REINE || Paige Bueckers

Chapter seven : The article

JANE HAD ABSOLUTELY NOT EXPECTED that her new song would face so much controversy. She did everything in her power not to worry her fans and it took just one clip for that whole image to fall apart.

Worse yet, she knew Paige would see this article and become increasingly suspicious. She knew she was worried about her but she didn't want to have to face the reality of the situation yet. She had been in denial about her relationship with Jake for so long, she never thought she would ever be able to end it.

Because she knew that despite everything he had put her through, the security he brought her was very real. This vision she had always had of love was not the one you saw in romantic films.

Over time she realized that she was simply afraid. Afraid of failure. Because it reminded her of the failure of her parents' relationship, of the end of their love.

Hearing Billie Eleish's song "Lunch," Jane remembered that Taylor had said she would call her today. Getting up from her bed with difficulty, she picked up her phone from her desk. Around it were scattered her musical notes, those of her new song.

"Hey Tay' ! How are you ?" She ask after accepting the call.

"I'm good little bird. I'm the one supposed to ask you that question." Despite the age difference between the two women, they had always been able to find comfort in each other. So it was only natural that Taylor was the first person to know about the fight between her and Jake.

"I'm better, thanks Tay'." The older one knew within seconds from the heaviness of Jane's words that there was no need to pursue the subject further.

There was this inexplicable bond between the two girls that allowed them to communicate silently. The thoughts of one were not a secret to the other and vice versa.

"Perfect, in that case I am happy to announce that your new song is officially coming out in three days."

Jane swallows hard, already thinking about Jake's reaction the moment he understands the meaning of this song. If it wasn't already the case.

"PAIGE ARE YOU WITH US ?" Coach Geno asks as he sits down next to her on the bench. The trembling hands of his player had not gone unnoticed by the old man who takes this seriously directly.

The person concerned does not even bother to raise her head, not wanting the one she considers a father figure to see her eyes fill with tears. In reality, she had not been in a good mood to play for four days now. Four days without any response from Jane to her messages.

"Had she done something wrong ?" She wonders. She didn't see anything that could have gone wrong. In recent weeks, they had not stopped seeing each other to go out to eat or even spend time together.

"I'm good, just a little bit worried." She could feel her coach's knowing look, he already knew she was lying without even meeting her gaze.

"Okay so you're going to do three laps of the field and one hundred and twenty push-ups since you seem so motivated." Paige immediately turns her gaze to Geno, her eyes wide. She really wasn't in the mood for it, however she couldn't say anything because she had lied about being fine.

As she was about to get up, a notification suddenly appeared on her phone. She knew perfectly well that she had no right to leave her phone ringing or even look at it, but her concern for Jane overrode any rules.

"Go take that call Paige." Geno's strict voice interrupts her. She thought she was going to be told off when he said those words.

"She needs you, and you need her." She was going to contradict him but he raised his hand at her."Don't lie to yourself, go superstar."

A smile, this time sincere, took place on the player's lips. A warmth flooded her chest at the man's words. He didn't need her to explain it to him, he already knew, he knew her too well. Despite the loving family she had inherited, he was like her second family, the one she had chosen.

Turning her gaze back to her teammates for a moment, she was greeted by tender and understanding looks. Her phone vibrated again and this time she didn't hesitate and went out almost in running from the gym to take the call.

Finding her vision fogged by the rain now falling in heavy drops, she still managed to catch a glimpse of a silhouette in the distance. She didn't need any confirmation to know who she was facing, and she ran towards her, wrapping her arms around her.

She heard her cry hot tears against her sweater. Telling her a thousand times how sorry she was. Sorry she hadn't given her any news. Sorry for walking away from her without any explanation.

"I forgive you Birdie. I've never actually been mad at you."

"But I'm angry with myself. For letting you hope." Paige instinctively steps back, hoping she misinterpreted her words.

"Let me hope for what Birdie ?" The pain echoed in her voice and Jane instantly regretted her choice of words.

"I just don't want you to have to suffer being close to me when I have so much trauma to heal." A smile once again took place on the blonde's lips who would once again takes the youngest in her arms.

She wasn't the least bit scared of Jane's trauma. She was scared of what she might do to protect herself. She was sur that after these few days without any news from her, she was not ready to let her down. She was already too attached to her to imagine her life without her being a part of it.

But what would happen to her if it was Jane who made the decision to leave her life ?