Start of an Age

Just a lil filler :)

It was game day. This was Kate Martin's last collegiate basketball game whether she wins or loses. Her 6 year run at Iowa was officially coming to an end. On a big part she was extremely happy she didn't have to put on a yellow jersey and go to classes again, but on another part, she was pretty sad to leave it all behind. It was bittersweet.

Life seemed to be moving so fast and Kate didn't have any time to catch her breath.

College Basketball seemed like the only thing that Kate's ever known. She watched freshmen classes come and graduate all while she was still here. Kate went through and survived Covid-19 in Iowa. What seemed like forever was about to just be a memory.

The memory wasn't beginning now though. The Hawkeyes still had one more game to play.

Kate took her last first glance at the crowd above. It still shocked her to see how much women's basketball has grown in just a few short years. And a majority of that was because of her teammate and best friend, Caitlin Clark.

There were a bunch of 'Money Martin' and 'Kate Martin #20' signs held up everywhere. She would miss seeing all of the supporters in the stands but hopefully that didn't have to end just soon. Hopefully she gets drafted and doesn't get cut.

She breathed in and breathed out as she took it all in for the last time. There was an even ratio of yellow and red throughout the arena. As Kate's eyes were scanning the 20,000 capacity arena, one pair of familiar eyes caught her attention.

And there she was. As glorious and ethereal as ever, Nika fucking Mühl, right behind the Hawkeye's bench with a Kate Martin jersey on, #20 on the side of her left cheek, a big head cutout of Kate, and most importantly, the brightest smile there has ever been.

The loud arena seemed to go silent when Kate and Nika locked eyes with each other. Kate could've sworn that Nika was back in Connecticut. But what Kate didn't know was Nika refused to go on the plane back home to Connecticut. The only thing that would've made Nika happy during this devastating time was to watch her girlfriend play in person. And for the first and last time, Geno let Nika do it.

Just seeing Nika's face was all the confidence and reassurance Kate needed to win this game. This was the last game of her collegiate career whether she won or loss, and she was going to make it count.

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

It shouldn't be ending like this. This wasn't the plan that everybody agreed to. Two years in a row Iowa have made it to the Championships and have lost. They didn't care about the ring, they just wanted to win it for themselves, for their school, and for everyone who has ever doubted them.

But the seconds ticked one by one. From 3, to 2, to 1. Confetti in not black and yellow flew down from the ceilings. South Carolina went undefeated this whole season. Iowa not only got defeated during this season, but also the feeling of defeat in their hearts currently.

Kate slowly trailed behind Caitlin as they headed back to the locker rooms. All Kate could think about was how disappointed supporters and her family would be. Most of all, Nika. She stayed an extra two days and for what? To see Kate lose.

Gabbie, Kate, Caitlin, Molly, Coach Bluder, they were all leaving. Gabbie was going to North Carolina, Caitlin was going to Indiana Fever- no doubt, Molly was going back home and Coach Bluder was retiring? Where was Kate going? She has no idea.

The Hawkeyes were in Cleveland for the rest of the day and had a flight in the early morning. This gave them time to all breakdown quietly in their hotel rooms or do whatever they wanted to do.

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

They arrived back at the hotel about an hour after the game and it was as silent as ever. A team that was so noisy and full of love went quiet and destroyed. The feeling was bizarre to say the least.

Kate made her way to her hotel room but walked with Caitlin quietly on the way. They both gave each other a reassuring 'it's going to be okay' smile but both of them weren't sure about it themselves.

The cold hotel room air met with the warm hallway air as Kate opened the door to her room. Kate almost had a heart attack when she saw who was lying on her bed. Nika. Who else would it be if not Nika?

It all seemed like déjà vu as if this almost exact moment happened less than 48 hours ago but the roles were reversed. Kate's eyes were still red and now Nika seemed to be the one with a guilty seeming expression on her face. To be honest and as shitty as it sounded, Kate didn't really know what happened with Nika after the game because she couldn't bear to face anyone after that very humiliating loss.

"Sorry if I scared you Kate." Kate stood in front of the bed, looking at the ground as she heard the Croatian's soft voice. Nika was unsure what to say because she didn't want to say the slightest thing that would tick Kate off and make her get angry and yell.

Finally, after a brief moment, Kate spoke. "Sorry I didn't come see you after the game ended and just left you. I just, I was embarrassed if you ever saw me like that. I'm even embarrassed now just standing here."

The cold breeze in the room seemed to go away when Kate's face suddenly went hot. Nika's eyes pierced right through Kate's head. Kate could tell even though she was looking at the floor.

