They fucking taught you this in elementary school. IF YOU HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY DONT SAY IT AT ALL!!!!
Mind you fucking own if you’re so fucking insecure about yourself that you have to belittle someone else to feel better about yourself; you have a fucking problem.
A/N: my computer exploded so I can’t really write anything at the moment but this has been sitting in the drafts. It’s completely unedited and horrible written soooo yeah! Enjoy
Chapter 2
The faint scent of bacon woke her from her slumber. She rolled over trying to see what time it was only to realise that Azzi was missing, so she crawled out of bed and made her way to the kitchen to see that Azzi was making only of Paige's favorites, waffles with extra whipped cream and chocolate chips, along with bacon and eggs to balance out the sweets. She sat down at the table to be greeted by the tired looking girl.
“Where is everyone?” I asked with a hint of happiness,because I wanted to have Azzi all to myself, “class or I sent them to the other dorm”. “You know just because I'm sick doesn't mean I can't be around the team” Azzi wanted to use this to her advantage to snuggle with Paige and make sure she is ok.
After eating their breakfast Azzi went and sat on the coach and started working on some class work, Paige soon joined next to her leaning her head on her shoulder and pulled a blanket over her. Azzi put her laptop down to check Paige's temperature, “99, still high but it's going down. No blanket for you.” grabbing the blanket off of her and putting it on herself. Paige looked at her with the biggest puppy dog eyes and she knew that Azzi couldn't resist. Trying to look away, Burnett finally gave in and let her have some of the blanket now Paige was lying in her lap scrolling on her phone. Azzi rubbed her back, Finally Paige fell asleep not long after lying down. She looked like a baby lying in Azzi's lap because she is her baby. Everyone knows that but they never say anything.
One time Pagie had tripped and had a nasty cut and who was the one to take care of her Azzi, or the time where she had not slept in days who got her to sleep Azzi, by lying with her and letting her know she wasn’t alone. Same goes for Azzi, Paige will always take care of her even when doesn’t feel good. She made sure that when they travel her and Azzi would be in the same room because she is scared of the dark and always had a light on for her. When she was sick she would take care of her making sure she had a light on for her. When she was sick she would take care of her making her feel better even if that meant missing practice but Paige wouldn't let Azzi just because she was sick. “You have practice,” Paige said half asleep.
“Nope i’m staying with you” She said with a defensive tone waking the blonde fully.
“I’m not letting you miss practice again. I can survive for 4 hours.” she added back with a hoarse voice laced with sleepiness.
“ Well I don't want to let you suffer because knowing you'll put on 6 layers and over heat then not change and not get medicine.” “not true” she added, knowing she saw right through her.
“I will go but I will be calling you halfway through and I won't do any extra work after” Azzi said with a look that Paige couldn't refuse.
Azzi put a pair of Paige's shorts and her t-shirt on and headed out the door not wanting to leave. She arrives at practice 15 minutes before everyone so she could get a few extra shots in before. The coach saw her and called her over asking “I thought you would be taking care of Paige?”
“I am, she forced me to go. I called her half way through to make sure she was not dying.” Azzi added, hoping geno would let her.
“ Ooh makes sense but I'll let you skip wights if she doesn't answer to go check on her. We need her for the game on Sunday" knowing that it's only a few days away she needs to lock in and Paige needs to get better. But from what she sees she is not getting worse which for her is not a good sign.
Half way through practice Azzi heads to the locker room with Genos permission and calls Paige but no answer which isn’t strange she's probably asleep but she called again anyway no answer.
💜Az💜: Hey text me when you wake up 1:28 pm
💜Az💜: Paige I know you're awake 1:30 pm
💜Az💜: PAIGE MADISON BUECKERS 1:31 pm
Azzi wakes back to the gym with her head low and walks over to coach “I called her twice texted her no response” she said almost in tears forming from the guilt she felt for leaving her.
“If you need to go, go but if you think she’s ok try and stay but I understand.” Geno said, pulling her into a quick hug before she replied.
“Do you think i can go because normally she would answer or at least text” The burnett spoke out. “Go” is all the coach could say before yelling at the girls for not doing the drill right. Azzi walks back to the locker room hurrying to get her stuff trying not to let the other girls see her. She jogged to her car and maybe broke a few laws driving back to the dorms but it was for Paige so it's ok.
Getting to the door he can already hear a noise that she can’t quite make out so she hurried and got her key out fumbling to get the door open to only be greeted by the sight of Paige on the floor. Azzi dropping all of her things, not even closing the door, rushes to her side, grateful for leaving early.
But feeling even more guilty than before she sees that she awakens “I’m sorry i went to practice” are the only words she could get out before hugging her letting her tears fall finally.
Paige just lent into her touch, hugging her back harder than the smaller girl she forced them to stand up. The smaller gave her a once over before walking them back to their room leaving Paige to go shut the door and move her stuff, walking back into the room she sees Paige, shaking immediately noticing she climbed up next to her pulling her in not caring if she got sick.
She relaxed almost instantly when she felt the smaller girl wrap her up in her arms. Turning to face her she felt a familiar pair of eyes lingering on her. She looked up knowing she felt the guilt of her leaving believing it was her fault even though she was one that insisted on going. She saw the tears forming in her eyes propping them up against the wall she held the younger girl, her now full on balling now. Paige tried to calm her down but nothing was working. After a few minutes, she gave a reassuring kiss because she didn’t know what else would calm her down.
Which to her surprise it did. Azzi just looked up at the older girl then went back to hugging her but this time even tighter but no sign of tears. Which she hopes is a good sign and didn’t just mess up their friendship. After what felt like forever of just holding each other they finally separated when the younger girl looked at the blonde, “why did you do that?”
“Because that's the only way I could get you to stop over thinking.” Azzi didn’t think much of that so she left it because she does overthink. Nosling back into the warmth she left she could easily fall back asleep well Paige rubbed her back making her feel comfortable and at peace letting her know she can sleep and nothing will happen to her.
They just stayed there for a while before waking to the faint noise coming from outside. She felt the older girl pulling her closer, turning over and she saw KK looking through a crack in the door. Azzi whispered “get out” throwing a pillow with her free hand.
KK just laughed closing the door, the blonde just waking up by the force of her throwing the pillow. “Sorry did I wake you up?” Azzi said in a low whisper, “No, you didn’t” she said with a scratchy voice.
“How do you feel?”
“better, just a sore throat.” “That's good, so do you want to go shoot?” the brunette asked.
“Why wouldn't I want to go shoot with the best player in the nation, next to me obviously.” The only thing she could do is blush trying to hide her face in the crook of Paige's neck.
They finally got out of bed and made their way to the court making sure to stretch because they haven't done anything in days. Grabbing the balls out of the storage room Azzi started working on her layups making sure to hit each one with precision and grace making it look effortless. Paige on the other hand was working on ball handling making sure to keep her dribbles tight. Forcing her way to the rim she throws up a mid range shoot and of course it goes in. Azzi just watched as she watched her best friend get back in the grove. After that they worked on passing and shooting 3’s. They decided that they were gonna have a friendly waiver. “Five shots from each spot and whoever makes the most gets to do whatever they want on the loser,” Paige said with pride. “I don't know I've been on a roll here?” Azzi said with a cockyness that always fires Paige up. “Oh you're on,” Paige said, getting in position at the corner. First shot swish second, swish, swish, swish, fifth swish.
Getting to the next spot she sets her feet ready for the pass, swish, swish not missing a shot. She says “you ready to lose”.
“In your dreams I always win,” Azzi shot back. Making Paige use the back broad still going in she shifts to the top of the key making it look easy Azzi can’t help but stare in awe of how perfect she is At this point paige had made all of them and on to her final spot she misses not one not two but all 5 which is wired because she never misses. “Someone choked,” Azzi said in a teasing tone. “You know I have a hard time shooting the left corner,” she shot back.
