❝ and love is a kaleidoscope. how it works, i'll never know. ❞
꩜ .ᐟ ᯓᡣ𐭩 . . .
paige bueckers x fem!oc
(all fictional)
vamptized 2024
enemies to lovers? rivals to friends?
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꩜ .ᐟ CHAP THIRTY . . .
JIA'S NERVES SIMMERED beneath her excitement as she rummaged through her jewellery box for something simple yet nice enough to wear before the team's media day prep. It was her first at UConn, and though she knew it wasn't supposed to be stressful, she couldn't shake her nerves. Nika, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease as she adjusted her shirt in their dorm mirror, shooting Jia a grin as she tossed her hair over her shoulder.
"You're really that nervous?" Nika asked, laughing softly when Jia sighed and shook her head in mock frustration. "I mean, didn't you do a bunch of these back in Iowa?"
"Yeah, and they were always a nightmare," Jia confessed, carefully fixing her lightly waved hair. "I had a bad hair day last year, and my skin broke out overnight. It was a fucking disaster."
Nika raised her brows, suppressing a chuckle. "That's hard to believe, considering you look perfect in every picture i've seen. Are you sure you weren't just imagining it?"
Jia shot her a smirk, raising her brows. "Well, aren't you just my biggest fan?"
Nika rolled her eyes, but the grin on her face betrayed her. "Not my fault the cameras are in love with you."
"Aw, sounds like you might be a little bit in love with me as well." Jia teased, turning with a playful glint in her eyes. "Didn't know you were such a romantic."
Nika's cheeks flushed, but she shot back smoothly, "Don't flatter yourself, superstar."
The two fell into easy laughter, and the tension of the last few days seemed to dissipate, leaving only the comfortable, teasing energy they were beginning to share. Jia, her worries temporarily forgotten, playfully nudged Nika, raising her brows as if daring her to deny it.
"Alright, that's enough," Nika finally said, checking her watch and groaning. "We need to get moving before Coach hunts us down."
"Fine, fine," Jia relented, grabbing her bag. She gave herself one last glance in the mirror, feeling a touch more confident.
Nika leaned over as they walked out and whispered, "You got this, superstar. Bad hair day or not."
"My hair is fine today. Do not speak that into existence." Jia laughed, nudging her again, but her heart swelled a little at the encouragement.
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