about you | c.c & k.m

five

Iowa; 2021

The first time Caitlin noticed something curious about Kate and Avery, she let it slide.

It was Avery's first time visiting Iowa University. She walked through the campus following Caitlin's instructions and made her way to the dorms. As she arrived at the door, inside the room were Caitlin and Kate just hanging out, basically doing nothing together. Kate was mindlessly reading a book on her teammate's couch, and Caitlin was playing with her phone, engrossed in a new game she had discovered recently, when they heard a knock on the door.

"You get it," Caitlin said, not looking up from her phone.

"It's your dorm, you get it," Kate replied, looking at the brunette.

"Come on, just open the door," Caitlin insisted with a pout. Kate sighed as she got up from the couch, making Caitlin smile. "Thank youuuu," Caitlin said dramatically.

"Yeah, whatever," Kate said before reaching the door handle and opening the door to find Avery standing there. "Uh, hi... do you need something?"

My number, maybe? Kate thought to herself as she took in the sight of the girl in front of her. Avery was tall, shorter than her but tall overall, with dark hair in a half-updo that highlighted her soft features. She was absolutely beautiful, at least in Kate's eyes. However, her looks didn't stop Kate from noticing the suitcase next to her. Avery's brown eyes popped on her confused face as she looked at the blonde.

"Uh, I'm looking for Caitlin, Caitlin Clark? Maybe I got the wrong room," Avery said, looking at the blonde in front of her. She looked familiar; she thought maybe she had seen her in some of the pictures Caitlin had sent her.

"AVERY?" Caitlin's voice sounded behind Kate as she reached the door. "Oh my god! What are you doing here!? I thought you were coming tomorrow!" Caitlin's excitement was noticeable in her words and in the way she moved Kate out of the way to crush Avery in a hug.

"It was a surprise... surprise!" the dark-haired girl said, matching Caitlin's hug intensity.

"Best surprise ever!" Caitlin said, pressing her face into Avery's neck.

And Kate just stood there. She didn't want to move because she thought it would make her look rude, but she didn't want to stay in the middle of an emotional moment. So, she just took three steps back and admired the moment Caitlin was having with Avery. Kate knew who Avery was-she had heard Caitlin talk about her best friend from UConn enough times-she just didn't know how she looked. And, oh! She would have loved to know how she looked before she stood there staring stupidly at her.

As the two friends separated from their hug, Caitlin took Avery's suitcase and made space so the shorter girl could enter the dorm. Avery looked at Kate nervously and gave an awkward smile.

"Hi, you must be Kate," Avery said with a warmer smile. "I'm Avery," and she approached Kate to greet her with a quick hug.

"Hi Avery, I've heard a lot about you," the blonde commented and felt stupid about it because that's what everyone says. Kate wanted to be different. "And before you ask, it's all bad things, Cait's been talking shit about you," Kate switched the mood, teasing Avery as she would tease Caitlin, assuming that long-time best friends would have similar humor. Avery laughed at Kate's words, breaking the ice between them.

"Hey! That is not true; I did say some good things here and there," Caitlin joined them after placing the suitcase next to her closet.

"I'm honestly not surprised; she talked shit about you too. That dirty mouth of hers, you know?" Avery added as if Caitlin weren't there.