nine
"What do you think about Jason?" Paige asked Athena. Jason was a junior boy their age, typical football player stereotype but he was nicer than the other players, not much but still nicer. One day during her math class, Jason sat next to Paige and handed her a note, "is ur friend single?"
Paige looked at the boy confused, "?" she wrote and handed the paper back to him.
The football player rolled his eyes, thinking it was obvious and wrote again, "the short girl ur always with, the really hot one. she single?"
Paige immediately knew he was talking about Athena. She shrugged her shoulders and continued back to her worksheet. She was at peace for about 45 seconds until Jason yet again threw a paper on her desk, "put in a good word for me?"
"Why? You don't even know her and she doesn't know you so why are you so interested?" Paige wrote back, now annoyed with the boy's persistance.
"maybe but she's really hot and i want to take her out" Jason wrote again. He was about as tall as Paige, maybe an inch or two taller with Paige standing at 5'9. Jason was good looking, he had muscles, good hair, and nice features, she couldn't lie maybe they would look good together. But did he only want to be with Athena because she's hot? Yes she is extremely beautiful but there are other qualities to her than her looks.
Paige rolled her eyes again, "you only want to take her out bc she's hot"
"why else? please just put in a good word for me with her"
Now, sitting at their normal lunch table, Paige reluctantly decided to bring it up.
"How do you mean?" Athena asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.
"You like him?" The blonde cringed with every word she said about the boy, hoping and praying Athen would say she knew nothing about him and wished to never think about him again. If Athena got a boyfriend when would that leave time for them? She would be off making out with stupid Jason every chance she got. Athena would leave Paige in the background and she never wanted that.
"I mean i guess, i've never really talked to-"
"He likes you. Wants to take you on a date." Paige cut her off, saying the words in such a hurried manner Athena could barely understand what she said.
"What?"
"He wants to take you out, on a date," The blonde stated, jaw slightly clenching while speaking. "So you gonna go? If he asks." As soon as she said the words, she wanted to take them right back. Paige didn't want to talk about this at all. She just wanted to watch her best friend read while she pretended to do her homework. But Jason wouldn't shut up until she agreed, continuously tapping her shoulder.
"Uh...he's nice. Maybe, I don't know, he doesn't really feel like my type. I don't know." Athena has never had an actual boyfriend. She had one in middle school for two whole days, then he broke up with her to get with a different girl. That was the extent of her love life. No one showed any real interest in her and she was ok with that, she wasn't expecting a typical high school romance that ended in tragedy and drama.
Then again if the right person came along and swept her off her feet, then yeah, maybe she would give it a shot. For now, she just wanted to focus on school, soccer, and Paige.
Speaking of Paige, the two best friends were closer then ever. Spending more hours at each others houses, coming over even when the other wasn't home just to wait for them to get home. They did have a few weeks of distance after the lunch incident sophomore year but they got over it and now are attached at the hip.
They always had hands on each other, doesn't matter where they were, they were always touching. The time at home was their favorite, when they could just lay in bed holding each other, watching movies and talking. It was like a movie.
Of course Paige became more popular, it was bound to happen with her basketball career bringing attention. That didn't matter though, staying true to her written word.
"I don't think you should go out with him. He doesn't seem like a good boyfriend." Paige reached to grab the hand that was not holding Athena's sandwich, playing with her fingers.
Athena responded, "Why's that?"
"No reason." Wrong. She did have a reason, actually two, but the second was still hidden. Her main reason was that he didn't deserve her. He just wanted a 'hot girl' wrapped around his arm. Paige bet that once he found out that she was a better athlete then he could ever be, he would get all butt hurt and break up with her. She smiled at the thought.
Athena put down her sandwich and picked back up her book, not once moving her hand away from Paige's.
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"Soooo, there's this party tonight...." The blonde suddenly spoke.
"No." The brunette immediately said.
"Why not?" Paige whined, "you haven't been to one in forever. Come on have some fun. I promise i will stay by your side the whole night."
"You said that last time, then left to play beer pong with your teammates." Athena grumbled, remembering the miserable night.
"That wasn't my fault, i got dragged into that. And that was ages ago. Thea i promise you, i will never leave you. You can glue our hands together if you want." Paige suggested. It was her friend's birthday and she was throwing a big party, inviting the whole junior and senior class. She really wanted to go, one, for her friend, and two, she wanted her friends to properly meet Athena.
"P i just want to stay home and read. Plus my dad probably wouldn't let me go." Athena argued back.
"You do that literally every other night though, break tradition. And i already asked your dad and he said it was fine, actually encouraged you get out of the house for once."
