fourteen
"Bro Azzi we are going to be late hurry the fuck up" Paige whined. The crew was currently on their way to the UCONN women's soccer match, or they were trying to. Paige was the first one ready, simply putting on a hoodie and sweats, along with a beanie and her glasses, her USA lanyard hanging out of her pocket.
"Excuse you?" Azzi replied, pausing what she was doing to look at the eager blonde.
"nothing, sorry. Please hurry up." Paige immediately fixed her tone, knowing Azzi would hit her if she didn't.
"It's 6, the game doesn't start 'til 7:30. What's got you in such a rush, you hate watching soccer." The curly haired girl replied, going back to what she was doing before.
"i just....want to support the school, ya know? School spirit or whatever..." Paige shrugged as she replied.
Azzi smiled as she realized the real reason, "oh i know what it is...you want to support Athena."
"No! Well yes, but not just that! I love soccer! and the school! Purely just want to support the school....and if Athena is there then..." Paige replied in a panicked tone, making hand gestures as she spoke.
"I've literally never seen you watch soccer. You always say it's the most boring sport ever. Every time it's on the TV you groan and change the channel." Azzi said.
"....no....whatever, just- hurry up so we can go....please." Paige requested then left the room to sit on the couch in the common room. She huffed as she sat down in the empty room then pulled out her phone to pass the time.
Ever since their 'talk,' Athena and Paige have been great. It wasn't like they used to be, Athena still not fulling trusting Paige again but it was still nice. They got back to talking and texting almost daily, skipping a day or two when they were busy.
Athena was quick to make friends with the girls she didn't meet in the café, exchanging numbers with them and being added to, yet another, group chat. The third one in three weeks, the first being the original one she was in with KK, Ice, Azzi, Nika, and Paige, the second being one with just Azzi and Nika, named 'Athena's future wives, and now the third, including the whole team and Athena.
Athena had grown to love the whole dynamic of the team. It was like they were all siblings, annoying each other every chance they could but sticking with them no matter what. That was something she could admire about the group, she never really had that. Sure she had teams in the past that she loved with a piece of her heart, but none that would care enough to reach out when she left. Except for a few people, she hasn't spoken to any of her old UCLA teammates. Not that it was tearing her up inside, but she thought she made some real connections on that team. Whatever, guess not, see y'all in the playoffs.
Paige had been the first to reach out to the girl after that Saturday, simply texting her to have a good night and text her when she gets home just to 'make sure you didn't die'. Which led into Athena texting her back and Paige texting again, then them staying up 'til 2am texting back and forth.
They were yet to hang out alone, but every time they were in a group hangout they had their moments. Sitting next to each other when out, walking next to each other on the sidewalk, and sharing a blanket and popcorn when the group wanted to watch a movie.
While she waited, Paige opened instagram and scrolled for two minutes until one of Athena's posts came across her feed. Naturally, she stared for a minute then swiped to her page. They followed each other a week after reconnecting, both on public and private accounts. She stared at each picture for way too long before moving onto the next. Athena's instagram was mostly full of soccer posts with motivational quotes or ads, but there were a few unique posts of her enjoying life, still with quotes as the caption though.
Nika was walking while looking down at her phone into the common room, she was also attending the game, when she saw Paige sitting on the couch staring at her phone. She decided to scare Paige, sneaking up behind her not so quietly, but the blonde was too distracted to notice. Nika placed her hands on her shoulders and spoke in her ear, "What are you doing!"
"Jesus!" Paige jumped, her phone falling off the couch behind her and at Nika's feet. Nika laughed as she bent down to pick up her twin's phone. Without meaning to, she saw the screen on one of Athena's post, specifically the one with her in a sports bra, showing off her abs, with a soccer ball under her arm and staring at the camera, the words 'is it in you?' next to her.
"What areyou doing?" Nika questioned with a smirk, looking back and forth between the screen and Paige's panicked face.
"Nothing!" Paige quickly said, snatching her phone back from Nika.
"Does Paigey have a crush?!?"
"No! No! I don't! She just- she finally unblocked me so I'm just seeing what she's been up to for the past 3 years." The blonde quickly defended, turning off her phone and shoving it in her pocket.
"Mhm...wait unblocked? She had you blocked?" Nika questioned.
"Oh! Uhm...no. Well yes- it's a long story, too long for me to get into." Paige said as she took her spot back on the couch, manspreading.
