ten
Confused is the only thing to describe Athena and Paige right now.
Paige dragged her to a party, a party in her name to congratulate her on her commitment to the University of Connecticut for basketball. The basketball capital of the world, of course Coach Geno would want the #1 recruit in the class of 2020 to play for him.
It was late June, Athena and Paige, somehow, getting through their Junior year together. The two motivating and helping each other through it. Athena helping Paige more with school and homework, and Paige, of course, helping with her social life. Which included this party.
"P you know i am so proud of you, but why do i have to go to this." Athena whined while Paige had a tight hold on her hand, guiding her to the front door of the house hosting the party.
"Because i couldn't have done it without you. This is just as much yours as it is mine." Paige said as she stopped her walking, placing a hand on her cheek and forcing Athena to look at her, "Plus this can be used as your commitment party too."
Athena committed to UCLA back in March, no one really knew about it because she only told a few people. She told her dad, of course, Paige and her family, and her coaches. The blonde was over the moon when she heard the news, tackling her into a bear hug and not letting go for the next 15 minutes. She insisted they have a celebration for her, knowing how much this meant to the soccer player.
Athena refused, not wanting to make a big deal about it which Paige ultimately respected but that doesn't mean she couldn't secretly gather both the families and have a mini party. She bought an ice cream cake with "Congrats Hat trick!!" written in yellow and blue letters, filled her room with blue and yellow balloons, and bought herself and Athena matching UCLA soccer hoodies. It wasn't technically a party, but also not a proper celebration for such a big thing.
"I told you i didn't want-"
"You didn't want a big deal made, blah, blah, blah." Paige mocked Athena with her hands, "you have been talking about playing for them since i met you, so, for me, can you please just shut up and let us celebrate you? Please?" She said the second part softer, taking the shorter's hand with her free one and placing the other back on her cheek, rubbing her thumb back and forth.
Athena looked into those blue, puppy eyes and sighed, "fine."
Paige smiled, dropping the hand that was on her cheek and interlocking their fingers then opening the front door to the house.
All peace that was between the two evaporated when she opened the door, loud music was playing, people were everywhere, and it didn't help when someone noticed Paige and yelled her name. Paige didn't even notice Athena let go of her hand to sneak away, she was too busy trying to get a few steps in without running into someone.
Athena found her way to the kitchen, getting herself a water then leaning against the counter for a moment of whatever silence she could find. This is why she hated parties, but she went every time. Why? Because of the stupid, six foot, blonde she would do anything for. One look from Paige and 'no' was out of her vocabulary.
She was an idiot in love and didn't even know it. Yet.
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Approaching the one hour mark of being there, Athena had yet to find Paige. She found her teammates, but not the blonde herself. A bunch of people told her where they last saw her but they were never reliable.
She gave up after 20 minutes of looking and spent the rest of the time sitting in the grass of the back yard. She was lying on her back, staring at the sky, thinking.
Paige was extremely worried, she got sucked into talking to people she had never met about basketball. She hadn't seen Athena is over an hour and began to think the worst. She looked everywhere, interrupting every couple that was trying to hook up, banging on the door to each bathroom just for the person inside to tell her to fuck off. She thought she had checked everywhere and was about to give up, until she saw her girl laying in the grass outside.
Letting out a breath in relief, she slide the glass door open and walked out into the cold breeze. Standing over her head and looking down, she smiled, "It's cold out here."
Athena opened her eyes to stare up at the blonde, "yeah...but it's quiet."
"I'm sorry."
"For?"
"I left you alone. I promised you i would never let you out of my sight and i failed 2 minutes in." Paige rambled, now laying down next to the brunette on the ground. She was on her side, her arm above her, resting her face on her knuckles.
"P it's ok. I know this is more your environment than mine." Athena comforted, hearing the sudden commotion of the people inside she stated, "you should go back inside, i think they are looking for you."
"Come with me?" Paige asked, "please? I don't know half the people here and would much rather talk to you."
"Then why are we here?" Athena questioned. Why were they at a party that they both didn't want to be at?
