10. the last buzzer

Kitt dressed for the team celebration dinner and couldn't help but feel sad. It was the last official/unofficial team event for the season. Next year, the team would be different. Seniors would graduate and move on, and new fresh faced freshman would be joining in their place.

"I don't know what to wear!" Kitt said out loud to her empty room.

She dialed Josie.

"Clothes are stupid," She grumbled as her greeting.

" Oh no, is your closet being mean again?" Josie teased.

Kit set up her phone on the desk with Josie on face time so she could see the struggles Kitt was having. She turned to show Josie the dress she had on.

"Is it possible that this dress was actually made for a gorilla? Maybe that's why it doesn't fit exactly right?" She wriggled out of the fabric, tossing it into the bottom of her wardrobe.

"What about that blue velvety one? It is pretty." Josie suggested.

"I tried it first, and it makes me look fat!" Kitt pouted.

"Try again." Josie rolled her eyes.

"Fine!" Josie recovered the dress from the bottom of the pile at the bottom of her wardrobe, where all the rejects were gathering. She slipped it over her head and pulled it over her body.

"You look fantastic!" Josie exclaimed.

"It didn't look like this earlier." Kitt said looking at herself in the full length mirror in the back of her closet door.

"Well it loos great now!" Josie admired. "You look so strong."

Kitt loved how her friend knew exactly what she needed to hear. If she had said  the word pretty Kitt would have rejected the dress and felt uncomfortable. Saying she looked fancy or strong or classic were things she could believe and mafe her feel confident.

"How do you do that?" Kitt asked looking over at the phone.

"Magic." Josie grinned. "Now finish getting ready, then come get my ass and let's get over to the bus."

"We don't have the bus." Kitt reminded her friend.

"Shit! I forgot. Are we raking cavs and cars? That sucks." Josie made a disgusted face.

"At least the men's team taking the bus was with a valid reason this time. They are at their championship." Kitt reminded her friend.

"Right, so that means no boyfriend at dinner." Josie looked at her with a sly smile.

"No boyfriend! Leo is just a friend, and honestly, barely even that. We have talked like five times." Kitt glared only to be ignored.

"Sure, sure. Does that count talking on the phone or texting? No, no it doesn't. Because you guys are always texting." Josie waved her finger at her friend.

"Hardly." Kitt rolled her eyes again.

But just as she denied it, a notification popped up on her screen from Leo. Kitt wouldn't admit it out loud but it made her feel warm inside when he sent her pictures and messages. It meant he wS thinking of her.

"Ok, I will be there in an hour. I have to do my make up and something with my hair." Kitt said looking in her mirror with a sigh.

"Give me a break, long braid, ponytail, or a bun. Those are your only styles. Everyone knows it!" Josie teased.

"Yeah, maybe so, but I might change it up!" Kitt laughed knowing she wouldn't as she brushed her long hair up into a high ponytail. It was her 'fancy' style. She even added some product to prevent flyaways.

Josie heard a commotion on the other end of the call. Keisha's voice came into her room.

"Who ever invented underwire should be drawn and quartered!" Keisha demanded.

"Ok one hour." Josie said to Kitt who was laughing.

"Be ready!" She warned before signing off by blowing a kiss to her friends.

Kitt sat at her desk with her makeup feeling like a fraud. She wasn't the type of girl who wore a lot of makeup, so it seemed daunting, to say the least.

She applied a natural face and hoped she wouldn't look at the pictures later and see that she looked like a clown.

She checked the message from Leo.

L- have fun tonight! We just finished our warm up. Wish me luck!

K-good luck tonight, let me know how it goes.

K- does this dress look stupid on me? Do I look ridiculous?

Kitt Sent him two pictures one straight on and the other from the side/ back.

She looked through her closet for something to put on her feet that wasn't running shoes, winter boots or crocs. She came up with a pair of ankle length boots her mom had given her for Christmas that were still in the box with the tags on.

She gave another once over to the refection in the mirror.

L- you look great!

L-I would make a comment about how you actually look like a girl for once (just to bug you of course) but you would probably smack me.

*Image*

L- do these shorts make my butt look big?

Kitt opened the messages to find he had sent her a mirror selfie in his hockey pads turned to show off the rear of his uniform.

K- you are such an autumn, those dark neutrals just do nothing for your skin tone. and mid-thigh length shorts? So last season!

Kitt teased.

Of course she had thought about dating him, but he had made it very clear his goal had always been friendship. She had a new friend.  That's it.

Kitt grabbed her phone and coat. She would grab a golf cart and meet her friends right on time.

***

Dinner was at Colangalo's Steakhouse, a high end restaurant about an hour from campus. There were towns around the bay of the lake the college was on, some were sleepy little villages and some were cottage towns with large expensive houses that sat empty half the year. Which meant there were a weird mix of people and businesses on the lake.

"I'm getting the biggest juiciest steak they have." Josie said from the back seat of Alex's car.

"I've never been there, is it super fancy? I'm not sure I like fancy food. I'm a KD or beans and weiners type of girl." Alex admitted.

"My parents took us to a fancy dinner place once. It was Italian, my Bother got spaghetti and insisted on slurping each noodle. My parents nearly had an

aneurysm, they always wanted to at least APPEAR perfect." Keisha shared.

