Thanna’s Bad Imagination

Writing self serving blurbs to hopefully keep my feelings in check.

[imaginesokay]

imaginesokay 🤍

thanna, twenty-two, she/her, die hard philly sports fan

self-serving stories based off of the daydreams that keep me alive. i don't publish a lot because i am incredibly inconsistent but ya never know.

whore for women's basketball players and a couple men.

and just to make sure it's clear it's always: free Palestine, fuck ice and fuck donald trump

[imaginesokay]

Losses - Paige's Rookie season sucks

Paige was blessed in the way she wasn’t used to losing. That’s what made the way the Dallas Wings season was starting even harder. She was playing her heart out, each game she led in either assists, points or even both. Still it wasn’t enough for the team to pull off the win. 

The togo box of food barely touched now sat on the dresser top, next to the smoothie that sweated out all of it’s coldness. The TV behind it was playing some repeats of Law and Order on mute. Her phone was laying next to her face down while she stared into, not at, the TV. She knew there were so many things besides the losses but that’s all she could think about. 

It was after a couple moments that her phone started buzzing. She quickly turned the phone over to see the picture of her and Honey filling the screen then slowly answered the call.

“I asked you if you ate and you didn’t answer me.” The girl's voice filled the phone. 

“I didn’t want to check my phone.”

“Cool but that doesn’t mean you get to disappear on me or not eat.” Anybody that knew the pair knew Honey ran a strict program when it came to Paige. She wasn’t strict in the sense that the basketball star couldn’t party or live her life but Honey made sure Paige knew she wasn’t allowed to disappear. She didn’t allow her girlfriend to fold in on herself or neglect things like eating or basic regulation. Honey was there for Paige even when it was a fault and she was neglecting herself. 

“I wasn’t hungry so I ate a side of mashed potatoes but I kept the rest for later.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t like this.” Paige went on to talk about how things just weren’t clicking. She didn’t talk about the team's faults, she talked about them as if  they were all her own. Focusing on what she was doing wrong and how she only made 11 points, 4 baskets and 2 free throws. Honey just listened, only jumping in if Paige started with negative selftalk. She learned that when it came to bad games the blonde just needed to talk. There was no fixing a game that had already ended, she just needed to reset. 

Eventually Paige stopped talking and they sat in silence for a few seconds before she squinted at the screen. 

“Are you wearing my hoodie?” Honey looked down.

“Wanted to be close to you.” 

“How’s the house?’ She asked delicately.

“Good. Went food shopping because I still need meals before you come back.”

“You're not happy.” Paige said matter of factly. 

“You're losing games.” Honey shrugged. 

“That the spiral I just went on, that’s not how you feel.”

“I don’t like it here yet.” She laughed at herself. “It feels stupid saying that.”

“You're allowed to feel that way, you are allowed to miss things.”

“It feels stupid complaining when you have real issues going on.”

“My not putting a ball in a net is no more important than you not being okay.”

“You’ll come back to me in one piece, yeah?”

“That’s not even a question.” 

There is nothing to fix, there is nothing to change. They both felt lighter as they continued to talk about a mix of nothing and everything. 

[imaginesokay]

Team Housing Tour - Paige shows Honey the new apartment

“I can’t wait for you to get here.” Paige said to the phone that was propped up against a stack of folded towels on the kitchen counter. Honey was on the other side of the screen, face illuminated by the laptop her phone was resting on. Her hair was pulled back, while her eyes kept switching from the phone to the laptop. 

“I know.” Honey smiled. “I’m excited too. I just can’t wait for class to be over.” Paige laughed softly. She looked around at the apartment. It’s team housing so it was mostly furnished already, but that was someone else's furniture and already worn in. The couches and cups chosen by a player before her. She was living in a dorm so she only had a few things to bring, plus the things her and her family had just picked up. She wanted Honey to pick out the rest. 

“I can’t wait for you to graduate and come finish the apartment.”

“Oh so you don’t hate my aesthetic.” Honey joked, while typing away.

“Honey, baby.”  Moe stepped into the screen. “I wish you were here. She already took over-  let me just show you.” She picked up the phone and began walking away from Paige.

“You know I would’ve shown up.” Honey laughed. “Don’t tell me I don’t have closet space.”

“It’s a tight fit.” Moe laughed. They laughed while talking about moving parts of Paige's clothes to the guest bedroom closet. Sharing opinions on if it made more sense to have casual clothes or formal clothes in their primary closet. It was only a few minutes later when Paige came back into the screen, taking her girlfriend back with many protests. 

“We can arrange the clothes once you get here.” Paige flopped on the couch, resting her head in her little brother's lap. “You're going to be here right?”

“I am not going to miss your first professional game Paige.” She said it confidently but she really wasn’t certain. She graduated on May 11th, the first game was May 16th. That gave her barely 5 days to pack up her life and drive it to Texas. She would do anything for Paige but the universe had to work with them for this one. It was 4 hours from Connecticut to Philadelphia. Then 24 hours from there to the new apartment. Plus time to pack, take breaks, and sleep. 

“It’s okay if you can’t. I know it’s a tight time line.”

“I’m gonna make it.” She looked at the camera. “I can’t let Drew be there and not me.”

