Chapter 7
Weeks went by, and somehow, Kara felt less weird about liking Lena. The initial panic had dulled into something more manageable—annoying, but no longer all-consuming. Nia and Winn still teased her about it whenever they got the chance, but it had become more of a routine than actual torment. She rolled her eyes, groaned dramatically, and endured it. She also stopped avoiding Lena, which meant Lena stopped seeking her out. That should have been a relief, and in some ways, it was. No more intense, lingering stares. No more smug interrogations. No more cryptic, knowing smirks that made Kara’s heart pound against her will.
Still, that didn’t mean Lena had faded into the background. They still crossed paths, still exchanged glances in the hallway. Sometimes, Lena would catch her eye and smirk before walking away, or worse—wink, like this whole thing was some inside joke Kara didn’t know she was a part of. And the worst part? It got to her.
Every damn time.
But despite all of that, life continued. Basketball practices, school, hanging out with Nia and Winn—everything settled back into normalcy. Or at least, as normal as things could One afternoon, Kara was at her locker, rummaging through her books, when Nia and Winn flanked her on either side. She barely had time to react before Nia leaned in, grinning like she was about to cause trouble.
“So, have you figured out a game plan yet?” Nia asked, wiggling her eyebrows. Kara groaned. “There is no game plan.”
Winn scoffed. “Come on, Kara. You can’t just not have a plan. You’ve been crushing on Lena for weeks now.”
“I am not—” Nia cut her off with an exasperated sigh. “Oh please. At this point, even Lena knows you’re crushing on her.”
Kara stiffened. “She does not.”
Winn shot her a look. “Kara, she winks at you.”
“So? Maybe she just winks at people.” Nia smirked. “Do you ever see her winking at anyone else?”
Kara hesitated. She wanted to argue, to say that Lena probably flirted with everyone—but the truth was, she hadn’t actually seen Lena act like this with anyone else. And that realization made her stomach twist. Nia and Winn exchanged a knowing look before Nia leaned in again. “Listen, Kara, you two would be insane together. You’re both the best at what you do. You’re the school’s golden girl, she’s the queen of the court—do you realize how iconic that would be?” Winn nodded. “Total power couple vibes.” Kara shook her head, snapping herself out of it.
“It doesn’t matter,” she muttered, shoving a textbook into her bag. “It’s not like she likes me back.” Winn hummed. “You sure about that?” Kara narrowed her eyes at him. “Yes, I’m sure. This is Lena Luthor we’re talking about. She only dates guys who can keep up with her ego, and last I checked, I am not a guy.”
Nia shrugged. “Maybe she’s just waiting for someone actually worth her time.” Before Kara could argue, the unmistakable sound of laughter echoed down the hallway. All three of them turned toward the source, and sure enough—Lena Luthor herself was striding down the hall, her usual entourage in tow. She was mid-conversation with some junior. Kara told herself not to stare. She really tried. But then, right as Lena passed, she glanced Kara’s way.
Their eyes met for just a second—just long enough for Lena’s lips to curl into a knowing smirk. And then, as if she knew exactly what they’d been talking about, Lena winked. Again. Kara’s entire brain short-circuited.
Nia gasped. “Oh my God.”
Winn snorted. “Yeah. She definitely doesn’t like you back.”
Kara groaned, slamming her locker shut. “I hate both of you.”
Nia beamed. “You’ll thank us later.” -
Kara spent the rest of the day trying to ignore the way her heart still hadn’t settled after that wink. It was fine. She was fine. Just Because Lena had winked at her again didn’t mean anything. Except Nia and Winn wouldn’t shut up about it. At lunch, Nia dramatically placed a hand over her heart. “The tension between you two. It’s like watching a rom-com in real time.”
Winn smirked. “Yeah, except Kara refuses to acknowledge the obvious ‘mutual pining’ phase.” Kara groaned, stabbing at her salad. “I hate both of you.” Nia grinned. “You already said that.”
“Yeah, well, I really mean it this time.” Unfortunately, they had a point. Weeks ago, Kara had been terrified of the idea of liking Lena. The thought of people finding out, the thought of Lena herself knowing—it had been unbearable. But now? She wasn’t so sure anymore. Lena had stopped confronting her after she’d quit avoiding her, but that didn’t mean Lena had stopped noticing her. Kara caught her looking sometimes, in class, in the hallways, across the gym. It wasn’t much, just fleeting glances and those stupid winks that made Kara’s stomach twist, but it was something.
