twelve
"you excited?! Better be you left me and moved across the country for this." Emma bitterly said. Athena called her first thing in the morning, just as she insisted.
"I guess so, it's just like any other day." Athena responded. It wasn't her first day on campus, more like her 14th but it washer first day playing with her new team. She was expecting to have a summer program where she would live on campus for a few weeks before the rest of the students got there, but since she wasn't technically rostered yet, she was able to stay home with her dad for a little longer.
The soccer player so far has managed not to run into Paige, which she was verythankful for. She knew it was bound to happen at least once in the next 2 years she is here but she was hoping for a little bit more time to prepare for that inevitable interaction. To think about what she would say to her, decide if she would just act like nothing happened between them or addressing it by awkwardly saying hi then running away.
"Just any other day," Emma mocked her best friend, "GIRL PLEASE. You moved 2 thousand miles away to play for a whole ass 'nother team and it's your first day meeting said team. So no, it is not 'just any other day'"
"Ok fine, maybe it isn't any other day," Athena rolled her eyes, "but to answer your question, i guess I'm more nervous then excited. Like what if i play terrible and they hate me, or i play good and they hate me, or what if i-"
Athena was cut off by her friend over the phone, "Woah, relax crutches. They won't hate you because of the way you play, but if they do you can always come back here!"Athena side eyed the girl on the screen, "Geez sorry, never mind. Anyways they won't hate you because it's like physically impossible to, you're like a puppy and everyone loves puppies. Seriously it's annoying. You're an amazing player, you're fucking adorable, you have the purest soul on this planet, and you're hot. Impossible to hate."
"Point is....you're going to thrive over there, no body's gonna be able to pull you down. Nobody. And if they do, come back to California!"Athena chuckled at her best friend's words then thanked her for calming her nerves.
She said goodbye, promising to let Emma know how it went as soon as she got back from practice then hung up the phone. Athena put on her brand new UCONN soccer workout shirt the coach gave her on her first day on campus, and the same colored hoodie over that, then followed by her shorts.
Arriving in the locker room first was something traditional for Athena, she always wanted to be first, just so she had a moment of silence before the loudness of the team came in. As she was preparing for practice, slowly the girls came into the locker room one by one. She knew they noticed her, hearing the whispers from everyone around but she didn't acknowledge them, just turned up the music in her headphones a bit louder.
She wasn't trying to give off a cold vibe of 'shut the fuck up and don't talk to me' but it was more of a 'shut the fuck up and don't talk to me because i will shit my pants if you do' type vibe in her mind compared to the others around. Tying the laces on her pink and white shoes, Athena felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up to see a strawberry blonde, around 5'6, muscular girl offering her a smile.
"Hi! I'm Ashley, one of the team's captain." The girl held her hand out in front of Athena's face for a hand shake.
Athena paused her music quickly then took the hand out in front of her, "I'm Athe-"
"I know. We all know who you are. Athena Booker, 2021 national player of the year as a freshman, broke all the school records in one season again as a freshman, and the best player ever." Ashley spoke as she aggressively shook the taller girl's hand up and down.
The taller had an amused smile on her face as she watched the girl ramble about her accomplishments, but that quickly fell as she looked around the locker room to see everyone else staring at her. She dropped the girl's hand and gave an awkward smile to no one in particular.
She decided she couldn't handle anymore of this weirdness and picked up her bag then headed out of the locker room towards the field. She placed her bag on one of the benches then saw the coach setting up cones for practice and the field, walking over she stuffed her hands in her hoodie pocket.
"Oh hey Booker, shouldn't you be in the locker room with everyone else? You know it's tradition for them to all walk out together." Coach asked the girl.
"Oh...I didn't know that. Besides they were all just...staring at me."
Coach Anderson stopped her movements and blankly stared at the player, "What else were you expecting? You do know who you are right? These girls have been waiting for your arrival since April and have been talking about you ever since."
"Oh, i didn't know...sorry."
"It's ok kid, I can just have you introduce yourself before practice."
"Oh, no! I don- w- we don't have to do that."
"Too late!" Coach pointed as all the other girls walked towards the field like a cult. She shouted when they all were in hearing distance, "Gather round girls! We have a new recruit here that would love to introduce herself!"
The girls gathered in a semi-circle in front of the coach. A moment of silence passed before Coach patted Athena on the back, signaling for her to speak, "Uh...hi. I- I'm Athena...Booker, i just transferred her from UCLA. Uh- I'm from Minnesota, and-"
"But google says you're from Cali." A girl in the front row interrupted.
"Oh. Originally I am, yes. But i moved to Minnesota when i was 11 and it's where my dad lives, so i just say I'm from there. Anyways I'm 21 years old and can't wait to play with y'all this season!" Athena finished then rocked back and forth on her heels.
"Ok great! Now let's get to it." Coach Anderson clapped her hands together and everyone spread out into lines for warm ups.
----------------------------------------------------
Practice went semi-smoothly. About expected for Athena, first it was rocky, being with a new team and not knowing anybody. But as she got into her flow, she was smashing everyone with her skills. The girls were hyping her up, giving her high fives and smiles after every goal she scored during the small sided games.