Azzi, not missing a single shot made her way over to Paige to tell her what she wanted. “You have to go to the stupid party tonight with me” Azzi said, catching Paige off guard.“I thought you hate parties?” Paige questions her. “ I do that's why you're coming with me” Azzi added as they walked to the car.
As they made their way back to the dorms they parted ways for the first time in two days. “I’ll be over by 8 ok” Azzi said as Paige walked into her dorm she shared with KK, Nika and Jana.
“ooooo someone has a date” Nika yelled as Paige entered the common room. “No, I lost and now I have to go to a party.” the blonde said with a straight face trying not to let the blush show.
“How did The Paige Bueckers lose!?” Nika questions.
“I don’t know, you tell me” I said with a defensive tone.
“Anyway, what are you wearing”? Her best friend asked.
“Probably a pair of sweats and a tank top.” I respond walking into my room.
Sitting on her bed Paige just lied there for a while just thinking. Finally at around 7 she crawled out of bed taking a quick shower, making her hair into a net bun and getting dressed in a pair of cozy but cute sweats and a nice top. Sitting at her desk she puts on a little mascara and curls her eyelashes now at 7:40 she walks into the kitchen to get a snack because she knew she wouldn’t eat later. Hearing a knock at the door she opened it to see a 5’11 brown eyed girl wearing the prettiest pink shirt and a pair of jeans.
“You look prefect per normal,” the blonde said with the grin burning her face.
“Thank you P” Azzi said with a cute smile that she only had for Paige.
“Anyday Princess” She said in a teasing tone.
Why did I call her that! I never called her that to her face, what was I doing.
It starts with a borrowed hoodie after their first gold medal and turns into a habit Azzi never breaks. Over the years, clothes become their love language until Paige finally realizes she has been in love with her best friend the whole time.
Word Count: 8.8k words
June, 2017
The first time Azzi ever wore something of Paige's, it wasn't planned. Paige hadn't even figured out how to call them actual friends yet without sounding delusional.
It was June 11, 2017, and the U16 FIBA World Championship in Argentina was officially over. Gold medals rested heavy against their chests, still warm from the final game and the celebration that followed.
Understandably, at fifteen-years-old Paige had been buzzing for hours, the adrenaline refusing to settle. She kept replaying the tournament in her head, trying to wrap her mind around what had just happened.
This was her first gold medal. Her first championship at this level.
Being a champion was a new feeling for her, one that felt both overwhelming and promising at the same time. Standing on that podium, she had known she had won something that would stay with her long after they left Argentina. Something that would shape the way she thought about herself and the game.
From the beginning, the tournament had felt different from anything she had experienced before. Everything was more competitive and more demanding. The practices ran longer, the games carried a weight she hadn't fully prepared for.
Wearing the USA jersey meant more than just playing well. It meant representing something larger than herself, meeting expectations, and carrying that responsibility every time she stepped onto the court.
Paige loved all of it.
From the pressure to the discipline to the shared focus of a team working toward the same goal.
The overwhelming joy of winning hadn't arrived in one single moment. It came back to her in waves. First when the final buzzer sounded. Then when they stood together on the podium, listening to the anthem as a team. Now she felt it every time her fingers brushed the medal tucked beneath her Hopkins hoodie.
She kept touching it like she needed the physical reminder that it was real, that they had earned it together.
But the bubble they had built over two weeks of practices, hotels, and games was already starting to dissolve. The team was splitting up now, everyone heading in different directions, back to different homes and routines. Paige checked her boarding pass again.
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota.
She was heading back to her usual life, to her dad and stepmom, to Drew. She loved it there, it was her home.
But as she walked down the aisle, Paige realized how much she was going to miss being surrounded by people who cared about basketball the way she did. She found herself wishing, just a little, that she had someone sitting next to her who understood exactly what this win felt like.
She found her row, slid into her seat, and was halfway through buckling in when she finally looked up.
Azzi Fudd was sitting right next to her.
For a split second, Paige genuinely thought she had made a mistake. She checked her boarding pass again, then the seat number, before looking back at Azzi.
Azzi's expression mirrored her own brief surprise, flickering for just a moment before settling into something more guarded.
"Oh," Azzi said. "Hey."
"Hey," Paige replied, automatically brighter, like she couldn't help it.
She hadn't known Azzi would be on this flight. Hadn't known she would be flying to Minnesota instead of back east to her family. The coincidence alone made Paige's chest feel warm. And suddenly, her heart was racing for an entirely different reason.
Because the truth was, Paige had a thing for Azzi.
She wasn't entirely sure when it had started. Maybe during the first U16 trial a few months earlier, watching Azzi shoot like she was the most perfect basketball player Paige had ever seen.
Or maybe it went back even further, to North Tartan Summer Jam the year before, when Paige had seen her in real life for the first time and thought, Oh. That's… that's what finding someone cute feels like.
Back then, Azzi hadn't even known Paige existed. Which meant it technically didn't count as a crush. Paige had decided that was the rule.
You couldn't like someone who hadn't noticed you yet. That was just… a thing.
But these last two weeks have definitely changed that.
They had spent the entire tournament together, filled with practices and shared bus rides and team meals. And somewhere in all of that, Paige had started trying very hard to be Azzi's friend.
Of course, if you asked her, she wouldn't have called it trying. To her, it felt natural, just being friendly. To a shy fourteen-year-old Azzi, though, it had probably been a lot.
Paige talked easily, she joked constantly, she always seemed to find a reason to be nearby, to comment on a drill, to ask a question that didn't really need asking. She volunteered for partner work, lingered after conversations, smiled brightly at Azzi every single time.
Paige had tried everything to get Azzi to notice her.
She even, regrettably, used a basketball pickup line she had found online at breakfast one morning. "I hand out a couple assists per game, but never landed on a dime like you." She had said it with a grin she thought was charming.
Unfortunately, Azzi had only stared at her, completely blank, then turned to talk to Diamond like Paige hadn't said anything at all.
Still, Paige hadn't given up. Being annoying was better than being invisible. At least annoying meant Azzi knew her name.
And Paige didn't know how to be subtle yet. She didn't know that her enthusiasm could be overwhelming. She only knew that being around Azzi felt good, and that she desperately wanted to be noticed by her.
But somehow, impossibly, she had never once ended up alone next to Azzi for longer than a few minutes. There was always someone else there, always a teammate in the middle, always something interrupting the moment.
Until now.
So when Paige realized they were seatmates on this 10-hour flight, she grinned like she had won something even bigger than a gold medal.
Azzi, on the other hand, did not look nearly as pleased.
Her shoulders tensed almost immediately, and she turned toward the window, earbuds sliding in as her posture closed off. It wasn't rude, exactly, just defensive. Like she needed space before Paige could fill it again the way she had been doing for the past two weeks.
Paige told herself she would play it cool, let Azzi come to her. She managed that for maybe twenty minutes.
That was when she noticed how tightly Azzi had curled in on herself, knees pulled close, arms wrapped around them. Her chin hovered near her shoulder, and goosebumps traced the length of her forearms.
She wasn't wearing a hoodie.
Paige poked her once. No reaction. She poked her again.
Azzi turned just enough to look at her, unimpressed. "What Paige?"
"Rude," Paige said, trying to sound casual and not like her heart had just started sprinting. "Are you cold?"
Azzi's mouth curved in the smallest, driest smirk. "No. I just enjoy pretending I am a human popsicle. What do you think?"
Paige rolled her eyes and leaned back.
Fine. Whatever. Her crush on Azzi Fudd was officially over.
Except it wasn't.
