𝙻𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚢 : ᴘᴀɪɢᴇ ʙᴜᴇᴄᴋᴇʀꜱ

9- Late night talking

Paige awoke to the gentle hum of her phone vibrating on the nightstand, the soft buzz pulling her out of a deep sleep. She groggily blinked her eyes open, reaching out to grab the phone and checking the screen. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth when she saw Emma's name lighting up the display. She answered the call with a sleepy chuckle, already knowing why Emma was calling.

"Hey, ballerina," Paige murmured, her voice soft and warm with affection. She could almost picture Emma's soft smile on the other end of the line. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"

Emma's quiet laugh came through the phone, sending a familiar warmth through Paige's chest. "It probably is," Emma admitted, her voice soft but filled with lighthearted amusement. "But I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd call you. Are you still awake?"

Paige stretched out on her bed, smiling lazily as she rolled onto her back. "I am now," she teased. "What's on your mind, night owl?"

There was a brief pause on the other end, and then Emma's voice came through, a little more serious this time. "I don't know," she said softly. "I guess I was just thinking... about everything. You, me, school, ballet. It's all just... a lot sometimes."

Paige's smile softened, her heart squeezing as she listened to the vulnerability in Emma's voice. She shifted on the bed, getting more comfortable as she prepared herself for what was likely going to be one of their late-night heart-to-hearts.

"I get that," Paige said gently. "It can be overwhelming, can't it? Trying to juggle everything at once. Sometimes it feels like the world's moving too fast."

Emma sighed quietly. "Exactly," she whispered. "I just... I keep thinking about the future. What happens after all of this? After college, after ballet, after basketball. Sometimes I worry I'm not doing enough, that I'm not good enough. And then... I think about us. What happens with us?"

Paige's heart squeezed tighter at Emma's words, and she felt a pang of sadness for her girlfriend. She knew that Emma tended to overthink things, especially when she was feeling vulnerable, and tonight seemed to be one of those nights. Paige took a deep breath, her voice softening as she tried to reassure Emma.

"Hey," Paige said, her tone gentle but firm. "You're more than enough, Emma. You're incredible—don't ever doubt that. And as for us... we'll figure it out. Whatever comes our way, we'll handle it together. I'm not going anywhere, okay?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and then Emma's voice came through, quieter this time. "I know you're right," she whispered. "It's just hard to shake those thoughts sometimes. But... hearing you say that helps."

Paige smiled softly, her heart swelling with affection. "Good," she said. "And anytime you're feeling like this, you can call me. I don't care if it's the middle of the night. I'm here for you, always."

Emma let out a soft breath, and Paige could almost feel the tension easing from her girlfriend's body through the phone. "I don't know what I'd do without you," Emma whispered.

Paige chuckled, her voice light. "Well, you don't have to worry about that," she said. "I'm not going anywhere."

They talked for a while longer, their conversation flowing easily despite the late hour. Paige listened as Emma shared her thoughts, her worries, and her hopes for the future, and in turn, Paige shared her own dreams and fears. It was moments like these, when they could be completely honest and open with each other, that Paige cherished the most.

Eventually, their conversation began to wind down, the soft lilt of Emma's voice becoming more and more tired. Paige smiled at the sound of Emma's quiet yawns, her own eyes growing heavy as sleep beckoned.