Never Gonna Love Again

Sorry in advance

Somewhere in Minneapolis

(4 hours earlier)

The land on the outside of the car looked so peaceful. Somehow more peaceful than Iowa. There were barely any cars on the road. That meant no traffic. The less cars, the faster it would take for Kate to see her beautiful girlfriend Nika. Nika was all Kate could think about. She blocked out Caitlin and Gabbie's screams to the music and could only hear her girlfriends voice in her mind.

This was the longest the couple had gone without seeing each other. Somehow, Kate felt more excited now than any Christmas or Birthday she's ever experienced. She knew she wouldn't have to wait a year for the holiday of seeing Nika to come again. Only 2 more months. She's done it once, she could do it again.

To Caitlin and Gabbie, it felt like there was an imposter in the car. They've rarely seen Kate be so excited and bubbly in the car. The vibes were immaculate. Normally, Kate would be trying her hardest not to let her emotions get to the best of her. But if Kate cried this time, it would be because of happiness.

"So K, how excited are you to see your girlfriend Mühl huh?" Caitlin turned around to see Kate's smile show and her eyes sparkled at the mention of her girlfriends last name. Kate could go on and on about how excited she was to see her girlfriend.

"I don't know what words can signify how excited I am to see her. I haven't felt this excited since the Championship game. Although then I was nervous. This time, I'm not." Caitlin reached over to tickle Kate and get a laugh out of her. Gabbie slapped Caitlin and went to turn the volume of the music back up.

Kate's right leg began to shake, wishing Nika was there to stop it. "Hey guys..." Gabbie paused the music as Kate looked down at her feet for a moment then back up at the two girls in the front. "Please promise you won't judge me for this."

"Whatever it is, I promise you that we won't." Gabbie took her eyes off of the road for a second to turn around and give Kate a reassuring smile.

"I know me and Nika have only been dating for like 3 months but we've been talking for like 5 or 6. And I don't know it's just that, when I'm with Nika, I finally feel what it is to be loved. Being with her can solve all of my problems. And this might be a little too soon but you know what people say, lesbians do move fast, but I love her, and I want her to know and I want to tell her that."

Both Caitlin and Gabbie's eyes widened for a brief moment but began to grow soft.

"To be honest Kate, I think we knew." Kate looked up at Gabbie with her eyes furrowed. "Kate, you've loved Nika ever since we stepped foot in that house in Myrtle Beach. Hell, maybe before then. You love Nika more than you love anyone or anything else in this world.

"I know, but... I'm scared to say it to her. What if she doesn't love me back?

"K, you must be stupid to think Ms. Mühl isn't in love with you. You could see the way her eyes light up when she looks at you. Or how happy she looks when she looks at you when you don't notice."

"Thanks Clark. Thanks both of you guys really. Its better for me to do it now than wait any longer because I don't know how much longer I can hold it in. I'm gonna find the right time tonight and tell her that I love her."

"Aww, our baby Kate Martin is in loveeee!"

Caitlin clapped for Kate while Gabbie clapped against her steering wheel. It didn't hit until this car ride to realize that Kate Martin loves Nika Mühl.

Present Time

The waitress made her way to the table to put down the dinner bill. As soon as it was placed down, Nika immediately took it into her own hands."

"Babe, you seriously don't have to pay. You always do, I feel so useless."

Nika signed the bill putting her card into the check presenter not looking at Kate for even once glance. Kate then noticed Nika pulling money out from her wallet.

"Come on Nika, at least let me pay the tip." Kate put her hand on top of Nika's, using all her force to make Nika's hand to make her stop.

"You drove 4 hours to get here. This is my pay in return for how long of a drive you were willing to go, just to see me."

"Yea but the least I can do is pay for the tip."

"Baby, please stop." Kate decided to let go of the conversation because she saw how frustrated Nika was starting to become. Kate never saw Nika start to build up frustration with her ever since the first few days of Myrtle Beach.

Kate desperately wanted to ask the Croatian what was wrong. Kate wondered if she did something to upset Nika. Then again, maybe Nika was just having a rough day. To be fair, Nika did say she had one of the worst basketball games of her career today. But Nika's with Kate now. Nika said she could miss every shot, have 10 turnovers, and it wouldn't matter because she would be seeing Kate.

