Worthless

Disclaimer: I wanted to post this chapter yesterday but I would've felt guilty given what happened to Nika yesterday and some of the words said towards her in this chapter. But enjoy :)

"Kate-"

"Enough. I don't want to hear it. What the fuck is actually wrong with you?" Kate tried everything in her power to act tough but she couldn't. Not when she realized she was only a distraction for Nika throughout their whole entire relationship.

"Get the fuck out of here Dayton." Dayton immediately ran away at the very intimidating voice of Kate. What Dayton was not going to do was get beat up by one Kate Martin. The more Dayton ran to the distance, the closer Kate walked towards Nika, where they were away from everyone.

"Kate please let me explain-"

"So all I was to you was a rebound huh?! This is so fucking ridiculous." Kate scoffed as she put her hands to her head. "You're a fucking sick person in the head Nika do you realize that?! I gained 10 fucking pounds because of you. Ten pounds! I struggled so bad I went to therapy 4 times a week. I left school for two weeks to be with my family. The insane thing was, I thought you were doing the same. That you were so upset and devastated about the breakup too. But turns out you were riding Dayton's dick the entire time."

"No Kate please I swear that's not true just let me explain." The light from the post above was now making Nika's non stop tears visible as well.

"What is there to explain Nika?!" Still, Kate saying Nika's name made Nika get caught off guard. It still felt like a bizarre thing for Kate to say. "I drove four fucking hours to see you and you broke up with me. You didn't break up with me because of long distance. No. That was just an excuse because you're too immature for a relationship that doesn't revolve around physical touch."

"Kate please-" Nika felt like her entire world was falling down. It hurt. This was a Kate she had never seen before. She never wanted to see this Kate and she especially didn't want to be the reason for the craziness and maniac coming out of her. The fuck of it all, Kate was telling the truth.

"So I come back here, after you view my stories in seconds. Literal seconds Nika! To find out that you got back with the man who's cheated on you, was never there for you, didn't even give you attention. What did I do? I was there for you Nika. For every single fucking second of the day. When you were sad, or when you were in an argument with someone. But I was always there for you even when you were in the wrong. The whole world could've been against you but I would've stood right by your side."

"Kate please you don't understand how hard this has been for me. I needed something to distract myself. To distract me because I realized I wasn't yours anymore." Nika tried to look anywhere but Kate's face. But Kate had such a stare it freaked Nika out, but also would've made Nika obey anything Kate had asked.

"Fine, go be with other people. I don't care who it is. But the fact that it was Dayton. Now, that's the real fucked up part of all of this Nika." Nika finally managed to break her contact with the devastated blonde in front of her. "Did you post him on your story?" Nika nodded.

"So this entire time you made me look like a fool. A fucking pathetic loser. I was crying in my bed or in Caitlin or Gabbie's arms while you were posting for him."

"It was only for the media Kate I swear. I didn't go out in public with him, I was too embarrassed."

"Is that how you felt about me? Embarrassed? Huh Nika?! So embarrassed that you can't even look me in the eyes right now?" Both girls were currently trying to do anything in their power to not collapse onto the ground. "You know I could treat you better than anyone in the world. And I did."

Kate paused for a moment, the only noise being the wind and quiet sobs escaping both of their mouths. "But I'm done with you. I'm so fucking over you. I don't want to hear your name, or see you smile, or see any nook and cranny of you. I'm officially over it. I've gotten an ick." Kate took a step closer to Nika. "If you're going to date someone who is worthless, and will make you feel and become worthless, then that's what you are to me. Worthless."

Kate took another step forward, analyzing every single detail on Nika's face she still knew like the back of her hand. Their two eyes meeting, but yet blocked with the tears filling both of their eyes. Kate missed seeing this face. But she definitely wouldn't anymore.

"I will not look at you with the eyes I once had, I will not admire you with the love I once had. I feel nothing. Nothing anymore for you Nika." Suddenly, Kate started to walk away not realizing the confession she just spilled.

"Wait, you love me?!" Kate turned around feeling her body paralyze.

"Not anymore. You would've known that if you didn't decide to break up with me the same day I was going to tell you." Kate looked Nika up and down one more time before she turned around, not looking back at the girl she once used to be her happiest with.