Because when another shiver ran through Azzi a moment later, Paige didn't even hesitate. She tugged her blue Hopkins hoodie over her head and held it out.
Azzi turned fully toward her this time, brows knitting together. "…Why?"
"I am fine in the cold," Paige said with a shrug, forcing nonchalance. "I am from Minnesota after all."
Azzi hesitated, then took it.
She pulled it on, sleeves falling over her hands as she tucked them in, curling into the fabric like the hoodie was already warming her up. Paige had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling too hard.
Her Hopkins hoodie. On Azzi Fudd. Yeah, that crush was far from over…
It was dumb, it was just a sweatshirt, but it felt like she had won a secret prize no one else knew existed.
"It looks good on you," she blurted out.
Azzi rolled her eyes, but her shoulders loosened, and the corner of her mouth lifted before she could stop it. She tugged the sleeves further down over her hands, settling deeper into the hoodie.
A few quiet minutes passed. Then Azzi slid one earbud out, turning just slightly toward Paige.
"So… how are you feeling about everything?"
That is all Paige needed.
She started talking about their last game, the tournament, how she felt about winning. Her words came easily now, animated and warm, her smile widening every time Azzi nodded along or added her own thoughts about their run. It felt natural, a conversation that had been waiting to happen.
Paige didn't even notice how Azzi stayed curled into the hoodie, breathing it in without thinking, or how her foot brushed Paige's when she shifted a little closer. She didn't notice how Azzi never put the earbud back in.
Paige just leaned back in her seat, careful not to look too pleased as the conversation stretched on, the hours of the flight slipping past without either of them paying attention.
And they didn't know it yet, but that hoodie was never coming back to Paige. And neither was the version of them who boarded that plane thinking the gold medal would be the biggest thing they carried home.
August, 2018
By the next summer, Paige knew two things for certain.
Azzi Fudd was the coolest person she had ever met.
Azzi Fudd had absolutely no concept of borrowing clothes.
It had been a year since their U16 win in Argentina. Paige was sixteen now, Azzi fifteen, and somewhere between tournaments and camps, they had gone from barely talking to talking every day.
At first, it was mostly about basketball. Then it started to stretch into school, friends, and whatever else filled their days. Somewhere along the way it became late-night messages and dumb TikToks sent back and forth at midnight.
Sometimes Paige would deliberately say something just to get a rise out of Azzi and then spend the next twenty minutes making sure she was forgiven. She told herself it was just for fun. Definitely not because annoyed Azzi was adorable.
The Hopkins hoodie, though, was a different story.
Paige had never seen it again. Not in person, at least.
Every now and then she would bring it up on FaceTime, very casually, like it didn't matter at all.
"Hey," she would say, pretending to scroll on her iPad while talking, "I could wear my Hopkins one… if I still had it. Do you know where it is?"
Azzi would glance up, blink like she was genuinely confused, and shrug. "Huh. That's weird. You need to take better care of your stuff, Paige."
And then, a week later, Paige would open Instagram to see Azzi wearing it in a story, sleeves rolled up on her arms, looking very comfortable in it. .Sometimes there would be a little smirk, subtle enough to deny, obvious enough that Paige knew it was meant for her.
Paige didn't actually mind.
It looked better on Azzi anyway.
But then it started happening more.
First it was a pair of sweatpants at U17 trials. Azzi came out of the locker room after a training session wearing pants embroidered with a number 5 instead of 6, the fabric sitting a little too low on her hips.
"Those are mine," Paige said, not accusatory so much as genuinely stunned.
Azzi glanced down at herself, slow and thoughtful, like she was only just now noticing what she had on. "Oh," she said. "Yeah. I forgot mine."
She said it easily, like that alone explained why she was suddenly dressed in Paige's clothes. Then she shrugged and took a step closer, tugging at the waistband absentmindedly.
"Your stuff are more comfortable," she added, almost offhand.
Paige opened her mouth, then closed it again, her brain stalling somewhere between yes, they are and why are you standing that close and since when does that make my heart do this.
But Azzi didn't wait. She walked off like nothing had happened, hands tucked casually into Paige's pockets, already halfway down the hall before Paige remembered how to breathe.
Paige stood there for a second longer than necessary, watching her go, left with the strange, unmistakable feeling that she had just lost something and gained something at the same time.
The lavender Nike T-shirt happened later that summer, during a sleepover at Azzi's grandparents' cabin.
They had stayed up too late talking, stretched out on opposite sides of the bed, voices dropping lower as the night went on. At some point, Azzi had rolled closer, close enough that their arms brushed and Paige had stopped pretending her heart wasn't doing something ridiculous.
In the morning, Paige was halfway through pulling on one of her own shirts when Azzi sat up, squinting at it through sleep-heavy eyes.
"That looks comfortable," Azzi said.
Paige laughed. "It's literally just a shirt in my favourite color."
"Let me see," Azzi said, reaching for it before Paige could react.
She pulled it on without asking and stood in front of the mirror, tugging it into place. It hung loose on her and very hot. It made Paige's brain immediately stop working. Azzi tilted her head, considering herself for a second.
"Yeah," she decided. "I think I will wear it today."
"You can't just steal my clothes," Paige said, but it came out weak, more breathless than she meant it to.
Azzi turned toward her, stepping close enough that Paige could smell her shea butter based shampoo. She smiled at her, then leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Paige's cheek, close to the corner of her mouth.
Paige's brain short-circuited completely.
"Watch me." Azzi said easily, brushing past her, shoulder grazing Paige's on the way out of the room.
Paige stood there, shirtless and stunned, her hand still half-raised like she had meant to do something about it.
She absolutely did not do anything about it. She just grinned to herself like a complete cheeseball and followed her out of the room after finding a different shirt.
Paige started noticing the pattern after that.
Azzi never made a big deal out of it. She never asked outright. She just… appeared in Paige's things.
A hoodie tossed over her shoulders while they sat outside. Azzi tucking her hands into the sleeves and glancing sideways at Paige like she was checking for a reaction. T-shirts worn to bed, soft and oversized, Azzi stretching in them on purpose the next morning like she knew exactly what she was doing.
And Paige never stopped her.
Not because she couldn't. Okay, maybe a little because she couldn't. But mostly because there was something about it that felt weirdly important. Like a thought she kept circling without ever daring to land on the conclusion.
That every time Azzi chose her clothes, she was maybe choosing her, too, even if she didn't say it out loud.
Azzi, meanwhile, was not subtle.
She tugged at hoodie strings slowly while talking, let the fabric slip off one shoulder just enough to notice, leaned in too close when she laughed. She'd brush past Paige deliberately, fingers grazing her wrist, her waist, her back, then look over her shoulder with a smile that absolutely meant something.
Paige noticed all of it. She just filed it under Azzi being Azzi.
And sometimes Azzi would catch Paige staring and lift an eyebrow, clearly entertained.
"What?" Azzi would ask, smiling like she already knew the answer.
"Nothing," Paige would say too fast. "You are just… wearing my stuff again."
Azzi would glance down at herself, then back up at Paige, eyes bright. "Yeah," she would say easily. "I like how you look at me when you notice it."
Paige would blink and miss it entirely.
"You can keep it," she would offer, because that part felt obvious at least.
Azzi would laugh under her breath like she had just won something.
By the end of the summer, Azzi had three of Paige's hoodies, one pair of sweatpants, and two T-shirts. And Paige had the growing, slightly terrifying realization that she didn't actually want any of them back.
Because the clothes were just clothes.
But Azzi in them, teasing, confident, clearly waiting for Paige to catch up, was something Paige wasn't ready to let go of, even if she still didn't understand why yet.
April, 2019
It happened too fast.
One second Azzi was cutting, quick and effortless and the next she was on the floor, the sound she made cutting straight through the gym.