“Hey she loved me first.” Paige angled the camera up so the boy was shown. “I’ll scream louder than you.”

“I beat you at the draft.”

“That’s cheating there was mics near you.”

“Challenege accepted Drew.”

“Anyways.” The blonde lowered the phone back to herself. “I’m counting the days.”

“I really have to finish this draft or I might lose my mind.” 

“I know.” Paige replied gently. “I’ll let you go.”

“Text me when you go food shopping?”

“You're not here, you can’t convince me to buy green things.”

“I love you.” 

“I love you too, text you.”

[imaginesokay]

Draft Night - Honey attends Paiges Draft

The room is heavy. The clock on the stage is ticking down to when they are going to announce the first draft pick. Each tick was all Paige heard even though she was nodding along to a conversation she wasn't hearing. Her palms are damp, left leg bouncing non-stop. 

Honey noticed each ounce of it, she brushed her shoulder into the blondes. 

“Hey, look at me.” Paige moved her gaze to the girl that wasn’t more than 8 inches away.

“I’m here.” Paige said more to herself than the girl. 

“You talking about being in the room with me or in this universe?” 

“I hate this part.” Paige pulled her hands onto her lap. “The waiting.”

“I know but you can’t disappear in it.”

“But what it-” Paige swallowed. 

“Don’t make trouble that isn’t there.” Honey slid her right hand over to Paige's as subtly as she could. “That helps nothing. Stay where your feet are.” She quoted her girlfriend. 

“That sounds so cheesy.” The lights flickered as the commissioner stepped back up to the podium. The room shifted, conversations stopped and if it was possible the room got even heavier. Paige's heart was pounding so hard it almost made her dizzy. Honey removed her hand, folding them on her lap. 

“This is when you get to stop wondering.”

“I’m scared.” She shook her head slightly. 

“Don’t butterflies of excitement for being scared.”

“With the first pick in the 2025 WNBA draft, the Dallas Wings select Paige Bueckers University of Connecticut." The world stopped. Simply just paused. All eyes were on her, she knew there was cheers but the world was frozen.  She stuttered in the action of pushing her chair back to stand. Honey pushed hers out a second later, meeting Paige in the hug. 

“I love you.” Paige whispered, holding on tight to the girl.

“I am so proud.” Honey rushed back. When they let go, Paige went down the line. Hugging Coach Auriemma, her father and her mother before heading to the stage.  The table sat in silence while Paige touched her jersey and stood to the side to be questioned by Holly Rowe. They sat in silence, in awe, of the girl. They showed a view of Honey and Coach on the screen side by side while the number one draft pick answered some questions. 

Honey had almost made it though okay. She was smiling and full of love for the girl she watched grow. It wasn’t until Paige started choking on her words that she faltered. The camera caught the perfect moment of a tear rolling down Honey’s cheek. She didn’t wipe it away in an attempt to pretend like it never happened, even though the high quality zoomed in clip proves otherwise. 

After the cameras clicked off them to focus on the second draft pick, the coach turned to Honey and the family.

“Knew she’d go first.” He joked. Her parents agreed with him and they talked quietly while Honey just listened. It wasn’t until the room quieted down again that the coach turned directly to Honey. 

“She’s gonna be amazing kid.” Geno rubbed his hand on her back. “And for the record, I think you're really good for her.”

[imaginesokay]

Official - When Paige makes it official

It’s been a year since they met at the party and in that year they had lived a lifetime. It was filled with basketball, late nights and flimsy boundaries. Each misunderstanding brought them to where they were now, at a restaurant 40 minutes from campus nearing the end of their first date. 

They had gone out all the time together. Truthfully they went on dates all the time, they shared beds and held hands in the dark. But this was the first time they called it a date. It was a struggle to get them to utter the word date but that’s what it was. It was such a foreign and comfortable feeling at the same time. The conversation never stopped flowing, even when they stole forkfuls of each other's plates. The foreign feeling crept back in when they ordered the apple cider brulee to share. 

“Make sure you only take from your side.” Honey joked as she used the back of the spoon to smack the layer of caramelized sugar. 

“Better eat your side fast enough then.” Paige took a bite of the dessert and then looked at the girl across from her. How there was a piece of hair that kept falling forward, framing her face. How the scentless candle between them kept flickering off her eyes. Most importantly she was looking across the table at the girl she loves. When Honey looked up she stared back with the same love. She noticed how prominent the veins on Paige's right hand became since practice was heavy with her long awaited return. The way her blue eyes were searching her own.

“Stop staring at me weirdo.” Honey said before moving her own gaze.

“I’m just excited.”

“You usually are excited for dessert." Honey went for more dessert. “You look like your insides are buzzing.”

“Actually, they are.”

“I don’t know what your next sentence is but I am worried.” Paige put her spoon down and folded her hands like she was back in school.

“I know we’ve played pretend for a while now but I don’t want to anymore. I want us.” She waved her hands between the two of them. “Like the whole thing. Girlfriends/”

“This is our first date Paige.” Honey could feel her heart beat in every inch of her body. 

“We’ve gone on so many dates. We’ve spent nights in each other's beds. We’ve done everything but claim each other-”

“Claim sounds weird.”

