Just maybe

26 - Aftermath Part. 1

Aftermath — the consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event).

Although she had been lying blankly on the couch for the past two hours, Paige had not been prepared for the sound of the key to jiggling into the lock.

Since she had been in such a vegetable state for so long, it was difficult to detach herself from the limbo of her mind when the thump of sneakers upon her flooring echoed through the silence. It felt as though the world was a swirl of distant sensations and emotions that she wasn't quite used to. Her eyes, which had been staring unblinking towards the walls, felt strained. The numbness in her limbs and ribs began to slowly thaw, like malaises oozing through her veins. Reality, in all its horror and evilness, began to rise once again. A slow build beneath the walls of her stomach escalading as the footsteps became louder. Her eye lids fluttered to remove the dust and she was greeted with the golden lights that illuminated the apartment from above.

She felt the fear she had been anticipating when she caught sight of the navy UConn long sleeve that hugged the contours of her defined shoulders, proving her dissociation was over and she was back into the mess that she had left. Unable to look into her face yet, she stared at how her sweatpants hung low on her hips and the cut at the bottom flapped over her sneakers. It reminded her of the day she first met her – the day she had first watched her play against her UAA team. Now, after she had kissed and touched every inch of her more times than she could count, she knew that she had subconsciously believed her stunning that day. But there was so much more that made her such a woman she had fallen for, her appearance was nothing compared to the beauty of what lied within.

Finally, she dared to look up into the chocolate orbs that made her bones melt – to examine the pinkened rims around the whites of her eyes. She didn't even bother to try to hide the stains that marked acid over her cheeks, highlighting the small scar that ran to the side of her head. Unlike she would have expected, she didn't awkwardly turn away when their connection met. Instead, she penetrated her gaze into her while she carefully maneuvered into a seated position.

The intensity pulsated between them as doubt shined through her cerulean irises. She wasn't sure what to do: hug her, kiss her, or make her a sandwich. This wasn't awkward – nothing had ever been awkward between them. Paige was instead at a loss, unable to accept the fact that in a few moments, Azzi could potentially inform her she was leaving her to be in love with her other best friend.

Finally, after minutes ticked away of muteness, Azzi finally took a step forward, "Hi." She whispered, though there was no one else in the room to eavesdrop.

"Hi." Paige parroted her intimacy.

She didn't wait for her to extend the invitation to sit down. Paige watched her every flicker of her face to prepare her for the inevitable confession that she was just as in love with Caroline as she was with her. It made sense – they had had the history and chemistry while she wasn't in the picture yet. Their emotional connection was elite as well, or so she had told herself in the hours that Azzi had been away. The dozens of movies and books that pointed towards best-friends-turned-lovers did not help the situation either, I mean look at them. Paige was just waiting for the inevitable break.

"How'd- how'd it go?" Paige choked out, her fingers twittering in her lap.

Azzi let out a breath that sounded like a sarcastic laughter, "It was unexpected," she raised her eyebrows in disbelief, "but I was too stupid to think that whatever we did wouldn't have consequences."

She nodded stiffly, dropping her gaze to her hands, "How is she?"

There was a hesitation that carried pain with it. Paige immediately noticed, making her head whip up to meet her eyes once again, "Broken," she replied, not bothering to hide her glistening tears, "just like I am."