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can i have this dance? - 4/?

pairing: paige x azzi💕

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Summary: Azzi loved weddings, had loved them since she was a kid and religiously watched ‘say yes to the dress’ with her sister Olivia.

And now this time next year, Olivia would be getting married. Azzi should be thrilled, should be over the moon really. She loved her sister, and she loved her soon to be brother-in-law, Jared, almost as much. So why wasn’t she excited?

The answer was three words. Paige fucking Bueckers.

Paige - - Azzi’s infuriating, arrogant, utter arch nemesis that she couldn’t even stand to be in the same room with. Also known as Jared’s sister/best woman.

So, also known as the best woman opposite her maid of honor, meaning she would be impossible to ignore in the entire team leading up to the wedding.

Forced to co-host events, an unresolved past history, their families about to become one and confusing feelings that arise only when the two girls are around one another. What could possibly go wrong?

… or, the enemies to lovers fic that i randomly got inspo for :)

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a/n: thank you for all the love on chapter three! releasing this before the game tonight simply because of how late it is for us east coast girlies LOL

apologies if this one is a little less exciting than the others, the goal of this chapter is more for plot development :) but im soooo excited for you guys to read chapter five soon :)

let me know what you think!!🤗

tw: mentions of illness & hospitals

wc: 5.6k

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'stupid song' - olivia rodrigo

"new york city's never looked so blue..."

four: the dress(es)

Azzi hated that this routine had become familiar again, but here she was. The deja vu was overwhelming, save for the fact that she was in a much nicer New York City apartment compared to three years ago and that she knew her way around far better. She got her usual iced coffee and protein bar from the bodega up the road, trekked a few blocks to make the subway in time, picked up her pre-ordered dozen donuts from the Dunkin across the way, and checked in with the receptionist.

The wing at Mount Sinai was different since the last time she had been here, having received renovations that made for larger rooms and more waiting space. The prayer room was the same though, and she made a note to stop in when she had a free moment to herself. The door to her dad’s room was slightly ajar when she reached it, and she had to pause for a moment as she watched her mother through the crack, fussing over his bedside. Katie was adjusting the blanket despite it already being perfectly straight, while Tim watched her with the same fondly amused expression he always got whenever she was being overprotective.

She knocked on the open door a moment later, taking note of the smile that took over her dad’s face. “Hi, sweetheart.”

“Hey guys.” Azzi put on her best ‘im totally okay and not at all freaking out being back here’ smile, entering the room and placing the box of donuts on the bedside table. “Brought donuts since Liv can’t make it.”

Her dad laughed as she kissed his cheek, his iv-injected hand reaching over to squeeze hers. “My daughters enjoy making me fat.”

“Hey, I usually don’t! It’s your other daughter that's a baker that you should blame.” Azzi laughed, moving to the other side of the bed to hug her mom. “Mommy, you look exhausted.”

“She didn’t sleep last night.” Tim grumbled, giving his wife’s leg a small nudge. “I tried to tell her to go home and take a nap, but she won’t leave.”

Katie hummed with an overprotective huff, adjusting the blanket on the bed that definitely didn’t need fixing. “Damn right I won’t.”

Azzi learned her lesson the first time around that there wasn’t any point in trying to convince her mom to take care of herself, so instead she would make sure to tell Liv to bring goodies for her too when she got there later.

They spent the next little while catching up, Azzi filling them in on the game against Seattle the day before, one her parents unfortunately had to miss because they were preparing for Tim’s treatment to start. Her dad asked about Sabrina’s shooting night, laughed when Azzi told him about one of Stewie’s postgame interviews, and even managed to sneak a donut before Katie could stop him.

Her dad looked well enough all things considered, but she wasn’t entirely sure if that was the case or if she was just so desensitized to seeing him frail and sickly at this point. “Jared’s ‘sposed to bring over a roku tomorrow and set it up so I don’t miss any more games.” Tim said, gesturing toward the small tv mounted on the wall. “I hate not actually being there, though.”

Azzi swallowed the emotion that was threatening to reach both her eyes and throat, instead she reached over to kiss her father’s cheek. “It’s okay, Dad. I appreciate you watching in any capacity, whether you're there or not.”

