Cosmic Funnies
Keni
almost home
Acquired Stardust
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
Three Goblin Art
Discoholic 🪩
pixel skylines
Aqua Utopia｜海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
#extradirty
Mike Driver
art blog(derogatory)
No title available
AnasAbdin
Alisa U Zemlji Chuda
if i look back, i am lost
@theartofmadeline
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
izzy's playlists!
Jules of Nature
seen from Switzerland
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Saudi Arabia
seen from United States
seen from Canada
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from Australia
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from United States
@pazzimail
Masterlist
Series
The Beautiful Events of Life
Part 1 //Part 2 //Part 3 //Part 4 //Part 5 //Part 6 //Part 7//Part 8//Part 8.5//Part 9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Art of Love (on hold)
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One Shots
For the Love of Football
Unforeseen Injuries
Shadow Behind the Eyes
It All Fell Down
The Consequences of Your Own Actions
Fear of the Unknown
i miss the beautiful events of life it's been almost a month since the last part, but it's okay, take your time to rest and hopefully you'll be back soon🥹🥰
I’m not going to lie idk when I’ll be back. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love this series but everytime I think about writing again I just can’t bring myself to do it. I promise I’ll do at LEAST one more part eventually!!
AZZI FUDD IS THE GREATEST PLAYER IN THE HISTORY OF WOMENS BASKETBALL!! 💚💙🪽
No hate on Nalyssa, but girl has been on the floor more than she’s played…like get up girl! Also these flops be making me mad bro. Wasting everybody’s time!!
Can we just take a moment to look at how stunned Paige was..
That tech was so unnecessary..how soft you gotta be
For the Love of Christmas
Word count: 4.2k
Christmas 2020
A/N: Pretend they are both already at UConn.
Christmas morning came a lot sooner than anyone expected. Originally, Paige and Azzi had planned to have Christmas with the Fudds. That was until everything got shut down and no one could really travel unless they drove for hours on end. The girls had messaged Azzi's family trying their best to work something out—Christmas alone this year it was. They had each other so not technically alone.
Azzi hated when plans fell through. Especially when she had absolutely no control over the situation. Because they thought they would be traveling for the holiday season, neither of them had bothered to put up their Christmas decor. A couple days before Christmas, Paige had received a notification that her package was delivered—the Christmas tree.
“Be right back. Gotta grab a package!” Paige yelled throughout their apartment while running out the door.
Before Azzi could even respond, the blonde was already out the door and most likely already halfway down the hall. Azzi shook her as she continued reading her book.
Around five minutes later, Paige came busting through the door. You’d think she was being chased by a Hurd of bulls with how loud she was being. Azzi rolled her eyes and reluctantly stood from her spot in bed. She walked in the kitchen and saw Paige struggling to get a giant box through the door.
“Paige what in the world is that?” She questioned.
Paige let out a breath. “Christmas tree Az.”
“Why did you get a Christmas tree? We literally have one.”
Paige stopped struggling for a minute. “Azzi, you can not be serious. That thing is not a Christmas tree. At best it’s a weed that looks like it was pulled from a nearby pond.”
Azzi tried not to laugh but failed miserably. “If I put ornaments on it then I consider it a Christmas tree. Plus why in the world do we need a-“ she paused for a minute, looking at the box that was still halfway through the door. “7 ft tree?”
Paige finally gave up trying to fit herself and the tree through the door at the same time. She laid the box on the ground and kicked it causing it to slide into the kitchen.
“Well for one, I’m tired of looking at that weed. And two, I wanted to make Christmas special this year since we couldn’t spend it with your family. Every year when we would go down to Virginia, your favorite part was always decorating the tree and I wanted you to have that here as well.”
Azzi froze. She expected some dumb answer about how Paige thought it was pretty and bought it without thinking. Instead she got an answer that melted her heart.
“You really bought a whole Christmas tree just so I could decorate it?”
“Well isn’t that what you're supposed to do with a Christmas tree?”
“Paige.”
Paige laughed as she walked over to the brunette pulling her into her arms.
“On that phone call with your parents, you looked so sad. Like more than I’ve ever seen Az. In no world was I going to let you be sad on Christmas.”
Azzi didn’t respond for a few minutes. She had her arms wrapped around Paige’s midsection with her head resting on the blonde's chest.
After a few minutes in this position, Paige felt Azzi start to shake—crying. Paige pulled back just enough to see the girl's face. When Azzi felt Paige pull away, she buried her face even deeper into the blonde's chest so she wouldn’t see the tears falling from her eyes.
“Baby, look at me.”
Azzi didn’t move.
“Az, baby. Look at me please.”
Slowly, Azzi lifted her head to look at the blonde. Paige’s heart broke a little.
“Hey, why are you crying?”
Azzi shook her head, not trusting her voice. She cleared her throat and wiped her tears hoping it would help.
“I uh- idk. It feels stupid.”
“Baby please tell me why you’re crying. I’m sure it’s not stupid.” Paige said, wiping the remainder of Azzi's tears.
“You really spent all this money on a tree just so I wouldn’t be sad about not getting to decorate one…you probably spent like $200 on that thing.”
Paige laughed. “Jokes on you, I actually spent $300.”
“Paige..”
“Ok ok I’m sorry I know I’m not helping. Seriously though, I don’t care how much I would have to spend if it meant I got to see you smile and be happy on Christmas morning. One of my favorite parts of Christmas morning has always been seeing you sit beside a beautifully decorated tree and seeing the smile on your face.” She said, wrapping her arms around Azzi again.
Azzi pouted for a second. “I really don’t deserve you.”
Paige shook her head. “Don’t even start that.”
