Introduction: the final game 5 years ago

"Here's your game ball, you deserve it, playmaker," Troy said to Kelsi as he dropped the basketball into her hands. She took hold of it and smiled politely. Unsure of what to do with it, she twirled it in her palms and slipped away from the crowd around her. East High had just won the championship and the gymnasium had quickly turned into a riot. This was not her scene by any means, but she had enjoyed the game and felt enough school pride to change her clothes from the suit she had donned earlier. There were students milling all about sharing cheers of victory and warm embraces that she was hardly surprised when she felt a hand on her waist. When she turned to see Jason Cross smiling at her, she couldn't keep her eyes from widening.

"Want some help with that?" he asked looking between the basketball and her startled eyes. Kelsi's breath caught at the surprise meeting then wrinkled her nose a bit at the sweaty guy standing so close to her. Not wanting to be rude, she quickly replaced her shocked expression with a polite smile and nodded.

"Um sure, I've never played," she replied with a slight blush at his gaze. She recognized him from homeroom and a few other classes, not the brightest guy in class, but he had done a great job tonight. She admitted to herself that she had been watching him just a little. He had seen her in class too, always keeping to herself, but it wasn't until he saw her playing the piano during Troy and Gabriella's audition that he felt a desire to meet her. He thought she had looked a little goofy in that suit and bowler hat, but then she had started to play. Her talent at the keys had completely mesmerized him. Even though she seemed shy and quiet in class, he had watched her let loose while she played. Now there was another side of her that he was eager to discover.

"Here, you probably want to lose this," he said as he took hold of her bowler hat and gently tossed it off her head, letting her light brown hair fall to her shoulders. Jason swallowed quickly at the sight.

Wow, she's gorgeous, he thought as he took her in, now all dolled up in her red one shouldered shirt and short gold heels. She turned back to him after shaking her hair out and realized he was staring at her again. Looking down at the ball, she felt the heat rising to her cheeks again.

Great, he's going to think I'm such a loser she worried silently to herself. She didn't dare look up, but then she felt his arms wrap around her and his hands gently cover hers on the basketball. He pulled her a little closer.

"Just raise your arms up like this," he said as he directed her arms to mimic his shooting position, "aim, and give it a launch!" With that she flicked her wrist perfectly and sent the ball whizzing towards the basket where it slipped through the net with a swish.

"Oh my gosh!" Kelsi exclaimed and brought her hands to her mouth in shock, "I did it!" She spun around and gleefully threw her arms around Jason's neck. He stumbled back a step at the surprise of her petite frame slamming into his chest. Even though she was small, she sure packed a punch. "Thank you, that was so awesome!" she said and pulled back to smile at him. He gazed down at her lovely lips in their expression of joy and felt that the moment called for a kiss, which he quickly scolded himself for. What a stupid idea when he barely knew her. When they finally broke their embrace, he figured perhaps it was time to change that.

"So, you haven't played basketball before? That was a pretty good shot for a rookie." Kelsi looked over her shoulder at the basket, remembering the feeling of hearing that perfect swish.

"No, I haven't," She looked back at him and shrugged, "beginner's luck I guess." He stared at her smiling face and took in her delicate features set on her heart shaped face. Quickly realizing that he was staring dumbfounded at her, he shook his head and tried come up with something to say.

"Could have fooled me." She blushed a little, also unsure of anything else to say and kicked herself for her own awkwardness.

"Hey Jason!" Chad's voice rang out across the gym, "come on man, team photo!" He looked down the court to see the whole team assembling with the championship trophy.

"Um I gotta go, will I see you at the after party?" he asked hopefully. She started to reply when Chad came running up and grabbed Jason's shoulder.

"Dude! Let's go!" Jason turned with the sharp tug on his shoulder and followed his teammate to join the group photo. Kelsi sighed and watched him walk away.

"Probably not," she replied quietly. Even though the school seemed to have broken down a lot of barriers, she still wasn't sure she had moved out of her own comfort zone enough to go to a party. She turned and headed to chat with a few other friends, unaware that Jason was tripping over his feet as he looked over his shoulder for her to all the way to the group photo.

Present

Six months in and the New York Stock Exchange's opening bell still sent a jolt down Jason's spine. No longer the nervous intern, his suit felt comfortable, a second skin in the trading arena. The familiar cacophony of shouts and hand signals washed over him – a symphony of greed and triumph. This internship, as part of his financial studies program, had been a dream come true. Steady pay, the excitement of living in downtown Manhattan, and a great learning experience for the world he had come to love; what more could he want? Giant screens overhead flickered with ever-changing data, a constant stream of information demanding his attention. A nearby trader yelled.

