twenty six
The two girls left the restaurant not much later. Athena insisted on paying as an apology, earning some protests from Paige but ultimately agreeing. Paige kept her hands in her pockets as they walked out of the restaurant, she wanted to hold Athena's hand and hoped the girl next to her wanted the same but was more scared of getting rejected...again. They did walk close enough that their shoulders brushed every other step.
Finally, Athena had enough. She looped her arm through Paige's and took a step closer to her so her cheek could rest against the taller's shoulder. The blonde broke out into a smile, biting on her lip to keep it semi contained and act like such a small action didn't effect her that much. Athena wasn't much better but she had shelter from Paige's eyes.
They arrived back at their car, Paige opening the door like it was a habit. She had to fight so hard to not do it earlier, it felt unnatural to leave her like that. But that was different, she was mad at Athena for good reason but all that faded the moment she felt her touch and saw the tears building in her eyes.
Paige kept her hand on the gear shift, right in the middle of them. Athena had her hand on the top of the cup she brought back from the restaurant. Their fingers were just inches from each other, pinkies slightly farther from the rest of their fingers to close that distance. The car hit a bump, moving the hand Paige had rested on the gear shift more right and able to feel the styrofoam cup on the side of her hand but more importantly, she could feel Athena's pinky.
They didn't mention it, didn't even move. Not until Athena was brave enough to wrap hers around Paige's like a pinky promise. Paige smiled to herself, keeping her eyes on the road and her hand still. It was minimal, the lowest of low but it felt better then anything.
When back at Paige's dorm, she invited the brunette in. She claimed 'the girls want to see you after being away for so long' but really Paige wanted more time after not seeing her for days and thinking about her every second possible. They sat next to each other on the couch, Ice being the one to get up and allow them to seat next to each other. The problem being that there were already 2 people on the couch and it was a little small. Paige and Athena had both arms and legs squished together.
Paige had to hold her breath, feeling unwanted and unusual tension from something more vanilla then her thoughts just a earlier this week. Maybe that was the reason she felt nervous, because after her anger and sadness subsided, the memory of her dream reappeared. Paige imagined the same girl that was giggling in the most innocent way was pinned underneath her, fully bare and begging for her attention. She couldn't take it, abruptly standing up and walking to the bathroom.
She didn't actually need to go to the bathroom, she just wanted to splash some water on her face in hopes that would make her thoughts disappear. Paige did just that, letting it drip off her face as she stared down and tried to think more PG thoughts about Athena, she just got her back for God's sake...again.
A knock on the door brought her back to reality, "Paige?" Athena spoke from the other side of the door.
"Y-yeah?" Paige responded, still looking down.
"You ok? You've been in there for like 10 minutes."
The blonde didn't even realize how long she spent in here, that was the last thing on her mind. She opened the door, standing face to face with a worried looking Athena. "I'm good." Wrong. She was anything but good, Paige managed to push away the dream but it came flooding back when she saw her face again.
"You sure? Do you need me to leave? Are you uncomfortable with me being here?"
"No! No. I love that you're here. Stay....I'm ok, really."
"ok...why is your face dripping?"
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"When do you guys leave?" Athena asked.
"Uh...Thursday i think. Why?" Paige responded, looking up from her phone.
"Just wanted to know how much more time i have left with you."
"Well you're stuck with me for 3 more days. Better make them worth it."
"trust me," The brunette took her feet off of Paige's lap, crawling over to the other end of the couch to where she was, taking the phone out of the blonde's hand and throwing it somewhere to her right, "i will."
Paige's eyes followed her phone only to be pulled back by a hand on her chin. Her breath hitched as she noticed the mere inches between the two, she visibly gulped as Athena forced her arms out of the way and took a seat on her lap. Her hands were still lost in space, staying in the place Athena threw them to but were then placed on her hips by the girl that was now straddling her.
Paige was on autopilot, gripping the sides of Athena's hips and pulling her closer. Athena obeyed, maneuvering one of her hands into Paige's hair and the other staying secure on her chin. She leaned down, brushing their lips then swerving her head and planting them on her cheek. She started there then made a pathway down, running along her jawline and moving her hand up to it as she continued to her neck and tilted Paige's head upwards for more access.
