𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, kate martin

TWENTY-FOUR. golden herkys

monday, april 29th, 2024:
iowa city, iowa

"You almost ready?" Tatum called to her roommate from across their apartment. She was walking towards the living room, putting in one of her earrings.

She spotted the girl making a tiktok by their porch, her phone set up so that she could take advantage of the natural lighting. The sun beginning to sink on the horizon cast her blue silk dress in a shiny gleam, reflecting back its light, her black hair twisted into silky curls and looking pristine as they framed her face perfectly, hands on her hips that donned a hot orange color she had just gotten painted last week.

Tatum smiled softly as she thought back on a few months ago, Kate's voice ringing in her head— because she was never not on her mind— she really was right, her teammates are some of the prettiest people in the world.

Jada spotted her in the background just as she lifted her phone into her hands to finish lip-syncing to the song softly floating through its speakers and stopped the video, tossing her a smile over her shoulder as she turned to her roommate.

"Oh sorry!" Tatum said, twisting her hands together as Jada grabbed her phone, "I didn't mean to make you stop."

Jada waved her roommate off, telling her, "Don't worry, I have like three others in my drafts."

"Fair enough. Was that Taylor I heard?" Tatum pointed.

"You bet!" Jada nodded enthusiastically, proceeding to sing, "Do you really wanna know where I was April 29th?"

Tatum pointed at her, finishing the lyrics, "Do I really have to chart the constellations—"

"In his eyes!" Jada sang along with her, laughing.

Tatum was laughing too, partially shaking her head because sometimes it was so scary how well they got along, often cases sharing such a similar personality. They were no Gabbie and Jada— but Tatum and Jada paired together came awfully close.

It was times like these where she was reminded that despite all the change that had come their way, the two basketball players were going to be all right. It would take some time adjusting to the absence of their best friends but they'll turn out just fine.

"We should probably get going."

Jada swiped her purse from the couch and voiced her agreement, following after Tatum's lead. "We're taking pictures when we get there right?"

"Um, duh," Tatum said like it was obvious as she held the door open for her roommate, smiling over her shoulder to her as they left.

Jada tossed her head back, "Okay thank God," she exclaimed as if out of relief, which made Tatum laugh.

【 XOX 】

Tatum twisted her body around as she rummaged through the backseat. All the contents of her purse had spilled itself over the rear end of the car after she had to slam on her breaks from the pure terror of fright that had left Jada's mouth. For God's sake, Tatum thought she was gonna either hit someone or get hit.

But after the damn heart attack her roommate gave her, she realized Jada hadn't even been paying attention to the busy streets of Iowa City but instead had been scared from an Instagram reel of a jumpscare.

She was stuffing her lipgloss back i to her purse, what she hoped was the last lost item, and checked her makeup in the rear view mirror before stepping out of the car. Tatum had told Jada she'd just meet her out front and find their teammates.