Close To You

Time Jump

November 19th, 2023

(2 Months Later)

Nika and Kate have been girlfriend and girlfriend for a little bit over 2 months now. They FaceTimed and called every moment they could just like they had done before the trip to Croatia. Everything between the two of them was going great, to Kate at least.

All Kate wanted to do was see her girlfriend. She still couldn't fathom that Nika Mühl was her girlfriend. To this day Kate wonders how she got someone so perfect to be her girlfriend.

To add the cherry on top, Iowa and UConn had a game against each other in January. So now they didn't even have to worry about trying to both make it far into the NCAA until they play each other again.

Iowa City, Iowa

(Kate, Gabbie, and Caitlin's Apartment)

Kate was woken up to not her alarm going off, but the noise coming outside of her bedroom. The noise coming from the kitchen. It was currently 6AM on a Sunday and the Iowa Hawkeyes were going against the Drake Bulldogs. Kate rubbed her eyes as her feet began to part her matress and touch the wooden floor beneath her.

When Kate opened her door, she saw Caitlin making eggs while singing the words to lord knows what song, and Gabbie doing her morning ritual meditation. How Gabbie didn't seem a single bit disturbed by Caitlin's obnoxious singing, Kate will never know.

"Good morning K. You finally decided to wake up huh?"

"Its 6AM Clark. What the fuck do you mean?" Caitlin held her arms up in defense as she placed her plate on the island. "What time is practice at?" Kate turned to Caitlin who's cheeks were now puffing out from the scrambled eggs and toast being shoved in her mouth.

"Its at 7:30." Kate groaned in annoyance. Oh how Kate hated early practices. Kate thought nobody should be forced against their will to have to wake up and have an early practice before game day. "So have you called your girlfriend Mühl yet?"

"Not yet. she's got a game today too so I don't want to distract her." For once, Kate and Nika were in the same time zone. Currently, UConn was in Minnesota to play against the Gophers. This was the first time Nika and Kate have been one state away from each other the same time during basketball games.

Gabbie came over to the kitchen counter where Caitlin was sitting and Kate was leaning on the counter. "You said UConn's playing in Minnesota today?" Both of the girls nodded. "Why don't you meet up with Nika then?"

Kate eyes widened at Gabbie's proposal. Why didn't Kate think of that? But then again, would Geno or Bluder even let the other go across state.

"Gabs, you might be onto something." Caitlin directed her attention to the blonde. "Kate, you should do it."

Kate stood up straight as she scoffed. "If you think Coach Bluder would let me go, you guys are fucked in the head. I want to do it but it will never happen."

"K, me and Gabbie will cover for you. We might not even have to cover for you after all. We don't have practice until the 21st until the afternoon, so you could spend a whole day with her. Our game isn't until 2PM. After the game you can drive straight to Minneapolis then you two guys are together. Bam!" Gabbie nodded in agreeance.

Kate pondered for a moment. Caitlin was really stupid at times, but not this time. Caitlin was onto something. This could actually work. Kate was tired of only being to see Nika on a device, she wanted to touch her and be in her arms. This could be her only opportunity until who knows when.

After a moment of 4 eyes staring into Kate's, Kate made her decision.

"Will you guys come?" Caitlin and Gabbie looked at each other with smirks on their faces. After that, the girls got in a group hug and jumped around.

As Kate was changing, she decided to text Nika about the plan.

Princeza💘

text me when u can

My Baby ❤🥰

I'm able to now princess

whats up

Princeza💘

since youre in Minnesota

me Clark and Gabbie were wondering

what if we drove up to

Minnesota so we can see u

Read 6:37 AM

My Baby ❤🥰

omg yea that sounds perfect

I havent seen u in so long

I miss you

Read 6:41 AM

Princeza💘

I miss u too

see u soon love

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Nika and Paige's hotel room

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck!" Nika began pacing around her and Paige's hotel room with her hands fully pressed against the side of her head.

Paige ran out of the bathroom wondering what was going on with the Croatian. "What's going on twin?"

"Kate's coming up to here after her basketball game." Paige's head flew back in confusion.

"Bro what? Shouldn't that be a good thing? So why the fuck do you keep saying fuck? Kate coming up here, that's a good thing right Nika?" Paige noticed Nika totally blanked out. "Right Nika?!" Paige waved her hand in Nika's face to grab her attention again.