"Well we got time....no one is here yet." Nika pressed as she sat next to Paige on the couch, "just tell me the short version."
"Even the short version is too long," Paige replied as she leaned her head on the back of the couch, "but i'll say that we were good....friends in high school, practically grew up together. Then i messed it up....but now we are friends again! There!"
"Why did you say friends like that?" Nika furrowed her eyebrows as she asked.
Paige opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by everyone else walking into the room, "Alright! Let's go before Paige's head explodes." Azzi said as she clapped her hands together.
Paige sent Nika a quick smile then stood up and walked towards the door. Nika was definitely asking her more about it later.
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The group showed up to the game pretty early, early enough for the teams to still be warming up even after they made a stop somewhere. KK was pressuring everyone to make a tiktok with her while they waited, Paige being the only one to agree. They spent 10 minutes learning the dance they were doing, and 10 minutes actually making the tiktok.
By the time KK posted the video, warmups had finished and now the announcer was getting ready to announce the starting line ups. When it got to Athena, Paige went almost deaf by the amount of noise the stadium created, her team around her being the main source of screaming. She doesn't know who, but someone had the idea of making a poster for the star soccer player. And they did, along with a large cutout of Athena's picture.
Athena was unfazed by the noise, she knew it was coming. Her father and Emma made sure they told her that everyone was coming to the game to see her in action. Athena's name had managed to sell out the tickets for every game they played, she had no clue why, she was just a girl playing the sport she loved.
The only thing Athena was fazed by, was the pressure. This was her first game in her new home, and her first game back. She was out for the end of her last season at UCLA for injury reasons, so this was her first match she would play in over a year. Worries ran threw her mind, what if i take a wrong step and tear my acl again? what if my brace doesn't work? what if i'm not the player i used to be? what if i fail?
She took some deep breaths, which seemed to quiet the thoughts but not silence them. Athena took the field, standing in front of the ball at the halfway mark. While the ref was checking his equipment, she did her ritual, tightening her laces to the pink and white cleats she always wore, closed her eyes and kissed the pulse point on her wrist then pointed to her mom above, then took a deep breath.
The ref blew his whistle and they were off.
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Halftime came around, the score still being tied at 0. The basketball type was screaming with every time Athena even touched the ball, every pass, every dribble. The opponents were playing dirty, especially on Athena, going in hard for tackles, knocking her down with each on. The ref was letting them play, motioning his hands upward after every fall.
Athena was getting pissed with this team, they kept getting away with every foul. She almost started to wonder if the coach paid the ref to allow this. Coach Anderson had the girls in the locker room and was giving them another pep talk, Athena was barely listening, anger consuming her mind.
She knew she shouldn't let them get to her, because that's when she started to make the bad decision of retaliating. She had to squeeze her hands together and clench her jaw to let out her frustration.
Paige offered to get the group some snacks before the second half kicked off. She was standing in line at the concession stand, back to staring at Athena's instagram, now in 2022 territory, when a group of girls approached her, "are you Paige Bueckers? Can we get a photo?" One of the girls asked.
Paige nodded her head, she didn't look her best right now but she would never turn down a photo. The girl got someone else in the line to take the picture, handing her phone to the poor guy and standing next to Paige. She wrapped her arm around Paige's waist and placed her other hand on her stomach, like she was trying to awkwardly side hug her. The other 4 girls joined her, standing as close as possible to the six foot blonde.
Paige was towards the front of the line, and this picture was holding them up. The girls asked for autographs as well, which Paige agreed to but asked if they could wait 5 minutes while she bought her food. They stood to the side, squealing to each other while Paige talked to the worker. After she got the stuff, she walked back over to the girls, ready to autograph whatever they wanted. She asked some of them to hold something while she wrote, then taking it back when she was done.
The girls thanked her profusely and walked away. That whole interaction took so long, the second half had already started. Coming back to the seats with everything in hand, she sat down then giving food to anybody who requested it.
Paige was mid bite when she saw Athena get slide tackled. She shot up out of her seat to get a better view, the soccer player staying on the ground for a minute. Athena was pressing her forehead into the ground while grabbing her left ankle, the ankle she had problems with. The crowd was murmuring, along with the girls around her but all Paige could focus on was Athena, praying she would get up.