Paige shrugged, not really having an answer. She didn't reallywant to be here, she just felt like she had to because it was for her, "i mean it's technically my party."
"Is this your house?" Paige shook her head, "Was this your idea?" She shook her head again, "Then it's not your party. We don't have to be here."
"Yeah but i feel like i do."
Athena got up suddenly, holding a hand out for Paige, "come on."
"Where are we going?" Paige asked, taking the girl's soft hand and pulling herself up.
"Back to your party, superstar."
Walking back hand in hand, they re-entered the house. Taking a seat next to each other on one of the couches, they were able to tune out the rest of the world up until someone shouted loud enough for the whole block to hear.
"YO WE DOING 7 MINUTES, EVERYBODY HAS TO PARTICIPATE. IF YOU DON'T GET OUT." A very obviously drunk senior shouted.
Paige suggested they leave now, seeing as it was late and they didn't want to be there. But a random girl on her way to the circle, grabbed them both by the arm and dragged them to the living room.
Being forced to sit on other ends of the circle, because Paige had been gripped by someone she didn't even know and forced to sit next to her. Athena was awkwardly standing alone, not knowing where to go, until one of Paige's teammates she had talked to a few times enough to be slightly considered friends, waved her over.
The blonde couldn't keep her eyes off the brunette. As if she would disappear if she looked away for even a second. The same boy who shouted, explained the rules, putting everyone's phone into a pillow case then picking two at a time, then those two would go into the closet for 7 minutes and could do whatever they wanted.
It was childish, and stereotypical, but that's what high school is. Athena was talking to the same girl who waved her over about how stupid this is, and Paige was watching, ignoring the ranting of the girl next to her.
For an unknown reason, Paige wished she was the one to go into the closet with Athena, and no one else. Her reasoning being that Athena was a people pleaser and would probably do whatever the other wanted when in there. The thought the only thing on her mind, not even paying attention to the sudden arm next to her wrapping around hers in while hers was in her hoodie pocket.
A few rounds passed, neither of them getting chosen yet. Maybe there was hope they would get paired but the universe was not that nice. Athena's blue phone case was picked along side a stupid boys. Paige's jaw clenched hard as she watched the two walk into the closet together.
7 minutes passed and another boy unlocked the door, oh yeah they were locked in there. They both stepped out, the boy with a brief, defeated look on his face then switching it to a smirk. Athena was hugging herself with an emotionless expression. Paige watched as she grabbed her phone back and sat down.
A few rounds later, Paige was selected to go into the closet with one of her teammates. They had a conversation about her commitment and the future for her, but Paige was obviously distracted.
When the door unlocked she was quick to get out of there and grab her phone. She looked at Athena and nodded her head towards the door, signaling they were leaving.
The two met in the middle, joining their hands. Paige waved to no one in particular and dragged Athena out of the door to her car.
She was silent the whole drive home, not saying a word until they were both in the comfort of Athena's bedroom, "Ok what is wrong, you were silent ever since you got out of the closet." Athena questioned, it was unusual for the blonde to be quiet, always having something she wanted to say.
The basketball player still stayed silent. Why was she silent? Why was she mad? Why was she distracted? Why was the only image in her head Athena walking into that stupid closet with that stupid boy? Why?
She stared at the girl for what felt like minutes before finally responding, "nothing."
"Bullshit."
"It's nothing Athena. Let it go." Paige said, looking away and changing into a pair of her clothes she left here for sleepovers.
"No."
Paige looked at Athena for a long moment before giving up and questioning, "What happened in the closet. Because Bradley or whatever the fuck his name is, was smirking like he won the fucking lottery and you were all quiet."
"Oh..." Athena looked down at her hands, fidgeting with them, "he uhm- he kissed me..." She shamefully admitted.
"Oh..." Paige said in a tone that was not quite disappointed, but not quite upset.
"I didn't kiss him back, he just kind of....did it. Like when they shut the door he grabbed my face and just bam! Didn't have any time to react." Athena explained. "But as soon as i realized, i shoved him back. I told him he was good looking and all but that i just didn't want that. Which he respected, sort of."
