Page 14

The last few months of the school year always go by the fastest. Unfortunately Uconn didn't win the NCAA tournament but they came in second which just encouraged them to work hard next year and take home the win. The first few weeks after the loss was hard, everyone was down but eventually everyone went back to normal, the team already prepared to start working for next year.

I was all packed and leaving back home in a few hours. Paige had to stay at school for a little longer then she'd meet me in Montana whenever I was ready. Honestly I would rather spend all my time in Montana with Paige and her family but I knew I had to see mine, whether it was a healthy one or not. On the bright side, my sister still lived in New York with her boyfriend. My sister and mom were also not on speaking terms after she brought home a guy my mom didn't approve of. What a shocker.

I was with the whole team in Paige and Azzi's room. They wanted to say goodbye and hangout before I left and didn't see them for a bit. I did tear up a little. These girls had become my family over the year, I didn't want to spend time without them.

"Promise you'll call all the time." Nika rested her head against my shoulder. Paige, who was on the other side of me with her arm around my shoulder, was looking at Nika very unimpressed, waiting for her to move so Paige could have me all to herself.

"Yes and I'll be back by August when you start doing practices and workouts." I replied. I didn't have to, Geno had told me to take the whole summer off but I wanted to be with these girls, even if it meant being on campus early.

"Ok can you get off my girl, she's leaving soon." Paige said to Nika, now fed up with how long she'd been laying with me. She laughed, moving over to Azzi and Paige pulled me closer.

It was crazy to me how easily Paige could put me at ease. I was about to leave and go back to a place I dreaded but in this moment in her arms I couldn't focus on anything but her. I picked up on all her little habits, how she bit her bottom lip almost all the time, how she randomly broke out in dance when she was bored, how she spoke with her hands when she was excited. Everyday I learned something new about her and she just continued to amaze me.

Time flew by when I was with her and before I knew it I had to get on my flight back home. Paige drove me and it's like there was a gray storm cloud above the car. She held my hand the whole ride but didn't speak, we just enjoyed the last bit of time together in silence. When we finally parked at the airport neither one of us made a move to get out of the car, somewhat wishing my flight would get canceled. We sat there until I didn't have any more time to spare and I had to go. Just as I went to reach for the handle Paige grabbed my arm and kissed me softly. After we got out of this car we had to appear purely platonic so I savored the kiss, holding her face to deepen it.

Paige pulled away and got out of the car, grabbing my suitcase and putting it on the sidewalk. With me on the sidewalk and her on the road I seemed less short compared to her then I actually was.

"You gonna be okay?" She looked at me. Her eyes spoke so many emotions that I couldn't help but get lost in them. I nodded in response and she pulled me into a hug, putting her head in the crook of my neck. She wrapped her arms tightly around my waist and mine went around her head. Paige wasn't sad but more worried. She knew my history with my family and who would be happy about going back to that environment. When she pulled away I grabbed her hand, squeezing it before walking inside the airport.

I always hated airports, especially in the middle of the day. They were always crowded and way overpriced. The only good part was seeing so many new people and wondering what they were doing.

I checked in and now tried to find a seat in the chaotic area. I found an empty one next to a guy who looked mid twenties and was staring down at his phone. I took the seat next to him and he didn't budge. I noticed he had pride pins all over the bag that was placed between his legs. I turned away, minding my own business and looking at my phone, still another 30 minutes until my flight even boarded. I took this as an opportunity to stare at my lockscreen, a picture of me and Paige that Rose had taken without us noticing. We were watching TV but I was only looking at Paige who was completely unaware of my gaze until she saw the picture herself.

"Is that your girlfriend?" The man next to me asked, I looked his way and a smile and blush appeared on my face. My reaction told him enough and he started smiling with me.

"This is my man, Brooks." He turned his phone in my direction letting me see his wallpaper that was of him and Brooks kissing under fireworks.

"You guys are adorable, how long have you been together?" I was now curious. I loved meeting new people and hearing other people's stories. He put his phone down and all his attention was now on me.

"Two years, I'm flying to New York to surprise him. How about you and.." He waited, still not knowing Paige's name.

"Paige. We've only been together less than 4 months." I told him and his smile grew. In only a few seconds this random man had made my day, I would take any excuse to talk about Paige.