Paige was on her feet before she understood what she was seeing, a cold drop settling in her stomach as everything else blurred.
She didn't remember moving. She only remembered standing there beside Azzi's mom, shoulder to shoulder, both of them frozen in the same awful, helpless posture.
Paige's hands were clenched so tight her nails bit into her palms. She watched Azzi try to sit up and stop, watched the trainers rush in, watched the realization spread across her face in real time.
Please, Paige prayed, the words tumbling over each other in her head. Please let it be nothing. Please let it just look bad. Please let her stand up and laugh this off.
She prayed again when Azzi was helped off the court. And again in the hallway draped over her healthy knee. And again later, alone, when the truth was announced.
Torn ACL and MCL on her right knee.
Paige had never felt so useless.
The night before she had to leave for Minnesota, Paige finally went to see her. Azzi was propped up on the bed, knee wrapped and elevated, eyes red but dry now, like she'd already cried everything out.
She was wearing the Hopkins hoodie. Paige's Hopkins hoodie.
It suddenly looked a little too big on her, sleeves rolled up, the familiar blue soft and worn against the stark room. Seeing it there on Azzi like this hit Paige harder than she expected.
That hoodie had started as a joke, a tease, something light between them. Now it felt like a safety blanket.
Paige hovered just inside the doorway. "Hey."
Azzi looked up, and the way her face softened at the sight of Paige made Paige's chest ache.
"Hey," Azzi said quietly.
Paige sat down on the edge of the bed, unsure where to put her hands, so she folded them in her lap. Her eyes kept drifting to Azzi's knee before she forced herself to look away.
They sat in silence for a moment.
"I'm sorry," Paige said finally, her voice rough. "I prayed. I really thought…"
"I know," Azzi said, shaking her head gently. "I know you did."
Paige swallowed, then nodded toward the hoodie. "Can you… can you take that off?"
The words surprised them both.
Azzi's fingers curled instinctively into the fabric. She shook her head, small and broken, eyes lifting to Paige's like she was asking for mercy without saying a word.
Paige's chest caved in.
This wasn't teasing. This wasn't give it back or make me. Paige didn't want it because it was hers. She wanted Azzi to have something else too. Something new that meant after, not before.
Paige stood up without another word.
She unzipped her jacket slowly, the UConn zip-up she had gotten just weeks ago after committing, still stiff with newness but already smelling like Paige.
She slipped it off and held it out.
"Wear this," she said softly. "I already warmed it up."
Azzi stared at it, then at Paige, eyes wide and unsure. "Paige… I can't just…"
"You can," Paige said quickly but gently. "You can keep the Hopkins one too. I don't care. I just… I want you to have this."
There was something unspoken in the way she said it.
I want you to focus on the future and not the past. You will be back there with me.
Azzi reached out slowly, like she was afraid Paige might change her mind. Her fingers brushed Paige's as she took the jacket.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Then, after a beat, quieter, almost embarrassed, "Can you… can you wear the Hopkins one while you are here? And you can give it back to me before you leave?"
Paige smiled, soft and a little wrecked. "Yeah," she said. "Of course."
Azzi relaxed then, shoulders finally dropping as she tugged the UConn zip-up closer, bunching the fabric under her hands like she needed to keep it there. It looked too big on her too.
Paige liked that more than she was ready to admit.
Azzi shifted carefully, a small wince slipping through before she could hide it, and Paige was on her feet instantly, hands hovering like she wanted to help but didn't know how.
"Sorry," Azzi murmured.
"You don't have to apologize," Paige said immediately. "Ever."
Azzi hesitated, fingers worrying at the zipper before she looked up again. "Can you… stay? For a bit?" Another pause, her voice softer now. "Can you maybe… come closer?"
Paige didn't hesitate.
She slipped her shoes off and climbed carefully onto the bed beside her, easing herself down until Azzi could lean into her without jostling her knee. Azzi exhaled as soon as Paige's arm wrapped around her shoulders, tucking herself into Paige's side.
Paige adjusted without thinking, one hand resting warm and steady on Azzi's upper arm, the other smoothing gently over her hair. Azzi pressed her face into Paige's shoulder, breathing her in, fingers curling into the fabric of Paige's shirt.
They stayed like that for a long time.
Paige felt Azzi's breathing even out, felt the tension slowly drain from her body as the minutes passed. Without realizing it, she leaned down and pressed a soft kiss into the top of Azzi's head, lingering there for just a second longer than necessary.
"I hate this," Azzi murmured at one point, voice muffled against Paige's chest.
"I know," Paige whispered back, pressing her cheek into Azzi's hair. "But you are not doing it alone. I am here with you, okay?"
Azzi nodded, tightening her hold just a little. Her eyes flicked up, unfocused at first, then settling on Paige's face. Paige felt it immediately, the change in her attention.
Azzi's gaze dropped, just for a second, to Paige's mouth. Then back up to her eyes. Then down again, like she was testing the thought without daring to act on it. She didn't move closer. She didn't pull away either.
Paige finally understood.
She leaned down slowly, giving Azzi time to change her mind if she wanted to. When she didn't, Paige pressed a soft, careful peck to her lips.
Azzi's breath hitched, and then she smiled shyly. She didn't say anything. She just tucked herself back into Paige's neck, curling closer, her face warm against her skin. Paige tightened her arm around her and rested her cheek against Azzi's hair again, heart steadying.
Paige didn't pray anymore that night. She didn't ask for miracles. She just held Azzi while she slept, letting her feel safe.
And when Paige left the next morning, the Hopkins hoodie stayed behind. So did the UConn zip-up.
April, 2020
By April 2020, Paige was certain Azzi wasn't just borrowing or stealing her clothes anymore. It had turned into a game between them.
And Azzi was very clearly winning.
Paige had come to stay with the Fudds for "training" during lockdown, which sounded official enough when they explained it to other people.
But Paige knew it was more than that.
She was there because Azzi had asked, and there was no version of reality where Paige said no to her.
They still called themselves best friends, technically, even though the label barely covered it now. It didn't explain the way they gravitated toward each other without thinking, or how Paige's attention snapped into place every time Azzi walked into a room. It definitely didn't explain what happened when no one else was around.
They shared a room at the Fudds', always had since Paige arrived. No one suggested the guest room. Neither of them pretended they wanted to.
And tonight, after a late workout session in the gym, they ended up back on the carpet of Azzi's room, both too tired to bother with the bed yet.
Paige lay sprawled on her back, tank top sticking to her skin, legs stretched out and heavy, staring up at the ceiling and trying not to think about how warm she felt.
Azzi sat cross-legged against the wall in Paige's state championship hoodie, her back pressed into it, one knee tipped outward with a stretch of bare thigh visible beneath the hem.
One of Paige's favourites. The hoodie, obviously.
The newest piece of Azzi's permanent collection, apparently.
The sleeves were pushed up to Azzi's elbows, exposing her forearms, the fabric loose enough that it slipped slightly off one shoulder when she shifted.
Paige didn't bother pretending she wasn't staring.
"You know," Paige said eventually, keeping her voice light even as her eyes traced the line of Azzi's collarbone, "I earned that hoodie first."
Azzi smirked, still scrolling on her phone, but she shifted slightly, leaning back just enough that the hoodie rode higher on her legs. "Did you, P?"
"That wasn't a question," Paige said, amused and quite distracted by the newly revealed skin.
Azzi finally set her phone aside and tilted her head back against the wall, exposing her throat. "Feels like it's mine now."
Paige pushed herself up, resting her elbows on her knees, closer than she had been a second ago. "You could at least pretend you feel bad about stealing from me."
Azzi's eyes flicked up to meet hers. "Do you really want it back?"
Paige hesitated. Just a fraction too long.
