𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 — kk arnold x reader!actress
ꨄ — summary: kk doesn't expect to get clipped for revealing her celebrity crush. she also doesn't expect her celebrity crush to see that clip.
ꨄ — word count: 3.3k
ꨄ — warnings: none
ꨄ — authors note: this wasn't supposed to be this long but slay ig
(re-reading this, i think it doesn’t make that much sense but whatever)
KK Arnold is a very private person. Despite what she may post online or say on Live or share in person, she's very private. Especially with her relationships, even with her sexuality.
“Private but not a secret” was her motto when it came to her relationships.
But one thing she was very vocal about was her crush on you.
You were a very popular actress, basically a Mckenna Grace before Mckenna Grace, even though you were only a year older. Having acted in over 30 movies and TV shows, you have over 65 acting credits and are a Tony Award away from having an EGOT all at the young age of 20 years old.
Most of your movies consisted of horror and a surprising amount of rom-coms, being nicknamed by your fans, “Scream Queen Sweetheart.”
KK had been watching your movies since she was a child—well, you were a child too, but KK admired you. She thought it was cool that someone her age was already so successful, and that thought only amplified as she started getting older.
She was focused on basketball but would always find time to watch your new movie or search about you and what you were doing, some would call that creepy or “stalkerish” behaviour, but she would consider it research, for y'know, in case she ever meets you. And, yeah, it was a bonus that you were really, really, really pretty.
Well, going to UConn, she became very close with all the girls, and when she told them about her “admiration” towards you, Paige immediately clocked that KK had a crush, and she had to endure constant teasing from the team, including them randomly putting on one of your movies just to poke fun at KK.
It was now common knowledge among the team and also around campus that KK had a crush on you, even the girls (namely Paige and Ice) brought you up during videos, never saying your name but always mentioning you. The fans online were speculating on who you were, which was where KK first said the “Private but not a secret” thing.
KK did post Snapchat videos and TikToks about you, and yes, the fans also immediately clocked that KK had a crush, but they figured the person the team was talking about was a person KK actually knew. Not a very famous, very loved, very rich actress.
It was close to midnight, and some of the girls decided—aka highly encouraged by KK—to go to Crumble and do another crumble cookie review on Live.
Everything was going great; the girls, aka Paige, Ice, KK, and Jana, had been having a good time, laughing, making jokes, talking to the viewers, and then the night took an unexpected turn.
KK was sitting in the back, having a tantrum, upset for some reason, and Paige had moved closer to the phone to see what people were saying when a question caught her eye.
uconnfan5: who's your celebrity crush?
Paige laughed, drawing the attention of everyone else in the car. She turned around and said, “Hey, KK, stop your tantrum for a second.” KK turned her head, mugging Paige, “They're asking who your celebrity crush is.”
Suddenly, it was like KK was never upset, she moved forward until she was placed in between the two front seats and smiled like she knew something they didn't and said, “Ok, y'all my celebrity crush is—girl boo, can you shut up?”
The other girls had started giggling when they saw how invested KK suddenly was at the mention of her celebrity crush, any chance to talk about you, right?
The girls had quietened but they didn't stop laughing, and KK ignored them and continued, “Y'all so my celebrity crush is”
KK didn't realise how much craziness she would cause by simply saying your name, but seconds after she told the Live, the comments exploded.
The comments were literally going by in flashes, and no one could properly see what they were saying.
paigebueckersupdates: wait...they would low-key be cute together
fuddaround35: my two worlds colliding
kkarnot2: yeah, we done already knew kk liked her
pazzi355: so kk finally admitted it? lol, yeah we already knew
Meanwhile, KK had started smiling just at the thought of you, and the girls noticed and started teasing her again.
Eventually, it got too much, and the Live started glitching, so they hopped off, and the rest of the girls continued to tease KK about her crush on you.
She didn't think it was a big deal; she always talked about you, but she didn't expect to get clipped and go viral for admitting her crush. And she definitely didn't expect you to see it.
You didn't know much about basketball; you didn't really watch it like your younger brother did.
