#not subtle

It starts with a rule.

“We’re keeping this lowkey,” KK says.

Kayleigh nods without looking up. “No distractions.”

They shake on it like it actually means something.

It doesn’t last.

KK starts saving Kayleigh a seat everywhere.

Kayleigh starts wearing KK’s hoodies without asking.

Neither of them realizes how obvious that already is.

At practice, it gets worse.

KK passes her water bottle to Kayleigh without thinking.

Kayleigh fixes KK’s hair mid-drill like it’s muscle memory.

Kelis whispers, “They think they’re subtle.”

Sarah replies immediately, “They’re not.”

KK hears it.

Pretends she doesn’t.

They find out the truth from Instagram.

Not from each other.

Never from each other.

Kayleigh posts a photo dump.

One of the pictures is KK laughing in the background, completely unposed, head thrown back like she forgot anyone was watching.

Caption: “annoying.”

KK reposts it instantly.

Caption: “mine.”

Silence.

Then chaos.

“FINALLY.”

“we’ve been waiting for this.”

“y’all are not slick 😭”

Coach: “good.”

KK stares at her phone.

“…we were not hiding it at all, were we?”

Kayleigh: “not even a little.”

Halloween makes it worse.

They swear they’re not matching costumes.

They really swear.

But somehow they still show up coordinating without planning it.

Same color palette. Same vibe.

KK looks at Kayleigh.

Kayleigh looks back.

“…this is coincidence,” KK says.

“It’s not,” Kayleigh replies.

Someone takes a picture.

It’s already in the group chat before they even leave.

Caption: “they gave up 😭”

TikTok finishes them off.

A couples trend hits the team.

They get dragged into it.

First prompt: “who fell first?”

Both of them point at each other instantly.

Second prompt: “who is more obsessed?”

Again, both point at each other.

KK gasps. “That’s betrayal.”

Kayleigh shrugs. “That’s truth.”

The final accident is a post.

KK uploads a blurry post-practice photo dump.

Kayleigh is clearly in it again.

Sitting next to her.

Leaning into her shoulder like it’s nothing.

Caption: “yeah.”

That’s it.

Just “yeah.”

KK stares at it.

“…that’s not a hard launch.”

Kayleigh tilts her head. “It is now.”

Within minutes:

“ABOUT TIME.”

“we’ve known for MONTHS.”

“y’all are actually hilarious for thinking this was secret 😭”

Morgan adds: “we literally thought you were together last season.”

KK drops her phone on the bed.

“I hate everyone.”

Kayleigh laughs softly. “You posted it.”

KK: “I didn’t think.”

Kayleigh: “you never do.”

Later that night, they’re lying in KK’s bed.

Phone still buzzing somewhere in the background.

Kayleigh wearing KK’s hoodie again.

KK scrolling through comments.

“We were never subtle,” KK says quietly.

Kayleigh hums. “Nope.”

KK glances at her. “You okay with everyone knowing?”

Kayleigh pauses.

Then shrugs.

“They already knew.”

KK laughs under her breath. “Yeah… I guess they did.”

Kayleigh nudges her shoulder. “Took you long enough.”

KK smiles.

“Worth it though.”

Kayleigh looks at her.

“Yeah?”

KK nods.

“Yeah.”