Feelin' 22, Caitlin Clark + Nika Muhl

Slow and steady, Wins the race.

Both Paige and I struggled to help a drunken Nika back to her dorm, each of us supporting one of her arms to keep her from stumbling. Nika's head lolled from side to side as she giggled incoherently, her feet dragging on the pavement with each step. We maneuvered through the dimly lit campus, the cool night air doing little to sober her up.

"Why would you get this drunk?" Paige rolled her eyes, her voice tinged with frustration. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Don't talk to her like that, Paige," I quickly shot back, glaring at her. "Just take care of your friend and shut up. The same way you've done for me one hundred times."

"Yeah, but she's not you." Paige reached out to unlock the door of Nika's dorm, but Nika's flailing arm knocked the keys out of her hand, sending them clattering to the ground.

"Whoops," Nika giggled loudly, her laughter echoing in the quiet hallway.

"I swear to God," Paige muttered under her breath as she bent over to pick up the keys. Nika's body weight shifted entirely onto me, causing me to stumble in my heels. "You got her?" Paige glanced back at me, her eyes filled with concern. I nodded, trying to steady myself.

"Yes, Desi has me," Nika slurred, wrapping her other arm around me for extra support. "Želim je večeras u svom krevetu." She giggled again, and Paige rolled her eyes before focusing on unlocking the door.

"Whatever, just go to bed," Paige sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she held the door open for us. I guided Nika inside, her steps heavy and uncoordinated.

"I'm going to help her into bed," I whispered to Paige, trying to keep my voice calm.

"Our girl is going to take care of me tonight," Nika mumbled, her words barely coherent. "She's a keeper."

"Okay," Paige said softly, reaching out to give me a quick hug. "I'll see you in a minute."

"Okay." I briefly let go of Nika to give Paige a hug, but her body instantly tumbled to the ground. "Shit." I immediately reach down to help her back up, my heart racing as I try to assess if she's hurt.

"Are you serious?" Paige rolled her eyes, her frustration evident as she stormed off into the bedroom. "I can't deal with this shit right now." She murmured under her breath, shaking her head.

"It's okay, I got you." I whispered as I attempted to lift the basketball star up, struggling to find a good grip.

"Actually, maybe I don't got you, I'm going to need for you to help me a little." I could feel the strain in my arms and back, realizing just how heavy she was.

"Are you calling me fat?" Nika's eyes looked up at me, wide and vulnerable. "Am I fat?" Tears began to form in her eyes, her voice trembling with insecurity.

"No." I immediately shook my head, trying to reassure her. "You're just 5'11 and filled with muscles." I say as I try to lift her from the ground once again, my muscles aching from the effort.

"I'm just kidding, I know I'm hot." She sloppily stood up from the ground by herself, swaying slightly before stumbling back to her bedroom. "Do you like my dress?" She flopped her body down on her bed, her movements uncoordinated. "There's still time for you to rip it off of me."

"Well, I am going to be ripping it off of you-"

"That's what I like to hear." Her eyes filled with excitement as a playful grin spreading across her face.

"But only to get you changed into something more comfortable." I giggled as I watched her face change, her playful expression turning into a pout.

"That's kind of lame." She muttered, her voice tinged with disappointment.