Can't Seem To Hide It

The Starting Line

Chapter 1: 

Paige Bueckers dribbled the basketball down the court, the familiar squeak of sneakers echoing in the gym. The UConn women's basketball team was in the middle of a grueling practice, but Paige was in the zone, effortlessly weaving through defenders before pulling up for a three-pointer. The ball swished through the net, and a satisfied grin spread across her face.

"Nice shot, Bueckers!" Coach called out, clapping his hands.

Paige nodded in acknowledgment, but her attention quickly shifted to the player on her left—Azzi Fudd. Azzi caught her eye and flashed a smile, one that sent a warm, fluttery feeling through Paige's chest. She quickly looked away, hoping no one had noticed the way her heart skipped a beat.

"Focus," Paige muttered to herself, trying to shake off the distraction.

It wasn't the first time she'd felt this way. Over the past few months, her friendship with Azzi had grown deeper, more intense. They spent almost every waking moment together—on and off the court. But lately, something had changed. The way Azzi laughed at her jokes, the way their hands would linger when they passed each other the ball, the way their conversations would drift late into the night, filled with shared secrets and unspoken words.

Paige wasn't sure when her feelings had crossed the line from friendship to something more, but she knew one thing for sure: whatever was happening between them had to stay hidden. Their team was on the cusp of something great, and the last thing they needed was any drama.

As practice ended, Paige and Azzi walked off the court together, grabbing their water bottles and heading to the locker room. The rest of the team was chatting and laughing, still riding the high of a successful practice, but Paige felt a nervous tension building inside her.

"You okay?" Azzi asked, her voice soft and concerned.

Paige looked at her, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow down. She could see the worry in Azzi's eyes, the way her brow furrowed just slightly. Paige wanted nothing more than to reach out and reassure her, to tell her everything that had been on her mind. But instead, she forced a smile and nodded.

"Yeah, just tired," Paige lied.

Azzi didn't look convinced, but she didn't press the issue. Instead, she gave Paige a playful nudge with her shoulder. "Come on, let's get out of here before Coach decides we need extra conditioning."

Paige laughed, the tension easing just a little. Together, they joined the rest of the team in the locker room, the camaraderie of their teammates helping to push her complicated feelings to the back of her mind—at least for now