Christmas Eve
Paige woke up excited this morning. Normally their mornings consisted of Azzi trying her hardest to wake Paige and nothing working. Azzi was always awake before Paige. Not today. Paige barely slept last night because of how excited she was. She had gone on Amazon around 11pm last night after realizing the only Christmas ornaments they had were the tiny ones Azzi insisted on putting on that weed sitting on their living room table. So she ordered as many ornaments as she thought a 7 ft tree could handle—balls, candy canes, popcorn for a garland..everything. Even a beautiful tree topper that totally wasn’t a pink glittery basketball.
Paige opened her app to see where the delivery was. Thankfully they were only 2 stops away. Paige was sitting on the edge of the couch practically vibrating with excitement. She was looking at her phone every 30 seconds waiting for the notification to come through. Once she hit the 10 minute mark of waiting, she started pacing the room. At one point, Paige had stopped paying attention to where she was walking and walked straight into the coffee table. Unlucky for her, the spot she hit on the table was right on her ACL surgery scar and hurt more than if she were to hit anywhere else. She immediately lifted her leg grabbing at where the scar was. She slowly made her way back over to the couch as she started feeling a wetness on her hand. She sat down, removing her hand from the knee–blood. Internally, the blonde was panicking. On the outside, she looked calm and collected. Paige's breathing started to become uneven as if she were having a panic attack.
After a few minutes of panicking, Paige moved her hand away from her knee. She looked down, seeing a small scratch. She let out a breath right as Azzi walked through their bedroom door.
“The dramatics my lord.”
Paige snapped her head up to look at Azzi.
“Why are you awake?” She questioned.
Azzi laughed. “Well it’s kind of hard to sleep when your girlfriend is pacing around the living room, running into things.”
Paige sighed leaning back into the couch she was sitting on.
“Why are YOU awake is the real question. You never wake up before lunch time.” Azzi added as she started making coffee.
Paige froze. “Um, well. I was uh- no reason.”
Azzi turned to face the blonde. “Paaaige. What did you do?”
“Psh. Me? Doing something? Haha, you’re so funny Azzi.”
“Paige.” Azzi said in a stern voice.
Paige sighed. “Imayormaynothavespentmoremoneyonchristmasornamentsforthetree.”
“Ok. First of all, slow down. Second, please repeat that.” Azzi said.
“I said I may or may not have spent more money on Christmas ornaments for the tree. Before you start fussing about me spending money, it wasn’t that much. Well it kind of was but that doesn’t matter. Anywayyyyys. Be right back.”
Before Azzi even had time to think of a response, Paige was out the door. Azzi stood there for a moment trying to process everything Paige had just said. She shook her head and continued making her coffee. A few minutes later, Paige came through the door with her arms full. She sat everything down on the kitchen counter as her arms went limp.
“That’s a lot heavier than I was expecting.” Paige said nearly out of breath.
Just as the words left her mouth Azzi walked in. Paige immediately straightened her posture, walking towards Azzi. Azzi saw the amount of boxes and glared at Paige. Paige wrapped her arms around Azzi's waist, pulling her into a hug.
“Why are there like 14 boxes on my kitchen counter, Paige?
Paige laughed. “Ok 14 is a bit dramatic. There’s 12 actually.”
Azzi glared up at Paige.
“Ok ok. Their ornaments like I said. I didn’t know how many to get so I just got all the pretty ones. If we have extra I’ll return them. Simple.” Paige said, lifting her hands up in surrender.
A couple hours later, Azzi was in their bed reading her most recent book. She hadn’t even been reading for more than 10 minutes when she heard shuffling in the living room. She threw her head back against the pillow as her book fell into her lap. Sighing, she got up to go see what Paige was doing. When she opened the bedroom door she saw paper, plastic, and cardboard boxes covering almost every surface.
“Paige what in the world are you doing?” Azzi said, leaning against the door frame.
Paige looked up like she had been caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to be doing. “Um-well. I’m unpacking everything. Obviously.”
Azzi pinched the bridge of her nose as she sighed. “You expect me to decorate a tree in this mess?”
“Well no. I’ll clean everything up once I have everything out. I just got excited.”
Just as Azzi was about to respond, Paige interrupted her.
“OH! Look!” Paige said pointing to the corner of the room. “I even put up the tree already so you wouldn’t have to help.”
Azzi looked to where Paige was pointing and saw three quarters of a Christmas tree.
“Where’s the other part?”
Paige scratched the back of her neck. “Well about that. It didn’t entirely fit.”
Azzi shook her head. “Why did you think a 7ft tree would fit to begin with?”
“Well in my defense I’m 6ft and I fit right there.”
Azzi couldn’t believe what she had just heard. “So you get a tree with an extra foot on it expecting it to fit?”
Paige giggled. “Ok hearing it out loud it doesn’t make much sense but in my head it did.”
“I’m going to read my book now. Come get me when this mess is cleaned up and I’ll come decorate with you.”
About an hour later, Paige still hadn’t come to get azzi which made her suspicious. Azzi laid her book down as she tiptoed over to the door, quietly opening it. She peaked her head out to see Paige in the kitchen with a bucket of cookie dough and a baking sheet. Paige wasn’t ever one to bake unless she was upset or felt bad about something. Azzi didn’t say anything and kept watching as Paige moved around the kitchen. Paige had just put the cookie sheet into the oven and turned to wash her hands when she saw azzi watching.
“Oh hey Az. I didn’t know you were standing there.”
Azzi didn’t respond. Instead she pushed herself off of the door frame and walked into the kitchen. She looked at Paige for a second then wrapped her arms around Paige’s waist pulling her in. Paige melted instantly.
Azzi pulled back just enough to look at Paige. “What’s going on baby?”
