Clueless, kate martin

SEVEN. new year new tatum?

thursday, january 4th, 2024:
new york city, new york

Tatum had promised herself in the new year that she would soak up every minute she had left with the seniors.

She had made the resolution that this year was going to be the best year she could ever dream of. The girl was going to live her life the way it was meant for her to be— just like Bluder had told the team at the Crossover exposition. And that's what she was going to do, with her best friends by her side.

She knew in her heart that she was fulfilling that promise already as she walked the streets of New York City with the Iowa women's basketball team.

Caitlin led up front as the rest of them followed. Jada, Gabbie, Kate and Tatum trailed behind Kylie and Sydney as she tried to vlog their day trip. They had an extra day on their winter break to explore the Big Apple before their game against Rutgers.

The team had made the first stop of the day at the much-needed-to-see Rockefeller tree.

Kylie was vlogging and requested that Gabbie told the viewers where they were to keep them in the loop.

Gabbie smiled and nodded, but turned to Tatum. "What's it called?" Chuckling, Tatum whispered her the answer. "Oh." She turned to Kylie and gestured towards the popular Christmas tourist spot, "Okay so our first stop is this beautiful, um, Rockefeller Tree."

"Mhm, sure is. So pretty," Tatum commented, nodding as Kylie showed the camera and giggling at Gabbie's slight embarrassment from beside her.

The team took a series of photos and selfies. Somehow and some way, Tatum wound up next to Kate in nearly each one and tried not to linger on the fact that it happened each time, or the way the senior's hand found a resting place on her hip with every smile that was captured.

Eventually they all moved along with their day, stopping by the Astrological Carousel display. It felt like Tatum was everyone's personal tour guide as she answered as many of her friends' questions as she could, being the only girl from the East Coast and having had frequent visits to the city. 

They were escorted by a documentary camera crew wherever they went, catching every step they took.

"This is what it's like being teammates with Caitlin Clark," Sydney snorted.

Tatum laughed at that as Kylie relayed Sydney's remark to her camera. She was still trying her best to vlog the day, telling the camera what they were experiencing as they trailed behind the fans' collective favorite athlete.

It was such an honor to be able to call Caitlin one of Tatum's best friends but also a teammate, someone who was pacing the way for so many young generations to come when it involved women sports. To be able to watch it all unfold in real time, right by her side— as someone she chooses to be along the journey with her as a friend. It always felt like her popularity only kept growing.

In fact, the attention from Caitlin had even caused the group of girls to get kicked out of one of the stores because there were too many cameras.

And yet despite it all, she was still the same silly, crazy Caitlin the women's basketball Hawkeyes all knew and loved on.

"Show them your hand," Kylie was saying.

Caitlin's fingers were so cold that they were as pale as snow. She showed Kylie's vlog her state, grimacing as she told the lens, "Pray for me."

"Always do," Tatum snorted. "You need as much as you can get."

"Outta pocket, missy," Caitlin pointed to Tatum off to the side. Her friend simply laughed. "That's enough out of you."