the indy city (cc + ns)

22

Preseason games were not real.  In Caitlin's first, the Fever lost to the Wings. She scored twenty-one. Lyss scored twenty. They lost by three, but it wasn't real. Dallas was nice enough of a city, and she undoubtedly outperformed the other rookies on both teams. They wouldn't play Dallas for real until July, and a lot of improvement could happen between then and the summer. Actually, a lot of improvement needed to happen, for all of them.

In the second preseason game, against Atlanta, they won by three. It felt nice, despite the slight artificial feel to it. She played a game incomparable to her first against Dallas, but again, it was just the preseason. Lyss defended her though, which felt really good. Caitlin's still adjusting, yet everyone gives her more grace for that than she does for herself.

The one part that felt real was the atmosphere at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for their preseason win. She's used to large crowds, but there was something special about these fans. The win counted for nothing and they were acting as though it was a playoff victory. Caitlin's heart warmed at the sight of the mix of Iowa and Indiana jerseys she saw. Still, it was unreal.

Unfortunately, her upcoming game against Connecticut is very real.

It's an actual chartered plane that she sits next to Aliyah on. The alcoholic beverages are far from artificial. The kicks she feels are from a very real and annoying blonde sitting behind her. It's a real hotel that they arrive at, despite how out of place it seems in a place like Uncasville. The casino is certainly not fake, not that she gets the chance to even try it out. Their practice at Connecticut's facility is especially real and frightening. Caitlin's terrified of how tangible it all is.
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When the 2024 schedule first came out, NaLyssa was ecstatic about the Fever's first game being against the Sun. Any excuse is a good excuse to see your girlfriend. She knew they likely didn't stand a chance at beating them, even with whatever roster changes they made between then and now. A win was not what enticed her, but rather the chance to share the court with Dijonai again as they did at Baylor, just playing for opposing teams instead of the same one.

When Dijonai first started dodging questions and ditching the opportunities they had to spend time together, the first game against the Sun actually had her more excited. Lyss could go to Connecticut,  salvage the relationship, and the pair could go back to the way they were before. With Lexie's help, she planned to surprise the former Stanford and Baylor alum.

"You want me to help you do something for your girlfriend?"

"Lexie, technically you've known her longer than I have. Also, you two kind of like the same things, right? You're actually the perfect person to help me."

"Got it, when do you want to do this?"

"Maybe like the night before if we're off."

"Gotcha, okay. Don't expect any grandiose ideas from me Lyss."

"Glad to see that Stanford education is being put to good use with that vocabulary of  yours."

"Do you want my help or not?"

"I quite literally need your help."  

Lyss didn't really need Lexie's help, but it was always nice to get feedback. Truthfully, the blonde pretty much just nodded and provided the occasional "that's cute!" while the forward rambled about potential surprise date ideas for her girlfriend. The hardest part was, without a doubt, finding a place to go that was as interesting and special as their relationship in Uncasville Connecticut. There was hardly anything in Uncasville to begin with, let alone anywhere inherently romantic. Gambling was a hard no for the first date in a while, and that was all the town really offered.