Kate somehow managed to hold back her tears as she went back towards the house. Kate looked too good and fly to be sad right now. She's had enough of crying for the same girl over and over again.

As she began making her way through the crowd of bodies, she found herself back at the bar where Ice was. Paige and Azzi were still there with her as all three of them were drinking Shirley Temples. Kate knew it was the blonde's favorite. She probably forced Azzi and Ice to drink them with her so she didn't look big back.

When Ice looked at Kate while she twirled her straw in the glass that sat on the counter, she could tell that something had gone wrong with Kate and that she wasn't feeling okay at all. Though she was not crying, she could see her red puffy stand out from the dim lights in the house.

"Hey Kate, are you alright? It looks like you've been through something." Kate just looked back at Ice without responding. It was at this moment Ice realized that Kate never found Caitlin but instead walked in on something much worse. Ice took Kate's silence as a memo for her to begin talking again. "Come on, let me take you back to your hotel."

"But don't you have alcohol in your system?"

"No, I'm sober. Not one drink the entire night. So come on, I'll make sure you're back at the hotel in no time."

"I don't want to be alone there while everyone else is here. I'm going to be alone." Kate rubbed her arm with her hand as her leg started to shake continuously.

Ice turned to talk to Azzi and Paige for a moment then turned back towards Kate. "I'll take you back to me, Caroline, and Azzi's dorm." Kate nodded in agreement as Ice waved goodbye to the couple on the left of her. She put her hand on the upper of Kate's back as they headed their way towards the front door as Kate was praying Nika wasn't still out there.

The drive towards the apartment was chill. Music played lowly in the background while Ice and Kate made light conversation. They began rambling on about the comments they always posted on each other's Instagram comments ever since they began getting close in Myrtle Beach. Kate finally got the opportunity to really thank Ice on her amazing Michelin cooking skills.

When the two girls walked into the apartment, Kate noticed how much more clean, cozy, and aesthetically pleasing this was than Nika's apartment. Because they were in the same apartment complex as the three other girls, the layout was almost exactly identical.

There were vinyl's off all their favorite albums placed upon one wall with a console table with candles underneath it. The apartment smelt snickerdoodle with a hint of pumpkin. There wasn't random things scattered on the floor but instead everything was neat and placed exactly where it belonged. Kate saw the clock on the wall that had said 1:30 AM.

"Jesus I didn't even realize how late it was." Kate turned to Ice who was pouring herself and Kate glasses of water. "I'm sorry Ice, I didn't know it was 1: 30. If I knew, I wouldn't have let you bring me to your apartment."

Ice went over to the girl reassuring her as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey it's okay Kate. I was on my phone the entire time when I wasn't talking to you or any of the basketball girls so I knew the time. If I wasn't fine with you coming here I wouldn't have asked."

Kate gave Ice a tight zipped smile as Ice did the same in return. Almost every second Kate began to yawn. "Do you want to stay over night here?"

"Won't Azzi and Caroline get mad though?"

"Azzi's 100% going to be at Paige's doing God knows what, and Caroline is hella chill I know she won't mind." Kate looked around once again taking in how clean the apartment was. The couch in the living room looked much more comfortable than dealing with a snoring Caitlin Clark that's for sure.

"Yea yea that's fine then. Thank you Ice, really."

"I'll go grab you some of my clothes."

Ice came out of her room with a pair of her black UConn sweatpants and sweatshirt with her number and last name on the back of it. Kate was currently sitting on the couch waiting patiently for Ice to come over. Kate said a small 'thank you' when Ice handed her the clothes.

Kate stood up about to take her shirt off.

"I won't watch sorry, I'll give you privacy."

"I don't mind." Ice turned back around feeling a sense of heat rush to her cheeks. What was Ice thinking?! This was her best friend's ex-girlfriend. Instead of turning back around, this time Ice just decided to look down while the blonde in front of her got into her clothes.

Ice got a few blankets from the bin and put them on the couch for when Kate was ready to get situated to fall asleep.

"Thank you Ice for letting me stay over." Kate started to get under the covers until she remembered something. "Oh shit let me get my blanket from my pants."

