Page 5

I woke up on Paige's chest, my arms around her waist as she played with my hair.

"Morning Jules." She said and I just stuffed my head back into her chest and she laughed at me. Thank god it was Saturday and I had nowhere to be. "C'mon let's do something today." She said, continuing to twirl my hair between her fingers.

"Give me like 5 more minutes." I grumbled and somehow managed to cuddle into her closer, feeding off the heat that was radiating off her body.

"Yo P, have you seen my headband I can't-" Azzi said barging into the room and stopping when she saw me cuddled into Paige. "Oh hey Jules." She said confused but also smirking at Paige who rolled her eyes.

"Sorry Azzi we both got so tired that we passed out here." I said, taking my face out of the crook of Paige's neck and looking at Azzi.

"Yeah ok. If you see my headband just let me know. Bye lovebirds." She said running out of the room and closing the door. "Amari you so owe me 10 bucks guess who's sleeping in Paige's bed right now." We heard Azzi yell from outside.

"We didn't sleep together." Paige yelled back, groaning at Azzi who continued talking to Amari.

She brought her hand back to my hair and continued playing with it, making me feel tired again.

"So what's the plan for today?" I asked, looking up at her.

"Well I wanted to do something but now I just feel like staying like this all day." She said, biting her lip as she looked down at me.

"I like that plan" I agreed and put my head back on her chest. We stayed there in silence as I listened to her heartbeat. It increased everytime I drew figures on her skin that was peeking out of her shirt.

Suddenly my phone started ringing aggressively, bringing me out of my happy state to go pick it up.

"Hey Rose." I said tiredly

"Do not hey rose me. Where have you been?" She screamed loud enough for Paige to hear which made her laugh. Rose heard her laugh and went silent on the other line. "OH MY GOD NO WAY!" Rose screamed, making me pull the phone away from my ear so she wouldn't damage my eardrum.

"Rose it's not like that I just spent the night here, I was tired." I explain but that doesn't kill her excitement.

"Whatever, we'll talk later, bye you two." She said and I could hear the smile in her voice before she hung up. Again we heard Azzi outside in the living room.

"Yes Rose I just saw." She said excitedly, making me and Paige groan again.

"Maybe we should go out there." Paige suggested and I just nodded sadly, not wanting to move from my position but I had to. We walked out into the living room, me still in Paige's sweats and hoodie and Azzi went still, hanging up on Rose.

"Oh heyyy guys." She said awkwardly, looking at us both trying to figure out the truth.

Paige walked over to the kitchen grabbing a drink and handing me one before she sat down next to Azzi motioning me over too. I sat down next to Paige, keeping a close enough distance between us.

"We're all going out to celebrate the win, you guys coming?" Azzi asked, looking at me and Paige. Paige gazed at me waiting for my answer.

"I'll go if you want to." Paige said, how I hated making decisions.

"Yeah I'm down." I shrugged.

"Great, the guys are going to be there too..." Azzi trailed off and I saw Paige's jaw clench.

I sat with Paige and Azzi for a bit longer until I decided I needed to go home and catch Rose up. Paige offered to walk me to my dorm, even if I said no she still ended up walking me.

I got back to the dorm and explained everything from me and Paige making up to this morning in bed.

"And you guys are just friends?" She asked, looking at me confused.

"Yes Rose. Me and you cuddle all the time don't we?" I asked

"Yes but I don't play with your hair or gaze into your eyes, that's relationship stuff." She explained and I just rolled my eyes. "Come on Jules if you kinda like her you can tell me." She begged again.

"Rose, I don't like her. We're just friends. I just think she's gorgeous and talented and probably the sweetest person I've ever met. Everytime I see her I just can't get enough of her, it's insane." I said, the words slipping out as Rose looked at me shocked. "I have feelings for Paige" I realized out loud. Oh fuck.

"I knew it Jules it was so obvious I've never seen you so smiley and pink around someone." She said, making me smile at the thought.

It's true. Every Time I was around Paige I had a smile on my face or my cheeks were flushed red. I never stopped thinking about Paige, even when she wasn't there I just couldn't get her out of my head. All my pictures were of her, almost like she was my newfound muse. How did I not realize my feelings sooner?

"Fuck this isn't good" I panicked getting up and pacing around the room. "I've only known Paige for like a month and a half, I don't even know if she likes girls, it's too early. What if I ruin our friendship?" I questioned as I ran my hands through my hair stressed.

Rose walked up to me, stopping my pacing by putting her hands on my shoulders. "Jules calm down. First off feelings don't have a time limit, you can have feelings for someone after knowing them for a day. Second, Paige is obviously into girls. Are you insane? I thought your gaydar was better than this." She calmed me down.

"God this is already too complicated." I sighed, putting my head in my hands.

"Take it slow ok? There's no rush, just follow your heart. And good thing we're seeing Paige later." She said smirking at the last part making me groan again. I couldn't see perfect Paige when I was going through a crisis of my feelings.

