girls! ✩ p. bueckers

8. cutest team

I'm finally back in my apartment. The last twenty four hours feel like a fever dream if I'm being honest.

It doesn't help that everything seemed to creep up on me. I mean, I filmed it quite a while ago so it just wasn't a top priority. Especially with basketball right there. That always consumes my thoughts.

If I were to have a favorite month, it would be December.

Multiple reasons.

1. My birthday is that month.
2. It's Christmas.
3. Perfect weather to stay inside and read.
4. The music.
5. It has the cutest movies.

Which is why since it's the first Monday in December, I'm bringing the girls hot chocolate.

Well later I'm going to have a bunch of gifts but you have to save that for Christmas.

Paige is in on it too, insisting that I would need help bringing everything in and that she'd be happy to help.

So here we are taking in a tub of hot chocolate for the girls. Today is just film which is why I feel like it's okay to do this. Otherwise I somehow think Geno would actually shame me out of here.

We finally bring everything inside and I lay on the ground. I'm so tired.

"Paige, do I have to get up? Do you think Geno would mind if I stayed here while you went to watch film."

She rolls her eyes at me. "He would definitely mind. Because I'd stay with you and then he'd get mad I wasn't there."

"Then maybe you should actually go." Like obviously.

She just shakes her head.

The whole team basically walks through the doors and they all rush over to me when they see the container of hot cocoa and marshmallows.

They all pour their drinks and shower me with 'thank you's.'

Yeah. I'm never having kids.

Geno comes out and ushers everyone to the team room with the couches and bean bags.

I don't move to get up. I'm honestly so comfy.

"Come on. We've got to go."

I don't answer her.

I can hear her feet on the court and I open one eye to see what she's going.

She squats down and moves some hair out of my face.

"If you get up then I'll get you food later. I'll even watch Christmas movies with you."

None of the girls will watch movies with me anymore after I was on a call with Sab and she told them how I made her watch them for ten hours straight one year. They've steered clear ever since.

You'd think there would be some kind of disney channel bond but she really threw me under the bus.

That perks me up instantly.

"Really? And will you get me cookies? I've been wanting them all day."

She smiles at that and nods her head.

"Yes but only if you get up in the next ten seconds."

Instantly I'm up on my feet and she laughs at how that worked. I link our arms as we head into the film room.

All of the places are taken so I just lay on top of Azzi and Kk since they're on the end. Paige can find her own spot.

Geno goes over the film slowly.

He really wants to help everyone realize the good and bad that they do. So that they can play the best version of themselves.

Which I honestly admire coaches like that.

Someone starts rubbing my back and I find myself so comfortable again. Like so much so I'm on the verge of passing out.

I fight it because that wouldn't be the best look.

The lights go back on and and the girls start grinning. I look around a little freaked out.

A guy in the staff holds out a hand so I get up and I do so curiously. Everyone is still grinning at me and I don't know what the fuck they're doing.

Geno claps his hands and I look at him.

He's smiling too and I feel like I'm in the smile movie right now.

Like seriously, someone help me.

"So we've been planning this for a while. The girls wanted to go to your premiere that was a week ago, but obviously that couldn't happen. They planned something for you." My eyes widen in surprise.

"Well, we might have just met you but we appreciate you so much." Azzi says next.

"And we know how hard you work at everything you do. We connected with your production team and they sent us a copy of the movie so we could all watch it together." Kk butts in.

Paige takes a breath before speaking.

"And we all got you a few gifts as a celebration for how big a milestone starring in a movie while playing pro basketball."

As she talks a few girls bring out some presents for me.

I feel like the luckiest person ever. The second I got here they've all been treating me amazing. Have opened their lives to me and have included me in everything. It's made me feel amazing and I am just so grateful I took up this opportunity.

"You guys are the sweetest. I'm so blessed that I'm here with all of you."

A chorus of 'aw's' goes through the room as I tear up at how sweet this is. Paige gets up and pulls me into a hug. My arms go around her neck and she rubs my back comfortingly.

A very friend thing right?

The rest of the girls feel left out and they pull us into a big group hug. I laugh at how fast they joined in.

My thoughts want to stray at how her arms felt around me but I don't let them. I'm being paid to help her team, not anything more.

I can hear Geno laughing behind us and it makes me smile again.

We all finally separate and they ushered me to the couch so I can have a fake premiere with them.

I seriously don't know what I did to deserve these girls.

As we watch the movie I find myself distracted by someone on my left.

She's looking at the screen like this is the most important thing to her. Her eyes haven't strayed from the screen once.

She laughs when a funny moment happens and she looks upset when a sad one does.

I don't know what it is about her. I really don't.

I mean I've only been here about one and a half months and somehow Paige caught my eye from the very beginning.

She's so kind and thoughtful. Acts tough but is a sweetheart. Obviously super talented, but that's not what gets me. It's the fact that even though she's good, she wants the others around her to know how good they are too.

She's like a ray of sunshine.

A breath of fresh air.

An elbow pokes my side and I grimace and look over. I see Azzi with a smirk on her face. She's grinning at me and I raise my eyebrows in confusion.

She mouths three words to me and I immediately face forward, pretending not to see anything.

'I saw that.'

I'm kind of embarrassed I got caught staring.

I just look in front and ignore everyone.

The end credits roll and all the girls give me a standing ovation. It makes me smile and I wave my hand to get them to sit down.

If there's one thing I know, it's that I'm happy I got to share this moment with them.

Word Count: 1275

extra long chapter coming next, just needed a filler :)