the timeout buzzer echoed across the court, loud and unforgiving. you jogged back to the bench with your heart pounding in your chest and sweat dripping down your temples. the crowd was restless, mumbling over missed passed and sloppy turnovers. your turnovers.

you didnt need to look up to feel the heat of caitlin clarks glare but you did anyways

she sat at the end of the bench with her jersey clinging to her from the intensity of the game. her eyes were locked on you, sharp and unflinching. her jaw was set tight and her chest rose and fell with shallow but controlled breaths

you sat down a few seats away but it didnt make a difference. her energy hit you like a punch

“seriously?” she snapped under her breath, leaning towards you while the coach barked orders behind the clipboard “three missed rotations, two bad passes, and you let that girl blow right past you like you werent even there.”

your stomach twisted “i know i just-“

“dont just me.” she cut you off, her voice low and cold “youre better than this. were better then this.”

you looked down at your hands, your fingers twitching. you hated letting the team down but more than that, you hated letting caitlin down

she leaned back against the seat, running a hand through her hair while trying to calm herself. she wanst just pissed, she was hurt. you could see it in the way she didnt meet your eyes now like it stung to even look at you and that hurt more than anything she had said

you finally whispered “im sorry.”

she didnt respond right away. the coach kept talking but finally caitlin glanced at you “dont say it to me. fix it on the court.”

you slowly nodded, biting your lip “i will.”