"…Yes," She lied, crawling forward, closing the distance between them inch by inch. "Or you need to pay for it."
That did it.
Something in Azzi's expression changed. The playful teasing glare edged into something more intentional.
That was all Paige needed.
She leaned in slowly, ready to end the argument entirely and focus on something way more fun.
Azzi let it happen for half a second. Then she smiled mischievously.
Before Paige could close the distance, Azzi slipped sideways, ducking out from under her with a soft laugh and scrambling backward toward the bed.
"Too slow," Azzi said, already halfway across her room.
Paige blinked once, then grinned. "Oh, you are asking for it now."
Azzi stopped close to the bed, lifting her arms over her head, exposing a strip of her stomach. "Am I?" she asked, innocent in tone only. "You were the one complaining about a hoodie."
Paige didn't bother answering, she lunged.
Azzi squealed through a loud lough breaking free as Paige followed and the two of them tangled together. Paige caught her by the waist, momentum carrying them both onto the bed, the mattress dipping under their combined weight.
"Paige..." Azzi laughed, trying to twist away.
"Nope," Paige said, breathless, hands firm at her sides. "You don't get to steal my clothes and then run from me."
Azzi wriggled, clearly enjoying herself, knees bumping Paige's hips as she tried to flip them.
For a second it almost worked, but Paige shifted her weight, and suddenly Azzi was pinned beneath her, hair fanned out on the pillow, eyes bright and unrepentant.
They froze there.
Paige hovered over Azzi, close enough to feel the heat of her body and notice the way Azzi's breathing had became more shallow. The grin on Paige's face shifted into something heavier.
"You done running?" Paige asked quietly.
"Paige... please."
Paige was about to give in and lean in. Instead, Azzi moved.
She hooked her legs around Paige's waist and rolled them in one smooth motion, reversing their positions. Paige landed on her back with a surprised laugh, Azzi straddling her hips.
"There," Azzi said, pleased. "That's better."
Paige stared up at her, heart pounding. "What now?"
Azzi shrugged, hands sliding to the hem of the hoodie. "Watch and see."
She took her time pulling it over her head, dragging the fabric upward inch by inch, letting Paige watch the slow reveal of skin beneath. When it finally came free, Azzi tossed it aside without looking, hair falling loose around her shoulders.
She leaned forward, bracing her hands on either side of Paige's head, close enough that their noses nearly brushed.
"You still want it back?" Azzi asked softly.
Paige swallowed. "No," she said honestly. "I just want you."
Paige kissed her slowly, letting it stretch, letting herself feel it instead of rushing through it. Her thumb traced the familiar line of Azzi's jaw, brushed the corner of her mouth just to feel her react, then dipped back in, deepening the kiss.
She knew exactly how to kiss Azzi by now.
She knew exactly how much pressure made Azzi exhale softly through her nose, the barely there sound that always gave her away. She knew how long to linger before pulling back to watch Azzi's eyes darken, unfocused, like she was deciding whether to pull Paige closer or just melt into it.
Azzi's hands slid higher up Paige's back, fingers grazing her shoulder blades, nails dragging just enough to make Paige's breath catch. Paige leaned in instinctively, their foreheads brushing, noses bumping in that slightly clumsy way that came from this intimacy being still fairly new to them.
"I missed this," Paige murmured, the confession slipping out between kisses before she could stop herself.
Azzi paused for a second. Her eyes flicked up to Paige's, searching, unreadable, then softened completely.
"Me too," Azzi said quietly at last.
Paige leaned in again, her mouth leaving Azzi's lips to trail along her jaw, down to that spot just under her ear she knew too well.
She felt the sharp inhale immediately, the tiny hitch in Azzi's breathing that always gave her away. Paige smiled against her skin, teeth grazing lightly before soothing the spot with her mouth.
Azzi's hands tightened on her back, nails pressing in, and the quiet, frustrated sound she made sent a warm, steady pull through Paige's stomach.
"You really do look better in my stuff," Paige murmured against her neck, lips dragging back up toward her ear. "But you look even better out of it."
Azzi laughed softly, breathless, tilting her head just enough to give Paige more room, clearly enjoying herself far too much.. "Then why," she asked, voice low and amused, "are we still talking about hoodies?"
Paige pulled back just enough to see her face, smirking at the challenge there.
Her fingers found the hem of Azzi's shorts, brushing along the curve of her hip, feeling goosebumps rise beneath her touch. Azzi's hands tightened at her shoulder blades in response, thumbs tracing slow circles that were anything but absentminded now.
"Good point," she said.
And then Paige kissed her again, deeper this time, unhurried but intent while her hand slipped fully under the waistband of Azzi's shorts, fingers brushing warm skin.
Azzi shifted in Paige's lap, her hips rolling in a slow, needy rhythm, grinding down against the firm press of Paige's hand, chasing her touch.
A soft, brathless moan escaped Azzi's lips, warm and ragged against Paige's ear, sending a cascade of shivers down her spine as Azzi nuzzled closer, her breath mingling with whispers of pleasure.
The hoodie was forgotten somewhere behind them, completely irrelevant now. Paige's focus had narrowed to the way Azzi leaned into her touch, her body responding without hesitation.
And if Paige had her way, that hoodie was staying in Azzi's possession. She knew exactly what would happen the next time she saw Azzi wearing it.
February, 2021
Since the night Azzi told her she was committing to UConn, Paige had been living in a strange, jittery mix of excitement and dread. Like every good feeling she had about Azzi came with the constant worry of losing it.
Paige wanted Azzi at UConn. That part had never been in question.
She wanted her as her backcourt partner, wanted to walk to get ice cream together, to have movie nights, to be able to annoy her in person without needing to fly across multiple states just to make sure she had been forgiven when Azzi refused to answer her calls.
What she hadn't really been ready to admit until then was the fact that the small, careful crush she had been quietly carrying for years had gone and done something reckless.
Because somehow, somewhere between sharing a bedroom during lockdown, months of long-distance FaceTimes, and the easy, familiar way Azzi always made herself at home in Paige's clothes, the crush had turned into something bigger.
Something she couldn't joke her way out of anymore.
Paige was fully, undeniably in love with her best friend.
And because the universe had a cruel sense of timing, right after Paige left for UConn last October, Azzi decided to "be smart" and suggested they forget the benefits part of whatever it was they had been doing.
She said it calmly, reasonably, like she was offering Paige a gift. "You should go enjoy college. Figure out what you like. What you want. Without needing to worry about whatever this is."
And Paige, who didn't know how to say what I like is you, what I want is you, had nodded and pretended that made sense.
So she tried.
Paige threw herself into dating during the first months of freshman year. She went out. She said yes to things. She flirted with people who were nice enough and easy enough but meant absolutely nothing to her.
Which was how she ended up standing in her dorm room, debating whether she should bother changing shirts before walking across campus to a girl's apartment.
A girl she had met last weekend at Ted's. Someone whose name she thought was Brianna, but might have been Brielle and whose most memorable quality was a cute laugh Paige was already pretty sure she couldn't remember correctly.
Her phone buzzed on the desk.
A FaceTime from Azzi.
For a second, Paige considered ignoring it. Not because she didn't want to talk to Azzi, God, she always wanted to talk to her, but because it was getting harder to keep pretending this whole thing of hooking up with people who weren't Azzi made any sense, especially after talking to her.
But guilt won out fast. Paige swiped to answer.
The screen filled with darkness at first, then she saw the soft, red curve of lips she knew better than her own. Then she saw the edge of a UConn training T-shirt her stomach recognized immediately.
Her own training shirt.
The one Azzi had "borrowed" when she visited for Paige's birthday in the fall and never returned it.
"What's wrong, Az?" The words were out before she had even thought about them, because the second she saw the wobble in those lips, every other plan she had for the night dropped out of her head.
