Caitlin paced around her apartment, phone in hand, waiting for Kate to pick up. When the call finally connected, Caitlin's face lit up with a wide grin.

"Happy birthday, Kate!" Caitlin exclaimed, her voice full of warmth.

"Thanks, Cait! It's weird not being together for the first time in four years, though," Kate replied, her tone tinged with a hint of nostalgia.

Caitlin nodded, even though Kate couldn't see her. "I know, right? I was just thinking about that. It doesn't feel the same without our usual birthday hangout."

"Yeah, those were the best," Kate agreed, her voice softening. "But hey, we'll make up for it next time we're together."

"For sure," Caitlin said with a smile, but before she could say more, a notification pinged on her phone. Caitlin glanced at the screen, her eyes widening. "Whoa, no way!"

"What is it?" Kate asked, curious.

"I just got a notification—apparently, I won Rookie of the Month!" Caitlin said, her voice a mix of shock and excitement.

Kate let out a cheer on the other end. "That's amazing, Cait! I mean, I might be biased, but you were the obvious choice. Congratulations!"

Caitlin laughed, still a bit dazed. "Thanks, Kate. I really can't believe it."

"You better believe it," Kate teased. "You've earned it."

Before Caitlin could respond, her phone buzzed again—this time with an incoming call. She glanced at the screen and saw Sam's name flash across it.

"Hey, it's Sam calling," Caitlin said to Kate. "I should take this."

"Of course," Kate replied. "We'll catch up more later. And seriously, Cait, congratulations again. Talk to you soon!"

"Thanks, Kate. Have a great birthday!" Caitlin said, her smile still in place as she ended the call and quickly switched over to answer Sam.

Caitlin answered, and Sam's beaming face filled the screen. "Superstar! Rookie of the Month! That's incredible!"

Caitlin laughed, still slightly dazed. "I know, right? I can't believe it."

"You better believe it," Sam replied, her voice full of admiration. "You've been killing it out there. All that hard work is paying off."

Caitlin's smile grew, but there was something in Sam's voice—an undercurrent of longing. "Thanks, Sam. I couldn't have done it without you, you know?"

Sam chuckled softly. "Sure, because I was the one out there draining threes and breaking ankles."

Caitlin shook her head, her voice tender. "No, but you were the one who believed in me, even when I didn't. That's worth just as much."

There was a moment of silence, the kind that wasn't awkward but full of unspoken things. Finally, Sam spoke, her voice softer, more vulnerable. "I miss you, Cait. Ever since I saw you in Vegas, I can't get you off my mind."

Caitlin felt her heart skip a beat, the familiar warmth spreading through her chest. "I miss you too, Sam. Moments like today... I just wish we could be together to celebrate."

Sam hesitated, and Caitlin could see the gears turning in her mind. "What if I visited you?" Sam asked, her tone careful but hopeful.

Caitlin's eyes widened, her surprise clear. "Are you serious? I mean, I'd love that, but I know you're busy with your program."

"I'm serious," Sam said, her smile widening. "I could use a break. And seeing you would be perfect."

Caitlin's excitement was tempered with a bit of hesitation. She remembered their time in Vegas, the tension that hung between them. "Are you sure? I mean, after what happened in Vegas..."

Sam's smile faltered slightly as she glanced down, then back up at Caitlin, her expression softening. "Yeah, I'm sure. I think... I think we need to figure this out, don't you?"

Caitlin's heart raced, but she nodded. "Yeah, we do. And I'd love to see you, Sam. I really have missed you."

"I've missed you too, Cait. More than you know," Sam admitted, her voice tender.

Caitlin's grin was infectious. "Then let's do it. I can't wait to see you. It feels like forever since we've had time together, you know just us."

Sam's eyes sparkled with a mix of relief and anticipation. "It really does."

They spent the next few minutes talking, the conversation shifting from Caitlin's season to Sam's summer. Sam described her latest adventures. Caitlin listened with a mix of interest and longing, wishing she could be there to experience it with her. The way Sam's eyes lit up when she talked about anything she loved, the enthusiasm in her voice—it was something Caitlin had missed more than she realized.

-----

The soft glow of the desk lamp cast a warm light over Caitlin's room, where she and Sam were sprawled on her bed, textbooks forgotten at their sides. They had been supposed to study, but their focus had quickly dissolved into laughter and playful banter.

Caitlin nudged Sam with her foot, smirking. "You're such a distraction, you know that?"

Sam grinned, rolling over onto her stomach, her head propped up on her hands. "And you love it."

They locked eyes for a moment, the room growing still. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, their laughter fading into the background as they both realized how close they were. Caitlin's heart pounded, her gaze flicking to Sam's lips. She could feel the heat between them, the pull that had been there for months, unspoken but undeniable.

But before she could act on the impulse, she coughed, breaking the moment. She quickly looked away, pretending to focus on the textbook in front of her. "So," Sam said, her voice a little too casual, "when and where are you taking me on this date you owe me?"