Paige stayed silent for a moment. “It’s dumb.”
“Paige, please tell me what’s going on in your head. You never bake unless you’re in your head about something.”
Paige sighed. “After I saw how you reacted to seeing all the packages everywhere, I started thinking I might’ve overstepped. I was trying so hard to recreate what we normally do with your family. I know it’s not the same Az. I’m sorry for being this way.”
Azzi's face softened instantly. “Baby…do not ever apologize for that. I’m not mad or annoyed. I just- I miss my family. The way I’ve been acting has absolutely nothing to do with you doing all of this. You doing all of this helps honestly. I don’t think I’d be functioning properly if it weren’t for you.”
“Are you sure, Az?”
Azzi smiled, gently placing her hands on Paige’s face. “Yes honey. You being here and doing these things are keeping me sane.”
For the first time since azzi started watching the blonde, Paige smiled. Paige tightened her grip on Azzi, pulling the brunette even closer. Paige buried her face into Azzi’s neck, letting out a breath she felt like she’d been holding for the last hour. Azzi gently ran her fingers through the blonde’s hair while the cookies baked behind them. For a few minutes neither of them spoke. The apartment was quiet besides the soft hum of the oven and the occasional Christmas song playing from Paige’s phone somewhere in the living room.
Then Azzi felt Paige smile against her skin.
“You know,” Paige mumbled. “I think the cookies are burning.”
Azzi laughed softly. “Mhm. Probably because you’ve been clinging to me for five minutes.”
“I have no regrets.”
Azzi shook her head fondly before pulling away just enough to look at her girlfriend. “Go save the cookies, chef.”
Paige gasped dramatically. “You think I’d let our children burn?”
“Our what?”
“The cookies, Azzi. Keep up.”
Azzi rolled her eyes as Paige hurried over to the oven. The blonde dramatically pulled the tray out like she was on some cooking show.
“And voilà,” Paige announced proudly.
Azzi walked over beside her, looking down at the cookies. “Paige…”
“What?”
“They’re charcoal.”
Paige frowned immediately. “No they are not.”
Azzi pointed to one in the corner. “That one is literally black.”
Paige stared at it for a second before grabbing a spatula and quickly shoving the burnt cookie underneath the others.
“There. Problem solved.”
Azzi couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “You are ridiculous.”
“Yet you’re still obsessed with me.”
Azzi smiled. “Unfortunately.”
Paige grinned before setting the tray down. “Okay. Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“The tree.” Paige said like it was obvious. “Christmas Eve decorating tradition, remember?”
Azzi looked around the apartment again. Surprisingly, most of the mess had actually been cleaned up. The boxes were stacked neatly against the wall and the ornaments were all laid out carefully on the coffee table. In the corner stood the giant tree, slightly bent at the top from touching the ceiling.
Azzi pointed at it. “It still doesn’t fit.”
Paige looked over. “That sounds like a tomorrow problem.”
“Paige.”
“What? It’s festive.”
Azzi shook her head while laughing under her breath. Paige immediately lit up at the sound.
“There’s the smile I’ve been trying to get all day.” Paige said softly.
Azzi’s expression softened instantly.
Paige walked over to the bins of ornaments, grabbing a handful before walking back to Azzi. “C’mon. Help me make this thing look less tragic.”
For the next hour, the apartment slowly transformed. Christmas music echoed through the speakers while Paige continuously handed Azzi ornaments she thought were “important additions.”
“This one looks like you.” Paige said, holding up a tiny basketball ornament.
Azzi snorted. “That’s literally just because it’s brown.”
“Exactly.”
“Paige!”
The blonde laughed loudly as Azzi threw a piece of popcorn at her.
At one point, Azzi climbed onto the couch trying to reach a higher branch while Paige stood behind her holding onto her waist.
“You know,” Paige started. “Most people use ladders.”
“And most people buy trees that fit in their apartment.”
“Okay wow. Why are you attacking me on Christmas Eve?”
Azzi giggled as she reached up to hang another ornament. The branch bent aggressively under the weight causing her to gasp.
“Oh my God.”
Paige immediately tightened her grip around Azzi’s waist. “Don’t die. I can’t explain that to your parents.”
Azzi burst out laughing so hard she nearly dropped the ornament.
A little while later, the tree was finally finished. The popcorn garland sat unevenly around the middle because Paige kept eating pieces off of it while decorating. Half the candy canes were missing for the same reason. But despite all of that, the tree glowed beautifully in the corner of their apartment.
Azzi sat cross legged on the floor staring at it quietly.
Paige walked over holding two mugs of hot chocolate before sitting beside her. “Whatcha thinking about?”
Azzi took the mug carefully. “Honestly?”
“Mhm.”
“I think this might be my favorite Christmas.”
Paige looked over at her. “Even without your family here?”
Azzi nodded slowly. “I miss them a lot. But…” she looked over at the blonde beside her. “Home doesn’t really feel like a place anymore.”
Paige stayed quiet.
“It feels like you.”
The blonde’s entire face softened instantly.
“Az…” Paige whispered.
Azzi smiled shyly into her mug. “You’ve spent days trying to make sure I wasn’t sad. You bought an entire tree that doesn’t fit in our apartment, way too many ornaments, burnt cookies, and nearly gave yourself a heart attack over a scratch on your knee all because you wanted me to have a good Christmas.” She laughed softly. “Nobody has ever loved me the way you do.”
Paige felt her chest tighten painfully.
Without saying anything, she set her mug down and pulled Azzi into her lap. Azzi immediately curled into her like she belonged there. Because she did.
“Well good,” Paige mumbled into her hair. “Because I plan on loving you like this for the rest of my life.”