And now, Nia and Winn had officially planted the idea in her head—the ridiculous, completely absurd idea that maybe, just maybe, Lena wasn’t as indifferent as she seemed. Kara shook her head. No. It was probably just a game to Lena, a way to mess with her Because she could. That was the real reason Kara had been wary of her from the start.
Lena Luthor was still the meanest, most untouchable girl in school, no matter how charming she pretended to be. So why did Kara still feel like she was falling right into her trap? The next day, Kara knew exactly that all of this was a trap. She wasn’t sure what kind, but it definitely was some sort of trap. Because none other than Lena Luthor was making out with the captain of the football team—right in the middle of the cafeteria, making sure everyone saw it.
Kara froze mid-step, her stomach lurching unpleasantly. The room buzzed with whispers and excited chatter as people gawked at the scene like it was the biggest event of the year. Some girls giggled, others looked unimpressed, but the effect was the same—Lena wanted attention, and she got it. Kara clenched her jaw. Of course. This was classic Lena Luthor. Nia and Winn appeared at her side within seconds.
“Wow,” Nia muttered, eyebrows raised. “She’s really putting on a show, huh?” Winn scoffed. “Subtle as always.” Kara turned away, pretending to be unfazed. “Whatever. Not my problem.” Nia gave her a look. “Kara.”
“What?”
“Oh, come on. You can’t seriously tell me this isn’t bothering you.”
“It’s not,” Kara lied, shoving her hands into her pockets. Winn hummed in amusement. “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she’s trying to get a reaction out of you.” Kara rolled her eyes, even as something uneasy settled in her chest. “You’re giving her way too much credit.”
“Am I?” Winn tilted her head. “You did stop avoiding her. Maybe she didn’t like that.” Nia nodded. “Yeah, Lena thrives off the chase. If you stop playing her game, she has to up the stakes.” Kara huffed, shifting uncomfortably. She hated that they were analyzing this so much. But even worse? She hated that they might be right. Because, despite herself, Kara had stopped avoiding Lena.
She had let her guard down, even just a little. And now, Lena was making sure Kara knew exactly where they stood. Kara exhaled sharply. Fine. If Lena wanted to play games, that was her problem. But Kara Danvers wasn’t going to be one of her pawns.
--
Lena kept dating the football captain. Weeks passed, and the school loved them together. They were the picture-perfect couple—both popular, both talented, both ridiculously good-looking. People fawned over them, hyping them up as if they were royalty. And Kara? She told herself she didn’t care. Except she did. Because even with Lena parading her new relationship around, even with the winks and the smirks gone, even with Lena acting like Kara didn’t exist—they still caught eyes.
It happened more than Kara wanted to admit. In the hallway between classes. Across the gym during free period. At lunch, when Kara was minding her own business, and she’d glance up—only to find Lena already looking at her. Lena would never hold it for long. She’d look away almost instantly, pretending like it never happened, like Kara wasn’t even there. But it happened too much to be a coincidence. Nia noticed it first.
“She still stares at you,” she pointed out one afternoon, nudging Kara’s arm. Kara scoffed. “No, she doesn’t.”
“Yes, she does,” Winn chimed in. “She thinks she’s being slick, but we see it.” Kara rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t mean anything.” Nia tilted her head. “You sure about that?”
No. Kara wasn’t sure about anything when it came to Lena Luthor. And that was the worst part. As much as Kara wanted to ignore it, the stolen glances kept happening. It didn’t matter that Lena was still dating the football captain. It didn’t matter that they were the it couple of the school, that people practically worshiped them, that Lena played the perfect role of the doting girlfriend in front of everyone. Because when no one was looking, Lena’s eyes still found Kara.
She told herself she was imagining things. That she was reading too much into it. That Lena probably wasn’t even looking at her—maybe just in her general direction. But then there were moments that made it impossible to deny. Like the time Kara was laughing at something Nia said, only to glance up and see Lena watching her from across the courtyard. Lena’s boyfriend was talking to her, arm draped around her shoulder, but Lena wasn’t listening. Her focus was somewhere else.
On Kara. Or the time in gym class when Kara made a perfect shot from the three-point line, and before she could even celebrate, her eyes flickered to Lena—who was already watching, lips pressed together, unreadable expression on her face. Or today, when Kara had dropped her books in the hallway. She had bent down to grab them, huffing in frustration, when she felt it—that unmistakable weight of someone’s gaze. And when she looked up? Lena was staring. Not smirking. Not rolling her eyes. Just... watching. And for the first time in weeks, Lena didn’t look away immediately. She held Kara’s gaze, just for a second. Just long enough for something unspoken to settle between them.
