the room. She was glad their dorm had this view. It was refreshing.

The competition went okay. Eighth place was great as a start and they could easily move up. But then Keone came to her thoughts. Her skin felt like maggots were crawling all over it when she thought of what happened today in the arena with Keone. He was still deluded to think that they were together and still had some love leftover from the past. The “love” was nothing more than a first crush and a botched attempt at a relationship. She had been an immature 8th grader. Nothing more.

“Can’t sleep?”

The sudden voice jolted her out of her daydream. Or night dream, in this case. She slowly turned to see Jay leaning against the door frame in a simple white t-shirt and black sweatpants. He had messily tied his shaggy black hair into a topknot. It was simple but so fitting.

And she was obsessing again. She really needed to stop doing that. Instead, the thought withered into disgust. He moved next to her on the balcony.

“I’m going to go,” Eniola said, before walking away swiftly back to the door.

“Wait,” Jay said, standing there. “Can we please talk?”

Eniola stopped and considered, before turning back to face him. “What?”

“I’m sorry for what happened today, I really am,” he began. “I didn’t know you’d react that way, and it’s not your fault. I’m sorry for overstepping the way I did. If it makes you feel better, I won’t be hurt if you never talk to me again.”

Eniola stopped, as her lip quivered slightly. She turned back. “It’s fine. I overreacted.”

“No you didn’t,” Jay said. “It was right for you to act that way. I can’t imagine how you feel.”

She looked at him once again. “Thank you for doing that in the arena today. Saving me out there.”

His jaw clenched again. “It was nothing. That should’ve never happened to you. Do you know who that guy was, anyway?”

“Keone,” she said bitterly. “Our ex-teammate.”

His eyes went wide. “He was on our team?”

“Yeah,” she responded. “He started insulting Rogue and saying that we were nothing without him. And when I tried to leave, he stopped me,” she abruptly stopped with shaky breaths.

He rushed close and softly put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay. You’re okay. If you need anyone to talk to, I’m right here.”

“Thank you,” Eniola said, looking up to him.

“Don’t mention it.” He looked from the circular outside into the distance. He stayed silent, now looking right up into the stars. The city light reflected off his tan skin giving it a faint glow that almost made him look ethereal. He then looked right down at her. Her heart fluttered and she tore her gaze away.

They let silence fill the air. They didn’t know what to talk about. Jay was her teammate, for heaven’s sake. They didn’t know each other, but he must’ve cared enough to rescue her from Keone. She could’ve easily asked him, but something in her wouldn’t let herself ask him. Then she remembered him saying he was like a book that needed to be opened. And maybe that’s what she was going to do. Open him.

That was a weird way of putting it.

“So were you on the phone with your parents there?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she answered. “Sorry for getting you into the mix. They would have a major freakout if they knew everything.”

“Do they not know you play SCOPE?” he asked.

Eniola slowly nodded. “It’s a long story.”

“Oh,” he said faintly.

But what wasn’t faint was the conversation drifting up to their ears. She turned her attention downward, searching. From here they could see the palm trees that surrounded the courtyard. It must’ve been coming from over there. Eniola tried to peer forward to see, but she couldn’t see who was there through the palm trees.

“What?” Jay wondered.

“There are people down there,” Eniola said. “I wonder what they’re doing out there so late at night?”

“Do you think they know?” a distorted voice said harshly like it was from a computer. Eniola almost stood back.

“We left no tracks,” someone replied. “It worked just like you said it would. But I think we can go bigger with ALT.” Eniola raised an eyebrow at the conversation. It felt like she shouldn’t be listening to this.

“But you said you wouldn’t be obvious,” the second voice said. “Showing up right then and there revealed you.”

“It was just a test,” the distorted voice pleaded. “The technology worked on her.”

“But we shouldn’t do it in plain sight,” he growled. “We have to be stealth.”

“He’s right,” a third voice cut in. “I thought we weren’t going after teams.”

Teams? Were these people doing something to SCOPE teams? Eniola and Jay exchanged an anxious glance.

“We need to win and get to the last round,” the distorted one stated. “Without it, the plan cannot work. Do you understand, Simon?”

“But I feel like your fixation with Rogue is getting a little out of hand,” Simon, apparently, said.

Eniola pulled her head back. Were they going after Rogue? Her heart hammered in her chest and her stomach began to clench from overwhelming sickness. It was just like they were back in the arena with Keone. A chill trickled down her spine.

Jay stifled a gasp. “What are they talking about?”

“I’m not obsessed,” the distorted voice yelled back at Simon. “The plan is to eliminate teams we’re working with and I’m doing it.” Plan?

“Whatever. We just need to be careful,” the other guy cut in. “What’s going on with the device?”

“Ready,” the distorted voice whispered. “Meet me in the arena tomorrow night.”

The voice suddenly stopped and now Eniola could fully hear her breaths going shaky again. It was clear what was happening.

Someone wanted to go after them. But who?