Just maybe

22 - Loyalty

Loyalty - implies a faithfulness that is steadfast in the face of any temptation to renounce, desert or betray.

Although Geno and CD had agreed to let Azzi go back home to Virginia with her parent's request, given the circumstances and her injury, Azzi had put up such an argument that Paige had expected her to breakdown into tears. Seeing that she was determined to prove something, Paige had convinced Katie and Tim to let her stay back in Storrs with the team while she do her recovery and rehab with the promise that she will look after her and if anything happens she will be the one to let them know. Paige, Azzi knew, had given strict instructions to not let her do anything but sit, sleep, ice her knee, go to rehab and watch as everyone else did the work for her. It was getting annoying, but she was grateful that Paige had talked her parents into letting her stay back even though it's been three days since the incident.

"Carol, I can handle cutting the vegetables," Azzi argued that afternoon, as she and Caroline were on their apartment preparing something for lunch. Their other teammates were practicing for the upcoming game on Thursday while she and Caroline just got finished with their rehab and decided to hang out. The two of them as well as Jana, Aubrey and Ayanna were sideline for the whole season due to their injuries and was doing their recovery back at Storrs. "I am not an invalid."

"I don't care," Caroline told her, keeping the knife away and out of Azzi's grasp. "I don't want to deal with an angry Paige and letting you do this will definitely make her angry."

"I need something to do," Azzi insisted, adjusting the crutches underneath her arms, groaning.

"Why don't you sit down and wait while I finish cooking?"

"Well, I can help you so it'll be much quicker instead of just watching you while I wait."

Caroline smirk, "Hun, you can't cook. Remember?" She laughed when Azzi rolled her eyes knowing her friend was right.

"Yes I can." She insisted, frowning. "I'm bored, Caroline, please."

"No, you're tired and cranky," the taller girl pointed out and Azzi felt the fury rise inside her at the patronizing tone, "You haven't slept all day and you haven't slowed down in your attempts to worm someone out of a job. You're pale and feverish and you sound like my ninety year old grandma who smokes a pack a day. What you need is a nap, but since you won't listen to me, I saw you have a new book on your desk, why don't you relax on your bed and read while you wait."

The look on her face dared Azzi to argued further. Her face was stony, she considered it. Carol could see the internal battle going through her head but Azzi sighed, rolling her eyes before she turn around giving in. "Fine!"

"Thank you, call out for me if you need anything."

She made her way to the hall and saw Aubrey sitting at one of the couches doing homework on her way to her room.

"She said no, didn't she?" Aubrey remarked lazily, eyeing her teammate with an amused smirk.

"Just like the rest of you," Azzi grumbled, although with her throat raw from coughing, some of the syllables were lost.

Muttering to herself, Azzi slumped down on her bed, pulling the covers over her waist as she settled down reaching for her eyeglasses and the book she was reading the previous night. She flipped through the pages, reading silently as she leaned her back at the softness of her pillows, skimming the words as she gets lost in it after a few minutes.

After an hour, Caroline finished cooking, Aubrey and her exchanged a knowing smirk when they saw a sleeping Azzi on her bed with her glasses still on. The book abandoned on her chest and one hand was lodged in the curls at her neck.