Azzi shrugged, her voice small when it came.
"I miss you." She paused, then added more quietly, like she wasn't sure she was allowed to say it. "I know I should just…suck it up and let you be. But I just needed to see you for a second tonight."
Paige felt something twist hard inside her chest.
She had seen Azzi frustrated, competitive, closed off, but this was something else entirely. This was Azzi questioning herself, checking whether it was okay to want Paige's attention, her time, and her presence.
She never wanted Azzi to doubt that she was wanted. Never wanted her to feel like she had to ask permission to need her.
"Hey," Paige said, leaning closer to the camera, her voice dropping instinctively. "You don't have to suck anything up. I am right here, okay? You can call me whenever you want. For a second. For an hour. It doesn't matter."
Azzi nodded, eyes dropping for a moment before lifting again, still shiny. "Were you… going somewhere?"
Paige's gaze flicked to the clock. She was already cutting it close if she wanted to make it over in time, and she knew it.
She didn't even have to think about it.
"Not anymore," she shrugged
One quick thumb press and she was typing out a vague Hey, something came up, can't make it tonight to Brianna or Brielle, hitting send before she could feel bad about it.
Because if the choice was between walking across campus to hook up with someone whose name Paige wasn't even sure of, or sitting here on her bed watching Azzi Fudd in her training shirt looking at her knowing Paige was the only person Azzi wanted to see right now…
There wasn't a decision to be made.
Paige shifted against the headboard, settling in. "So," she said, aiming for light even though her heart was still pounding, "you have got me now. What do you want to do for the rest of the night, Az?"
Azzi's mouth twitched like she wanted to smile but wasn't ready to give it up yet. "Just… be with you."
Paige smiled, soft and a little helpless. "Yeah," she said. "I can do that."
And she stayed, and after that night, after hearing Azzi's voice like that, Paige stopped trying. It wasn't a decision so much as a knowing feeling. Whatever she had been searching for, she wasn't going to find it anywhere else, it had always come back to Azzi.
And once Paige let herself admit that, there was no reason left to pretend otherwise.
October, 2021
By the time Azzi had been at UConn for two months, Paige realized how little time it had taken for them to fall back into each other.
They weren't friends who used to be more. They weren't quite just best friends again either. There wasn't a word for it, nothing neat enough to pin it down. It was just… them. And the them they were now leaned toward something inevitable, hovering there without quite tipping into it yet.
It showed itself in the smallest, quietest choices at first.
Azzi lingered whenever she came over, never rushing to leave, never checking the time like she was worried about overstaying. She always ended up settling into the spot closest to Paige on the bed or the couch, knees brushing, shoulders pressed together.
Paige never moved away. She didn't shift to make more space or pretend not to notice. She just stayed, letting Azzi choose that nearness again and again.
Without really meaning to, Paige started memorizing Azzi's schedule. She knew which corner of the library Azzi liked best, the one with the big windows and comfortable chairs. More than once, Azzi looked up from her notes to find Paige already there, backpack dropped at her feet, acting like she had just happened to pass by at exactly the right time. And when they packed up, Paige always walked her home. Like the idea of Azzi walking back alone had never crossed her mind as an option.
Azzi did it back in her own way.
On days Paige had rehab sessions ran long, Azzi would show up afterward with Paige's favourite sandwich already in hand, brushing it off like she had been hungry anyway, even though Paige knew she had gone out of her way. Sometimes she would leave it on Paige's desk with a note scribbled on a scrap of paper or she would simply just hand it over with a soft, "Eat," like she had already decided that taking care of Paige was her job.
After classes, Paige found excuses to stop by Azzi's room, and Azzi always seemed to be waiting for her, a mug of tea already cooling on the desk like she had anticipated the visit.
They sat side by side, legs tangled on the bed, talking about nothing important, like practice, a song Paige had on repeat or something ridiculous a teammate had said. Intil Paige realized it was late again and she should probable go home to sleep.
Somewhere along the way, they started introducing little rituals of their own.
After every away game, win or lose, they would find the nearest ice cream place still open, sliding into booths, talking through the game. Paige ordered for both of them without asking because she already knew what Azzi liked.
Tuesdays became Azzi's.
She started cooking in the shared kitchen of her apartment, texting Paige halfway through her last class to ask what she wanted. Paige would show up already in her pajamas, hair damp from the shower. Azzi always had something warm waiting. They ate together at the counter or on the floor of Azzi's room, legs crossed, shoulders touching, plates balanced between them as they talked about nothing and everything at once.
Paige noticed it all and she knew Azzi did too. But they weren't rushing anything. They let the routines settle and the space between them fill naturally with all the things that made it feel impossible to imagine it any other way.
They didn't talk about where it was heading but they both knew it was only a matter of time.
And that was why, when her door swung open without a knock one Friday evening, Paige wasn't surprised to see Azzi stroll in like she owned the place.
What did surprise her was the way Azzi stopped short halfway into the room, her gaze catching for a split second before darting away.
Paige was half dressed, still in black boxers and a sports bra. They had seen each other in far less presentable states, so embarrassment wasn't the reason her pulse jumped. It was more likely the way Azzi checked her out before catching herself.
Azzi swallowed, then fixed her attention on the far wall with sudden, exaggerated interest, like it had become fascinating out of nowhere.
"Uh," Azzi said, her voice just a shade rougher than usual. "Can I borrow something for tonight?"
Paige blinked at her, then tilted her head, a faint smirk pulling at her mouth. "Since when do you ask?"
Azzi shifted her weight, hands shoved into the front pocket of her hoodie. "Can't expect you to be fine with it forever," she said, still not quite meeting Paige's eyes.
Paige hummed thoughtfully, eyes flicking over her in an exaggerated way, like she was seriously considering it. "Wow," she said lightly. "Growth."
Azzi finally looked at her then, eyes narrowing just a little. "Hey."
Paige laughed and crossed the room, closing the distance between them until she could catch the faint scent of Azzi's shampoo. She reached out, thumb brushing once over her pulse like she couldn't help herself, and tugged her toward the open closet.
"Az," she said, softer now but still teasing, "what's mine is yours. Always. That is never gonna change."
Azzi's expression warmed immediately, a little unsure but unmistakably fond, and it made Paige's stomach do that familiar, stupid swoop. Azzi ducked her head like she was trying to hide it, but the smile gave her away.
Paige turned to the closet, flipping through hangers with exaggerated seriousness.
"I mean," Paige added casually over her shoulder, "you do have a reputation to maintain."
"For what?" Azzi asked, suspicious.
"Stealing my clothes," Paige said, pulling out a black top that hung loose at her own shoulders. She held it up between them. "Gotta make sure the collection stays curated."
Azzi took the top, her fingers brushing Paige's and lingering. Paige looked up and saw something in Azzi's eyes that made Paige's pulse speed up once again.
Paige acted on it.
She slipped an arm around Azzi's waist and pulled her in. Azzi melted into it immediately, like her body had been waiting for exactly this. One hand slid up around Paige's neck, fingers curling into her hair, and she tucked her face into the space just below Paige's jaw.
Paige breathed her in, letting Azzi's unique smell relax her own body. Azzi's curls brushed Paige's cheek as she settled and Paige felt her relaxed fully in her arms, all the tension draining out of her.
Paige tightened her hold just a little, resting her chin against Azzi's head, enjoying the weight of her there. She pressed a small, instinctive kiss into Azzi's hair.
"I really love having you here," she murmured quietly. "At UConn with me."
Azzi exhaled against her neck, a soft sound, her grip tightening in response.
"I love being here with you too."
Paige held her for another long moment, smiling to herself, knowing, without needing it said that this was already home for both of them.
Ted's was its usual Friday-night chaos, music thudding through the floor, bodies packed shoulder to shoulder, the air warm with sweat and cheap beer.