“Let me finish.” Paige laughed. “I want you to be my girlfriend. I want everything we’ve had and we’ve been doing to be official. I want it to be us.” All both of them could hear was their own heart beats. It was like the universe had gone completely silent around them. 

“Yeah. I want that too. I want us too.”

“Oh thank god.” Paige exhaled, grinning like she just won a competition. 

“This is very stereotypical gay basketball player.” Honey put her spoon down. “We’ve been on one date and you already want to uhaul.” She dead panned. 

“I-” Paige just laughed. “Says the one who learned a sport for someone she had only known for 10 minutes.”

[imaginesokay]

Before Summer - Paige and Honey Admit they like each other

Paige and Honey were sitting in her dorm for a change. The team was sitting in Paige’s and she needed a quiet place to continue writing her paper, and Honey had become her unofficial editor. They were on her bed, legs somehow intertwined with their laptops on top of their thighs. They were going on hour 4 of this writing session, the chipotle they picked up earlier was half eaten on the desk, the TV playing a blended playlist between the two. 

“You’re staring.” Honey said, feeling how the blonde's eyes had drifted. 

“I’m thinking.”

“Thinking while writing is even worse. That’s when I do my worst work.”  Paige smiled because she had become accustomed to the way she wrote essays. How she was able to just type about the topic, everything just flowing and somehow making sense. 

“What are your plans after finals? We only have 2 weeks left.”

“Leaving.” She said like it was that simple, making Paige huff. “I’m putting my stuff into storage on Friday afternoon, then driving the rest down Saturday morning.” Paige nodded a little too fast. She knew summer was coming, she knew they lived different lives in different states but she didn’t like hearing it outloud anyway. 

“Summer’s gonna be weird.” Paige tried to be casual. The other girl on the bed nodded. They sat with it, the music filling the gap. They looked at each other again before the silence was broken. “This-” Paige looked between her and their legs tangled. “This feels like more than I thought it would the night we met.”

“Jungle juice and a clunky knee brace.” Honey tried to joke. She looked at Paige, really looked at her in a soft way. “I know.”

“I like you.” The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them or rephrase them. “I have liked you for a while now.”

“I know.”

“Oh.” Paige was dejected, mortified. She was admitting her feelings and got an I know in return. 

“Paige, I learned a whole sport for you.” She laughed slightly. “I’ve studied a sport just in hopes that when you are ready to go back on the court I can cheer you on. Like really cheer and know what I’m talking about.”

“So you like me too?”

“Yes, you idiot.” 

“That’s good.” Paige nodded.

[imaginesokay]

In Attendance - Honey's First Basketball Game

The first basketball game Honey attended was almost a month after they first met. She had watched a handful of games with Paige and her teammates so she understood it more than she did that night at the party. She’d never admit it, but she also watched a couple of their games online too. She heavily disagreed when Paige told her she should attend but she found herself convincing her friends to attend the game. Then all of a sudden she was sitting in section 120, 8 rows back. 

It was deep into the second quarter when Paige noticed. Well really, it was Nika who noticed first. 

“Didn’t know your friend was coming to the game.” The Croatian said as she sat next to Paige for a time out.  

“I didn’t know she was.” The blonde guessed who she was talking about, the girl she had been talking about a lot recently. 

“So she bought a ticket on her own, for a sport you’ve been teaching her about.” Paige shrugged. “Don’t shrug me off. You aren’t even playing and she still came to see.”  UCONN ended up winning, which was something they were good at. It was after the game, post game media and meeting the fans outside that the team finally made their way to their respective dorms but to Paige’s surprise, she found the familiar girl standing right outside her door.

“Do post game things always take that long?”

“Didn’t know I had someone waiting for me.” Paige said, unlocking her door. Aaliyah and Nika walked in first and went right to their rooms, leaving Paige and Honey standing near the kitchen. 

“Not gonna lie, I felt underdressed. I was like the only student without a jersey.”

“I didn’t know you were coming to the game.” Paige leaned on the counter, across from where Honey sat on a stool.

“You have been teaching me so much I wanted to see if any of it was actually sticking.”

“So did it?” 

“Part of it. I should be fluent by the time you get back on the court” She shrugged.

“Whenever that happens”

“I won’t stay long, looks like Lili and Nika are already ready to pass out.” she tilted her head. “Where is Aubrey?” 

“She was staying back with her girlfriend. But we would’ve come home faster if I knew you were going to be waiting here.” Paige took a sip of the water bottle to her left.

“Just figured I’d stop by. In the neighborhood, ya know?” She wasn’t exactly lying, they both lived in the hilltop apartments but different buildings. 

“Wow you must be starting to really like basketball. Came to a game and then wanted to talk to the players afterwards.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, I just wanted to tell you I was trying.”

“The night I met you, you told me you didn’t have any interest in basketball and now you are trying on your own.”

“I didn’t, but I had also never watched a UCONN game.” She stood up from the stool. “Good game Paige.” She walked toward the door.

“Next time you are coming to the game, let me know. I’m sure I can find something for you to wear.”

“Start looking, I think I’m gonna go to a lot more.”

[imaginesokay]

Impressions - Paige and Honey Meet

Paige met Honey in the same way most college love stories start, at a party. Not a formal invite only party. A party in a house filled with too many people and sticky counters. 

