24. Forever

I won't be alone for the rest of my life

I'll build a boat for when the river gets high

Jenna

"P... how what?"

"Jenna just get in the car" Paige said sternly as she unlocks the doors.

But I couldn't move, my body felt frozen as it shivered hard, my teeth chattering as i couldn't tell the difference between my tears and the water that dropped from my hair onto my face.

"Hey — no.." Paige sighs getting out of her car before walking towards me.

"what are you doing— your going to get soaked." i cried as her arms wrap about my small frame.

"Shh, come here." She whispers as i place my head on her chest, we were hugging in the rain.

As soon as her scent hit my senses tears uncontrollably fall from my eyes as I grip her tighter to me, scared to let go because if i did i felt like she'd disappear. Her hands lace in my hair perfectly despite the knocks and kinks that tangled it together.

"why don't we get you home huh?"

"please..." I nod as she kisses my head softly before she pulls away from me, the cold air hitting my skin again as her heat pulls from me.

"Here—" Paige says softly as she opens her car door and handing me a random sweatshirt she had sitting in her back seat, "the seat warmers on, feel free to try and get out of that top so you don't get sick, home is about 15 minutes from here and i don't think you'd wanna sit in wet clothes.." She chuckles softly as she closes the door as i get it before quickly getting back into the drivers seat.

I clear my throat as I quietly unbutton the soaked cloth reveling myself in only a bra as i quickly throw Paige's sweatshirt on me. I pull my knees to my chest before a soft hand makes me jump slightly.

"Hey it's just me..." Paige whispers breaking through the silence of the car, "i'm here."

"how did you find me?"

Paige chuckles, " i can't give myself all the credit — your lucky Caitlin still has your airtag location or id be out here all night looking for you"

"You'd keep looking if you didn't have my location?"

Paige stops at a red light before looking towards me, our eyes glued to eachother.

"I'd never stop looking for you Jenna Midow."

That wasn't just about tonight.

Breath hitches in my throat as Paige gives my knee a soft squeeze, i felt myself lean in slightly and before i knew it so was she.

A green haze covers her face as we pull away quickly, "i-um- a-are you warm enough?" Paige removes her hand to turn of the heat as I mumble nodding before leaning my head on the window.

Paige

Pulling into the apartment complex I look towards the sleepy girl in my passenger seat, and if i knew one thing about Jenna, i knew that once she was asleep there was little to no chance to wake her up.

Unless you want an angry little Jenna Midow.

Getting out of the car i chuckle softly opening her door quietly as i unbuckle her out of her seat before carefully picking her small frame up, she cuddles into my chest gripping my sweatshirt as i walk towards the already open door, Azzi greeting me there.

"How is she doing?"

"I'm not sure she barely talked, but she's freezing.." I whisper as we walk her towards her room, setting her softly on her bed.

"Here i brought some more blankets, maybe we should get some sweats on her?" I nod letting out a shaky breath before turning to her closet to pull out a pair of sweats.

"Can you?"

"Yes of course, can you go and get her some water, maybe some advil and a snack for the morning? I don't think she'd be hungover considering she didn't drink much but she may run a small fever."

"Yes nurse Azzi.." I chuckle nodding before walking out of the room to grab the things she asked for.

"Hey.." Azzi whispers walking out of Jenna's room making me look up from the counter, "stop beating yourself up.. You found her, it's not your fault.."

"I just —" I really wasn't sure what to say, "I'm scared i'm gonna lose her Az, everyday here i feel like she's farther away from me.."

"and today you fixed that, if she doesn't see that Paige then she's blind.. You can't make her see something she's reluctant to want to see.."

I sigh shaking my head as I leaned on the counter, "God what if she got hurt, or taken —"

"Paige— she's in that room, she's safe and okay, stop beating yourself up over something that didn't happen! You're going to drive yourself crazy.."

"I know you're right.."

"i always am.." Azzi smirks before looking at her phone, "now go talk to her, she's awake — and not about tonight, be yourself, i think what she needs right now is normalcy..."

Jenna

I sigh as there's a soft knock opening my door, "Azzi i don't wann—"

"Sorry to disappoint.." Paige chuckles softly as i sit up in my bed pulling my knees to my chest, "i brought you some things.." She gives me a tight lipped smile as she puts a water and some crackers on my bedside table.

"thank you —"

"It's just snacks Jenn.."

"No i mean for everything.."

"you shouldn't have to worry about that right now," Paige sighs reaching for the blanket and putting it around my shoulders before handing me Kenny.

"Kennith always makes me feel better.." I chuckle hugging the stuffed animal.

"Remember when i hid him from you for hours and you literally went into SWAT mode."

"YOU DID THAT! YOU TOLD ME IT WAS CAITLIN!" I gasped.

"Oh fuck i forgot about that.." Paige smiles sitting next to me on my bed, "It was caitlin!"

"You little liar!" I chuckle playing with Kenny's ears, "you knew the whole time while i ripped apart my hotel room!"

"You missed a WIDE open three after my amazing pass— then ignored me the rest of the game after I joked around with you about it! You know how hard it is to be on the court when Jenna Midow is ignoring you! I had to get you to talk to me somehow!"

"SO YOU STOLE KENNY!"

"He was fine!"

"You put him in the CLOSET! It was dark!"

Paige laughs and she hits my shoulder softly with hers, "you're such a nerd.."

"don't act like it's not the best part about me.."

A silence grows softly between us as we chuckle at our old memories.

"I don't even think you know that everything about you is the best part of you.." Paige whispers softly as she picks at my bed sheets.

"says you.." I whisper back making her head snap towards me.

"you can never take a compliment, Midow."

"I have no idea what you're talking about P.." I chuckle softly.

She turns to me smiling softly as she tucks a peice of hair behind my ear, "I mean you would absolutely balk if I told you how you lit up every room or how no one else has ever been able to match me in one on one like you can."

"I have flaws Paige — i'm not —"

"You never could see how stunning you were, even with your stupid perfect hair and those weird clear glasses you used to wear. You have these constellations of freckles a-and the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. Back when we were younger it would frustrate me to no end that you couldn't see yourself the way I did, the way I wished you could. Even now, you're somehow still effortlessly perfect and everyone seems to notice, except you."

I studied her as her lips slightly parted.

Had she really not known all these years what She meant to me? How she had been a refuge for me in the hostility of suburbia? How her words and the way she looked at her had, at least, partially been a raft to higher ground when I was drowning?

"Thank you.." I whisper looking up at her, not noticing how close our faces had become as she talked to me.

"You don't have to thank me for the truth..."

"Goodnight Paige.." I whisper before leaning in to kiss her cheek softly.

"Goodnight Jenna.."