Then she turned and walked away like nothing happened. Kara exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. She was losing her mind. That was the only explanation.
That night, Kara lay sprawled on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her headphones were on, music blasting, but it didn’t help drown out the one thing she actually wanted to forget. Lena Luthor. The entire school loved her. That was nothing new. But now, with the football captain as her perfect accessory, people were obsessed with her. They gushed about the two of them in the hallways, reposted pictures of them on social media, called them the school’s it couple.
And yet, Lena still kept looking at her. Kara squeezed her eyes shut. Maybe she was imagining it. Maybe she was so wrapped up in this stupid crush that she was seeing things that weren’t there. Maybe Lena was just… looking around the room, and Kara happened to be in the way. Except that didn’t explain the way it felt when their eyes met.
It didn’t explain the way Kara’s stomach twisted whenever it happened, or the way Lena would hold her gaze just a second too long before looking away. It didn’t explain why it kept happening. She groaned, rolling over and shoving a pillow over her face.
Maybe if she just suffocated herself a little, she could erase the memory of Lena’s eyes lingering on her in the hallway today. Or the way her breath caught when they locked eyes across the gym. This was ridiculous. It wasn’t like Lena had done anything. No more teasing. No more smirks. No more winks. If anything, she was behaving exactly how Kara wanted her to—like she didn’t exist.
Kara groaned, pushing the pillow away and yanking off her headphones ,tossing them aside. She rolled over, grabbing her phone and hesitating before opening her texts.
Kara: You up?
Nia’s reply came almost immediately.
Nia: For you? Always. What’s up?
Kara hesitated before typing.
Kara: I think Lena’s messing with me.
Nia: Omg. What did she do?
Kara: Nothing. That’s the problem.
Nia: Babe, elaborate.
Kara sighed, staring at the screen for a moment before typing again.
Kara: She’s dating the football guy. Whole school loves them. But she still keeps looking at me.
There was a pause before Nia’s next message popped up.
Nia: Well… duh. Kara frowned. Kara: What do you mean duh? Nia: Karas. She’s obviously trying to get a reaction out of you.
Kara’s stomach twisted.
Kara: That’s stupid.
Nia: And yet, here you are, spiraling.
Kara groaned into her pillow.
Kara: Okay, but why? She’s already got everything she wants.
Nia: Except you.
Kara froze, heart hammering.
Kara: Nia.
Nia: What? I’m just saying. Maybe Lena Luthor isn’t as sure about what she wants as everyone thinks she is.
Kara stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She didn’t know what to say. Because deep down, she was terrified Nia might be right.
Kara wasn’t sure how to handle Lena. It was too much. It was throwing her off her game, and the one thing she could control was basketball. So that’s exactly what she was going to do. The court was quiet, the kind of quiet only a school gym could be after hours.
Kara had always loved it. There was something soothing about the stillness of the space, the sound of the basketball bouncing against the hardwood floor, the squeak of sneakers on polished wood. It felt like her sanctuary, a place where nothing could get in her head She took a deep breath, ready to put the whole Lena situation aside, at least for a while. Basketball was the one thing that was predictable, that she was good at.
The one place where nothing, not even Lena Luthor, could screw with her head. She started with her usual drills—dribbling between her legs, shooting from the three-point line, practicing layups. With each repetition, the frustration from earlier in the day began to fade. Her mind cleared, the rhythm of the game taking over. She was dribbling the ball absentmindedly as her thoughts wandered to Lena. She couldn’t shake it. The way Lena had looked at her in the hallway the other day, the way her smirk had been just a little too knowing, the way Kara had felt like she was losing control of her own thoughts. It was stupid. But it was real. And it was messing with her game.
She tried to focus. One dribble, two dribbles, the ball bouncing rhythmically, tapping against the court as she moved with it. No distractions. No thoughts of Lena. She shot the ball, hitting the rim with a soft thud. Damn it. She was off tonight. Kara bent down, grabbed the ball, and tried again. Dribble. Pivot. Shoot. This time it went in. A simple, satisfying swish. She felt a little better, but not enough.
This wasn’t the first time she had been distracted during practice. In fact, it had been happening more often than she would have liked. And she hated it. She hated that Lena Luthor, of all people, was the reason for her distraction. But as much as she tried to push everything else out of her mind, she couldn’t completely escape Lena. She’d always been in the background, lurking in her thoughts, but now, it was different. Every time Kara made a shot, every time she scored, part of her couldn’t help but wonder if Lena was watching her. The thought was annoying, but there it was.
