For Whatever It's Worth

The final buzzer blared, a harsh, unforgiving sound that echoed the disappointment settling heavy in the Iowa Hawkeyes' hearts. The scoreboard, a cruel beacon of truth, solidified their loss: 82-77. Another regular season game, another chance missed, especially for the seniors they’d wanted to send off with a win.

Kate Martin walked off the court, the familiar ache of defeat mingling with a fresh, sharp sting. Beside her, Caitlin Clark and Gabbie Marshall matched her steps, the usual post-game chatter conspicuously absent. The silence was thick, but it was Gabbie, ever the one to cut through tension, who finally spoke.

"So, that third quarter," she began, her voice a little too bright, "very exciting, wasn't it?"

Kate scoffed, the sound devoid of humor. "If humiliating is what you mean, then yeah. Totally."

Caitlin, always quick with a comforting quip, nudged her arm. "Don't get yourself down on it, Kate. It happens. It’s normal in sports. Besides, I know there's a bunch of fans ready to make some hot edits of you and that fight between Mühl."

Kate rolled her eyes, a small, involuntary smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks, Caitlin. You always know how to make me feel better."

"My pleasure."

Gabbie sighed, a heavier sound this time. "Sorry, Kate and Caitlin, I don't want to ruin the moment, although it kind of seemed ruined already, but… what's going to happen on the Myrtle Beach vacation now with the UConn team? I mean, now there's just going to be a bunch of tension in the air between Kate and Nika."

Kate’s eyes widened, the casual mention of the upcoming trip hitting her with the force of a cold shower. The vacation. With UConn. With Nika. She’d completely forgotten. As if losing wasn't bad enough, now she had to spend a month under the same roof as her new, very public, enemy.