Description: After a rough night, JuJu finally lets herself fall apart in front of Rian for the first time. What starts as a quiet late-night gym session turns into something neither of them can ignore anymore.
The gym is almost completely dark when Rian finds her.
Just one row of lights still on above the court.
Basketballs echoing softly.
Rhythmic.
Sharp.
Too fast.
Rian leans against the doorway for a second before speaking.
“You know it’s almost two in the morning, right?”
JuJu doesn’t look up immediately.
Just shoots again.
Misses.
Gets her own rebound.
Shoots again.
This one goes in.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
Her voice sounds tired.
Not physically tired.
Heavy tired.
Rian notices it instantly.
She walks over quietly and catches the next rebound before it can roll away.
JuJu glances at her finally.
“You don’t have to stay.”
Rian shrugs.
“Didn’t say I was leaving.”
That earns the smallest smile.
So Rian stays.
For almost an hour they barely talk.
JuJu shoots.
Rian rebounds.
The gym fills with squeaking shoes and bouncing basketballs and quiet breathing.
Until eventually JuJu misses another shot and just…
Stops.
She bends forward with her hands on her knees.
Rian’s expression softens immediately.
“You okay?”
JuJu laughs once.
But there’s no humor in it.
“I’m tired.”
Rian steps closer.
“I know.”
JuJu looks up then.
Eyes glossy.
Like she’s trying very hard not to let herself feel something.
“I feel like everybody needs something from me all the time,” she says quietly. “Coaches. Media. Fans. My family. Everybody.”
Rian doesn’t interrupt.
So JuJu keeps going.
“And if I have one bad game suddenly it’s—”
Her voice breaks slightly.
She looks away immediately.
Embarrassed.
Rian’s chest aches.
“Hey,” she says softly.
JuJu shakes her head hard.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t have to do that with me.”
That makes JuJu go still.
Because Rian says it so simply.
So honestly.
Like she really means it.
JuJu’s shoulders finally loosen a little.
And before Rian even fully realizes what’s happening—
JuJu reaches for her hand.
Small movement.
Tentative.
Like she’s scared Rian might pull away.
Rian absolutely does not.
Their fingers slide together naturally.
Warm.
Comforting.
JuJu exhales shakily.
Then starts talking again.
Quieter this time.
About pressure.
About expectations.
About how lonely being “the girl everybody watches” can feel sometimes.
Rian just listens.
Thumb brushing softly across JuJu’s knuckles the entire time.
At some point they end up sitting on the floor against the bleachers.
Still holding hands.
JuJu’s voice gets slower.
Sleepier.
Her head eventually tips against Rian’s shoulder.
Rian goes completely still.
JuJu sighs softly against her.
And that’s it.
That’s the moment Rian realizes she is completely done for.
Because the toughest player she knows is half asleep on her shoulder trusting her with the softest parts of herself.
A few minutes later JuJu is fully asleep.
Rian stares down at her for a second.
Then very carefully stands up.
JuJu barely stirs when Rian lifts her.
Just instinctively curls closer.
Rian’s heart nearly explodes.
The walk back to JuJu’s apartment is quiet.
By the time they get inside, JuJu is barely awake.
Rian gently sets her down on the bed.
Starts pulling the blanket over her.
Then turns to leave.
“Stay.”
Rian freezes.
JuJu’s eyes are barely open.
“Please,” she whispers sleepily. “Ri…”
The nickname hits Rian directly in the chest.
“…okay,” she says softly.
JuJu relaxes instantly.
Rian slips off her shoes.
Pulls off her hoodie.
JuJu immediately reaches for it without even opening her eyes properly.
Rian laughs quietly.
“You stealing my hoodie already?”
JuJu mumbles something incoherent and pulls it on anyway.
Cute.
Way too cute.
Rian finally climbs carefully into bed beside her.
Facing her.
And the second she does, JuJu moves closer automatically.
Like it’s instinct.
Like she belongs there.
JuJu presses her face against Rian’s neck and sighs softly.
“Please don’t leave in the morning.”
Rian’s chest physically hurts.
Because JuJu says it so quietly.
Like she’s expecting disappointment.
Rian immediately wraps an arm around her.
“I won’t,” she whispers. “I swear.”
JuJu nods once against her neck.
Already half asleep again.
Rian starts gently rubbing her head.
Slow fingers through her curls.
Massaging lightly against her scalp.
JuJu melts immediately.
Another tiny sigh leaving her lips.
Relaxed.
Safe.
And somewhere in the quiet darkness, with JuJu curled against her chest wearing her hoodie and trusting her completely—
Rian realizes this stopped being friendship a long time ago.
She presses one soft kiss against the top of JuJu’s head.
