𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 | 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝐨𝐧𝐞

Maddie; narrative

   For the first time in as long as I can remember, I was finally going to one of my best friends' basketball games.

   At UConn, Nika Mühl and I were both psychology majors; she had chosen for basketball while I had chosen due to UConn's most raved about program. Despite many differences we became really close in the last school year.

I quickly found a seat in the bleachers, next to a few girls decked out in UConn merch. I honestly know nothing about basketball, but I wanted to support Nika. When the UConn girls finally come out of the locker room I see Nika walking with a pretty blonde who I believe to be Paige Bueckers, Nika's "twin".

   When Nika finally looks into the crowd, she immediately spots me and waves at me. I send her back with my hands in the shape of a heart. The girls next to me in UConn gear immediately look jealous. I notice Paige just staring at me, but I don't think too much about it. I almost want to though. She's really pretty but she'd never be into me! Right?

   The game goes pretty well. So far into the second half Nika's had 15 minutes, 3 points and 2 assists. Right now, the girls are winning against Duke. I also can't help but notice every time she's not on the court, Paige is looking at me. At one moment I notice her whispering to Nika, then Nika turning her head to look at me, winking. I can already feel myself turning pink.

   The girls win 61-56 to Duke. I can already see them celebrating on the court before I can get down there to Nika.

"Hey boo! You did so good!" I say to her, pulling her into a hug. She's glistening with sweat but she still pulls me into a hearty hug before letting me go.

"Thanks for coming Maddie! What'd you think of your first UConn women's bb game??" Nika asks me.

"I think... you did amazing?? I don't know girl I gotta be honest I was confused the whole time but- yay! Women in sports!" I say to her, and she just laughs.

"Listen.. there's someone I want you to meet..." She says to me suddenly. I just give her a questioning look before she walks me over to the blonde girl I had noticed before, Paige. "This is Paige Bueckers" Nika says, giving Paige a small, almost unnoticeable nod as she walks me over to her.

"Hey! I'm Paige, but uhm, almost everyone on the team just calls me P," She says, "Do you go to UConn?" Paige asks me.

"Uhm yeah, I'm a major in Psych with Nika. That's how I met her." I respond.

"Well there's this big party tonight to celebrate our win, it would be awesome if you could come" Paige says to me.

"I would love to... but I have a big exam coming up I have to study for!" I say, and part of me is sad that it's true.

"Oh uhm that's totally cool, maybe another time! Could I have your snap for next time?" She says winking at me.

   I feel a small blush grazing my face as we exchange social medias. "It was really nice meeting you Maddie", Paige says to me. I smile at her, then turn back to Nika before muttering our goodbyes.

"You need a ride Maddie?" Nika asks me.

"No, I'm good. Emory is picking me up to take me back to our apartment." I tell her, before heading to the exit of the gym.

As I leave, I turn around to see Paige staring at me waiting for me to leave, almost memorized in thought.

————

"Okay, Maddie, you've been staring at your phone for 30 minutes- what's up??" Emory asks me, coming back into my room checking on my completely silent environment for the 3rd time tonight.

"It's nothing." I lie. In truth, I had been waiting for Paige to add me on snap. I was so nervous, for no reason, I mean she's just one of Nika's friends... that's it.

"Do I need to call Nika? Did something happen at the game?" Emory continues to question me.

"No-", in that moment it finally happened, Paige finally added me back. I couldn't help but let out a little scream which received a concerned look from Emory. As a result she snatched my phone from my hands before I could stop her.

"Paige Bueckers? Oh. my. god. Maddie do you have a crush?!!" She squeals upon looking at my phone.

"What! No! I barely know her. I just met her tonight- I-I don't even know if she's gay anyway!" I defend, trying to save myself.

"I'm so texting Nika!" Emory yells as she pulls out her own phone, "and oh my god you should totally send her a snap right now!" she adds.

"Emmm, stop!" I say dragging out her name and putting my own bright red face in my hands.

"I'm telling Nika to tell Paige to snap you!" She says, while furiously typing on her phone.

"Don't you dare!" I say lunging for her phone.

"Nika said you declined a party invite? Girl if you want Paige you gotta go!" Emory said, trying her best to be my wing woman.

"No way." I yell at her, I just know my face is so very red right now. I probably look like a tomato.

   In that moment the snap notification sound off and without checking I immediately knew it was Paige.

"Open it. Open it. Open it." Emory starts chanting.

   I reluctantly pick up my phone and open the snap. Almost instantly I slam my phone back on my bed and hop face-first onto my bed. god damn she is so fine.

"What was it!!" Emory squeals.

"It was a pic of her from an up angle and she was literally wearing a crop top so you could see her abs and she was smirking and I'm so down bad and I met her an hour ago." I let out. This is so embarrassing especially because I'm sure Nika told her everything Emory has been feeding her.

"Okay well snap her back something good!" Emory shouts at me.

I just go with my classic peace sign pose because I 100% overthought and panicked. I also didn't want to look weird for leaving her on open for a long period of time.

This time when I heard the snap notification, I heard it twice. I cautiously looked down and my phone.

"Emory she saved it in chat." I say flabbergasted.

authors note
Hey guys! I hope you enjoy the first chapter this took me an (embarrassingly) long time and it's still not the greatest!