𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐄 ⋆☆⋆ caitlin clark

eighteen

⋆☆⋆

"Kate! The camera people are here!" yelled Kara through the glass doors and into the backyard where Kate was shooting around. "Keep working, I just wanted to let you know for when you come back in."

"Alright, remember to relax, Kar," said Kate before going back to her repetitive shooting exercises. It was the Thursday after Iowa had defeated Iowa State 70-57. The University granted no classes to the athletes as a reward for beating their rivals, yet Kate didn't take the day off — doing some shooting rounds for the days. "Act natural, that's what it is. You're not vlogging. You got this."

Kara smiled, and closed the glass doors. She was nervous, and had been for the past few days since she confessed to Kate. Kara never had trouble opening up to Kate, but for this one thing it was harder. She thought it would've been an easier topic, considering Kate knows Caitlin more than Kara does, but she was wrong.

—

"I think I like Caitlin. Like a lot."

Kate had never seen her best friend confess she liked someone, and still look so somber about it. Kate didn't know what to say, although she knew, she didn't know what to say now that the confession had come out of Kara's mouth. Kate let a beat pass by before speaking.

"Kara, I'm not going to bullshit you, I already had a feeling," said Kate softly, looking at her best friend. "It's, like, a different look you give her. A look I've never seen before."

Kara sighed, now looking at her best friend. Her eyes were soft and full of understanding. Her hand now rubbing soft circles on Kara's back.

"Since the first time I met her, she wouldn't leave my mind. And the coffee shop meetup, hell, I can't even call them dates because that's not what it was," laughed Kara pathetically. "I question myself almost everyday when I check my phone for her notifications, 'is it alright to feel this way so early?'. It's different with her, like, I can't seem to put my finger on it. I didn't mean to get so close with her, and now I feel like I have to let go."

Kate listened, her eyes on her best friend whose eyes started to get glossy. She didn't like seeing her like this. Kate let her continue because all she could do in this was moment was let her vent, and listen to every single word she was saying.

"I got this feeling the last time we had coffee, like something was finally changing. Then I have to snap out of it because I realize 'Oh! Connor is in the picture. He's the one she's having these romantic lunch and dinners with. Not me with our coffee shop meetups'. I so want her to just tell me. I got this feeling, like tell me Caitlin, I gotta know. She's different, Kate. She's good."

Kara sighed, and took a deep breath after her rant. She wiped the stray tears that escaped her eyes, not even caring about smearing her mascara. Kate gave her a napkin that was lying on the kitchen island, her snack plate that Kate made now ignored.

"Kara, you deserve the best. You know it, I know it. And I'm glad that you are finally getting this off your chest. You needed to," said Kate softly. "Don't just get rid of your feelings because a person is now going after Caitlin. You never know what will happen. Rejecting something after accepting it will only make you spiral."

Kara smiled at Kate, "God, why do you always have to be so dead on and right about these things."

Kate smiled and hugged her best friend tight. "It's what's I'm here for Kar. I love you."

"I love you too, Katey Kat."

—

Kara answered the front door, two people behind the door with smiles.