Kate made her way towards her pants but for whatever reason did not feel a bump. Kate began to continuously pat every spot of her pants as Ice's eyes grew worried. "Oh no my blanket." Kate picked up the pants as she began to pace around and began to hyperventilate. "I don't know where my blanket is. It's gone. I don't know what I did wit-

"Hey hey! Shhh. It's okay Kate, don't worry it's going to show up at some point." Ice put her hands on both uppers of Kate's arms rubbing them, trying to calm the anxious girl down. "Just listen to me, you're going to be fine okay?" Although having a devastated look on her face, Kate nodded. "Okay come on let me help you."

Ice propped up the two pillows for Kate to lay under. She then removed the few blankets so Kate could lay down. During this whole process, the sadness on Kates's face lingered but seemed to go away when Ice winked at her before she left for her room. "If you need anything I'll be in my room. Don't worry if I'm sleeping, just wake me up." Ice turned lights in the main living area off and Kate took it as a sign for her to not go on her phone and instead try to get some rest.

Kate found herself not being able to stay still as her eyes were shut. She found herself being more entertained by watching the digital clock underneath the TV change every minute than thinking of the luxury of sleeping. Kate felt so empty without her childhood blanket she needed something to hold on to. To protect her. There was no way Kate was going to be able to fall asleep without something to protect her and make her feel safe.

Ice was currently laying in her bed, her eyes beginning to shut from watching ASMR. As Ice began to rest, she heard her door creak which grasped her full attention. "Can I lay with you?"

Ice moved over and patted the spot down right next to her for Kate to lay down. As Kate began to lay down she turned her back towards Ice's front as she felt Ice's arm drape along the lower of Kate's waist, closing the space between them. "Is this okay Kate?"

Kate sighed one time, feeling comfort from the girl behind her. "That's perfect. Goodnight Ice."

"Night Kate."

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

"Kate, are you ready to see, you know, that brunette girl from Croatia again?"

It was now game day at XL Center in Connecticut. The greatest rivalry in current College Basketball was just underway. Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes and Paige Bueckers and the Huskies.

The Iowa girls were now in the locker room getting ready for the game that is about to happen. No matter how hard the Hawkeyes play, they always seem to not be able to acquire the victory against the Huskies. This time, they weren't going to let the Huskies win. This was an important game. Especially for Kate.

"She could go off herself for all I care, Clark." Except, Kate did care. She cared very much. The day prior was a big struggle for Kate. She still didn't find her childhood blanket so apart from the one night she slept in Ice's bed, it was a struggle for her to fall asleep the next.

Kate spent most of her time yesterday with KK, Caroline, Ice, and Molly. The group of girls bantered on just about everything a human could think of. From who would be the live action of Up, all agreeing Geno would be Carl, to arguing about why Ryan was or wasn't the best character in High School Musical.

All Kate wanted was revenge against the worthless girl she once called her girlfriend. Kate was uncertain how she was going to accomplish this goal when she couldn't look in the girls direction without thinking of their memories together. Simply just thinking of them was enough to make Kate teary eyed.

"I'm tired of this bullshit Kate you still have feelings for her I know you do. So why do you keep acting like you don't care when you clearly do?" Kate was on her way to leave the locker room when she stopped in her tracks from Caitlin's words as the rest of the girls silently eavesdropped.

"Why don't you go tell the whole world Clark. If I stop thinking I care for her, I eventually will. I want nothing more than to go on this court and give Nika the exact pain I felt when she broke up with me then did lord knows what with Dayton."

Caitlin paused for a brief moment. "Well then let's go out there and kick some UConn ass!" The whole locker room erupted into cheers and chants as they all began to make their way out of the locker rooms to the basketball court.

As the Hawkeyes made their way to court in their white jerseys, Kate felt her nerves popping up. This was not the time to get nervous. This was time to get revenge towards the person who crushed her soul not once but twice.

And now your point guard and 2 time defensive player of the year...number 10 from Zagreb, Croatia, Nika Mühl!

Just hearing her name was enough to make Kate flinch. After Nika doing her signature handshake with her teammate, although there were thousands of people in the stadium, Nika seemed to only be looking at Kate. Kate returned the favor feeling her heart drop every second the Croatian was staring back at her with her piercing eyes.

"To get over somebody I'm pretty sure you have not not look at them." Despite the chanting crowd, Kate was able to hear Caitlin's comment clearly.

"Shut it Clark. Mind your own business."

