Chapter Sixteen
♱
When Ariana woke up, a light breath tickled her nape. Naked and tangled in linen sheets, a muscular arm locked her waist in place. Her bare ass pressed into the curve of someone's front. Panicked, she tried peeling herself from their grasp, only for it to tighten, yanking her back into the warmth of their arms.
"It's easier if you stay still," Nika's voice rasped, snuggling her nose into the younger's back. Her lips curled against her skin, pressing a soft kiss before taking in the scent of her shampoo. "Why are you tryna run, baby?"
Ariana froze, lips parted and eyebrows knitted together. She couldn't recall much from last night, perhaps after the yearning and needy confession Nika had laid on her, she, per usual, gave into the Croatian's temptations. She had never heard Nika beg before, and any trace of the desperately pleading Nika seemed to be buried this morning. The usually confident Nika was once more.
"It's almost 7:30," Ariana read off the hotel clock sitting on the bedside, but she began stammering when she felt Nika's knee parting her entangled legs, "A-And Geno wanted you guys to meet at 8. We should probably start getting ready before we end up late on game day."
Oh, that's right. They face off SC today.
For some reason, Nika wasn't nervous. She wasn't scared of how she'd perform. If anything, she was fairly confident in herself and the team right then, it was unusual as she normally would be overwhelmed by nerves.
"Mmh, I guess you're right," she murmured against Ariana's back, teeth grazing her skin in a soft bite. "Five more minutes."
It wasn't like she had a choice, whenever she tried pulling away, Nika's arm would just rope her back in effortlessly. She laid, facing away from the Croatian. Her body was stiff. Frozen. It was like she wanted to ruin her, and Nika was gradually eating her alive, one night at a time.
"Relax, baby," Nika chuckled, hands caressing the supple skin of her hips. Her fingers molded into her flesh, pulling her close. "If you need some help letting loose, just say the word."
Ariana gulped thickly, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease a bit before her body's spun around to face a bare-faced Nika. Her hair was sprawled all over the crisp white pillow, eyes opened just the slightest, orbs dark and soft. One thing Ariana seemed drawn to most on a court was the competitive glint in the way Nika's eyes hardened. The curved edges turned straight, neat eyebrows furrowed together as her jaw moved with the gum sloshing around in her mouth. This was such a drastic contrast to the Nika everybody seemed to be scared of, instead, lying in her place, a domestic and round-edged woman.
"Come here," she whispered, "Closer."
Ariana's body reacted before her head could finish processing the Croatian's instructions, edging closer into her arms as they entangled under the sheets. She kept a hand over her bare waist, their faces nearing.
"What're you so scared of?"
Ariana felt her warm breath against her lips, feeling a smirk forming on her face as her eyes creased into crescents.
"This is wrong. We are wrong."
The older cooed, pursing her lips in a sarcastic empathetic expression. "Then I'm not tryna be right. I'm the best you've had, stop resisting."
She pulled her into a quick kiss, lips locking in place naturally. Ariana's fingers crept up through the webs of Nika's brown waves, cupping her jaw. She pulled the older's face back gently, parting their slightly swole lips. She let out a gentle sigh, "You're a terrible influence, and I don't wanna live like a lying cheater. Kate deserves better, and I... I wanna be better for her."
A hint of the usual Nika surfaced, her gentle features sharpening by the second as her grip on Ariana's body tightened.
"You're literally lying to yourself, you can't even say all'at without stuttering," she argued, "I don't give a fuck what Martin means to you, I'm much better than she ever will be and you know it."
"It's not all about sex, Nika, she treats me well. Like I'm worth a fuck, not just a booty call."
Ariana tore away from Nika's body, the Croatian seemingly in no mind to keep her from doing so otherwise. The younger sat up, running a hand through her curls before grabbing the fitted sheet discarded on the floor, holding it up to wrap around her bare body. "God, you're so full of it sometimes. You may not care about the fact you're cheating on Alleyne, but you can't keep roping me into this shitty little game of yours whenever you feel like it."
She began dressing, slipping on a skin-tight black UIowa long-sleeve, then some matching sweats. She pulled her hair back, tying it into a bun before spraying it in place. The Croatian scoffed at the fact she was getting ready to leave, sitting up. She held the duvet over her chest, glaring hard at Ariana's every move.
"Alleyne's dead to me, MacDonnell. Why do you always have to bring him up when I'm tryna talk about us?" Nika growled, "If you're still that into him, just say so."