Eventually the trainer came out onto the field, Athena sitting up by then, adjusting the brace on her ankle. She was explaining to the trainer what happened, explaining that the girl who tackled her went studs up into it, twisting her leg inward while her ankle stayed planted. Athena wasn't crying, wether it was to put on the tough act because she knew this was being streamed to thousands of people, or because it didn't hurt thatbad.
Athena was eventually helped up by her teammates, and with the help of them, limped over to the sideline. She was subbed out while the trainer worked to help her. Luckily, the benches were on the opposite side of the seats the basketball team was sitting on, so Paige had a full view of Athena. She took full advantage of that, not once watching the game in front of her when it resumed, instead watching as Athena went through different exercises for her ankle.
Paige watched as Athena gave the trainer a nod, and the trainer giving her one back. She walked back over to the bench, briefly telling her coach something. Her coach then looking over at her then past her at the trainer, who gave her a thumbs up. Coach smiled at her, then pointed to the halfway line. Athena smiled back and headed to the middle, the crowd now noticing her appearance there and starting to shout.
The next time the ball went out, the ref blew his whistle and signaled for a sub. Athena called her player out, giving her a high five before running back out onto the pitch. When she did, the whole stadium roared, it was crazy the effect she had, both in the culture of and in the game.
Anybody could tell Athena was angry, she had it written on her face and in her body language. The first chance she had, she bodied the girl who tackled her earlier, stealing the ball back from her and dribbling up the field. She created 4 chances in 10 minutes of being back on the field. It was still 0s with 20 left but UCONN was bound to be ahead by the end of the game with the way Athena was playing.
She was all over, playing both offense and getting back to play defense, it's like there are 2 of her. She had the ball at her feet, dribbling just past the halfway line, making one girl look like a fool, another miss before giving the ball up to her teammate that was making a run down the line. As soon as she passed the ball, she sprinted forward to be able to get in the box for the cross. She had managed to go from 10 yards behind the ball, to in front of it while her teammate dribbled at full speed.
Her teammate slowed down, just outside the right side of the box, squaring the defender up before taking a touch to her right and sending it into the box where there were now 3 other UCONN players. Athena was at the back, standing just above the edge of the box, waiting for her moment. The ball was sent above the heads of everyone, including her teammates and towards Athena. With a defender straight in front of her and 3 more behind her and her tongue poking out of her cheek, Athena planted her left foot and raised her right foot almost perpendicular to sweetly connect with the ball mid air, sending it towards the goal.
It was like those scenes in the movies, when time stood still, everyone in the crowd in slow motion standing up as they watched. In dramatic fashion, the ball sneaked past the diving keepers hand and rippled the net behind her. Athena getting shouldered as she kicked it and falling to the ground, not even seeing it go in just hearing it, she laid on her back and raised her hands up in the air. The rest of her teammates piling on top of her, screaming. After they helped her up, she ran over to the bench and celebrated with the girls there, jumping up and down briefly before high fiving the coaches and going back to midfield.
20 minutes passed and the ref blew his whistle to end the game, ending in a 3 - 0 victory the huskies, them managing to get 2 more goals after. Athena shook hands with the opponents coaches, and the girls that would let her, most just bitterly grunting and walking past her. 15 minutes after the game, when everything kind of calmed down, Athena walked around the field, waving at the fans. It was one of her favorite activities, she loved interacting with her fans.
When she reached the side that the basketball team was on, she was mid picture when she heard the screaming voices of them. She smiled at the sight and held up her finger, telling them to wait. Athena was talking to some young fans wearing her jersey, when she briefly looked over at the team and pointed towards the gate that lead to the field.
The team followed her request, going down to the gate and walking onto the field. Athena broke away from the conversation and headed their way with a bright smile, "wasn't expecting you guys to be here"
"Girl boo you are the greatest soccer player of all time! How the hell did you do it?! With 4 other people around you and getting knocked to the ground?!" KK was first to say, stepping towards Athena and placing her hands on her shoulders, slightly shaking her with every word she said.
Athena laughed at the girls actions and shrugged. The rest of the girls giving her their positive feedback on her game, all except Paige, who was standing at the back of the group with her hand behind her back.
When it finally got to her turn, she took a step forward and spoke just loud enough for Athena to hear, "you played amazing, hat trick....i almost forgot how entertaining you are in person."
"Thanks superstar" Athena smiled at the blonde, Paige smiling back at her. Athena looked down at Paige's hand behind her back, then looking back up at her with a raised eyebrow.