“Not bad, Danvers.” Kara froze. That voice—that voice—cut through the silence of the gym. She turned, half expecting it to be a figment of her imagination. But no, standing at the entrance of the gym was Coach Stevens, arms crossed over her chest, a wry smile on her face. Kara let out a relieved breath.
“Coach, you scared me.”
“You’re welcome,” Coach Stevens teased. “Looks like you’re working off some of that frustration.” Kara chuckled and dribbled the ball once more. “Yeah, you could say that.” Coach Stevens stepped further into the gym, eyeing Kara as she shot another ball through the hoop. “How’s the team looking for the upcoming game?” Kara wiped her forehead, bouncing the ball in thought. “We’ve got a solid chance. Everyone’s been practicing hard, we’re starting to gel together. But…” She paused, hesitant. She hadn’t been talking to Coach about her personal life, but today, she needed to get it off her chest.
“I don’t know, Coach. Something’s been off.” Coach raised an eyebrow. “Something specific, or just in general?” “Just… general.” Kara shrugged, trying to downplay it. “I’m having trouble focusing, you know?” Coach Stevens studied her for a moment. “I’m guessing this is more than just missing a few shots, huh?” Kara hesitated before nodding, her frustration now spilling out in a way she hadn’t expected. “Yeah. It’s like… my mind’s all over the place. I’m trying to do my best for the team, but I keep thinking about other things.” Coach Stevens pursed her lips, her gaze softening.
“Look, Kara, I get it. Sometimes, things off the court can affect what happens on it. You just have to find a way to channel that energy. Use it to push yourself further.” Kara let out a breath. “I wish it was that simple.” Coach gave her a half-smile. “It’s never simple, but that’s the game. It’s about taking control of the things you can control. Channel your frustrations into something productive, and you’ll see the difference in your game. Trust me.”
Kara didn’t have a response for that. She nodded, letting her mind digest the advice. It wasn’t a magic fix, but maybe it would help. “Anyway, we’re going to need you in top form for the next game,” Coach added, crossing her arms. “We’re up against a tough team, and I need you at your best. Got it?”
Kara glanced at her coach and then back at the basketball court. “Got it, Coach.” “Good. Now get back to work. I want to see you hit those shots like it’s nothing.” With that, Coach Stevens turned and walked toward the exit of the gym, leaving Kara to finish her practice. As the evening wore on, Kara felt the pressure of the upcoming game weighing on her, but in a different way. She was used to the nerves—the adrenaline rush before a game.
But this time, it felt different. It felt like a moment of clarity. She ran through the plays with her teammates, the movements Karaoming more fluid and automatic with each pass. As the clock ticked down, Kara was starting to feel more like herself again. She was back in control. Basketball was her constant. But as the team wrapped up practice and the lights began to dim, Kara couldn’t help but notice something she couldn’t ignore.
Lena was watching her. Kara had no idea how she even got in—this was a closed practice, and Lena was supposed to be in class. And this time, it wasn’t just a glance. It was a full-on stare, one that Kara could feel down to her core. It was like Lena was waiting for something, and Kara wasn’t sure what that something was. Her heart hammered in her chest, but instead of shying away, she stood tall, meeting Lena’s gaze from across the court. At first, Kara tried to ignore it. She dragged a towel over her face, letting the fabric soak up the sweat as she steadied her breathing.
Maybe she was imagining things. Maybe Lena hadn’t really been watching her, and Kara’s overactive brain was just playing tricks on her. But no—she knew what she saw. Lena had been standing there, clear as day, watching her. And it didn’t make any sense. Kara exhaled sharply, dropping the towel onto the bench beside her. Screw it. She was going to ask. She was going to march right up to Lena Luthor and demand to know what her deal was. She turned around, already opening her mouth.
“Hey, wha—” But before she could even get the words out, Lena was gone. Kara’s eyes scanned the room, the doors, the hall beyond them—nothing. No lingering footsteps, no sign of Lena’s retreating figure. Just empty space, like she had never been there at all. Kara frowned, her heart still beating hard from practice, or maybe from something else entirely.
--
Kara entered her house that evening with a heavy mind, each step feeling as though it was a little too slow. Practice had ended hours ago, but the feeling of Lena’s presence still lingered in the back of her mind, like an annoying hum she couldn’t shake off. The gym had been empty after everyone left, save for a few stragglers finishing up their own routines. But none of that mattered when she had turned around, expecting to finally confront Lena. Only to find the space where she had been was empty, as if she had evaporated into thin air.
What the hell was that about?