Ariana paused, turning back to eye the stoic Croatian in disbelief. "You're unbelievable," chucking a clump of thrown clothes at Nika, Ariana started walking towards the door, "I'm done. Whatever this was, it needs to end. Start getting ready before you're late."
And with that, the door slammed shut behind Ariana. Nika sat in bewilderment, in utter disbelief of the venom laced in Ariana's tone.
She had never heard the woman speak with such resentment before, and anything close she'd heard from her was all because of something Nika had done or said. It was a talent, at that point, how easy it seemed to be for Nika to piss Ariana off. She didn't even need to try. She thought this was what the both of them wanted, she thought she'd finally proven to Ariana she had won her over. This was a major step back, and the growing feeling of defeat rubbed Nika in all the worst ways possible.
"No, no, please fucking indulge me in why this gremlin is hogging our bathroom at 7 in the goddamn morning," Paige barked, eyes barely opened, hair messy. Ice clicked her tongue, "Jesus, calm your tits. Mickey's in a dicey roommate sitch, you ain't the one sharing a bed with the team Medusa. don't be a raging bitch and just let the poor girl be."
"I don't give a shit, go use Azzi's bathroom or somethin', I gotta get that pre-game shower ritual. I swear to God, if we lose today all 'cuz I couldn't do that ritual, I'll actually murder your ass, Mickey." The blonde groaned, going to flop back onto the bed. Ariana finished freshening up, gathering the toiletries and make-up products Ice had lent her. She thanked the freshman, washing her hands.
"Keep that trash-talkin' clam of yours shut, you're so dramatic." She laid down, lying back next to a dozing Paige. "Go get ready."
The blonde grumbled muffled curses into the sheets, propping herself up to join Ice getting ready in the bathroom. She tossed a comb at Ariana, who caught it with a flinch. "Since you were a bathroom hog, you're doing my braids. Kayla doesn't do them like yours and I miss it."
The younger snorted, "A please would've been nice, but okay, since I'm such a nice friend."
"Shut yo corny ass up," Paige called, hopping into the shower. "Besides, what's goin' on with you and Nika, why are ya'll beefin'? Last time I checked ya'll were cuddling all sweet and up close with each other on the plane," she scowled, turning the water on. "Shit, you didn't like fuck right? Is that why you're fighting?"
Ariana forced a chuckled, "No. We just don't seem to agree on certain things and she said something a little over the line. No biggie."
"Mickey, we can't afford a pissy Nika on the court today. We need to focus if we even wanna see the lights of Final Four."
Ariana eyed Ice through the mirror set opposite the bathroom door, seeing the freshman shrug. "Paige is right. Nika lets things get to her head way too easily, it messes with her playing."
"It'll be fine, guys. I promise." Oh, she hoped.
"KK, you gotta watch your wing at all times, face guard them if you need. Paige, lock down in on Chloe Kitts, take advantage of your teammates. Nika, I need you to make sure they can't pass a single shot to Ashlyn Watkins."
Everybody nodded along to Geno explaining his plans. Behind him stood Ariana, an elaborate first aid kit in her hand. The girls huddled around the coach, game faces on and listening intently. The deafening cheers echoing around the stadium was breathtakingly beautiful. Ariana could see why athletes thrive in such an atmosphere, a sea of navy bled into the maroon crowd.
"Mühl, get your fucking head in the game."
Geno's sudden harsh tone yanked Ariana out of her daze, her gaze snapping towards a sulking Nika instantly. She caught the Croatian's eyes flicker away from hers the moment they met, facing her irritated coach instead.
"You have the most important position on the court today and I need you to lock in," he said, "If you're not gonna play like your career depended on it, you're free to get the fuck out."
Nika nodded, "Yes, sir."
"Alright, Huskies," Paige yelled at the top of her lungs, "let's rip those cocksuckers to shreds!"
The team hollered, before jogging onto court against the ready South Carolina gamecocks.
Ariana couldn't help but watch Nika's sluggish movements, jogging lousily onto the court. She had her hands on her knees, bent over before bending her knees into a ready position. The ball sat in the ref's hand, before a loud buzzer followed the high toss into the air of the basketball. Paige knocked it back into KK's hand, the freshman dribbled, eyeing for open pass opportunities as the SC guard hopped back and forth around her. She sees an open Nika jogging through the players, aiming it towards the Croatian before passing. Nika was distracted, her response dull and slow as the ball missed her late outstretched hand and into Ashlyn Watkins'. The Gamecock forward sped past the clumped group of Huskies, easily scoring a two, putting South Carolina in the lead.