“Still sucks.” he grumbled.

“Yeah, well, chemo kinda sucks too, so I think you’re already making sacrifices.” That earned her a laugh, which was exactly what she was aiming for.

“Speaking of Jared,” Katie started, tucking a leg beneath herself in the uncomfortable hospital chair. “I heard Paige is coming in for the dress shopping.”

Unfortunately Azzi had also heard this, after Olivia attempted to casually tell her a few days earlier. She still didn’t really understand why Paige had to be there, considering she wasn’t in the bridal party or a member of Liv’s family or someone anyone even liked (okay, she knew all of that was bullshit but she was pissed, okay?), but she would have to suck it up once again. “Yup.”

“Have you two spoken since you played each other?” Her mom asked.

The answer was a hard no. Paige didn’t text the morning after their weird encounter at the pub - - the one in which she said she would text so they could talk more about why Azzi came back to New York. But no, Paige didn’t text, didn’t attempt to reach out before leaving back for LA, didn’t try and acknowledge anything they had finally spoken aloud.

The sad thing was Azzi really thought she would. And what might have been ever sadder was that she let herself get disappointed at the lack of communication. “No, why would we?” Azzi brushed it off, despite knowing damn well her mother had a genuine reason for asking. “I’ll see her on Saturday, anyway.”

“Right, where you’ll be on your best behavior.” Katie pretended to act stern, pointing a finger toward her daughter and narrowing her eyes.

Azzi sighed dramatically, “Oh my God, why does everyone think we’re like loose cannons or something?”

“Because you are sweetie. Both of you are.” Tim interjected, his infectious laugh following.

Azzi laughed too, because it was impossible not to when her dad was doing anything and everything to cheer her up. “Thanks for the support, Dad.”

“Love you too, kid.”

—----

Azzi was totally kidding when she suggested they go to ‘Kleinfeld Bridal’, the location they filmed ‘say yes to the dress’ back in the day. But, apparently her sister took her seriously, which led them to securing an appointment on a Saturday in mid-July.

Most of Olivia’s bridesmaids, who she had finally formally asked to be her bridesmaids, were in attendance, as well as their mom and grandmother. Azzi was waiting for Liv outside of her apartment, well Liv and Paige technically, the three of them all taking the subway into downtown Manhattan.

She held a tray of coffees, including one for Paige, which she bought under the guise of it being a long day ahead of them. Azzi knew her sister was just as indecisive as she was, so God only knows how long it would take for her to pick a dress. Plus, after that, they were going across the street to try on the custom bridesmaids dresses that had just arrived.

Paige exited the apartment first, strolling casually down the long steps of the brownstone. “Hi.” She said, voice clipped.

“Where’s Liv?” Azzi negated a greeting, instead just held out a coffee for Paige to take.

Paige looked at her as if she had three heads or something, “That’s for me?”

“Yes, Paige. Now will you take it?”

“What kinda milk?”

“Skim.” She learned her lesson years ago when she brought Paige an iced coffee with almond milk, the way she preferred her own to be. “As much as I despise you, I wouldn’t try to kill you again.”

Paige finally took the allergen-free coffee from Azzi, a small smile tugging on thin lips. “Yeah, you’d miss me too much.”

Azzi rolled her eyes, “Keep telling yourself that.”

Olivia came busting out of the door after that, her ‘wedding’ binder in one hand and a coffee in the other. “Oh perfect, one sec.” She stopped, chugging the rest of her cup before chucking it in the trash. She took the final cup from Azzi’s tray, “Alright, let’s do this!”

Olivia then started to speed walk in a way that could only be described as skipping, which made Azzi have secondhand embarrassment from how much of a dork her older sister was being. “How much coffee has she had?” She asked Paige, quickening her pace to try and keep up.

“No clue, but I got up at six to workout and she was already at her computer looking at dresses online.”

Azzi shook her head with a laugh, “She’s something else.”

—------

In a move so surprising Azzi still couldn’t believe it was real, Olivia decided on only the third dress she had tried on. It was a strapless ballgown, with floral lace stitched all throughout the material. Olivia looked ethereal when she walked back into the main room, rendering most everyone speechless from how perfect the dress was.

