Request: caitlin thinks you're mad at her but you're really just avoiding her because you realized you have feelings for her and don't know what to do about it. It all gets revealed and reciprocal somehow.
Can we see where this goes?
notes: fluff, hurt cait, happy cait at the end. first few paragraphs are about kate (heads up). mentions of conner >:(
your best friend in the entire world is kate martin; she's two years older than you, and is practically your older sister. she's the girl you've looked up to your entire life. you adored her, always loved how she made you feel safe, and how she never ever made you feel dumb for asking questions.
so when kate went to lowa, so did you. your junior and senior year of high school had been rather rough for you, so you wanted to get away, yet have the safety of family with you. plus the scholarship was just too much to pass on.
kate helped you move into your dorm, she would drive you around town, even to the neighboring towns to help you buy extra accessories for your dorm, and when you would try to pay, she already did.
kate helped you adjust to life in iowa, the two of you would have dinner twice a week and lunch on wednesdays.
kate even introduced you to some of her friends, with you quickly becoming friends with monika and gabbie.
when the season started, kate had invited you to a party. the party was filled with both women's and men's basketball players and some of the other sports players.
for the majority of the night you stayed next to kate or monika since you knew them the best and they knew their way around the party.
“come on sweet girl, i want you to meet my teammates.” kate says sweetly, just loud enough for you to hear over the music. kate grabs your hand, leading you to this lounge area. there were a few couches and chairs, filled with. basketball players. you recognized gabbie and monika, giving the two girls a small wave.
“guys this is [reader], she’s like my little sister so be nice to her. if you see her at a game or around campus say ‘hi’ she’s really sweet so don’t worry she won’t bite.” kate says with a little playfulness in her voice. you look up at her with a twinge of embarrassment in your eyes and then back at the girls. “hi!” you say with a smile and a wave. almost automatically you were pulled into a conversation.
when you were talking to gabbie, that’s when you recognized her. she was in your gen ed english class. sat 5th row, 3 seats away from your friend. “gabbie?” you ask “who’s that?” your eyes locked on her. “oh that’s caitlin, she’s a freshman like you.” gabbie says just loud enough for caitlin to hear.
caitlin turns her head to look at the two of you, confused. gabbie motions for caitlin to come over.
when you and caitlin lock eyes, that’s when she finally recognizes you. “you’re in my english class, lilly’s friend?” she asks, her voice smooth and addicting to listen to.
you nod “yea she’s a sweetheart isn’t she?”
somehow the two of you slipped into a conversation. what’s even more surprising is that the conversation only ended when kate had to drive you home. for some obnoxious you’d signed up for an early morning class, you loved it.
“hey can i sit here?” you hear a voice, pulling your attention away from the homework you were trying to finish. you look up, meeting a sleepy smile from caitlin’s face. “of course” you say with a more awake smile.
the rest of the time before class, the two of you spent the time talking.
as time goes on the two of you become close and closer, practically inseparable. you considered caitlin as one of your closest friends. you tell each other everything, like everything.
but, something was different. you loved caitlin, but not how you loved kate. at first you thought it was different since you saw kate as family, so you thought you loved caitlin platonically. which makes sense since the two of you are friends and you haven’t known her as long as kate. but when you think of gabbie or your other friends, the love you have for them vs caitlin felt different.
“you know conner, right?” caitlin asks, her voice soft. the two of you were laying in her bed, having one of your weekly sleepovers. her fingers playing and twisting your hair as you cuddle her.
“conner?” you ask softly against her chest.
“yea, mccaffery… the senior.” she says. “the one kate doesn’t like?” “yea, that one.” “…what about him?”
there was a silence for a bit.
yea, that’s when you knew any love you had for caitlin were definitely not platonic.
“oh?” your voice smaller than intended. “what did you say?”
“no, i want to focus on basketball.” she says calmly. her arms wrapping tighter around you, her fingers continuing to play with your hair. completely oblivious from the inner turmoil you’re facing.
“makes sense.” you whisper.
“i mean my dream is making it to the W maybe even making it to the championship.. why would i let someone get in the way of that.” caitlin rambles. you silently listen, your heart tightening each second.
what if she did like conner? what if she liked someone else? would she ever feel the same for you?
your thoughts were spiraling.
