𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄 , 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬.

𝐯. 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬

'i've got love for you i just can't escape.' — opera house, cigarettes after sex

noa laurent had been on the sidelines taking numerous photos of the basketball girls as they ran their drills as usually. occasionally looking up to take a glance at victoria who's face hadn't moved from it's typical stoic expression. which it normally sat in when accompanied by the presence of paige bueckers.

victoria grumbled as she passed the ball towards paige. uttering beneath heavy breathes as she swiped her thumb over her chin as the heat started to rise within her skin.

it was as if geno wanted the two girls to kill each other. in almost every practice the man had partnered the two in everything. without any arguments the two girls would begrudgingly move towards the court at a good metre distance between their bodies.

victoria stood underneath the hoop as she caught paige's rebounds from the three pointer line. the blonde presented herself with a frown clear on her lips as she shook her head slowly. bricking yet another three. it was unusual for such a talented player as herself to miss this many shots in a row. though with victoria standing scoffing every single time paige missed a shot with condescending green eyes victoria stared at paige practically  burning holes through her head.

"you sure you remember how to shoot?" victoria groaned, moving her palm towards her hair as she slicked down her ponytail. sighing softly as she caught yet another of paige's missed shots.

"if you stopped breathing so fucking loud maybe i could hear myself think." paige shuffled her feet in a broken stance. manoeuvring her body until it felt right, bending her legs slightly before releasing the ball into the air. the ball slicing between the sounds of chatter and shouts surrounding. ending with a loud clatter as it bounced off the rim and into victoria's hands.

"i think i'm just hearing excuses. maybe you should start from under the hoop first." victoria suggested, pointing the spot in front of her as she bounced the ball back towards paige.

"i think you should just shut up and catch the rebounds." paige flashed a tight smile as shot carelessly shot the ball missing yet again.

"you two, switch." geno pointed towards victoria and paige. paige audibly cursing as she replaced victoria's position.

"maybe you just need to be shown how it's done?" victoria chuckled, with ease the ball shot through with a swish. the satisfying sound of the net meeting with the leather ball was music to her ears.

paige bit hard at her tongue, aware of the wary eyes of her teammates watching the two girls. it was clear that they were ending at their last straws. intensity high between the thickened space between their tired bodies. dragging a course of performances in a faux facade to face the camera every now and then.

"or do you need a step by step tutorial?" victoria questioned, staring at the blonde as she let the ball fly into the hoop. as easy as breathing victoria flaunted her skills in spite of paige. loving the way her eyes would always roll to the side or how she would mutter yet another insult. in the end, victoria was the one who was making her shots.

"do you ever shut up?" paige grumbled, blue eyes narrowed down to victoria's figure. hating how her whole persona dripped with cockiness and a boastful smile. shrugging simply as she made yet another shot.

"alright that's it for today," geno clap rung amongst the centre of tired, sweaty girls who had been waiting to hear those words the moment they entered.

"maybe you should stay back for a bit? y'know, to work on that form." victoria lifted a small smile as she shoved the basketball into paige's hands. the close contact of their faces foreign to their skin as their body's rejected even the slightest bit of closed proximity.