Azzi went completely still.
A few seconds passed.
“Paige.” Azzi said.
“Yeah?”
“You can’t just say things like that casually.”
Paige blinked innocently. “What? I’m serious.”
Azzi looked up at her, cheeks warm. “You make me nervous.”
Paige smiled softly before leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“Good thing you’re stuck with me then.”
Azzi stared at her for a second longer before hiding her face in Paige’s hoodie.
“You’re lucky I love you.” She mumbled.
Paige grinned immediately. “Oh my God, you admit it?”
Azzi pulled back just enough to glare at her. “Don’t ruin the moment.”
“Sorry sorry.” Paige laughed quietly, tightening her arms around the brunette again. “But for the record, I’ve known.”
“You’re annoying.”
“And you’re in love with me. Crazy how life works.”
Azzi rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop smiling. The lights from the Christmas tree reflected softly across the apartment, casting everything in warm gold. Outside, snow had started falling lightly against the windows.
Paige noticed Azzi staring.
“Oh wait here—don’t move.” Paige said suddenly.
Before Azzi could question her, Paige carefully slid out from underneath her and disappeared into their bedroom.
“Paige?” Azzi called.
“No peeking!”
“I literally can’t see you.”
“Still!”
Azzi shook her head fondly as she listened to the blonde loudly rummaging through drawers and knocking things over.
“OW—”
Azzi sat up instantly. “What happened?!”
“I’m okay!”
“Paige—”
“I said I’m okay!” she yelled back. “The bed frame just attacked me.”
Azzi laughed under her breath. “You’re actually hopeless.”
A few more seconds passed before Paige finally reappeared holding something behind her back. Her smile was suspiciously wide.
“What are you doing?” Azzi questioned.
“Close your eyes.”
“No.”
“Azziii.”
“You act shady every time you have a surprise.”
Paige gasped dramatically. “I am offended. Have I ever given you a bad surprise?”
Azzi thought for a moment. “You bought a seven foot tree for a tiny apartment.”
“That was a fantastic surprise.”
Azzi laughed as Paige walked over and stood in front of her.
“Please close your eyes.”
Azzi finally sighed. “Fine.”
Immediately, Paige’s smile softened. She looked down at the object in her hands for a second before gently sitting beside Azzi again.
“Okay. Open.”
Azzi slowly opened her eyes.
In Paige’s hands was a small polaroid picture in a cheap dollar store frame.
Azzi frowned slightly. “Paige…”
“It’s from our first Christmas together.” Paige said quietly.
Azzi looked closer at the picture. It was blurry and slightly crooked. Paige had somehow managed to catch the exact moment Azzi laughed while trying to shove wrapping paper out of the way. Her head was thrown back, eyes squinted shut with the biggest smile on her face. Meanwhile Paige stood beside her staring at her instead of the camera.
Azzi’s expression softened instantly.
“You kept this?”
“Of course I kept it.” Paige said like it was obvious. “It’s my favorite picture of you.”
Azzi looked over at her. “It’s blurry.”
“Yeah but you look happy.”
The room fell quiet again.
Paige rubbed the back of her neck nervously. “I know it’s not some huge gift or anything. I just…” she shrugged. “I found it earlier while cleaning and it reminded me that every Christmas with you somehow becomes my favorite one.”
Azzi felt tears immediately sting her eyes again.
“Oh no.” Paige groaned softly. “Baby please don’t cry again.”
“You literally keep making me emotional!”
Paige started laughing. “That sounds like a you problem honestly.”
Azzi smacked her arm lightly before carefully taking the frame from her hands.
“I love it.” she whispered.
Paige watched her for a second before smiling softly. “Yeah?”
Azzi nodded.
Without warning, Paige leaned forward and kissed her gently. Slow and warm and familiar. Azzi melted into it instantly.
When they finally pulled apart, Paige rested her forehead against Azzi’s.
“Merry Christmas, Az.”
Azzi smiled softly. “Merry Christmas, Paige.”
Right then, the lights on the tree flickered once.
Twice.
Then the entire apartment went dark.
Silence.
“You have got to be kidding me.” Azzi deadpanned.
Across the room, Paige burst into uncontrollable laughter.
“You overloaded the outlets didn’t you?” Azzi asked.
“I plead the fifth.”
“PAIGE.”
Paige was laughing so hard she nearly fell off the couch.
“I didn’t know apartments had ornament limits!” she defended between laughs.
Azzi sat there in complete darkness staring at the blonde’s silhouette illuminated only by the snow outside the window.
“You plugged three extension cords into each other.”
“It was efficient.”
“It was concerning.”
Paige laughed again while Azzi tried her hardest not to smile. Unfortunately for her, Paige knew her too well.
“There it is,” Paige said softly. “That smile.”
Azzi rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” Paige started dramatically, scooting closer in the darkness, “you continue choosing me every single day.”
Azzi felt Paige’s hands find hers in the dark. Her thumbs rubbed gently across Azzi’s knuckles.
Outside, snow continued falling quietly over the city. Inside, despite the power being out and their apartment smelling faintly like burnt cookies, everything felt warm.
Paige suddenly gasped.
“Oh my God.”
“What now?”
“The tree!”
“What about it?”
“The lights are gone. It doesn’t sparkle anymore.”
Azzi blinked at her for a second before laughing quietly. “Paige…we are literally sitting in the dark.”
“I know but it’s sad.”
Azzi shook her head fondly before standing up. “Stay here.”
“Where are you going?”
“You’ll see.”
Paige listened as Azzi shuffled around their apartment for a minute before returning. A second later, soft golden light flickered between them.
Candles.
Paige’s face immediately lit up.
“Oh.”
