Grow As We Go

Truth Hurts

Staring up at the ceiling as she lay in bed, Paige found it hard to go to sleep with so much that was plaguing her. It has been two days since learning of Azzi's newfound friend being that of Alyssa or Michelle, whatever she called herself with Azzi, and it didn't sit right that the two were even engaging in conversation, let along making plans to hang out. Finding every bit of an excuse to keep the two away from each other, Paige was successful in keeping Azzi to herself, but she knew eventually she'd have to tell Azzi the truth. Looking over at the girl as she lay peacefully beside her, Paige was determined to relieve herself of this guilt that she was feeling for keeping such a secret. Nudging Azzi as she lay, Azzi let out a groan as she moved.

"What, Paige?!?" Azzi asked still asleep.

"I want to talk" Paige quickly replied as she laid on her said to face Azzi "Can you talk to me?" she asked softly as she nudged her again.

"It's two in the morning, you want to talk now?!?" Azzi asked in disbelief.

"Well, I need to do it now or else I never will" Paige told her.

"Paige, I'm tired. My ankle is sore and I literally have treatment first thing in the morning, do we really need to talk at two in the morning!?!" Azzi exclaimed.

"Your ankle still hurting?" Paige then asked, shifting her attention to Azzi's ankle as Azzi turned over on her back.

"It's not bad, bad. I think Coach just wants to make sure it treated so that its nothing worse" Azzi reasoned as she began to rub her eyes. "Now what is so important that we need to talk about now?" she asked looking on at Paige. Getting all of her attention, Paige froze in the moment as she looked on at the girl.

"You know I'd never do anything to ruin this opportunity we have. Like I've wanted this for so long" Paige told her as Azzi just nodded before Paige once again grew silent.

"...thank you. I'm glad you had to tell me that" Azzi replied awkwardly before Paige just groaned out of frustration as she lay on her back beside Azzi. "Look, I know what's really bugging you. You've been acting weird since finding out" she said as Paige turned to look at her.

"You do?" Paige asked.

"Yes, about doing that interview with ESPN" Azzi replied as Paige drew a look of confusion as to what Azzi was referring to until it clicked for her. "I know you don't the whole individual accolades stuff, but it could really be good for you" she said.

"Talking about myself is never good for me" Paige quickly replied. "It's only going to build up more hype about me and not the team" she said.

"Yeah, I mean I understand that. But the eyes you bring in, they allow for everyone else to shine. You give an opportunity to Aaliyah. You give an opportunity for Nika. You give an opportunity to Evina" Azzi replied trying to find the silver lining in the exposure that Paige was getting. "You can take this and turn into a positive for the team" she said as Paige began to realize that she never looked at it that way before until Azzi had mentioned it. Slowly a smile began to appear on her face as she looked on at the girl. "What? What's the smile for?" she then asked with a bit of a laugh.

"I mean, I love that you manage to calm me down. You did it with the whole UCLA game and now with this" Paige said as she grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers together as they just lay. "I'm almost going to need you, even when it doesn't seem like it" she said.

"Oh, this much I know. You'd be a complete mess without me" Azzi teased before Paige gave her a face that showed she didn't find the joke too funny, which only made Azzi laugh.

"It wasn't that funny" Paige quickly replied.

"Can I go back to sleep now or do you have something else on your mind?" Azzi then asked once more as Paige studied her for a moment, frozen in what she should say or do. "I mean if there's anything that is bugging you, we can talk about it" she said seeing that something was bugging her, but she was holding back.