Grow As We Go

The Tales of Freshmen Year

For what felt like a decision that she was dreading so much, Azzi quickly found that she couldn't wait until she'd finally become a college student. High School was fun. Prom was a bore. All the experiences of being a Senior were ruined by the pandemic, which left her stuck inside, literally. But for the most part, Azzi was able to spend more time with Paige. As promised, they'd go about as the best of friends, never once dwelling on their kissing slip-ups. Though they didn't talk about it, they both knew that with as much time as they were spending together, it was becoming painfully obvious that Azzi was growing more attached to the blonde and her overall presence. Before when she'd leave, it didn't phase her as much as it does now. When she leaves now, a piece of her breaks like she's holding her breath until she returns again. Not knowing that Paige felt the same, where her return was all that plagued her in her absence from Azzi.

Now the time had come, Azzi found herself on the very campus that would hold at least four year's worth of her next chapter. Settling into the dorms was easy as her other friend Caroline was doing the same. They'd share in the pains of moving into a new space that wasn't quite like home, but in the end, they'd embrace that this was their own space that wasn't the four walls of their parents' home. Paige would assist in putting stuff away, they'd banter about Azzi's overpacking, making a game out of whether she needed everything in her box. In the moments they'd accidentally touch, both reaching for the same items to stow away, Paige couldn't help but feel a jolt of electricity race up her spine. It was a sensation unlike anything that she had ever felt before. While they battled through the tensions of each other mere presence, Azzi's parents prepared to say their goodbyes and while most of the mothers were in tears leaving their daughters behind, Azzi had the gem of the bunch with her father being the biggest crier of the parents.

Once her parents left, after many phone calls of well being check ins, Azzi was finally able to declare herself moved in and a student athlete at the University of Connecticut. The veterans on the team would stop by, give great advice on how to manage living in the dorms along with tricks to avoid trouble with the RA. While Paige enjoyed being able to hang out with Azzi and the team, a part of her was eager to get some alone time with her friend. Finding any excuse that she could, Paige would make mention of getting to know the campus before Azzi's classes begin. Wanting to take in the campus and find her classes, Azzi and Paige took this as their opportunity to walk the campus while daylight still remained.

"So, your history class will be over here in this building, its usually a bit busy in the mornings because the only Starbucks is in this building" Paige relayed to her friend.

"Starbuck on campus, you don't hear that too often" Azzi smiled.

"Yeah, it was a big thing apparently on campus. The lines were insane when they first opened up" Paige replied.

"Tell me, have you become a Starbucks fan?" Azzi then questioned.

"I can go without it, it's not my things like the other girls on the team" Paige replied as Azzi just laughed. "I'm glad you're here. Being able to see my hard work of getting you here, it is quite nice to see" she said.

"Seemed like once I was able to make my decision, everything from there just felt so tedious. Like I couldn't wait to get here and start this new chapter in my life" Azzi told her friend. "I was ready to be done with high school" she laughed.

"I get you" Paige smiled. "Coming here, it does feel like this is a whole new beginning, like you're able to be anything other than what you were" she said.

"Try something new that you might not have before" Azzi said as they locked eyes for a moment or two. There wasn't much that needed to be said when their eyes met, it was like their eyes did the talking in instances when they weren't able to spell out what exactly they meant.