Just maybe

23 - Pride

Happy new year everyone!!

Pride - a consciousness of one's own dignity.

The cold night air hit them, as Paige and Azzi made their way out of the restaurant and in to the parking lot. Caroline left a few minutes ago, trying to follow Jared after he stormed off without saying anything to the both of them. Not even after Azzi tried to run after her and offer to go with her just to make sure everything is okay, but Caroline declined, shook her head, before saying that she'll just see her back at the apartment.

Once inside the car, Azzi watched as Paige sits rigidly on the driver's seat. The silence between them was deafening, broken only by the distant hum of the busy restaurant and traffic nearby. Azzi turned to look at her, eyes boring at the side of her face. Paige meet her narrowed eyes for a second before Azzi opened her mouth to say something but Paige cut her off.

"Don't." She told her, her fingers gripping the steering wheel in a tight grip as she looked up ahead, avoiding her gaze before she backed the car out of the parking lot.

Azzi's eyes flickered to her hand, an angry red mark forming around her knuckles, already swollen and bruised probably from the punch she threw at Jared. Paige's expression was calm and unyielding but her shoulders were stiff and her jaw was clenched, a tell tale sign that she's still tense from what just happened.

She didn't say anything, but she kept her eyes on her the whole time as the blonde drive them back to the apartment. She could feel the tension radiating off of her but she sat still and decided that she will have to wait until they're back at her room before they can talk.  She knew Paige too well that she needed time to calm down. Confusion and disappointment were swirling around her as thoughts of what had caused Paige to lose control and reacted that way. She knew she's not the type of person who just reacts that way if nothing triggers it. Sighing, she thought deeply, trying to assert what could have gone wrong in the span of ten minutes when she and Caroline left the two of them on their table to go to the bathroom.

When they arrived at the apartment, they both went inside in a rush, both not saying anything. Azzi followed silently behind her, watching her every move as Paige made her way to her room. Azzi made a quick stop to knock on Caroline's door, before opening it to find the room empty. Sighing, she immediately went to Paige's room.

Closing the door, she leaned her forehead against it, trying to stop the oncoming headache she could feel and adjusting her arms against her crutches before turning around to find Paige sitting at the far end of her bed, watching her. Their eyes met, before Azzi looked down at her hands when Paige gently massaged them and winced. Putting her crutches away, she walked over to the blonde, taking her hands and gently tugging her towards the bathroom. She pushed her down to sit on the closed toilet seat before opening the cabinet under the sink where she knew the first aid kit was located. All the while Paige just watched her, knowing that questions would come right after Azzi settled her thoughts.

The two best friends remained silent for a while, Azzi running a clean towel over her bruise hand, checking it for any cuts or wound, before putting some soothing ointment on her knuckles for the bruises. Paige automatically went to help her, but only winced when she moved her hand too much, causing a glare from the brunette.

"I'm in trouble aren't I?" Paige frowned looking at Azzi. Azzi didn't say anything, but took up the abandoned towel and the first aid kit before cleaning it up and putting it back on the cabinet. Paige took that as a 'yes', and accepted her silent treatment without a word, focusing on Azzi's dainty but strong hands, gently caring for her bruised ones. Paige could feel the tips of her fingers brushing against her skin, and felt it shaking slightly.

"You really had me scared," Azzi finally said, still not looking at her, "When I saw you punching Jared and him looking like he would hit you back, I thought the worst." She finished putting the ointment before gently rubbing her hand gently. "I've never seen you got into a fight before."