Azzi brought a hand to her mouth to lessen her tears, overcome with emotion because she also knew, this was the one.

The veil Olivia chose was plain, contrasting the lace of the dress, all long and flowy and so Olivia that Azzi didn’t even verbalize how insane she found it that her sister was able to choose a dress so quickly.

However, since Olivia had rented the space for two hours, everyone there spent the rest of the time drinking champagne and gossiping. Well, except for Paige, who decided she wanted to get fitted for her tux in the meantime, finding a place that was a few blocks away and promising to meet up with everyone once they went to the next dress store.

Janelle sat beside Azzi on the smaller couch, crossing her legs and taking a long sip of champagne. “What’s up with the two o’ you?”

“Me and Liv?” Azzi asked, her brows furrowing. They had only had one small argument today, and it turned out that Azzi was right, the first dress that Olivia tried on was a cream color, not actually white. “We’re good, that was just a sister-fight, y’know how it is.”

Janelle laughed, “I do know how it is, but that’s not what I was asking about.” She took another sip from her glass, “I was talking about you and Paige.”

Great, everyone’s favorite topic of discussion. “Why? We haven’t even been talking.”

“That’s why ‘m asking, ‘cause usually you’re at least fighting or glaring at each other or something. Today it’s like you can’t even look in each other’s direction without getting all weird.”

Now, Janelle was not entirely wrong about this. They had been avoiding one another ever since they got off the subway, never quite falling into their usual pace of banter. She didn’t really know why Paige was acting like that too, probably fueled by the way Azzi was initiating or something. “You’re reading too much into it”, is what Azzi settled on.

Janelle gave her a knowing look but merely shrugged, “If you say so.”

———-

An hour later, Azzi stood in the cramped dressing room of the second store where she and all of the bridesmaids were trying on their dresses. She was examining the dress in the full length mirror that was mounted to the wall, looking at it from several angles. She hated what she saw. She hadn’t felt insecure about her physique in such a long time, not since she was in high school and boys in her grade projected their own insecurities about their height onto her, while girls commented things like that her features were too ‘manly.’

It was like all of that came flooding back after she had to sit there and watch her sister’s model-like petite bridesmaids twirl around in the exact same dress she was wearing. But it looked different on her, and despite her normally feeling confident in her toned physique, all she could think about was what she would look like standing next to petite Sandra, their cousin who was Olivia’s ‘head bridesmaid’, second in line to Azzi.

Azzi could hear the girls in the other room start to question where she was, reminding her that she still had to go out there and show everyone the stupid dress. Her palms began to sweat as nerves filled her stomach, trying to figure out an escape plan that didn’t make her seem crazy.

“Paige, can you go check on Azzi?”

Okay, her sister must have had an aneurysm or something, because there was no way in hell that Olivia just suggested for Paige of all people to look for her. Clearly Paige thought the same thing, as Azzi could practically hear the wheels turning in her head. “Uh, Ion think that’s a good idea. She’d probably want you instead.”

“I still need to see Janelle in her dress.” Olivia said, “Please, for the bride.” Like Azzi predicted, Olivia pulling the bride card was really starting to get old, but it must have worked on Paige, because she heard her sister softly mutter ‘thank you’ and footsteps approaching.

Azzi felt herself start to get nervous, and she was motionless as she watched Paige’s air forces appear in the gap between the door and the carpeted floor. She could hear a long exhale too, like Paige was bracing herself for whatever Azzi was about to fire her way (the thought of her mortal enemy being scared of her did bring a slight smile to Azzi’s face).

Eventually, Paige knocked, just once, her voice quiet from the other side of the door. “You alive in there, Fudd?”

Azzi did her best to make her voice sound even, “I’m fine. Just trying to get the zipper up.”

Another exhale sounded from Paige, this one louder and probably frustrated considering what followed it was the blonde asking, “D’you want my help?”

Her instinct was to bark back a ‘fuck no’ or something along those lines, mostly because she was on the verge of tears due to her typical female athlete insecurities that wouldn’t quiet in her brain. But it had been at least four minutes of struggling with the stubborn zipper, and she needed someone to do it, so she swallowed her pride. “I mean, if you want.”

