In the days that followed, Alexia kept adding points to the lists.
She wished she had only added some to the second one, but it was the one named "things I do not like about Katie McCabe" that seemed to grow faster.
The first few days were marked by Katie's consistent disregard for Alexia's carefully constructed routines. She left mugs on the counter instead of putting them in the sink. She blasted music during breakfast prep. She came and went without warning, often leaving Alexia scrambling to adjust her plans when Katie brought teammates over unannounced.
Alexia added to the list:
7. Leaves lights on in rooms she isn't in.
8. Does not warn me when visitors come.
9. Plays music without headphones.
But, annoyingly, the other list—the one she hadn't expected to expand—was growing too.
Things I do like about Katie McCabe:
3. She always asks if I've eaten.
4. She remembers how I like my food.
5. She doesn't get mad when I'm blunt.
It frustrated Alexia to admit there were things she liked about Katie. For every chaotic thing Katie did, there was an equally surprising act of thoughtfulness. Like when Katie noticed Alexia's gloves were slightly torn and bought her a new pair without being asked. Or when she left a sticky note on Alexia's door after a particularly overwhelming day that read: "Training was intense. Dinner is in the fridge. Thought you might need some space. —K"
Alexia stared at that note for nearly five minutes, unsure how to feel about it. She hated that Katie seemed to understand her needs better than most people, yet still managed to disrupt her life at every turn.
The next morning, Alexia found herself adding:
6. She respects my space when I need it.
One evening, after a particularly grueling day of training, Alexia sat in her room, the list open on her phone. She stared at it, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. The sound of laughter filtered through the walls again—Katie and Caitlin, no doubt. Alexia's jaw tightened.
10. Brings Caitlin over too often.
She typed the words with more force than necessary, but before she could hit save, the laughter from the other room faded, replaced by the soft knock on her door.
"Alex?" Katie's voice was muffled but hesitant.
Alexia hesitated, debating whether to answer. She hated interruptions, but Katie rarely knocked—usually, she just barged in.
"Yes?"
The door opened slowly, and Katie peeked her head in, her expression unusually cautious. "You okay? You've been in here all night. Thought you might want some food or something."
Alexia glanced at her phone, then at Katie. "I am not hungry."
Katie frowned but didn't push. "Alright. Well, we're watching a movie if you want to join. No pressure."
Alexia's first instinct was to decline. She didn't like spontaneous invitations—they threw off her carefully planned evenings. But Katie's tone wasn't pushy; it was almost... considerate.
"I will think about it," Alexia said finally.
Katie smiled, a small, genuine curve of her lips. "Cool. Door's open if you change your mind."
As Katie left, Alexia stared at her phone again. She sighed, deleting 10. Brings Caitlin over too often.
Instead, she added:
7. She tries to include me, even when I don't ask.
Later that night, Alexia found herself standing just outside the living room. Katie and Caitlin were sprawled on the couch, laughing at something on the TV. They didn't notice her at first, and for a moment, Alexia considered retreating.
Then Katie glanced over, her face lighting up when she saw Alexia. "Hey! Look who's decided to grace us with her presence."
Alexia hesitated, then stepped into the room. "What are you watching?"
"Shrek," Caitlin answered with a grin. "Katie insisted."
Katie patted the empty spot on the couch beside her. "C'mon, Alex. You can't say no to Shrek. It's a classic."
Alexia approached cautiously, sitting down as far from Katie as the couch allowed. She folded her hands in her lap, her posture rigid.
Katie didn't seem to mind. She passed Alexia a bowl of popcorn and said, "Trust me, you'll love it."
Alexia doubted that, but she stayed. And as the movie played, she found herself laughing—just once, and only at Donkey. Maybe because it reminded her of Katie. Katie noticed, throwing her a wink.
"You've got taste, Alexia," Katie said, popping a kernel of popcorn into her mouth.
Alexia rolled her eyes but didn't reply. When the movie ended, and Katie turned to her with a triumphant grin, Alexia didn't tell her she was wrong.
Later, back in her room, she opened her list again and typed:
8. She makes me laugh, even when I don't want to.
For the first time, she had added more points to the list of things she liked about Katie than to the other one.
But that unfortunately didn't last.
The next day, Katie threw yet another wrench into Alexia's carefully structured world. Alexia returned from training, tired but ready to stick to her routine: shower, dinner, evening reading, bed by 10:30 p.m. sharp. But when she opened the door to their shared apartment, chaos greeted her.
Katie and Caitlin were sprawled on the living room floor, surrounded by open pizza boxes, a half-finished bottle of wine, and what appeared to be a deck of cards scattered haphazardly across the coffee table. The TV was blaring, some action movie filling the room with explosions and yelling.
Alexia froze in the doorway, her bag still slung over her shoulder. She took a deep breath, her hand tightening around the strap of her bag. "Katie."
Katie looked up, her face lighting up with a grin. "Alex! You're back! Perfect timing—we were just about to start another round. Want to join?"
"No," Alexia said firmly, stepping further into the apartment and closing the door behind her. "What is this?"
"Movie night," Katie said casually, as if that explained everything. She gestured to the cards. "And a little bit of poker. Caitlin's terrible at it, by the way."
"Oi!" Caitlin protested, tossing a piece of crust at Katie, who ducked with a laugh.
Alexia's jaw tightened as she surveyed the scene. The apartment was a mess, the noise was overwhelming, and worst of all, it was completely unplanned. "I was not informed this would happen."
Katie raised an eyebrow, leaning back on her elbows. "Do I need to run everything by you, Alexia? It's just a bit of fun."
"It disrupts my schedule," Alexia said, her tone clipped. "And it is... loud."
Katie's grin faltered slightly, and she exchanged a glance with Caitlin, who quickly stood, muttering something about getting more wine before disappearing into the kitchen.
"Alright," Katie said, sitting up. "I get it. You're not a fan of surprises. But it's just one night. Relax a bit, yeah?"
"I do not want to relax," Alexia snapped, her frustration bubbling over. "I want quiet. Order. You do not respect that."