Azzi carefully set the candles around the room—the coffee table, kitchen counter, windowsill. Slowly, their apartment glowed again. Softer this time. Warmer.
Paige looked around in awe. “Okay wait…this is kinda romantic.” She said, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Kinda?”
“Very romantic actually.” Paige corrected.
Azzi laughed quietly before sitting back down beside her on the floor. They leaned against the couch together facing the tree.
Even without the lights, it still looked beautiful.
The glittery basketball topper leaned aggressively to one side.
Half the ornaments were clumped together because Paige insisted “organized chaos builds character.”
The popcorn garland had multiple empty spots where Paige had eaten pieces off throughout the night.
It was imperfect.
But it was theirs.
Paige rested her head on Azzi’s shoulder.
“You wanna know something?” she asked softly.
“Mhm?”
“A few years from now, when we have a bigger apartment and an actual tree that fits properly, I think we’re gonna miss this.”
Azzi turned slightly. “Miss your fire hazard extension cords?”
Paige snorted. “Okay maybe not that part.”
Azzi smiled as Paige intertwined their fingers again.
“I think we’re gonna miss being twenty-something and broke and sitting on the floor because we don’t own enough furniture.” Paige continued quietly. “I think one day we’ll look back at this Christmas and realize it was one of the important ones.”
Azzi felt her chest ache in the best way.
“Yeah,” she whispered. “I think so too.”
For a while they sat there in comfortable silence. Snow fell outside. Christmas music played softly from Paige’s phone speaker. Somewhere around midnight, Azzi started drifting asleep against Paige’s shoulder.
Paige looked down at her carefully.
“Az?”
No response.
Paige smiled softly to herself.
She adjusted the blanket around them before pressing a gentle kiss to the top of Azzi’s head.
“Merry Christmas, baby.” she whispered.
Half asleep, Azzi smiled against her shoulder.
And in that tiny apartment with the burnt cookies, overloaded outlets, a crooked tree, and candlelight glowing softly around them. Christmas somehow turned out exactly the way it was supposed to.
Currently attempting to edit the one-shot!! I should have it up within the next 30ish minutes💚💙🪽
If Dallas wins tonight I’ll post a one shot💚💙🪽
Small hint: Christmas
We are 3 minutes into this game and I’m already irritated….Jess what was that???
Thanks A’ja!! We appreciate you girl!! Not even a fan of the Aces really but thanks girlie!! Anyways WingsUp💙💚🪽
So you’re telling me I pay $40 for this damn pass and can’t use it??? Hello??
Is anyone else getting irritated by these commentators??
Lowkey imma need Paige to drop 40 tonight in honor of Azzi…anyways WingUp💚💙🪽
Love at First Try On
Word count:3.5k
A/N: this has been sitting in my folder for probably 2 weeks unfinished. I had planned on adding more but never really got around to it. No this doesn’t mean I’m fully back. I’m still taking a break but figured I would post this before it got lost.
—————————
One morning, Paige woke up before the sun could even think about rising. She knew in her heart that today would be special but couldn’t quite say why. She and Azzi had an early practice that morning. Paige quietly slipped from the hold that a sleeping Azzi had on her, careful to not wake the brunette. She made her way into their kitchen and started cooking. Cooking wasn’t her strong suit but she could make eggs which Azzi loved.
About 10 minutes later, breakfast was complete. Paige made her way into their shared bedroom to wake Azzi. She gently shook the girl with one hand and with the other she brushed a piece of loose hair from the girl's face.
“Good morning sleepy girl.”
Azzi moved like she was going to stretch and immediately flipped onto her side, facing the blonde.
“M’ornin.”
Paige smirked at the sleepiness in the girl's voice. “Come on Az. I made you some eggs with cottage cheese and cut some fruit. We gotta hurry and eat so we aren’t late for practice.”
Azzi groaned but followed Paige anyway. They sat on the couch eating in a peaceful silence. Once they were done they got dressed and headed out the door.
Practice went smoothly. Both girls were tired but that wasn’t new. They’re walking home at an easy pace, hands linked like the world outside of their bubble didn’t exist. The evening air is cooler, quieter than the gym had been.
Azzi slows down first.
Paige notices immediately. “What?”
Azzi tilts her head toward a storefront ahead.
A dress shop.
Warm lighting inside. Mannequins in soft white and ivory. One of those windows that looks like it’s trying to sell a version of a future.
“Can we look?” Azzi asks casually, like she’s asking to grab coffee.
Paige follows her gaze, then back to her.
“Yeah,” she says without hesitation. “We can look.”
Azzi smiles and tugs her gently inside.
The shop is quiet in that soft, expensive way. Music playing low. Fabric everywhere that looks like it was designed to make people think about forever.
Paige is immediately less comfortable in here than she was in a gym full of shouting people.
Azzi, on the other hand, looks completely at ease.
She wanders slowly past the racks, fingertips brushing fabric, expression curious and soft.
Paige follows her, still holding her hand.
“You good?” Paige asks quietly.
Azzi hums. “Yeah. Just looking.”
But then she stops.
Paige feels it before she even asks.
Azzi is staring at one dress.
Simple, elegant, clean lines. Nothing overly dramatic, but something about it catches the light in a way that makes it feel like it belongs on someone walking into a new chapter of their life.
Azzi doesn’t speak for a second.
Paige watches her face instead.
“…You like it,” Paige says.
Azzi blinks like she got caught. “It’s just pretty.”
Paige steps closer, studying it once, then looks back at Azzi.
“Try it on.”
Azzi immediately shakes her head. “No.”
Paige doesn’t even blink. “Yes.”
Azzi laughs once. “Paige-”
“Try it on,” Paige repeats, softer but firm.