“Alright, open the door.”

Azzi took a small step forward, twisting the lock and then opening the door with the knob. Her other hand was holding the back of her dress, so that the dress essentially looked the way it would had the zipper been upright properly. And, despite trying to convince herself this wasn’t the case, she was almost positive blue eyes widened, almost as if Paige liked what she saw. Paige cleared her throat after standing there for a second, entering the dressing room fully. “Turn around.”

“Wouldn’t kill you to say ‘please’, but whatever.” Azzi grumbled, but she turned away from Paige like she was told. She was facing the mirror now, and she watched as Paige’s brow furrowed, her hands halting in mid-air just as they were about to make contact with Azzi’s skin. “You can touch me, ‘s fine.”

Paige nodded, using one hand to bring each side of the zipper tape closer to one another. She paused again, and only once she moved did Azzi understand why; a small gasp escaped her when Paige’s other hand, frigid for no reason considering it was the middle of summer, grazed her lower back, right above her sheer thong. She kept her eyes on the mirror, watching as Paige focused in concentration, doing her best to slowly bring the zipper up, almost inch by inch. Only when she reached the top of the dress did Paige’s shoulders drop, and she tapped on Azzi’s back to signal that she was finished. “Should be good now.”

Azzi stepped closer to the mirror, smoothening the silk fabric of the pale pink dress, twisting to body check herself from all different angles. She almost forgot Paige was standing there until she said, voice low, “You look good.” Doe eyes shot up, meeting Paige’s in the mirror. “Better than all those other girls by a long shot.”

Azzi rolled her eyes, “Yeah, okay. You’re just saying that.”

Paige shook her head, moving to sit on the small bench to the left of where Azzi was still looking in the mirror. “I’m not, I wouldn’t lie. I literally jus’ had to sit and watch everyone else come out. None of them look as good as you.”

Azzi pretended to make herself busy, now sliding on the heels that she had been instructed to wear for the eventual day-of. She had no fucking idea how to process what Paige was saying, or more importantly, why Paige was being so nice. “Thanks, I guess.”

“You wanna tell me what’s going on with you?” Paige said, twisting her rings while her hands rested in her lap.

Preoccupied with slipping on her other heel, Azzi simply hummed. “What are you taking about?”

“You’re all quiet today.” Paige explained, finally glancing up. Her brows pinched together when Azzi refused to meet her eyes. “Like the first time we saw each other after Miami.”

Azzi inhaled roughly, the heel in her hand slipping and landing on the carpeted floor, barely making a sound. “Why the fuck do you keep bringing that up?”

Paige sat up straighter. “C’mon, this is literally so similar to that night.”

Azzi stood fully, heels forgotten as anger began to bubble in her chest. “No, the fuck it’s not.”

“I’m jus’ sayin! Why’re you getting so mad right now?”

“Because you keep fucking with my head, Paige! And I’m sick of it!”

Paige rose to her feet, closing most of the distance between them so they were only inches apart. Her voice rose, “By bringing up Miami?”

“Yes!” Azzi snapped, hands gesturing for emphasis. “That hurt me - -”

“Oh that hurt you - -?”

A large knock cut Paige off. “Guys!” She could tell it was Janelle’s voice with how stern it sounded, “Open the door. Now.” Sheepishly, Azzi reached forward, yanking open the door roughly with how mad she still was. “You,” Janelle pointed at Azzi, “Go out there and show Liv your dress. Don’t say another word.” Then Janelle pointed at Paige, “You need to go get your shit and head over to the restaurant."

“But - -”

“Nope.” Janelle interrupted roughly. She looked between them, shaking her head in disappointment. “I’m getting you two the fuck away from each other. If Liv ends up hearing you she’s gonna be so upset and that’s not fair to her. Especially after the week your family’s had.”

Azzi froze, a stabbing feeling of remorse making her stomach hurt. Janelle was right, she had let herself get caught up in Paige-world once again as a distraction, but she also had Olivia to think about. “Sorry, you’re right.”

