𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.

𝟐𝟑.

y/n's pov.

i feel my feet hit the ground after my standing full. i huff. this was my last practice before the iowa and UConn game. "you okay y/n/n?" hudson whispers from behind me. i shake it off, "yeah, fine." i mumble walking back towards the locker room. my stunts had consistently fallen all week, and i hadn't stuck a single tumbling pass. it was obvious there was something going on, and the entire team knew it. my bases knew not to push me, as i was very private with my life on the team, but huds didn't care.

 "do you wanna get drinks tonight? clear your head!" she says in a sing-song tone. i smile at the girl, she's only trying to cheer me up. it's been a week of hell. the whole caitlin kiss situation, combined with my father keeping me at arm's length due to paige. oh, and paige has not spoken a word to me either. "you know what? yeah. i deserve a good time before this weekend of basketball." i smile, putting my shoes into my cheer bag. "girl, you roped yourself into a situation with basketball for being one to hate it."

i roll my eyes, bumping into hudson's hip as we walk out of the gym. "i've never been into basketball but the players are the exception." i giggle as we head towards the residence halls.

paige's pov.

i storm to y/n's dorm, only to be met with her on the other side of the hall. "funny seeing you here." i smile, the same fury i had walking up melted away the second i saw her. she was standing in front of me, in a cheer practice outfit. she was still gorgeous is all i can say. "at my own dorm?" she softly whispered, unlocking it and heading inside. i awkwardly stand outside, not knowing what was to happen next. "did you come to stand outside my room, bueckers?" she smiles, leaning on her bed. i feel the tension ease with her smile and walk in.

"hi." i whisper, leaning next to her. "hello." she looks up at me, her y/e/c eye's piercing my own. "i miss you." i whisper. not knowing what the girl in front of me was thinking, but all i knew was that i want her back. "do you? because you've ignored me all week." she pushes me and goes to sit into her desk chair.

"me? ignore you? i've not received one text from you!" i shout, following her to the desk. she huffs turning away from me and crossing her arms. "how was i supposed to know? i didn't know if you wanted to talk." she mumbles under her breath. how could i not want to talk? is she insane?

i spin the chair around to face me, getting down to her level. "auriemma, i always want to talk to you." i watch her eyes soften, as she cups my face. "i miss you too, bueckers." i feel myself habitually going for a kiss. this one was different, it was soft and sweet. it was gentle. i feel her pull away, touching her lips. 

"we have to wait." she sighs, twiddling her thumbs. wait? what did she mean wait? "i need to take some time to myself, i can't jump back into this with you if caitlin's here. if i do this, i wanna do it right." she sighs, getting up from her chair, to go mess with her closet. "what do you mean do it right? and wait? how long? i want you, y/n." i pace as she gets out her clothes for the night. "i want to be offical, i want to be just us. no games, but i can't do that until i get closure with cait. and i'll know by tomorrow night, when the game's over."

"the game really isn't over, huh?" i pout, sitting on the bed. she's basically making me play against caitlin, twice. and one thing about me is, i hate losing.