rookie | caitlin clark (ON HOLD)

04 | miss me?

sunday, june 23 indianapolis

The morning sun filtered through my curtains, casting a warm glow over my bedroom. I stretched, dragging myself out of bed, I might get tired of waking up early — After getting dressed, I headed to a local sports store to pick up some Fever merch. As a journalist covering the team, I wanted to show my support and I just really wanted some of the cute shirts.

The store was buzzing with activity, filled with fans eager to grab the latest gear. I made my way to the Fever section, my eyes landing on a cozy hoodie with the team logo emblazoned on the front. As I browsed through the racks, I picked out a couple of t-shirts, a hat, and a scarf—perfect for the colder months ahead.

At the checkout counter, the cashier smiled as she scanned my items. "Big Fever fan?" she asked.

"I cover them for The Secret of Us," I replied, handing over my card. "But yes, I'm definitely becoming a fan."

"That's really cool. Might have to check you out sometime," she said, handing me the receipt.

I thanked her, feeling a surge of happiness as I left the store with my new things. Back at my apartment, I quickly changed into the new hoodie before heading to work.

The newsroom was buzzing with activity as I walked in, greeted by the familiar hum of phones ringing and keyboards clacking. Rachel was already deep in conversation with another reporter but waved at me as I passed by.

I settled into my desk and powered up my laptop, ready to tackle the day's tasks. My schedule was packed with article edits, interview transcriptions, and preparations for upcoming games. I dove into my work, the hours slipping by as I focused on crafting compelling stories.

Around noon, Rachel approached my desk. "Hey, Julia. How's it going?"

"Busy but good," I replied, looking up from my screen. "Just finishing up the transcription from yesterday's practice."

"Great," she said, glancing at my hoodie. "Nice merch, by the way. It's good to see you supporting the team."

"Thanks, I thought it was about time I got some gear," I said with a grin.

Rachel nodded. "Keep up the good work. We're getting a lot of positive feedback on your pieces."

Her words were encouraging, and I felt a renewed sense of determination as I returned to my work. The afternoon flew by in a blur of writing and editing. By the time the office started to quiet down, I realized it was already evening.

I took a short break, grabbing a coffee from the break room before settling back at my desk. There was still plenty to do, and I wanted to get ahead on some articles for the weekend. As the night wore on, the newsroom emptied out, leaving me in the peaceful silence of a nearly deserted office.

I lost myself in my work, the hours slipping away as I edited articles and polished my interviews. The words flowed effortlessly, each story a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Fever players throughout the past few games.

By the time I looked up from my screen again, it was already late. I gathered my things and headed home, eager to relax and unwind after a long day.

When I arrived at my apartment, Milo greeted me with enthusiastic barks and a wagging tail. "Hey, buddy," I said, kneeling to give him a scratch behind the ears. "Missed me?"

He barked in response, his eyes bright with excitement. I fed him dinner and took him for a quick walk around the block, enjoying the quiet of the late night.

Back inside, I changed into my pajamas and settled on the couch with Milo. I opened my laptop one last time, wanting to check my social media before bed. My latest post, about the Fever's practice, had taken up a lot of attention. The fans were incredibly supportive, their comments filled with enthusiasm.

I smiled as I read through the comments, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction but I of course had to delete some hate comments on Caitlin which took a while. I replied to a few comments, thanking the fans for their support before closing my laptop.

Just as I was about to put my phone down, a notification popped up. It was a text from Caitlin.

caitlinclark22
Hey, why weren't you at the game tonight?

juliamccarthy
hey, unfortunately i don't cover away games yet

caitlinclark22
that's a bummer im pretty sure we lost because you weren't there

juliamccarthy
i doubt that clark
you did well tonight you just
kinda shot yourselves in the foot last quarter

caitlinclark22
yeahh but hopefully we can bring it back next game if our good luck charm is there

juliamccarthy
lol i'll see what i can do
but i can't promise much

caitlinclark22
alrighttt well you should get some rest for our practice interview tomorrow

juliamccarthy
rightt, night clark

caitlinclark22
night mccarthy

As I set my phone aside, I couldn't help but smile. I closed my eyes, ready to rest and recharge for another day of reporting. The future was bright, and I couldn't wait to see what it held.

authors notes
hopefully you liked this chapter it was pretty short
but i had to post something before the aces vs fever
game tonight