don’t play with me
Description: Kayleigh doesn’t get jealous often, but when she does, it’s sharp, quiet, and impossible to ignore.
It’s not supposed to bother her
That’s what Kayleigh tells herself
Over and over
Because it’s nothing
Just practice
Just teammates
Just talking
But it doesn’t feel like nothing
KK is across the gym
Laughing
Not with her
With someone else
And it lingers
Too long
Too easy
Kayleigh notices
Immediately
But she doesn’t say anything
Just keeps playing
Keeps moving
Keeps pretending
⸻
KK doesn’t notice at first
Why would she
Everything feels normal
Until it doesn’t
Kayleigh’s quieter
Not in a soft way
In a pulled-back way
Less touches
Less talking
Less… her
KK frowns slightly
“…you good?”
Kayleigh nods
“…yeah”
But she doesn’t look at her
And that’s new
⸻
Practice ends
People stay around
Talking
Messing around
KK drifts back into conversation
Same teammate
Same energy
Kayleigh sees it again
And this time
It hits harder
Because now it feels like a pattern
Her jaw tightens slightly
She grabs her stuff
Starts to leave
⸻
KK notices that
Immediately
Because Kayleigh never leaves without her
“…Kay?”
No response
She follows
⸻
Hallway
Kayleigh’s walking fast
Not running
But not slowing down either
KK catches up
“…what’s wrong?”
Kayleigh exhales
“…nothing”
KK frowns
“…don’t do that”
Kayleigh stops
Turns to her
“…do what?”
“Act like you’re fine when you’re not”
Kayleigh lets out a short breath
“…I am fine”
KK steps closer
“…you’re not”
Silence
Tight
Kayleigh looks away
Then back at her
“…why were you all over her?”
KK blinks
“…what?”
“You heard me”
KK shakes her head slightly
“I wasn’t ‘all over’ anyone”
Kayleigh lets out a small, humorless laugh
“…okay”
That tone
KK doesn’t like it
“…Kayleigh”
“What?”
“You’re being weird”
Kayleigh’s expression shifts
There it is
“…I’m being weird?”
KK exhales
“…yeah”
Kayleigh shakes her head
“…no, you just don’t see it”
“See what?”
“You,” she says
Voice sharper now
“…you with her like that”
KK’s brows pull together
“It was just talking”
Kayleigh scoffs
“…it didn’t look like just talking”
KK steps closer
“…so what, you’re mad because I was talking to someone?”
Kayleigh doesn’t answer right away
Which is answer enough
KK tilts her head slightly
“…are you jealous?”
Kayleigh laughs
But it’s not light
“…no”
A pause
Then quieter
“…yes”
There it is
Raw
Unfiltered
KK softens immediately
But Kayleigh keeps going
“…I didn’t like it”
KK nods slowly
“…okay”
That catches Kayleigh off guard
“…okay?”
“Yeah,” KK says softly
“…okay”
No arguing
No brushing it off
Just
okay
Kayleigh’s shoulders drop slightly
But there’s still tension there
“…I felt stupid” she admits
KK’s expression shifts immediately
“…why?”
Kayleigh looks down
“…because I’m standing there watching you laugh with someone else like I don’t matter”
That hits
Hard
KK steps closer
“…hey”
Kayleigh doesn’t move
“…that’s not what it is”
Kayleigh shrugs
“…that’s what it felt like”
KK reaches out
Gently grabbing her wrist
Not forcing
Just grounding
“…look at me”
Kayleigh hesitates
Then does
KK’s voice softens
“…you matter more than anyone in that room”
Kayleigh’s expression wavers
Just slightly
KK steps closer
Closing the gap
“…I wasn’t thinking about it like that”
A pause
“…but I should’ve noticed how it looked to you”
That’s what lands
Kayleigh exhales slowly
KK’s thumb brushes lightly against her wrist
“…you could’ve told me”
Kayleigh shakes her head
“…I didn’t wanna sound like that”
“Like what?”
“…like I care too much”
KK smiles faintly
“…you do care”
Kayleigh rolls her eyes slightly
But there’s no bite to it
“…yeah”
KK nods
“…and that’s not a bad thing”
A pause
Then softer
“…I like that you care”
That pulls something out of Kayleigh
Something softer
Less guarded
KK steps even closer
“…next time, don’t just walk away”
Kayleigh raises a brow slightly
“…what, you want me to say something?”
KK nods
“…yeah”
Kayleigh huffs quietly
“…fine”
KK smiles a little
Then nudges her lightly
“…you done being mad?”
Kayleigh looks at her
Really looks this time
Then shrugs
“…maybe”
KK laughs softly
“…I’ll take that”
Kayleigh shakes her head
But there’s a small smile there now
“…don’t do that again”
KK tilts her head
“…do what?”
Kayleigh nudges her back
“…be all friendly like that”
KK grins
“…I’ll try”
Kayleigh rolls her eyes
“…you better”
But she steps closer
Not leaving this time
Not pulling away.