Paige moved through the place easily, greeting teammates, nodding at people she knew, slipping easily up to the bar. Azzi stayed close, tucked just behind her shoulder, one hand hovering near Paige's arm. Whenever the crowd shifted, her fingers brushed Paige's wrist like a quiet check-in that she was still there with her.
Paige signed for the bartender, already pulling her card out.
"What do you want?" Paige asked, leaning close to Azzi's ear so she didn't have to shout.
Azzi smiled at her. "You choose, you know what I like."
Paige grinned pleased, and turned back to the bar.
She liked that. Liked knowing and taking care of her. Liked that Azzi trusted her.
When the drinks came, she handed Azzi hers first, watching closely as she took a sip. Azzi's face lit up immediately with a delighted grin just for Paige.
Paige relaxed only then, lifting her own glass.
They didn't even make it through one song before someone from the men's team caught Paige's attention near the other side of the bar. She groaned quietly but smiled, holding up one finger at Azzi in apology.
"Two seconds," she mouthed.
Azzi nodded without complaint, lifting her glass in a lazy salute and leaning back against the high-top. As Paige turned away, Azzi's fingers brushed her hand, a silent sign of I will be right here.
Paige was gone for maybe a minute. Two at most. But when she turned back, drink still in hand, she clocked it instantly.
Azzi wasn't alone.
She was talking to a guy Paige didn't recognize. Tall, wearing a backwards cap, leaning just a little too comfortably into Azzi's space. Azzi laughed at something he said, polite but distracted, her body still tilted toward the space Paige had just vacated.
Freshman, Paige clocked immediately. Which was unfortunate for him, because Paige had spent the last two months making sure everyone on campus who mattered understood one very simple thing:
Azzi Fudd was not available.
Of course, Azzi didn't know that. Paige had never announced it. She had just… handled it. Apparently, this guy had missed the memo.
And then Azzi looked up.
Their eyes met across the room. Her gaze flicked to the guy, then back to Paige, eyebrows lifting just slightly like she was checking in, You seeing this?
Paige answered without thinking. She moved.
She walked back with easy confidence, and when she reached them, her focus narrowed immediately to Azzi, like nothing else in the room mattered. She slipped in close, arm wrapping around Azzi's waist with quiet certainty, pulling her in until Azzi fit naturally against her side.
Azzi leaned back into her instantly, hand coming up to rest on Paige's stomach, thumb rubbing their in quiet reassurance.
Paige didn't even look at the guy.
"Sorry Az," she said lightly, lips close to Azzi's ear. "I am all yours now."
Azzi tipped her head back to look at her, eyes warm and unmistakably pleased. "Are you?"
Paige smiled down at her, her hand staying firm at Azzi's waist, thumb pressing in just enough to be felt. Her gaze dipped deliberately to Azzi's top, fingers brushing the hem with quiet familiarity.
"That looks really good on you," Paige said, casual but loaded. "Still my shirt, though."
Azzi laughed, tilting her head, clearly entertained. "I know."
Only then did Paige glance at the guy.
Just a brief, polite nod that said this isn't your conversation.
The guy hesitated, opened his mouth like he might say something, then thought better of it.
"Uh," he said, stepping back. "Nice meeting you, Azzi."
Azzi nodded politely. "You too."
He disappeared into the crowd without another word.
Paige took a slow sip of her drink, arm still snug around Azzi's waist. "Freshman?" she asked lightly.
Azzi hummed, amused. "Probably. He was asking about my major."
Paige nodded. "Yeah. That checks out."
Azzi turned in her arms, facing her more fully now, one hand sliding up to rest at the back of Paige's neck. "You are very… protective tonight."
Paige shrugged, unapologetic, thumb tracing a small circle at Azzi's side. "Just taking care of what's mine."
Azzi didn't tease her for that.
She just leaned in closer, shoulder fitting perfectly against Paige's chest, smiling into her drink like she found the whole thing deeply entertaining.
And Paige stayed right there, arm firm around her, perfectly content to let the rest of the bar figure it out on their own.
A few hours later they stumbled through the door to Paige's room, still laughing about something Nika had yelled across the bar, walking so close their shoulders bumped with every step.
Azzi kicked off her shoes and tossed the borrowed top onto Paige's bed, pulling on her usual shirt she wore whenever she slept over at Paige's.
A faded USA shirt from Paige winning the youth Olympics in 2019.
Then for a moment she hesitated, rocking back on her heels, looking over at Paige. She wore an expression Paige couldn't quite read.
Azzi looked like she was working up to something.
"Did you mean it?" Azzi asked quietly at last.
Paige glanced up at her. "Mean what?"
"What you said earlier," Azzi said, her voice even quieter now. "That what's yours is mine." She hesitated, then added, almost careful, "Does that also mean… your heart too?"
Fucking finally.
The question barely finished forming before Paige crossed the room.
Two strides and she was there, her hands coming up to frame Azzi's face, thumbs brushing the soft warmth of her cheeks.
Paige looked into Azzi's eyes for a second before she closed the last inch and finally kissed her.
The kiss wasn't tentative or careful this time.
It was warm and sure and full of all the almost moments they had been circling for ages Every look, every almost touch, every too long pause they had been living for weeks were made into one perfect, unapologetic kiss.
Azzi made a tiny, happy sound against her mouth, one Paige felt more than heard, and then she was kissing her back like she had been ready for this all along.
Her hands found Paige's waist, fingers curling into the thin fabric of her shirt, pulling her closer until there was no space left to question. Azzi's lips were soft and confident now, moving against hers.
Paige smiled into the kiss, deepening it just a little, her hand slipping to the back of Azzi's neck. Azzi's lips were soft and confident now, moving against hers.
When they finally broke apart for air, they stayed close. Foreheads pressed together, breaths mingling, Paige's thumbs still tracing slow, affectionate circles along Azzi's cheekbones.
"Yeah," Paige murmured, her voice warm. "My heart too."
Azzi smiled wide immediately like something had clicked into place. Her hands tugged lightly at Paige's waist, bumping their noses together.
"Good," Azzi said, playful but pleased. "Took you long enough."
Paige laughed under her breath, leaning in so close her lips brushed the words. "You could have said something earlier too."
Azzi's grin turned teasing. "Please. I have been obvious for years. I don't steal anyone else's clothes. Only yours."
Paige kissed her again, not just to shut her up, but because for the first time she didn't have to question what it meant. It felt allowed now.
And as she held Azzi there, familiar and certain in her arms, Paige thought back to that plane ride years ago. To a tired, overexcited kid fresh off her first gold medal, handing over a Hopkins hoodie without a second thought. Back then, it had felt like nothing more than a friendly gesture.
Now she finally understood.
That hoodie hadn't been a coincidence. It had been the first quiet choice in a long line of them. The first time Paige had given something of herself without keeping score.
And Paige suddenly knew she had never cared whether Azzi borrowed her clothes or stole them outright. She had been giving her pieces of herself to Azzi all along willingly.
She had been choosing Azzi from the beginning. And she was ready to keep choosing her, every time.
summery: Paige and Azzi both have feelings for each other but their both to dumb to see it :)
Chapter 1
1.8K words
A/N: this is like two years old so it's not the best but i'll try and keep updating but finals are killing me. please send me ideas and let me know what we think. enjoy!!