The two girls were now walking down the streets on Minneapolis again, only this time having nowhere to go. Although they walked while their hands were intertwined, Kate noticed how Nika was still silent. Kate was still hung up about the tone in Nika's voice just a few minutes ago. Kate wanted to ask Nika if she was okay but, shouldn't Nika be the one asking that to Kate?

"Are you okay? You seem quiet-not like your normal self. I'm always here to listen, you know?"

Nika disconnected there hands from touching and hooked her arm around the lower of Kate's back. "Yea I'm good princess. I'm just a little tired."

"Well we can go back to the hotel room now and you can get some rest. I won't hold you back to it."

"I'm good. I think we should just walk around for a bit."

And so that's exactly what Nika and Kate did. Apart from the loudness on the streets, the only sound coming from the couple was their heavy breaths. As they walked more out of the center of the city, the streets began to settle down more but there was still a good amount of noise.

The air felt different to Kate and not just because she was tired and was in a completely different city. She had no motive to go to Minneapolis unless she was playing or watching a basketball game there. But life has plans for you whether you expected them or not.

The winter was Kate's favorite season. She loved being able to see her own breath, she loved getting into the Christmas spirit or that it was basketball season time. But most importantly now, she just couldn't wait for the holidays and baking cookies or getting matching Christmas pajamas with her girlfriend. Doing what all the TikTok couples did that Kate never got to experience before because all of her past relationships never lasted until the holidays.

Before Kate knew it, Nika was bringing her into an alleyway a few minutes away from their hotel. For being a popular city, this was a nice alleyway. There was subtle litter, no trash bags scattered, and there was nowhere for anyone to be hiding to sneak up on them. Nika walked them to the middle of the alleyway then stopped.

"I'm so confused Nika, what are we doing in this alleyway?"

"I just want to talk to you." Nika unhooked her arm from around Kate's lower back and moved herself to now be face to face with a worried Kate.

"Okay and I get that but what's the difference than us just walking?"

"Because I have important things to say to you that shouldn't be said while we're walking." Holy shit, maybe Kate didn't have to be the first to say the 'L' word. Right now seemed like such a perfect moment to say it. Besides, what is another important thing that Nika had to physically stop the two of them in the middle of nowhere?

"Kate..." Nika paused for a moment. "Me and you, this isn't working."

Oh.

"What do you mean this isn't working?" Kate looked at Nika in response, seeing the way Nika refused to look into Kate's eyes. "Fucking look at me Nika!" Now it was Kate's turn to be frustrated.

"Kate, stop. Please." After a moment, Nika looked back into Kate's eyes which were now welling up. "I'm sorry Kate but this long distance relationship isn't working. It's killing me inside. We have to break up before things get worse and this relationship gets toxic."

Kate couldn't hold her composure anymore and tears fell rapidly as she tried to control her shaky breath. "Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening."

"Kate please." Nika tried to put her hand on Kate's arm but Kate rejected the offer.

"What the fuck did I do Nika. Huh? What did I ever do to you? You let me come out to Minneapolis, then you take me out to a nice dinner and now this?! What the actual fuck is wrong with you Nika?!"

"You didn't do anything Kate I swear! This long distance relationship just isn't working and you know that."

"I put my whole heart into this relationship, Nika." Kate's voice began rising after every word and she didn't even once, to try and lower it. "I didn't care how far away we were from each other because you are-were my girlfriend and I would've waited dozens of years if it meant that I could get to see you again." With every word escaping Kate's mouth, was a salty tear she could taste when it hit her tounge.

"I've seen so many couples or being around my friends with their boyfriends or girlfriends, seeing how happy they were while I was alone with nobody by my side. But I didn't care because I knew that eventually I would get to see you again and I would be the happiest person alive. But clearly you don't seem to give a fuck and much rather let this relationship go to waste."

Nika didn't know what to say. She wishes she hadn't said anything at all. "Kate I have such feelings for you it fucking scares me. And I hate thinking about how you're not there with me at all times. I need you by my side for every minute of every day. And to know that you're not there, it's eating me up inside."

