Daylight - Paige Bueckers

i don't know if i can keep this up

September 10th, 2023

Alex's POV:

Media day at UConn is always a mix of excitement and nerves. The gym is buzzing with energy as athletes from all different teams gather for interviews, photos, and videos. The lights are bright, the cameras are everywhere, and there's a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. Today, it feels even more intense—probably because Paige is here, and I can't stop thinking about her.

I spot Paige across the gym, standing with Aubrey, Nika, and the rest of the basketball team. She's laughing at something Nika said, her smile lighting up her whole face, and my heart does that stupid fluttering thing it's been doing ever since we started dating. She looks amazing in her UConn gear, her blonde hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and I have to force myself not to stare.

"Alex, focus!" Naomi's voice snaps me out of my daze. She's standing next to me, adjusting her cheer uniform and giving me a knowing look. "We've got a schedule to keep, and you've been zoning out for the past five minutes."

"Sorry," I mumble, trying to play it off. "Just got a lot on my mind."

Naomi raises an eyebrow, but she doesn't push it. She's been my roommate for long enough to know when I'm hiding something, but she also knows when to give me space. "Just make sure you're ready for the group photos in ten," she says before walking off to check on Maggie and Sarah.

I take a deep breath and try to refocus, but it's hard with Paige so close by. We've been together for a while now, but we've kept our relationship private—something that's getting harder to do with each passing day. The chemistry between us is undeniable, and it's only a matter of time before people start to notice.

"Hey, you okay?" A familiar voice pulls me back to reality. I turn to see Cassie standing next to me, her expression curious. "You seem a little distracted."

"Yeah, I'm good," I lie, flashing her a smile. "Just a lot going on."

Cassie doesn't look convinced, but she doesn't press the issue. Instead, she nudges me playfully. "Well, you'd better get your head in the game. The media's gonna eat us alive if we're not on our A-game today."

"I know, I know," I say, shaking off the nerves. "I'm ready."

But as soon as I say it, I catch sight of Paige again—this time, she's looking right at me. Our eyes meet across the gym, and for a moment, everything else fades away. It's just her and me, connected by this invisible thread that neither of us can ignore.

Before I can overthink it, she gives me a small, secretive smile, the kind that's just for me, and my heart skips a beat. I can feel the warmth spreading through me, and I know I'm grinning like an idiot, but I don't care. She makes me feel like that's the only thing that matters.

"You two are so obvious," Naomi whispers as she returns, her eyes darting between me and Paige. "Seriously, how long are you going to keep this a secret?"

I flush, quickly looking away from Paige and back to Naomi. "We're not that obvious," I protest weakly.

Naomi just laughs. "Alex, everyone can see it. You two are totally in love, and it's only a matter of time before people start putting the pieces together."

"I know," I sigh, glancing back at Paige, who's now deep in conversation with Azzi. "But we're not sure if we're ready to go public yet. It's... complicated."