The next morning, sunlight streamed through the dorm window, casting soft golden streaks across the room. Paige stirred, blinking awake to find Jasmine already up, scrolling through her phone. Jasmine looked peaceful, her hair tousled and a small smile playing on her lips.
"Morning," Paige murmured, her voice groggy as she stretched out beside her.
Jasmine glanced over, setting her phone down with a smile. "Morning. I didn't wake you, did I?"
Paige shook her head, propping herself up on one elbow. "No, I was just about to get up." She glanced at the clock and sighed. "Though I probably should've been awake an hour ago. I've got class soon."
Jasmine rolled her eyes playfully. "Same. But we can be fashionably late, right?"
They both laughed, the comfortable ease between them still strong despite the morning light. It felt good—natural, like they were falling into a rhythm together. Paige's mind wandered back to the night before, the quiet moments they'd shared, the feeling of waking up beside someone who made her feel safe. She wasn't sure where this was all going, but it felt right.
As Paige got up to grab her things, she noticed Jasmine picking up her phone again, typing something quickly. After a moment, Jasmine glanced over at Paige with a sly smile.
"What are you up to?" Paige asked, pulling a shirt over her head.
"Oh, nothing much," Jasmine replied, grinning wider as she tapped a few more buttons. "Just, you know, letting the world know about my cute morning."
Paige's heart skipped a beat. She walked over, curious, and peered at Jasmine's phone screen.
There it was, an Instagram post. @JasmineVball
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Woke up like this... kinda perfect, tbh 🌸 Comments: @Alyssa14: 👀 New boo? Spill the tea, girl. @KaraVolley: About time you found someone who can keep up with you 😉.
Paige's breath hitched. Jasmine had just posted a picture from her dorm. Not only that, but the caption—though casual—was filled with unspoken meaning.
"You okay with that?" Jasmine asked, glancing up at her with a little uncertainty. "I didn't tag you or anything, but I figured it's time I... I don't know, let people know I'm seeing someone."
Paige's mind raced. The thought of Jasmine's followers—probably including some of her teammates and mutual friends—knowing about them felt surreal. But at the same time, a warmth spread through her chest. Jasmine wasn't hiding anything. She was open, unafraid, and that made Paige feel... seen.
She smiled, sitting back down on the bed beside Jasmine. "Yeah," she said softly. "I'm okay with it. Just... wasn't expecting it, I guess."
Jasmine chuckled, leaning her head on Paige's shoulder. "Well, it's not like I posted a full-on 'relationship status' update or anything. Just something small. But I want people to know, you know? You're important to me."
Paige felt a lump form in her throat. Jasmine's words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. She wasn't used to being this open about her feelings, but with Jasmine, it felt different—easier.
"You're important to me too," Paige said quietly, the words coming out more naturally than she had expected.
Jasmine smiled against her shoulder. "Good. Now let's go get some coffee before we're both ridiculously late."
As they left the dorm, Paige couldn't help but glance at her phone. Jasmine's Instagram post was already blowing up with comments and likes, but the ambiguity of it allowed them some breathing room. It was enough to say something without saying everything. And for now, that was perfect.
Later that afternoon, Paige found herself sitting at the campus café, alone for the first time in what felt like days. She hadn't realized how much the post would get people talking, but it seemed like everyone was starting to piece things together.
By the time the weekend rolled around, Paige had almost gotten used to the idea of people knowing about them. They hadn't made any grand declarations, but it was clear that Jasmine was open about her feelings in a way that made Paige feel grounded.
Saturday evening, Paige found herself back in her dorm, Jasmine stretched out on the bed beside her, scrolling through her phone while Paige attempted to get some studying done. The room was filled with the soft hum of music playing from her speaker, a peaceful contrast to the excitement that had marked the past few days.
Jasmine broke the comfortable silence, looking over at Paige with a mischievous grin. "So... you gonna make it Instagram official anytime soon? Or are we sticking with the whole 'mystery vibe' thing?"
Paige laughed, shaking her head. "I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of attention. Your followers are relentless."
"True," Jasmine said, tapping through her notifications. "But they'll love you. I promise."
Paige smiled, leaning over to give Jasmine a quick kiss. "Maybe one day. For now, I'm just enjoying this."
Jasmine nodded, her gaze softening. "Same."
As the night wore on, Paige felt that familiar warmth settle over her again—the feeling of being with someone who truly understood her, who made her feel seen in ways she hadn't before. And for the first time, she wasn't worried about where things were going or how fast they were moving.
