𝙻𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚢 : ᴘᴀɪɢᴇ ʙᴜᴇᴄᴋᴇʀꜱ

22- Old friends

Emma stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her sweater for what felt like the hundredth time. She was trying to keep her nerves in check, but it was hard not to feel a bit anxious. Tonight, she was going to meet Paige's high school friends—people who had known Paige long before Emma had entered her life. It was intimidating, to say the least.

Paige was casually sitting on the edge of the bed, lacing up her sneakers as if the evening was no big deal. She looked relaxed, her blonde hair pulled back into a loose ponytail, and her blue eyes calm as ever. Emma wished she could feel the same way.

"Are you sure they'll like me?" Emma asked, her voice betraying her nervousness as she fidgeted with her sweater again.

Paige looked up from her shoes, her expression softening as she stood up and walked over to Emma. She placed her hands gently on Emma's shoulders, squeezing them reassuringly. "Babe, they're going to love you," she said with a warm smile. "Just be yourself. That's all you need to do."

Emma smiled nervously, though Paige's words did help ease some of her tension. She had no reason to doubt that Paige's friends would be kind—they were Paige's friends, after all—but it was still nerve-wracking to meet people who had known her girlfriend during a completely different phase of her life. High school was years ago, but Emma couldn't help but wonder if they would judge her, compare her to Paige's past relationships, or feel like she didn't fit in.

Paige leaned in and kissed Emma gently on the forehead. "Trust me," she said softly, her eyes full of love and reassurance. "It's going to be fine."

Emma nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay," she said, feeling a bit more confident. "Let's do this."

They grabbed their coats and headed out the door, walking hand-in-hand to Paige's car. The evening air was crisp, and the sky was painted in soft shades of pink and purple as the sun set over the Minnesota horizon. Emma found comfort in the simple act of being with Paige, their fingers intertwined as they walked.

The drive to the restaurant where they were meeting Paige's friends wasn't long, but Emma felt the nervous anticipation building again as they got closer. Paige must have sensed it because she glanced over and gave Emma's hand a gentle squeeze.

"They're really excited to meet you," Paige said. "I told them all about you, and they've been asking when they'd get the chance to meet my amazing girlfriend."

Emma blushed slightly at the compliment. "Thanks," she said softly, appreciating Paige's effort to keep her calm. "I just... I don't want to mess anything up."

Paige shook her head, her expression affectionate. "You're not going to mess anything up," she said firmly. "You're perfect just the way you are."

They arrived at the restaurant—a cozy, laid-back spot that was a favorite hangout for Paige and her friends when they were in high school. The parking lot was mostly full, and the warm lights inside the restaurant cast a welcoming glow. Emma could see a group of people sitting at a table near the window, talking and laughing as they waited for Paige and Emma to arrive.

Paige led the way inside, and as soon as they stepped through the door, one of Paige's friends spotted them and waved enthusiastically. "Paige!" the girl called out, standing up from the table with a wide smile on her face.

Emma recognized her from the photos Paige had shown her earlier—Lily, one of Paige's closest friends from high school. Lily was tall and athletic, with short, dark hair and a confident presence that immediately caught Emma's attention. She seemed friendly enough, but Emma couldn't help the small knot of anxiety that tightened in her stomach as they approached the group.