𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒 𝐅𝐋𝐘 || 𝐂𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐊

I counted days , I counted miles to see you there

Lilly woke up early, the morning sun casting a warm glow through her bedroom window. Today was the day she was driving to Iowa, and her excitement was palpable. She jumped out of bed, quickly dressed, and began packing her things. Her room was filled with boxes and suitcases.

She carefully folded her clothes, packing them neatly into her suitcases. As she placed each item inside, she thought about the memories she was leaving behind and the new ones she was about to create. Her heart raced with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation.

Lilly moved to her desk, gathering her notebooks, textbooks, and a few framed photos of family and friends. She smiled as she picked up a picture of her and Caitlin from their time with Team USA, both of them grinning widely after a hard-fought game. She carefully placed it on top of her books, knowing it would be comforting to have it with her.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Caitlin: "Can't wait to see you! Drive safe and hurry up! :)"

Lilly's heart fluttered, and she quickly replied, "On my way soon! See you soon! <3"

She moved to her dresser, grabbing her toiletries and other essentials, packing them into a small bag. She double-checked her room, making sure she hadn't forgotten anything important. Satisfied, she zipped up her suitcases and started carrying them down to the car.

Her parents were waiting downstairs, ready to help her load everything. They exchanged smiles and hugs, their excitement for her new adventure mingling with the sadness of seeing her go.

"We're so proud of you, Lilly," her mom said, giving her a tight hug. "Iowa is lucky to have you."

"Thanks, Mom," Lilly replied, her voice a little choked up. "I'm going to miss you guys."

"We'll miss you too," her dad said, ruffling her hair affectionately. "But this is your time. Go out there and make us even prouder."

With the car packed and goodbyes exchanged, Lilly climbed into the driver's seat. She took a deep breath, glancing at her packed belongings through the rearview mirror. This was it. The start of a new chapter.

As she pulled out of the driveway and headed towards Iowa, her thoughts drifted to Caitlin and the message she had sent last night. The idea of sharing a dorm, of being so close to Caitlin, filled her with a joy she could hardly contain.

The drive ahead was long, but with each mile, Lilly felt a growing sense of excitement and anticipation. She was ready for whatever the future held, knowing that Caitlin would be there with her, making every moment even more special.

Lilly's car finally pulled into the parking lot of her new dorm at Iowa. The drive had been long, but her excitement kept her going. She parked and took a moment to look around, taking in the new surroundings that would soon feel like home.

She stepped out of the car and immediately started unloading, grabbing a couple of boxes from the back seat. As she turned around, ready to carry them inside, she froze. Standing just a few feet away, with a big grin on her face, was Caitlin.

"Lilly!" Caitlin called out, her voice filled with excitement.

Lilly's heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, she dropped the boxes right where she stood and sprinted towards Caitlin. She jumped into Caitlin's arms, wrapping her legs around her waist and her arms around her neck. Caitlin caught her effortlessly, laughing as she spun them around in a joyful circle.

"I can't believe you're finally here!" Caitlin exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine happiness.

Lilly pulled back slightly to look at Caitlin, her face flushed with excitement. "I can't believe it either! It's so good to see you."

Caitlin set Lilly down gently but kept her arms wrapped around her. "I've missed you so much. This is going to be amazing."

Lilly's smile was wide and bright. "I've missed you too."

They stood there for a moment, just holding each other, before Caitlin finally let go. "Let's get you moved in. Need any help with those boxes you dropped?" she teased, glancing over at the scattered items.

Lilly laughed, feeling lighter than she had in days. "Yeah, I guess I could use a hand."

Together, they picked up the fallen boxes and started unloading the car. With Caitlin's help, the task was much easier and a lot more fun. They chatted and laughed, catching up on everything they had missed since their last team practice.

As they carried the last box into the dorm, Caitlin nudged Lilly playfully. "So, about that dorm-sharing situation. I wasn't kidding when I said I missed cuddling you."

Lilly blushed, her heart skipping a beat again. "I wasn't kidding when I said I could manage that."

Caitlin grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Good. Because I think we're going to have a lot of late nights together."