sun to me

Seven

And if I'm turning blue please don't save me

Nothing Left to lose without my baby

Birds of a feather, we should stick together 

As the weeks passed, Florence and Paige found themselves navigating a new rhythm—one where distance tested their connection but never weakened it. Florence returned to Los Angeles to continue her work, and Paige threw herself into the intensity of UConn's season, with March Madness looming ever closer. Despite their separate worlds, they remained inseparable in the ways that mattered most.

Late-night FaceTime calls became their lifeline. Florence would often have her guitar in hand, strumming softly as Paige lay on her bed, exhausted from practice but unwilling to end their conversations.

"So," Paige said one night, her voice slightly muffled by the pillow she'd buried her face in. "I heard a rumor."

Florence raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh? Do tell."

"You're writing a song for the Barbie movie. Is that true?" Paige propped herself up on her elbow, her expression a mix of excitement and curiosity.

Florence laughed. "Who told you that?"

"Uh, the internet," Paige said, grinning. "You're trending again."

Florence shook her head, her cheeks flushing. "Didn't your teachers tell you not to believe everything you see from TMZ, but it's true. They reached out a few weeks ago. It's still in the early stages, but I've got some ideas."

Paige's eyes sparkled. "Flo, that's huge. You're about to be part of something iconic. Can I hear what you've got so far?"

Florence hesitated, then adjusted her guitar, her fingers finding the chords she'd been experimenting with. She began to sing, her voice filling the silence between them with a melody that was both whimsical and empowering. The lyrics spoke of self-discovery, boldness, and embracing the idea of not knowing what you are doing in life—perfect for the Barbie world.

I used to float, now I just fall down

I used to know but I'm not sure now

What I was made for

What was I made for?

Takin' a drive, I was an ideal

Looked so alive, turns out I'm not real

Just something you paid for

What was I made for?

'Cause I, I

I don't know how to feel

But I wanna try

I don't know how to feel

But someday, I might

Someday, I might

When did it end? All the enjoyment

I'm sad again, don't tell my boyfriend

It's not what he's made for

What was I made for?

When she finished, Paige clapped enthusiastically, her grin wide. "It's perfect. I have a feeling this is going to do really well."

"You think so?" Florence asked, her voice soft.

"I know so," Paige said, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

And so as Florence worked on the song for the movie, Paige was entering the most critical stretch of her season. The UConn women's basketball team had secured a top seed in the tournament, and the pressure was mounting. Practices were grueling, and the media attention was relentless, but Paige thrived under the spotlight.

Despite her packed schedule, she always found time for Florence. She'd send voice memos from the locker room, goofy videos of her teammates, and even snapshots of the notes she was leaving in her playbook for extra motivation.

Florence loved hearing about the team and felt a growing connection to them, even from miles away. She felt at home, this to her was her childhood always hearing about the team especially during high-stress times like these from her dad. But now they were going from the source themselves.

One day, Paige sent her a video of the team watching Florence's Barbie song teaser, which had just dropped online.

"Look at this," Paige said, panning the camera to show her teammates singing along.

"She's amazing!" one of them said, grinning at Paige. "You're so lucky, Bueckers."

Paige laughed but didn't deny it. "Yeah, I am," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the chatter. As March Madness ramped up, Florence decided to surprise Paige during the Sweet Sixteen. She coordinated with her dad, who was more than happy to help.

When Paige walked into the locker room before the game, she found Florence sitting on the bench, a small bouquet of flowers in her lap.

"Flo!" Paige exclaimed, her shock quickly replaced by joy. "What are you doing here?"

Florence stood, her smile wide. "I couldn't miss this. Plus, Dad told me I'd bring you good luck."

Paige shook her head, laughing as she pulled Florence into a tight hug. "You already do."

The team cheered, their energy contagious as they welcomed Florence like one of their own.

During the game, it was a hard fight, but for Paige, it was a chance to not only prove to the media that she was back but also to show Florence how good of a player she was. Of course, they had won their game, and just like Florence said she must have been the good luck charm. As the team advanced to the Final Four, Florence finalized her summer tour dates and recorded the final version of her Barbie song, which was already being produced as the movie's anthem.

In one of their late-night calls, Paige said, "You know, this summer's going to be insane for both of us."

Florence nodded, her heart tightening at the thought of being apart again. "I know. But we'll figure it out. We always do."

Paige's voice softened. "Yeah, we do. And after that? Maybe I'll take some time off. Come on tour with you or something."

Florence's eyes widened. "You'd do that?"

"For you? In a heartbeat," Paige said, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

And in that moment, Florence knew that no matter where their lives took them, they'd always find their way back to each other. Because while basketball and music were their worlds, their hearts belonged together.

a.n- hey yall hope you are enjoying the book, low key a little stuck on where to take the story next but if you have some ideas let me know :)