𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, kate martin

TWELVE. elite eight

monday, april 1st, 2024:
albany, new york
hawkeyes vs. tigers

The ball echoed in the gym as it bounced out of the net.

Times Union Center was empty sole for Tatum and the sound of the basketball in her hands pounding against the court.

She walked herself back out to the top of the key, the painted lines familiar beneath her feet. If she ignored the stadium seats that surrounded her, Tatum could pretend that she was in Carver Arena. Her home.

Tatum hadn't felt this much anxiety and stress from her sport since her first game back after she tore her ACL. The pressures that came along with March Madness bore down on her the farther her team pressed forward in the tournament.

Last time the Hawkeyes had faced LSU was in last year's National Championship and the devastation after their loss had been nearly soul-crushing. The team had sent their two seniors, Monika Czinano and McKenna Warnock, off after an unideal ending to their career.

There was so much risk surrounding this rematch against the defending champions. Tatum played more of a role in this team since their last regular season game, which only increased the weight of reservations she held for herself. She did not want to send these seniors packing on a loss.

Tatum rolled back her shoulders and took a deep breath. She dribbled it between her legs, like she was crossing up an imaginary defender in front of her, before she pulled up and shot the ball in a fade-away jumper. It bricked off the side of the rim and went streaking to the side of the court.

She was surprised when a certain blonde, super senior fished for the ball from behind the benches, tossing it in between her hands as she walked up to her.

"Looking for this?"

"Kate?" Tatum's brows scrunched together. "What are you doing here?"

"You weren't in your and Jada's room, so I figured I'd come find you." She shrugged, passing the ball back to her. "What are you doing? It's getting late."

"I needed to clear my head."

Kate nodded her understanding. She then tilted her head at her, saying, "You know we're supposed to always pair up or at least have one other person with us when we venture out at these games and kinds of things, right?"

"Yeah," she sighed and Tatum shot the ball. She often hated that rule, just like she did now. She had come here alone on purpose, to try and get away from all the expectations she carried from herself and the imaginary ones she believed her teammates had of her.

"Well then," Kate caught her rebound and bounced it back to her. "Consider me your partner for the night."

She knew the way Kate meant it, but Lord have mercy did she wanna take it in another way.

"You don't have to."

Kate tilted her head back and forth, as if juggling the pros and cons of Tatum's words. "Um, pretty sure I do actually." She flashed her that classic smile of her's, "Nice try though."

"Do I get an A for effort at least?"

The older girl laughed. "I'll give you an A plus."

"Wow, how generous."

Kate nodded with a small smile, passing back yet another rebound. "So can I ask you something?"

Tatum dribbled the ball in front of her, the rhythm matching the loud beat of her heart. "Yeah, anything."

She watched her lick her lips, almost like she was unsure of how to phrase her question. "What is it you needed to clear your head about?"

The younger girl swallowed. Uncertainty about her answer surged in her mind, complimenting the war inside that she was experiencing. There were so many things occupying her thoughts — Kate coincidentally being one of them.