𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 - 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥

𝙎𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚. 𝘌𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘢 𝘷 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯

I sat in the corner near the door of the changing room, the hum of excitement buzzing around me as my teammates got ready for the biggest match of our lives—the semi-finals against Australia. The air was thick with nerves and adrenaline, but all I could think about was the reality of this game: it's me versus Caitlin.

Ever since our relationship went public, the headlines had spun tales of our love story while juxtaposing the fierce rivalry between our countries. I could almost hear the commentators' voices echoing in my head, dissecting our every move, every play.

Just as I started to spiral into my thoughts, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, and my heart skipped when I saw Caitlin's name.

𝘾𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣 🤍
𝙃𝙚𝙮, 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙪𝙥? 𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩?

I couldn't help but smile at the message. It was a lifeline amidst the pressure. I quickly replied, agreeing to meet outside the changing rooms. My stomach fluttered with anticipation and nerves.

I slipped out of the changing room and headed down the corridor, looking for a quiet spot. As I turned the corner, there she was—Caitlin, leaning against the wall, her hair slightly tousled and her eyes bright with a mix of determination and warmth.

"Hey," I say softly, the weight of the world lifting a little.

"Hey," she replies a smile breaking across her face that lights up the dim corridor.

We settle down against the wall, our knees drawn up to our chests, and for a moment, the outside world fades away. The muffled sounds of our teammates preparing for battle seem far away.

This is our first time being in each other's presence since that night in our apartment just before the end of the season, and now we have to face each other on the pitch for the world to see.

"It's been too long," I whisper, breaking the silence, my voice barely above a murmur.

"Yeah, it has," Caitlin replies, her gaze steady, locking onto mine with an intensity that sends butterflies racing through my stomach. "You ready for this?"

I nod, but the truth is, I'm still processing everything—the weight of expectations, the pressure to perform, and the reality that one of us would walk away disappointed. "I guess so. It just feels surreal, you know? Like we've been preparing for this moment forever, and now it's finally here."

Caitlin leans back against the wall, her expression thoughtful. "I know what you mean. We've talked about this for so long, but nothing can really prepare you for actually being here."

The gravity of our situation hangs in the air, but I feel a warmth spread through me as I remember all the little moments we had shared—the late-night talks, the laughter, the quiet moments of comfort. "Can you braid my hair?" I ask quietly, a hint of nostalgia creeping in.

"Of course," she smiles, and as her fingers begin to weave through my hair, I feel a sense of calm wash over me. Each gentle tug feels like a reminder of home, of simpler times, as if we were back in our little bubble away from the chaos.

As Caitlin works, I could smell the faint scent of her shampoo, something floral and fresh. I close my eyes for a moment, losing myself in the rhythmic motion of her hands. "I missed this," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," she replies softly, her fingers pausing for just a heartbeat. "It's hard to believe we're here, about to play against each other, after everything we've been through."

"Yeah," I chuckle lightly, though it feels more like a nervous laugh. "It's like the universe has a twisted sense of humor."

"Right? But I wouldn't want to go through this with anyone else," Caitlin says, her voice steady and sincere. "No matter what happens today, you know we'll be okay, right?"