Azzi’s POV
Waking up I can't help but feel like I'm missing something, I flipped my phone over to look, There it was my daily message of:
💗pretty P💗: Good morning sunshine! Have a good day 5:32 am
ME: Good morning sleepy, wanna get lunch? 6:00 am
💗pretty P💗: of course what time do u get out from class 8:49 am
ME: 11ish 8:50am
Paige's POV
I make sure to get up early every morning just to text her before she wakes up. Sometimes she texts me first but it's mostly me. I roll over after texting Azzi and go back to sleep. She texts me if I want to get lunch and of course I say yes why wouldn't I. Rolling out of bed I get up and brush my teeth, put my hair in a messy bun, ‘it's her favorite hairstyle on me’ , wash my face and pick out an outfit. Black Uconn t-shirt and a pair of sweats that i'll probably go to the gym later.
I walk out of my room to see KK and Carol sitting in the common room, on live. I walked up behind them and scared Carol but KK caught on.
“ Hey P BOOGERS!” KK shouts at me
“Good morning” I added still blinking the sleep out of my eyes
“ What do you have planned for today?” Carol said with an oh so familiar tone in her voice meaning, she knows I'm going to see Azzi. “You need to tell-”
“ I know but I can’t ruin our friendship”
“The way you two look at each other would tell a stranger otherwise” Carol pipes in.
I walked out the door almost forgetting my keys on the counter and got out the door at 10:45 making sure to get coffee for Azzi before getting to her class. I stood outside for maybe a minute before she emerged from her accounting class. I handed her her normal chai latte with oat milk.
Azzi’s POV
Holy she scared the flip out of me when i walked out of class to see all 6 foot, blonde, blue eyed girls looking right at me. She hands me my cup and says “It's your normal”, she adds I thank her and ask where we are going for lunch.
“Chipotle,” she says pricing me with her blues
“ But you don’t like it?”
“Yes but you like it, so I'll suck it up.” she adds before I cant stop her and convince her to go somewhere she likes to.
I get the aux scrolling her playlist when Carol texts her. I just pick a random song and before Pagie takes her phone to read it.
“Paige I know you don't want to hear it but you have to tell her how you feel. I know she feels the same way about you. TELL HERRR!!!” I quickly make sure to re-mark it as unread and go back to music making sure I pick a up beat song to cover my thoughts.
Narrator
The blonde looks at Azzi with a soft but confused look to see that she looks lost in thought so she taps her on her leg and that doesn't seem to work so she turns the music off and that just barely catching her attention. Azzi looks at Paige as if her dog got ran over (it didn’t). Pagie pulls over just down the road from Chipotle, gets out, walks around the car opening the door and giving her the biggest, warmest hug she has felt in awhile.
“What is this for?” she mutters against Paige’s chest
“You looked upset so I thought it would cheer you up” The blonde added with a soft tone.
Azzi's POV
I only heard Pagie talk with such a soft voice twice and I've known her for 8 years. Her soft eyes made it hard not to cry but I sucked it up as we walked into chipotle. I ordered my normal bowl with guacamole and a large chip on the side and over course Paige got a bowl with extra tortillas on the side with a chip and a drink for us to share.
Pulling out my card, I feel Pagie’s hand stop mine well pulling out her even though I'm the one who asked her to get food. I gave her a quick look and before I could protest she had already paid.We sit down at a small table, she walks over to get our drinks. She left her phone so I pick it up to see if she respond to Carol, she had but only with, “Idk i dont want to fuck up out friendship.”
She walks back over before I can put her phone back down so I switch to one of the many games on her phone. She snaches her phone out of my hands faster than I could grab it back so I played dumb. She right thru me and adds a quick sigh before eating her food stealing a bite of mine in the process i just sit there for a few minutes before Paige says something.
Paige's POV
As I walked over to get a drink I realised I left my phone which is normally no big deal but I had not deleted the text Carol had sent me. So I was a little nervous knowing that Azzi knows my password and is aloud on my phone whenever. I quickly walk back to see her playing a game? Which is weird because she never plays games, so I grabbed it out of her hands to see that the block blast was open, and let out a sigh of relief and started eating. About four bites in I notice Azzi hasn't touched her food which is strange because she was just complaining about being hungry. The only time I've seen her not it is when she's upset or something gross and she loves chipotle so she has to be upset.
“Whats up” I said, breaking through her thoughts which were loud. “Nothing,” the curly headed girl chimed. “Are you sure you're ok,you haven't even touched your food?” “Yeah I'm fine” she knew I saw right through that.
Azzi's POV
She saw right through that lie so I forced myself to eat half of my food. It was good but knowing what Paige was hiding made me lose my appetite. Once we finished our food Paige had class and I had another hour or so before my next class so I went to take a nap. Paige dropped me off at the dorms where I walked into KK doing her homework and Ice scrolling TikTok. “Where's Carol”?
“In her room” KK said before looking back at her Macbook. I made my way over to Caroline's room and opened the door to see her on the phone with Aubrey. She quickly says goodbye and turns to give me her attention.
I sat at the foot of the bed looking at her with a blank stare and asked what she meant in that text she sent Paige.
“ I can’t say because I promised her to not tell you but I can say it's nothing bad but she doesn't know now how you would take it so she told me to not tell you.”
“Well… tell her to tell me because i’m pretty sure i'll say yes”
Carol just screams not in a bad way, but, in yes i told you so, way. I just walk back to my room and try to take a nap before class but I can't because my mind is going a million miles an hour so I change and head to the gym where I see Nika, “NIKA!!” I yelled, sneaking up behind her “ HOLY SHIT! You scared me” Nika almost jumped out of her skin. “Sorry , but why are you here? I thought you had class” I asked. “I can’t wrap my head around that class so I'm just clearing my mind before my next one”.
The Taller girl added. “What about you?” “Just some Paige stuff.” “Ohh What about?”, “Nothing bad, I just don’t know what to say.”
“Right, so you expect me to just take that and leave it. I know she so whipped like anyone can see it but you're blind.” she shrugged.
”What does that have to do with anything?” I questioned. Nika looking at her watch has 5 minutes to make it across campus so the conversation got cut short.
I skipped my next class which I hate doing but I needed to clear my head before practice. Luckily no one came in so by the time practice came I would have a clear mind. I was almost late because I forgot to set an alarm but luckily Geno saw me and said I had like 15 minutes before practice started. I hustled over to the locker room where I checked my phone to see Pagie had texted me.
💗pretty P💗 : Can’t make practice #sickasf 6:17 pm
ME: I’m coming over 6:28 pm
Practice was about to start when I walked over to Geno: “Paige is sick-” being cut off by Genos go take care of her before I could even finish my sentence. So I turned around and made my way back to the dorms. I was driving paige texted me:
💗pretty P💗: no you have practice u can’t miss 6:33 pm
ME: to late 6:34 pm
Paige's POV
I had to catch a fever right before practice so I texted Geno and CD and told them then Azzi. I didn’t expect her to not go to practice to take care of me but she Azzi so what can I do.
Narrator
Azzi softly opened the door to the sleeping Paige with a hoodie and big blanket. No wonder she has a fever. She sleeps with like 20 layers. Paige was curled up into a ball, when she laid down next to her. Azzi pulled Paige so she was laying on her chest, she immediately let out a soft sigh nestling deeper into her, she just rubbed her back until she finally fell asleep. Azzi only woke up because Pagie pulled her closer, burying her face into her. The shorter girl only pulled her closer, carding her hands through her hair. It was almost 8 when Azzi went to get Pagie medicine and check her temp. She did take her hoodie and one blanket off before laying in bed but she was still hot.
Getting out of bed, Paige tried to pull her closer.
“I’ll be right back” the dark haired girl reassured her.Getting out of bed she grabbed the thermometer and cold medicine.
Crawling back in bed she snuggled right back up to her. Paige was clingy when she was tired or sick but even more so if she's both so having her sit up was hard, so I pulled her up onto my chest to check her temp. It was 100.67 high but better than 102.
After they both settled and Paige was happily snuggled back up to Azzi, she could finally close her eyes, falling back to sleep to the sound of her heart beat.
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