lunch, caitlin clark

5 | boogie at kinnick

october 15 | crossover at kinnick | first game
starting five are announced | locker room

"Okay. I know that everyone has been wondering who will be starting. And right now I am happy to let you know. First up, we have a fantastic player from Iowa, she's proved herself this year with her fire. Hannah Stuelke. Next, we have Kate and Caitlin.

Now I want all of you to know that everyone has proved themselves during the off season. You all fought hard and these last two spots were challenging to hand out. We've got Gabbie as our fourth starter. Lastly, we have someone who has come a long way with this team.

She's built up great chemistry with everyone and put herself on the line when choosing our school. Willow, welcome to the starting lineup."

We all cheer, and even the girls who spot I could have taken cheered for us. This is such a great feeling and I wish that I could facetime Paige to tell her about it.

I'm wearing my white leg sleeve and a sleeve on my left arm. My hair doesn't have a braid in it like normal because Paige isn't here, but that's okay. We have 20 minutes until we need to get on the court so now we're all just messing around and getting into the right mindset.

"Hey, Will? Come here for a sec." Caitlin calls me over and I see she's wearing my shoes. Actually, the whole team is.

I make my way over to where she's standing and smile down at her.

"What's up babe?"

"Will you get me a bag of skittles from the vending machine? Kate won't and i'm trying to get ready for the game."

"Sure. Sour or regular?"

"Surprise me."

I nod my head at her and head out to the vending machine we passed on the way in. My money goes into the machine and I press the sour skittles button. It falls to the bottom and I reach down to grab it but on my way up someone clears their throat.

"I figured you might need a braid."

Holy shit. Paige is standing right fucking there.

I don't hesitate before I jump on her. Maybe I don't think through the fact that I have four inches on her, but I don't care. Her arms go around my waist and we both squeeze eachother hard. How did she not accidentally tell me she was coming?

"Please tell me i'm not dreaming."

My head drops to her shoulder and i'm still in disbelief that she's here. I wonder how she worked this out with Geno.

"You're not. Wand me to pinch you?"

She lightly sets me down on the ground but I don't let her go yet and neither does she. Apparently I was more emotional than I thought, because a few tears make their way down my face. Paige pulls me back and wipes them off with her thumbs.

"I'm really here and I really need to do a braid for you before you have to go out. If you want one, that is."

"Get the fuck out of here. Of course I want you to put a braid in my hair." I take her hand and pull her back with me to the locker room. Several of the girls stop and look at us but I give zero fucks right now. My Paige is here.

I take a seat on a bench in the back and let her pull my hair out of my bun.

"So, how'd you manage to keep this a secret. And how'd you get Caitlin to?"

"It took a lot of reinforcing that it was a secret. She literally almost blew it seven times."

Paige separates my hair and starts braiding while she talks.