Paige removed her hand from behind her back and there she held a single white rose, "this is for you...i don't know if you still like them or- yeah..."
Athena stared at the rose, her mouth slightly opened, no words forming, "Paige I-"
"Do you not like them anymore? I knew i shouldn't have gotten you this, stupid. Uh- just ignore this then never mind." Paige rambled as she put the rose back behind her back.
Athena took a step closer to her, now being reaching distance away from Paige, "I didn't know you remembered...I love it, thank you." Athena said as she reached to grab Paige's arm the was holding her rose.
Paige gave in to the touch, bringing it back in front of her, "i remember everything about you..." She softly replied as she handed it to Athena.
Athena accepted it, smelling it quickly then pulling Paige into an unexpected hug. Paige immediately reciprocating, wrapping her arms around the shorter's waist and tucking her head into her neck.
The team behind them watched as they interacted, soft smiles on everyones face. They all knew Paige and Athena had some...special thing going on, them going from ignoring each other, or at least trying to, then to having the best connection out of all of them in a matter of days.
The two stayed in the hug for a while, neither of them wanting to let go. They were slowly getting back to who they were, little by little. Paige was patient with Athena, resisting the urge to text her every thought she had like she used to. Maybe she could do that again in the future, once she fully gained Athena's trust back. Remembering they were in a public place, Athena pulled away, thanking Paige again for the flower and giving her signature smile.
Paige nodded as her touch lingered, staying a mili-second longer before leaving. She stared down into the brunette's sea green eyes, getting lost in them, the world outside her fading into the void. Athena doing the same in Paige's blues, the lighting from the stadium making them look as if they were shimmering.
Breaking their staring contest, Nika suggested the group get food. Paige and Athena agreed, Athena wanting to change before going. When she rejoined the group in her comfy clothes, a t-shirt and sweats, they were all discussing places to go.
Paige being the first one to notice Athena's return, walked over to stand next to her, "you cold?"
Athena was very cold, but they were about to be inside a warm car so she didn't care, "a little but we are gonna be in a warmer place soon so i don't mind."
"Ha, funny. Yeah we are not going anywhere for at least the next 15 minutes." Paige said in fully serious tone. Anytime food was in the conversation, everyone suggested a place and everyone else rejected it. They would be lucky if they got anywhere in the next 30 minutes. "Here you can wear my hoodie" She suggested, starting to take off her hoodie as she saw the girl hug herself and rub up and down her arms.
Athena stopped Paige, "Oh no, I'm fine. Thanks though."
"Really it's no problem. I got a long sleeve under this. Just take it Thea." Paige insisted, now holding the clothing out for the girl.
Athena took the hoodie, slipping it on over her t-shirt, warmth immediately covering her body. Paige watched as Athena put on her hoodie, then smiling down at her feet so she wouldn't notice. Athena doing the same, but covering her smile with Paige's hoodie, inhaling her scent as she did.
"My rose is going to die if we spend anymore time here." Athena spoke after another few minutes of listening to the group argue.
"What if i took you home? Get some food on the way and then you could put it in some water." Paige suggested.
"Wouldn't they be mad you left with me."
"They'll get over it."
Athena debated for a minute before giving in, "ok"
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Paige and Athena managed to sneak out unnoticed, or if they were noticed no one said anything. Paige led Athena to her car, opening the door for her then getting in. She asked if Athena had a preference where they stopped but the soccer player said she didn't care.
Stopping by McDonalds, Paige got them some food and headed back to Athena's dorm. She badly wanted to come inside with her, maybe talk some more or watch a movie, but also didn't want to overstep. They had justgotten back to being on good terms, she didn't want to mess that up by being a weirdo.
Paige parked outside of the dorms, then turning off the car, much to Athena's confusion. "It's late and dark, I'll walk you." Paige simply said, getting out of the car.
Athena didn't protest, grabbing her food and flower and getting out of the car when Paige opened her door. The two walked in silence, not awkward silence, as the approached the dorms. Paige offered to hold her stuff while Athena unlocked her door, watching her movements as she did so. Athena opened the door and held it open with her foot as she took her items back from Paige, the blonde holding the door for her as she did so.
Athena told her to wait there for a second, walking away and putting her things on the counter then coming back to the door. They looked at each other for a minute before both speaking at the same time.
"I should go-"
"-Do you want to come in?"
"What?" They both said again at the same time.
"...do you want to come in?"