He was obsessed; he wanted to be another Michael Jordan, or even another Diana Taurasi. He watched both the NBA and the WNBA, and he watched UConn games, so you can imagine how hyped he was when he saw the clip of KK saying she has a crush on you.
You were getting ready for the premiere of your new movie, 'Sinners,' when your brother started blowing up your phone.
Broskii 🫶🏻🏀: YO
Broskii 🫶🏻🏀: HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CLIP?
Broskii 🫶🏻🏀: [video link]
Broskii 🫶🏻🏀: THATS KK ARNOLD BRO
Broskii 🫶🏻🏀: SAYING SHE HAS A CRUSH ON YOU
Broskii 🫶🏻🏀: YOU, OF ALL PEOPLE
Broskii 🫶🏻🏀: THIS IS CRAZYYYYY
Broskii 🫶🏻🏀: bro
Broskii 🫶🏻🏀: don't ghost me
And about a million more of him freaking out.
You rolled your eyes at the messages and pressed on the link. The link led you to a TikTok clip of a girl, presumably KK, saying with a huge grin on her face that her celebrity crush was you, the text on the screen was something along the lines of “KK Arnold finally admits her crush on famous actor”
You half-smiled, feeling flattered, and liked the video before exiting and texting your brother back. You told him you would call later, which only resulted in him blowing up your phone more, so you muted him and put your phone on do not disturb.
But even after you put your phone away, you couldn't stop thinking about that clip. Or more specifically, KK.
“What'd he want?” Your stylist asked as she handed you your dress, “Something about a basketball player.” You murmured
Then you couldn't take it, you grabbed your phone and went back to TikTok, searching up KK Arnold and fell down a rabbit hole of basketball highlights, clips from her Lives, funny TikToks and edits of her.
You scrolled through her videos the entire time you were getting ready until eventually your agent told you it was time to go. You took pictures and then left for the premiere.
Showing up, you spotted all your co-stars, who all came over to say Hi and give you big hugs. You were one of the youngest in the main cast, so everybody else treated you like you were their child; it was endearing.
You took pictures with everyone on the red carpet, then you drifted towards the reporters for interviews.
All of them went as normal, and then it was time to start heading in, so you stopped for one last interview. It started as usual, then towards the end of the interview, the reporter switched gears.
“So, a slight change of topic. Have you seen the video of KK Arnold, a basketball player at UConn, saying you're her celebrity crush?”
You flushed at the question. You wouldn't usually give this much thought to a clip like that, as people on the daily said you were their crush, but maybe this time was different because it was KK. And yes, maybe she was really pretty. And yes, maybe she was really talented. And from what you've seen so far, really funny.
“Uh, yes, actually.” You forced laughter, hoping to come off as casual, “My brother sent it to me earlier, I'm very flattered.”
“So, does KK have a chance with her celebrity crush?” The reporter wiggled their eyebrows, coming closer as if to share a secret.
“Well, maybe if she impresses me in her next game, I might give her a chance.” You winked into the camera, and the reporter giggled before moving on. When you wrapped up the interview, you headed inside, locking arms with Hailee.
You didn't give much thought to what you said. I mean, you knew it would go viral, the internet was a sucker for a good crossover romance but you figured it was a one-off thing with KK, and that something else would capture the attention of your fans, but you underestimated just how much the UConn fans and your fans were already obsessed with the thought of you two together.
KK was lying in her bed, scrolling on her phone, when she came across the clip.
The video ended with you winking, and KK shot up out of her bed, her heart pounding. At the same time, Paige burst through the door holding her phone with the same video pulled up, “KK!” She exclaimed, “Have you seen this?”
KK squealed, “I just watched it, this shit is crazy!”
Paige ran to KK, grabbing her hands, and the two spun around, squealing in excitement. Overhearing the noise, Azzi came running in, only to stop at the doorway with a deadpan look on her face when she realised everything was fine, “Seriously?”
“What, Azzi? This is a big moment. KK got noticed by her crush,” Paige said in a sing-song manner.
“Wait, now I'm panicking.”
Paige frowned, “What, why?”
“She saw the clip, she said I have to impress her, what am I gonna do?” KK groaned. She wasn't expecting you to actually see the clip, never mind respond.