Kara thought, running a hand through her hair as she closed the door behind her. She dropped her gym bag with a soft thud by the entrance, and immediately caught sight of her mom’s familiar sneakers tucked beneath the kitchen table. She was home. Kara moved into the kitchen, opening the fridge out of habit and grabbing a bottle of water. Her thoughts still lingered on the confusing sight of Lena earlier—those eyes watching her from the stands.
It was as if Lena had always known exactly what Kara was doing, as if she was pulling the strings, silently controlling things without ever saying a word. And the moment Kara tried to walk over to her, Lena disappeared. The confusion gnawed at Kara’s insides. She hated not having answers, especially when it came to something this ridiculous. Why did Lena Luthor even care? They barely spoke. They weren’t friends.
She wasn’t part of Kara’s circle, and yet… there was this pull, this gravitational force Kara couldn’t explain, drawing her closer. Sighing, Kara opened the kitchen cabinet, grabbed a bowl, and filled it with cereal. She pushed the confusion down, forcing herself to focus on something—anything else. The distraction of food should’ve worked, but it didn’t. She absentmindedly scooped spoonfuls of cereal into her mouth, the crunching sound filling the room, but it did nothing to erase the tension building in her chest.
The truth was, Kara hated the feeling of not having control over a situation. She’d always been the one in charge, whether it was with her team, her friends, or even just herself. But this? This situation with Lena felt like she was running around in circles, trying to chase something that was constantly out of reach.
“Kara?” Her mom’s voice broke her train of thought. Kara looked up, surprised to find her mom standing in the doorway of the kitchen, an eyebrow raised. “You okay?” her mom asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Kara blinked, looking down at her cereal bowl. She wasn’t exactly in the mood to get into a deep conversation about her confused emotions, but her mom wasn’t the type to let things slide. “I’m fine,” Kara muttered, not quite convinced herself. Her mom studied her for a moment, then stepped further into the kitchen.
“You sure? You’ve been looking exhausted lately. Long practices?” Kara shrugged, not really answering. She wasn’t tired, not in the way her mom meant. It was a mental exhaustion more than physical. The confusion surrounding Lena, the feelings she couldn’t name, it was starting to wear her down. But that wasn’t something she wanted to explain to her mom. “I’m fine,” she repeated, but her voice had lost its usual firmness, betraying her. Her mom didn’t seem convinced. She crossed her arms and gave Kara a look that said she wasn’t going to let it go that easily.
“Kara… what’s going on?” Kara sighed and put her spoon down, frustration bubbling in her chest. She didn’t want to explain this. She didn’t even know how to. “Nothing. It’s just… practice and school stuff. It’s a lot.” She glanced up at her mom, her gaze not quite meeting hers.
“I guess I’m just stressed out.” Her mom studied her for another beat, then nodded slowly. “If you need to talk, you know where to find me.” Kara smiled faintly, thankful for her mom’s patience, but she knew there was no talking through this. Not when she couldn’t even explain what she was feeling herself. She appreciated her mom’s offer, but this was something she needed to figure out on her own.
“Thanks, Mom. I’m good. Really,” Kara said, picking her spoon back up and trying to focus on finishing her cereal, though the taste felt like cardboard in her mouth.
Her mom gave her a gentle smile before leaving the room, letting Kara have the space she clearly needed. Kara tried to shake off the conversation, but her mind immediately returned to Lena. Why had Lena been there? What did it mean? Kara shook her head, trying to focus. This is stupid. I don’t need this. She forced herself to think about the upcoming game, her teammates, and the fact that the next day was another practice.
Maybe it would help take her mind off things. But no matter how hard she tried to push Lena from her thoughts, she couldn’t. Lena was still there, in the background, teasing her mind and making it impossible to ignore her presence. She stood up from the counter and left the kitchen, walking into the living room to sit on the couch. She grabbed her phone, scrolling mindlessly through social media, hoping to distract herself.
It worked for a moment—until her notifications lit up with a text from Winn. “How’d practice go? You talked to her yet?”
Kara rolled her eyes. She was so tired of hearing about this. She didn’t want to talk to Lena. She wasn’t sure what she even wanted anymore. I don’t need this right now.
She typed back quickly: “Nothing happened. Practice was fine. Let’s talk tomorrow.”
She hit send, setting her phone down on the coffee table. She wanted to go to bed, forget about the day, but her mind wouldn’t cooperate. Instead, she found herself staring at the ceiling, mind racing, and once again Kara let out a deep breath and decided to call it a night. Tomorrow would be a new day—one she could control. At least, that’s what she told herself as she crawled into bed, the tension still clinging to her like a shadow she couldn’t shake off.