Athena debated her options for a second, on one hand she could stay here in her nice and warm bed, or go to a birthday party for someone she doesn't even know with her best friend. It sounded like a no brainer, but once Paige pulled out the big, blue puppy eyes, there was no rejecting that. "Fine."
"Yes! Ok we should leave soon, i want you to meet everyone before the rest of the party gets there." Paige got up and went to Athena's closet, she grabbed a white crop top and a pair of jeans. Something Athena didn't wear often but Paige loved every time she did. "Wear this, and if you want, you can wear one of my jackets."
Athena got changed in her bathroom while Paige stayed on her bed, scrolling on her phone. When she walked back into her room, jacketless, Paige's sat up at the sound, immediately scanning her best friend up and down. "Wow."
Athena looked down at her feet, hiding her blush, "thanks," Once she recovered, she looked back up only to be surprised when Paige was only inches in front of her.
Athena was tall, not taller than Paige, still having to look up at her, but being taller then most girls in her grade. She felt the two were the perfect height for each other, Paige being tall enough to secure Athena's entire 5'7 body in her arms, and Athena feeling comfort in her hold. The stare down from Paige was threatening, not in a bad way, but in a way that she felt something was happening.
Paige was about to reach her hands out to place them on her best friend's hips but the shorter moved before she could reach her hands could reach their destination. Fighting the urge to pull her back and feel the girl's skin under her fingertips, she watched as the brunette walked back to her closet to find shoes to wear.
Wanting to be that close to her again, Paige walked behind Athena, placing her head on the shorter's shoulder and hands behind her back to resist that same feeling. She let go of one of her hands to point at a pair of shoes in the corner, "what about those."
"those could work." Athena patted the side of Paige's cheek and bent down to pick them up. She sat on the edge of her bed, putting on her shoes while Paige watched. She realized a while ago that her favorite activity was just watching the movements of Athena. She would do it for hours if that wasn't considered creepy.
The blonde had to make a stop at her house quickly to get changed as well, telling Athena to wait in the car because she won't be long. When she got back into the car, she was wearing something similar to her friend, except covering her shirt with one of Athena's soccer hoodies.
"Excuse you, that's my hoodie." Athena pointed out once she noticed.
"I know," Paige smiled at the soccer player then handed her one of her basketball hoodies, "but i brought you this. It's much better then the one i have on."
Athena snatched the hoodie away and immediately put it on. The outfit she was wearing looked nice, but it wasn't practical at all for the cold night. She was shivering, turning the heat on full blast and hugging her arms during the drive from her house to Paige's. The warmth that was brought from the hoodie was like no other, not just because it was comfortable but because it was Paige's. She absentmindedly inhaled the scent on the clothing while Paige was putting the directions in on her phone, not paying attention to her.
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Athena hated parties. She hated how loud they were, how many people were there, the music played. She hated it all.
Paige did stay true to her word though, standing by her side the whole time. When they walked in, people starting swarming her like she was a celebrity, high fiving her and trying to give her hugs. The hugs were awkward though, as she only had one hand available, the other being tightly squeezed by the shorter girl. Paige showed no interest to let go though, keeping the same tight squeeze on her hand.
When they got there it was mainly just the basketball teams, just like Paige wanted. She wanted her teammates to meet Athena, and the team really wanted to meet the girl Paige would not stopped mentioning. Every practice it would be, "Me and Athena did this," and "Athena wants to go," blah, blah, blah. They were starting to think she was made up because she could never come to a hangout with them.
Athena was shy at first, not knowing how to approach the girls. Then as time went on and the girls bonded over making fun of Paige, she relaxed a bit more.
Currently she was sitting next to Paige on the couch with a tall brunette teammate on her other side, talking. Paige was still holding onto her, it was now an arm around her shoulder added onto the hand holding. The only reason the blonde would get up and let go of her hold, was to get them both a drink. Athena would ask for a water but then Paige would tell her to "lighten up and have fun," then getting a beer for both of them.
The cup was untouched by the brunette for majority of the party, but then when Paige was off getting another drink and Jason took a seat next to her, she chugged the whole thing in seconds.
"Hey, wasn't expecting to see you here. Thought you would be too busy doing something boring." Jason said, placing his arm on the back of the couch and taking a sip of his drink.
Athena mentally rolled her eyes. Jason had tried to talk to her multiple times, but all those times he was an absolute jerk. He kept asking her out even after she said no. She told Paige about those times and made the girl hate the boy even more then she already did.