The basketball house was filled with students and half filled red solo cups. The air was thick and hot despite the frosty Connecticut temperature outside. Men’s basketball had a rare few days off and decided to throw the thirsty thursday party of the week. Their parties were always something everyone wanted to attend including the women's basketball team. Paige had been to enough of these to the rhythm. Moving through the crowd, sticking close to her teammates, holding the cup low just in case anyone gets her in a photo. 

Her eyes scanned around the familiar house, half looking for her friends and half looking for nothing specifically. But it’s always when you're not looking that you find something. 

Honey was leaning on one of the walls of the livingroom, a red solo cup in her right hand. She was engrossed in whatever story the group around her was spinning. She didn’t really like parties, but she also didn’t want to be the only one of her friends sitting at home. She didn’t command the group around her as it was easy to see that she was the gravity. They all seemed to look at her after finishing their sentence. Honey gave them the small smile, the type of smile that made her eyes softer. She quickly looked down at her solo cup and when she looked up, she caught Paige's glance for a split second. They locked eyes for maybe a second before Paige looked away first, looking back at Nika across from her. 

It was later in the night when they crossed paths again. Honey had wandered into the kitchen where Paige was still standing with her teammates. Paige walked over once she saw the girl getting frustrated at the jungle juice container. The blonde tipped the container in an attempt to help. 

“They stopper gets messed up when they throw the fruit in pretending it does something.” was how she chose to break the ice.

“Makes sense, the four oranges usually hide the bottom self vodka taste.” she spoke genuinely. “Did you need yours filled or?” She nodded toward the cup.

“Oh!” Paige looked down at it too. “Sure… I’m Paige.” 

“Okay.” The girl tilted the juice container. “Now I know to find a blonde Paige if I can’t get any more juice.”

“I’m good at other things too.” She sipped and turned quickly around to look at her friends. “I’m decent at basketball too, just not right now.” Paige looked down at the brace on her leg, the ACL tear not far enough in the past. 

“Sorry, that’s like the one sport I can’t get interested in.”

“Oh.” She said for the second time in their short conversation. “Is there a reason?” Paige rested her hip on the disgusting counter.

“Just never could. But I never tried hard.”

“We are linking to watch the USC game Saturday afternoon. You should come and I can explain the game.”

“And I should take the offer from the girl that helped me get jungle juice?” She smirked a little. She put her face in her phone to unlock it. She handed it over to the blonde. “I’ll text you if I decide I have an interest in learning.”

[imaginesokay]

Paige Bueckers x Honey Universe

Just another college love story. Paige meets Honey just after tearing her ACL. What follows them isn't a whirlwind, it's late-night pizza, basketball lessons and the realizations that love can grow in different shapes.

The story is told in small moments all about timing and choosing each other without rushing and the love that continues to be there even after the world stops watching

The universe is flexible. Sometimes a scene will show Paige and Honey in college, sometimes in a quiet apartment in Dallas. This story isn't about order, it's about snapshots of love.

[imaginesokay]

Taken; Diana Taurasi

Some guys come up to you at a celebration dinner and Diana is busy

The back room at the restaurant was packed. People were gathered to celebrate Sue getting her well deserved statute outside of the climate pledge arena. There were glasses clinking, people laughing too loudly and the all around buzz of athletes- current and retired. Diana was mingling which left you at the table, alone with Skylar Diggins. 

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the buzz you guys naturally put out.” you told Skylar.

“I’m not used to it and I’m one of them.” She laughed. 

“It’s a shame I don’t come up to see you more.”

“It’s your fault for wanting a job and not living like a sugar baby.”

“No you are so right. She played overseas for money, the least I could do is spend it.” You both laughed at that one. “The waitress hasn’t been here in a little, do you just want to go to the bar with me?” She nodded and you both moved through the back room to the main area and squeezed into the bar. It took a while before the bartender noticed you and took your orders. You has just handed the bartender your card when a pair of guys walked up to you and Skylar. 

“You guys here for the event?” At first it’s normal conversation. They start chatting with typical small talk, asking if you were players or guests. You answered politely not thinking much of it until the blonde one turned directly to you. 

“What about you? Come around here often or just for the event?”

“Just tonight.’ You shrugged before thinking about it. It wasn’t until after our mouth closed that you realized where this was going. 

“So do you have a date here?” Skylar tried to stifle her laugh by taking a drink.

“Wrong one bud.”

“What?” He blinked at you.

“I’m gay.” you nodded to the back of the restaurant. “The event is for my girlfriend's best friend.” 

“Oh.” Skylar struggled to stifle the laugh that tumbled out. “Well, good for you.” The guy tried to laugh to play it cool.

“Yeah, it really is.” The guys awkwardly lingered for a few seconds before finding a way to remove themselves. You picked up your glass answer ready to turn when a familiar voice came from behind you. 

“You don’t make friends very often.” Diana took your drink out of your hand. 

“They were being more than friendly.” Skylar turned around and leaned her back on the bar. 

“They tried to hit on me.”

“Did they now?”

“Told them my girlfriend was scary and in the backroom.”

“Did she?” Diana looked at Skylar.

“She was very polite about it too.” 