Nika got up from the bed and made her way to Kate. She wrapped Kate in a very warm hug as she rubbed her arms. "It's okay if you didn't see me after the game. I was in a similar position like that a few days ago, yeah?"

Kate nodded as she had a single teardrop going down her face. Nika was quick to wipe that one away but wouldn't be fast enough to wipe the ones that were incoming.

"You played an amazing game princess. You played a big part for your team and you were there when they needed you most. Some stories aren't supposed to have happy endings, just good memories."

And Nika was right about that. Some stories, the best stories, don't have good endings. But people learn from them or they reflect from them. People can argue over and over about things but what's done is done and unfortunately, people have to leave it like that. The game didn't end how the Hawkeyes wanted it to but instead of looking back on the loss, they should reflect on how much fun and maybe even emotional it was to play with this team one last time.

Kate cleared her throat as she looked into Nika's dilated eyes. "I'm so fucking glad that you're here Nika."

All Nika could do was smile as she closed the proximity between her and Kate's lips. The kiss was sweet and gentle and wasn't rushed at all. Both of them knew to not rush this one. This one had something behind it that added so much. Love.

Once their lips parted after a few moments, both of them smiled.

They stood there in each other's arms just looking into each other's eyes. The comfort of their loved one was all they needed and that said so much. Kate just lost one of the biggest games of her career but she felt okay because she was with Nika.

"I love you so much Nika."

"I love you too Kate."

Once they finally parted from the hug, they made their way to the bed to lay down. There was nothing either of them wanted to do was just lay down. They weren't in the mood to go out to some place, go to the gym, or even do anything sexually. Just being in each other's arms was ideal.

Nika and Kate crawled under the covers and Kate rested her head on Nika's chest. The exact opposite of how it was from the other night.

"So...I don't like seeing you sad and all I want to see is my happy princess. So let's talk about something happy." Nika twirled her finger in Kate's hair as she smiled down at the girl.

"Well in that case, what do you have in mind?"

Nika sat up a little bit but Kate's head was still resting on her chest. "I was thinking about how now both of our collegiate careers are done, how we are both moving into the professional league. It's fascinating how I'll still be able to face my girlfriend in basketball for many years to come. And then be able to verse you when you're my wife."

The words from Nika's mouth was a shock to Kate, causing her to remove her head from the Croatian's chest and sit up herself.

"Wife you say?" Kate wiggled her eyebrows as she smirked.

"Well yeah, at some point I'd like to get married to you because I know that it's going to be me and you in the end. We don't have to get married though if you don't want to I mean theres people who aren't married that do the things married people do."

At this point Nika was starting to stress because of Kate's reaction when Nika used the word 'wife.'

"I'd like to get married to you one day as well, love." Kate could sense the relief inside of Nika once she said those words. "But yes, I can't wait to play against you for many more years as well and maybe even get to play on the same team as you."

A year ago Kate would not believe the words she is saying currently. In no way shape or form was last year Kate going to believe she would ever be drafted. She was 100% confident that she would just be an old Joe Schmoe. But Nika and Caitlin changed that. They gave her the confidence and reassurance she needed and now Kate was looking for the opportunity to be drafted to a team and further her basketball career.

"Depending where we get drafted and if we make the cut, long distance may be a little bit hard but I know that we will get through it."

"As long as you don't break up with me again then long distance should be fine." Nika rolled her eyes as she playfully slapped Kate's shoulder.

Instead of getting mad at the mention of that break up in November, they just joke about it now. Well Kate does. It's funny the way it all works out because here Kate is, lying in bed with the Croatian.

"I promise and I promised you that that will never happen again. We just need to be drafted to like Chicago Sky and the Minnesota Lynx. That would be so fucking perfect."

Kate squinted at the mention of Chicago Sky. "As long as I'm not going to the Sky, then that would be perfect for me."

Nika's jaw dropped in a playful way as she shook her head. "Uhm no, excuse me princess? Playing with the best defensive player would be so fucking amazing. Plus I need to see my queen Dorka."

Both girls laughed as they thought about themselves going into the big league. It was unfathomable for either of them to imagine. Here they were both just finishing their collegiate careers and then in a little over a month, they'll be playing in the W.

Time moves fast when you're working hard and having fun because how the fuck was the WNBA draft in a week and their College Basketball playing times were about to end?! It seems like the story has just started but it is in fact coming to an end.

But the start of an age was about to begin.

Authors Note:

Me posting twice in the span of a week?! Seems impossible

Just a lil filler before the next big chapter coming

Writing this reminded me of the Eras Tour ending so peep the Title

Once again hope yall enjoyed