"Yeah, I'm here with Paige." she said short and semi-sweet, hoping to give off the vibe of not wanting to talk to him at all.
"You two are always together," he complained, "is that why you don't want to go out with me? Because you're dating Paige?"
"No. Did you ever consider the fact that i just didn't want to go out with you?" Athena said, shoving his arm off the top of the couch behind her and creating distance, "and for the record me and Paige are not dating."
Then, as if she was summoned, Paige appeared, a drink in her right hand and a water in the left, with a stern look on her face, "Oh hey Paige," Jason said, following the eyes of the girl next to her.
"You're in my spot." Paige stated coldly.
"There are other seats in this house, you know. Besides i was having a nice conversation with Thea here." The boy said with a smirk on his face, moving his arm back around the girl next to him.
"I know. Go find one and get out of mine," The blonde said, slightly strangling the drinks in her hands. Jason rolled his eyes and reluctantly got up, "and don't call her that."
"But you call her that."
"Because I'm actually her friend." She said while siting down in her spot and handing the water to her friend, then placing a comfortable, slightly possessive hand on her leg.
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"Uh Paige, i think your girl is asleep." One of Paige's friends pointed out.
About 20 minutes ago, Athena laid her head the on the blonde's shoulder, then closed her eyes. Paige looked down at the girl and saw she was, in fact, sleeping. She smiled at her then carefully stood up, wrapping Athena's arm around her shoulders and hers around her waist. The shorter was still slightly awake, at least awake enough to walk with the help of Paige.
Paige said her farewells to her friends, then practically dragged Athena back to her car, placing her in the passenger seat, then adjusting the seat so she was fully laid down in the car. She buckled the seatbelt across her then got into the drivers side. With one last glance at the sleeping girl next to her she whispered, "lightweight," and pulled out of the driveway.
She pulled up to her second house and parked the car. As she dragged Athena into the house and up the stairs to her room, the girl slightly woke up, becoming more mobile without Paige's help.
She bellyflopped on her bed, almost immediately falling back asleep, "Thea you can't sleep in those clothes. Wake up and change."
"You do it." Athena mumbled from her pillow.
Paige sighed then started to untie the sleeping girl's shoes. After removing her shoes and socks, the blonde grabbed some more comfortable sleeping clothes and threw them next to the brunette's face.
"I can't change your shirt and pants for you. Get up and do it yourself, then you can sleep." Athena just waved her hand, motioning for Paige to go away.
"Just do it, I don't care."
Paige debated leaving and just letting her sleep in her uncomfortable clothes and chew her out for it later, or going through the pain of watching Athena change. She couldn't spend much time thinking because Athena was a deep sleeper and once she was out, there was no way she was getting any assistance.
She sat down next to the girl on the bed and tugged the back of her hoodie, signaling for her to sit up. Athena looked like a rag doll sitting up, then lazily lifting her arms above her head for Paige to be able to get her shirt off.
She still had on Paige's hoodie along with the crop underneath. First came off the warmth of the hoodie, sending goosebumps along Athena's upper body. Then came the crop top. Paige froze, not wanting to take it off but also wishing it was at the same time. She slowly tucked her fingers under the hem of the shirt, then lifted it up and over Athena's head.
She didn't want to be a creep and stare at her, but then again it was rare when Athena would show skin. Each time Paige practically melted at the sight, loving that side of the girl. She always wondered why Athena wore baggy clothes to hide it, it's clear she doesn't need to. Shaking the thoughts out of her head, she grabbed the previously discarded hoodie and pulled it over the half awake girl's head.
For pants, Paige just grabbed a pair of shorts. Simple enough? Her hoodie was large enough to cover past her butt, but Paige needed to lift it a little to unbutton the jeans she wore. Athena was passed out now, after all the hard work she did sitting up to put on the hoodie. The blonde was quick with her movements, unbuttoning and unzipping the jeans then taking them off to replace them with a pair of her soccer shorts.
Paige adjusted the girl so she was fully laying on her bed and under the covers instead of weirdly having her feet hand off the end. She plugged her phone in, placing it on the night stand next to her. She whispered a goodnight to Athena, and was about to turn to leave when she felt a hand grab hers, "stay...please..."
Absolutely no one in the whole world could resist that request, so Paige immediately agreed and changed into the same outfit Athena had on but with the girl's soccer hoodie. The basketball player took her place next to the already asleep girl, then felt her scoot closer to her and wrap an arm around her waist. Paige lifted her arm to allow her access and placed it on her back, rubbing up and down softly.
They both fell asleep the exact same way they were this entire night.
Holding each other.