“Look at you go.” Diana handed you the drink back. The three of you turned to walk back to the room. Your girlfriend trailing behind you and Sky. 

“I gotta be direct.” You laughed. “I gotta be a good sugar baby.”

“What?” Diana called from behind.

[imaginesokay]

Other Lives: Grace Knox

Just a cute night together

“Mulkey will kill you” You said, shuffling closer to Grace. You were both seated in the back of her car, with the trunk open so you could take in the view of the stars. There were blankets and pillows littered around you to make the experience as comfortable as possible. They were parked somewhere between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, a random spot that held a view of the stars neither of them could refuse. 

“She’ll only kill me if she finds out.” Grace put her arm around your shoulder to pull you in closer. 

“And then she sits you for a whole game again. Except this time it isn’t for a stupid tech.”

“Hey!” She turned her head to you. “I apologized for my behavior. Besides this isn’t hurting, or taunting anybody. As long as I am in the gym by 6:30 for morning lift then it’s all good.”

“It’s already near midnight.”

“I’ll be okay.” The silence was nice. The very end of the normal basketball season was approaching which meant everything was going to get worse instead of slowing down. More practices and film sessions to make sure the LSU Tigers would successfully make their way through the NCAA tournament. That also meant that moments of calm were going to become fewer and further between than they already are. “What about you? You're a saint for extending your bedtime so you could be with me.”

“My in bed time and my bedtime are two different things.” If one thing was true about Grace’s girlfriend, it is that in bed time is a very vital part of the day, even if it meant letting the rest of the world think that you go to bed not too long after the sun sets. 

“Do you ever think about how there’s people living lives that we have no clue about?’ You tilted your head for a second. “I know that sounds stupid but like, there’s so many parts of life we don’t know.”

“I think about that sometimes when I’m driving.” Grace looked at you again. 

“Really?”

“I think about how the people could be going home from work, or a party. Maybe that person had the best day of their life and is going to buy a cake to celebrate with their family.”

“So I’m not weird for thinking about it?” 

“No, you're very weird. That’s just not part of it.”

“Like that blue car.” Grace pointed at the car that was speeding along the highway below them. “That person was racing to get some food before their favorite diner closes.”

“And that one.” You pointed at the white one passing in the opposite direction. “It’s a couple that just got into a major fight at a restaurant and now they just have love songs awkwardly playing in the background. You played this game for a while, going back and forth about what lives you were imagining for people way beyond what you could infer from the colour of the car. 

“What do you think people assume about us when we drive?”

“I think they look at your little tag holder thing and think you are an LSU student.”

“I think they assume I’m a kickass basketball player.” She answered her own question. “Do you ever wish our life could be like the ones we imagine for other people? No basketball practice or away games?”

“Never. Basketball is what makes you happy.” You kissed her cheek. “Besides, it’s kind of fun finding ways to create moments like this in your schedule. It means a lot more.”

“Even if it means there’s a chance of consequences with these things.”

“Baby, I’m not a basketball player. I’m not the one that runs suicides when I mess up.” You laughed. “So nights like these are always worth it.”

[imaginesokay]

In Love With You; Nika Muhl

Nika says she's in love with you

The music from the party was loud, the house smelled like a distillery and regret. Exactly what college parties were meant to be. Nika was perched on the arm of a worn leather couch, surrounded by her friends and teammates. The solo cup in her hand was halfway full though she had already drunk enough to feel it. She was listening to the conversation going on around her but her eyes were focused across the room, caught in the sound of her friends laugh across the room.

It wasn’t supposed to feel like this. They had been friends since Nika first started at UCONN. By luck they had been paired up for a freshman experience class, and were attached ever since. Study sessions, late night pizza, endless debates about music and movies. The Croatian would never admit it but really enjoyed the fact that she had to teach someone about basketball, it meant she was making a friend who had no expectations of her and it meant she always had someone who was going to cheer for her even if she didn’t think she deserved it. It was somewhere between the sleepovers and basketball lessons that the comfort had started to twist into something else. Something she tried with every fiber of her being to down play but it was proving harder and harder. 

When the girls laugh cut through again, Nika slid off the couch and walked across the room to where her best friend was standing. She placed her hand on her lower back, something that was normal.

“I think we’re heading out, Lili has been mumbling about her pajamas.” 

“Yeah, let me say bye.” Where one girl went the other followed. She said goodbye to the group she was laughing with and followed the group of basketball players out. They were all buzzing from the drinks and breezy air. Every time someone from the group stumbled it was met with laughs and offers of help. Nika and her friend eventually found themselves at the very back of the group, arms intertwined.

“Hey.” the dark hair girl muttered, barely loud enough for the other to hear.

“Hmm?” Nika swallowed hard when her friend turned to look at her, the street lights hitting her eyes.

“I want to tell you something.” She kicked a pebble as they walked. “I think for a while now-” 

“If I drive, does anybody want to go to DP Dough?” She was cut off.

“I think for a while now I’ve-”

“Hello?! Pair in the pack.” Aubrey exclaimed after her first statement was ignored. “Pizza, I’m driving. We can lap it.”

“Oh my god.” Nika practically sighed. “Yes pizza jesus. Stop bothering me for 3 minutes.” Her friend just laughed next to her. 

