More Than A Game (A Kylia Story)

Building Friendship

Chapter 3

It was a crisp Saturday afternoon, and the sun was just warm enough to coax Kylie out of bed early. She'd just finished her morning run when her phone buzzed with a message from Malia.

Maliaa🦋: Hey! Wanna hang out today? I have an idea...

Curious, Kylie responded, and within an hour, she was walking over to the school gym. Malia was already there, dressed in her cheer uniform, waving enthusiastically from across the court.

"Hey, superstar!" Malia called, her voice echoing in the space. "I hope you're ready for a cheerleading lesson."

Kylie grinned, feeling both a bit shy and secretly thrilled. "I don't know if I'm cut out for pom-poms, but I'll give it a shot."

"Don't worry! I've got you," Malia said, pulling out a spare set of pom-poms from her bag. "You'll do great!"

With exaggerated patience, Malia guided Kylie through some basic cheer moves, starting with a few poses and simple steps. Kylie gave it her all, feeling equal parts confident and ridiculous as she attempted to keep up with Malia's graceful movements.

"Okay, now swing the pom-poms like this," Malia instructed, demonstrating a high kick and perfect hand motion.

Kylie tried to mimic it, only to fumble with the pom-poms and wobble on her landing, catching Malia's amused gaze.

"You make this look so easy," Kylie laughed, shaking her head. "I'll stick to basketball, thanks."

Malia grinned. "Speaking of, you promised me a basketball lesson in return."

They switched gears, and soon Malia found herself struggling to dribble the ball, her concentration fierce as she tried to maneuver around Kylie, who had barely broken a sweat. Kylie showed her how to plant her feet and make a clean shot, and after a few tries, Malia managed to sink a basket.

"Yes!" she squealed, jumping up in excitement. Kylie laughed, admiring her energy and the way Malia's smile lit up the whole gym. In that moment, Kylie realized just how much she was enjoying herself—and how much she loved watching Malia's genuine enthusiasm.

After they'd had their fill of teasing each other over missed shots and clumsy dance moves, they sat side by side on the gym bleachers, cooling off with bottles of water.

"That was fun," Kylie said, still catching her breath. "And I have to admit, I get why you love cheerleading. It's no joke."

"And I finally understand why you spend all your time on the court," Malia replied, smiling warmly. "It's... freeing."

They settled into a comfortable silence before Malia broke it with a quieter, more thoughtful question. "Do you ever feel like you're supposed to be one thing, but maybe you're not?"

Kylie looked over, surprised. "Yeah, I get that." She hesitated, then shared, "People see me as this basketball player who's all about winning, but it's not just about the game for me. It's about... doing something that makes me feel alive."

Malia nodded, her expression softening. "It's kind of the same for me with cheer. People see the cheer uniform and the smiles, but they don't see how much I put into it. It's hard to break out of the image people build around you, you know?"

Kylie glanced at Malia, surprised at how much she was sharing. "I didn't realize you felt that way. But I'm glad you told me."

Malia smiled shyly, then looked down at her hands. "I feel like I can talk to you about stuff I usually keep to myself."

They shared a quiet moment, each feeling a deeper understanding growing between them.

"So... what's your big dream?" Kylie asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"Honestly?" Malia replied, exhaling. "Be a dancer and travel. See places I've only read about. Maybe even live abroad someday. I want to know what the world is like beyond this place." She looked over at Kylie. "What about you?"

Kylie's expression turned thoughtful. "I guess I want to prove to myself that I can make it big in basketball, you know? Not just high school or college, but... pro. It's a crazy dream, but it's mine."

"It's not crazy," Malia said softly. "You'd be amazing."

Kylie felt her face warm under Malia's gaze. There was something so sincere in her words that it struck a chord deep within her. She looked away, hoping Malia wouldn't notice the flush creeping up her cheeks.

Their easy conversation continued, flowing into stories about their families. Malia talked about her little sister, Ivory, who idolized her and wanted to be a cheerleader too.

"She's a handful," Malia laughed, rolling her eyes fondly. "But she's got this huge heart. I'd do anything to keep her safe and happy."

Kylie nodded, her mind drifting to her own sister, Kayla. "Kayla's my best friend. She's competitive like me, but she's got this soft side she tries to hide. We argue sometimes, but I can't imagine life without her."

Hearing the tenderness in Kylie's voice, Malia felt her admiration deepen. Kylie wasn't just the calm, collected athlete everyone saw; she was a sister, a dreamer, someone who cared deeply about the people in her life. Malia realized how much she wanted to be a part of that circle.

As the afternoon wore on, they began to pack up, but the lingering warmth between them stayed. Neither quite wanted to leave, and they found themselves walking slowly, savoring every minute.

In her mind, Kylie wrestled with her growing feelings. Being around Malia felt effortless, yet it stirred something new and confusing within her. Every laugh, every quiet smile, seemed to draw her closer, but she wasn't sure if Malia felt the same way.

Malia, for her part, couldn't help but notice Kylie's quiet strength, the way her calm demeanor concealed an intense passion. She found herself hoping for more moments like this, moments when it was just the two of them.

They reached the edge of the gym, and an easy silence fell between them. Kylie looked over, her heart pounding. She wanted to say something more, something that could capture what she was feeling, but the words wouldn't come.

"Well, I guess I'll see you around," Malia said, her voice soft, her gaze lingering.

"Yeah," Kylie replied, feeling the same pull to stay just a little longer. "Maybe we can hang out again sometime?"

Malia's eyes brightened, her smile spreading. "I'd like that."

They parted ways, each of them feeling a strange new ache a mix of excitement and uncertainty, wondering if the other had felt the same.