Crush - Paige Bueckers

3 - First Sight

Paige

Today, we played against Yale. The team was pretty mediocre, so I wasn't worried about beating them.

Plus, the game wasn't my main focus today. It was the fact that I'd be at Yale. Where Violet goes. Was she going to the game? Was I finally going to see her after all these years?

I knew the last time we spoke, or even saw each other was intense and not the way I wanted to remember our friendship.

It's been two years since our big fight, and although I've finally stopped thinking about her, being here, at the same place as her, feels heavy.

I tried to take my mind off of her as we began warmups for the game. I practiced free throws, layups and threes before finally returning to the bench before our names were called.

The stadium was packed, making it harder for me to see if she was here. As much as I didn't want have to see her and remember everything that happened, I couldn't help but hope she was in the crowd. Just like old times when she watched me play at Hopkins.

My eyes scanned the crowd, specifically the student section, but I didn't see her anywhere. She didn't come. Why would she?

As my mind went to dark places, my name was announced over the speaker, and I was knocked out of my daydreams.

I got up, surprised by how many people were cheering for me despite the game not being at home. I ran through the tunnel of teammates, high fiving each one, then joining the huddle.

The game began, and from the start I noticed my mind was somewhere else. Somewhere I didn't want to be.

This affected my game, and it was clear for everyone to see.

"What are you doing Paige?!" Coach yelled at me as we took another time out. I sat down, putting my head in my palms.

"I'm sorry coach."

"Do better! You're the leader of this team, and when you go down, we all go down! Damn it Paige!" he screamed, then proceeded to draw up a play.

"Aubrey, you're going in for Paige" Coach said, shaking his head at me, and signaling Aubrey to the scoring table.

I sat down, frustrated with myself and how I had put my team in jeopardy all because I couldn't concentrate.

All I could think about was Violet.

Violet

It was 9pm, and I just had just gotten a text from Ellie saying the game was over. UConn won, no surprise, but by way less than everyone had expected. Ellie sent me a photo of the score, 70-66, and I looked at it surprised.

As much as I hated Paige, I knew she was the best college basketball player, just from seeing ESPN stories and chatter from my friends. I was shocked that she would let her team fall that close to Yale, especially with her competitive and fierce nature.

I got up and walked into my closet, looking for something to wear to the bar. I skimmed through my clothes until I found a black mini skirt and navy blue tube top. The skirt tightly hugged my hips, accentuating my already large ass, and displaying my curves.