“Yeah, sorry.” Paige reiterated, timidly following Azzi back into the short hall that led into the main room.

In a move that was starting to become a pattern with Paige, she reached forward and stopped Azzi by her wrist. And Azzi, who was almost anticipating the action, let her. “What?”

“What’s goin’ on with your family?”

Azzi sighed, resting her hands on her hips and popping her knee. “Jared didn’t tell you?”

“No, what happened?”

Azzi nervously picked at the skin of her thumb, her voice barely a whisper as she said, “My dads cancer is back.”

Paige’s face turned ghostly white, her hand reaching out like she was actually trying to comfort her or something. “Oh, Azzi. I’m sorry, I had no - -”

“It’s fine, I’m fine.” Azzi yanked her arm away, taking several steps backwards. “I need to go show my dress to Liv.” She stormed off before Paige could say anything else, taking the leap and entering the room full of women waiting to see her.

The only good thing about her argument with Paige was that it pulled her attention from how insecure she was feeling earlier, but the moment the other bridesmaids (minus Janelle), her mom and grandmother all took in her appearance, she wanted to shrivel up and disappear all over again. “What d’you think?” She asked shyly.

“Oh Azzi,” Olivia gushed, standing up to take a closer look. “It’s perfect on you.”

“Really?”

“You know I’d tell you otherwise.”

Azzi laughed, feeling a flood of relief knowing that Olivia was right, she certainly would be blunt and tell Azzi if her dress didn’t actually look good. “Thanks Liv.”

—-----

Azzi was changed back into her clothes, her small purse in one hand and her phone in the other. She walked back into the main room, where most everyone was ready to leave for the restaurant, confused as to what the hold up was. She went up to Olivia, who was closest to the exit, “Is everyone ready?” Her words seemed to go in one ear and out the other, considering Olivia’s focus remained on her phone, her expression unreadable. “Um, hello?” Azzi waved a hand between her sister’s face and the device that had her undivided attention. “Sorry, one second.” Olivia kept typing on her phone for far more than one second, but eventually she snapped out of it, her focus back on scanning the room. “Sorry, that was Jared. He’s with Paige.”

“Oh.” Azzi froze for a moment, not sure what to do with that information. She hated her brain for working the way that it did, but she had noticed the absence of the person of her least favorite person to spot in a room. “Is she not coming to lunch?”

“No, she wanted to go with Jared to see Dad.” Olivia explained, clearly trying to act like the situation wasn’t nearly as big of a deal as it was. “She’ll meet us at the restaurant later.”

“She - - what?” Azzi almost choked on air at that, entirely thrown off guard.

Olivia's brows furrowed in confusion at the reaction. “What?”

“She went with Jared to see Dad?”

“Yeah.” Olivia nodded. “Jared was heading over there anyway, and she asked to come with.”

“But why would she do that?”

“I dunno, why don’t you ask her.”

Azzi let out a short laugh, shaking her head as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Yeah, right.”

More of their friends had gathered around them at that point, so Azzi decided to drop it. She seriously couldn’t get over that Paige had willingly volunteered to go to that depressing wing of Mount Sinai, especially when it was already such a kind gesture for Jared to be doing so. Normally, she would have automatically jumped into this being a calculated action, but despite how low she thought of Paige, she didn’t think she’d go that far to prove a point.

Most of dinner was spent with her mind elsewhere, and Azzi was grateful for the sheer number of women in attendance, meaning that it wasn’t too obvious how quiet she was being. When the food was served and she could barely touch her chicken, Azzi knew the only thing she could do to lessen the gnawing ball of emotion threatening to burst out of her chest.

She stood quickly, gathering her things and pushing in her chair. She stopped when she reached Olivia, who was seated at the head of the table, bending down to whisper in her ear. “I think I need to go see Dad.” She made sure to quickly follow that up with, “Not to fight with Paige I promise, I just need to go see him - -”

“Azzi.” Olivia looked up at her with wide eyes, scooching back in her chair so she was standing next to her younger sister. “I didn’t think that’s what you were doing. I would never think that, not when it comes to this.” She leaned forward to give Azzi a quick hug, something the two sisters did not do often. “You don’t have to explain yourself, just go.”