The blonde let her, closing her eyes and resting her head on the back of the couch as she continued. She held firm on the girl's waist, occasionally helping her hips move back and forth on her and squeezing a little harder every time Athena sucked on a particularly sensitive spot. "Jesus Athena...what are you doing?"
Athena broke away for a second, "making it worth it." Her breath tickled the side of Paige's neck then reconnecting her lips to the skin and definitely leaving a mark. She traveled farther down, pulling the collar of the blonde's shirt downwards and left a trail down her sternum. Paige's mind was mush, this had been the only thing on her mind for months and now that it was finally here, she thought it wasn't real. She squeezed again, making sure this was not a dream unlike the last time.
About to move farther down, beyond what the shirt covered, they were interrupted. "YO! THAT IS A COMMUNITY COUCH! TAKE THAT SHIT SOMEWHERE ELSE! I DON'T WANT TO SEE MY PARENTS GETTING DOWN AND DIRTY ON THE COUCH I SIT ON DAILY! GO AWAY!" KK shouted, covering her eyes in horror. Athena immediately broke away from Paige, trying to get off her lap but being held firm by the girl under her.
"Sorry KK. Won't happen again." Paige said with a smirk on her face.
"Don't be doing that. Y'all ever think about other people walking in, Jesus...Anyways i'm boutta watch a movie with some of the girls, y'all wanna join?"
Paige leaned closer to whisper in Athena's ear, "Can we take this somewhere else?"
"No." She whispered back, "yeah, we'll watch with you." She could feel Paige deflate under her, dramatically throwing her head back. Athena smiled, turning over in the girl's legs and laying her back on the blonde's chest.
"You're so mean." Paige whispered.
"2 weeks." Athena reached up to pat Paige's cheek, "then we can do whatever you want." The brunette reached to grab a blanket and throw it over the two as they waited for the rest of thr people watching to join them. She relaxed in Paige's arms, holding onto the hands that were wrapped around her.
"Whatever i want?"
"Mhm"
"What if i want a date?"
"Then we'll go on a date."
Paige smiled, placing a kiss on her temple and shutting up to not ruin the moment and also pay attention to the commotion going on around them about what movie to watch.
"Alright that's it, you two. Separate." Ice said, moving the two's legs off the couch and making them sit up.
"What? Why?" Paige asked, keeping Athena in her place.
"Because i can hear you two making out behind me. Plus you're taking up the ENITRE couch. Get up."
"Bruh what. We haven't kissed the entire time, you're delusional."
"Well i can hear kissing noises and i hate it. Get up or take it somewhere else."
"Ok ok fine, but it shouldn't even be considered kissing more like...affection...yeah."
"Call it what you want, but i'm calling it 'get the fuck up before i hurt you.' Now move."
Paige opened her mouth the respond but was stopped by Athena, "Fine. We'll move."
"wha- but-"
"Shh, just do it P."
Paige huffed then agreed, sitting up regularly and Athena following. The blonde still wrapped her arm around the brunette, pulling her into her chest as much as she could and resting her head onto on Athena's. She wasn't pleased that, first, they were interrupted earlier and second, she was forced to move from the most comfortable spot that they were in before everyone else got there and still is yet to receive a proper kiss from Athena.
All she wants is to feel her lips again, she loved what happened earlier, it lit her skin on fire. But Paige needed a real kiss, she didn't care about waiting anymore. Athena's kisses are like oxygen for her, something she couldn't go more then 2 minutes without or else she would suffocate. It didn't help that Athena took matter into her own hands and sat fully on her lap when KK asked if she could sit on the couch instead of the group.
The brunette kept adjusting herself, slightly moving every few minutes and resting her full wait on Paige. The blonde was wished she could ditch the movie, take her to her room and kiss her til her lips fell off but she couldn't. Not with all her teammates still here and knowing Athena still wanted to wait until their date. Then again she did leave a pretty nasty--amazing--bruise on her neck earlier. That didn't go unnoticed by anybody, they all saw it but decided not to mention it, just happy the two of them seemed to figure shit out and progress even farther into their relationship.
