Heaven and back

Pressure

Shane's pov

I quickly get dressed and after Nika did too we left for Azzi's dorm. Nika and I remained silent both too worried for our friend to even speak. As we waited in the elevator to get to their floor i let out a big sigh. I placed my head on her shoulder kneeling slightly due to the height difference. I just needed nika's comfort right now. "She's okay baby. Relax" her voice unsteady. I'm not sure she herself could believe what she was saying. "Yeah you're probably right" i said lowly. Only now i was trying to convince both her and myself. The elevator made a sound and the doors opened signalling we were in the long awaited floor. We stepped out and with rapid walking we headed towards nika's teammate's dorm. As we reached it i knocked a couple times at the door impatient. Not long after Azzi opened up with puffy eyes and a tired smile letting us in. "She's in her room. Just don't make any sudden movements okay?" She said and i nodded. We made our way to her room and as we slowly opened the door there she was. Bloody bandages on the bedside table and ibuprofen as well. Paige laid there staring out the window. Her face emotionless. Empty. As if she was completely gone. "Paige" i spoke up a bit firmly feeling the anger built up in me as i saw the mess the room was in. I already knew what had happened. I could see it in her eyes. But Nika clearly didn't see the guilt that was written allover Paige's face. The guilt hidden between her furrowed eyebrows and her shaking hands. "Twin what happened ?" She asked. Nika was clueless. I felt bad for her. Paige looked at us for a mere moment before looking away her eyes welding up again. "I-. Got into a um a fight at the bar. It's no big deal I don't even know why Azzi told you. I'm fine" she said. Nika looked at me searching for a hint of what was going on since she could see that i definitely knew something considering the fact that she could see the anger and the frustration in my eyes. "Nika could you give us a moment? Please" I asked not once my eyes leaving the bed watching the state my best friend was at. She nodded hesitantly and after she caressed my shoulder lightly to show me some comfort, she left. I let out a sigh as i took a seat right in front of her "Again? We're doing this shit again?" I asked softly now trying to show her that i was on her side and not against her. "I-I don't know. I was just. The gym was- I don't know how. I d-don't remember what ha-happened" she said now crying uncontrollably. I shushed her caressing her back while hugging her tightly. My heart broke to see her like that. "I have told you many times Paigey. If you ever think you want to do this again you have to call me" i said trying to comfort her somehow. Paige couldn't speak any more. "What happened? What triggered this reaction?" I asked trying to understand. "I don't know! The pressure? Media? I don't fucking know. Azzi must be so disappointed in me" she said remembering the state her girlfriend found her in. "Paige. Look at me. Hey look at me!" I pleaded making her face me. "Azzi is not disappointed in you. She's just scared and worried for you. It is reasonable for her to be away right now she's scared of losing you so much that she can't see that you're in pain. That's why i am here. That's why I'll always be here" i said whispering the last part as she fell into my embrace. She just cried in my arms letting her vulnerability show. Something she didn't do often. Something she tended to do with me often. But i didn't mind. I cared for her so much ghat i would rather see her vulnerable a billion times than never see her again.

