After Kiera Parker transfers to UConn her junior year of college after was offered an internship for a sports agency, senior Paige Bueckers and her have an instant connection.
It's my first day back at NSTA, and as I sit on the edge of my bed, I can't help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu. My nerves are tingling just like they did at the beginning of this school year, except this time, it's different. The nervous excitement is still there, but now it's mingled with something softer, warmer. I'm not the same person I was when I first stepped into those agency doors. At the beginning of the school year, I was just a college junior with a wild dream of making it in the sports world. Now? Now, I'm dating the love of my life.
I smile to myself as I run my fingers through my hair, glancing at my phone sitting on the nightstand. Paige's last text is still lighting up my screen, the words sending a flutter through my chest. You've got this, baby. I love you.
The memory of her voice lingers in my mind, soothing and steady, even though she's over 3,000 miles away. I can still picture her standing at the airport just a week ago, her arms wrapped tightly around me as we said our goodbyes. It feels like forever already. Long-distance is no joke, but we've been making it work. Somehow, despite the time zones and the miles, we always find our way back to each other.
I slip on my blazer and glance at my reflection in the mirror. Confident, professional, but there's still a hint of that girl who felt out of place on her first day here. Only this time, I'm more grounded. More sure of myself. I've got almost a year of experience under my belt, and I'm no longer walking in with wide eyes and butterflies swarming in my stomach. I'm walking in with purpose.
But as I pull on my shoes, that ache in my chest grows a little sharper. It's not just the job this time, or the pressure to prove myself again. It's her. Paige. God, I miss her. The space between us feels vast today, like an ocean I can't swim across fast enough. I know we've both got our own lives and our own dreams to chase, but part of me wishes she could be here. I wish I could walk into NSTA knowing that at the end of the day, I'd come home to her smile.
I grab my keys and phone, glancing at the time. I've got to leave soon if I want to make it on time. Still, I take a second to send her a quick message.
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leaving now
miss you more than words can say
i love you.
My heart clenches a little as I hit send. I know she'll be just waking up by now, probably groggy, her hair a mess, still wrapped up in bed. The thought makes me smile, imagining her sleepy voice when she responds.
I shake off the ache, straighten my blazer one more time, and step out of my apartment. The air is cool this morning, the sun just starting to break through the clouds. The city feels alive, buzzing with possibility. It's time to show them all what I'm made of, not just for me but for us.
Paige may be 3,000 miles away, but she's with me in every step I take today. Always.
Paige POV
I'm laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling as the soft morning light filters through the blinds. It's still early, way too early to be awake, but my mind won't let me sleep. I've got plans to hit the gym in a bit, hoping the workout will drown out the thoughts swirling around in my head. My body's craving movement, something to keep me from focusing on the fact that Kiera is thousands of miles away from me, going through one of the biggest days of her career, and there's nothing I can do to help her.
I sigh, rubbing a hand across my face. The empty space beside me feels colder today, even though it's been a week since she left. It shouldn't feel this fresh, but it does. Every day without her feels a little longer, a little heavier. I knew this was part of the deal, with her career on one coast and mine on the other. We knew it wouldn't be easy. But damn, it doesn't make it hurt any less.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand, and I reach for it, my heart already speeding up because I know exactly who it is. Sure enough, it's a message from Kiera.
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leaving now
miss you more than words can say
i love you.
You're going to kill it, baby
I miss you so much
Love you.
I smile as I read it, but the smile's bittersweet. I can picture her right now, dressed in that sharp blazer that makes her look so serious, so confident. I wish I could be there with her, tell her in person how proud I am. I wish I could be the one to calm her nerves or celebrate with her when she walks into that office, owning it like the badass she is.
Instead, I'm stuck here, lying in bed, feeling useless. I type out a quick reply, even though I know she's probably halfway out the door by now.
It's frustrating, being this far away when all I want is to be by her side. I know today's important for her, and I hate that I can't do anything more than send a text and wish her luck from across the country. I throw off the covers and sit up, running a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the restlessness. I need to move, need to do something to take my mind off the fact that I'm not there with her.
I glance at the clock. It's still early, but I should head to the gym soon. The court always helps me clear my head, and God knows I could use that right now. I can push myself, work off the tension in my chest, and pretend for a little while that everything's normal.
But the truth is, nothing feels normal without her. I stand up and stretch, grabbing my gym bag from the chair by the door. As I pack my shoes, my mind drifts back to Kiera. I can almost hear her laugh, picture the way her eyes light up when she talks about her dreams. She's so driven, so passionate, and that's one of the things I love most about her. But days like today, I wish we didn't have to be so far apart, chasing our dreams on opposite sides of the country.
I take a deep breath and zip up the bag, determined to push through the distance. We've come too far to let the miles break us. I know she's thinking about me, just like I'm thinking about her. And even though we're separated by thousands of miles, I'll carry her with me today, just like I know she's carrying me with her.
At least when I hit the gym, I can focus on something else, something within my control. But that ache in my chest? That's all Kiera. And no workout is gonna make that go away.
A/N - no school today cause someone killed 2 people in my small town so the entire town is on lockdown
