July 3, 2010 – Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
The day after their game against Orlando, Ethan Albarado was walking down the familiar hallway of Oak Hill Academy, making his way to class. The usual buzz of students chatting filled the air, but there was something different today. His thoughts lingered on the recent game, where Vorpal Basket had managed to pull off an unexpected victory.
As Ethan pushed open the door to his classroom, his gaze swept over the room. There, sitting in their usual spots, were Coonie Smith, Kai Mendoza, and Jeremy Park. They were all 2nd-year middle school students, just like him. Coonie was leaning back in his chair, casually chatting with Kai, while Jeremy was scribbling something in his notebook. Ethan didn't see Lucas, though. He wasn't surprised—Lucas often arrived late, especially when it came to these types of mornings.