Paige nodded, Athena stepping aside to let Paige walk past her then shutting the door behind her. Paige looked around her dorm, noticing all the decorations she put up. She got to Athena's desk and noticed the same picture she has in her room, she smiled as she looked at the picture.
Athena took a minute to place the rose Paige got her in water, then joining the blonde in her room. She watched as Paige searched her room with her eyes, much like she did with hers 3 weeks ago. Athena was nervous, this was their first time hanging out alone in 3 years.
"So you want to watch a movie or something?" That being the only thing she could think of.
"We can do that while we eat, but then..." Paige trailed off, "can we talk? I want to know what you've been up to these past few years." Lies. She knew exactly what she's been up to, the girl stalked her instagram for hours each day, but any chance to talk to Athena she would take.
"ok" Athena agreed.
She set up a movie on the TV, not caring what it was and just clicking the first one that popped up. Sitting on the couch with a blanket draped over the two, they stayed silent for the first quarter of the movie while they ate, Paige later speaking up, "this movie sucks."
"Yeah, i don't even know what it is. I just picked the first one i saw." Athena laughed, looking away from the screen and at Paige.
Athena turned the TV down, turning towards Paige, "so what have youbeen up to superstar?"
"Uh...basketball, lots of basketball."
"That's it? Nothing else? Boring."
"What? it's pretty much all i've been doing."
"For 3 years?"
"Yeah...?"
"What about your dating life, social life, family...Oh! How is your mom?"
"My mom is good...she misses you, dad too. Uh- haven't really had much of a dating life, just hook ups and stuff. Although i did have one girlfriend my freshmen year....didn't end great. She got mad at me for not spending enough time with her, then tried to get me to quit basketball. Yeah, then i found out she cheated and she used the whole 'this is why i cheated on you, you spend more time playing basketball then paying attention to me' thing...anyways thats the extent of that." Paige explained.
"oh i'm sorry Paige..." Paige shrugged, "well if it makes you feel better i kinda went through the same thing...not the cheating part but...she was mad at me for spending so much time at soccer and stuff....she actually got happy when i tore my acl, that way i could spend all my free time with her instead. Yeah, she claimed i was 'wasting my time with something the wouldn't be in my life forever instead of with her that would be there.' which i'm like, if it supposedly isn't going to be in my life forever, should't i put my all into it for the years i have left? whatever she was mean and is now dating a man. ew."
"ew....I could never see myself with a man...like ever."
"What about Jalen?"
"Shut up! That was the worst mistake of my life, he was a douche."
"Yeah he was, glad you figured that out."
"well what about you and Jason? Hm?"
"we never actually dated Paige"
"oh...well still you left me to hang out with him sometimes!"
"yeah because you had basketball, not because i wanted to be with him over you....you know i would have muchrather been with you instead of him. Literally every time we hung out he would try to kiss me after dropping me off, i don't know why i still talked to him"
The two of them talked for hours, feeling as it was in high school. Joking with each other, subtly moving closer to each other, talking about anything and everything as the moon rose in the sky.
They had turned on Grey's Anatomy, the show they used to watch together growing up. Athena looked at Paige's side profile for a minute before speaking, "Paige?"
"Hm?" The blonde responded, eyes still on the screen.
"Why did you do it?" Athena had been asking herself the same question over and over again. Paige had explained why, to an extent, but Athena knew that wasn't the whole truth. She wanted to know everything about why Paige cut her out of her life so suddenly.
Paige looked over at Athena, "because i was scared..."
"tell me the real reason."
"that is the real reason...i was terrified on the future and did the stupidest thing possible."
"yeah but i wasn't...we had talks about that...how we would facetime daily, me tucking you in at night, and how we would always make time for each other, and how we would fly to see the other in the off season and summers, and how we would make it work...i just want to know what changed for you..."
Paige stayed silent, she couldn't tell Athena the realreason, not after she just got her back. Maybe when they were better connected in a month or two she would tell her...maybe when her feelings reignited- actually who is she kidding they are already back, but she can't say that. "because..."
"because why?"
"Athena...I can't"
"Please Paige...I won't be hurt by it, i swear...just please..."
"It's not that."
"then what...Paige please" Athena was begging at this point, she wanted answers. Answers as to why the most important person in her life disappeared.
"i was scared....not only by the face we would be so far from each other but also..."
"what..?"
"by my feelings....for you..."