Breaking Through

twenty-six

It had been a week since Claire's birthday party, and Caitlin hadn't spoken to Sam since. She had tried to push the encounter to the back of her mind, focusing on what was most important: basketball. This was her last chance to win a championship, her last shot at leaving her mark on Iowa's legacy. She had thrown herself into practices, extra workouts, and late nights at the gym, trying to drown out everything else. But no matter how hard she worked, one thought kept creeping back into her mind-Sam.

As much as she wanted to focus on basketball, she couldn't deny that Sam still held a piece of her heart. But Caitlin knew she had to stay strong, to keep her eyes on the prize. The championship was within reach, and she couldn't afford any distractions, no matter how much they hurt.

On the other side of things, Sam had been beating herself up over what happened at the party. Each day that passed without hearing from Caitlin made the regret cut deeper. She knew she'd messed up that night, and the longer she waited to talk to Caitlin, the more she feared that she had ruined everything between them and she knew that she couldn't stay silent forever. Caitlin meant too much to her to let things end on such a bitter note.

Finally, unable to bear the distance any longer, Sam decided it was time to make things right. She had to apologize, even if it was late, even if Caitlin didn't want to hear it. Caitlin had always been important to her, and losing her completely was something she couldn't accept.

That night, as the clock edged toward two hours before midnight, Sam found herself standing outside Caitlin's apartment, her heart pounding. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if it was too late to show up unannounced, but her need to make amends overpowered her doubts. She knocked on the door, hoping Caitlin was home.

The door opened, but it wasn't Caitlin who stood there. Instead, it was Kate, her expression shifting from curiosity to slight surprise when she saw Sam.

"Sam," Kate said, raising an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"

"I, uh... I wanted to talk to Caitlin," Sam replied, feeling a bit awkward under Kate's scrutinizing gaze. "Is she home?"

Kate shook her head. "She's not here. She's at the gym."

Sam should have known. Of course Caitlin would be at the gym, even at this hour. Basketball had always been her way of coping, her escape when things got tough.

"Right," Sam said, nodding. "Thanks."

Kate gave her a small, understanding smile. "Good luck," she said softly, stepping back into the apartment and closing the door behind her.

Sam took a deep breath, feeling a mix of nerves and determination as she headed to the gym. She had no idea how this conversation would go, but she knew she had to try. She needed Caitlin in her life, even if it was just as a friend.

When Sam arrived at the gym, she found it almost empty, the lights dimmed except for the court where Caitlin was practicing. Caitlin was alone, dribbling the ball with intense focus, working on her floater, sweat glistening on her forehead. The sight of her, so dedicated, so determined, made Sam's heart ache with a mixture of admiration and longing.

For a moment, Sam just watched her, taking in the rhythmic sound of the ball hitting the court, the way Caitlin moved with precision and grace. But then she knew she couldn't delay any longer. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.

"Caitlin," Sam called out, her voice echoing slightly in the empty gym.

Caitlin stopped mid-dribble, turning to see Sam standing there. For a brief second, her expression was unreadable, a flicker of something crossing her face before she wiped it away.