TRANSFER. | PAIGE BUECKERS.

08.

"please don't be mad at me" paige tells me as she pulls into the driveway of her coach's house. i still don't know why i'm here. she refuses to tell me. i think i'm still half awake, my body feeling small in the sweatset i was gifted by a company that i've now forgotten the name of. being a brand's little toy is funny like that. they don't care about shit other than you posting, but at least you get free clothes. i look over at paige who has on an oversized t-shirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. her hair is down, covering her jawline. she looks good like this, but when doesn't she?

"i wish you would tell me" i respond to her after moment. her car is turned off, both of us silent. things have been awkward since yesterday. i don't know if i'm upset or not. we kiss and act like we're in a relationship with each other but as soon as i leave she doesn't text me or acknowledge my existence. i feel my heartbeat race and my face begin to heat up. i am upset and it makes me sad. i don't want to be upset at her, but what am i supposed to do when you ghost me and decide to text me this morning to go to this random man's house?

"just- please don't be mad." she opens the car door, stepping out. i adjust the claw clip that holds my thick hair in a loose bun. im about to grab onto the handle when i feel a wave of air hit me. i look to see paige opening the door for me.  body is tense as she steps back to make room for me. i roll my eyes and step out. all of this but no text back? okay. as we walk up, i notice a familiar car in the driveway. a teal range rover with black interior.

"wait-" i say out loud, my eyebrows furrowing. we walk up to the steps. paige knocks before we invite ourselves in. i see geno, kristy, and sydney all sitting at a table. they look over at both of us. i feel my face go red.

"sloane-" paige reads it on my face before i can say it.

"what the fuck is this?" i'm louder than i expected to be. i feel my eyes water as i start to piece it all together. this was all just a scheme for publicity. for once, the fans were right. they were right i repeat to myself, in astonishment that this is actually happening. i shake my head slowly as paige inches closer to me. i look over to see sydney standing up, also walking towards me. geno and kristy just watch.

"oh, darlin'" sydney whispers in a soothing tone, her country accent thick. "it's not like that, just sit down, let's talk". i continue to shake my head, my eyes landing back onto paige. what did i expect? i chose this. i chose to spend the rest of my foreseeable future in the public's eye. why would anybody see me as anything else? why would anybody see me as anything more than a cash grab? paige's hand touches my arm, bringing me closer.

"sloane, calm down" she whispers in my ear, her lips inching closer to pecking my cheek. i dodge it, moving away from her. i can tell she's hurt, but i don't know what she expected. "i don't know what you think is happening, but it's not. let's sit" i stand there in a state of shock and disbelief both to how paige could do this and how i could be so stupid.

"i got her" sydney says, taking me from paige and helping me sit down beside her at the table.

"what do i have to sign?" i ask. i'd rather get it over with. always a paper. always a deal.

"what?" i can hear sydney say. "no, no it's nothing like that, babe. we just have to talk about- you and"

"your friendship with paige" kristy objects. i hate that my coach is here. this is so awkward.

"why?" i ask again. "me and rosslyn don't have meetings about our friendship"

"well i doubt you like her how you like paige, correct?" geno sits back into his chair. my eyes dart at paige, who is now looking down. what all does he know?