When Nika moved to the US during high school, she never expected her life to intertwine so tightly with Lauren's. From the moment they met, there was a tension between them, an off-the-court rivalry that neither could shake off.
Years later, during...
It's stupid fucking media day, the day I think everyone (okay, maybe just Nika and I) have been dreading. It means I will have to point my camera directly at her while she's looking directly at me and then instruct her into different poses and positions. I mean, it's not like I haven't taken pictures of her before; I definitely have; it's just never been this up close and deliberate like media day is. And then on top of this, she's gonna be absolutely fucking gorgeous, and I'm going to have to look at her knowing she hates me and "I do too." Ugh.
~~~~~
After I grab a quick breakfast consisting of a croissant and a coffee, I head into the gym a little before the girls arrive, wanting to be able to set up. I bring out my camera gear, set that up, and then roll out the backdrop, hanging it off the screen.
I hear voices enter the gym as I stand back, basically out of breath from all the heavy lifting. God, I have to work out more. I turn around and watch Paige and KK walk through the gym doors, heading towards me.
"You guys ready for some fire pics today or what?"
"We're so ready," Paige says, reaching me and opening her arms for a hug, which I return.
"Hey, girlie!" KK says from behind us, so we pull away, looking at who she could possibly be talking to and finding it to be none other than Nika fucking Muhl. I hear Paige snicker a little beside me, trying to hide her smile.
"Everyone else is getting fire pics beside you," I walking away and looking back, shooting Paige a dirty look. "And Nika, of course,"
Paige just smirks back, turning and running towards Nika, who is, of course, looking like she could drop-kick me and run me over with her car, and I literally would not give a shit. "Looking hot today, Nikster," Paige says, hip-bumping her.
"And you don't look too bad yourself, Bueckers." And you look gorgeous, Nika. That is what I want to say, but I can't.
~~~~~
"Okay, so I'm just gonna have you slide a little more to the right," I said, motioning with my hand, and then stopped when Ice got almost to the middle. "Perfect, right there," I snap a few quick photos, making her stand in different positions.
"Great," I say, showing her all of them. "You're all set,"
"God, you are heaven-sent," Ice says, gushing about my work. "The old photographer made me look like shit,"
I laugh at this; some people really just cannot take pictures of anything. "Aw, don't flatter me, Ice,"
"Don't let it get to your head," She says, pointing at me and walking away.
I reset my station in preparation for the next person. I've already been through more than half the girls. There are just a few left. "Next!" I shout, cleaning my camera.
"Let's get this over with," Says a voice I recognize almost immediately. Nika's Croatian accent still shines through after all these years. I nod as she positions herself in front of the backdrop.
"Tilt your head a little more down," I say, standing as far away as possible. She does as she's told, but it's a little too far. "No, no, a little more up now," "Like this?" She asks, going way too far again. Oh my god, is she trying to make me mad?
"No, Nika," I say, getting frustrated now. "Lift your chin down a very tiny bit," She puts it down again and again, going way too far. I slap my forehead with my hand.
"Let me just do it," I say, walking up to her. Standing in front of Nika, I gently reach up, grab her face, and angle it down a little to where I need to be. Her eyes are on mine throughout the entire process, watching as I guide her arms and legs to the poses I need and putting my hands on her shoulders to steady her.
"Mayer," She says huskily and quietly. "I think you have an eyelash on your face,"
"Where?" I ask, confused.
"There," She says, pointing toward my face.
"Yes, but where?"
She reaches her hand out, touching it to my cheek and running her thumb gently against my bottom lip. Does she want to kill me right now? I look up at her through my thick black lashes, staring into her light brown eyes. She does the same, staring right back at me. She's more than a couple of inches taller than me, so I stand on my tippy toes, reaching eye level, and lean in, resting my hand on her cheek as she closes her eyes and I close mine.
"Uh, excuse me," Someone says, and we practically jump away from each other. Adjusting my dress, I face away from Nika, looking at who the fuck just interrupted the moment when Nika would finally like me. It's Azzi. Great. Now she's gonna tell Paige, who's gonna tell the rest of the team.
*A/N*
Hey guys!! What did we think about this chapter? Anyways, I've recently (months ago lol) become obsessed with Kate Martin, so I was thinking, maybe a Kate/Nika story?? I have it all planned out, so yeahhhhhh. But also sorry I haven't been doing chapterly songs, I lowkey forgot so I just updated them all! Anyways, thank you for reading and remember to vote and add to your library! ❤️L
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