when our souls collided - paigebueckers

ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ sᴡɪᴍ

MORGANMAY' 🪐
May 27th 2023 4:45 am Edinburgh, UK - the beach

"Running on E" played softly from my phone as I sat on a blanket watching the sunrise. I felt so calm. Over here, the sun began to rise around 4:30, and I've been out here since 2, only because I can't sleep.

"Well, good morning," I heard a familiar voice call out from afar. A smile spread across my face as the blonde, wearing a black UConn practice shirt and matching black sweatpants, laid her blanket down and sat on it just like I was. "Good morning," I replied with a smile, stretching.

"You alright?" she asked, still staring at my face. Without making eye contact but turning my head towards her, I responded with a simple, "Yes, just can't sleep." When I finally looked at her, I found it impossible to tear my eyes away. She nodded in agreement. "Same. I'm sure it's because of the time difference from Connecticut to here," she said, finally taking her eyes off me and looking at the ocean in front of us.

Silence fell over us, and all that was heard was the sound of the waves. "I wish campus was next to an ocean. I'd never be home," I said, causing Paige to chuckle. "I always think about that. At least we get snow, though," she quickly added.

Continuing the conversation, she began to ask me questions about volleyball and our tournaments in Croatia. "Are you nervous?" she asked after a while. "Nervous? For what?" I responded, this time making eye contact with the blonde. "Your first game's Monday. How do you think it'll go?" she asked, keeping her eyes fixated on me as I thought of a response.

I didn't want to be cocky and say we'd win because I really don't know if we would. We've never seen these girls play, so it'll definitely be a surprise and challenge.

" honestly , i can't even tell you. i'm not sure how these girls play , but i do know how my girls play & im confident we can beat each team we play out here , i'll put my 12 against any 12" i let out not taking eyes from hers , a grin appeared on her face and she started to nob , " i love the way u speak of ur team." she smiled breaking eye contact

" there my family" i smiled with a huff thinking about the good memories of my teammates. " your first games monday too. you excited?" i asked getting up to stretch my legs " im so excited! win or lose my team knows how to enjoy the game and make it more enjoyable to play" she said with a smile laying back on her blanket " awe i love the way YOU speak of your team" i said repeating what she just said

with laughter she sat back up " there my family" she had this huge smile on her face , a smile worth million's.

🎀

It was now 6, and I wasn't tired one bit. Paige was still here, talking to me, though. I could tell she was either tired or thinking of something because now she was looking at me with this sneaky smile.

"Okay, let's play a game," she said, this time facing her body towards me. "Okayyy, what game?" I asked, confused about whatever we could be playing at 6 a.m. "Close your eyes, okay? Trust me." Closing my eyes, it went completely silent. A few seconds later, I felt her arms pick me up by my armpits with ease and throw me over her shoulder.

"PAIGE, PUT ME DOWN!" I screamed in laughter as she ran with me on her shoulder towards the water. I just knew I was going home soaked. "Plug your nose," she yelled back at me, then soon threw me into the water before jumping in herself.

i gasp for air as i came back up , i looked around searching for paige but not seeing her in sight " paige?" i called out now with my eyebrows raised, i soon felt my body being lifting out the water then back down. " did i scare you? i swear i can hold my breath for longer" she gasped with a smile on her face.

god. that smile.

🎀

i tip toed back into the room soaking wet , after playing in the water for about 30 mins we decided it was best it we called it a night ( morning basically) and we back to our rooms. " where the fuck were you?" leah asked jumping up from the couch " and why are you wet?" taylor asked peeking her head up from the other end