The air in the gym smelled like rubber and sweat, a familiar combination that always made me feel like I was home. I had my camera bag slung over my shoulder as I watched the team warm up for the evening's game. Paige was already on the court, stretching and doing a few drills. Her focus was magnetic, as always, but I found myself unable to stop staring. Not because she was just another player on the court, but because I had seen her grow, seen her come into her own in ways I never imagined. There was something so... magnetic about her, so intense, that it was impossible not to notice.
"Are you seriously zoning out right now?" Aubrey's voice broke through my thoughts.
I turned to see her standing beside me, arms crossed, her typical smirk plastered on her face.
"Sorry, I was thinking," I said, lifting my camera to my eye to focus on the players. "About how much better this team is with Paige on it." I immediately regretted the words.
Aubrey raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying my excuse. "Uh-huh. And how exactly did you manage to pull that one off?"
"Pull what off?"
"Come on, Inds. Everyone can see the way you two look at each other," she teased, nudging me with her elbow. "I mean, I see it, and I'm pretty sure everyone else does too."
I rolled my eyes and shrugged. "What can I say? She's... hard to resist."
Aubrey let out a dramatic sigh. "You're in too deep, girl."
Before I could retort, Azzi came over, smiling like she had a secret. She was always in a good mood before a game, a contrast to her usual quiet self. She leaned in, a conspiratorial tone taking over her voice. "Hey, don't let them get to you. If you need to sneak a kiss later, you know where to find me."
"I'll keep that in mind," I said, laughing despite myself.
The players continued with their warm-ups, and I watched as they moved through drills. Paige was laughing at something Aubrey said while she adjusted her shooting form, and for the briefest second, I could've sworn they looked like two teammates with a shared history, not two people with so many unspoken words between them.
The game started with the usual high energy, the crowd buzzing in anticipation. I knew how important this game was for the team. They needed this win if they wanted to keep their momentum heading into the rest of the season. Every player was locked in, but there was something about tonight that felt different—like the stakes were higher for everyone.
I moved along the sidelines, snapping photos as the game unfolded. My eyes naturally gravitated to Paige—partly because I couldn't help myself, and partly because I needed to capture every moment of her brilliance. She was on fire tonight, hitting shots, making assists, and leading the team with an intensity that I hadn't seen in her before. I was so focused on capturing her every move that I barely noticed Aubrey jog up to me until she waved her hand in front of my face.
"Earth to Inds," she said, smirking. "You know, if you keep looking at Paige like that, someone might think you're in love with her or something."
My heart skipped, and I struggled to find the right words. "We're—"
"Just friends?" she finished for me, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Sure, I'll buy that."
I shot her a glare, but she just chuckled and nudged me with her shoulder. "Look, I'm just messing with you. But if it's obvious to me, it's probably obvious to everyone else."
I sighed, knowing she wasn't wrong. As if to prove her point, I could feel my cheeks warming when I caught Paige's eyes from across the court. She gave me a quick wink, and I quickly turned away to hide my blushing face.
"Your face is literally turning red," Aubrey pointed out, laughing. "Like, it's super obvious."
"Shut up," I muttered, my fingers tightening around the camera.
By halftime, I was starting to feel the weight of the evening. The game was neck-and-neck, with both teams playing hard. I couldn't help but admire how well the team was working together, especially Paige. She was a natural leader on and off the court, but tonight, there was something else about her—something that made my stomach twist in the best way possible.
I was walking along the sidelines, scanning the crowd with my camera, when I heard a familiar voice.
"Hey, baby girl," Paige called, jogging over to me.
"Hey, superstar," I said, lifting my camera and snapping a photo of her mid-motion. "How's the game going?"
"Good. Just a few adjustments needed," she said, her eyes scanning the court as she took a quick breath. "But we'll get it."
I nodded, watching her closely. Her confidence was one of the things I loved about her—she made everyone believe they could win, and I think that confidence rubbed off on me too.
"You're killing it out there," I said, my voice softer than I intended.
She smirked, one eyebrow quirking in a teasing fashion. "Well, someone's paying attention."
"I'm always paying attention," I said quickly. "Just, you know, to everything."
The corner of her mouth curled into a grin. "Uh-huh. Sure."
"I'm serious!" I defended, but then she leaned closer, her breath warm against my ear.
"I know you are."
For a brief moment, it felt like the entire world around us faded. The noise, the lights, the other players—it was like it was just the two of us. My heart was beating a little faster than it should've, and I felt the electricity in the air between us.
Before I could process what I was feeling, Paige pulled back, her playful grin back in place. "Alright, I've got to get back to it. Can't let Aubrey think she's the only one who can lead a team, right?"
I let out a soft laugh, watching her jog back to her teammates. I wanted to follow her, to keep her close, but I knew that right now, my place was behind the camera. I couldn't let myself get distracted—not when the game was still on the line.
The second half was a blur of movement and emotion. The team was fighting for every point, and Paige was pushing everyone to give their best. As the final buzzer rang, marking the win for the team, I felt a rush of pride for her and for everything they had accomplished tonight.
"Good game, everyone!" Coach Geno called, his voice booming across the gym. "We did what we needed to do. Great work."
As the team began to disperse, Paige jogged over to me, grinning like a cat that had just caught the canary.
"Well, we did it," she said, her voice full of satisfaction. "And I think I deserve a reward for all my hard work."
"Oh?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "What kind of reward are we talking about here?"
"I think you know," she said, her smile wicked and full of promise.
Without missing a beat, she leaned in, her lips brushing against mine. For a brief second, I thought I might melt right there in the middle of the court. But when she pulled away, leaving me breathless, I couldn't help but smile.
"I'm taking that as my reward," she said, her tone light but teasing. "I'll see you after practice, baby girl."
I watched her walk away, the feeling of her lips lingering on mine. And as I stood there, my heart racing and my mind swirling, I realized that maybe, just maybe, I was ready for whatever came next.