The crowd groaned, but the team quickly recovered and took advantage of catching their opponents off guard. Aubrey dribbled past defence with a nice fake, passing to Paige, who scored a step-back three, hoisting the Huskies back up into the lead.
Ariana cheered, relief coursing through her body; the Huskies were getting warmed up.
Still, Nika jogged lousily back and forth on the court, lazily guarding Ashlyn. Geno was gnawing at his nails, watching the Croatian guard's state. She was the best defence player they had, but she was seriously beginning to risk Uconn's place in March Madness.
Eventually the ball found its way back into Nika's hands. Early in the first quarter, she found herself driving towards the basket, her eyes scanning the court for an open teammate. With a quick pass intended for Paige cutting to the hoop, she miscalculated the angle, and the ball sailed out of bounds.
The crowd's groans echoed through the arena as Geno's frustration became evident. He clutched his clipboard tightly, his jaw clenched as he watched the turnover unfold. "Nika, what was that!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the noise of the crowd. "Focus, dammit! We can't afford careless mistakes like that!"
Despite Geno's admonishment, Nika's struggles persisted. As the game progressed, she seemed to second-guess her decisions, hesitating when she should have attacked the defense. On defense, her rotations were slow, allowing South Carolina players to slip past her for easy baskets.
With each missed opportunity and defensive lapse, Geno's frustration mounted. South Carolina were up by nine, and Paige wasn't given any chances to propel them back into the competition. "Mühl, get your head in the game!" she shouted, her voice echoing across the court. "What the fuck, Nika? You're better than this!"
Nika felt the weight of Paige's words bearing down on her, her confidence waning with each mistake. She knew she was letting her teammates down, her frustration matching Geno's as she struggled to find her rhythm.
Inevitably, her name was called, and Azzi was subbed in. Panting, Nika Muhl took a seat a chair away from the subs, her frustration simmering beneath the surface like a dormant volcano threatening to erupt. She sat bent over, elbows resting on her knees as her hands clasped together. She watched, resisting the urge to chuck the bottle in her hands onto the ground as hard as she could.
She gripped it hard, her knuckles turning white with the intensity of her emotions. The Elite Eight game against South Carolina raged on before her, but she felt disconnected, a spectator to her own team's struggle.
Every missed shot, every turnover, felt like a dagger to her pride. She had always prided herself on her ability to rise to the occasion, to lead her team with confidence and determination. To protect and defend the way she was known to do. But today, something was off, and she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides. It was growing heavy on her head.
As she watched her teammates battle on the court, Nika's mind raced with a whirlwind of doubt and frustration. What was she doing wrong? Why couldn't she seem to find her rhythm? These questions echoed in her mind, tormenting her as they go unanswered.
The memory of her missed opportunities haunted her, replaying in her mind like a broken record. She could still feel the weight of the ball slipping through her fingers, the sting of disappointment as her shots clanged off the rim. Each mistake seemed magnified, a glaring testament to her inability to perform when it mattered most. But it wasn't just the missed shots that ate away at her confidence. It was the hesitation, the indecision that seemed to plague her every move on the court. She second-guessed herself at every turn, afraid to trust her instincts, afraid to make a mistake. Now, Azzi—bouncing on her feet energetically—was keeping South Carolina from scoring, their score immediately raised even with a few minutes left of the second quarter.
And now, as she sat on the bench, her frustration boiled over into a potent cocktail of anger and self-doubt. She clenched her fists, her jaw set in a stubborn line as she battled with her inner demons. But she knew lashing out wouldn't solve anything.
It wasn't just about the game anymore. It was about something deeper, something she couldn't quite put into words. It was about living up to the expectations that others had placed upon her, and, more importantly, the expectations she had placed upon herself. Now she had one more person to impress, which also meant one more person to disappoint.
In the midst of her frustration, the voice she'd been itching to hear all month broke through the chaos. "Nika, look at me."
She turned to her right, taking a seat beside her, her expression one of concern and empathy. In that moment, Nika felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. Despite everything that had happened that morning, Ariana's presence soothed her anger. Her head tilted to glance up at her from her position, admiring the determined glint flickering in her big doe eyes.
"Croatia, get it together," Ariana said softly, her voice a soothing balm to Nika's frayed nerves. "You're the best defence player I know, but how you're playing right now proves otherwise. So suck up whatever ego you have clouding your vision right now and think of the team. You're better than those South Carolina dicks and I'm not gonna sit back and let you pity yourself to death, so start playing like you mean it."
