𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝.

𝟐𝟓.

y/n's pov.

i walk paige to her dorm, and as much as i'm trying to act calm, my entire world is upside down. i'm holding a bloodied rag to her hand, which is a reminder of the shit show that just happened. "i'm sorry, auriemma." she whispers, as we reach her door. i stare at her hand, knowing it wasn't something selfish. she did this to herself because of me. "why did you, paige?" i sigh, finally meeting her blue eyes. her eyes soften as i stare into them. 

"it wasn't fair. you looked at her the way you look at me." she whispers, leaning down towards me. "and you punched her in the face for that?" i giggle, pushing her inside her dorm. "of course i did." she smiles cheekily. "you're awful. ice that before the game or my dad will kill me." i say, as i turn to leave.

"make it worth the punch, y/n." she says, grabbing my wrist. i feel my chest tighten. i was so weak when it came to paige. all i wanted was to throw myself at her, and show her i missed her, but i can't. i need to be able to have a clear mind before i make a choice. i purse my lips into a small smile, before walking out the door. it was one of the hardest things i had to do.

as i walk towards my dorm, i feel the tears stream down my face. i put myself into this awful situation, where i was falling in love with two girls. two girls i had known forever. it wasn't fair. i barely make it inside my dorm before i collapse onto the floor, breaking down into sobs. i was so endlessly hopeful i could have both in my life, and i knew i couldn't now. i caused so much pain and tension between everyone. it was my fault. i reach for my phone, and dial the only number i know by heart. 

"hi daddy." i cry into the phone, as he picks up. "oh y/n/n. are you okay? do you need me to come get you?" this is the first time i've spoken to my dad, and his voice was all i needed. "i messed everything up." i sob, holding my head in my hands. "honey, what do you mean? mom and i can be there in probably 25 minutes." he says, and i can hear his keys. he was really gonna come get me, he was so kind even after i hurt him. 

"i ruined it. paige and caitlin are fighting over me, and i don't know who to choose. i'm hurting everyone." i cry, wiping my tears as i choke out those awful words. "you didn't ruin anything, sweetie. you need to think hard, because you and i both know the choice." i can hear his smile through the phone, and i picture my dad's face and his smile lines crinkling. "i love you, dad. i'm sorry." i sniffle, replaying the cookout in my head. "i will love you no matter what, y/n. i'm sorry i overreacted." he sighs, and all i feel is a weight lifted, knowing my dad loves me. 

"take some time to think, and i'll see you tomorrow at the game." he says, i agree and hang up. i crawl into my bed, shutting my eyes and letting these memories take over. he was right, i knew exactly who i was going to break the news to.

"it's late." i hear a voice from behind me. i jump, completely taken aback that someone else was awake at this hour, and even with that, at the vending machines. i spin on my heels to be greeted by a tall, brunette girl. "you've never heard of a late night snack?" i giggle, knowing exactly who this was. this was the girl from the usa game earlier, of course she'd be in the same hotel as me. "why do you think i'm here?" she scoots me out of the way. caitlin punches in 32F, for the skittles. 

"you choose sweet over sour?" i grimace, holding up my sour skittles. "well duh, sweet tooth." she smiles, pulling the skittles out of the vending machine. "hm, you give off a chocolate vibe to me." i giggle, popping a skittle into my mouth. "i have no clue whether to be offended or not." i burst out into laughter, staring at the confused look on her face. "you know it's 5 am right?" i smile, fiddling with my fingers.

 i didn't realize how pretty she was until now. her hair was messily tousled and down. she was in checkered pajama pants and a baggy hoodie, yet she was so naturally beautiful. "i'm quite aware of that, y/n." she smirks, eating her candy. "well then follow me!" i exclaim, grabbing her hand and running to the stairwell. we fill the stairwell with echoes of laughter and caitlin questioning what the hell i was doing. as we finally reach the rooftop, i open the door to one of the most gorgeous sunrises i've ever seen. 

"good morning, from y/n auriemma." i say, running onto the rooftop. i see caitlin's face in awe at the painted sky. i find myself sitting on the ledge of the hotel's roof, popping skittles into my mouth. i'm joined by her, as we watch the sunrise go up, eating skittles. 

"this is really special." she smiles, turning to face me. the orange hues of the sky light up her face. she was really special. "you just look like a UConn player in this light!" i joke, playfully pushing her. "maybe for you." she smiles, pushing me back. 

we continue to joke and giggle until the sun comes up, when i get a text from my dad, asking me if i was ready for breakfast. "i gotta go, cait. i had fun." i softly say, getting up and taking in the view one more time. "we gotta do this again, sunshine." she says, following me down the stairwell. "sunshine?" i giggle, giving her a look. where did that come from? 

"sunshine, you brought me sunshine today." she smiles

i wake from the memory, realizing my makeup and dress was still on. i slump myself over to the bathroom, to be met by a blonde hair tie on the sink, which sends me straight back into my thoughts.

"y/n, come greet our guest!" i hear my father yell from the living room. i wonder who it was? i knew it was a basketball prospect, some girl from minnesota? i couldn't keep up with his recruits. i rush downstairs, knowing my dad would keep shouting if i didn't. i go to fix my shirt, and bump into someone. i look up, and i'm met with piercing, blue eyes. "mindfulness, y/n!" i hear my mom giggle, noticing my lack of spatial awareness. "hi." i whisper, completely enamored by this girl. she was this tall, blonde, with these icy blue eyes. "hi, i'm paige." she softly smiles, reaching her hand out. i shake her hand, and come out of my trance. 

the days go by quickly, and i barely see her, until i'm up early for a cheer clinic. i rush down the stairs, knowing i hadn't eaten. i notice a figure sitting at the island, eating cereal. i giggle at her cereal, she brought her own box of fruit loops. "was our frosted flakes not sufficient enough for you?" i smile, grabbing a bowl down from the cabinet. i hear paige choke on her cereal, causing me to burst into laughter. i get shot a look by her before she finishes swallowing. 

"no, they just say your name on it." she smiles softly, a touch of  embarrassment in her voice. "oh! that's because my dad eats it all." i giggle, pouring my cereal into the bowl. i glance at her glass, full of chocolate milk. "what a nutritional breakfast for an athlete" i smirk, sitting next to her at the island. "now, it has calcium in it still!" she whines, sipping her milk. 

"did you use the last of the milk?" i groan, noticing the gallon empty. dry cereal? i was already on the brink of being late. her eyes widen, knowing she absolutely did. "shit, um. here just trust me." i look at her puzzled, is she gonna go get me milk from the store? 

before i can even protest, she's pouring her chocolate milk into my bowl. "what the hell, bueckers!" i exclaim, trying to stop the madness. "now i'm gonna be late, on an empty stomach." i groan, looking at the frosted flakes infused chocolate milk. "hm, just take a bite and trust me, auriemma." i roll my eyes and spoon a bite into my mouth. my face instantly drops. this was the best thing i've ever tasted in my life. "holy shit." i say, with a mouthful. i hear her laugh for the first time since she's been here. she was in a fit of laughter because of me.

"you and your dad need to trust me, auriemma." she nudges me, before continuing with her cereal. "whatever you say, bueckers." i giggle, finishing my chocolate milk and frosted flakes.

from then on, i always had chocolate milk in my cereal.

as i'm brought back to reality, it finally hits me. i'm in love with her. i need to tell her who i picked.