Crush - Paige Bueckers

13 - Illusions

Violet 

I wake up slowly, the morning light filtering through the curtains and making me squint. I rub my eyes, trying to adjust to the brightness.

"Morning, babe," Leo murmurs, his voice warm as he wraps his arm around me.

I smile over at him, still getting used to the feeling of waking up next to him. His dorm room is spacious and nicely furnished—athlete housing perks, I suppose. As I start to shift out of bed, he pulls me back against him, his embrace firm and reluctant.

"Nooo, don't leave me," he groans, tightening his hold.

"Leo, I have class!" I protest, leaning in for a quick kiss.

He groans again, but this time he lets me go with a resigned sigh. I slip out of bed and reach for my phone on the nightstand. A few text notifications catch my eye, and I open them, hoping for some distraction.

Among the usual messages, one stands out: a text from Ellie.

"Violet, have you seen this??"

My heart skips a beat as I see the attached photos—Paige and another girl, their faces close in a bar, kissing. The headline blares: "UConn Basketball Star Paige Bueckers Spotted in Steamy Night with Cheerleader Hayley Davis."

A rush of emotions hits me all at once—jealousy, shock, and a deep, gnawing dread. Paige has been outed to the world. My first impulse is to reach out to her, but what can I even say? I can't begin to imagine how she must be feeling right now.

Leo, sensing my distress, shifts beside me and grabs my hand, rubbing his thumb over it in a comforting gesture.

"Vi, what's wrong?" he asks, concern evident in his voice.

I hesitate, unsure of how to explain. Instead, I show him the screen, the headline glaring back at us. But then I remember—he doesn't know that I know Paige.

"Shiiiit, Paige Bueckers is gay? It makes sense though,"  he says, with an unexpected smugness.

I stiffen, my mind racing. "What do you mean, 'it makes sense'?"

He shrugs nonchalantly. "Come on, Vi. She's always been so intense about basketball, like she's compensating for something. And the way she dresses, all tomboyish. It figures."

I feel a surge of anger. "You can't just assume things about people based on how they look or what they do, Leo. That's incredibly shallow and unfair."

Leo rolls his eyes, pulling his hand away. "I'm just saying, everyone has their stereotypes. And besides, why do you care so much? It's not like you know her or something."

I take a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. "I care because it's cruel to out someone against their will. And maybe we should all have a little more empathy instead of jumping to conclusions."

"Wow, okay, getting all defensive now, are we?" Leo laughs, leaning back and crossing his arms. "What's the deal, Vi? Why does this bother you so much?"

I stare at him, a mix of frustration and disappointment churning inside me. "Because, Leo, being outed like this is terrifying and life-altering. Imagine if something deeply personal about you was splashed all over the internet for the world to see."

He scoffs. "Yeah, well, welcome to the real world. People need to toughen up."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. My heart aches, not just for Paige, but because Leo, someone I thought I knew, is being so dismissive and cold. "You know what, Leo? Maybe you need to learn some compassion. Not everything is about 'toughening up.' Sometimes it's about being human and understanding that people are vulnerable."