Nika clenched her jaw, her eyes brimming with unshed tears as she looked away. She knew Ariana was right. She couldn't afford to let her frustration get the best of her, not when her team needed her the most. The younger grabbed her arm, finger rubbing it in comfort. Nika felt her shoulders tense. She was a fighter, a competitor, and she would do whatever it took to win.
Especially with Ariana watching.
She was the only pair of eyes she wanted on her then, and she wasn't about to disappoint.
"—There, Nika Mühl, uh... hasn't been at the top of her game today with sixteen minutes, no rebounds, one assist and zero points. A tough day for the Croatian player, but as you can see beside her the team's recent addition, Ariana MacDonnell—who came on behalf of Kelly Last as the team's designated doctor—is trying to give her a pep talk! Maybe Auriemma should hire her as a full time assistant coach. Aw... Would you look at that, a sweet little moment captured on live television, you can really see how close the team is even with their staff."
After a gruelling convincing, Geno was giving Nika one last chance in their last quarter. South Carolina had a twelve point lead, 67-79 over Uconn and the players were beginning to feel a collective wave of fatigue and hopelessness.
As she returned to the game, a newfound sense of passion burned within her. She couldn't change the mistakes of the past, but she could control how she responded in the present. With each possession, she focused on being present, on trusting her instincts and playing with the confidence that had defined her game. And slowly but surely, Nika's efforts began to pay off. She defended attacks with relentless aggression, driving to the basket with a ferocity that left her opponents scrambling to keep up. Her passes were crisp and precise, finding her teammates in perfect rhythm for easy scores.
As the Huskies clawed their way back from a twelve-point deficit with a few seconds left on the clock, Nika's energy and intensity lifted her teammates, injecting new life into their weary spirits. With each defensive stop and fast break opportunity, the momentum swung in their favor, the once-imposing lead of the South Carolina Gamecocks slowly evaporating before their eyes. Tension arose, and the arena gathered to watch with bated breath.
But it wasn't just Nika's defensive prowess that sparked the Huskies' comeback. It was the pair of burning eyes she felt linger on her after every steal, every assist.
With each passing minute, the tension in the arena reached a fever pitch, the outcome of the game hanging in the balance. And then, with time winding down and the Huskies down by two points, Nika found herself with the ball in her hands, a chance to be the hero her team desperately needed. She had caught a bad pass from the South Carolina guard, her feet instinctively sprinting towards the other end of the court. Every single player was rushing towards her, arms reaching out. In slow-motion, this would've been a renaissance scene.
As she squared up for the shot, the weight of the moment bore down on her shoulders. But she didn't flinch. With unwavering confidence, she released the ball, her form perfect, her aim true.
And as the ball sailed through the air, time seemed to stand still. The crowd held its breath, the sound of the buzzer echoing in the distance. And then, with a swish of the net, the arena erupted in a deafening roar of triumph.
Nika Muhl had done it. She had delivered the game-winning three-pointer, sealing the Huskies' victory and propelling them one step closer to their ultimate goal. She yanked a yell from the deepest part of her being, eyes squeezing shut. Her teammates swarmed around her, their jubilant cheers ringing in her ears as they knocked into her.
"—And would you look at that! Nika Mühl, after every single play South Carolina has thrown at her dug her way out the trenches she was in at the beginning of this game and rose to bring the Uconn Huskies to the 2023 Final Four! From Croatia to Connecticut and now right here today in Columbia, Nika Mühl will be the reason the Huskies face off Iowa in a week's time."
In that moment, all the frustration and doubt melted away, replaced by a sense of pride and accomplishment that she would carry with her for the rest of her days. And beside her, Ariana stood, a smile of pride on her face, knowing that she had played a part in helping Nika comeback. Despite the violent shakes and slap on the backs she was receiving from her team, her gaze trained on the grinning Ariana. Every single camera was on her, she was the star of the game. She pushed past every single person awaiting a word from her, going to wrap the shorter in a tight embrace.
Ariana gasped in surprise, before wrapping her arms around Nika's neck, the older's circled securely around her waist.
"Ariana MacDonnell, the reason Nika Mühl broke through her unfortunate mold, is getting her due thank you. Hopefully, the doctor gets to stay, she has surely earned her spot, and Geno owes it to her for their advancement in March Madness. Tom, would you look at that, that is one adorable scene, and the pair look happy as ever. Wishing them all the luck in their next game, we await an exciting face off between the Huskies and the Hawkeyes."