"Tech's cratering, Cross! Sell AAPL at 115!" The urgency was palpable. Though no longer a rookie, he felt a familiar flutter of nerves. He hustled towards his assigned specialist post, headset strapped on, voice steady as he relayed the sell order. Confirmation crackled back, and a satisfied smile tugged at his lips. This was far from his first rodeo, but he was still learning the rhythm of the market's heartbeat. Across the room, a senior trader, barked a greeting.

"Rough morning, kid," he said gruffly, but Jason was used to his usual tone.

"Just another manic Monday, Mr. Davis." His senior mentor managed a smile back as he took a swig of his coffee, he liked Jason and felt a sense of pride that the kid was doing so well under his mentorship. Jason turned back to his own coffee, fighting a slight headache from a night out with his friends on the weekend, but he wouldn't let it slow him down. He dove back into his work, the market's frenzy was no longer terrifying, but exhilarating.

"Ugh! it's still not right," Kelsi muttered to herself as she slammed a few disjointed notes on the piano in front of her. She had been seated to the grand piano in the main theatre of the Juilliard School since nine that morning and was starting to feel it her back. Standing to walk around and stretch, she heard the main door open and Ryan walked in with Tammy.

"Thought I heard the sound of a frustrated pianist in here," he called as they walked down the aisle of the auditorium.

"Hey, guys," she murmured as she paced and tapped her pencil against her lips.

"Uh oh," Ryan said as he hopped down into the band pit, "better steer clear, she's thinking hard." He looped an arm around Tammy's waist to pull her close.

"Anything we can do to help you, love?" Tammy asked, her British accent along with gentle genuine concern gave her a motherly vibe even though they were the same age.

"Just this song for the winter show, I've been at it all morning and I'm getting nowhere!" she huffed as she slumped back down at the piano.

"It's okay, Kelsi," Ryan said, offering a comforting hand on her shoulder, "you'll get there, you always do." She patted his hand in quiet thanks for his support and went back to her playing.

"Come on, love," Tammy said as she pulled Ryan along by the hand, "we best leave her to it and you've got to get a shower before the show tonight."

"You mean we right?" Ryan said as he followed her towards the door. Kelsi snickered to herself, they were such a cute couple. She had thought Ryan might have had some feelings for her when he had asked her to prom back in high school, but it turned out they had only become the best of friends. Turning back to the piano and her plight with the sheet music before her, she slammed away at the keys for another half an hour before it occurred to her that she too needed to get ready for the show that night.

The bell finally rang again signalling the close of the day and Jason began to wind through his afternoon reports. It had become so routine, but never mundane. There was always something new to learn and he relished the challenge every day. His internship partner, Luke Perry, crashed down in a rolling chair beside him.

"Lordy, that was a wicked day!" he said in his heavy southern accent. If there was one guy Jason could count on for anything from a quick cover for being late to class or an unforgettable night of fun on the town, it was Luke. They had become great friends in college, bonding over being a surprising pair to end up in the world of finance; he the former basketball lunk-head and Luke a farm raised hillbilly from Texas. "Here's my reports, add 'em to the pile and let's hightail it outta here," Luke said as he passed a stack of papers over to Jason.

"Alright, just about done here." He printed a few more neat notes on his papers, checking one more time to ensure he didn't miss anything. They finally packed up their work for the night and slipped out into the cool evening, watching the nightlife of NYC slowly dialling up.

"So any plans tonight, Cross?" Luke asked as they strolled down the smooth sidewalk.

"Nah nothing for me, bit of a stressful day, think I'll take it easy tonight. How about you?" Jason replied, loosening his tie when they came to the corner of Broad St. and Wall St., their usual split to go their separate ways for the evening.

"Got a lovely blonde beauty I met last week meeting me for dinner tonight so I gotta get runnin', see ya t'morrow!" Luke turned for the subway tunnel with a habitual tap to his forehead like he was dipping a cowboy hat.

"See ya, bud," Jason called after him and turned his attention back to the crosswalk to continue on his way. As he looked up and down the light pole at the various advertisements haphazardly taped over each other, a familiar face caught his attention. He stepped closer and checked around him to make sure he wasn't in anyone's way to get a closer look at an advertisement from Juilliard. "No way, that's Ryan Evans," he mumbled to himself as he read the details for a show the school was hosting. It had been years since he'd seen anyone from East High, to see Ryan's face was like a breath of nostalgic air that made him miss home. He looked at his phone for the time, 5:27, he could rush home and make it back to Juilliard by 7. When the crosswalk lit up to give him the go to cross the street, he made like Luke would have suggested and hightailed it home.