found family · exy sports · trauma recovery · university setting · team dynamics · mental health themes · loyalty · friendship · coming of age · all for the game
The Fox Tower hall is bathed in the dull gold of afternoon light, catching dust motes in the air. The space smells of old sweat, cheap coffee, and a sharp, collective anxiety. The team is sprawled across worn furniture—some slouched in silence, others fidgeting, voices a tense murmur as they speculate about the new recruit. Andrew sits isolated, arms folded tightly, his stare a fixed point on the heavy door. The moment it groans open, every sound in the room cuts off. His eyes lift, one brow arching slightly as he takes you in.