Azzi nodded as she stepped back from the embrace, her face solemn as she said, “Text me how much I owe for dinner.”

“Don’t worry about that right now, just go.” Olivia waved her off with a small smile, “And ask Dad what he wants from the bakery tomorrow.”

“‘kay. Love you.”

“Love you.”

—-------

“My princess is here!” Tim beamed when Azzi walked in, his arms opening for a hug before she even crossed the threshold of the room. “It’s my lucky day!”

Azzi laughed at his dramatics, leaning over the railing of the hospital bed to accept his hug, “Just gracing you with my presence, y’know how it is.” She looked over at Jared next, who was in the midst of messing with the roku he had set up a few days earlier. “Hey, Jared.”

“Hey.” He gave a small wave, “Just so y’know, Paige is here. She just went to take a call.”

Azzi let out a dramatic huff, “Guys, I swear I’m a big girl. I can be around her without the world ending or whatever you guys think is gonna happen.”

“I mean, he has a point to be concerned, sweetheart. I’ve never seen you two get along for more than five minutes before.” Tim pointed out, which earned him a piercing glare in return. “Hey, you can’t get mad at me. I’m the one getting chemo right now!”

Azzi rolled her eyes as she sat down in one of the chairs, fingers absentmindedly adjusting one of her dad’s many blankets. “Wow, I did not miss you playing the cancer card.”

“It works, though. You’re not looking like you’re ‘bouta kill me anymore.”

Azzi just rolled her eyes for the second time, biting back a smile in the process. “Whatever. I’m gonna go get a water, does anyone want anything?”

When the other two both rejected her offer, Azzi exited the room and started her descent out of the wing that her father’s room resided in. The hospital felt strangely quiet compared to the insanity of the day she’d had, another aspect she had forgotten about when it came to being in the hospital. She had just reached the end of the second hallway when a familiar figure rounded the corner. She noticed Paige first, whose mind must have been elsewhere, considering the arrogant smirk that usually seemed permanently attached to her face was long gone. Instead, her eyes looked distant, her expression hardening as she walked with her head held low.

“Hey.” Azzi said quietly, her voice snapping Paige out of whatever lull she was in.

“Hi.” Paige practically breathed out the greeting, slowing to a stop in front of her. “Didn’t know you were comin’ here.”

“Yeah, I wasn’t planning on it.” She started to fidget with the beaded bracelet on her left wrist, one that a fan had gifted her. It said ‘resilience’ and right now she felt like she needed the reminder. “Can I ask why you’re here?”

Paige sighed, running a hand over her slicked back bun, her shoulders rising and falling with the motion. “I called Jared to yell at him for not telling me about your dad and to, y’know, ask him why he didn’t say anything.”

“And what did he tell you?”

A small huff of laughter escaped Paige's nose. “That you told him not to.”

Azzi kept her voice even as she nodded in confirmation, “That’s true.”

“Why?”

The brunette looked away, feeling like Paige’s wounded eyes could have burned a hole through her. She took a moment to gather her thoughts, eventually landing on, “You’re gonna judge me for the answer.”

“No I won’t.” Paige held out her pinky, a lopsided smile engulfing her face. “See, I’m bein’ serious here.”

Azzi shook her head with a laugh, smacking away Paige’s outstretched pinky. “Fine, whatever.” Azzi glanced down the hallway, suddenly feeling restless standing in one spot. The conversation had already gone further than she'd expected it to, and if she was actually going to answer Paige's question, she needed something else to focus on. “I was on my way to get a water if you wanna walk with me.”

“Sure.”

Despite the fact that she really was teetering on the verge of dehydration, walking was a good excuse to not have to stare at Paige’s piercing gaze while she admitted something rather embarrassing. “The last time - - like the last time my Dad was sick,” Azzi started, holding the door open for Paige as she started to lead them down a stairwell, “Everyone treated me weird.”

She could see Paige’s brows knitting out of the corner of her eye. “Weird how?”

