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Washington has been my home for almost my whole life," Maia said into the microphone, trying not to get emotional on live tv. "Of course I'm going to miss it."
"As you've mentioned in previous interviews, your roommate Aiden greatly influences your decisions. Did you take into account his opinion before signing the deal?"
"Oh absolutely," she said, casting a quick glance to the corner of the press room where her best friend stood with a smirk on his face. "If anything, he's been tryin' to convince me to move there, even before the Sparks offered me the deal."
——-
"Im not fuckin moving to LA." Maia stated when Aiden tried to bring up the idea.
"C'mon Maia, it's where all of the other streamers live!" Aiden exclaimed, referencing his rather abnormal internet job.
"We've grown up in DC dude! Our families, friends, and everything else is all right here. What more could you want?"
"That's my point!" He said. "I want to go somewhere new, somewhere with opportunity. It's not just about basketball anymore Maia, I want to live my life too!"
——
"What was your family and teammates' reaction when you told them?"
"I won't lie, my dad was pretty upset when I told him," she said, pausing to collect her thoughts before answering the rest of the question.
——
"Los Angeles?" her dad said in disbelief, "That's fucking far Maia."
"I know." She mumbled, standing up from the table to collect the dishes from their dinner.
"Is Aiden going with you?" he asked when she returned.
"Of course Dad."
"Good."
"Are you gonna be okay?" Maia asked after a few moments of silence.
"It's just- after your mother passed," He said as his voice cracked, "It's just been you and me y'know?"
Tearing up at her father's words, Maia walked over to embrace her dad in a hug.
"I'll be fine kiddo," he whispered. "I'm just worried about you."
——
"My teammates were definitely sad too, especially the ones that have been around since day one. I started my career with the Mystics, and up until the past couple months, I fully intended to end it there too," she said truthfully. "But they all know it was a great opportunity, and honestly, they probably would've been more upset if I let it pass me by."
Just as another journalist was about to ask another question, her manager gave the cue for it's time to go.
"I gotta bounce guys, but this has been great. Thanks for having me," she said before stepping down from the podium.
——
"You okay?" Aiden asked, pulling his best friend into a hug as she exited the press room.
