THE ATMOSPHERE in the arena was thick with tension, it was the final four game. The one millions were waiting for, the match-up between Uconn and Iowa. Both teams had fought tooth and nail to get to this point, and now only a handful of minutes separated them from a trip to the championship game.

The score was neck-and-neck, with neither team able to pull away despite several runs throughout the game. Fans were on the edge of their seats, the roar of the crowd amplifying every pivotal moment.

With about five minutes left, Uconn found a sudden burst of energy, scoring on a fast break after a crucial defensive stop. Jenessa had been quiet for most of the game, but seemed to come alive, hitting a deep three-pointer to Uconn a two point lead.

Iowa, however, wasn't about to back down. Caitlin calmly responded with her own deep three to regain the lead, putting her team up by one with just under four minutes to go.

The next few possessions were filled with intense back-and-forth action. Each team knew how much was on the line. With three minutes remaining, the game became a tactical chess match. The defensive intensity ramped up, with both teams switching between man-to-man and zone defenses, trying to stifle each other's offensive flow.

A missed layup by KK gave Iowa a chance to extend their lead, but a steal by Paige on Gabbie turned the momentum back in their favor. With the shot clock winding down, she drove to the basket, drawing a foul and stepping to the line for a free throw that could tie the game.

She took a deep breath, before shooting and watching as the ball sunk through the net.

As the clock ticked under a minute, the tension was unbearable. Tie game. The relentless pressure Uconn put on Iowa had forced them into hurried shots and turnovers. As Paige stood ready to inbound, she watched Caitlin turn her back on her, quickly the blonde bounces the basketball off of the Iowa star, watching as she turns to try and grab it before it goes out of bounds.

With just 30 seconds left, Paige had the ball in her hands, a chance to take the lead and potentially seal the win. She dribbled down the court, waiting for the right moment. She passed to Jenessa who was open in the corner, who released a three-pointer at the buzzer...

And it was good.

The crowd erupted as Uconn celebrated a hard-fought victory, sealing their place in the championship game and ending the semi-finals in dramatic fashion.

Jenessa's eyes scanned the court, searching for her favourite shade of blue. A pair of arms engulfing her from behind made her shriek. "Buzzer beater to win the game huh?" Paige's voice whispered into her ear under the loud atmosphere. Jenessa spun in her arms, throwing her own around the blondes neck. "Thank you for trusting me on taking that shot."

Under the bright lights of the packed full gym, the sound of their pounding hearts echoed louder than the cheers from the crowd. Paige and Jenessa stood in the middle of the basketball court, surrounded by the lingering excitement of their hard-fought victory. Sweat trickled down their faces, but neither cared about the exhaustion that threatened to weigh them down. They were too wrapped up in the moment, the adrenaline still pulsing through their veins.

Paige looked at Jenessa with a gleam in her eyes, proud and relieved. JJ met her gaze with a quiet smile, the kind that said everything without words. In that silence, the weight of the world, their shared struggles, and the pressure of the game melted away. It was just the two of them, standing together in the center of everything they had worked for.

Paige reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from Jenessa's face, her touch soft but electric. The brunettes lips curved into a smile, her hand instinctively finding Paige's. It had been a long season, filled with sacrifice, highs, lows, and uncertainty, but tonight they had proven not just their strength as a team, but the depth of their bond. The victory was sweet, but the way their fingers intertwined, as if they were meant to be there, was the real triumph.

They had always known their love was something rare, something that could not be easily broken by the pressure of the game, arguments, mistakes they both make, or the expectations of others. As they stared into each other's eyes, the rest of the world fading around them, they understood what mattered most. They had each other, and no trophy could ever shine brighter than that.

"Can I kiss you?" Paige whispered. "Right here?" Jenessa laughed lightly, a blush rising on her already flushed cheeks. "Please." Paige faltered, her tone almost begging.

The weight of everything they had been through hung in the air between them, unspoken but undeniable. Paige stood just a breath away from Jenessa, her hands trembling at her sides, fighting the urge to pull Jenessa closer. It had taken months of struggle, endless nights of doubt and miscommunication, but now, in this rare moment of calm, it all seemed worth it. Jenessa's eyes that were full of vulnerability and strength, met hers, and Paige could see the quiet ache of the past mirrored in them.

