Grow As We Go

The Struggle with Commitment

**I have also posted this story is also posted on Archive of Our Own as well, just in case it looks familiar to you.**

Making her way into her room, Azzi nearly slammed her door shut out of pure frustration, but she would not be as bold to test her parents in that manner. Groaning in frustration as she just paced her room, Azzi was growing annoyed with the daily questions about her college choice. What was supposed to be a chill family dinner, quickly turned into an argument with her dad over the subject with little to no help from her mom in just skipping the subject of college in general just for the night. Taking a seat at her desk, Azzi quickly put her phone on charge as she felt the best thing to do to calm herself down was to watch some Tik Tok videos. For the first few moments it had seemed to work, she was becoming engaged with just how crazy each video was becoming by the swipe, laughing a bit at some. Just as she was on to her next video, she was interrupted by an incoming call from Paige.

"And this should be a predictable conversation" Azzi sighed before answering the phone to hear Paige shuffling about in her car. "Hey, I can't talk long" she said making her intentions known to her best friend.

"Okay, I see you really are in a mood" Paige picked up from her friends' response. "I called the house phone because you were not noticing your cell phone. Jon told me you and your dad had an argument???" she questions.

"Yep, sure did" Azzi quickly replied.

".... Mind telling me what about? Your obviously still upset about it" Paige asked as a silence came between them for a moment that she was eager to break.

"No, because I already know where you are with things. I just cannot hear it tonight, like seriously, it is just all too much and I just wish I could just be done with the whole thing..." Azzi babbled on as she felt herself becoming upset all over again.

"So, I take it we're talking about college" Paige concluded from Azzi's tone that sounded like she was truly frustrated. "Look, I know you do not want to hear it but it is very clear what the best option for you is. It is the only option that makes sense for what you are trying to do with basketball and school" she said as Azzi laughed in disbelief on how she blatantly disregarded her feelings of not wanting to talk colleges.

"You really give no shits about how I feel. I literally just told you I don't want to talk about colleges and here you go with your pitch. Like seriously Paige???" Azzi questioned.

"You're only making this more stressful for yourself the longer that you entertain all these options" Paige replied. "Connecticut, you would have me. We would finally be able to team up again and build our legacies like the other Connecticut greats. We need a shooter, and you know I know your game to help you make an easy transition in" she began to explain.

"And what if I don't want to play with you?" Azzi quickly replied. "Have you ever stopped to factor that in?" she questioned.

"Well, that's stupid" Paige replied as Azzi just laughed in disbelief before Paige realized what she had said. "No, I did not mean it like that. I meant this is what we have always talked about since Team USA" she exclaimed.

"No, this is what you talked about since Team USA. I just agreed because who can get a word in edge wise with you" Azzi replied.

"Okay, now you are acting like I forced UCONN on you. Do not make me out to be the bad guy, when you know we have literally talked about playing together for years" Paige replied.

"I am not making you the bad guy, I am just sick of you constantly pushing what you want, when I even try to talk colleges with you. I come to you because I get the same thing from my dad, but I would at least expect my best friend to hear me out and what I want..." Azzi began to say.