The Home Game

2. Exposition

Quinn had 2 hours in between her morning capstone class and her first elective class, Learning Theory. She took the opportunity to get a quick snack knowing she had work after class and would pick something up for lunch on the way. Capstone had been from 9:30 to 11 and  Learning Theory was from 1:00 to 3:30. After she had work from 4 to 8 before getting to head home for the night. The morning class with Nika and Paige had already been a lot so Quinn was hopeful for this class to be less eventful. She walked down the hallway toward class phone in hand reading over emails.

"Yo! Look who it is" Quinn's head snapped up as an arm wrapped around her shoulders "long time no see Quincy" Paige said smiling down at the girl. Quinn was startled at the unexpected contact, she had never been someone to have people approach her in the halls like that, but part of her was excited Paige had thought to say hi.

"Hey Paige, you just coming from class?" Quinn asked as they walked down the hall toward Quinn's next class. Paige's arm stayed around her shoulders as they walked. While it wasn't uncomfortable Quinn was incredibly aware of the contact.

"No heading to one now, something about learning" Paige made a circle gesture with her free hand as if trying to encourage herself to remember.

"Learning Theory?" Quinn raised an eyebrow and laughed a little as she slipped her phone into her pocket.

"Yes!" Paige snapped with the free hand and pointed at Quinn "have you taken it before?"

"No, I'm heading there now" Quinn laughed again, this time a little uncomfortably knowing that her and Paige would have both classes together this semester. The basketball players had never been so hard to avoid.

"Dude, hell yes" Paige pulled Quinn in closer "sit with me, yeah?" She asked as they got closer to the classroom.

"Oh I don't know, I like to sit in the back" Quinn debated making a break for it as they passed the back classroom door, but she was too slow.

"What think the professor is gonna bite? C'mon dude, for this class sit upfront with me, please?" Paige asked as she steered Quinn in the door with both hands now. Before Quinn could protest she was pushed into a seat in the front left corner of the room, just like Paige and Nika had been this morning.

"Yeah, okay sure" Quinn accepted the seat and knew she couldn't really fight with the girl now. She let out a sigh, masking it with a smile to try not to offend Paige "why me though, we barely know each other"

"Well how are we gonna get to know each other otherwise" Paige countered with a shrug as she set down her bag and got her laptop out.

"I'm not sure" Quinn shrugged back "I don't know, I was worried you might be upset after I backed you into a corner about buying Nika lunch" She made a 'sorry' face, her heart starting to pound. Quinn had been more social in class today than she had been in all of her classes since freshman year combined.

"Oh that" Paige waved a hand in between them "Nah Quincy, we're good. It's what made me think we could end up being good friends, you shot back hella fast. And that dap up? Are you kidding?" Paige laughed "I might just have to get you to buy me food sometime to fully make up for it though" Paige winked throwing a light playful elbow into Quinn's shoulder. Both girls laughed as they continued to get ready for the upcoming class.

'She thinks we could be good friends?' Quinn thought. Her heart raced even faster now at the idea of Paige Bueckers and her being friends and seeing each other outside of class. For years apparently Paige had known they had classes together and remembered Quinn from orientation, but they never talked? Why now? What about joking with Paige made her think they could be friends, and did Quinn even want that? 'She's probably just saying it to be nice' Quinn concluded.