It wasn't just a kiss they were about to share; it was every hard moment, every tear, and every bit of healing they had fought so fiercely to reach.

Jenessa stepped forward, closing the gap between them, her fingertips grazing the back of Paige's neck, sending a spark of warmth through her. Paige inhaled sharply, her heart racing. She could feel the years of longing, the quiet love that had lived between them in the darkest hours, building in the space between their lips. Then, with a soft, almost reverent movement, Jenessa kissed her slowly, carefully, as if savoring every second. The world around them faded away, leaving only the feeling of Jenessa's lips against hers, gentle, yet full of everything they had been too afraid to say. In that kiss, they weren't just two people in love; they were two souls that had found their way back to each other, and for the first time in a long while, everything felt right.

That was, until Jenessa remembered Caitlin's presence on the same court.

After celebrating, the girls all lined up to high-five the other team. As Jenessa went down the line, she noticed the disappointed looks from her friends, even Kate; the girl who always understood everything. As Jenessa got to Caitlin at the end of the line, she held on for an extra moment. "Can we talk, please?" She asked, almost afraid to speak. "Yeah, meet me out in the hall in like 30." Caitlin sounded defeated, sighing as she spoke before turning away and following her team to the locker room.

Despite the electric excitement from all the others in the Uconn locker room, Jenessa couldn't help but feel anxious as she showered and changed. "Yo JJ, you good?" KK asked as she practically pounced on the taller girl. "Yeah, I'm good, thank you though." She gave her a small smile, to which KK nodded and backed off, joining Aaliyah as they took pictures.

Jenessa stood against the wall, watching as Caitlin walked towards her. This conversation was inevitable, but the weight of it hung above the two like a storm cloud. The lingering feeling of doubt had been attached to Caitlin for weeks. The way Jenessa had slowly distanced herself, refused to talk about what was going on with the Paige situation, and clips all over social media of the two, it wasn't hard to see, even if they both refused to admit it out loud.

"I know." Caitlin spoke first. Jenessa's heart dropped to her stomach, immediately knowing what she was referring to. "You still love her, don't you?" She sniffled, her voice was calm, but there was an edge of raw vulnerability underneath. Jenessa froze, words caught in the back of her throat. "I- Caitlin.." She sighed.

"I should've known from the beginning." Caitlin continued, her tone gentle but firm. "I don't know why I bothered J, It's not hard to tell."

Jenessa's eyes flickered with a mix of guilt and something else—regret, perhaps, or fear. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again, biting her lip, searching for the right words. Caitlin's heart ached for her, knowing how much Jenessa had been struggling with this, knowing that her love for Paige wasn't something she'd been able to shake, no matter how hard she tried. And despite everything Caitlin was feeling, she didn't want to make Jenessa feel cornered, or worse, ashamed.

"I just-" Jenessa began, her voice cracking slightly. "I never wanted to hurt you. Paige, she's different. I can't stop myself." Jenessa trailed off, looking at the floor, unable to meet Caitlin's eyes. Caitlin exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair as she gathered her thoughts.

"I know," Caitlin whispered, her voice catching a little in her throat. "I've known for a while, Jenessa. And I'm not angry at you. I just needed to hear you say it. Because you deserve to be honest with me, and with yourself."

Jenessa lifted her head then, her eyes filled with both relief and sorrow. She reached across the space between them, her fingers brushing Caitlin's hand. "I never meant to hurt you." she said softly, her voice trembling. "I don't want to lose you, Caitlin. But I can't deny what I feel. I'm sorry."

Caitlin nodded, her heart heavy but understanding. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me. But I think we both know now, Jenessa, that you can't stay here pretending anymore. You need to follow your heart. And maybe, maybe it's time for me to let go."

"You are the most amazing person Cait, you're so understanding- I never have and never will deserve you." JJ mumbled, tears running down her cheeks. "Hey, you're still my best friend." Caitlin laughed lightly, wiping the shorter girls tears. "Go get your girl." She whispered, meeting Jenessa's eyes. "I'll text you, thank you for everything." She spoke before turning away.

Caitlin watched as she jogged down the hallway, taking a small piece of her heart with her.

DENNY'S CORNER

wait cuz i almost cried writing this

im so sorry cait ily