“Ok, calm down.” Paige grabbed KK by the shoulders, “KK, I am making it my duty to get you that date, starting with basketball.”
UConn had a game that weekend, so for the whole week, Paige was in the gym with KK pushing her to her limits. Defensively and offensively. If you wanted to be impressed, Paige was gonna make sure KK had the best damn game of her life.
Meanwhile, you had flown out to Connecticut to film another movie. It was a love-story-gone-wrong-psychological-thriller plot, which combined your favourite genres to watch and film, horror and romance.
The movie was set in Connecticut, but you were really only there for two weeks, just to get specific shots, then you were flying to Los Angeles to film the rest of it.
While flying to Connecticut, you were stalking KK (per usual) and realised she went to UConn, the University of Connecticut.
KK hadn't said or posted anything in response to your interview, and, like you thought, you didn't expect her to. You did think it was a one-and-done thing, but you wouldn't have minded if it became something else.
And you figured, maybe it was time you got into basketball, good thing you have a brother who's obsessed with it.
So, you asked your agent to get you tickets to their upcoming game under the guise of supporting local teams while in Connecticut, but secretly deep down, you hoped that maybe you would get to see KK in person.
It was their last practice before game day, and Geno had called a huddle.
He talked through their game plan and named the starters, then at the end he said, “Also, KK, your little crush is gonna be at the game this weekend—”
“What!” KK yelled, interrupting Geno, “What do you mean?”
Geno sighed, annoyed that KK had interrupted, “If you listened and didn't interrupt me, Kamorea.”
Some of the girls oohed in the background, and KK glared back at them.
Geno continued, “Her agent reached out for courtside tickets; she wants to watch as many sports games as she can while she's in Connecticut. I think she's going to a soccer game as well.” Geno murmured that last bit to himself but KK didn't hear it.
KK felt like her heart was going to burst out of her chest, because what do you mean, KK's celebrity crush was going to be sitting court side at one of her games? To watch her play?
Now, the only reason KK didn't respond to your video was because she didn't know how to.
She had spent a good part of her life admiring you and everything you did, so seeing that video was a shock to her.
She didn't think there was a world in which you knew her name, yet there you were, casually telling KK to impress you, and she might get a chance. And you looked so calm, like it didn't even faze you that KK had a crush, but I mean, you were stunning and talented, thousands of people had crushes on you, KK just didn't think she would be the one you would notice.
So it felt surreal that you were gonna watch her play, and some part of KK felt like this was all just a bad dream where she was gonna play badly and then you were gonna laugh at her in real life, but she was snapped out of it by Paige, who literally snapped her fingers in KK's face.
“KK, earth to camera, helloooo”
KK turned to Paige, still in a daze from the thought of you watching her play, “You good, camera?”
She nodded but made no move to open her mouth, still staring at nothing and thinking of you.
Paige sighed, “You know, KK, it's okay to be nervous—”
That seemed to get to KK as she snapped her head in Paige's direction, exclaiming, “Girl boo, of course I'm nervous, I was never hiding that.”
KK dragged her hands over her face, muttering, “What am I gonna do?” Then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and said, “I have to play the best damn basketball of my life.”
Paige grinned and slapped KK on the back, “I know that's right, camera, let's goooo”
The rest of the team started hyping KK up as well, and KK tried not to get her hopes up, but some part of her hoped that you would be impressed when you watched her play.
It was game day, and surprisingly, KK wasn't freaking out.
That was a lie; she's totally freaking out.
She had managed to keep calm throughout the day, but now they were T-minus 45 minutes to the game, and KK had started panicking. They had to leave in 15 minutes to start warm-ups on the court, so this was probably the worst time for KK to freak out.
She kept pacing back and forth in the locker room, muttering ‘oh my God’ over and over again.
The team had done their pre-game rituals and were now standing around the locker room watching KK and exchanging glances with each other, wondering who was gonna speak up and say something.
But they didn't have to, Geno came in and yelled at KK to focus before sending everyone out for warm-ups.