"No yea it is a good thing. We just haven't seen each other in months and I didn't expect us to see each other again in Minnesota no offense."

Paige grabbed a washcloth, wiping off the excess water on her face after doing her morning skin care. She walked towards her side of the room, plopping down on her bed. "Well since I grew up literally a minute outside of Minneapolis, I can show you the best underground places you can show Kate that I know both you and her will love." Nika nodded her head.

Shit.

The Huskies had been in Williams Arena putting up shots and doing drills. The faced off against the Gophers in about half an hour. This game was now their 4th game of the season. Currently their record was 3-1. The games where they've won, 2 they have won by doubled the amount the opposing team had. But they'd be lying if they said it was easy. They were missing a star player. One who made the air shift when they were on the court. Azzi Fudd.

Recently, during a game, Azzi tore her ACL in the right knee. It sucks for not just the Huskies but the fans because Azzi has been injured countless times during her basketball career. Azzi was the spark in the games when times felt dark. But now, the Huskies had to play without their light.

Nika was practicing shooting her threes but everything felt off. She wasn't making nearly as many as she was prior warm-ups. Nika didn't know why. Well, she did know why. She just didn't want to accept it.

"You alright there twin?" Paige stood next to Nika a foot behind the three point line as Paige shot her ball up and it made a clean swoosh sound going in the basket. "You don't seem locked in. You seem like, unlocked."

"Yea I'm alright I'm alright. I'd just prefer not having an annoying blonde right against my ear. That's what's making me unlocked."

"I'm just looking out for you twin. You seemed distracted. The game ain't started yet but you need to get your head in the fucking game. I either tell you that or Grandpa Geno will. And we both know you don't want Geno too."

Nika released her ball from her hands and both of the girls watched as it spinned around the rim and then followed through, making the bucket. "My heads more in the game than you think, twin." And with that, the buzzer rang as both teams ran to their benches.

As the game went on, Nika felt uneasy the whole time. She wasn't playing the worst she ever played, but this definitely wasn't her best game. She felt her defense had been slightly off, she felt she gave players on the opposing team too many opportunities. Nika was only 1-4 from the 3 point line. And yea Nika wasn't the biggest shooter. She was a point guard, but even being the point guard she felt she had failed her job. She only had 3 assists this game. That wasn't very Nika Mühl like of her.

Still in the end UConn came out on top 66-44. Thankfully Minnesota wasn't the greatest team. But Nika still had things she knew she could improve on. And that all started with Nika's only focus on herself.

Instead of going out to celebrate with the others, Nika and Paige decided to go back to the hotel room to get dressed so Paige can show Nika around Minneapolis. Nika decided on a white tube top with black sweatpants and a grey jacket. Paige just put on whatever clothes were closest to her. It was freezing in Minneapolis so she didn't really mind.

It was now about 7PM and Nika and Paige were walking down the straights of Minneapolis. Paige kept showing Nika unpopular underground places but nothing seemed to catch Nika's eyes. Paige pointed to European based restaurants but still nothing caught Nika's attention.

"What the fuck Nika stop being so fucking stubborn and just pick something already."

"Because I don't care where the fuck me and Kate go. It could be an alleyway for all I care."

"What has gotten into you?! What the fuck has happened? You're acting like you don't even care for Kate anymore." Nika sighed, seeing her own breath as it escaped from her mouth.

"I do care, Paige."

"Well then start fucking acting like it." As much as Paige wanted to storm off like one of those really dramatic movie scenes, she couldn't. Nika had no idea where the fuck she was and Paige couldn't abandon her like that. "Let's go twin, come on, I have one more place."

About an hour later, Nika and Paige went back to their hotel room. Only this time Azzi came along. Paige didn't want to be bored and alone in her hotel room while Nika was doing who knows what with Kate. So who best to keep Paige company than her gorgeous girlfriend?

Everything for Kate's plan was working perfectly. Surprisingly, Coach Bluder was okay with Kate, Caitlin, and Gabbie going up to Minneapolis as long as they stayed an extra hour after practice in a few days. And the UConn girls were staying in Minneapolis until the 23rd where they would be catching a flight to the Cayman Islands to face off UCLA.