The starting five of each team was different now because of the seniors that left last year and injuries. But still, both starting 5's were some of the most powerful in the country. For UConn, it was Paige Bueckers, Nika Mühl, Aaliyah Edwards, Ashlynn Shade, & KK Arnold. Iowa's was Caitlin Clark, Kate Martin, Gabbie Marshall, Hannah Stuelke, and Sydney Affolter. It was like God wasn't on her side because what do you know, Kate and Nika were on each other.

Nika slicked her hair back one more time before wiping her hands down her body on her navy blue jersey. She examined Kate's signature braid one more time before she wiped the bottom of her shoes with her hands.

"Hey." Kate did not glance the Croatian's way even a centimeter to acknowledge what the girl just said to her. But Nika had no time to ponder as the referee had just blown his whistle for the tip-off which Aaliyah had won.

Aaliyah had won the tip off immediately passing the ball to Nika. Kate was hesitant at first but decided to use all of her power to make sure Nika has a hard time passing.

With the shot clock running down on the first possession, Nika managed to make a very sloppy pass to KK who successfully made the layup.

And would you look at that Rebecca, the former lovers are currently on each other during this first quarter.

I think the viewers here and at home will love to see this face off Ryan. It also seems to me as this game goes on that Kate Martin is doing everything in her ability to guard Nika Mühl.

It was now halfway through the first quarter with the score being 33-28 with UConn in the lead. Although Iowa was losing currently, Kate has been managing to keep Nika to only two assists so far this entire game.

Nika was currently running up the ball after getting the rebound from Molly's missed three and even though Nika was 30ft out from the hoop currently, Kate made sure to not give her any space to breathe.

Kate used this moment as the perfect time to get her revenge on Nika after everything she has put Kate through. Kate took a little step back, with her eyes still concentrated on the Croatian in front of her.

"You look so hot when you're focused."

The words spilling out of the blonde's mouth caught Nika off guard, giving Kate an open look to steal the ball. She didn't look back one as she ran the ball across the court, making an easy layup on the two time defensive player of the year.

Besides the chants from the bench and the few Hawkeyes fan that were their to support the team, all Kate could hear was the aggravated Nika behind her cursing in Croatian.

And with that Rebecca, it looks like the Iowa Hawkeyes are taking home the W.

The Iowa Hawkeyes all cheered up and down, huddled up in a big circle. They accomplished something they never thought they could do. Defeat UConn. The game ended with the score being 78-69.

Once the game ended, Kate went over towards Iowa's rivals, or her friends on the other team and said 'hello' to all of them. Kate got caught up by KK who spent 5 minutes talking about how good Kate did despite they were on different teams and that Kate needs to go on a TikTok live with KK one day.

Kate decided to put up a few more shots up after the game when everybody was going home. She was aggravated with her shots today, feeling like there were definitely ones that could've made it in. Kate was always one to improve on everything imaginable and not just in a basketball circumstance. She always worked on trying to be a better captain, or a better aunt even though everyone tells her how she seems like the best aunt ever.

"You did amazing today. Only held me to 4 assists."

Kate's after-game practice was quickly interrupted when she heard a familiar voice echoing behind her. And there she was. Nika Mühl. With her hair down and a UConn hat flipped backwards on her head with a gray jacket, and black sweatpants and slides with her hands on the straps of her backpack. Why did she have to look so breathtaking?

"Get the fuck away from me."

Nika ignored the blonde, and instead, kept taking steps forward.

"Kate just please listen to me."

"Nika I said get the fuck away from me. I mean it."

"I have a gift for you."

"Yea and what gift is that? A photo of you and Dayton?"

Nika didn't respond and instead reached for something in her backpack that caused Kate's eyebrows to furrow. Before Kate knew it, Nika was standing right in front of her, holding out Kate's childhood blanket.

Authors Note:

I felt as the chapter went on it got sloppy so im sorry

ill try to redeem myself. Its so rushed at the end cuz i rlly wanted to get it out for yall

didnt wanna wait any longer than had to and just got home a lil while from school

I was/still am so devastated abt Nika's acl tear. My whole body froze

as I was watching the game then seeing her on the court with those screams.

Also def gon be the last Aces game tn 😪 (lets hope Im wrong)

And is anyone is going to Billie Eilish MSG N1 cuz like me too

Once again hope yall enjoyed