KK froze. This is it. When she goes out there, she's gonna see you. And you're gonna see her. You've probably already seen the hundreds of videos KK has made about you. Videos where she talked about your upcoming movies, or how pretty you looked on the red carpet.
Okay, back to panicking.
KK stared wide-eyed at the door, hoping somehow that the ground would swallow her whole before she could take a step.
The team walked out in a single file line, and Sarah, who usually walked out after KK, stopped and laughed at the look on KK's face. Calling out her name, Sarah said, “Calm down, just pretend she's not here and play like usual.”
“I can't do that, Sarah,” KK huffed, “I want to impress her.” She groaned. Why did she have to take a liking to someone so beautiful and talented?
“Ok, so then go out there and impress her.” KK looked at Sarah, eyes wide like she was wanting reassurance. Sarah sighed, “KK, everything's going to be fine. Whether you go out there and impress her or you fall on your face and embarrass yourself.”
Ignoring KK's alarmed look, Sarah continued, “It's all going to be fine. Rejection is redirection, you'll be fine, KK.”
KK chewed her bottom lip before nodding.
Sarah smiled and nodded back before saying, “Now, hurry up, we have a game to play.” Taking another deep breath, KK walked out of the locker room, Sarah following behind.
It was time to play some basketball.
KK was put in during the second quarter and was all nerves.
She spotted you during warm-ups, and her body physically locked up, and her eyes stayed trained on you. And, of course, you were wearing her jersey. KK felt like her heart was going to combust.
You hadn't noticed KK staring, too busy marvelling at the environment. All the fans, the signs, and the t-shirts, just the atmosphere inside Gampel was insane.
By the time KK had been brought back to reality—by Geno yelling at her again—you had looked back to the court, easily spotting KK.
She had chosen the farthest spot from you and was lying on her back doing leg stretches, but you could find KK anywhere, especially after you spent days “researching” her online—that's code for you were stalking, heavy.
She had tried to avoid looking at you, but somehow she just kept finding you again and again.
When KK got put into the game, the first few minutes were chaotic. She wasn't in her spot, she was taking unnecessary shots, and just making bad passes.
At the halftime mark, KK dropped her head. She didn't know what she was thinking. That she could be the one to impress you. Every day, you were surrounded by people far more talented and more successful than her. And yet, when KK lifted her head, her eyes automatically landed on you.
You made eye contact with KK and smiled softly, lifting your arm to wave at her.
She paused, then smiled, waving back.
The rest of the game was cash. At least for KK, she got her stats up, and her confidence was bringing everyone else up, too.
Game over. 83 - 63 UConn.
Everyone was hype as they headed back to the locker room, but no one more than KK.
She was running, jumping, yelling and everything else. Then she stopped in place, staring straight ahead.
There you were, standing outside their locker room. You looked even more beautiful up close, and KK felt her hands get clammy.
You looked up as you heard the players get closer. The first few waved and sent sly smirks to the person beside them but they didn't linger; they knew who you were waiting for.
When the team was in the locker room and the door was closed, only you and KK remained.
KK started fidgeting with her hands, and you noticed, so you spoke up, “Nice game tonight.”
Your voice sounded like music to KK's ears, and it cut through KK's overthinking, so with a boost of confidence, she said, “Hm, did I impress you?”
You laughed, and KK swore she thought she was in heaven for a second. Your laughter drew KK closer, and suddenly, she wanted to do anything she could to hear it for the rest of her life.
“You did,” You mused, then you laughed to yourself again.
KK grinned at you, loving the sound of your laugh, “So, what now?” She said.
You looked down, thoughtfully, “Now?” Then you looked back at KK with a mischievous look in your eye, “Now, we go to dinner.”
There was no doubt, no hesitation when you asked—or more like told.
So, KK smiled and said, “Ok, I gotta take a shower and get ready though.”
“That's okay, I have to change too.”
“I mean, I like your outfit,” KK slyly said, while not-so-discretely looking you up and down.
You laughed again, you seemed to be doing that a lot around KK, “Oh, really?”
At KK's nod, you continued, “Well, I like it too, but probably not the best for a date, so I'll text you and then you can show me what kind of fun you get up to in Storrs, Connecticut.”
