Can't Seem To Hide It

Game Day

Chapter 45:

The morning of the game against Paige's old team arrived with an electric buzz. Everyone could feel it. The air was thick with anticipation, the kind that only comes with facing something—or someone—from your past. Paige was uncharacteristically quiet during breakfast, pushing scrambled eggs around her plate without taking a bite.

Azzi kept glancing at her, sensing the inner turmoil beneath her calm exterior. Everyone else seemed excited for the game, especially since it was a significant one for Paige. They all knew this wasn't just any game—it was a homecoming of sorts, even if it meant facing her old friends as rivals.

After practice, as the team packed their gear for the trip, Paige found a moment alone by the lockers. She leaned against them, closing her eyes and trying to steady her breath. She wasn't nervous about her performance—she knew she could hold her own on the court. But the emotional weight of seeing her old teammates, especially Jalen Suggs, brought memories rushing back.

Azzi walked over, placing a hand on Paige's arm. "You good, babe?"

Paige opened her eyes, giving her a small smile. "Yeah, just... thinking."

Azzi gave her a reassuring squeeze. "I know it's a lot, but you got this. We got this."

Paige nodded, appreciating the support. She knew Azzi was right, but the thought of seeing Jalen again, after everything that happened back in 2020, was still gnawing at her. The media had made a big deal out of their friendship back then, turning it into something it wasn't. Everyone thought they were dating just because of that one Instagram Live. Paige had added Jalen on a whim, and their playful conversation had made her blush—something that didn't go unnoticed by fans or the press.

And now, Jalen was going to be at the game, watching her play.

---

The bus ride to the arena was quiet. Everyone had their headphones on, zoning into their pre-game routines. Paige sat by the window, staring out as the city skyline whizzed past. Azzi sat next to her, occasionally glancing over but respecting Paige's need for silence.

Paige's mind was racing, flashing back to all those times she and Jalen had shot hoops together after practice. He had been one of her closest friends, and for a while, it had felt like nothing could break their bond. But the pressure of rumors and the distance of their careers had pulled them apart. Now, the thought of him sitting in the stands, watching her every move, made her stomach turn.

Azzi shifted beside her, pulling Paige out of her thoughts. "You know he's gonna be watching, right?" Azzi said, not looking away from her phone but clearly reading Paige's mind.

Paige chuckled softly, though there was no humor behind it. "Yeah, I know. Doesn't make it any easier."

"Jealous?" Azzi teased, a playful smirk creeping across her face.

Paige rolled her eyes, but there was a flicker of something else in her expression—maybe she was jealous. Not of Jalen, but of the simplicity their friendship used to have, before everything got complicated.

"Let him watch," Azzi continued, her tone more serious now. "You're not that girl from 2020 anymore. You've grown, and you've got a whole team backing you up now. Plus, I'm pretty sure I can out-cheer him from the bench."

Paige couldn't help but smile at that. "Yeah, you're probably right."

---

The arena was packed by the time they arrived. The atmosphere was electric, fans buzzing with excitement as they filed into their seats. As the team warmed up, Paige kept her focus on the court, refusing to let her eyes wander to the stands where she knew Jalen was sitting. She could feel the weight of his presence, though, like a heavy shadow looming over her every move.

Azzi, meanwhile, kept a close eye on Paige. She could sense the tension in her, the way she was a little more intense in her drills, a little sharper with her shots. Azzi wasn't the jealous type, but seeing Paige's attention so focused on something—or someone—else was starting to get under her skin.

When the game finally started, Paige was in the zone. She played with a fierceness that her teammates hadn't seen in a while, as if she had something to prove. Every shot was calculated, every move deliberate. But with every glance toward the stands, Azzi could see a flicker of something else in Paige's eyes—something unresolved.

By halftime, they were up by ten points, but Paige was far from satisfied. As they headed to the locker room, she barely said a word, her focus still razor-sharp.

---

When they returned to the court for the second half, Paige finally caught a glimpse of Jalen in the crowd. He was sitting a few rows up, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, watching intently. Their eyes met for a split second, and Paige's heart skipped a beat.

It wasn't that she still had feelings for him—far from it. But seeing him there, in the flesh, after all this time, brought back memories she thought she had buried. The rumors, the media frenzy, the way everyone assumed they were something they weren't.

Azzi noticed the exchange, and a pang of jealousy shot through her. She trusted Paige, of course, but seeing her so affected by Jalen's presence stirred something in her.

As the game neared its end, the tension between Paige and Azzi reached a boiling point. Paige was playing like a woman possessed, but her focus kept drifting back to Jalen, and Azzi could feel herself getting more and more frustrated.

When the final buzzer sounded, and they'd won the game, Paige barely celebrated. Instead, she walked off the court, her mind clearly elsewhere.

Azzi followed her, grabbing her arm as they headed to the locker room. "Paige, what's going on?"

Paige turned to her, her eyes conflicted. "It's just... Jalen."

Azzi crossed her arms, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Are you serious? We just won, and you're still thinking about him?"

Paige sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's not like that. It's just... it's complicated."

Azzi's eyes narrowed. "Complicated how?"

Before Paige could answer, Jalen appeared in the hallway, making his way toward them. Azzi's stomach dropped, and she instinctively moved closer to Paige, a protective edge in her posture.

"Paige," Jalen called, his voice soft but confident.

Paige tensed, glancing between Azzi and Jalen. She could feel the tension crackling between them, and she knew this wasn't going to be an easy conversation.