Breaking the Grid

USA

"No! Stop, Kyra!" Steph shrieks, holding up her hands to shield herself, but it's too late—I've already ambushed her with a barrage of playful, dramatic kisses. I laugh as she swats me away, wiping her face and giving me that look that says, "You're so annoying," but I know she's not mad. This is what we do.

We arrived at camp about two hours ago, and I'm still shaking off that restless, cramped feeling from the long flight over. America's exciting and all, but getting here? Not so much. Flying just isn't for me. Too much time trapped in a tin can with bad air and no room to move. I couldn't wait to be on solid ground again.

Now, I'm in the chill room with the rest of the team, finding my favorite way to unwind: pestering Steph until she cracks.

"Kyra, have you ever thought about keeping your affection to a minimum?" Alanna teases from across the room, a smirk on her face as she watches me annoy Steph.

I shoot her a grin. "Where's the fun in that?"

Ellie laughs, tossing a pillow my way. "Leave her alone for once! The poor girl just got off a ten-hour flight."

"Yeah, Kyra," Mary chimes in, rolling her eyes with a playful smile, "some of us are actually trying to relax, you know?"

"Oh, c'mon, Mary," I say, flopping down on the couch and nudging Steph with my elbow. "I'm just spreading the love. Isn't that what team bonding's all about?"

"More like team pestering," Caitlin mutters, smirking as she checks her phone.

"At least she's consistent," Clare jokes, grabbing a snack from the small stash we keep in the chill room. "Always reliable for a bit of chaos."

"Kyra's chaos is what keeps us all awake," Katrina chimes in, pulling her hoodie over her head. "We'd probably fall asleep halfway through practice without her."

Hayley, who's been watching the whole thing with an amused smile, finally speaks up. "I don't know about you, but I give her about five minutes before Steph throws her out of the room."

"Five minutes?" Charlie scoffs. "I'm giving her three. Steph's been holding back."

Steph sighs dramatically, though I catch the smile on her face. "You're all traitors. Every single one of you."

Mackenzie laughs, shaking her head. "You knew what you were signing up for when Kyra sat next to you. We all did."

"Exactly!" I say, throwing my hands up. "It's like a team initiation."

"Only you see it that way, Kyra," Teagan pipes in, raising an eyebrow.

Courtney, across the room, chuckles. "We're just lucky she hasn't roped us all into a sing-along. Yet."

"Oh, give me five minutes," I say, grinning. "I'll have us all singing in no time."

"Spare us, please," Daniela mutters with a laugh.

Caitlin laughs, reaching over to pull me back down onto the couch beside her. "Alright, alright, sit down, Kyra," she says with a grin. "It's actually been a while since we've been annoyed by you like this. Guess Blair's been keeping you in line, huh? Like a good girl." She winks, nudging me with her shoulder.

I roll my eyes, though I can't help but smirk. "Don't start with that, Caitlin," I say, trying to hide the slight blush creeping onto my cheeks.

"Oh, come on!" Alanna chimes in, catching on to Caitlin's teasing. "Is Blair the reason you're suddenly so well-behaved?"

"'Well-behaved' might be pushing it," Ellie adds with a laugh, shaking her head. "Kyra? Good? Don't think I've ever seen it."

"Hey!" I protest, crossing my arms with mock indignation. "I'm always well-behaved. Blair or no Blair."