"Ugh new love. Why are you going to New York?" He asked.

"New York's home. I'm in Connecticut for school." I shrugged. Most people would die to be from New York but to me it was nothing special.

"And Paige isn't joining you?" His eyebrows were raised. I mean in another world Paige would've come home with me to meet my family. In a better world.

"My family isn't very accepting but I am meeting Paige and her family in Montana later." I tried to lighten the mood, hoping the involvement of my homophobic mother didn't dampen our conversation.

"Family isn't blood, your true family is people you find." He said to me, a very wise tone in his voice. He didn't seem much older then I am but for some reason I trusted him and found comfort in his words. "My family kicked me out when I told them and since then I've found a real one. I've met the love of my life and I'm living my dreams. It's all about letting go of that negative energy."

I was in awe of his story. He had it much worse then I did but that pain helped him thrive, he let go of his biological family to create his own. Maybe this was a sign.

"So tell me more about this Paige." You didn't have to tell me twice. We spent half the time with me talking about Paige, showing him pictures and even clips of her playing. He was definitely impressed and then spent the rest of our time talking about Brooks, even just hearing about how in love they were made me want to cry.

Our flight boarded and sadly me and this mystery man were sitting very far apart so the second I got to my seat I put my airpods in and drifted off, not even paying attention to take off. The flight was short so by the time I awoke from my nap the plane was landing soon. It was dark out in New York but my mom knew of my trip and was picking me up.

After what felt like forever I got off the plane and went to grab my bags, again meeting up with the guy from before who got his bag and started to leave.

"I just realized I never caught your name." he laughed, now standing beside me.

"Jules." I smiled at him, now waiting for his name.

"Luke." He replied, now being content and started to walk off.

"Oh Jules!" He screamed out before he got too far. "Find your real family, I'll see you around" Was all he said before turning around and walking out of the airport.

I got my bag and was now walking very slowly to where my mother would be waiting for me. Luke's words replayed in my head over and over. I saw my mom standing alone and once she saw me walk out her face lit up, jogging over to me and engulfing me in an overwhelming hug.

"Juliette, sweetheart. Your hair is so long." She pulled away, looking at my hair with a disapproving look. Of course after a year the first comment would be about my appearance.

She dragged me to the car, talking my ear off about what happened at church last Sunday, or the old lady gossip she really shouldn't be a part of. Never once did she ask about school, or life in Connecticut. I tried to zone out, leaning my head against the window of the car as we drove back home. One thing I loved about New York was the way it looked at night, almost feeling at peace with how busy and chaotic it was even at the darkest hours.

My phone started ringing in my back pocket and I contorted to grab it, seeing that Paige was calling, probably to check up.

"I have to take this." I said in hopes that she wouldn't say something and embarrass me.

"Hey Jules, how was the flight? Everything's ok?" The concern was still evident in her voice.

"The flight was good, everything is alright." I looked around at my mother and the car she used to drive me to school in everyday. Paige definitely sensed something was off.

"We'll talk about it later, ok? I just wanted to check in, I miss you a lot. Azzi's being a pain in the ass." She laughed and I heard Azzi yell something back in defense.

"Me too, I'll call you when I can." My answers were strained and short. I didn't want to risk saying something that got my mom asking too many questions, I just didn't have it in me. Paige understood the meaning behind my dry sentences and said a quick goodbye before hanging up.

"Who was that?" I looked at my mom who had a big smirk on her face, assuming it was some boy I was with.

"Paige." I responded dryly. I didn't need her to know anything more than that. I saw her smirk fall but her face stayed normal.

"I thought Rose was your friend?" I cringed at the mention of Rose's name. I hated the fact that my mom had any knowledge of my life or my friends. Especially since she wasn't fond of Rose and made that very clear.

"She is" Another short and simple response. She needed to know the basics, nothing more.

She just furrowed her eyebrows before dropping the subject. I continued to stare out the window. I wondered how differently I would see New York if Paige was here with me. She could turn all the bad memories to good instantly, giving home a completely new image for me.

I would be here for a week and before that week ended I was planning on telling my mom about Paige. The complete and honest truth, she was my girlfriend and I wasn't going to hide that.