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Maddie; narrative
It had been a few days since the team lunch, and I was resisting the urge to text Paige. I really wanted to so I don't know why I just couldn't but she was the number one thought on my mind all day.
I was sitting at my desk when Emory tapped me on the shoulder, startling me out of my thoughts.
"Okay now what's going on with you?" She questions, "Is this about Paige?"
"Nothing I'm just busy.." I say avoiding tell Em the full truth.
"I'm sick of you pouting let's go out for lunch! Something!" Emory begged, trying to drag me out of my current state.
———
Before I knew it, I was in Emory's car with Taylor Swift blasting, and the windows down headed to the IHOP across campus.
"So I'm sensing your attitude has something to do with Paige... so we're going to talk about my love life now." Emmy says, at least she cares enough to not keep bugging me about my love life which very much does not exist currently, "what's your thoughts on Kate Martin?"
"The Iowa women's Guard?" I question, extremely lost on how Emory is bringing her into her love life.
"Yeah. What do you think?" She asks, nonchalantly.
"I think she's a good player?? I don't know, why?" I ask still extremely confused.
"Well.. I've been talking to her for the last few weeks and even though she's far away Iowa has a really good Kinesiology program I want to apply to!" She springs on me.
"You're going to apply to a college across the country for a girl?" I say to her.
"Not just for her... I don't know. I don't think you get to be judgy when your girl is down the hall from you and you can't even text her." Emory says with sudden sass.
"Okay, how'd we get back to me," I exclaim, maybe too loud since I notice a lady on the sidewalk turn and give me a dirty look as we drive by, "and she's not "my girl".." I add.
Emory just laughs as we pull into the IHOP parking lot.
"Em, I want you to be happy so if Kate makes you happy she's cleared with me. But I also want to make sure you can do a long distance like that, and she's probably going into the W in a year or two." I say, grabbing onto her shoulder.
"Thank you Mads. But I also want you to be happy and I think actually talking to Paige would make you really happy. I know after your ex things were really hard but I think you should just send Paige a text sometime." She says, putting her hand on my shoulder so our arms are practically linked around each other's necks.
I hate to admit it, but she isn't wrong. I need to get over myself and text Paige, I want to.
When our waitress comes to order I notice her pay more attention to me than Emory- which receives a few taunting remarks from Em which I choose to ignore. Our waitress isn't bad looking at all, a 5'8 figure with brown hair and hazel eyes but I don't find myself attracted to her in the way I think she thinks of me. Emory suggests I should ask for her number to which I call her crazy, more than once.
The rest of our lunch goes well, mostly just Emory talking about Kate and her showing me the snaps Kate has sent her in the past few weeks with me commenting and nodding along.
Once we finish eating and the bill comes, our waitress, which I remember now is named Cassie, hands me the bill. Attached to it is a slip of paper with her number that says "text me". By now, Cassie, has walked away but I still feel my cheeks turn a light shade of pink letting Emory know exactly what she thought was right.
I take the slip, and place it in my pocket but there's a 99% chance I won't be texting "Cassie". Emory lets out a snort and pays for our bill.
My thoughts still linger on Paige, so when we return to our apartment I launch back onto my bed, pull out my phone and go to Paige's contact.
authors note: hi! Idk why it took me so long to write this chapter and it's still highkey cringe. Please feel free to leave constructive criticism/comments! Don't be a silent reader!!