Caitlin chuckled, the tension easing. "Hmm, I was thinking... the cafeteria?" she joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Sam rolled her eyes, playfully swatting at her. "I'm being serious! It's been weeks since you asked if we could go on a date."

Caitlin sighed, tapping her pen against the book. "I know, I know. I've just been so busy with practice and classes. But you're right. We should do something."

Sam's expression softened, her teasing replaced by something more earnest. "How about that new pizza place downtown? I hear it's pretty good."

"That sounds good!" Caitlin said, but then paused. "Or we could go to the art museum, or maybe even the park for a walk?" Sam suggested.

Caitlin bit her lip, shaking her head slightly. "No, not the museum... or the park."

Sam raised an eyebrow, her tone gentle but probing. "Why not?"

"They're kind of... public," Caitlin admitted, her voice soft. "People will see us."

Sam's playful demeanor gave way to a more serious expression. She reached out, her hand gently covering Caitlin's. "Cait, we can't keep worrying about what other people think. It's just a date. We're just two friends spending time together."

Caitlin looked down at their joined hands, the warmth of Sam's touch grounding her in a way she hadn't expected. "I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But it's not just that. It's... it's more."

Sam squeezed her hand gently, urging her to continue. "What do you mean?"

Caitlin took a deep breath, her eyes meeting Sam's. "I don't want to hide, but I'm scared. Scared of what it means if people see us together, if they figure out that we're more than just friends. I'm not ready for that kind of attention."

Sam's gaze softened, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Cait, you don't have to be ready for everything right now. We'll take it slow, one step at a time. I don't want to push you into anything you're not comfortable with."

Caitlin felt a wave of relief wash over her at Sam's words. "Thanks, Sam. I just... I don't want to mess this up."

"You won't," Sam assured her, her voice steady and reassuring. "We're in this together. And we can take it at whatever pace you need, we'll figure it out."

Caitlin nodded, her heart full as she looked at Sam. "Yeah. One step at a time."

Sam smiled, her hand still resting on Caitlin's. "So, does that mean we're going to the pizza place?"

Caitlin laughed, the sound light and full of promise. "Yeah, pizza sounds good. But maybe we can get it to go? Have a movie night here instead?"

Sam's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "That sounds perfect."

They spent the rest of the evening lounging in Caitlin's room, the smell of pizza filling the air as they settled into a cozy rhythm. Caitlin set up her laptop at the foot of the bed, scrolling through movie options while Sam grabbed a couple of sodas from the mini-fridge.

"Alright," Caitlin said, glancing over her shoulder, "what are we feeling? Classic rom-com? Or something with a little more action?"

Sam plopped down beside her, handing over a soda. "Let's go with a rom-com. We could use some laughs."

Caitlin nodded in agreement, clicking on a title that had them both groaning with nostalgia. As the opening credits rolled, they dug into the pizza, their banter and laughter filling the room. Every now and then, Caitlin would catch Sam's gaze, and the earlier tension would flicker back, but this time, it was softened by the comfort of their connection.

Halfway through the movie, Sam nudged Caitlin, her voice teasing. "You know, you're not off the hook. I still expect a real date."

Caitlin smiled, leaning back against the pillows. "I know. And I promise we'll go out, somewhere nice. Just... give me a little time."

Sam's expression softened, her teasing replaced by something more tender. "Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere."

Caitlin felt a wave of affection for Sam, grateful for her understanding. "Thanks, Sam. That means a lot."

They continued watching the movie, the room quieting as the plot unfolded. But as the credits rolled, and the night began to settle around them, that earlier moment of almost-kissing played on a loop in Caitlin's mind. The what-ifs and maybes lingered, but for now, she was content to take it slow, to savor the here and now with Sam.

After the movie ended, they cleaned up and got ready for bed, the comfortable silence between them a testament to how far they'd come since their awkward start. As they settled under the covers, Sam turned to Caitlin, her voice a soft murmur in the dark.

"Goodnight, Cait."

Caitlin smiled, her heart full. "Goodnight, Sam."

As the room grew quiet, Caitlin stared at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting. She wasn't sure what the future held for her and Sam, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like things were heading in the right direction. And with that thought, she let herself drift off to sleep, a small smile on her lips.

-----

Back in the Indiana, Caitlin sat in her Indiana apartment, the memories of those college days playing through her mind. She glanced at her phone, where a text from Sam was waiting: "I booked my flight! See you next weekend!"

Caitlin's heart did a little flip as she read the message. A part of her was nervous—things had been simpler back in college, before life had gotten so complicated. But another part of her, the part that had never stopped caring about Sam, was thrilled. The thought of seeing her again, of spending time together without the pressures of school and sports, made Caitlin feel a surge of excitement she hadn't felt in a while.

She quickly typed back: "Can't wait! We'll have the best weekend."

As she set her phone down, Caitlin took a deep breath, feeling a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. The weekend with Sam was just around the corner, and with it, the chance to figure out what exactly was between them. For now, she was content to let the possibilities hang in the air, just like that almost-kiss from years ago. One step at a time, she reminded herself, smiling softly as she prepared for bed.

No matter what, she knew she was ready to face whatever came next.