Page 3

Another few weeks since Jules joined the media team. She'd been there for every practice and workout and even when some of us just wanted to shoot around she was there. We all loved her, she just fit into the family perfectly, well about half of the girls had a thing for her.

I was in the facility with Azzi just shooting around since we had our first game soon.

"Yo P." Azzi said, taking me out of my trance and turning around to look at her. "What's up with you and Jules?" She asked and I sighed. Ever since Azzi and Rose walked in on me and Jules asleep on the couch cuddling they wouldn't leave me alone. I told them it meant nothing, that she was tired and uncomfortable and I just passed out too, that's all it was but they didn't believe a word I said.

"Azzi I told you it wasn't what it looked like." I complained again, taking another shot and it went in perfectly.

"Nah it's not about that I heard some of the basketball guys talking about her and I just wanted to make sure she was fully single before helping any of them." She explained and my face dropped, not noticeable to Azzi since I was facing the other way.

"Wait what are you talking 'bout?" I questioned looking at her confused.

"The other day I was with Jules, Rose and Nika and the guys from the basketball team came over to us and it was chill then Jules and Rose had to go and they were asking about her. I think Jay wants to ask her out or something." She said laughing at the story. My face went blank and I turned back to the hoop, shooting and missing by a long shot.

"What the hell was that?" She laughed at the bad shot. I walked over to my chair grabbing my water when she noticed the stone cold look on my face. "Wait, are you upset about that?" She asked.

"No man, just those guys aren't good enough for Jules." I explained, my own words not even making sense to myself.

"Jay's a good guy, he seems to really like her." She explained making me stand up.

"He's barely even talked to her, he just thinks she's hot." I said angrily, grabbing the ball and dribbling it way more aggressively then I usually would.

"P it's not a big deal, maybe they'll get to know each other and she'll really like him." She said in an attempt to calm me down, only making me more mad.

"Don't say that shit." I said shooting and missing again. I heard Azzi get up and grab the ball before I could.

"What's your deal P. You just met Jules." She asked, confused, looking at me waiting for an answer.

"I don't know Azzi, I just don't like the thought of Jules with those guys." I admitted and sat on my chair, her sitting next to me.

"Have you ever considered that you like her?" She asked and I shook my head.

"No it's not like that, I just can't explain it." I said, leaning back into the chair and she just stared at me knowingly.

"If you don't like her then why would you be jealous?" She asked, now genuinely confused.

"I don't know, Azzi it's stupid let's just drop it." I said getting up and grabbing my ball again, shooting and missing for the third time.

"There's a party later. The guys are hosting it." She said, changing the topic.

"Who's going?" I asked. Honestly a party would be a great distraction.

"Our whole team, Jules and Rose." She said and I threw my head back. So much for distractions.

I was on my way to the party. I told Azzi I'd meet everyone there, mostly just because I had to hype myself up to go to this thing. I walked in and spotted the team easily, taking up a whole half of the room with Rose.

"P, finally." Nika said, hugging me. I looked around our group. Finding everyone but Jules.

"Where's Jules?" I asked and they all shared a knowing look. Azzi smirked before pointing into the kitchen. I turned around and saw her and Jay. They were talking as she smiled. What was he saying to make her smile so hard? I turned back around, desperate to get the image out of my head.

Jules spent most of the night with Jay, I watched as he put his hand on her lower back where mine had been a few weeks ago. She met his friends with a huge smile on her face. She was supposed to be over here with me, us I mean. Not him. When she came back over most of the girls wanted details and a blush appeared on her face. I felt sick to my stomach thinking about Jay making her blush. I walked away the second she started speaking, having no interest in hearing one bit of this story. I'm assuming me walking away left everyone confused because not long after Jules came to find me.

"Hey Paige, I've been looking for you." She said and I just mumbled, looking straight ahead and not at her. "You ok?" She asked, looking at me concerned. I never acted this way.

"Yes Juliette, I'm good." I responded and she looked at me shocked at the use of her full name.

"Juliette? What did I do now?" She laughed, taking my behavior as a joke.

I didn't answer and she continued to look at me confused. She put her hand on my arm comfortingly.

"Paige whatever's wrong you can tell me, I'm here for you." She said again. At that moment I regretted my anger towards her but I just couldn't help it.

"You Juliette, that's my problem." I said and instantly regretted what I was saying. I had no valid reason to be angry.

"Me? What did I do?" She asked, hurt. I finally looked at her. Her eyes were looking at me confused about what I was saying. I now realized she was wearing a jacket, a jacket that had Jay's last name and number on it.

"What the hell are you wearing?" I asked angrily and she just looked at me even more confused.

"It's Jay's jacket, what's the big deal?" She replied, never matching my angry tone.

"You just met the guy and you're wearing his number."

"So this is about Jay." She answered disappointed, looking down. "Look Paige if you like him or something I didn't mean to upset you." She apologized looking at me. I just laughed in her face, not a happy laugh but an angry one.

"I don't like that dumbass." I said

"So what's the problem then Paige." She asked.

"You. You're just falling into his arms like open your eyes." I yelled, frustrated with myself more than her.

"Just so you know Paige, Jay did ask me out tonight and I said no and I came to hang out with my girls. I'm wearing his jacket because some dumbass walked into me and spilled their drink all over me and he was nice enough to give it to me." She said before walking away. Now I felt like an idiot.

"Jules wait." I said, running after her.

"Leave me alone Paige." She said looking over at me disappointed before walking out of the party. Of course all the girls caught on to that last part and looked at me confused. Rose ran after Jules and Azzi looked at me angrily, understanding what me and Jules had fought over. Azzi grabbed my arm and dragged us out to her car and she started driving back to the dorms.

"I can't believe you got in a fight with Jules over that P." She said sadly, not even looking at me.

"It just came out. I don't even know why, but I feel stupid now." I explained

"Good, she's our friend P. Whether you like the dude or not you're supposed to be happy for her." She said, trying to get it through my thick skull.

"I don't got nothing against Jay." I said, it was true. He was never anything but nice to me.

"So what the hell is your deal, this isn't like you. You hurt Jules." She said and I looked down embarrassed at how I acted.

"I don't know Azzi, I really don't." I tried to explain but that's all I could come up with. I honestly didn't know why I was upset or said those things to Jules.

"Can't you just admit you like her?" She asked, frustrated now.

"I don't-" I started but she cut me off.

"Don't say no again because you wouldn't have gotten mad or jealous if you didn't wish it was you." She said and I just looked at her. "Do you wish it was you getting her to smile or putting your arm around her Paige?" She asked again, finally done with my shit.

"Yeah I do." I admitted.