⋆˚꩜｡Gigi ⋆˚꩜｡

the fire placed glowed in front of you, its crackling making for a gentle song in your quiet home. dim stars littered the sky as a shade of blue and gray washed over the horizon. it was beautiful, private; just you and abby finding your own rhythm amongst the chaos of the world.

she sat on the worn rug in front of you, sitting criss cross whilst she sipped on her mug of tea. you were behind her, sinking into the couch as your fingers ran rampantly through her golden locks. each wave catching slightly as you massaged her scalp. now and then, she'd let out a sigh of contentment, shoulders loosening with each stroke of your hand.

abby's hair was something sacred. representing her independence and hardships, her own journey of navigating through a vale of tears. when you had first started dating, it was very rare that you touched her locks. opting to let her open that part of her life when she was ready. however, as your relationship began to blossom over the years, she found much comfort in letting you enter that part of her life.

and now here you were, spending the evening reveling in each other's presence, plaiting her hair in the way she had always loved. it made you smile as you looked down at her. noticing the way her eyes would flutter shut as you twisted one strand over another. it made your heart swell to know that she trusted you like this.

"that feels nice" she whispered leaning against the sofa cushions.

"yeah?" you smiled, reaching the end of the braid.

she nodded slightly as to not ruin her hair, and you could tell she was smiling too. not long after, just as the tea ran cold and the sky grew darker, you had finished the lacing of her hair and tied it with a pretty pink bow. she was never one to accessorize, though you felt she deserved to be treated like a princess no matter how silly the occasion might have seemed.

you leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head, a way of letting her know you were finished with her hair. abby felt warm against your lips, the scent of pine and vanilla overcoming your senses as you drew nearer. her head tilted to the side to look up at you, arm reaching to catch your chin before you could move away.

suddenly, her lips were on yours, molding together like the foam of the sea melting into the waves. it was tender and sweet and full of love, both of you sighing into the embrace. her eyes gazed at you once you pulled away, the shades of blue reminding you of the forget me nots in the front yard. the memory of you planting them together when you first moved in washed over you.

"you okay?" she asked, realizing you were staring at her blankly.

the concrete tunnels beneath the arena made for a quiet sanctuary. the distant, muffled roar of fans echoed beyond its walls. it was thirty minutes before tip-off of the WNBA finals game, and the air was thick with tension and relentless pressure.

caitlin stood outside the locker room door, massive frame pacing anxiously. a lot was riding on the outcome of this game, whether she was confident or not it didn't matter. she had to win this. she had been waiting her entire life for this, waiting to hold that glistening trophy in her hands, the look of success evident on her face. she could taste it, even now as she trembled in her jersey.

she had assumed you were feeling the same. preparing to perfom a half time show for a big game couldn't be easy on your nerves. but you were radiant behind that microphone, and she knew you'd have the audience wrapped around your finger in no time.

suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she glanced at it without a second thought.

tunnel C. by the audio equipment. hurry before my security team catches on!

a small, genuine smile broke across her face. seeing your name appear on her phone always lifted her spirits. even when the pressure was weighing down on her shoulders.

the two of you had been dating for quite some time now, approaching just over a year, and it was the best year of her life. dating a popstar wasn't easy in any aspect, nor was dating an all-star athlete, but you two made it work.

she had met you by pure accident at a late night diner during a road trip in the off season, and you hit it off instantly. bonding over greasy hashbrowns and diet cokes as you talked about what high profile life was like. how it felt to have thousands cheering your names whilst still feeling entirely isolated.

since then, your relationship had been a secret. no outings, no instagram posts, no public statements. just the privacy of domestic life between the two of you. slipping into each other's apartments, building a fragile word that belonged just to you. though it would be nice to savor your company in the public eye, both of you appreciated the secrecy. something about the excitement of it all had you both on your toes. it was nice, to be able to walk out of the studio, and come home to her.

caitlin rounded the corner into tunnel c, a restricted corridor used mostly for heavy stage equipment. it was deserted compared to the pre-game chaos of stadium staff and security personnel. the space was dimly lit, red and blue lights seeping in from the area beyond, just enough to remind her of everything on the line.

though before she could get herself worked up once again, she spotted you. standing elegantly beside the black flight cases and rolls of electrical cables, picking at your nails as you waited for her.

you had been pacing just the same as she had, heels of your boots clicking softly against the ground. a full face of makeup had already been painted graciously onto your skin, the most fitting performance costume tightly hugging your body. the outfit was structured and bright, with glitter and fringe, catching the dim overhead fluorescent light. you looked absolutely beautiful.

