strangers to lovers?

team bonding.

Paige's POV

This week is the build up to our first game of this season and the whole team is excited for it to start. The whole team in practice have looked sharp and there's a good feeling around the building that this will be the season where the championship will come back to Uconn.

Most of us girls have moved into a house near the complex, with the others sharing another one in a different location near the complex. Because it's Azzi's first year, she'll be in the other house with the other first years. Nevertheless, we're both still attached to the hip and do most things together.

Tonight we've all planned to go to a local restaurant to have a bit of team bonding but before all of that, i want to spend a few hours with Azzi. So i've decided to get into my car, and head over to where she's staying.

Azzi's POV

As i'm deciding what clothes i want to wear later, i hear a car pulling up outside. I check the girls group chat to see if anybody has said they'll be coming over but nobody has. As i click off the group chat, there's a knock on my bedroom door in which i go to open it.

To my surprise, Paige stands there with a starbucks and some of my favourite oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

"What are you doing here" i said.
" I just wanted to spend some time with you before we go out later" she replied.
"I was just thinking about you, you know"
"Perfect timing what can i say".

We both proceed to lay on my bed and enjoy the starbucks before putting on Grey's Anatomy, before we start to get ready. As the time goes on, we both gradually get closer to one another. Paige opens out her arms, as if she's giving permission for me to lay in her arms, in which i accept and i make my way to her chest.

Paige's POV

As Azzi lays in my arms, on my chest, i can't help but feel that comfort and safe feeling. Every time i'm in the presence of her, my mind stops overthinking, it's like nothing else matters in that moment except for her, for me, for us. Is that something every best friend feels? Or is it more than that?

By the time the last Grey's episode finishes, it's time for us both to get ready. Azzi has a different routine to me when it comes to getting ready, so we both put some music on and get and do our own thing.

We both finished getting ready and then headed into my car to head over to the restaurant. We all decided on going to the Cheesecake Factory seeming as it's always good food, good service which means it's good vibes. I gave the aux responsibility to Azzi and she took full advantage of it by playing all her favourite music, which made her happy.

We soon arrived at the restaurant where we met up with the girls, all in good spirits. When it comes to a seating plan, there never really is an order in which everyone always sits, unless it's Azzi and I next to each other, that's always a must. So when Azzi and I sit next to eachother, I always find that comforting feeling to be next to her. Once everyone is sat, the waiter comes around to collect our orders, and every time someone would tell him what they wanted, he would always make eye contact with Azzi, and she would make eye contact with him too.

Azzi's POV

As soon as I found out we were going to this exact Cheesecake Factory, I knew trouble was going to rise. I haven't told anyone about my past when it comes to dating anyone, not even Paige. As soon as we walked in, my eyes met with his and I knew the trouble he was about to cause, but I played it off and acted normal, praying he wasn't going to be our waiter for the night.

As routine,  Paige and I were sat next to eachother and as soon as we all sat down, the dreaded moment happened, he was on his way over to our table ready to be our waiter. I could feel him staring, so I gave him the same energy back.  I could feel Paige next to me just observing this happen all at once. So after I gave my order, I got up to go to the toilet. Before I left, I gave Paige a reassuring smile and she gave one back.