“I’m so glad we have a sober person because pizza sounds amazing.” Her friend spoke. “I hope the workers don’t hate us for coming this late because I’d feel so-” Nika cut off her friend this time. The tipsy Croatian had a plan and the moment was already fading.

“Pizza does sound good, you're right but what I was talking about before Aubrey interrupted me.” She shouted the last four words. “I think for a while now I’ve liked you.”

“God I’d hope so you-” She started to lightly laugh.

“No, I like you as more than a friend.” She stopped walking for a second and looked at the girl. The laugh weighed heavy on her.

“You're serious.” Her eyes searched the Croatians. “You drank more than me Nika this is just-”

“I’m in love with you.” She grabbed her friend's hand. “Since the day you came to your first basketball game wearing my jersey and cheering every time I touched the ball.”

“You are drunk, Ni.” She sighed. She looked at how far ahead the group had gotten then back to the dark haired girl. “I’m in love with you too Nika. Have been.”

“Really?”

“So really.” She pulled the girl along so they could catch up with the group. “But we can continue this tomorrow. Or later after the pizza.” 

“You guys and this pizza are annoying.” Nika said feeling relieved that she admitted her feelings and it worked out in her favor. 

[imaginesokay]

Like This; Paige Bueckers

Wishing the moment didn't have to end.

“I wish it didn’t have to be like this.” Paige said standing over her suitcase. It was the beginning of the off season but that didn’t mean her schedule changed. She was in the middle of packing for a brand trip that would take her to Los Angeles, and leave her girlfriend in Dallas with her normal person job. Being a basketball superstar had a way of making most other jobs seem normal. 

“You are bringing so much attention to women's sports.” The girl walked toward the blonde, hugging her back. “You are doing what you love.” She kissed her shoulder. “And you are making money so I can buy more things when you leave me alone.” She joked.

“I’d be nothing if you didn’t support me.” Paige turned around in the arms. “And threaten to spend all my money.”

“What’s yours is mine and what’s mine is mine.” She smiled. She removed herself from Paige and sat down on the bed, refolding a shirt she had put in the suitcase. 

“I don’t remember signing up for that.”

“It was somewhere in the fine print.” She placed the shirt back down.  “One day we will get to live like this for the whole year and not just in stolen moments.”

“These moments are what makes the away trips less lonely." The blonde admitted. “Regardless how long I am away, I know I’m coming home to you.”

“I’ll always be here.” Paige laid on the bed, half on her girlfriend. 

“Do you ever think about it? When I finally convince you to stop working so you can travel with me?”

“You know that’s not how this works.” Her girlfriend started playing with her hair. “But I do think about the house we will have and the dogs.”

“You really see a future for us?”

“Please don’t act stupid.” She laughed. “I have the flowers picked out that we will have in our garden.” 

“As long as we're together in that house, it’ll feel like home.”

“That was very gay.” She laughed, running her hand up and down Paige's back. “You have to get back to packing.” 

“Just a few more minutes.”

“I don’t want to hear it if you forget part of an outfit.”

“I just want to hear more about this house you imagined for us.”

[imaginesokay]

Stole Bear; Grace Knox

Your teddy bear goes for a road trip

The hotel room was cold in the way Grace liked it, cold enough that she needed a blanket to be comfortable but not cold enough that you wouldn’t be able to sleep- even though you were miles away. She had tried to call you twice before you finally answered. The first time was right after they got to the hotel, the second was right after Bella finished complaining about how rude it was that her classes assigned work during an away game.

The third call was much later, when she knew you would be in bed and have no option but to answer her call. And of course, you answered the call this time. She listened to you complain about how the coffee shop messed up your drink and the professor called on you during class. It wasn’t until after your rant that you took a deep breath and looked at your girlfriend. The way her bonnet was peeking through the hood that was pulled over her head. How the hotel lamp lit the left side of her face more than the right.

“How is Austin?”

“Well the food was better than Tennessee but the hotel is less than impressive. They gave me and Bella one of those combined rooms with Lay and Mikaylah so people keep coming in and out.”

“Being social doesn’t make the room less than impressive.” 

“I’m being social with you.” She threw an arm behind her head. 

“This doesn’t count. Go be part of the team.”

“I want to be with you instead.” Grace wasn’t clingy, in fact she would be appalled if anyone ever suggested such a thing. However, she did sleep better when you were on the other side of the bed. She may also ask if you want to attend an event before answering the team group chat. There have also been a few times where something of yours accidentally ended up states away in her bag. But Grace Knox was not clingy. 

“What did you have to eat?” This was her turn to tell you about her day. How the flight was kinda rough at landing. How the team kept bouncing around different seats until Mulkey threatened suicides if they walked past her one more time. She kept talking until she rolled on her stomach which allowed you to see the room behind her. More importantly the small white teddy bear that was sitting on the dresser. You glanced where the bear was sitting on your dresser before tilting your head at the screen. 

“Grace.” 

“Baby.”

“Why is my bear behind you?”

“What?” She whipped her head around. When she turned back her cheeks were blushed red. “I thought it was my turn to have custody of our son.”

