You drafted my heart - Nika Mühl (Eng. version)

Chapter 18 - Expected Ending

Look who's back... And with an extremely HOT chapter!! I hope you all enjoy it and let me know what you think, okay? Love you all!!

XOXO

Being back in Providence was a strange sensation. The air felt heavier, laden with a bittersweet nostalgia that I wasn't sure if I loved or loathed.

As I walked through the dorm room I shared with Julia towards the small kitchen, I felt a mixture of familiarity and unease. The walls, painted in a pale beige, seemed to suggest a lack of personality more than anything else. But it was the details that brought the space to life: the basketball posters haphazardly pinned up, the stacks of books in various stages of reading, the picture frames, and Julia's orange knitted blanket that she insisted on leaving strewn over the couch.

I walked slowly to the couch, feeling the weight of each step. Sitting there felt like sealing a fate that I wasn't yet ready to accept. I looked at Julia and Vic, both sitting in opposing chairs, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"And so, have you finally decided?" Julia asked, leaning forward, elbows on her knees.

I took a deep breath, feeling a knot form in my stomach. "I think so." My voice came out weaker than I wanted, but I continued. "I've been thinking about applying for a transfer. The portal opens next week and... I don't know, maybe it's a chance to start over."

Vic, until then silent, nodded in approval. "It makes sense. I think we all need a fresh start. This place just doesn't feel the same anymore, you know? Especially without Amelia and Emily..."

Those words brought an unexpected relief. I wasn't alone in my feelings. "Exactly. It's like, suddenly everything here has lost its color. The fights among the staff, Coach Crowley being fired... Maybe it's time to try something different."

Julia crossed her arms, thoughtful. "And do you already know where you want to go? Which college?"

I shrugged, trying to disguise my indecision. "I'm not sure yet. There are a few options. I thought about Iowa or maybe LSU, Stanford. I need something that's completely different from here."

Vic smiled, a smile that always managed to calm me. "Iowa would be perfect for you. The city has an energy that matches yours. And you, Juju? Have you decided whether you're going to transfer?"

Julia sighed, looking down at her hands. "Yes, I thought about applying to Iowa too. It's still close to here, but... far enough away."

I watched my friends, feeling a mixture of hope and fear. The idea of leaving Providence, of leaving everything I knew, was daunting, but the possibility of a new beginning was irresistibly tempting.

"So, are we all in agreement?" I asked, looking from one to the other.

"Yes," said Julia, determined. "Let's do this!"

Vic nodded, with a resolute expression. "Let's do this together..."

"But, Livie... Why not apply to UConn?" Juju asked, getting up from the chair where she was sitting, going to the fridge, grabbing a blue Gatorade for each of us.

"I'm not sure if there's space for me on the UConn team. They definitely don't need another shooting guard, they already have Paige and Lou who fulfill that role very well."

"And have you talked to your girlfriend about the transfer?" This time it was Vic who spoke, taking a sip of her sports drink right after.

"I mentioned to her back in New York about you guys talking about transferring, but I haven't said anything about me considering it too... Do you think I should talk to her before applying for the transfer portal?" Just thinking about being further away from Nika made my stomach churn, but it was my career that was at stake in the end. She would have to understand my decision.