Practice ended and everyone was sent back to the locker room to pack up and go home for the day. Athena was being swarmed by multiple girls trying to talk to her, not in a 'crazy fan' type way, but more as in a 'friend wanting to tell you something' way. She was having a casual conversation about classes with this one girl about her height when she heard the random question of, "Do you know Paige Bueckers? That would be so cool if you did...the two best athletes in the nation being best friends."
Someone smacked the side of the girl's arm for asking the stupid question, "Uh- we knew each other in high school. Not so much anymore." Athena momentarily froze at the blonde's mention but quickly recovered and answered.
That was the end of the Paige conversation, as one of the girls turned on her speaker and blasted music loud enough for the whole campus to hear. Athena thought about how pathetic it was that Paige still had that effect on her, it had been almost 3 years since it all happened and she stillhasn't gotten over it. Talk about being stubborn.
Athena packed up her bag and was about to leave when Ashley shouted out to her, "Hey wait! Where you going?"
"My dorm?"
"Hell no! We are getting food. Husky tradition."
"Y'all seem to have a lot of traditions around here."
"What can i say, we are a superstitious group. Anyways come on, we want to get to know the famous Athena Booker outside of the soccer and headlines. Show us who you are Golden." Ashley almost begged, then getting the other girls around her to agree. She used the term Golden to refer to Athena's 'golden boot' the award she won in the 2021 NCAA tournament.
It didn't take much convincing for the player to agree, and that's how they got to where they are now. At a little café on campus, Tina's Bakery, was 12 out of the 19 girls rostered, the other 7 claiming they had homework to do and went back to their dorms. The bell chimed as they walked in, signaling their arrival as if the loud commotion of 12 female soccer players wasn't enough.
They turned the heads of almost everyone in there, of course, there was only about 10 people in the café but among that small group was Paige Bueckers and company.
Paige looked up from her food at the group, she saw it was the normal crowd of soccer players all wearing the same clothing, but noticed a different person along with them. She couldn't tell who it was because she was at the back of the group and had her head down. When the girl looked up, Paige froze, dropping the sandwhich that was halfway in her mouth.
Athena was answering a message from Emma, telling her she would call later because she was invited out with her new teammates. She looked up at the call of her name, asking her what she was getting. Athena went with a simple BLT sandwich along side a plain, decaf coffee, which earned her some teasing for being "basic." She just shrugged her shoulders and with a smile, replied, "I'm a woman of simple needs."
She waited off to the side with some of her new teammates, talking but had the feeling she was being watched. She looked around the café, not seeing anyone until she noticed the six foot, blonde sitting in the corner staring at her. Her breath hitched as they made eye contact, the world outside them turning to a blur. It was only when Ashely nudged her side and told her the food was ready that she broke eye contact.
Paige was staring for a solid 5 minutes before Athena noticed her. Her friends with her followed her sight line and teased her for "having the hots for a certain brunette." Little did they know that the brunette they were talking about was Athena Booker, the same Athena Booker that knew her in high school, the same Athena Booker that was her first realbest friend, the same Athena Booker that was her first realkiss, the same Athena Booker that was her first....you know, and the same Athena Booker that was her first heartbreak.
Paige told her friends to shut up as she continued staring at the girl. After that it took them no longer then 30 seconds to figure out who that girl was. They silently screamed at each other, fangirling that Athena Booker was in the same café they were in. KK stood up and was about to walk over there to ask for a picture, when Paige pulled her back down to her seat, "Girl boo, what the hell. This is a once in a life time experience, I'm getting my picture." The freshmen yanked her arm away from the Junior's grasp and begun walking towards the crowd.
The rest of the group followed, now all wanting pictures with the nationally known soccer player. Paige rolled her eyes and sat there debating if she should get up and walk over or not. She had been dreaming about this day, the day they would meet again and talk it all out and become best friends again. But here she was, frozen in her seat, staring hopelessly at the girl.
When Athena broke their eye contact, she turned her whole body away, thinking it was just her imagination but didn't want to look back to confirm. Then when she felt a tap on her shoulder, she turned back around and was met with a shorter, smiling girl, holding her phone in her hand, "Are you Athena Booker?" Athena nodded, "Can i get a picture, please?"
Athena agreed, and one of her teammates that was standing near by offered to take the picture. The girl handed her phone to Siera, the teammate offering, and wrapped an arm around Athena's waist. After taking back her phone she spoke, "Thank you so much girly. I'm KK by the way, i play basketball here."
"Oh so you must be really good, I'm Athena, nice to meet you." She offered her hand out to KK who took it happily. By the time she let go, the rest of her squad was behind her, introducing themselves to Athena.
She met KK, of course, Ice, sick name by the way, Nika, a really hot Croatian, and Azzi, the nicest person ever with the softest skin ever. KK suggested a group photo of them all with her, but they all wanted their own with her too.
At this point they were creating a crowd in the small café, blocking the door with the total of soccer and basketball girl. Most of the soccer girls went outside with their food, waiting but some were still in the café with Athena.