“kate i haven’t felt like this in- GOD i don’t even know” you were freaking out, pacing around your dorm. kate was laying on your bed, listening, knowing any input would not be helpful.
you collapsed on your bed, your head in your hands. “kate i’m scared” i whisper. “i don’t want to lose her as a friend.”
kate sighs, “come here sweet girl.”
you move over to her, resting your head on her chest. one hand plays with your hair while the other holds you close. “take a breath, everything will be okay… we’ll work through this.”
it’s been around a month since that conversation.
you were now completely avoiding caitlin; with the last time the two of you hanging out was almost two weeks ago.
caitlin was no fool, she knew something was wrong the instant you started hanging out less.
linny😝: you wanna hangout today???
linny😝: my professor cancelled and ik you don’t have class rn
[reader]🧸: sorry studying with a friend rn
[reader]🧸: maybe next time?
it was the same song and dance every time caitlin asked. she was getting hurt and frustrated; she just wanted to hang out with her best friend and not knowing why you’re avoiding her was making her head hurt.
“kate?” caitlin asks, one day after practice. she was changing back into her sweats, putting on the hoodie you got her.
“yea?” kate asks, doing the same.
“when was the last time you and [reader] hung out?” caitlin asks, trying her best to sound neutral.
“this morning, why?”
“just wondering, the last few times i’ve wanted to hang out, she’s been busy.” caitlin says, sitting down and tying her regular shoes on.
kate sighs, automatically knowing what’s going on. “try going to her dorm tomorrow at 11:30, she only has one class that day and usually spends the rest of her morning studying in her dorm.”
“unannounced? [reader] hates that.” caitlin says a bit shocked at the suggestion. especially since kate is so overprotective of your boundaries.
“sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do.” kate says firmly. before caitlin could even respond, kate cuts in; “lets go, i’m hungry.”
caitlin was standing in front of your dorm nervously. she knew how much you hated when people come unannounced, and she didn’t want you to be mad at her, or even more than you are now.
she just wants her best friend back.
“hello?” you ask opening the door, your eyes widening as you see caitlin standing in front of you.
“i know you hate it when people come here unannounced, but kate says you’re usually in here studying so i thought we could study together… i promise i’ll be quiet, i just wanna spend some time with my bestie.” caitlin looked so nervous, it was rare to ever see her nervous.
before you could close the door, you step out of the way, letting her into your dorm. she steps inside, giving you a quick thanks.
she meant every word, she study quietly on your bed, your favorite plushie in her arms as she copies notes from a lecture reading. you sit at your desk, writing an essay. time to time your eyes would dart between your laptop and caitlin. god she looked so pretty while focused.
after 15 minutes her voice breaks through the calm silence between you two.
“[reader]?” she asks softly, “what did i do wrong?”
you stiffen, you didn’t know how to answer her, if you did you’d end up confessing. you couldn’t lie, you couldn’t deflect, you just had to tell the truth.
“you didn’t do anything wrong” your voice soft, like you’re in a library with a strict no talking rule.
“but you won’t hang out with me, won’t talk to me, call me linny, won’t reply to me… you don’t even look at me.” your heart breaks as the hurt seeps from her voice.
“so please, just tell me what i did wrong so i can fix it.” she pleads.
“cailtin” you sigh softly
“please”
there was a silence the falls between you two.
“i don’t wanna lose you” you whisper,
“you won’t”
“i will, i’ve been down this road before.”
“reader, trust me, i’ll do anything and everything in my power so you won’t lose me.”
“i like you” you whisper, just as she was about to respond you cut her off. “far more than a friend, and way more than a best friend.” you look down at your lap, a wave of shame and regret crashing over you. caitlin just sat there looking at you in shock. the both of you could swear that time was going 20 times slower.
“that’s what you were scare of?” caitlin blurts out in that soft voice.
“caitlin” you let out a mix of a sigh and whine, your emotions evident in your voice.
“sorry, sorry.” caitlin gets up, walking over to you. she takes your hand, helping you up and pulling her into a hug.
for a moment, time stops
caitlin holds you tight against her. like she’s not letting anyone or anything take you away from her.
then the words slip from her lips. “i like you too”
then time snaps back into normal, now feeling way too fast.
you pull away to look up at her.
before you could speak she does.
“and no, i’m not just saying that to make you feel better. i mean it.” caitlin reassures her hand cupping your cheek. she leans down, pressing a kiss to your forehead.
“now, can i have my best friend back and see how this plays out; instead of being left behind before we even get a start.” she whispers, her thumb gently rubbing your cheek.
tags: @fizzydionne, @soph1asticated, @ashortyluvsports, @salemsuccss, @laurenmcucm, @belsouls, @d1paigebueckersglazer, @itsssports
luna’s notes
first CC fic of the year!!! second fic of the year!!! 😁