"Sort of?"
"Yeah i mean, he didn't do it again but he did ask if he could tell his friends we made out. Just to stop his friends for making fun of me rejecting him."
"So you didn't make out?" Paige held the urge to scream in happiness.
"Nope, still haven't even had my first kiss. Well technically i did but I'm not counting that."
"Why not? It was a first kiss."
"Because i want it to be with someone i trust. Not with some guy at a party."
Athena thought that was the end of the conversation, with Paige staying silent yet again. But as she was watching the shorter girl change, she spoke quietly and unsure, "What if i was your first kiss?"
"What?"
"What if i was your first kiss?" The taller repeated, "your first real kiss." She took a step closer to the girl, not once breaking eye contact.
Paige didn't know what the hell she was doing, and she didn't want to think about it. She just wanted this.
Athena was shocked at the suggestion, "you? kiss me?" Paige nodded taking another step forward, them now arms length distance from each other. "That wouldn't be....weird?"
"Not if you don't make it weird." Another step. "You said you wanted it to be with someone you trust. Well you trust me, right?
Athena nodded, still processing what was happening.
Paige reached out to grab the girl's hips, causing the shorter's breath to slightly hitch. She was frozen, the blonde having to grab her arms and put them around her shoulders then moving back to her waist. Paige painfully, slowly, inched her face closer to her best friend's, making sure she had the option to back out if she wanted.
Athena couldn't even comprehend what was happening, her best friend was moving towards her, with the intention of kissing her. As a favor?
The slight squeeze on her hips kept her semi-grounded, keeping her in the moment as best as possible. Paige's eyes flickering between the girls sea green eyes and her pink lips that she desperately wanted to feel.
Athena's staying zoned in on the other's lips, her mind flickering between her options. Pushing away her best friend and potentially making it weird for the rest of their lives, or kissing her best friend like she has been yearning to for months. As. a. favor.
Purely a favor, that's all it is. Just one friend helping out the other. Nothing else to it. Just a favor. Friends do favors for each other all the time. No big deal.
Paige brushed her lips over Athena's first, then when she couldn't take it anymore and took the girl's lips with hers.
The first kiss was soft and careful, cautious even. But when Athena pulled away way too earlier for Paige's liking, "Paige-" Athena was cut off when she pulled her back in by the back of her neck.
The uncertain thoughts of if they should do this evaporated, only the feeling of each other remaining.
Paige kept her hand on the shorter's face, just below her jaw and using her thumb to tilt her head up, her other sneaking under the sleeping shirt Athena changed into and running her fingertips over the bare skin, drawing goosebumps from the girl.
Athena moved her unsure hands from the awkward position on the top of the blonde's shoulders to the girl's head. One tugging on her soft, blonde hair at the back of her neck, and the other cupping her cheek.
When they pulled away this time, they were both breathless. Paige stayed close, leaning her forehead against the others and keeping her eyes closed. She moved the hand on her jaw up to her cheek, rubbing back and forth.
Athena had no words. Her best friend just kissed her, as a favor. But she wanted to do it again, and again, and again until her lips fell off. That wasn't an option, so instead she just stayed in the moment, opening her mouth to speak but closing it when nothing came out.
After minutes of silence, Paige pulled her head back, a smile on her face. She dropped the hand from her face and placed it under her shirt, along with her other, walking backwards and tugging the girl along with her to the bed.
She took a seat on the edge of the comforter with Athena still in front of her, then wrapped her arms around her lower waist and rested her head on the girl's stomach. Athena placed one hand on the top of her head, softly scratching with her non existent nails, and the other on her back.
Once Paige was satisfied, she let go and tugged her onto the bed so they could lay down. They settled in, Athena on Paige's chest with arms and legs intertwined. Placing a sweet kiss on the top of her head, Paige closed her eyes for the night, along with Athena.
Athena was definitely confused, more worried about wanting to keep kissing Paige instead of whyshe wanted to keep kissing her best friend. But that was tomorrow's problem.
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Cold sheets. That's the first thing Athena felt in the morning.