“Like everyone walked on eggshells around me. And I hated it, I just wanted to feel normal when I was doing normal things, like at practice or going out or whatever I was doing.” Azzi recalled, those buried feelings threatening to come back to the surface. “I wanted an escape from worrying about him.”

“Makes sense.” Paige nodded, falling back in stride with her when they exited the stairwell.

“There was one time it was really bad, when he had a big surgery to try and remove one of the tumors.” Azzi continued, “It was all-star weekend a few years ago, actually. And everyone was being all mushy over me, acting all gentle and shit. I hated it.”

They had finally reached the vending machine, and for a moment Azzi considered not revealing the truth she was about to freely offer to her deepest rival. But, Paige was actually keeping her mouth shut and listening for once, so if there was ever a time, it would be now. “Except for you.”

Paige’s head snapped up. “Me?”

“Yeah.” Azzi selected ‘F3’, watching as the vending machine processed the request and removed the spiral that held back a bottle of dasani water. “That was the year we were on the same team for all-star, but you still didn’t waste a second commenting on my sneakers.”

Paige let out a snort, “Holy shit, yeah. Those were so ugly.”

“They matched the jersey!”

“No, Fudd, those were an eye sore is more like it. Who cares if they matched or not.”

Azzi bit back a laugh, opening the flap of the vending machine and picking up her water bottle. “But that’s my point, you obviously didn’t know about the surgery, so you were the only one treating me normally. And that’s what I wanted.”

She usually tended to remember her fights with Paige in vivid detail, but that was a memory she could recall most clearly, probably because of how much it weirdly had meant to her. On a weekend where everyone was looking at her like she might break at any given moment, there was someone that didn’t know what was going on and was behaving the way they normally would. Which, in Paige’s case, meant chirping at Azzi the entire game about her sneakers despite being teammates.

Azzi would also die on the hill that the sneakers she were wearing were not ugly, and that Paige had no room to talk with some of the questionable fashion decisions she tended to make. She turned to face Paige after a couple seconds passed and she still hadn’t said anything, taking note of the way Paige was staring at the floor. “That’s why I didn’t want Jared to tell you. I wanted you to still treat me normal. Or at least our definition of normal.”

Paige was chewing on her bottom lip, her mind elsewhere once again. It took a moment for her to regain focus, and when she did, she glanced back up at Azzi with an almost pained expression. “I knew.”

“Knew what?”

“I knew about the surgery. I think it was Jared that told me.” She looked back at the floor again. “I just couldn’t help myself I guess.”

Azzi wasn’t sure what to think of that. On one hand, it made sense that Paige knew the truth about one of the hardest things Azzi had ever gone through, yet still did everything in her power to push Azzi’s buttons. Paige was the kind of person to do that, the kind of person to not give a shit.

But, because she was far from a normal functioning human apparently, Azzi wasn’t mad. I mean that was what she wanted, right? “Guess not.” Azzi finally said, turning around to lead them back toward the stairwell. “I won’t judge you if you won’t judge me.”

Paige let out a quiet chuckle, “Deal.”

“Wow, can’t believe we agreed on something. Even if it was sorta fucked up.”

“Still counts.”

They started back down the hallway, falling into a comfortable silence that felt strange after years of arguing every time they occupied the same space. When they reached her father’s room again, Azzi stilled when Paige’s voice sounded as she was about to open the door. “Wait, hold on real quick.”

She turned back around, brows knitted in confusion. “What is it?”

Paige faltered, mouth closing after it looked like she was about to say something. Instead, her face grew back into the version of her that Azzi was far more accustomed with, a small smirk forming before she said, “Nothing, was just gonna ask if you saw that I had more assists and points than you did when we played each other.”

Azzi’s fists clenched at her sides in annoyance, “Bro, that’s ‘cause your coach let you stat pad.”

Paige’s smirk only widened (if that was even possible), her head tilting to the side. “Or maybe ‘m just that much better than you.”

“Or maybe - -” Azzi cut herself off, an involuntary smile forming when she realized what Paige was doing. “Whatever, let’s just call it a truce until next time.”

“Two weeks and counting.”

"you're a spark in the dark, and my clothes have caught aflame."

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a/n: thank you for reading!!💕

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