“He is not our son. He also is too young to keep traveling with you.” The small bear was no bigger than six inches tall but it was given to you years ago. It followed you through high school, to college. And was now following Grace into different states.

“Quiz is old enough to enjoy his life.” She stood to grab the bear before flopping back down to the bed. She kissed his head before making the bear wave at you.

“This is not a joke. This is the third time you have taken him.”

“He really enjoyed St. Thomas.” She laughed. 

“First of all, that’s rude.” The bear that belonged to you got to travel to the US Virgin Islands to accompany your girlfriend to the Paradise Jam. Enjoying the sun and beaches while you weren’t lucky enough to be able to go. “Secondly can’t you be normal and take a hoodie or something if you really need to sleep with something of mine."

“We wear team gear on trips. But I don’t need to sleep with something of yours.” She jerked her head back like she was offended. “I’m taking care of my kid.” 

“The bear that I, me, myself, has had for years. That my smell is embedded into, but you're just watching him. Right.” You nodded along. Acting like a savior Bella opened and walked through the door to the right of Grace's screen.

“She lied.” Bella turned around to the adjoining room. “She’s on the phone with her girlfriend.” This time it was Bella who flopped onto the bed. “Grace told us she was going to do homework.”

“Let it be known she called me.” You pointed as you talked. “By all means take her away.” Grace just looked at you. “Go have fun, treat me child well. Call me when you wake up, okay?”

“Promise.” Grace Knox might not be clingy, but the very next morning you received a photo from Bella. It featured Quiz and your girlfriend snuggled up as she slept.

[imaginesokay]

Bracelet; Bella Hines

You make a homemade bracelet for your girlfriend

You had fallen for the tiktok shop though you’d never admit it. Everyone was having fun posting the things they were creating and it was a bit of FOMO. When the Tiktok ad came up and you could get 6 boxes of beads for a cheap price, who were you to deprive yourself of the fun. 

Obsessed isn’t the right word for it, but the amount of bracelets made would make you think otherwise. One for LSU, one for basketball, one that simply said I <3 bella, anything you could think of now had a bracelet to match. You were hunched over making the bracelets more than your back appreciated. 

“Are you making another one?” Was all Bella said when she entered your apartment. It was later in the night. She had wrapped up practice, showered and then made her way to see you before the night ended. 

“I miscounted and now the words aren’t in the middle.”

“Oh my god. What are you making this time?” You looked up glaring at her.

“I can gladly sleep alone in my bed tonight if you are going to be mean.”

“That’s dramatic.” She flopped onto the bed. “What is this one going to be?”

“A secret until it’s finished.” Grace kind of just looked at you before picking up the remote and trying to put something on. 

“This is bracelet like 10, not including your three unfinished ones.”

“When you get a headache from trying to line up beads correctly you can comment on how many I have made.” 

“Woah now.” She held her hands up. “I was just getting to the fact that you’ve made so many and haven’t made me one.”

“You ruin everything.”

“I’m not digging the glares these bracelets have given you.”

“This one was for you, that’s why it has to be perfectly even.”

“You are making a bracelet for me?” 

“Don’t make it weird.” You mutter, focused on trying to finish the bracelet. Bella pulled her knees up and rested her head on them, watching the way you were working. 

“You are concentrating so hard.”

“I want it to look nice and not break.”

“You think I’ll break it?”

“I know you play basketball.” You blinked at her before laughing. She watched as you tied off the bracelet and cut the extra length on the strings. She gently took it from your hand once you held it up.

“You are insane.” She inspected the bracelet. It was white and pastel yellow, a bright sunshine. In the middle of the bracelet was written I <3 my gf. “You made me a bracelet that says I heart my girlfriend.”

“I think it is very fitting for you.”

“You really made me a bracelet?” There was a shine to Bella’s eyes. 

“Duh, it’s practically a ring so now we have to stay together.” 

“I will never take this off.”

“You can’t wear it in-game.”

“I’ll put it on right after we play.” She slid it on her wrist. “You’ll make me another one if this one breaks, yeah? Same saying too?”

“I’ll make it right now if you want.”

[imaginesokay]

Photo; Diana Taurasi

A photo of you two becomes public

The photo is soft in a way that you can tell it was never meant to be public.

It was early morning softness. Both of you are still filled with sleepiness and love. Your arms were wrapped around her waist, her old mercury shirt falling off of one shoulder. The tattoo behind your left arm peeking out from underneath the sleeve. Diana had one hand resting on the top of your back, the other holding her phone to snap the photo. Your face can’t be seen, only the back of your head and your tattoo. Her face is on display, tilted so she can look at you through the screen on her phone. 

It’s the definition of domestic. A truly soft love filled morning. The moment was very, very real. Just as real as the photo when it makes its way to the internet. 

It goes live a few minutes later.

Neither of you are paying attention when it happens. Still consumed by the start of the morning, getting dressed and making breakfast. And all the teasing and ragebaiting that happens in between. It’s not until after filling her second mug of coffee that she reaches for her phone again.

As soon as she flips it up the screen's notifications scream at her.

Text after text. Calls stack on calls. Old teammates, Sue Bird, Brittney Griner, her managers. The text messages are rolling in. 

