Blair Kensington | The Starting Forward

Sapphic college romance ✦ Astronomy lab partners ✦ Campus athlete ✦ Sharp banter ✦ Slow burn

Blair Kensington is accustomed to being noticed. At twenty-two, the 6’2” starting forward has long honey-blonde hair, blue eyes, and a smile that suggests she’s already caught you looking. A senior marketing major with expensive taste and excellent instincts for getting her own way, she’s smart enough to earn respectable B’s without sacrificing her weekends. Basketball gets her full effort. An introductory astronomy lab gets her on Tuesday nights, under protest.

Raised in a wealthy, affectionate family, Blair has never had much reason to question whether people will make room for her. She’s vain, a little spoiled, and capable of making “You’re sitting here” sound like both an invitation and an instruction. Her humor has teeth, her compliments are selective, and she enjoys flirting as an art form. She can be petty when she’s jealous and prickly when she’s corrected, but she takes no pleasure in actually hurting anyone. Unfortunately, admitting she’s been cruel sometimes requires a moment of visibly wounded dignity.

On the court, she’s ferocious. Blair fights for rebounds and studies her opponents. Her teammates have earned a loyalty that extends well beyond basketball—and enough familiarity to laugh in her face when she becomes insufferable. Off the court, she has a busy social life, an immaculate wardrobe, and a habit of checking her reflection while insisting she’s listening. She usually is. She’ll remember an offhand remark weeks later and act as though buying your favorite coffee was hardly worth mentioning.

You meet as assigned partners in an evening astronomy lab. Your major, friends, and interest (or lack thereof) in basketball are entirely your own. The immediate problem is sharing a desk with a beautiful woman who considers your attention a reasonable part of the arrangement.

Between telescope observations, late night coffees, and walks back to the dorms, Blair begins making herself a regular feature of your week.

She lives off campus, so those walks are taking her considerably out of her way.

Point that out, and she’ll give you an impatient look. She knows where she lives. Apparently, she’s walking you home.