40. What Can I do

So what can I do?

So you feel it too?

'Cause I just wanna say it but I'm scared if I do

You weren't looking at me the way I look at you

Jenna

My mouth falls open as I run toward the two figures in shock, immediately throwing my arms around Caitlin's neck as I cry into her shoulder.

"W-what h-how.." I shake my head in disbelief, "You- were just- How!" I smile, pulling her back into a bone-crushing hug to convince myself she was real.

"Well Pa–."

"It was all her—" Paige smiles before nodding to Caitlin, "she called me up and I told her it was a great idea..."

"Paige no—" Caitlin starts,

"I should really get going before Azzi kills me because i still haven't done part of our project," She gives a tight lipped smile making my face drop in confusion as i reach to grab her hand but she pulls away from me quickly before giving Kate and Caitlin a friendly hug.

"Paige.."

"It's okay— i'll see you at home," she nods, "It's really good to see you guys," She smiles before walking out of the gym.

"Was that weird or was it just me?" Kate chuckles taking a step towards me before pulling me into a hug. It's like nothing changed, except her hair was longer, her shoulders were a bit broader and her eyes much softer from that last time i looked into them.

"Hey Freshmen.." She whispers squeezing my waist softly as i burry my head into her neck, "I never thought i'd miss my favorite pain in the ass.." She chuckles as Caitlin throws her arms around the both of us.

"I LOVE THIS!" Caitlin chuckles squeezing the both of us, "I hate to break this up but JJ i'm starving, airplane peanuts can only take this girl so far.." Caitlin smiles patting her stomach.

I chuckle pulling away from Kate as her arm still lingers around my waste, "well good thing i know a perfect place for us to eat!" I smile, "Let me change first! Do you guys wanna see the locker room?"

"YOOO— Yes!" Caitlin giggles like a school girl as i lead them to it.

"It's not much, but it's home!" I smile opening the door as i make my way to my locker ignoring the huff from Kate.

I knew me saying that this was my new home was a stab in the heart to Kate.

"Jenna i'm going to explore the hallway really quick!" Caitlin smiles wanting to read the Uconn record walls in the hallway as i slip my practice shirt off and my hoodie over my head.

"So 6 huh?" Kate smirks looking up at my name and number engraved into my locker as i change out of my shorts only to throw Paige's sweatpants on.

I shrug looking up at my name, "I think it fits— something different, a whole new meaning to things.."

"You sure it's not because of your buddy number five?" Kate chuckles, i couldn't tell if there was a hint of jealousy in her voice but there was the energy in the room as she knocks on the inside of Paige's locker.

"Number five is a good person— who's my friend, and no— i put on a lot of numbers but six was the one that stuck, i felt home again in it— just like I did when i put my Iowa jersey on but with Uconn across my chest." I nod confidently as i hand her my one of many uniforms that hung untouched in my locker.

"oh yeah... a good person who lends you their sweatpants?" Kate eyebrows shot up as her eyes look down at the grey sweatpants with the number 5 on them, "You looked better in yellow and black you know—"

I smile throwing my back pack over my shoulder as i take a step towards her, "According to you i look good in everything — so you're biased."

"What? can't be a little salty that my rebound partner now has a new girl in her life— i thought i was your only girl" She says jokingly as her hands come to my side to tickle me but before she does i catch them softly holding her wrist, "Your not my little freshmen anymore.." She whispers looking down at me.

"I grew up Kate— what are you suddenly Peter Pan or something, get mad at me because i'm grown.." I chuckle looking up at her.

"Your not— i don't know.." Kate shook her head, "It's weird seeing you here and not everyday anymore.. I- i guess i got used to it after a while, but nothing feels the same on the court anymore..."

"Why did you stop talking to me Kate.." I sigh.

"It was harder than you think Jenn... You think i wanted to? I had to get over you somehow.. ju-just things take longer to process than others..."

"That doesn't mean you fall off the face of the earth Martin."

"I watched every single one of your games in Europe even if it was 1am here — I still checked your social media, your spam.. I thought you were dating a guy for a second.."

"Well..." I trail

"YOU DATED A GUY?"

"Not technically!"

"ew did you fuck him— you know what," She throws her hands over her head, "Don't answer that!"

"Jesus Kate!" I chuckle hitting my shoulder with hers as i walk towards the door of the locker room, "and just so you know," I turn towards her making her stop immediately very close to me as i look up into her eyes, "I didn't fuck him.." I whisper as Kate bites her lip softly before pushing the door open with my back.

"We better go before Caitlin starts to eat the hall of fame trophies.." Kate smirks before putting two fingers under my chin to really make me focus on her eyes, "Sorry— i just had to make sure this is real.."

"What do you mean?"

"You — make sure your still the Jenna Midow i know."

"I told you I wasn't going anywhere..."

"and it seems like i was the one who really left huh"

I nod silently not breaking out eye contact, "seems so Martin.."

"do you still love her?"

"Kate..." I sigh letting out a deep breath before walking out into the hall way trying to avoid Kate's question only to find Caitlin sitting on ground eating a bag of chips.

"Jenna did you know you have a whole snack station down the hall?"

I let out a loud laugh before extending my hand to pick her up, "Lets go get you some food.."

Paige

"So i'm fucked—" I groan sitting on our couch looking up at Azzi, Ice and Nika..