"baby...please stop moving, you're going to kill me." Paige whispered to Athena, gripping the girl's thighs, urging her to stop.
"Sorry." Athena replied. She wasn't sorry, not in the slightest. Maybe only a little because she knew this was torturing Paige, especially after their actions from earlier but she couldn't help it. Paige was infectious, like a drug. She wanted nothing more to throw her own rules out the window.
Though, before she could risk it all and rebel against herself, she had one tiny confession to make. A few minutes later, Athena managed to stay still for the most part only minimally moving when the knee she was sitting on got too uncomfortable. The rest of the girls were either passed out or had left to go do other things, leaving the perfect opportunity for them to talk.
"hey...do you think we can go to your room?" Athena said lowly to Paige.
"Oh uh- sure. Yeah, we can do that." Paige responded, releasing her tight hold on the girl's thighs to let her get up.
The brunette led the blonde by her hand back to her room, oblivious to the smirk that was on Paige's face as they walked. Athena closed the door behind them only to be immediately pushed up against it and a pair of lips attacking her neck.
Athena was caught off guard by it, "god, you've been driving me crazy all night. All i can think about was being able to do this." Paige husked, trailing sloppy kisses down the shorter's neck and to her collarbone. She kept her hands on her waist, for now, keeping her grounded and in the present.
"wait...Paige." Athena pushed against her shoulders, trying to get them to separate.
"Hm?" She mumbled, not bothering to stop.
"I wanted to talk to you."
"Ok...talk." Paige continued her movements, switching to the other side of her neck and walking them backwards. She took a seat on the edge of the bed, pulling at the back of Athena's thighs to follow her. The brunette stood firm, up until Paige forced her down and flipped them so she was hovering over her. The blonde resumed, pulling down the collar of her shirt for more access. "Go on baby."
Athena closed her eyes, tangling her hands in the soft hair, "i need you to listen..."
"i am" Paige made her way back up, kissing all the way up, along her jaw up to her cheek then planting a kiss right on the corner of her mouth, "i am fully focused on your needs." She spoke, brushing their lips.
Athena almost folded right there but she didn't. If she wanted a chance for this to actually work there had to be no more lies and secrets, "5 minutes...then we can do this."
Paige groaned, placing one final kiss on the edge of her mouth then rolling over on her back next to the brunette. "Fine...what did you want to talk about?" The blonde propped her head on her hand, laying on her side while her other hand worked its way under Athena's shirt and traced little shapes on her skin.
"uhm...well first i need you to promise me you won't get mad."
Paige furrowed her eyebrows, "why would i be mad? Unless you killed someone...did you kill someone?!"
"No! I didn't kill anyone! But you might..."
"go on"
"So you know how we weren't speaking for a few days? Yeah well um- the night you guys were traveling Ashley convinced me to go out. And uh we- i," Athena sighed, trying to figure out the words, "i saw Alex there."
Paige visibly tensed at the name, "ok..."
"Well she was pretty drunk and managed to seek me out. I tried to stay away from her, swear, i want nothing to do with her anymore. But she was able to pull me away from my group and 'talk to me'" The girl said while using air quotes with her hands. "I was pretty drunk too, being a little heartbroken from us, anyways it started off fine she was just asking how i was and having a nice, normal conversation. Then it progressed, the more time we spent talking, the closer she got."
The blonde lifted up to her elbow, keeping eye contact with the girl speaking. "where are you going with this?"
"...she kissed me. I didn't kiss her back though! Ok maybe i did for like a second but i was drunk! And upset!"
Paige closed her eyes and dropped her head, she had a feeling of where this was going but hoped it would go in a totally different direction. Then again, she had no reason to be mad. Athena's not her girlfriend and at the time she wasn't her anything, there was no right for the blonde to be mad.
"I'm really really sorry Paige, she ambushed me and i know i probably should've pulled away or walked away earlier but i felt lost and sad and confused. i just- didn't know what to do...i'm sorry."
The basketball player licked her lips then looked up to respond, "it's ok. I'm not mad."
Athena raised her eyebrows, sitting up and looking at Paige like she had two heads, "what?"
"I'm not mad."