Me and Rose were ready waiting for Paige and Azzi to come get us and drive to the celebration. I heard a loud knock at the door and jumped almost running the other way at the thought of seeing Paige after my newly realized feelings. Rose went to the door opening it and I saw Paige and Azzi walk in.

"You ready Jules?" Azzi asked, pulling me into a side hug.

"Yep." I responded dryly, trying to keep my eyes off Paige but it was so hard. She looked perfect, she always did.

"Ok let's go." Azzi said moving away from me and going to Rose. "I call backseat with Rose again." Azzi said and I panicked, even the smallest interaction with Paige made me nervous now.

We walked out of the dorm, Rose and Azzi way ahead as we walked to the car. Me in the passengers again. My music automatically connected this time and I pressed shuffle skipping about 500 love songs before landing on a random one.

"You skipped all the good ones." Rose complained in the back and I just ignored her. Love songs we're not happening right now. If only Rose knew how stressful it was to have a crush on a girl, especially one your friends with.

We got to the party and hopped out. There wasn't loud music or anything, mostly just athletes hanging out to celebrate the win for the girls. Walking in I saw Jay immediately and he walked over. Paige went still seeing him walk over to us.

"Hey J, what's good?" He said hugging me. He started calling me J to match with his name.

"Not much." I said smiling, trying hard to act like I care what Jays saying when Paige is right there. "I'm gonna go find the girls, I'll see you later?" I asked and he nodded before walking back to his team and I went to find the girls. Paige's back was turned so I went up behind her, linking my arm with hers.

"Finally, he keeps stealing you away." She said, wrapping her arm around my shoulder and pulling me closer to her.

"I know I'm sorry. I'd much rather be with you." I said smiling at her and watching her face light up.

Most of the 'party' was us playing games, telling stories and doing karaoke. It was honestly fun since everyone here was bonded together by one thing and that was basketball and the joy the win brought everyone, even the boys team.

"Hey I think me and Jules are gonna head out, you guys good to catch a ride." Paige asked as I layed on her shoulder tiredly.

"Yeah it's all good." Azzi responded looking down at me and then back at Paige.

We got up and walked back to Paige car, immediately I rested my hand against the window as she drove in silence, but comfortable silence, not an awkward one.

"Why did you reject Jay?" Paige suddenly asked and I turned to look at her.

I took a minute to think about it. When Jay asked me out it almost felt wrong, like I was betraying someone. He stared and awaited my answer but I just looked around for Paige, wanting her in that moment more than anyone. I rejected Jay for her without even knowing.

"Just not what I wanted." I responded shrugging.

"And what do you want?" She asked again.

"I want a happy relationship, whether it be a guy or a girl. I dated a girl in my freshman year and it just felt like she was overwhelming me. I want someone that just fits with me and I didn't feel that with Jay." I said truthfully and I saw her smile to herself.

"How long were you with that girl?" Another question from Paige.

"Like 7 months and I took her home to meet Rose's parents, since they're basically my own and they didn't like her. They got a vibe from her and then a few weeks later I found out she had cheated on me." I admitted, telling the story of the train wreck first relationship with a woman I had.

"That's horrible. Why not your own parents?" She asked again, god was this 20 questions.

"Um, my mom isn't very accepting. When I told her it was after my dad left her and she just ignored it, basically brushed it off and wouldn't talk to me unless I said I was straight." I said, trying to make it sound better than it actually was.

"I'm sorry Jules, you don't deserve that." She said, a sad expression on her face.

"It's ok because Rose's parents took me in and they've been my family. Every Christmas I go there and they treat me like their own. They've been there for good and bad times and I couldn't be more thankful." I said, smiling at the thought. I loved telling people about that family.

"That's how it is with Azzi's family. I'm close with my own and they always accepted me but Azzis family has been there just as much. Azzi's my other half and her family is just as much my own." She agreed, smiling now too. The mood was completely lifted. "The first time I brought a girl home she met my family and Azzi's at the same time and she ran the other way right after." She said laughing at the memory. Wait. Girl?

"Wait a girl?" I asked, never getting confirmation about Paige's sexuality.

"Yes a girl, you couldn't tell." She laughed, looking over at me.

"Well I mean I didn't want to assume." I said putting my head in my hands laughing with her.

"Well now you know." She said and I looked up to see her biting her lip.

We parked at the dorms and raced to the elevator, she beat me but she got a head start so it doesn't count.

"Wanna stay over again?" I asked, smiling at her in the elevator.

"Obviously." She responded and we got to my room, opening the door and I immediately went to bed.

"I'm gonna run up to my room and grab some stuff, I'll be back ok?" She said and I just mumbled in response going to change after she left. Once I was changed I got under my pile of blankets and snuggled into my pillows. I was already comfy and having Paige here would make me feel even better.

I was pretty much asleep when Paige walked back in, laying down next to me and kissing my forehead softly. She thought I was asleep and she laid down, sighing lightly as I cuddled into her, feeling warm now.

"G'night Jules." She said softly, running her hands through the tips of my hair.