you and jackie have something. it doesn’t have a name, no official title, but it’s there. you seek each other out, take care of each other, there are kisses, and beyond kisses, there’s a tacit exclusivity and way more than friendship. but jackie isn’t used to handling emotions she can’t control — and god, all of this is so new to her.

the sun is already setting and the gym is almost empty, except for the echo of your sneakers against the polished floor. you stayed behind helping put away the cones, more to avoid her than out of hospitality.

but then you hear her voice behind you.

“are you going to ignore me all day because of that?”

you turn around. jackie’s standing at the door, her team jacket hanging off one shoulder, her bun half undone, and that expression that mixes irritation with something else she never admits.

“it was just a play” she says, like what happened earlier wasn’t that intense “I just correct her because she was distracted, not really focused on the game. That’s all.”

a bit of context: it was a normal practice, just any day. you went to watch her train with the others. what you didn’t expect was to see her yell at natalie scatorccio, your best friend. It wasn’t a normal captain correction; she actually yelled —really yelled— things in front of everyone things that were also irrelevant. and on top of that, nat being nat, couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

jackie walks toward you, but cautiously, as if approaching means admitting something.

“it’s not my fault natalie’s always texting you right when we have practice. because she was talking to you, right?”

there it is. what she really wanted to say came out before she could think about it.

u cross your arms and frown. u stare at her, wondering if she's actually being serious right now.

“so what if she was? that’s no excuse to act like that, jackie.” you told her, trying to reason with her.

she quickly shakes her head and takes a step closer, almost unconsciously.

“look, okay, okay, sorry, i didn’t come to fight. i came because… i don’t like it when you’re mad at me. i know i was dumb, the biggest idiot in the world, i admit it, i acted like a bitch, okay? all good?