She doesn’t need to open her phone further to assume something big happened. Her stomach drops when she looks up at you. Her perfect girlfriend. Enjoying the warm drink in your mug as you sit at the counter watching her. Her jaw tightens for a second before she looks back down to open a message. One singular one that will tell her what happened, Sue’s, That’s where she learns exactly what happened and how it magically made it’s way to the internet. 

“What happened?” You straighten a little before asking.

She doesn’t sugarcoat it, though she doesn't have an answer for how it happened other than a mistake, she tells you that the moment from the morning is out there for the world to see. Your stomach drops to meet hers. 

“Oh.” You nod slowly, trying to process what just came out of her mouth. In the silence you reach for your phone, turning it over to see all the notifications. It didn’t take long for people to go through her 269 followers and find you. You and that damn tattoo your parents told you not to get. The outside world was now way too close to your inside world. 

“It’s everywhere.” She walks around the counter to be closer to you. “You know I would never-” 

“I know” You say all too fast. She takes a seat next to you, facing the kitchen sink and not you.

“You don’t have to stay.” She mushes her hands together. “The photo was on my phone, it’s my mistake and I'll handle it.”

“Don’t piss me off.” you let out a dry laugh. “You think this makes me want to leave?”

“I think this is my mistake and I don’t get to decide how it affects you.” She turns to look at you. “If this is too much, if you want out, for me to disappear. I’ll do whatever.”

“I don’t want out. I don’t want you to disappear." She exhales. “I wanted to be normal… just wanted to be yours.” She grabs your hands.

“You are still. Just because it’s loud outside the house doesn't mean anything has changed. Not if you don’t want it to.” The conversation was filled with insecurities leaking. 

“I still love you like I did in that photo.” You leaned your head on her shoulder. 

“I’m not sorry the world knows that I love you but I am sorry we didn’t get to own how it happened.”

 “It’s gonna make more than that for my love to change but how about you leave the photos to the younger one. I’ve never had a photo leak and I promise you the internet would die to see the one of you drooling on my lap.”

[imaginesokay]

Forever; Paige Bueckers

After a long day of practice, Paige want's to make sure you'll stay forever.

It didn’t take long for the facetime to connect. It never did. The nightly facetime was something that neither of you dared to change, even if it only lasted for long enough to say hello. Paige’s face filled the screen with a lazy smile to greet you. Her hair was messy on top of her head as she was propped up on the numerous pillows behind her. 

“Hey” Her voice was low, the tiredness dripping through. 

“Hey superstar.” She rolled her eyes but the smile betrayed her. She hated that nickname, she hated when you called her anything besides baby but that nickname was a particular enemy. But that’s who she is, an amazing basketball player getting the recognition she deserved. 

“Practice ran long today.” She sighs. “Geno was picking on KK again.” You hummed in sympathy and acknowledgment as she continued to talk about her day and what happened in practice. Basketball wasn’t your life but it was absolutely hers, so you could listen to her talk for hours about the practice guys and what Geno yelled about that day. She lived for these facetimes where nobody wanted anything from her, it was just her talking about whatever she wanted. 

After a while her story came to an end and it was your chance to talk again. 

“Did you eat?”

“Yeah”

“Paige?”

“That’s unfair… You can’t only eat girl dinners and get mad when I do.” 

“I’m not a basketball player.”  This was one of the most repeated conversations. Trying to balance basketball, school and brand deals often let her push meals to the side. If it wasn’t shoved in front of her face she would find something sufficient enough and call it a day. She was the one that needed to be fueled for each practice and game. So while your eating habits also needed some help hers was more important. 

She shifts on her bed, laying on her side and propping the phone up while she presses buttons on the tv remote. You mirror her and roll over to get more comfortable, watching the way her face changes as she reads the titles from whatever streaming service she’s browsing. 

“I miss you.” She broke the silence. 

“I miss you too.” Saying it stung a little in your chest. It has been 132 days since you last saw each other, not that either of you were counting. 

“Every time we see each other it’s just a count down.” It was true. Every visit had a deadline, she needed to go back to campus or you needed to go back to your life. There was always a flight booked, train ticket, always something that told you exactly how many days you were allowed to be happy together. 

“You are doing what you love, and I love watching it.”

“Wish you could be by my side while I do it.”

“That’s not what the universe wants right now.” You joked trying to make the situation a little lighter before it turns into a mess of who could be more sappy.

“The universe does not get a vote on us.” She looked back at the TV for a minute. A charged moment of silence before she looked back at the screen, her eyes a little glossy. “Can I ask you something?”

“Always.”

“You’ll stay with me forever right?” The question was said softly but that didn’t help mitigate the weight of the words. Your throat tightened as you thought before answering.

“Baby… I’m already here.”

“I know.” Her shoulders dropped.”Just sometimes everything feels so far and temporary. Having you on a screen for a couple of minutes while we don’t know the next time I get to hold you.” She swallowed hard. “I want to make sure I’m not losing you while I’m chasing all of this.”

“You are not losing me. Even when I’m not in the same state as you. Even when we are tired and missing each other.” You laughed for a second. “If your tiktok dances weren’t enough to push me away then good luck bud.”

“Okay.” She said softly, living in everything you said. “Stay on the phone while we sleep?”

“Forever.”