𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠| 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬

Morning cuddles

Nov 9 2023

I woke up today in Paige's arms, I would feel bad for leaving her but she had quite a strong grip on me so it was hard to even try. "paige", I whisper trying to wake her. "paige can you wake up please", I say a little louder. "Give me five more minutes", she mumbles against me. "I'll give you until Azzi and Lily wake up." Lily is very punctual so whenever she wakes up I'll know to get up.

Choir class was today and oh boy was I nervous. I had to be able to get some tea in time so prep my voice, maybe we have like an hour. I snuggle into Paige when I hear my phone ringing.

Baba
I answer the phone quickly.

"Bonjour Baba, Comment ça se passe là-bas"
(Hey dad, how is it going there)

"C'est bien, je suis content"
(That's good, I'm glad)

"Oui, le cours de baba est bien"
(Yes dad class is fine)

"Oui, je serai lá ce week-end"
(Yes, I'll be there this weekend)

"D'accord, je t'aime baba"
(Okay, love you dad)

"Au revoir"
(Bye)

I hang up and see Paige staring at me in complete shock. "You speak French", she asked. "Yeah, my parents raised me speaking it", I say chucking. "And good morning by the way", I smile. She smiles back softly with her eyes closed. She's so beautiful, I think I really do have feelings for her. "Why don't you speak it more often", she asks still speaking softly. "Because everyone here speaks English. Sometimes I talk to Alice in French because she's been around my family enough to learn but it's not often." "You should, I'd listen to it even if I can't speak it back, it sounds very pretty coming from you", her voice is raspy, "thank you Paige, maybe I will."

I check the time and see I have an hour before I have to get ready. "Paige", I whisper, she hums. "Since we know I'm not a murderer, could you give me a ride to my choir class please", I ask. "Yeah, I don't mind, give me a little bit to wake up", she mumbles into my neck. A few minutes later I hear soft snoring, I decided to let her sleep. I'll get up in 30 minutes and she needs her rest.

*30 minutes later*

I slowly slither out of Paige's arm and instantly get hit by the cold air, geez. I grab a thick sweater and go to the kitchen to make some tea.

Chamomile.
Earl Grey.
Lavender.

I read out the teas trying to figure out which one I want. It can't be Chamomile because that makes me sleepy. I opt for earl grey except I can't really reach it, who would put this so high, neither of us are this tall.

I jump when I feel someone very close behind me reaching up and getting the tea. "You didn't have to do that but thank you", I say smiling at her. "It's no problem, I heard rustling and I was like maybe she needs help", she says handing me the tea. "How do you take your tea", I ask her. "Do you have coffee" "that's not good for you Paige", I say sternly. "You're right, I guess with lemon and honey", she still sounds sleepy.

"Okay, you should go sit on the couch and I'll bring you your tea", I say filling the kettle with water and putting it on the stove. I look over and see Paige sprawled out on the couch. Inês and Alice seem to have left this morning because the living room was empty when I got here.

I hear the kettle whistle and I take off the stove asap, I put the tea bags into our mugs and pour the hot water into it. After a few minutes I make Paige's tea and then I add milk and sugar to mine. Then I walk over and sit by Paige with both of our tea. I sit them on the table before I set next to Paige.

"You don't have to drink it now, you can put it somewhere and drink it later", I say softly, not wanting to disturb her. She just smiles. "You're so sweet", she says. " I try."

I love being in her presence it's so comforting and peaceful. It feels like listening to your favorite song for the first time.

She picks up her mug and immediately puts it back down. "It's real hot", she says. "I know", I chuckle. "Paige, I really like being around you", I say turning to her. "I like being around you too", she smiles at me. I check the time.

8:00am

I hear rustling and we both turn around. "Good morning", Lily says coming in and yawning. She stops. "Ooh", she says smirking. "It's not like that",'Paige says. "She's just a sweetheart", I turn over and see her rubbing her head. "I have a migraine, I think I'm gonna stay", she says. "I can stay back with you", I say turning to her. "Please, you should go to class", she says. "I'll stay if you want me to really, it's no problem." "No, go to class", she pulls her hoodie over her head. "Ok, I'll bring you some soup", I say getting up.

I go out on some green leggings and a white cardigan and tank top and some uggs. I grab my bag and get my headphones, I can't live without them.

When I walk out Paige is still sulking into the couch. "Paige, go get in my bed", I say not being too loud. "No, I'll be okay, I should go to class", she says. I giggle, "you don't need to go if you're feeling this bad", I say a little worried. "But you need a ride so we both need to go to class", she still has her head burried in her hoodie. "I'll catch a ride with Lily again and you can go get in my bed, please, you need to rest", I say walking over.

"Come on", I grab her arm, trying to pull her up. She wont move. Is she the hulk because she's literally the strongest person I know.

I end up just leaving and getting my tea, I put it in a travel cup and go to Lily's car.I only have one class today but I have three tomorrow.

In choir I met old friends and made some new friends. I actually got their numbers this time! I still need to get Paige's number.

When we got back from class I went to Panera and got Paige a bowl of chicken noodle soup and myself a bowl of Mac and cheese.

When I got back to my dorm she was still lying on the couch. I laugh to myself. "Paige. Paige wake up I got you soup", I say walking to the couch. "Come on, pleaseeee! It'll get cold", I whine. "You're making my migraine worse", she joked. "I'll get you some ibuprofen", I say sitting the soup down and getting the medicine from my room to give to Paige.

I get my soup and go sit in my room. I need a cleanse, I need to figure out my feelings asap.
Maybe I should try yoga or meditating, I'm dressed appropriate for it. Wait I can't leave her here like this.

"Is Azzi home", I ask Paige. "She should be", is all she says. "I'm gonna take you home", I say. I can't drive but I do have a license so...

She seems to have liked her soup, it's gone.

"Can you drive", she asks. "Yes", I lie. "I just don't have a car." "Okay, come on", she says getting up.

When we get in the car things are going fine until they aren't. I almost hit a house and when I finally got away from their yard Paige made me get out and into the passenger seat.

"It's just one hiccup Paige", I say trying to calm her. "GET OUT, I CANNOT DIE BEFORE THE SEASON IS OVER", dang she doesn't play about her games.

I finally got out and let her drive, she's not that much better, she drives like she's on a cop chase.

At least she got us there safely.

I can't steal her car... how would I get to my yoga class? I can't call Alice because she's at ballet, she's done ballet since we were in high school and she's been very talented. I wanna call lily but I know she's in soccer.

⏱︎ ∞

"Thank you so much Julia", I tell my older sister who ended up picking me up. "Yeah yeah, it's fine. That's what older sisters are for right", she says keeping her focus on the road. "Right, so how have your classes been", I turn facing her.

"They've been nice, I feel bad though because I'll have to watch you on the sidelines during halftime", she says sincerely. "Hey, I'll learn drill in no time, I have Alice. And plus I'm already learning the music", I smile at her. "Hey do you want to get something to eat." "Of course."

I've decided instead of yoga or whatever I could just get food with my sister, I don't think I could do it anyway, my mind isn't clear enough for that yet.