"We didn't eat out a lot as a kid." Josie added.

They talked about food, and classes, and family. Kitt stayed pretty quiet. Her mind was on the last game. Leo had been surprised by the lack of supporters, she had been impressed by the turn out. Either way, neither team had family in the stands. Many of them were far from home and a lot of their friends were busy or didn't have access to a car.

Kitt pictured her teammates leaving still exhilarated from winning and leaving the dressing room to just file onto the bus and go home. It made her sad.

They arrived at the restaurant and were taken to the banquet room. The tables had white linens and deep gold charger plates. Center pieces of fresh flowers matched their new pink jerseys, sparkly picks with the senior players numbers were stuck in each bouquet.

It made sense. This wasn't just a celebration dinner it was good bye for them.

"Ladies welcome." Coach Ten's voice filled the room. Kitt noticed a small podium with a microphone. Both coaches stood at the front of the room dressed beautifully wearing their crowns.

The players settled and turned so they could see the presentation.

Coach Ten called each senior up and showed a brief slide show about them and gave them their championship metal. She presented them with their framed jersey and a hand written card signed by the whole team, including past players. There were a lot of tears and laughter.

The coaches handed out awards, including sportsmanship, spirit, and VIP, that went to Kitt.

"Steak!" Josie whispered near the end.

Gloved waiters had been passing hor d'oeuvres but these girls were athletes, a few canapés were not going to satisfy them.

"Is there a menu?" Alex asked trying not to make it obvious she was looking around.

Kitt grabbed the menue card off her place setting and handed it to her.

"Oh, so it's like a wedding? They just give you what ever?" Alex said in a harsh whisper over Kitts shoulder.

"It's a limited menu so the kitchen doesn't get overwhelmed. You get to pick between two options for each course." Kitt explained over her shoulder trying to be subtle.

"Oh! I want steak!" Alex said with a grin.

"We know babes." Keisha laughed.

Kitt was going to miss seeing these girls every day. She was confident they would still see each other and hang out, but it wouldn't be the same.

Dinner was delicious as Kitt expected. She wasn't big on red meat so she picked the grilled swordfish. And was very happy with her choice. Each of her teammates teased her as they devoured their steak dinner. Kitt wanted to cry, she loved them so much.

"I was thinking." Kitt said as dessert was being served.

"That never leads to simple things." Josie narrowed her eyes.

"Not usually, no." Kitt agreed.

"What were you thinking about?" Keisha asked looking at her dessert like a kid in a candy store.

"You know how after our game we just leave the arena? Win or lose, it's just kind of over?" Kitt tried her best to explain her idea.

"What is the other option?" Josie narrowed her eyes suspicious of Kitt.

"Having your family or friends there. To support you and hug you and talk about the game and celebrate or commiserate." Kitt looked around to her teammates who were enjoying the chocolate confections in front of them.

"Yeah, I get what you are saying, so what is your idea?" Josie said.

"What if we go over to the tournament and be that for the boys?" Kitt waited for them to jump on her.

"Why because you want to see your 'friend'?" Josie teased.

"Honestly, yeah that's part of it. When he was there after we won it felt good to know someone who knew me, even if it was just a new friend, was there. I want to return the favour." Kitt admitted.

"But those guys are assholes." Alex said filling her mouth.

"Ok I get that, but honestly I think this is bigger than that. I want equality  that men's that we treat those guys like they have feelings, and not painting them all with the 'Axle' brush, you know?" If we want support, we have to show we are willing to give it too." Kitt tried to explain her thoughts on the matter, hoping her friends could get over the rivalry to understand her thoughts.

"I mean I'm always up for a road trip!" Alex said shrugging. She continued to focus on attacking her dessert until it was completely gone.

"Perfect! Any one else?" Kitt looked around to some nods and smiles.

"But what if they loose tonight?" Daria asked.

"Then, never mind!" Kitt laughed.

"Are we going to stay over? It might be hard to get a place." Keisha said.

"We would probably have to come back tomorrow night and go back Sunday if they continue to advance." Kitt admitted.

"It's like an hour and a half each way? That's not too far. We could do it. Might actually be fun! I haven't sat and WATCHED a game in so long!" Keisha agreed.

"Fucking right! Road trip!" Josie held up her glass.

"Road trip!" The rest of them chimed in before the idea spread to the whole team.

"Wait, how will we know if they win tonight? Or what time they play tomorrow?" Alex asked eying Kitts barely touched dessert.

"I will check and put it in the group." Kitt said sliding her plate over to her friend.

Kitt could feel the excitement of her plan coming together. She tried to picture Leo's face after the game when he saw her there. His hair wet from the shower. Face flushed from excitement. Her heart flipped.

Director Thomas's GOD SON

Her heart calmed. She could get over a little crush, and stay friends if she never crossed that line. If they crossed that line and he were to betray her in her fight against the Athletics Department administration, she would be devastated. She was never going to be his girlfriend, the more she told herself that the better.

She couldn't like Leo. Period. The end. Finished.

But he was so cute. His laugh was magical and hd made her feel safe and happy. She liked both hus brain and his big strong arms. Friends could appreciate each other's heart and body, and just remain friends. Right? She could still enjoy her private thoughts. That would be ok, wouldn't it?