𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠| 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬

Morning debrief

Nov 18 2023

I wake up surprised to see Paige's arm wrapped around me. I look around for my phone. It's on the charger, Paige must be really caring.

I leave it and lay my head back on her hoping not to disturb her sleep. She's so warm, I think to myself.

Gosh this might be the worst headache I've ever had in my life.

I hear a sigh and look up. "Good morning sleepy head", I say turning to her. She smiles softly, "good morning, how'd you sleep?" "Like a baby."

"My head hurts so bad", I say getting up. She pulls me back down. "You want some advil," she asks softly. "Yes please."

A few moments pass and we finally get up. We go to the kitchen and Paige starts cooking. I head straight to the advil on the counter before going back to her.

"What are you cooking", I say standing next to her at the stove. "Eggs and toast", she turns to me. "Ooh, can I get some?"

"I was making you some", she laughs. "Oh my bad", I say and a moment passes.

"how bad was I last night", I ask. "You weren't bad, you weren't doing anything crazy. You just wanted to tell me your feelings about certain subjects that I didn't think we should talk about when you're drunk", she said. My heart dropped, I need to play it cool. "That's fair, what exact topics did I want to talk about"?"

"Um you wanted to confess your feelings in a way I guess", she chuckled, her cheeks red. "Well I guess a drunk man's word is a sober thought huh", I turn facing her. She smiled and turned to me, I smile back. Her face is red, Maybe I should make a move, but not now, not yet.

"Do you wanna go to the store with me, I need to get some things", I say talking towards the couch. "Sure."

She comes to the couch soon after me with our plates. "yummy yummy", I say watching her bring the food. She laughs.

⏱︎ ∞

In the car she gives me the aux cord and we blast sza all the way to the store.

When we get to the store there's not many parking spaces. Damn, I guess people need their groceries.

There's a teddy bear display in the front of the store. I jog towards it. "These are so big, we have to get one", I say watching Paige walk over. "You're such a child", she laughs. "So yes?"

I pick one up and hand it to her, then I go get a shopping cart. "Damn, did you go to across the world to get that cart", she turns to me. I laugh, "it was across the store actually."

While we're getting groceries I notice some girls taking pictures of us. Um, that's odd... I mean it's not new to me that Paige is our local celebrity in a way but that's kinda weird.

"Paige can you watch our stuff, I see some old friends", I lie. She gives me a weird look. "Just wait a second. I promise it'll be quick."

I go up to them but they seem to try to walk away. Luckily I caught up to them.

"Hey haven't you ever been told to mind your business", I ask looking at the 2 girls. They must go to our school, they both have UConn gear and look familiar. "I've been told to find what's juicy", the shorter red haired one said. "Can I see your phone please", I ask. "No, that's an invasion of privacy." I wonder if she hears herself...

"So you see, you're so close to understanding why you shouldn't be taking pictures of us", I say sarcastically. "We work for the school paper and we were told to take pictures of Paige and her 'new girl", the taller brunette says.

"We're not dating", I say confused. "Well everyone thinks you are, and I'm just trying to get paid", she says not caring, she then walks away before I could get another word out.

"New girl"... it lingers in my mind, is that what I'm seen as, is that what I am.

"Hey is everything okay", Paige walks up to me with the cart.

"Umm... yeah, it's fine", I turn to her. "Let's go", I say walking past her. We go to check out and then we go to the car.

An- I'm so sorry for taking so long but my apush class is taking me out :( also I promise to make up for it!