Nika's pov

"I don't understand what's happening Azzi. What happened to Paige? Why is she like that? Why is Shane like that?" I asked multiple times. So many questions run through my mind. She was laying there not looking at us. I couldn't recognise one expression in her face other than shame and disappointment. And if Shane all of a sudden wants to talk alone with her is there something that they won't tell me? What am i supposed to do. "Nika Paige has been struggling a lot lately. With her mental health. And i know that Shane knows how to calm her down and what to say to make her believe that it's okay to be vulnerable from time to time. This evening when we were at the court i saw that she was really out of place. She didn't speak. She didn't listen to music. She missed every single lay up and when she ran she seemed in pain. I thought it was in a decent level but i was clearly wrong. Once we got back here she closed herself in her bathroom and stayed there for two hours. TWO whole hours. And once i finally got in because i got worried i saw her laying in the tub while her thighs were red" Azzi said making my eyes widen. My hand was brought to my lips not believing what I was hearing. Azzi seemed gone. Too far in shock and sadness to acknowledge what she was saying. "What do you mean Az?" I asked in denial. Azzi took a deep breath before letting out a shaky one trying to seem strong. "She is hurting herself Niks. The pressure of the social media and basketball's loaded schedule has fucked her up too bad mentally. She won't let me touch her or talk about it at all so i thought maybe she would talk to Shane. She always speaks highly of Shane. She always did. With her Paige forgets all her problems most of the time. I don't know how but she has always helped her in ways i couldn't. I am not jealous of course. I'm just really worried for my girl" my teammate said. I sat down still in shock of what I've heard. Azzi took a seat next to me placing her hand on my shoulder. It took me a minute to realise what had happened. I looked at her seeing the truth in her eyes but the silence was broken by a sudden noise from the room inside. We looked at eachother and on cue we got up to see what happened. Azzi opened the door only to see Shane rubbing the back of her head. She motioned us to stay silent and pointed to a sleeping Paige. "How is she?" Azzi asked. "It's a breakdown. She has been like this before. She rumbled about the pressure of everything. But she did say something i think you should know" Shane said before checking to see if Paige was sleeping. Which she was. "She loves you Az. Too much. She's in pain literally and she was talking about how you would be disappointed and sad with her state" my girl said making Azzi's eyes water up. "Well fuck I'll start crying right now like a river" she said letting out a small laugh. "Tell her i love her when she wakes up" she said and shane nodded. "You clumsy ass" I muttered as i went over to check on her. "Y'all are goals honestly" Azzi whispered making both me and Shane chuckle a bit. We all froze as Paige nuzzled more against Shane's neck while we thought we woke her up. "Okay that's our sign to go. I'll be at Azzi's room if you need me" i said placing a soft kiss on Shane's lips. "Okay goodnight baby. Goodnight Az" she responded as Azzi waved her goodbye. We left the room and entered her bedroom. We sat fown and she signalled for me to sit on the bed. "I gotta keep a close eye on Paige. I just don't understand why she wouldn't tell me if she was hurting?" Azzi mumbled as she laid against the headboard. A loud sigh legt my lips as i sat beside her. "Maybe she thought you would break up with her for being a burden. I don't know. I'm not saying it is the truth but maybe she thought that you wouldn't care for her if she showed you her vulnerable side. You gotta talk to her about that" i advised before turning to look at her. Her eyebrows furrowed in deep thought. It showed that she was in love with our teammate. But right now you could see how scared and worried about her she really is. Now that I'm honestly thinking about this i am completely selfish. I was too concerned on what would happen with Shane to see that my best friend was enduring so much mental pain. "I must be a terrible friend. And i can't even say that cause then i would be making this about me but it's the truth! I should've been there for my best friend. Paige was always there for me and the one time that she had a problem i wasn't there for her" I said practically to myself. I wanted to say it so I could hear it. Completely forgetting Azzi was there. "That's not true. You couldn't have known" she said. I slowly turned to her looking at her in the eyes. "She had one problem. Not two or three. Just one. And i wasn't there for her. Meanwhile there is me who has eighty small problems and she is there to help me with every single one of them. I don't deserve her. She is and always will be better than me. I will never deserve a friend like her" I said looking back down at my hands. I am sweating like crazy when i get anxious and right now i was completely drenched in sweat. Azzi placed her hand in mine and caressed it softly. "You do deserve her. Cause you help her much more than you think. The only reason why Paige seems to be there for you more than you are for her is because she's expressing herself much more evidently than you. If you help someone do the laundry or anything like that you won't speak of it ever. On the contrary Paige takes out the garbage ONE time and she thinks it's the best day for the life of the other person. I'm not saying that she is not a good person of course. That is why i love her. But being humble is one of the things she can't really do" she said making both of us laugh. She rested her head on my shoulder as i rested mine against hers. The sudden silence echoing almost too loud to stand. I felt my heart beat out of my ears as i reviewed what had happened tonight. I wanted partially to forget the day today but I don't think i really did. I just want my best friend to be okay. That's the thought i went to sleep with. How i could help Paige get past this. How am i going to be a better friend for her?

Hey you guys...how are you doing this fine evening?? Happy new year my favourite peoplee!! I love you you know that right? Soo i hope you liked this chapter i don't know if i like it or not. Please don't ghost read make sure to like or comment and I'll see y'all soonnn.

xoxo your favourite author ❣️