DRAFT NIGHT, Jenessa and Paige had been getting ready all day, running around between stylists, makeup, and hair. Paige was decked out in all-white Louis Vuitton, from the collared long sleeve, to the suit vest and pants, and of course some Air Force 1's, but they were Louis V as well. And she looked good. Jenessa couldn't help but stare at the blonde across from her who was getting her hair done. "Like what you see?" She teased, catching Jenessa. "Of course I do." She laughed, shaking her head.

Jenessa was in a black dress, a V neck corset top cinching in her waist. She believed it was a bit extravagant for the draft, but the way Paige looked at her like a woman starved when she walked out wearing it helped ease her nerves a bit. She only cared what her blonde thought anyway. She watched the woman doing her hair part it slightly to the side, and brushing out her curtain bangs in a way that looked like a princess. She felt beautiful.

The two girls finished up, riding in a limousine along with Azzi to the draft. Jenessa's nerves were through the roof, and she was thankful for how confident and easy-going Paige was in this particular moment. "I'm terrified." She mumbled, leaning into Paige's side. "Baby, ease up. This is supposed to be fun, and we're both clearly getting drafted." She shrugged, squeezing Jenessa's hand lightly.

They arrived rather quickly, walking out hand-in-hand into the storm of paparazzi, stopping for a few short interviews and pictures. After walking inside the building, they once again went down a carpet talking to more people, and taking more pictures. Stopping a few times to greet friends. "Cameron, oh my god you look so fucking good." Jenessa squealed, hugging the tall blonde. "Shut up, says you." Cameron gasped.

On the way into the stage room, Jenessa locked eyes with Caitlin, her heart dropping to her stomach. She was almost afraid to move, fighting an internal battle whether to talk to her best friend or leave her be, but the way Caitlin smiled brightly and waved her over made the decision for her. "I'll be back in a second, okay?" Jenessa turned briefly, looking to Paige for acknowledgement. "Of course, signal me if you need me. I love you." The blonde smiled, pecking her cheek lightly, careful not to mess up the lipstick she had on.

Jenessa weaved through people, quickly waving to familiar faces until she was in front of Caitlin, Kate, Jada, and Gabbie. The three all turned to Caitlin, waiting for her reaction to dictate theirs. "Hey J." Caitlin smiled softly, pulling the shorter girl into a hug. She let out a sigh of relief as she spoke. "Hey." Jada squealed, "thank god, I've missed you." She said as the two broke apart, before throwing herself onto Jenessa. "I missed you too Jada." Jenessa laughed, hugging the other two. "Could we talk?" She turned to Caitlin, tilting her head slightly, Caitlin nodded.

The two walked off to a semi-secluded corner. "I know we've already squashed this, but I am truly sorry Cait. I've missed my best friend, we've barely spoken." She sighed, gnawing on her bottom lip nervously. "You'll mess up your lipgloss if you keep doing that." Caitlin laughed, gently squeezing her shoulder. "Shut up." Jenessa rolled her eyes. "I know you're sorry, and I'm sorry too- Before you say I don't have to be, I do. I knew you weren't over Paige, and knew you were in a vulnerable position and I took advantage of that. It was a shitty move and we both ended up hurt. Let's put it all behind us, yeah?" Caitlin spoke, a sincere look in her eyes. "Sounds good, I love you Cait." "I love you too."

Jenessa and Paige were sitting at a table together, Geno by their side along with Paige's father and brother. Jenessa was playing chopsticks with the young boy as they waited for it to start. The tension was evident, both girls ultimately a little nervous as Cathy Engelberts voice rang out through the room. Jenessa looked back, spotting Azzi, and her Iowa girls all in the crowd, before turning back to Paige and grabbing her hand.

"And with the first pick, in the 2024 WNBA draft...The Los Angeles Sparks select..Paige Bueckers. University of Connecticut." Jenessa shot up out of her seat, followed by Geno and Paige's family, clapping with a bright smile on her face. Paige shook her head as she stood up, wrapping her arms around Jenessa. "I knew it, I'm so proud of you baby." Jenessa whispered over the screaming crowd. Paige pressed a kiss to her forehead, before hugging Geno, her father and her brother and walking up to the stage. She took a picture with the LA jersey and Cathy, and thanked Geno and everyone who helped her in her journey, then moving to a short interview with Holly.

Jenessa watched her on the big screen, pride swelling in her chest. She didn't even care if she got drafted anymore, she was incredibly happy for her girl. Once Paige wrapped things up, she got whisked away backstage, and Jenessa's nerves shot up when she realized Paige wouldn't be coming back. "Where is she?" Drew asked, confused and looking around. "She's backstage, we'll see her later." Geno assured the boy, before turning to Jenessa and squeezing her shoulder. "Calm down kid, I'm here." He spoke, noticing her shift in mood. "Thanks grampy." Jenessa laughed lightly.

Caitlin went second to Indiana, and the brunette felt prideful all over again. Tonight was a night that marked the beginning of a new chapter for so many people she adored and held close to her heart, it was emotional, and nostalgic. Cardoso third to the Chicago Sky, then Jacy to the Wings.