"hey" she spoke, stepping closer.

your head snapped up upon hearing her voice. the moment your eyes locked onto hers, all of your stress melted away. a bright and radiant smile spread across your face; and you instantly ran towards her. it didn't take long for her to close the space, arms wrapping around your waist and pulling you into a comforting hug.

neatly manicured fingers gripped at the back of her neck, nose nuzzling into her shoulder as you let out a relieved sigh. you had needed her tonight just as much as she needed you. caitlin buried her face into your collarbone just the same, breathing in the familiar scent of your perfume.

for a long moment, neither of you said a word. it was just two bodies, standing there in stillness, holding onto each other while the world outside roared around them. hearts beating against each other like waves crashing against the shore.

"you look beautiful" your girlfriend murmured against your hair, voice muffled "very shiny"

you let out a breathy laugh, head moving to rest against her chest.

"thanks," you replied "i figured if i'm performing one of the biggest games of your life, i should at least try to look like a trophy. you know, for good luck"

she snorted at your joke, knowing that you would always be her trophy. win or lose. you pulled back just enough to look at her, reaching up to trace her cheekbone with your thumb.

"are you doing okay? you seem worried" a pout washed over your face, concern for your girlfriend seeping into your bones.

"no, it's just-" she sighed, stepping back from you. her shoulders dropped as her hands ran down her face "i'm stressed. if i lose this now, if i don't play my best, it's all over. i'll have disappointed everyone and the media will spend the next four months talking about how i choked under the pressure. i don't know it's...a lot of noise going on in my head right now"

you looked up at her with sympathetic eyes. it was a feeling you knew all too well. possible imperfection threatening to destroy everything you had built. it was scary, and your heart ached for her. she had been waiting for this moment for so long, and it would completely shatter her to fail now.

"listen to me," you said firmly, grabbing her hands to remove them from her face and get her focus back on you "when i go out there at half time, there are going to be thousands of people screaming. flashing cameras and critics waiting to judge my every move. but do you know what i do right before those lights come on? when my mind is swarming with a million bad thoughts?"

caitlin looked at you completely captivated "what?"

"i think about that night in the diner" you whispered "when it was just the two of us, happening to be there by chance at 2 am. i think about sitting at that counter, eating that shitty food, and looking at you. because the stadiums and the arenas, the headlines, and the big reputations we both have...none of that's real baby. this is real. what we have right here is the only thing that actually matters"

she stared at you, the frantic pounding of her heart finally slowing down. the heaviness of the game didn't disappear, but it suddenly felt manageable to her. like this is every other game, knowing you'd be there to support her no matter the outcome.

"you play because you love it" you continued, a flat palm coming to tap against her breastbone "so go out there and play. don't worry about the scoreboard, and don't worry about what everyone else is thinking. just play for the girl who used to shoot hoops in her driveway until the sun went down. okay?"

there couldn't be a better feeling than this, she thought. hearing the way you spoke so passionately about her. for her. it was liberating.

"okay," she smiled, leaning down to press her forehead against yours "yeah, you're right"

"i'm always right" you teased as you quirked a brow at her.

"thank you, baby" she muttered "i needed that"

"don't thank me yet" a twinkle of mischief flashed in your eyes "win that game first!"

warm, strong hands slid up to your face, cradling your cheeks with such delicacy as to not smudge your makeup. she leaned down to your level to place a loving kiss to your lips. it wasn't rushed nor urgent, though it was slow and deep and full of unspeakable certainty. it was somewhat of a private promise, sealed away in the shadows of the tunnel.

when cailtin finally pulled away from you, you were left breathless. the taste of her still lingering on your tongue, cheeks flushed with a rosy pink. you gave her one last supportive squeeze around her waist before shooing her off back down the concrete underpass.

"now go" you said playfully, leaving her grasp reluctantly "your team's gonna come looking for you soon. just know i'll be watching from the wings!"

she stepped a few paces, blowing you a kiss with a wide set grin.

"watch from the left side of the court. i'm hitting the first three-pointer for you"

"you better!" you beamed as you returned the gesture.

caitlin turned to walk back towards the locker room, the knots in her stomach had diminished, replaced by focus and determination. she was going to win this for the both of you, no matter the cost. as she rounded the corner once more and the vibrating sounds of the crowed bellowed around her, she didn't feel that same sense of distress.