She remembered back to the previous night, the party, the things after the party. She absentmindedly touched her lips after being reminded of her first kiss. But her smile faded when she realized she was alone.
She thought the worst, she probably thought you were the worst kisser ever and left. She's never going to talk to you again dumbass.Way to screw up the best relationship you ever had with anyone.
Shaking her thoughts, she got up out of the cold bed and headed downstairs to get some breakfast. The last thing she expected was to see Paige, sitting at their table with her dad, eating a bowl of cereal. She didn't leave.
"Good morning sunshine!" The same blonde she was just thinking about exclaimed to her. Athena said hi to both her father and Paige then went into the kitchen to grab her own food.
She sat down across from Paige, who was now close to done with her breakfast and now having a conversation with her dad. Athena ate in silence, mostly just listening and thinking about last night. Each word the blonde said just reminded her that those same lips were kissing hers barely 8 hours ago. She felt dirty for thinking about Paige's lips while they were talking to her father, but it was the only thing she could think about.
Her father later excused himself from the table and went into his office to work, leaving the two alone for the first time since it happened. They stayed silent, not knowing what to say. Athena got up, carrying her now empty bowl back to the kitchen to put in the dishwasher.
Paige followed her like a dog on a leash, not once wanting to be away from her human. She watched as Athena bent down to place the bowl in washer, then standing back up to grab Paige's and place it right next to hers. She watched as Athena slowly stood back up, avoiding eye contact with her.
Paige watched as her beautiful sea green eyes looked everywhere buther. That hurt, considering they always held eye contact.
Athena was about to walk away, to get away from the awkwardness in the kitchen at 9am on a random Thursday, but she couldn't get a single step in before she was pulled back by her forearm. A hand being place on both sides of her face, then being tugged closer to meet the blonde's lips in the middle.
She was initially shocked but then melted into it, bringing her hands to grip the wrists of the hands on her face.
Paige took steps forward, pushing Athena until her back hit the counter. She slightly bent down to pick up the shorter girl and place her so she was sitting on the counter behind her, not once separating their lips. Athena circled her arms around Paige's neck, holding onto the other while Paige placed her hands on the girl's thighs, moving from the top of her legs, to the side, to her hips, slightly lifting the clothing that came with it.
Paige tried to deepen the kiss, poking her tongue on Athena's bottom lip, but she wouldn't get the hint. She had to pinch the girl's hip to get her to open her mouth enough to slip her tongue in. The taste of Athena becoming addicting to Paige, maybe she only had it once before, but once was more than enough.
The sound of a door opening made Athena shove Paige back enough to the other side of the kitchen. Her dad walked out and into the kitchen to place his coffee mug into the dishwasher then leaving, but not before giving the two a weird look.
Athena got off the counter then dragged Paige by her wrist up to her room, closing the door behind her and immediately being kissed again.
"Paige-" She tried to speak but it was useless.
"Hm?" The blonde hummed into the others mouth.
Athena pulled back, placing a hand on Paige's chest to keep her from chasing her lips again, "Stop."
Paige frowned and dropped her hands to her side. Pouting she sat down on the bed and crossed her arms, huffing.
"Seriously?" Paige didn't respond verbally, instead turning to face the wall, her back to Athena. "We should talk. Before anything else."
"Can we save that for later....please?" Paige practically begged. She didn't want to face what was happening, not yet. She just wanted to kiss her best friend, without consequences.
The pleading look in her eyes was enough for Athena to forget about any talk she wanted to have, nodding she sat next to Paige on the bed and made her look at her. "Ok, we can talk later."
Paige smiled at her, then a light bulb went off, "Can we do the chapstick game?! Pleaseeeeee," She begged again, "I've always wanted to do that."
Athena agreed before knowing what she was getting into. When Paige explained the rules of one person putting on a random chapstick and the other guessing what it was, she thought they would just smell it. Not taste it.
So imagine her surprise when Paige grabbed her face and kissed her, running her tongue over her lips to taste the chapstick.
Paige wasn't very good at the game, always guessing wrong the first try then tasting again and still getting it wrong.
Or maybe she was very good at the game.