Jenessa held her breath as Cathy began to speak again, just as she had the previous 3 rounds. "And with the fifth pick, in the 2024 WNBA draft...The Los Angeles Sparks select..Jenessa Jayde. University of Connecticut." Her heart skipped a beat, eyes going wide. She was frozen in place, not only was she drafted in the first round, but to the same team as Paige. Jenessa could barely believe what she was hearing. "Is this a dream?" She choked out, looking over to Geno. "No kiddo, this is real. Pinch yourself. LA got real lucky with you two." He laughed, squeezing her tightly into a hug. She felt the tears brim her eyes as Drew cheered and hugged her leg, following a nod of approval from Paige's dad.

She walked up the steps, each feeling less like reality from the last, until Cathy congratulated her and handed her the jersey. Holding it up and posing for the camera. Jenessa walked back down the steps and towards Holly, just as everyone else had. "Jenessa! What an exciting moment, how are you feeling?" She asked with a smile, holding the microphone up at her. "Like this is all a dream, to be honest." Jenessa laughed lightly, dabbing her eyes. "You have been through so much throughout your career, and have worked so hard to get where you are tonight, this is real honey." Holly laughed, gently shaking the taller girl. "I know, I know, And I want to give my thanks to everyone who has helped me through this, my coaches, family, teammates, everyone. I am so proud of my team and where we got together despite all we dealt with, and I am so excited to be blessed with this opportunity." She smiled, holding her heart. "Is that a ring on your finger?" Holly gasped, pointing at her left hand which she'd just brought up into view of the camera, noticing how they've now zoomed in on it on the big screen. "Oh, um, yeah." Jenessa let out a shaky laugh. "Is this from your now training camp partner, and ex Uconn teammate, Paige?" The short blonde asked, and Jenessa nodded her head. "Yeah, but it's a promise ring, not an engagement ring, not just yet." She smiled lightly, hoping to switch the topic back over to basketball.

After about another minute, Jenessa was taken away by the same group, and led down a hallway and into a room filled with all the other draftees. Her eyes immediately searching for Paige who was at a table with food on it, talking to Cameron. "Jenessa?" Caitlin gasped, walking over and engulfing her in a hug. "Wait, can you guys not hear back here?" She furrowed her brows, confused with Caitlins shock. "No, not at all. It's super weird how they just drag us back here, I didn't even really properly talk to my family." She shook her head and Jenessa mumbled a "what the fuck."

"Paige is seriously oblivious, go see her." Caitlin laughed, noticing Paige's back still turned to them. Jenessa nodded with an appreciative smile and made her way over to the two blondes, Cameron seeing her first. "Jenessa!" She squealed, making Paige whip around with her jaw hung. "Wait- did you go fifth? To the Sparks?" Paige asked, her eyes wide. "Yes." Jenessa nodded, Paige immediately pulling her into an embrace, her familiar cologne filling Jenessa's nose. "Can't get rid of me even in the W." The brunette joked, making Paige laugh. "This is like, best case scenario, almost impossible." Paige shook her head, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I love you PB." She smiled. "I love you more Nessie."

@JENESSAJAYDE has tagged you in a post!

liked by paigebueckers, aaliyahedwards_24, and 103,795 others.

jenessajayde watch out LA, here we come 💛💜

nika.muhl LFGGG (also ur so fine can i buy ur sweaty socks?)

—> jenessajayde nika.

paigebueckers my girl my girl my girl

—> jenessajayde mine mine mine

—> averylovesbasketball so im killing myself

user12837374 god ive seen what you do for others.

caitlinclark22 proud of you

—> jenessajayde even prouder of you!

katemartin im about to become the biggest sparks fan 😋

—> jenessajayde me with the aces

williamskayla_ THATS MY GALLLL

—> jenessajayde I LOVE YOU

—> paigebueckers aye.

user3038585 obsessed with them

@PAIGEBUECKERS has tagged you in a post!

liked by aubrey.griffin44, caitlinclark22, and 254,048 others.

paigebueckers me and my lady coming to you live from the wnba draft 💜💛

aaliyahedwards_24 YUPPP

kamoreaarnold finest couple in town

jenessajayde lover 💜

—> paigebueckers forever and always

—> earthtojennaa if you look closely you can see me hanging in the background

nika.muhl PURPLE PAIGE PURPLE

user2039845 the way they both put each other in their posts im violently sobbing

—> user73636 no im actually unwell

williamskayla_ im suffering from abandonment

—> aubrey.griffin44 dw im still here 😁

—> williamskayla_ get away from me u super DUPER senior

cameronbrink22 WOOHOOOO

averylovesbasketball BOOMSHAKALAKAAAAAAA

—> earthtojennaa YES GAWDDD

The rest of the night was pure chaos, all the draftees getting dragged around everywhere, barely having a choice in the matter. Nika went 14th to the Storm, Kate 18th to the Aces when she wasn't expecting to be drafted and wasn't even there for herself, but for Caitlin, (They always knew she would be) and Aaliyah 6th to the Mystics, etc. They were all in it together, no matter what lies in their future.

Paige and Jenessa ended up back in a hotel room, completely slumped at around 3am. "So, I wonder how much LA paid to rig that shit, both of us on one team? Lethal fucking duo." Paige joked, slurring her words a bit from exhaustion and the lingering alcohol they drank earlier. "Always gonna be PB and J, they can't split us up, you know that." Jenessa playfully rolled her eyes.

The two curled up under the covers, entangled in each other's arms, and finally at peace. For now.

DENNY'S CORNER

the REAL chap 32 this time

all of yall better have gone back and re-read and re-commented on

chap 30&31 or else ur NOT invited to my

paige bueckers bday party. (30 is different now and has a spicy scene if that helps)