VALERIE RIVERA and PAIGE BUECKERS, best friends since they learned how to dribble. They had the same dreams of being basketball stars, even having a promise to go to UCONN together. They were inseparable leading Hopkins to an undefeated season their...
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"everybody wants you, but I don't like a gold rush"
valerie
past- February 15th 2020; narrative
"7:15 is way too early to be at school." I complained when I parked my car in the parking lot. I had gotten up extra early to pick up Paige so we could just get there together, the exhaustion already hitting me. After another couple wins, and another win against Wayzata last night we were about to go on a three hour road trip to Grand Rapids for another game.
"Bro I know, I'm bouta sleep on you the whole time." Paige sighed, getting out of the car and grabbing both of our bags from the back. I grabbed our blanket and pillows since we were making this bus ride as comfortable as possible. It was still cold in Minnesota, snow covering the ground so I wrapped the blanket around myself and we walked towards the bus. We were all wearing our bright blue tracksuits covered with either jackets or blankets.
Paige and I always sat at the back of the bus, just enjoying the space and quietness of it so we were first to get on the bus. Paige moved so I could sit in the window seat, she knew I loved looking out of the window on roadtrips. She put our bags in the overhead compartment and sat next to me, stealing the blanket from my hands and throwing it over both of us and immediately resting her head on my shoulder. All the other girls got settled in their seats, someone pulling out snacks from their bag and handing them out. Paige grabbed some and started throwing them at the back of people's heads.
"Aye throw something at me one more time, I'm really finna come back there." Audry turned around giving Paige and I a look. Usual we were responsible for stuff that happened on the bus.
"What are they throwing at you?" Paige asked concerned, leaning in and giving Audry her best sincere look. I smacked her leg but she swatted me away, really trying to seem innocent. Audry on the other hand was used to Paige acting like an idiot so she got up, found whatever Paige threw at her and threw it right back in her face. Deserved.
"It's too early for this." Audry shook her head and sat back down. Bus rides felt fast whenever I sat with Paige. Luckily I was always able to fall asleep so the second the bus started moving I was out on Paige's shoulder. She played with my hair, watching tiktok's on her phone until we got to Grand Rapids.
"Here come the paparazzi, we gotta hide Paige." Maya said the second we walked in the building. Last night as we were leaving the locker room there was a swarm of people waiting for Paige. She signed magazines, phones, shoes and even did stupid tik tok dances with some kids. It was still shocking to all of us that Paige had that big of an impact on little girls. The rest of us squeezed past, not being important enough to those kids for autographs or anything, Paige was the star. Once we got inside the gym Paige went around and met with a few fans, some girls crying while Paige hugged them. It was heartwarming to watch. To us she was just Paige but to some people she really was an idol.