Azzi hesitates.
Finally, Azzi sighs. “You’re going to be insufferable about this.”
Paige nods once. “Probably.”
That gets a reluctant smile out of Azzi.
A few minutes later, Azzi steps out of the fitting room.
And Paige stops breathing for a second.
It’s subtle at first, how still she goes.
Like her brain needs a moment to catch up with what she’s seeing.
Azzi looks down slightly, smoothing the fabric. “Okay, don’t freak out.”
Paige doesn’t respond right away.
She just looks at her.
Really looks at her.
The way the dress sits on her. The way it softens everything without hiding her. The way she looks like she belongs in something like this without even trying.
Azzi shifts slightly under her gaze. “Paige?”
Paige finally exhales.
“Yeah,” she says quietly.
Azzi raises an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound reassuring.”
Paige steps closer.
Still not touching her yet.
Just close enough that Azzi has to look up at her.
“You look…” Paige pauses, searching, then gives up on finding anything complicated. “Really beautiful.”
Azzi’s expression softens instantly.
“I think that’s the point of the dress,” she says lightly.
Paige shakes her head once. “No.”
Azzi blinks. “No?”
Paige finally reaches out, gently adjusting the sleeve near Azzi’s shoulder like she needs to ground herself in something real.
“It’s not the dress,” she says.
Azzi goes quiet.
Paige’s voice drops a little more.
“It’s you.”
That lands differently.
Azzi’s smile fades into something quieter, more emotional.
Behind them, the shop feels suddenly distant. Like it stopped being a store and became something else entirely for a second.
Azzi swallows. “You’re not supposed to say things like that so casually.”
Paige shrugs slightly. “I’m not being casual.”
Azzi studies her face for a long second.
Then, softly: “You’re staring.”
Paige doesn’t deny it.
“I know,” she says.
Azzi laughs quietly, but there’s emotion underneath it. “You’re gonna make me keep it.”
Paige nods once. “Good.”
Azzi shakes her head, smiling now, but her eyes are soft in a way that gives her away.
“You’re dangerous,” she murmurs.
Paige steps just a little closer.
“Yeah?” she says quietly. “Or just honest?”
Azzi looks up at her, completely caught now.
And for a moment, neither of them says anything.
Because the idea of weddings, of dresses like this, of futures that feel too big to say out loud—
It doesn’t feel scary anymore, like how it did when they had first gotten together.
It just feels… possible.
Azzi finally exhales.
“I’m not taking it off yet,” she says softly.
Paige’s expression softens immediately.
“Okay,” she says.
And she means it.
No pressure. No rush. No performance.
Just staying in the moment with her.
Azzi reaches for her hand again, still in the dress, still standing in the middle of a shop that suddenly feels way too aware of them.
“You’re staring again,” she says quietly.
Paige squeezes her hand.
“Yeah,” she admits. “I probably will for a while.”
Azzi smiles.
And this time, she doesn’t tell her to stop.
The shop owner pretends very hard not to be watching them.
It doesn’t work.
Because Paige is still standing there like Azzi just rewrote something in her brain that she didn’t know could be rewritten.
Azzi shifts slightly in the dress, suddenly a little more aware of the moment now that it’s lingering.
“…Okay,” she says softly, trying to ground it, “you can stop staring at me like I’m about to walk down an aisle right now.”
Paige blinks once, like she’s pulling herself back into reality.
“I wasn’t thinking that,” she says automatically.
Azzi raises an eyebrow.
Paige pauses.
“…I mean,” she corrects, quieter, “I wasn’t only thinking that.”
Azzi laughs under her breath. “Paige.”
Paige finally exhales, running a hand lightly through her hair like she’s resetting herself.
“You look really good,” she says again, more grounded now. “That’s all.”
Azzi steps closer, still in the dress, still barefoot in the fitting room slippers, and gently taps Paige’s chest with one finger.
“You’re acting weird.”
“I’m always weird.”
“Not like this.”
Paige looks down at her.
There’s something softer in her expression now than there was in the gym. Less intensity. More quiet certainty.
“I just like seeing you like that,” she admits.
Azzi’s voice softens. “Like what?”
Paige doesn’t hesitate this time.
“Happy,” she says simply. “And… like you aren’t terrified of what the future holds.”
That hits Azzi in a way she doesn’t fully expect.
Her teasing expression fades into something more vulnerable.
“I don’t run away from you,” she says quietly.
Paige nods immediately. “I know.”
A beat.
Then Paige steps slightly closer, lowering her voice.
“And I’m not running either.”
Azzi studies her face for a second, like she’s checking if she still means that in the same way she did yesterday. Or in the gym. Or in every version of this they’ve been stepping into.
Paige doesn’t flinch under it.
She just stays there.
Steady.
Present.
Azzi slowly exhales.
“…Okay,” she says softly.
Then, almost shy again, she looks down at the dress.
“I kind of don’t want to take it off now.”
Paige glances at it, then back at her immediately.
“Don’t.”
Azzi laughs lightly. “We’re not buying a wedding dress, Paige.”
Paige shrugs. “We could.”
Azzi immediately points at her. “No.”
Paige nods once. “Fair.”
That gets them both smiling again.
From the counter, the shop owner, Maya, finally clears her throat gently, like she’s been giving them emotional space and now needs to reclaim her business.
Azzi looks over, then back at Paige.
“Okay,” she says softly, still smiling. “I’m gonna change.”
Paige nods, but her eyes linger a second longer than necessary.
Azzi notices.
Of course she does.
And right before she disappears back into the fitting room, she reaches out and lightly squeezes Paige’s hand.
“I’m still right here,” she says quietly.
