Hearts on the Court Episode One

Episode One: Cocoa & 

Chocolate

The school bell rang, and the echo of sneakers squeaking across the polished gym floor filled Maplewood High. Coco Daniels, star of the girls’ basketball team, dribbled the ball between her legs with a quick spin before sending it through the hoop. The ball swished clean, drawing claps from her teammates.

“Girl, you never miss!” shouted Lila, her best friend.

Coco grinned, brushing back her curly ponytail. “That’s why Coach keeps calling me the queen of the court.”

Just then, a familiar voice echoed from the bleachers.

“Queen of the court, huh? Then what does that make me?”

Coco turned. Chris Walters—her boyfriend of six months, a tall boy with an easy smile—walked down with a chocolate bar in his hand. He had that way of making her stomach flip without even trying.

“You?” Coco teased, walking over. “You’re just the royal snack boy who keeps bribing me with sweets.”

Chris handed her the chocolate dramatically, like it was a trophy. “Well, if chocolate is the price of your love, then I’ll gladly pay forever.”

Her teammates burst out laughing.

“Stop embarrassing me, Chris,” Coco whispered, though a blush crept onto her cheeks as she peeled open the wrapper.

“Embarrassing you?” He leaned closer. “I’m just proving to everyone that the real prize isn’t winning games—it’s dating you.”

Coco rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her smile.

Later that evening, outside the gym…

The sky was painted in orange and pink, and Coco and Chris sat on the school steps. She was munching the last piece of the chocolate while Chris leaned back, staring at her with that smirk again.

“You know, you should be careful,” she said, poking his arm. “People will think you only date me because I’m the star player.”

Chris shrugged. “And if I do? Then I’m just smart. Who wouldn’t want the strongest, prettiest girl on the team?”

Coco laughed, nudging him with her shoulder. “Smooth talker.”

“Only for you.”

For a moment, silence hung between them—the soft, sweet kind that made Coco’s chest warm.

Then Chris broke it. “Promise me something, Coco.”

“What?”

“That no matter how good basketball gets, no matter how many games you win or colleges want you, you won’t forget us. Me and you.”

Coco blinked at him. “Why would you even say that?”

“Because…” He scratched the back of his neck. “Sometimes I feel like the world wants a piece of you. And I just don’t want to lose my piece.”

Coco softened, resting her hand over his. “Chris, you’re my favorite piece. Always.”

He squeezed her hand. “Good. Then I’ll keep the chocolates coming.”

They laughed together, their voices echoing into the fading evening light. Neither of them knew that change was already waiting around the corner—change that would test just how strong those promises really were.

—To be continued…