"Well I'm sorry that you can't function without a warm body underneath you." Kate began to walk away but then Nika grabbed her arms to stop her in her tracks.

"Stop Kate you know that's not what I meant."

"Is it?" Nika looked at Kate with a confused look. But it was hard to notice it because of the tears running down her face. The sparkle in Kate's eyes was no longer a sparkle of love towards Nika, the sparkle was filled with hatred and tears. "Were all the sweet words you've ever said to me, just meant nothing to you? That I was the perfect distraction and rebound that you needed after you broke things off with Dayton?"

Kate took a step towards Nika. "I think about you so much it drives me fucking crazy. I would have done anything to see you. I drove 4 fucking hours to see you and you do this. Now I wish I never came here. So yea Nika, I agree with you. We're over. Don't ever fucking call or text me again."

Kate stormed off before Nika could get another word out in front of her. Nika was yelling to try and make Kate come back but her voice was muffled and overpowered by the ringing going through Kate's ears and the sobs escaping her mouth as she ran towards the hotel.

Nika stood, watching the girl that was once her girlfriend run and run until she was out of sight. Now, Nika was standing there, frozen in place as the air filled with sorry and the tears of Kate were visible on the ground mixing in with the concrete.

For someone who was so powerful and dominant, Nika seemed so powerless. Kate was in control this time. Nika had to break things off. She just had to. It was better to do it now than when things get even worse and they break off because one of them eventually cheats. Nika would've never done that though. And she knew Kate wouldn't even have a thought about it.

Now, it was Nika's turn to have the sad walk back to the hotel room. Only this time she was the one hurting someone. Nika never had the intent of making Kate that devastated. But Nika didn't know what to say. There wasn't any word in the dictionary that would've made that conversation any better.

Kate knocked on her, Caitlin, and Gabbie's hotel room door harshly. Kate couldn't stand being still and began pacing around the floor although the door was opened up by Caitlin immediately.

"Hey K, are you-" Caitlin saw how puffy and red Kate's eyes were as Gabbie came to the door. They both saw tear stains on her sweatshirt, and the ones from her eyes coming to join the stains.

Gabbie noticed the blonde still hadn't said anything. "Kate what's wrong?"

Kate kept walking back and forth trying to figure out what words to say. She opened her mouth trying to speak but she collapsed into Caitlin and Gabbie's arms. Both of the girls brushed through Kate's hair as they could both hear the violent cries coming from Kate.

"Shhh, it's going to be okay Kate." Gabbie looked at Caitlin with concern. They've never seen the girl seem so useless and so heartbroken. After standing like this for a moment more, the two girls eventually dragged Kate to sit on Gabbie's bed.

"What's wrong Kate?" Gabbie put Kate's hand underneath her own. "Did she not say she loved you back?" Kate nodded no. Kate tried to stop her tears a little before she began talking. But she knew once she started talking again, the tears would run down rapidly.

"Man I wish that's what happened. So uhm, she broke up with me." Kate shrugged and had a fake smile on her face as once again, the tears fell down. Kate's tears weren't the only one escaping. Now both Caitlin and Gabbie were crying. The two girls had nothing to say. Just their mouths agape, and their eyes widened.

"Yea uhm she said that long distance isn't working and decided it's best to just break up. I just, I don't know. I feel like a fool, an idiot for thinking that she actually liked me. I was just her rebound and my dumb ass just strayed along with it. Because I really, really liked her and I didn't care about our history before because after that I felt safe with her and the happiest I've ever been in my entire life."

"Kate honey, you're not a fool or an idiot. You are the most honest, and loving person I, or anyone has ever met. You treat people with so much kindness and love and you deserve all of it back. If anyone thinks you're just a rebound then they could go fuck themselves."

"Yea you're like a whole half court shot K!" Despite Caitlin being serious, Caitlin still somehow managed to get a little laugh out of Kate.

"Thank you Gabbie, and thank you for that wonderful basketball term Clark. It's just that, I really thought that she cared for me and that there was something there. I just want somebody to love me the way I love them. And I really thought Nika was that person. She listened to everything I said. She remembered the small things like the one time I just touched a necklace at a jewelry store and she bought it for me. She protected me, even when I didn't need protection. She was my other half. Nothing feels real anymore."