Paige squeezes back once.
“I know,” she says.
And for once, she actually believes how simple that sounds.
——————————————
After Paige and Azzi left that day, the shop felt different to Maya.
Not because anything dramatic had happened in the store, but because she’d seen the way they looked at each other.
Like the world had quietly narrowed down to just one person.
When Azzi had changed out of the dress, Maya had already known.
So she took it off the rack.
Carefully.
And she didn’t put it back.
She bagged it, labeled it, and stored it in the back like something worth waiting for.
Because some things don’t feel like inventory.
They feel like timing.
A year later, Azzi walks back into the shop alone.
The bell above the door chimes softly, and for a moment she just stands there, scanning the room like she’s stepping into a memory she hasn’t fully revisited in a while.
She’s engaged now.
To Paige.
The ring on her hand still catches her off guard sometimes, like she forgets, for half a second, that her life actually turned into something she used to only quietly hope for.
She walks slowly through the racks.
And then she sees it.
Or rather
She doesn’t see it.
She stops.
Brows furrowing slightly.
The dress is gone.
The exact spot it used to hang is empty.
Azzi’s stomach drops in a way she didn’t expect.
“No,” she whispers to herself.
She walks closer, checking the surrounding racks, like maybe it was moved, like maybe she just missed it.
But it’s not there.
Her breath tightens.
“Excuse me,” she calls gently to the front counter. “The dress that was here last year… the ivory one.”
The employee looks confused. “Oh, we don’t have that anymore, I think it was-”
Azzi’s chest tightens further.
“Oh,” she says quietly interrupting.
She nods once, stepping back.
It shouldn’t matter this much.
It’s just a dress.
But it isn’t.
It was the first time everything felt real in a different way.
Her hand drops slightly at her side as she turns toward the door.
Her throat tight.
And just as she reaches for the door handle-
“Azzi!”
She pauses.
Turns.
From the back room, a woman steps out quickly, holding something carefully covered in a garment bag.
She looks like she’s been waiting for this moment.
“Don’t leave yet,” the shop owner says, slightly out of breath. “I knew you’d come back.”
Azzi blinks. “What?”
The woman walks closer, holding the bag like it matters.
“My name’s Maya,” she says gently. “I was here the day you tried this on.”
Azzi goes still.
Maya smiles faintly. “And I’ve been waiting for you to come back for it ever since.”
Azzi looks down at the bag, confused and slowly overwhelmed.
“I don’t understand,” she says quietly. “I thought it was gone.”
Maya shakes her head.
“I took it off the floor the same day,” she explains. “I didn’t put it back on the rack. I just… kept it.”
Azzi’s eyes lift sharply. “Why?”
Maya pauses, like the answer should be obvious but still deserves to be said properly.
“Because I’ve worked here a long time,” she says softly. “And I’ve learned the difference between a dress someone tries on… and a dress someone comes back for.”
Azzi’s breath catches slightly.
Maya continues, voice gentler now.
“You didn’t leave that day like it was just fabric,” she says. “You left like it was a moment you weren’t ready for yet.”
Azzi swallows.
Maya tilts her head slightly. “So I kept it safe. I had a feeling your story with it wasn’t finished.”
A beat.
Then she holds the bag out.
“And I think I was right.”
Azzi stares at it for a second longer, emotions building in her chest in a way she doesn’t fully expect.
“…I’m engaged now,” she says quietly.
Maya smiles immediately. “I know.”
That surprises her.
Maya nods toward Azzi’s hand. “I follow happy endings when I see them starting.”
Azzi lets out a soft breath, almost a laugh through emotion.
Then she takes the bag.
Carefully.
Like it still means something.
Because it does.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
Maya just smiles.
“Some things,” she says gently, “are just waiting for the right person to come back for them.”
Azzi holds the bag close for a second longer than she means to.
And as she steps out of the shop again, she doesn’t feel like she’s revisiting the past.
She feels like she’s carrying it forward.
Azzi doesn’t open the bag right away.
She stands outside the shop for a moment, just holding it, fingers lightly gripping the hanger inside through the fabric like she needs proof it’s real.
The street is the same as it was a year ago.
But she isn’t.
Her phone buzzes.
Paige.
Paige: where are you
Azzi stares at the message for a second, then looks back at the bag in her hands.
She types slowly.
Azzi: i found something
Almost immediately.
Paige: what kind of something
Azzi smiles a little to herself.
She looks up at the shop window again.
Then back down at the bag.
And instead of answering right away, she starts walking.
When she gets home, Paige is in the kitchen.
Barefoot. Hair slightly messy. Probably been trying to cook something she’ll pretend didn’t stress her out.
Paige looks up the second Azzi walks in.
“You were gone a while,” she says, casual but immediately attentive. “Everything okay?”
Azzi doesn’t answer right away.
She just sets the garment bag gently on the couch.
Paige’s eyes follow it instantly.
“…What is that?”
Azzi exhales softly, like she’s still deciding how to explain the fact that her emotions have been fully hijacked by a piece of fabric.
“I went back to the dress shop,” she says.
Paige pauses. “Okay…”
Azzi walks over to the couch and slowly unzips the bag.
Paige watches carefully now, expression shifting from confusion to recognition the moment the fabric starts to show.
“…No way,” Paige says quietly.
Azzi nods once.
“They kept it,” she says. “Maya, the shop owner, she-she kept it the whole time.”
Paige walks closer, stopping just behind her.
Azzi pulls the dress out carefully.
Same fabric. Same softness. Same feeling of something that once made them both stop and look at each other differently.
Paige doesn’t speak for a second.
Then, quietly: “You look like you’re about to cry.”
Azzi laughs softly. “I might be.”
