Down Bad • PAIGE BUECKERS

1. number 5

"Fine! Bye!" Olivia yells into her phone ending yet another call with her father. Today was one of those days where he called her to pick a fight about something Olivia had no control over, his topic of choice today being her mother and her "new" husband. Despite them having been married for 3 years.

Olivia prided herself on being a pretty cheerful person, but the one person who never failed to ruin her mood was her father. Despite hardly ever seeing him now that she was an adult, she had pity on him knowing that after her parents divorce, he had no one.

She tried to understand that these monthly phone calls were his way of keeping in touch even though they always seemed to end in an argument. So every month she would pick up a call from her father, talk with him until it inevitably broke into a fight, and then sit alone for hours rethinking her whole life.

Tonight however, her spiraling is cut short by a sudden knock at her door. "Come in!!" She yells right as her friend Jessie walks in.

Olivia and Jess have been best friends since freshman year of high school and had always dreamed of attending UCONN together. They had been with each other through it all, and there was no one who knew Olivia like Jess did. "What's wrong?" Jess says seeing Olivia's obviously distressed state. "Did you just get off the phone with your dad?"

She somehow always knew what was wrong. "Yes, I just can't win with him. I don't know what to do anymore." Olivia responded. "I know what you mean, but at least you're making an effort. He is going through a lot." Jess always managed to see the best in everyone, and everyday Olivia was grateful for such a good friend.

"Buttt....I know something that might cheer you up!" Jess says sitting on the end of Olivia's bed. "There's a women's basketball game tonight!! And they're playing against UNC. It's definitely going to be a good one." Jess and Amber, her two best friends and roommates, always try to convince her to go to these basketball games but she always refuses. "You know I don't like basketball" Olivia said "I know, but give it a chance. Who knows maybe this game will be different" Jess begged moving up the bed and hugging her. "I don't knoww..." Olivia wasn't normally one to step out of her comfort zone, BUT she was working on it.

"Please trust me on this one. I promise we can go home if you don't like it." Jess said trying to reassure her. "Fine I'll go, but I'm not going to like it" Olivia said getting up and going to get ready.

After finishing her hair and makeup, Olivia threw on a black top and her favorite pair of black jeans. Amber got home from work and soon her and Jess were ready too. While waiting for their Uber, they took a couple of shots to help Olivia loosen up.

After arriving to the game and making it out of the long concession stand lines, the girls rushed to their seats with drinks and popcorn in hand. To Olivia's surprise, they were seated right behind UCONN's bench.

Jess, who was also a student athlete, got free basically court-side tickets to most games. "I love you Jess!! These seats are amazing!" Amber said from her spot in between Olivia and Jess. The two girls met Amber freshman year of college and clicked instantly, they always say she was the missing piece in their friendship all these years. They were her first real friends in America, as Amber moved from Brazil alone with a full ride at UCONN to pursue a career in fashion.

"I know I can literally see their pores from here." Jess agreed eagerly waiting for the game to start. "They better win this game or I came for no reason" Olivia said observing the team as they warmed up.

They were pretty good, but she wouldn't admit that just yet. "They're going to, don't worry. Paige always carries" Jess replied. Since when did her soccer playing best friend, know so much about women's basketball? "Who?" Olivia asked, her gaze still fixed on the girls dressed in blue running around the court. "Number 5! The one who's shooting right now." Jess said pointing to the blonde girl who was now shooting at the 3-point line. Just as the shot went in, the buzzer went off, signaling the end of warmups. Olivia thought to herself that she was pretty cute.

"What makes her so special?" Olivia asked. She's seen plenty of other people make that shot from farther. "She just got back from being injured and she's already doing amazing!" Jess said fan-girling. "Just watch her! She's so good, right Amber?" Jess said leaning towards her. "Yeah Liv, even I know her" Amber said. Maybe I need to get out more Olivia thought.

The players were all getting water and taking off their warm-up shirts, when Paige began scanning the crowd. Right as Paige's eyes land on Olivia, Jess leans over and whispers to the girls "Paige is looking over here. Act natural." Olivia, turning to look, meets Paige's eyes. As if time slowed, the two stared at each other for what felt like hours but in reality was only a few fleeting seconds. To top it all off Paige flashed the girl her charming smile, and a chill ran down Olivia's spine as she returned the smile.

Just as quickly as it happened, Paige turned back around and followed after her teammates. Before Olivia herself got the chance to dwell on the interaction, Jess hit her saying "Did you guys just make eye contact?! And did she smile at you?!" "I don't know..maybe she was looking at someone behind us." Olivia replied shaking her head. Why would she be looking at me? "No way! She was definitely looking at you!" Amber replied agreeing with Jess.

Paige had caught Olivia's attention, and it seemed like Olivia had caught her's too. Olivia couldn't take her eyes off of Paige, and maybe she was imagining it but it felt like Paige had glanced at her a few times since the game had started. She was really good, and Olivia hated to say it but she was "carrying", with already almost 20 points. Olivia couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't come to one of these games sooner. The game ended and Paige had 26 points, securing the win for UCONN.

As Olivia and her friends were getting ready to leave she took one more glance at Paige, who had just finished an interview and was getting her stuff from the bench. Paige looked up and to Olivia's surprise, winked at her and walked off. Olivia quickly looked away as she felt her cheeks heat up, and joined her friends in leaving the stands. Was it the alcohol speaking or did that really just happen?

After arriving back at their apartment the girls went their separate ways, and as much as she hated to admit it Olivia went to sleep that night thinking of Paige. What was going on?

~

the outfit:

authors note:
hope u guys enjoyed the first chapterrr!! i wonder what will happen next 😉😉
please vote!!
- k & l