The Home Game

4. Character Development

Author's Note:

Hello! This one took a day longer than I thought because I accidentally fell asleep while writing it last night and work today was hectic. Hopefully this chapter being about 5500 words makes up for that 😅.

I also just want to say thank you again for reading! When I posted the last chapter I had just over 100 collective reads on the first 2 and now I have almost 300? And thank you all for the comments, I really love getting to hear what you think. I hope y'all enjoy this chapter!

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4. Character Development
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When Nika opened the door to the other basketball girls' apartment the liveliness spread into the hall instantly. Quinn could hear talking, laughing, and video games? Nika stepped in first, immediately met by a squeal and a hug.

"Nika! I know it's only been like a week but I missed you so much" the girl hugging Nika swayed them back and forth. Nika laughed quickly hugging the girl back just as tightly. Quinn followed into the apartment closing the door behind her.

"Hi Azzi, I missed you too" The two kept hugging for a second longer before Azzi pushed Nika back a little, keeping her hands on Nika's shoulders. Quinn was pretty sure she knew who Azzi was from everything she had seen online. If her memory was correct Azzi and Paige were best friends and had been since long before UCONN.

"How are you? How's Hana?" Azzi asked, clearly very excited to catch up.

"Good and good. Hana moved in a week before us. She's already got a lot going on" Nika smiled "how about you, how are you?" Nika asked

"Good, good, had to babysit Paige packing up to come back for classes like usual" both girls laughed.

"I heard that" Paige said never looking away from the game she was playing with Ice. Quinn wasn't positive, but she was pretty sure it was Fortnite.

"You were supposed to" Azzi laughed, but in looking back toward Nika she saw Quinn. Her eyes went wide. "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry. Paige said someone else was coming too, I just got too excited to see Nika" Azzi stepped around Nika and over to Quinn holding her hand out "I'm Azzi, welcome to my apartment"

"I'm Quinn, thanks for having me" Quinn said shaking Azzi's hand for only a second before letting it go. She heard a short laugh from behind Azzi and looked to see Nika had a grin on her face.

"What?" Quinn asked with a slight smirk and a raised eyebrow, fairly certain she was getting teased.

"I didn't say anything" Nika held her hands up as if to prove her innocence, but the smile on her face was devious "I'm just glad to see you figured it out" Nika started laughing and Quinn just sighed. Her heart racing from the embarrassment of knowing Nika was just as aware of the awkward moment as her, and also from the excitement of Nika feeling comfortable enough to joke with her. Quinn just smiled and shook her head, feeling anxiety and butterflies at the same time.

"Better late than never I guess" Quinn and Nika both smiled before Quinn turned her attention back to Azzi. "Sorry about that, but really thanks for having me."

"Of course, but please come and sit, meet everyone, and tell us about how you saved the day over at their apartment" Azzi said grabbing Quinn lightly by the wrist and pulling her deeper into the living room. "So I know you know Paige and Nika, but let's get you introduced to everyone else" Azzi said looking around the room still holding Quinn's wrist.