"Well can someone explain to me what the fuck is going on because i thought yall were fucking this entire time" Ice chuckles throwing her hands up in disbelief.

"Kate Martin—" I look at Azzi completely ignoring Ices comment, "It's Kate fucking Martin Azzi!"

"You don't know anything about them Paige your overthinking like a crazy person!"

"First i was afraid to lose her to Blake who had no chance in my opinion but now it's fucking Kate Martin, who's next fucking Olivia Rodrigo?!"

"Kate Martin? like the guard from Iowa?" Ice chimes as Nika hits her softly, "Ow! What? Paige is taking in riddles!"

"Kate and Jenna were really close before Jenna left Iowa, like impossibly bestfriend close— then one day a teammate of theirs accidentally exposed them on a live with Kate basically holding Jenna's hand and waist in the bar — kissing her cheek and all that couple stuff. The two of them never really talked about it after but damn did Iowa fans love them, but them being together was never confirmed because a week later Jenna tore her ACL..." Azzi explains as I hold my head in my hands.

"So Paige is the girl after the girl?"

"NO" Azzi and I say together snapping our heads towards Nika and Ice.

"Someone explain to me what in the who hell is going on before i hit you both" Ice points at us.

"Jenna and I— we.." I sigh shaking my head, "We kissed during a game of truth or dare and —"

"You gotta tell them Paige..."

"And I basically ran away and stopped talking to her.."

"YOU GHOSTED JENNA MIDOW?"

"WE WERE 15 ICE!"

"SHES HOT!"

"don't even get me started" I groan throwing a pillow over my head.

"Maybe this is what you need" Nika chimes in sitting next to me on the couch, "have you still not come to terms with the fact that you're practically in love with Jenna."

"Well the universe or should i say anyone who had even liked Jenna in the slightest LOVES to interrupt when i'm just about right there.."

"Why do you think Caitlin brought Kate if she knew that this could possible ruin things that you too have started?" Ice questions,

"maybe to prove a point?" Nika suggests

"Well Paige already did that!" Azzi chuckles making the group of girls shoot daggers towards me.

"I basically... may have... i don't know.. Friendzoned her...." I chuckle knowing it wasn't funny..

"YOU WHAT?" Nika yell standing up from the couch, "oh you done fucked up man..."

"Wait so what even happened in the gym before Cait and Kate walked in?"

"You met her at the gym?"

"We-" I sigh, "i was just about to kiss her— tell her everything.. and then fucking Kate Martin shows up on a white horse with her muscle and stupid hair!"

"Maybe Nika is right—" Ice joins in, "Listen P, Jenna would be stupid not to pick you— but there is no choice, you can't sit here and beat yourself up over something that happened in the past, at the end of the day who goes back to Iowa and who stays here at Uconn.." She sighs putting a soft hand on my shoulder, "Maybe this will be an eye opener for you and Jenna.."

I scuff leaning back ok the couch, "why is this so hard.."

"Because you two love eachother and don't know how to express it..."

"i don't love —"

"Paige if those words come out of your mouth right now i may hit you over the head with this lamp-" Nike smiles pointing towards the lamp that sat on our table, "or i can still do it if you don't say it? maybe it will knock some sense into you"

"you know now that you say it — all of Paige's almost girl friends do look like Jenna.."

"THATS WHAT I SAID!" Azzi laughs making me shake my head.

"God help me.." I mumble, "It was subconscious! I have a type?"

"Paige..." Nika shakes her head, "It's not a type.."

"What? You want me to say I'm in love with her? That I'm trying to fill the void because I know I can't have her? Because that's not it!"

"Then what is it?" Ice pushes.

I drop my hands into my lap in shock, i can't believe i'm being pressed like this by my own teammates, "like i said a type— no one's opposed to sleeping with Paige Bueckers!"

"woahhhh there— i can name a few girls who are—" Azzi laughs pointing to the group.

"You guys don't count !"

"Look i just find myself drawn to girls with brown hair and light eyes— what's the difference? Ice has a type— so do you Azzi..."

"Da fuck i didn't know we was talking about me now!" Ice laughs, "don't change the subject P."

"So your drawn to them? Girls who look identical to Jenna?"

"Well..." I sigh, "i-i guess..."

"Nika..." Azzi smirks bumping her shoulder softly, understanding where she was going with this conversation.

Why did i feel so out of the loop..

"Paige cmon your smarter then this. Admit it."

"Admit what? Fine i'm fucking in love with her is that what you want!" I scream standing up from the couch before throwing my hands over my mouth to look at my grinning teammates, "I'm in love with her.." I whisper trying to tell myself, "This could ruin things— i-i can't .."

"Woah woah—" Ice started

"Hey, stop. It's not gonna ruin anything. And we did all this to get you to admit it, as your teammates. honestly we thought you both would've figured your shit out by now, but you're both dumber than I thought, but all iy took was Kate Martin to look at Jenna and poof — you know your in love, if i would have know that i would have gotten the girl here sooner," Azzi said, ignoring the affronted huff from my end.

"Listen P, as your teammates we are tired of you guys pretending you're not in love with each other and destroying yourselves trying to deny it. The team will be fine, we wouldn't have let you guys get this far if we didn't know how you both felt. We just thought you guys would've stopped playing this game by now." Nika smiles patting my shoulder as I sit now next to her on the couch.

What was I going to do...