Whispers at Midnight-A Caitlin Clark story

Draft Day

Caitlin POV:

This is it, my dream of becoming a WNBA player is finally coming true. I knew after the national championship game I was ready to move on, although, Iowa will always have a special place in my heart, but I'm ready to start this next chapter of my career.

Ignoring the outside noise has always been hard for me, people like to talk, especially about me. I know I have Kate and my family, but I can't help but feel alone sometimes. Sometimes I feel like no one understands me, especially my boyfriend Conner. He's most definitely using me for my money and fame but I have never had the guts to break up with him.

"Cait, you okay?" I'm at a little cafe in New York with Kate, the draft is a little later so me and Kate figured we could hangout before everything starts to get crazy.

"Yeah I'm fine, just thinking I guess."

"You ready for tonight?"

I look at her and smile, "Yeah I am. I'm also ready for you to get drafted." She lets out a small laugh and takes a drink of her coffee, "Well don't give your hopes up. Tonight is about you Caitlin ." She reaches over and grabs my hand, "Whatever happens today Caitlin, I'll be there for you. Every step of the way." She continues on. I give her hand a squeeze and say, "I know you will, I love you." She smiles at me and says, "I love you to Cait."

Back at my hotel I start to get ready for the draft, I have people styling me today so I don't have to dress up or anything right now. Once I brush my teeth and get dressed, I head down to the lobby and I get onto a bus with all the other draftees. I find Cameron first and I sit next to her, "Hey superstar! You excited?" Cam gave me the nickname 'superstar' back in our USA days. Besides Paige, she's the only one I really stayed close to and connected with. I guess with the pressure we were both facing to preform at the time, it was something we could both bond over, and she's been one of my best friends ever since. It's nice to have someone like her in my corner, she's the best.

I smile at her and say, "Definitely, I'm nervous too."

"I feel that. I've been a ball of anxiety all day."

The rest of the drive there was me and Cam laughing and catching up, I missed her, it was nice to talk to her after all this time. Once I get there, I am led to my room with a man and a woman in it. The woman speaks up first, "Caitlin! So nice to meet you! I'm your makeup and hairstylist Ella, and that's your stylist James." She says as she points to him. I shake both on their hands and say, "Nice you meet you guys! Thanks for taking time out of your day to make me look good." They both let out a soft laugh and James says, "Trust me babes, I can see it now, you'll look amazing!" Choosing my outfit was first, if there is one thing I hate in the world, it's trying clothes on, and after what seemed like hours and hours of trying on different outfits, James hands me a full Prada fit, "James, I don't know about this one." James gives me a tight lipped smile and says, "Cait you haven't even tried it on. You'll love it, promise." After trying it on and looking in the mirror, I knew James was right. This is definitely the fit. I take a picture and send it to my family and the Iowa group chat before stepping out. "That's definitely the one babe. You look amazing." James says as he looks me up and down, he leads me to a table with all kinds one jewelry and accessories laying on it. He leads me to the sunglasses and says, "These are all the sunglasses we have, choose one." I nod as I skim the table, my eyes land on black Prada sunglasses and I pick them up, "Good choice." James says as he smiles at me. He chooses some jewelry for me to wear and it's finally time for me to do hair and makeup. After i'm done I take a picture in the mirror and it's time for me to go to the bus, once again, I sit next to Cameron.

"Cait, you look amazing!" She says as she smiles at me.

"Says you!"

The whole way to the draft me and Cam laughed and took pictures together, once I get there, I'm lead to a table with my family sitting at it. "Caitlin! Honey you look beautiful!" My mom says, I give my family a hug and I take my seat at the table, "Where's Conner?" My dad asks me. "I don't know, he said he was busy and he couldn't make it today."

"Seriously? This is the biggest day of your life and he can't bother to show up?"

"Dad please just drop it, I'm stressed enough as it is." My dad was about to say something back but he was interrupted my the commissioner. She was about to announce the first pick of the draft.

"And with the first pick of the 2024 WNBA draft, the Indiana Fever select, Caitlin Clark, University of Iowa."

I stand up and give my family a hug and I walk up on the stage to take a picture with the Indiana Fever jersey, I've been to Indy but only for games in college so I think I'll have fun living there for a while, plus it's kinda close to Iowa so I'm not to far away from home. Once I'm done taking the picture I point to Jada, Gabbie, and Kate in the audience and I make a heart shape with my hands. After about 30 mins of interviews I can finally sit down and watch the draft, but in a different room which sucks but I guess I'll take what I can get. The second round just started and I am not going to lie, I was bored out of my mind, until the 18th pick.

"And with the 18th pick of the 2024 WNBA draft, the Las Vegas Aces select, Kate Martin, University of Iowa."

I immediately shot out of my seat, "Oh my god! She did it!" I say out loud, she finishes her interview with Holly and I have to see her. I sneak backstage where she was and I give her the biggest hug, "Kate! I'm so proud of you dude!" she squeezes me back and says, "Thank you, I wouldn't be here without you." I think out of everyone here, Kate deserves this the most. All of my four years at Iowa, she was the leader, she brought people together. Her nickname serves her well, she really was the glue for us.

A few hours later we're at the after party, me, Gabbie, Jada, and Kate were all sitting at the bar and Jada speaks up, "I'm so proud of all of you. I seriously don't know what I'm going to do without you guys next year." I wrap my arm around Jada and I pull her into me, "I'll miss you so much. You have no idea." After a few more hours of drinking and just talking about life, I decide to step outside and call Conner. "Hey guys, I'll be right back." I say as I walk outside. I pull my phone out of my pocket and I click on his contact.

"Hello."

"Are you serious? You miss the biggest day of my life and all I get is a hello?"

"Caitlin I told you I was busy. What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know, at least try to be there for me?! You didn't even send me a text or anything!"

"Caitlin I'm not having this conversation with you. Have a good night."

He hung up on me. I have seriously hit rock bottom with him. I feel tears roll down my face and I lean against the wall. Some minutes later I feel a pair of arms wrap around me, "Shhh. It's okay Cait." Kate. I soon as I hear her voice I wrap my arms around her waist and I bury my head into her shoulder. "What's wrong?" She asks, stroking my hair, "Conner. He's just not making an effort whatsoever and I'm tired on trying so hard when he's doing nothing." I say as I sob to her. "I know Caitlin. Do you want to go back to the hotel?" I shake my head and she goes back inside to get Gabbie and Jada. Jada wraps her arm around me and plants a kiss on my head. Once we get back to the hotel it was just me and Kate left because Gabbie and Jada went to their own rooms. Kate sits next to me on the bed and starts to rub my back, "I don't know what to do anymore Kate." We stay like that for a while before she leaves. I get ready for bed and I lay down, staring at the ceiling, before finally falling asleep. Tomorrow is a new day.

A/N

first CC book!