Paige steps up beside her, eyes still on the dress.
“Why did she keep it?” she asks.
Azzi looks down at it, then at Paige.
“Because she said I was going to come back for it.”
Paige blinks once. “She said that?”
Azzi nods. “Yeah.”
A beat.
Paige exhales slowly, almost disbelieving. “That’s insane.”
Azzi hums. “A little.”
Paige turns slightly toward her. “Are you glad she did?”
Azzi doesn’t hesitate.
“Yes,” she says softly. “Because I think I understand it better now.”
Paige watches her carefully.
Azzi continues, quieter.
“I thought I liked it because it was just a pretty dress,” she says. “But it wasn’t really about that.”
Paige’s voice softens. “What was it about?”
Azzi looks up at her fiancé.
And smiles.
“It was the first time I saw what my life with you might feel like,” she says simply. “Before I even knew I was allowed to want it.”
Silence.
Paige doesn’t move for a second.
Then she steps closer and gently takes Azzi’s hand.
“You were always allowed,” she says quietly.
Azzi squeezes her hand back. “I know that now.”
Paige glances at the dress again, then back at her.
“And now?” she asks softly.
Azzi smiles a little wider.
“Now I don’t need it to imagine it anymore.”
Paige’s expression softens completely at that.
Azzi leans into her slightly, still holding the dress between them.
“But I kind of want to keep it anyway,” she adds lightly.
Paige nods immediately. “We’re keeping it.”
Azzi laughs. “You didn’t even hesitate.”
Paige shrugs. “It’s part of the story.”
Azzi looks up at her again, something warm settling in her chest.
“Yeah,” she says softly. “It is.”
And as they stand there together ,ringed hands, old dress, shared history folding neatly into something steady and real, it doesn’t feel like the past catching up to them.
It feels like it finally found where it belongs.
Paige walks into the shop the next day expecting something simple.
A quick thank you. A conversation. Maybe even a light moment about how “Maya was right.”
She still has Azzi’s handprint in her memory from last night, the way Azzi held that dress like it mattered beyond fabric, beyond time.
The bell above the door chimes softly.
“Hey,” Paige says to the girl at the front desk. “I’m looking for Maya.”
The girl looks up.
And something in her expression shifts immediately.
Not confusion.
Not recognition.
Something heavier.
Paige notices it instantly.
“…She’s not here?” Paige asks, slower now.
The girl swallows once.
“No,” she says quietly. “She… she passed away last night.”
The words don’t land at first.
Paige just stares at her.
“What?”
The girl’s voice softens even more, careful. “In her sleep. It was peaceful.”
Silence.
The shop suddenly feels too still.
Paige doesn’t move.
Doesn’t blink for a second too long.
“…Last night?” she repeats, almost like it doesn’t compute.
The girl nods.
And then quickly reaches under the counter.
“She left something,” she adds gently. “For you and Azzi. She said… just in case she didn’t get to see the dress find its way home properly.”
Paige’s chest tightens instantly.
“Where is it?” she asks.
The girl slides a small envelope and a neatly folded paper bag across the counter.
Paige takes them carefully.
Her hands feel colder than they should.
She doesn’t open anything yet.
Just stands there for a second, processing the shift in the air.
Because Maya was just, here.
Yesterday.
She was just-
The girl watches her quietly. “I’m really sorry.”
Paige nods once, but it’s automatic. Detached. Like her brain hasn’t caught up to the emotional weight yet.
“Yeah,” she says quietly. “Me too.”
She turns and walks out before she even realizes she’s moving.
Outside, the air hits differently.
Louder. Sharper.
Paige leans against the side of the building for a second, finally opening the envelope.
Inside is a handwritten note.
She reads it slowly.
———————-
Paige & Azzi,
If you’re reading this, then I didn’t make it long enough to tell you this in person.
That’s okay.
I’ve worked in this shop long enough to know when something is real. And the two of you? That was real the moment you walked in together.
Azzi looked at that dress like she was meeting a version of herself she wasn’t ready for yet.
And you looked at her like you already knew she’d come back for it.
So I kept it safe. Not because it was expensive. But because it mattered.
Some people come into a shop looking for a dress.
Some people come in already halfway into a life.
You two were the second kind.
Take care of each other.
—Maya
Paige doesn’t realize she’s been holding her breath until she finishes reading.
She lowers the paper slowly.
The dress bag sits beside her, suddenly heavier than before.
Not because of fabric.
Because of meaning.
Because of timing.
Because of someone who saw something in them before they even fully understood it themselves, and made space for it anyway.
Paige looks down at the note again.
Then back at the shop window.
Quiet.
Still.
“Thank you,” she says under her breath.
Not sure if she means it to the building.
Or to Maya.
Or just to the idea that someone believed in them that early.
She walks home differently than she walked in.
Like something just became part of their story that they didn’t get to choose, but still get to carry forward.
Lowkey starting to get into a little bit of a writing slump…don’t get me wrong I love the one shots and my series but recently I’ve been getting to where I don’t want to write. That being said I’ll be taking a bit of a break. Not totally sure when I’ll be back but hopefully it’s soon..love you guys and I’m very sorry 😞🫶🏼
No hate I love your story but u just wanted to let you know the timing is definitely off from how long it took them to drive. You said in chapter 5 or 6 that it would take 22 hours and it doesn’t make sense how many times they stopped and that you said paige drove 12 hours straight in the most recent chapter.
Again no hate at all I really like the way your story is going I just wanted to point that out
Yeah I kind of noticed that after it was posted. With how long it’s been since I wrote chapter 5 and 6 I kind of forgot the timeline of things and just started writing. I’ll try my best to keep up better as the story goes.