Paige was able to connect her phone to the hotel TV screen and the three girls decided to watch some old film tapes. They got through the first few minutes of the first quarter until they heard a knock on the door.

Without a word being spoken, Nika got up and opened the door. Expecting to see only one person, she saw multiple faces. The one directly in front of her was the one she was most familiar with.

"Hey princess." Nika immediately wrapped her arms around her girlfriend. Nika and Kate's lips met each others for the first time in a few months. Once their lips parted, Nika lifted up Kate and spun her around a few times. "I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you more." Kate couldn't seem to get her eyes off of Nika's. Kate completely forgot there were other people in the room.

"Uhm hello???" Kate turned around seeing Paige wave her hand from across the room, leaning forward so she could see Kate. As Nika was greeting the other two girls, Kate went over to Paige and Azzi to say hi to them.

"Hey blondie how was the drive?" Paige released one of her arms from Azzi's waist so she was able to exchange in a hug with Kate.

"It was good thanks for asking. Are you happy you're back in your home state?" The smile on Paige's face said it all.

"Don't forget about me Kate." Azzi rolled her eyes jokingly turning her face away from Kate. Kate walked over to the other side of the bed and gave Azzi a big hug. Kate sat down on the bed looking at the couple for a moment.

"How's your leg doing Az?"

"Kate, you don't need to keep checking up on me. You've called and texted me like hundreds of times. It's the same as it was when you called me 30 minutes ago, it's okay."

"Yea I know but still I'm wishing you a speedy recovery." Azzi smiled at the blonde sitting at the edge of the bed as Azzi rested her head on Paige's shoulder.

"You ready to go?" The accent coming from behind Kate startled her a little bit.

"Where are we going?" Kate stood up as she began making her way towards the Croatian who was standing between the two beds. Caitlin and Gabbie were resting on Nika's bed, sleeping and looking as peaceful as ever. As much as Kate wanted to be jealous, she couldn't. Why be jealous when she had the most perfect girlfriend ever?

"You'll just have to wait and see."

Nika and Kate were walking down the streets of Minneapolis. The streets that were familiar to Nika from just a few hours ago. They were walking hand in hand as the dark sky above them was diminished from all of the city lights. Despite only holding hands, Kate felt as safe as she ever was. Nika felt so safe with Kate too. Nika just didn't want to feel safe anymore.

"So how was your drive up here?"

"It was good. A long 4 hours but it was worth it because now I get to be next to you."

"4 hours?! Baby you didn't have to drive 4 hours to see me. I'm not worth that drive. Much less a ten minute drive."

"I know, I know, but I really wanted to. I wanted to see your face. I needed to see your face. I would do that drive all over again, even 10x longer if it meant I got to see you again. I just feel so lonely and unsafe when I don't have you by my side."

This pained Nika. Nika felt the same towards Kate. Hell, maybe even stronger feelings. Nika couldn't bear having to be away from Kate anymore. Nika couldn't tell Kate this stuff. Not right now at least.

"Well you don't have to feel that way anymore."

Nika and Kate kept walking until they stopped at a tiny Italian restaurant. Nika didn't know really what to expect since she was only a 3 hours drive from New York. A place with real authentic Italian meals from Italian people. Kate on the other hand, was born and raised a Mid-Western. The closest she had to real pizza was from when they went to Croatia. But Paige told Nika this was one of Paige's favorite restaurants to go to growing up and Nika trusts Paige.

When they walked in, the smell of smoke completely took all of your attention. It was a mixture of matte black and brick walls with dark wooden floors. There were vines falling down from the windows. It seemed very peaceful.

Dinner had gotten along well. They caught up with each other, how each of their basketball seasons have been going. Kate said that today was one of her best basketball games of her career. She scored 25 points today. However, Nika said today was one of her worst basketball games. With the good comes the bad.

Nika was currently getting Deja Vu. Her legs were shaking uncontrollably. Kate didn't question it though because the last time Nika was nervous, there was a great outcome. Although this time, there might not be.

Authors Note:

Sry yall Ive just been so busy w school I dont got time no more

Any time I got im tryna put into here

This also kinda a filler chapter so im sorry for the next chapter in advanced

Also Nika killed it yesterday like period

Today was such an eventful day as a Fever, Liberty, Mystics, and Aces fan

Once again hope yall enjoyed sry it sucked and was a lil fast paced