That was not the reaction Athena was expecting, she was fully expecting Paige to tell her to leave then not speak to her for a week and kill Alex on the side, not tell her she wasn't mad.
"you're not?" Paige nodded. "why not?"
The blonde shrugged, "you have no obligations to me...you can kiss whoever you want."
Paige thought that was the end of it, moving up to the top of the bed and resting her head on the pillow. She had one arm behind her head with the other was holding her phone up and scrolling on tiktok. Athena, on the other hand, was still sitting at the foot of the bed, shocked and a little hurt.
"i don't want to."
"hm?"
"i don't want to be able to kiss whoever i want."
"ok, then don't."
Athena rolled her eyes, crawling up next to Paige and taking her phone out of her hand, putting it on the nightstand and forcing her to look up at her. "do you not get it?"
"no i do, but every time we do this you always go back to your code. 'Nothing until the end of the tournament. I think you're the one that doesn't get it. I am fully capable of managing both basketball and us. Athena i am all the way in, there is no way i would let anything get in the way...not even basketball. Break your fucking code for once! I mean, are you scared or something?!" Paige sat up, getting irritated.
"yes! yes i'm scared! Paige the feelings i have for you i thought you could only have in fairytales! But here i am! I'm terrified! What if this doesn't work out? What if we hurt each other to the point we don't speak again? What if you realize all your fans were right?" Athena's eyes started to tear up, this is not where she was expecting this conversation to go.
"hey..." Paige brought her hand up to rest on Athena's cheek, rubbing her thumb in a soothing motion and immediately softening her voice, "i'm scared too, terrified actually...but i know that this is probably the best thing i've ever had. Athena i care about you so fucking much, so much that i would never let anything bad happen between us again. I can't handle a life where you aren't there, the years i had to live without you were the worst of my life...I get it, i do but that's no reason to put this off when we both know that this is worth every risk."
Athena leaned into her palm, turning her head to place a kiss on her palm then reaching up to hold onto it, "i'm sorry. You are worth it, weare worth it but i can't help it. The whole reason i...'broke up' with you earlier was because of my fears and i just feel like they will get in the way again."
"Then we'll deal with it, ok? We can't push each other away...not anymore."
"ok..."
"ok."
The two laid back down together, Paige keeping a tight hold on the girl and trying to sooth her. "I lied earlier."
"about?"
"i am a little mad about Alex.."
Athena sat up from the blonde's chest, smacking it, "i knew it! You are too much of the jealous type to be ok with that."
"i didn't say that i was jealous."
"oh really? so you wouldn't mind Alex walking through that door right now,"
"Athena."
"talking to me...touching me?"
"Athena."
"kissing me."
Paige broke at the last sentence, quickly maneuvering herself above Athena, pinning her down beneath her. The same cross necklace she wore daily dangling just under her chin, "fuck you."
"is that a challenge?"
"could be. You brave enough to take it?"
"maybe...i need a warm up though." Athena trailed off, running her hands up Paige's flexing arms, feeling the muscles then moving to her chest. One hand running down the middle to her abs, the other gripping the collar of her shirt as her eyes stared at the blonde's lips.
Paige did the same, locking her blue eyes to the lips she so desperately needed to feel on her own. She inched closer and just before they touched, she whispered, "you sure?"
Athena never answered verbally, tugging the shirt that was in her hand and connecting their lips in a desperate and long awaited kiss.
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Athena was blessed to be awaken by a bunch of kisses being placed on her bare shoulder. She groaned in satisfaction causing the suspect to move left to her neck and behind her ear. "Good morning superstar"
"nah, it's just morning...but you know what would make it a good morning?" Paige whispered into her ear, making Athena turn her head over her shoulder.
"what would that be?"
"this." The blonde leaned forward to kiss Athena's lips, smiling as she felt them make contact. She pulled away, still smiling, "nowit's a good morning."
"not yet, do it again." Athena requested, kissing the girl again a few more times. "there...jesus we've been together a few hours and already being hella cheesy."
"We're together now?"
"i-i mean...did i say together? i think you're hearing things because i said-" Athena sighed, realizing she's not getting out of that one, "i mean...yeah, we know how we feel about each other so. i would still like a date or two before the girlfriend title but yeah."
