Grow As We Go

Past and Present

Author Note: As a reminder, the teams they play against will not be the same as the teams they played against in real life. For dramatic purposes, it will be just random teams for the purpose of the story.

[Flashback – Paige's Freshmen Year]

For most freshmen on campus, to go unknown until you actually began to make a name for yourself was typical. When it came to Paige Bueckers, it seemed like the welcoming committee was there the first day she stepped on campus. She had been heralded to be as advertised, just as good as the likes of Diana Turasi and Sue Bird. Such strong praise and pressure placed upon the young girl. Her play on the court only showed that she was well on her way to becoming everything that UCONN had hoped that she would be for them, the savior that would take them back to their glory days of back-to-back to back championships, the standard of Women's College Basketball.

Being the media darling had it perks, but at times it just felt so suffocating to her. Each monster game that she had, posting numbers that were unheard for a freshman, Paige felt the media eyes grow on their expectations of her. For the most part, the team and coaches did a good job of sheltering her from too much media exposure, but in the age of social media, there was no such thing as too much exposure. In her talks with Azzi, she'd downplay what she was feeling as she didn't want to scare Azzi away from coming to play at UCONN. She'd remain her usual self whenever she'd talk with Azzi, soaking up enough of the praise but not too much to where it seemed like she was full of herself.

This week was the big UCLA game. A team that bolstered at least four all americans in their starting five, were the projected to be the tournament winners. The media was taking as much joy as possible in amping this game up to be the mount rushmore of two storied programs going at each other, with Paige being the difference maker as to why UCONN would win easily. After finishing up her round of interview, making sure not to say too much or say too little, Paige couldn't wait to just get away for a bit to escape the frenzy. Not even relaying where she was to her closest friend on the team, Nika, as to where she would escape to. Paige just had to get out of dodge for a bit. Her only escape was to go to diner that was at least 10 minutes off of campus.

"Bacon cheeseburger with a side of mac and cheese" Paige said as the waitress came over to her at the bar counter.

"You have a recipe for a heart attack" The girl laughed as she caught Paige's attention.

"It's comfort food" Paige replied.

"And you need to be comforted?" The girl asked as the two looked at each other for a moment. "Alyssa Michelle" the girl introduced herself as she extended her hand towards Paige.

"Two names for the first name, parents couldn't decide which one to go with?" Paige questioned.

"I liked both my first name and middle name, so I just go with both sometimes" Alyssa Michelle said "Sometimes I go by strictly Alyssa Michelle, or I'll just have people call me Michelle. Just depends on the mood" she smiled.

"And what should I call you now?" Paige asked.

"You can call me Alyssa Michelle" Alyssa replied as Paige just nodded in agreement. "So, what could UCONN's media darling need comfort from, you are by far the greatest thing going on campus on right now?" she then questioned.

"I hate being this so-called media darling. I didn't come here for that" Paige sighed "They're blowing this one game up to be like it's a championship game. Like I'm the David that is supposed to take down the Goliath that is UCLA, which I despise for many other personal reasons" she groaned as a silence came between the two girls before Alyssa broke into laughter.