Caitlin had no clue on what to say. But Gabbie did want to be a therapist in the future so this was a good excuse to help someone, especially if that person was her friend. "Kate she did care for you and I'm sure she still does. Things don't always work the first time but the second time they just might. Nika still has feelings for you. She just doesn't want to ruin the relationship before all goes to hell. Now, you need to focus on you. I don't want you to be sad forever. You deserve to live your life without a care in the world and do whatever the hell you want to do. The only person who defines you, is you."

Kate rubbed her arm up and down. "Thanks Gabbie, really thank you."

"So now what do you want to do?"

"Just go to sleep and go home."

"Very well then."

Nika and Paige's Hotel Room

Paige and Azzi were still lying down on Paige's hotel bed watching TV, as Paige caressed Azzi's upper leg. Throughout this whole trip, something had been bugging Paige down to the core and it never sat right with her. Paige grabbed the remote and paused halfway through the show they were watching.

"What's wrong baby?" Azzi mimicked Paige as they both sat up. Paige had an expression on her face that was hard to detect what she was thinking about.

"I don't know. Somethings been bothering me this whole trip. Do you think Nika still likes Kate?"

Azzi scoffed. Wondering how her girlfriend could have such a bizarre thought like that. "Are you kidding me Paige? Why would you ever say something as crazy as that?"

"This whole trip, Nika just seemed so careless towards Kate. She wouldn't stop saying 'fuck' after Kate said she was driving up here to Minneapolis. Nika has been off her game, everything just feels off. I love my blondie underdawg duo and I'm scared shitless to think about what Nika's saying to Kate, or what's happening with the two right now."

Paige didn't have to think anymore. At that moment, Nika walked into the hotel room. The slam of the door made the two girls on the bed flinch. Paige noticed the expression on Azzi's face which made Paige turn around. Right in front of them was the girl who had almost the same tear stains and face as Kate.

"Twin what happened? Is everything okay?"

"I just broke up with Kate. Fuck!" Nika went over to her bed and slammed her phone on the bed. "I fucked up the one good thing in my life. Kate's sad and heartbroken now and its all because of me. I manage to fuck everything up and I fucking hate it." Paige went over to Nika putting her arms around Nika, trying to slowly move her towards Paige's bed since Azzi would take years to be able to get up and move.

"Did you actually break up with her?"

"Yes Paige I did. I can't go to sleep tonight knowing that she's probably crying and its all because of me. I was the one who made her happy when she was sad. Now I'm the one who was the problem. The long distance wasn't working and I wanted it to work but I knew it never would and I regret saying me and Kate should break up."

"Woah Nika, give yourself a break. Long distance relationships aren't easy. For you and Kate to go that long and so strong is extremely impressive. There's no good way to break up with somebody. The best is to just rip the band aid off and that's exactly what you did. And who's to say you and Kate are officially over? If the time is right and God thinks so, you and Kate will be together again.

"Fuck Azzi, you really are the peoples princess."

"Its my specialty I guess."

Kate felt exhausted from the game, the 4 hour flight, and especially what happened a few hours ago. Nika felt exhausted from her game, and even more so her breaking up with Kate. Still, the one thing the two girls had in common was it was difficult for both of the girls to sleep. They each couldn't get their minds off one another. Staring at the clock wondering what the latter was doing.

While Caitlin and Gabbie were passed out, tears were still running down Kate's eyes. Kate went into today thinking they were both going to say the L word. Kate walked out of the day with being a newly single all because of the tricks Nika had up her sleeves. But it's okay because, now Kate knows, she's never gonna love again.

Authors Note:

Sry for this chapter it just had to be done

Not tryna like make this abt me but Kate in this chapter was exactly

how I felt when I saw the girl who gave me mixed signals sit at dinner

next to a boy (prob now bf) and turn her whole body to me when I

walked through the door yesterday

But anyways WNBA reg season almost done so sad

Slay Caitlin though

Once again hope yall enjoyed