"you finally realize i was right?"
"no. just that i'm over waiting. thanks to Alex actually, i realized that no one else could compare to you and that kiss the other night made me audible gag, plus i was thinking about you the whole time, wishing it was."
"call me a genie because i'm about to grant your wishes baby." Paige leaned in for another kiss but was met with a palm.
"no. never again. that was so bad...i'm going to shower now."
"can i come?" Athena glared at Paige, making her raise her hands in surrender, "never mind, my bad."
Many more kisses filled their morning, you thought they were touchy before. nothing could prepare you for now, and it had only been 10 hours since they woke up and walked into the common room.
They walked in holding hands, Athena cooked breakfast with Paige hovering behind her and her arms wrapped around her, sat on the couch with the arms and legs touching as they ate, and to top it all off, kissed every time somebody turned their head away.
3 words were imprisoned in Paige's throat, 3 words she almost slipped up and said multiple times before but caught herself. She so badly loves Athena and wants to tell the world, she wants to love her so loud that the aliens hear it but first Paige had to make Athena her girlfriend, then she could worry about the rest.
Paige almost said them last night and thought it was the right time but then thought they should be in a relationship first. in order not to rush anything, then again they've known each other for years and she's been in love for years so is it really rushing? yes, shut up
the blonde was surprised at how well she was able to keep her plans for their first date a secret, considering she had them written down on a whiteboard and in the middle of her desk. she spent the last 2 1/2 months planning their date, physically...mentally she's been planning this for 5 years. every thing had to go perfect because Athena's said she's never been on a date that she enjoyed.
maybe it was the company or maybe they just flat out did nothing fun. Athena wants to have fun on a date, not sit in a way overpriced restaurant and max out her card. she doesn't want to have to spend hours in front of her mirror wondering what to wear, she just wants to be able to throw on something nice but comfortable and have fun.
that's what Paige was going to do for her. give her fun.
closing the door behind them, Paige's free hand rested on Athena's hip as they kissed. they broke away briefly to throw their keys onto a table, immediately joining back together. Paige bent down, not breaking their kiss and lifted Athena up, making her wrap her legs around her waist.
Paige has been in Athena's apartment so many times, she could navigate it with her eyes closed...and that's exactly what she did, avoiding all tables, plants, and vases full of the white roses Paige obsesses in buying, and making her way to the couch. the blonde took a seat, keeping full contact with the girl she was holding as she did.
Athena tugged at her hair as Paige's mouth explored down her skin. her hoodie was long gone and her shirt was next on the list, the blonde grabbing the bottom of it and lifting it up. Athena was too far gone to care, letting the girl she was sitting on take off her shirt, leaving her in a bra and feeling warm hands run over her body as the blue eyes she loves so much drink her in.
"you're so fucking beautiful" Paige leaned back in, getting bold with her hands and sneaking them down the back of her pants to rest of the bare skin of her ass. Athena's skin was on fire, every inch itching with anticipation.
"we should stop." Athena managed to get out.
"we could...but we definitely shouldn't." the last time Paige used that line she was immediately rejected but now? Athena gave in, letting Paige have her way with her to an extent.
it never went past that, simply removing shirts and feeling each other up. they both wanted to wait for more, as much as it pained them.
"what made you realize you had feelings for me?" Paige asked randomly, running her fingertips up and down Athena's arm.
"uh...i don't know, it was a lot of things. what about you?"
"probably that party junior year...wait no! it was our first prom! Yeah, i remember i had asked you to be my date, as friends. then when i saw you come down those stairs, i swear i heard wedding bells. i think i fell in love right then."
"wedding bells?"
"uhm....yeah, wedding bells. i see a future with you Athena....you're my person, my soulmate, my life partner."
"i can't wait until we get married...oh! and the kids!"
"kids?"
"oh yeah! 2 girls, 1 boy, teach him right for the world. maybe a 2nd boy if we feel bad for him."
Paige smiled at her words, she was worried she had overstepped a few seconds ago with mentioning the future of them but turns out that Athena had thought about the exact same things.
"can't wait. i want a bunch a of mini Athenas' i can count my blessings on....and can't forget those lethal green eyes and genes."