Two days until quarterfinals.But tonight?Tonight was for breathing.
The warm night air wrapped around them like a blanket as they stumbled out of the café.Laughter echoed into the streets, louder than it needed to be.
Daniel swung his arm around Liam's shoulders."Brooo, we actually did it" he slurred slightly, grinning wide."Quarterfinals, baby."
Ava was already two steps ahead, dragging Clara toward the parking lot where Matt was fiddling with the back of his car."Where's the meat?!" she yelled.
Matt just shook his head, smirking."Chill, it's in the cooler. Clara, help me grab the grill."
They had planned it the moment they won.BBQ party at the abandoned lot behind the café.Technically not allowed, but who was going to stop them?
The grill flared to life with a hiss and crackle.Sparks floated into the night sky.
Someone had brought cheap folding chairs.Someone else had a bluetooth speaker.The music was way too loud, but it matched their energy.
Liam leaned back in his chair, feeling the muscles in his body finally start to relax.Smoke curled lazily from the grill, carrying the smell of searing meat and spices.
Daniel handed him a beer."Earned it" he said, clinking their cans together.
Liam hesitated for half a second.He didn't drink much.Barely at all, actually.
But tonight wasn't about rules.It was about celebration.About surviving.
He took a sip.Bitter, fizzy, sharp.
Clara and Ava were already deep into their second drinks, laughing at some inside joke that made zero sense to Liam.Matt was poking at the sausages with a plastic fork, wearing the most serious expression Liam had ever seen.
"You look like you're defusing a bomb" Liam joked.
Matt grunted."Food safety is no joke."
Everyone burst out laughing.Even Matt cracked a small smile.
Time blurred after that.One drink turned into two.Two turned into... whatever number came next when you stopped counting.
At some point, Daniel tried to start a dance-off with a folding chair.Ava started freestyle rapping about hotdogs.Clara threw marshmallows at everyone and missed every single shot.
Liam wasn't sure when he started giggling uncontrollably.Wasn't sure when his cheeks started hurting from smiling too much.
The world spun gently around him, not unpleasant.Like sitting in a tiny boat on a big, calm ocean.
The night deepened.The stars above blinked quietly.
Someone dimmed the speaker volume.The conversations got quieter too.
The team sat in a loose circle, half-eaten plates and empty cans scattered around.
Matt spoke first, voice low."I'm proud of us, you know."
Nobody said anything for a second.Just nodded.
Liam felt it too.A warmth that wasn't from the beer.
A sense that maybe for the first time they were part of something bigger than themselves.
Something real.
Eventually, phones buzzed.Parents texting.Reality knocking.
It was time to head home.
Liam stood up, a little too fast.Wobbled.Caught himself with a sheepish laugh.
Daniel offered him a fist bump."Same time next week" he said."After we stomp Tusk."
"Yeah" Liam grinned, feeling a fierce little flame ignite inside him."After we stomp Tusk."
The taxi ride home was a blur.Neon lights sliding past the windows.The radio humming softly.
Liam fumbled for his keys at the door.Missed the lock twice.Third time's the charm.
He stepped inside, shushing himself even though nobody was awake.
The living room lamp was on, though.
Mom sat on the couch, knitting half-finished in her lap.Dad was dozing in his recliner, TV still murmuring in the background.
Mom looked up, eyes crinkling in a smile."How did it go?"
Liam kicked off his shoes and padded over, still a little dizzy.
He plopped down onto the couch next to her, grin stretching wide."We qualified."
Her hands froze mid-knit."You did?"
He nodded, a little too enthusiastically."Quarterfinals."
Dad stirred awake at that, blinking blearily."Quarterfinals?"
Liam nodded again."Yeah. We beat Zenith."
Dad let out a low whistle."That's a name even I know," he said.
Mom reached over and squeezed Liam's hand."You must be so proud."
"I am," Liam said quietly."And tired. And maybe a little drunk."
Mom laughed, a rare sound.Soft and full.
"Go sleep, champion" she said, kissing his forehead.
Liam grinned."Yes ma'am."
He stumbled to his room, fell onto his bed fully clothed, and didn't move for eight straight hours.
The next morning hit like a hammer.
Liam groaned as the sunlight stabbed through his curtains.His head felt like it was stuffed with cotton.
Still, he forced himself up.Because today was a work day.
Gas station duty waited for no man.
He showered, grabbed a half-burnt piece of toast, and biked over to the station.
The little bell above the door jingled as he pushed inside.
Mr. Patel stood behind the counter, organizing lottery tickets.Balding, glasses perched low on his nose, a permanent look of mild disapproval on his face.
"Liam!" he called, without looking up."Rough night?"
Liam winced."Something like that."
Mr. Patel finally looked up, squinting at him."You're not hungover on my shift, are you?"
"No sir" Liam lied smoothly.
Mr. Patel grunted, apparently satisfied.
The morning was slow.A few customers trickled in for coffee and smokes.A delivery guy dropped off snack boxes.
Liam stocked shelves, wiped down counters, the usual.
But halfway through his shift, Mr. Patel called him over.
"Liam," he said, voice serious."Come here."
Liam wiped his hands on his jeans and walked over.
Mr. Patel folded his arms."I heard from your father. You qualified for something?"
Liam blinked."Uh. Yeah. Esports tournament. Quarterfinals."
Mr. Patel nodded, like he was checking something off in his mind.
"You're a good worker" he said."On time. Honest. Not stupid."
Liam wasn't sure where this was going.
Mr. Patel continued."I know you won't stay here forever. That's fine."
Liam opened his mouth, but Mr. Patel held up a hand.
"I'm offering you something" he said."You work half-days. Same pay. No penalty."
Liam's eyebrows shot up.
Mr. Patel leaned forward slightly."You take the mornings. After that? Go chase your dreams. Play your video games."
Liam stared at him.Was this real?
"You can quit anytime," Mr. Patel said."No notice needed. Just tell me."
Liam swallowed."Why... why are you doing this?"
Mr. Patel shrugged."Everyone deserves a shot" he said."And besides... I don't like wasting talent."
He turned away then, grabbing a clipboard."Think about it."
Liam stood there for a long second.
The hum of the refrigerators filled the silence.
Half-day work.Same pay.Freedom to train.Freedom to focus.
It sounded perfect.
It was perfect.
Still, part of him hesitated.
He couldn't just abandon stability.Not yet.
But maybe...Maybe if they made it all the way.Maybe if they won the whole damn thing.
Maybe then, he'd walk out of here for good.
For now, though, he smiled.
"Thank you, Mr. Patel" he said sincerely.
Mr. Patel just grunted again, pretending not to hear.
Liam turned back toward the coffee machines, heart lighter than it had been in weeks.
Two more days.
Two more days until they faced Tusk.
The fire inside him burned steady now.No panic.No fear.
Just resolve.
And maybe... just maybe... a little bit of hope.