Third-Person POV
Brent turned away from Marcus and at that moment Stacey appeared at his side, her eyes bright as she clapped him on the shoulder with an enthusiastic smile.
“Hey, that wasn’t so bad! We need to celebrate,.”
Brent managed a smile, feeling his spirits lift slightly.
“Thanks. Even if I didn’t get the title, I still can’t believe I’m officially on the team now. It’s more than I expected.”
As he spoke, he caught sight of Betty across the gym.
She was watching him, a proud smile on her face as she approached.
“You did great, Brent!,You’ve come so far. I knew you could do it.”
Brent’s smile widened, grateful for her support. “Thanks, Betty. That means a lot.” “Stacey and I are planning a little celebration. Do you want to come?”
“I’d love to, but… I can’t. I’m still grounded. My dad won’t let me go anywhere outside of school and home.”
Stacey shrugged, giving her a playful grin. “Rules are rules, I guess. We’ll just have to celebrate enough for you.”
“Well, we’ll catch up soon, then. Take care, Betty.”
As Brent and Stacey headed toward the exit, Betty watched them go, a hollow feeling settling in her chest. She used to be close to Brent and share in his triumphs and moments of excitement. .