"that was the night I nearly lost you I really thought I lost you"

basketball season had been a whirlwind, and uconn was on fire. undefeated and charging towards another championship, the team was riding high on adrenaline and camaraderie. every practice, every game, felt like another step closer to glory. the campus buzzed with excitement, students and faculty alike rallying behind the team. yet, amidst all the achievement, there was an inexplicable knot in my stomach that morning.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm, the gentle chime signaling the start of another busy day. I stretched and glanced at the clock—6:30 AM. tara was still asleep, her soft snores filling the room. I quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her, and headed to the bathroom. As I brushed my teeth, I couldn't help but stare at my reflection, my mind clouded with an odd sense of worry.

after getting dressed, I decided to head to the cafeteria for some breakfast. the halls were quiet, the early morning light casting long shadows. I usually enjoyed the solitude of these early hours, but today it felt different. I grabbed a tray and filled it with a bagel, some fruit, and a cup of coffee, hoping the food would settle my churning stomach.

paige, nika, and azzi were already there, chatting animatedly about the upcoming game. I forced a smile and joined them, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling. "morning, guys," I greeted, sliding into a seat.

"hey, ari," paige replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "ready for the game tonight?"

"yeah, totally," I lied, hoping my voice didn't betray my anxiety.

"uconn's on a roll," nika added, her grin infectious. "we're going to crush it tonight."

I nodded, picking at my bagel. as the conversation continued, I found myself zoning out, my thoughts drifting to aubrey. she was still distant, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I replayed our interactions in my mind, searching for clues, but nothing stood out. just then, my phone buzzed with a text from ethan.

ethan👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨: morning, ari. want to grab coffee later?

I smiled, grateful for the distraction. ethan had been a constant source of support, always knowing how to lighten my mood. I quickly typed a response.

ari🏳‍🌈:sure, sounds good. after the girl's practice?

ethan👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨: perfect. see you then!

aubrey's POV

the morning light filtered through my window, casting a warm glow across the room. I stretched, feeling the familiar tension in my muscles from yesterday's practice. we had been pushing hard, and it was paying off—uconn was undefeated, and the energy was palpable. today was game day, and I was ready to give it my all.

I got dressed in my usual game day attire, a mix of comfort and team spirit, and headed to the kitchen. paige was already there, making her infamous protein shakes. "morning, aubrey," she greeted with a smile. "ready to dominate tonight?" we will be playing againt hartford.

"you know it," I replied, grabbing a glass of water. "how about you? got your game face on?"

paige laughed, handing me a shake. "always. let's go out there and show them what we've got."

we chatted about the game and the strategies coach geno had been drilling into us. despite the lighthearted banter, I could sense a hint of nervousness in paige's eyes. It wasn't unusual—we all felt the pressure. but today, there was something different, something that made me pause.

as I walked to practice, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. the campus was alive with activity, students hustling to classes, the crisp autumn air filled with the scent of leaves and distant laughter. but amidst the familiar, there was a tension I couldn't quite place.

ariana's POV

classes seemed to drag on that day, my mind constantly wandering. despite my best efforts, I couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. after my last class, I met up with ethan at the café. the familiar hum of conversation and the rich aroma of coffee were comforting. ethan waved me over, a smile on his face as he handed me a cup of my favorite latte.

"hey," he greeted warmly. "how's your day been?"

"hey," I replied, taking a seat across from him. "It's been... weird. I can't shake this bad feeling." ethan raised an eyebrow. "bad feeling? about what?"

"I don't know," I admitted, stirring my coffee absentmindedly. "I just feel like something's going to go wrong." ethan reached across the table, placing a reassuring hand on mine.  "it's probably just nerves. the team's doing great, and everyone's excited for the game tonight. maybe you're just picking up on the tension."

"maybe," I said, trying to smile. "but it feels like more than that. I can't explain it." ethan gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "well, whatever it is, I'm here for you. If you need to talk, you know where to find me."

"thanks, ethan," I said, feeling a bit more at ease. "I appreciate it."

the crisp, cool air of a fall afternoon was filled with the buzz of excitement as tara, ethan, and I walked towards the basketball arena. the energy of the crowd was palpable, a mixture of anticipation and enthusiasm that seemed to electrify the very atmosphere. we navigated through the throng of students and fans, making our way to the entrance.

"look at this turnout!" tara exclaimed, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of the packed stands. "I don't think I've ever seen the arena this full."

ethan nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "yeah, everyone's excited to see if we can keep up the undefeated streak. this is going to be a great game."

