The Beginning of a Rivalry

The next few days at practice felt like walking on eggshells for Ethan. Every time he caught Caleb’s eye, there was an unspoken challenge between them, an electricity that neither of them could ignore. The tension was thick in the air, and Ethan could feel it affecting not just him, but the entire team. His usual confidence wavered slightly, a feeling he wasn’t used to.

At practice, Caleb was relentless. His movements on the field were sharp, almost aggressive, and it seemed like he was always just a step ahead of Ethan. When they were paired for drills, Caleb seemed to have an uncanny way of getting under Ethan’s skin, as though everything about him was calculated to provoke.

Ethan hated how easily Caleb seemed to unsettle him. He wasn’t used to anyone getting inside his head, but Caleb did it effortlessly. He wasn’t just trying to beat Ethan in the game—he was trying to beat him mentally, too.

During a passing drill, Ethan hesitated for a fraction of a second, and Caleb seized the opportunity. The ball sailed past Ethan’s foot, and Caleb made a quick pass to another teammate, a smug grin on his face.

“Guess you weren’t quick enough, huh, Reed?” Caleb said, his voice oozing with satisfaction.

Ethan clenched his fists, trying to hide the flare of anger inside him. “I’m not your punching bag, Westwood,” he shot back, his voice colder than he intended.

Caleb didn’t even flinch. “Never said you were. But maybe you should start taking me seriously.”

The rest of the team kept their distance, sensing the growing tension between the two. Marcus, ever the peacemaker, shot Ethan a worried look from across the field, but Ethan refused to acknowledge him. He wasn’t going to back down. Not from Caleb.

After practice, Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that Caleb was always just one step ahead of him. He stormed into the locker room, the door slamming behind him. He wanted to vent, to lash out at someone, but the locker room was oddly quiet.

As he changed out of his gear, Ethan heard footsteps behind him and glanced up to see Caleb walking toward his locker. For a moment, neither of them said anything, the silence between them suffocating.

Then Caleb broke the tension with a smirk. “You know, Reed, if you spent less time sulking and more time practicing, maybe you wouldn’t be so far behind.”

Ethan’s temper flared immediately. “You think you’re better than me?”

Caleb shrugged, clearly unfazed by Ethan’s anger. “I don’t have to think it. I know it.”

Ethan clenched his jaw. “You’ve been here for five minutes, and you already think you own the place.”

Caleb’s smile faded slightly, but the cocky glint in his eyes never wavered. “Maybe I do. Maybe you’re just too stubborn to see it.”

Ethan’s fists were tight at his sides, but he kept his composure. He wasn’t going to let Caleb see how much his words affected him. “We’ll see how long that lasts,” Ethan said through gritted teeth.

Caleb didn’t respond. He simply grabbed his bag and walked out, leaving Ethan alone in the locker room with his thoughts.

That night, Ethan lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. His thoughts kept drifting back to Caleb, to the way he played, to the way he seemed to challenge Ethan at every turn. He was good—no, he was better than good. Caleb was a force to be reckoned with, and for the first time in a long time, Ethan wasn’t sure if he could keep up.

Ethan had always been the one others looked up to, the one everyone expected to lead. But now, with Caleb around, things were different. He didn’t like it. He didn’t like feeling unsure, or the way Caleb made him question everything he thought he knew about himself.

“Get it together,” Ethan muttered to himself, rubbing his face with his hands. He wasn’t going to let Caleb—of all people—make him second-guess his place on the team.

The next day, at practice, Ethan was determined to prove Caleb wrong. He was sharper, faster, more aggressive. He wanted to remind Caleb that he was the one who had earned his place on the team, not the cocky new guy.

But Caleb was relentless. Every time Ethan tried to make a play, Caleb was there, intercepting passes, blocking shots, getting in his face. There was no escaping him. Caleb wasn’t just playing the game—he was playing Ethan.

During a particularly intense drill, Ethan went in for a tackle, but Caleb was faster. With a swift movement, Caleb sidestepped and took the ball from him, sending Ethan crashing to the ground.

Ethan’s breath caught in his throat as he hit the turf. He glared up at Caleb, who was standing over him, looking down with that insufferable smirk on his face.

“Still think you can keep up?” Caleb asked, his voice dripping with smugness.

Ethan gritted his teeth, pushing himself up from the ground. “You’re not going to get away with this, Westwood,” he growled.

Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Get away with what? Beating you?”

Ethan lunged at him, his patience finally snapping. He shoved Caleb hard in the chest, sending him stumbling backward. “You think you’re the best, but you’re not. You’re just another guy trying to prove something.”

For a moment, Caleb looked caught off guard. But then, to Ethan’s surprise, he laughed.

“You’re funny, Reed,” Caleb said, his voice light but with a dangerous edge. “But you’re wrong. I’m not trying to prove anything. I already know what I’m capable of.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “You think I’m scared of you?”

Caleb smirked again. “I don’t think you’re scared, Reed. I think you’re just starting to realize you’re not the only one who can be number one.”

After practice, the two of them sat apart, the air between them charged with a mixture of anger and something else that neither of them was willing to admit. As the rest of the team filtered out, Marcus came over to Ethan, giving him a concerned look.

“You good, man?” Marcus asked.

Ethan shook his head. “No, I’m not. I can’t stand him.”

“I know,” Marcus said, clapping him on the back. “But you need to chill. Don’t let him get in your head.”

“I’m not,” Ethan replied, though his tone lacked conviction. “He’s just... too much. He’s always in my face, always challenging me. I don’t know how much longer I can take it.”

Marcus sighed. “Look, I get it. But if you let this rivalry go too far, it’s going to mess with your game. And with the season coming up, we need you at your best. Don’t let Caleb win.”

Ethan nodded, though it didn’t feel like a simple game anymore. Caleb wasn’t just another opponent. He was a challenge—a test that Ethan wasn’t sure he could pass.

But one thing was certain: this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

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