Paige still sat in her corner seat, watching but hyped herself up enough to stand up and join her teammates, or so she thought. She lurked in the back, behind Nika, keeping her head down, and listened as the ever so humble Athena had conversation with her teammates.
Finally KK mentioned her, "Wait where is P boogers at, she's been talking about you a lot and now she won't even come over to say hi. She shy?"
Paige wanted to punch KK for saying she had been talking about her, she doesn't need to know that dumbass. The blonde raised her head and softly spoke, "I'm right here."
KK grabbed at her arm and pulled her forward, front and center in perfect view of Athena. KK rambled in the background as Paige looked at the girl. She had seen her in pictures and stuff, but nothing compares to the real thing. Athena got taller, only an inch or two but she noticed. She also noticed every other little thing, the way she now let her natural curls be free instead of straightening it daily. The way she grew more confident in her style, now wearing clothes that show off her figure more. The way she had on light makeup. The way she was fiddling with the lanyard that was hanging out of her pocket just like she did when she was younger.
Paige noticed it all, the new and the old. It wasn't until her staring was interrupted by Nika suggesting they get a picture together because that would, "break the internet." If everyone saw the two star athletes together. She tried to protest but when her words just came out as noises, she took her phone out of her pocket, opened the camera and handed it to the closest person to her.
Athena couldn't even protest it, she had just taken pictures with everyone else and now she was going to suddenly deny a picture with the Paige Bueckers, a girl the internet found out she was friends with in high school. Yeah, no. Made no sense, so she put on her best smile and wrapped an arm around Paige's shoulder.
Paige shivered at the touch, something she hadn't felt in so long, something she forgot the feeling of. She placed her arm around the shorter's waist and smiled towards the camera. Nika took the photo, with KK's head on her shoulder watching. Paige was about to let go when she spoke up, "Now why the fuck do y'all look so tense, ease up geez."
Paige gulped and looked down at the girl next to her and when they made eye contact, her entire body softened. All nerves go out the window was she looked at her favorite pair of eyes, even if they were staring back at her like they didn't know her. It didn't matter, every single good memory of them came rushing back, every touch, every hug, every kiss, all of it.
Athena felt the same, getting lost in the same soft, blue eyes she used to. She almost forgot about the past 3 years, she almost thought it was their Senior year of high school again. She almost though it was themagain. But the rude awakening of KK's voice broke that trance, "There ya go! That's way better then looking like y'all don't want nothing to do with each other."
Paige's gaze stayed a second longer than Athena's before turning to face the camera. Nika snapped a couple photos then held out the phone back to Paige.
Athena almost immediately let go of Paige, but the blonde's touch lingered. Staying on her exposed skin a second longer just to flood back the good memories before it was ultimately ripped from her when Athena would walk out the door and never speak to her again.
Paige took her phone back, putting it in her pocket and stayed silent the rest of the time they were there.
Athena accepted KK's offer to exchange numbers, which led to the rest of the crew wanting to do the same, Athena being the lightweight she is agreeing. When it got to Paige she just awkwardly shuffled her feet and mumbled, "it's still the same."
Paige was shocked at the words, Does she want me to reach out to her? Does she want to speak to me again? Will she speak to me again if i text her? Does she not have me blocked anymore? Can i still fix this?
Athena said her goodbyes and promised to text them all, did that include Paige, who knows. She left with her remaining teammates and went back to her dorm.
The interaction was the only thing on her mind for hours after that, she was extremely grateful they already had practice that day because she would notbe able to focus for it.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Athena was mid episode when her phone dinged with a text notification.
She chuckled at the name and opened her messages app.
HEY GIRLYYYYY
I MADE THIS WITH EVERYONE FROM THE CAFE
EVERYONE STATE THEIR NAME SO SHE HAS THE CONTACTS
Hey ! Ice Brady
nika mühl
Azzi Fudd
paige bueckers
Athena's fingers froze at the sight of the last name. She never changed Paige's contact name, just blocked her and thought it would automatically remove it but guess not!
KK you do realize that i got everyones number at the café right
not just yours
oh
well wtv
anyways we need to link up fr
not just meeting in a cafe
when r u free????
bro u jst met the girl TODAY chill
no !
you been known i've waited for this day
let me have it
y'all funny ngl
anyways im free this weekend
YES PUHLEASEEEE
im down
Same
same !
twin??
idk i got things to do
girl since when
u was tellin me earlier how u gonna play fn all weekend
well something came up
She's lying
^^ can confirm
uh no im not tf?
y'all its fine
if she dont wanna come she doesnt have to
uh yes she does
cant let the fame get to her
gotta keep her grounded with us common folk
common folk?
you do realize you play basketball at the basketball capital right?
still
cant let her off the hook that easy
fine ill go
happy?
No.
very!
Athena let the rest of the group figure out when and where they were supposed to meet. It's not like she had a problem hanging out with the group, just Paige. This would be their first time hanging out in almost 3 years. She thought that maybe they wouldn't have to interact that much with it being in a group, but she couldn't count on that.
She got a ping on her phone from a separate message, her face falling when she read it on her home screen.
can we talk?