I forced a smile, trying to match their excitement, though a tight knot of anxiety had been forming in my stomach since morning and i felt like it just got bigger and bigger. It was a feeling I couldn't quite shake, no matter how much I tried to ignore it. I hoped it was just pre-game jitters, but there was a lingering worry that I couldn't quite place.

we made our way to our seats, and I glanced around at the sea of uconn fans, their blue and white jerseys blending into a wave of support for the team. I spotted paige, nika, and azzi on the court, their faces focused and determined as they prepared for the game. the opposing team, creighton, was already warming up on the other side of the court, looking just as determined.

as we settled into our seats, the pre-game rituals began. the crowd stood for the national anthem, the notes of the song filling the arena with a sense of unity and pride. I joined in, my hand over my heart, trying to push away the unease that had settled in my chest.

the anthem ended, and the announcer's voice boomed through the arena, introducing the starting lineups. the crowd roared as each player was named, the excitement building to a fever pitch. the players took their positions, and the game began with the referee's whistle.

from the opening tip-off, the game was a display of uconn's prowess. the players moved with precision and grace, their teamwork evident in every pass, shot, and play. paige was on fire, her three-point shots finding the basket with unerring accuracy. nika's quick passes and sharp decision-making kept the offense flowing smoothly, while azzi's defense was as impenetrable as ever. aaliyah always played her heart out and it wasn't different today either. and aubrey. i would lie if i aid my eyes wasn't on her most of the time. the crowd was electric, cheering and chanting as uconn took an early lead.

tara was practically bouncing in her seat. "they're amazing out there! did you see that shot by paige?"

"yeah," ethan agreed, his eyes glued to the court. "she's in the zone tonight. It's great to see." i nodded, trying to focus on the game. uconn was playing exceptionally well, but that knot in my stomach remained, tightening with every minute that passed. I tried to push it aside, to focus on the game and enjoy the moment, but the feeling of unease only seemed to grow.

as the first quarter came to a close, uconn held a solid lead over creighton. the players took a break, heading to their benches as the crowd cheered. the excitement was contagious, and I found myself caught up in the energy of the moment.

the second quarter started with creighton coming out strong, their defense tightening and their offense more aggressive. uconn responded with the same intensity, the game quickly becoming a fierce battle. the tension in the arena was palpable, every possession and every shot met with collective anticipation from the crowd.

"creighton is really putting up a fight," tara said, her eyes wide as she followed the action on the court. "they're not making it easy for us."

ethan nodded. "yeah, but uconn's got the skills to match them. we just need to keep up the pressure."

the game continued in a back-and-forth struggle, the score remaining close as both teams fought for dominance. uconn's players were pushing themselves to the limit, their focus unwavering as they battled against creighton's determined efforts. the energy in the arena was electric, the crowd's cheers and chants creating a rhythmic backdrop to the game.

as the second half began, the intensity on the court reached new heights. uconn and creighton continued to trade blows, neither team able to pull away. the players were giving their all, their movements sharp and precise as they fought for every point.

paige and aubrey was a whirlwind of activity, their shots finding the basket even under pressure. nika's quick thinking and sharp passes kept the offense moving smoothly, while azzi's defense remained a formidable barrier to hartford's attempts to score. the crowd was on their feet, the noise of their cheers filling the arena.

but then, the unthinkable happened.

In a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, aubrey was guarding a player, who was driving towards the basket. they both jumped up, the creighton's player dropped the ball into the basket. aubrey did everything she could, but she fell hardly on the ground. i put my hands over my mouth as i eyed the court. i saw the team rushing to aubrey who was laying on the floor, clutching her knee. the ref's, medical staff and even coach geno went over to her. all i saw was the medical staff making her sit up and then trying to stand up. they helped her stand up, and the whole arena erupted in cheers. she was helped to walk by the coaches. it was heartbreaking to look at her. her face reflected a lot's of pain it was sad to look at her.

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. the feeling of dread that had been lingering all day exploded into a cold wave of fear. I turned to tara, my hands trembling. i was biting my nails as she was getting walked out."oh my god," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "It's her knee. It's really bad." the thought of what this injury meant for her and for the team was overwhelming.

_____________________________________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

as the game resumed, I tried to focus on the court, but my thoughts kept drifting back to aubrey. the players were back on the court, their faces showing the strain of the injury. uconn was still playing with determination, but the absence of aubrey was a heavy weight on their shoulders.

as the fourth quarter progressed, the intensity on the court was unrelenting. uconn was pushing hard to maintain their lead, their players moving with a fierce determination. the crowd was once again fully engaged, their cheers a constant roar of support.

tara sat beside me, her eyes glued to the court. "they're still playing so well, even without aubrey."

"yeah," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "they're fighting hard. I'm proud of them." ethan nodded, his eyes focused on the action. "they're showing a lot of heart out there."

the game was a nail-biter, each team fighting for every point. uconn's players were giving it their all, their faces set with determination as they battled against creighton's relentless efforts. the score was close, and every possession felt crucial.

with just minutes left on the clock, the tension in the arena was almost unbearable. uconn was clinging to a narrow lead, the game hanging in the balance. the players on the court were pushing themselves to the limit, their movements a blur of speed and skill.

as the final seconds ticked away, uconn managed to hold on to their lead. the buzzer sounded, and the arena erupted in cheers. uconn had won the game, but the victory felt bittersweet.

idk how to feel about this chapter but anyways i have some questions for you guys

1. who should tara get together with? she is bisexual so could be a boy or a girl i can make a new character who maybe transfered from somewhere or could be paige *wink wink* but i really don't know so give me ideas.

2. should i torture ari and you guys more about her sexuality or feelings?

that's all thank you

also i have a lot's of motivation and the next chapter is already in the making so i plan on staying up long and finish it and actually publish it today too. 

okay yap session over take care you guys!!!! 

love, jules