CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
know it's for the better !

lsu, dallas TX
L 85-102

"YOU girls will always be our number one girls no matter what happens okay." kinsley said since she was the one giving them the pep talk for the last game. she was kneeling on the bench and the basketball girls were surrounding her with worried looks on their faces.

"keep your head in the game, don't overthink your actions. if you think it's the right thing communicate and do it. don't hold back. angel is a good player, i've seen her before, but don't let her get in your guys head. you guys are just as good and possibly more." kinsley said making sure to look at everyone even the freshman's who smiled at her. kinsley nodded her head and raised her eyebrows to everyone.

"try to treat this game like any of game. easy peasy, right?" kinsley said not knowing what else to say to make sure the girls nerves weren't sky rocketing. the basketball girls patted her back and ruffled her hair in a grateful away. kinsley laughed pushing them all away and stayed kneeled on the bench as her girlfriend went to stand in front of her.

"caitlin clark," kinsley said sighing deeply and putting her hands on her neck. caitlin grinned placing her own hands on kinsleys waist and stepping closer. "i will love you regardless." kinsley whispered leaning a bit forward and placing her lips on caitlin's.

people cheered as they watched the cheerleader and the tall athlete kiss. kinsley giggled pulling away and giving caitlin a kiss on the cheek.

soon the game started. the first half of the game was like watching a boxing match. in kinsley's perspective. it was back and forth between the two games. kinsley cheered the loudest for her girlfriend who was just playing wonderfully. caitlin would blow her kiss making kinsley pretending to catch it and fainted on stefani who caught her and waved her hand over her face.

gabbie and monika were just like caitlin during the third round. kinsley and stefani were accidentally making sound effects whenever gabbie, monika or caitlin did something. noah soon joined them leaving matt to stare at them. madison was also quick on the play and she glanced at her friends who were giving her heart with their hands.

but neither of them could deny how good lsu was playing. angel reese to be exact too. kinsley eyes widen and she wanted to cheer whenever angel made a basket so badly but then she remembered that she's the team they're going again. kinsley and stefani looked at each other worriedly knowing what was going to happen.

kinsley could see the way that caitlin and madison were stressing out from the fourth game. madison shook off monika who tried to calm her down but the british women was too deep into her head and wanting to win that she wouldn't listen to anyone. caitlin was the same way.

"shit." noah breathed out as the last few minutes were finally up. kinsley, stefani, matt and noah had their arms hooked to each other and they were huddled together as they watched the game unravel. caitlin and madison stood besides each other muttering to one another. both of their faces being stone cold and already having a disappointed look on their face.

then the buzzer hit. madison burst into tears and she shook her head when gabbie tried to comfort her. madison walked off from the center and into the locker rooms ignoring everyone who was calling after her. stefani and noah stood up from her bench and ran after madison. matt followed his sister and kinsley stayed behind.

kinsley sighed sadly standing up and making her way over to caitlin who was already making her own way towards her girlfriend. "hey, hey, hey, it's okay. it's okay." kinsley whispered when caitlin let out a whimper and dropped her head down to kinsleys shoulder. her tears muffled by kinsleys neck.

kinsley immediately wrapped her arms around caitlin's neck. she put one hand on her shoulder and rubbed it up and down as the tall athlete covered her face with her shirt and continued to cry on her girlfriends shoulder.

when the other girls walked past kinsley mouthed to them, you girls did wonderful. they nodded their head and smiled as much as they can to the cheerleader. they rubbed kinsleys shoulder and patted caitlin's back in a soothing matter.

"i failed them, kinsley. i should've tried harder." caitlin hiccuped. she was trying to suppress crying even more due to the cameras shinning on them and she knew how they were going to try and get a closeup on her face.

"you did you best caitlin and that's what matters. you didn't try because you did do it. you didn't fail anyone baby, you didn't fail the seniors, or your coaches, or your family or anyone on your team. losing happens and there's nothing you can do other than learn from them. look back at where you think you did wrong and learn from them." kinsley whispered pulling away and putting her hands on caitlin's cheeks.

caitlin didn't say anything. she couldn't say anything. her lips were tugged down into a deep frown. her eyes filled with tears that weren't going to stop anytime soon. her throat opening and closing since she didn't want to sob in front of cameras.

"think about it this way," kinsley whispered wiping away the tears that were running down her girlfriend face. "everything happens for a reason. think about this lost as an opportunity to be an even more extraordinary player. don't let one lost define who you are." kinsley said leaning a bit up and kissing her tears away.

caitlin nodded her head gently. "you can cry, caitlin." kinsley whispered and that only made caitlin drop her head back down to kinsleys shoulder and cry.

• • •

everyone was at matt's house. it was the day after and no one has recovered from the last game. madison and caitlin to be exact. the other girls were still pretty devastated which is why they decided to meet up at matt's and just chill. even if they're sat in quiet and just thinking.

caitlin and kinsley were up in one of the rooms. kinsley had tangled playing on the tv. caitlin laid in between her thighs with her head laid on her stomach. her arm wrapped around kinsley waist and her fingers tracing shapes on her bare skin.

kinsleys fingers were running through caitlin's long light brown hair along with going up and down her back to ease the tension.

hailey has come over that same day and was in the other room comforting her girlfriend who was in the same state of mind as caitlin clark. madison couldn't stop crying even if she knows that there are more wins that loses. hailey was there for her which madison wouldn't want any other way.

"i love you kenny." caitlin mumbled sighing deeply and closing her eyes. kinsley bit her lip tilting her head to the side of her pillow to get a better look at caitlin. caitlin looked up and locked eyes with kinsley.

"and thank you. for being there with me these days, for giving me advice and being patient with me." caitlin said sitting up. kinsley sat up as well and straddled caitlin's lap. caitlin dropped them back on the back. this time their positions were swapped. caitlin was laid on her back and kinsley laid on top of her.

"i will always be here for you caitlin. through the end of the world and back."

▌ c.speaks ! . . . ˚. 𓄼
i was going to end it by
them getting married but then
it being fake. kinsley
and caitlin broke up bc of
the difference life decisions they wanted
and then end the book by them
running to each other and
ending the book by caitlin's sayibg, "kenny."

BUTTTTT IM NICE AND DECIDED TO LEAVE IT LIKE THIS. YOURE WELCOME. THE END!!!

thank you sm for the support and the comments!
i'm sorry but i will most likely not post the hailey van lith or the paige bueckers fic bexauze im deleting wattpad and in leaving to focus on school. also becauze wattpad isn't really in my life anhmkre. like it was fun while it lasted but yeah! my books will still be up and if you want to contact me dm me
and i'll give you my instagram!