42. Almost is Never Enough
Five Star ☆ Paige Bueckers
almost is never enough
So close to being in love
If I would have known that you wanted me
The way I wanted you
Jenna
"And then Cait slammed the door on my fucking foot!" I laugh telling a story from freshmen year when Caitlin ran out of our dorm room because of a spider as an eat another fry from Kate's plate.
"Get your own!" Kate slaps my hand playful as Caitlin sneaks and takes another one off her plate.
"And you're not going to slap her?" I gasp as Kate shakes her head, "she's my teammate â i slap her then i get it on the court, youâ we don't play together anymore so ain't no way."
I clench my jaw shaking my head trying to pretend like Kate's comment didn't stab me in a wound that was barely healed.
"So â" Caitlin starts as she turns to me, "any party's tonight?"
"Umm..." I look thought my phone before shaking my head, "A few..." Caitlin smirks rasing her eyebrows, "Cait noâ"
"Why!"
"I have my first ever official game in a day, and I can barely get my three shot to look like i actually belong here. the last thing i need is to get wasted."
"Maybe that's what you need Midow.." Kate smirks eating a fry as she looks at me.
"And why is that Martin?"
"Your soâ" She grabs my shoulders, "Tense, maybe that's why you can't get a shot upâ when was the last time you let loose and forgot all about... well everything?"
"Real athletes don't drink Kate.."
"Who said? because if that's so then fuckâ i'm a fake.." Kate laughed.
"Yeah me too!" Caitlin smiles, "cmon Jenn, we came here for a great time! Not to sit in your dorm room, there has to be a bar that has a party tonightâ we are literally in the basketball city two days before your first basketball game.."
"Well the girls were â"
"I'm sold!" Kate hits the table before getting up, "anyone want more fries?"
"Me!"
"Me too!" Caitlin chimes in as Kate walks away.
"I'm going to kill you-" My smile drops as i look towards Caitlin as she puts her hands up in defense.
"Don't act like you didn't wanna see herâ you guys haven't talked in months! She misses you."
I nod, "Okay, but what does she expect me to say? She didn't say goodbye, she barely was okay with me even leaving!"
"She's grown a lot Jenna... she really just misses her bestfriend now, whatever happened between you two â it's in the past, plus i told her you have your eye on ... someone else.."
"You didn't !"
"don't lie, your head over heels for Paige, i could have brought your celebrity crush and you wouldn't fold! Jenna have you not â"
"She friendzoned me, we've been over this Cait, me and paige ... It's.. i don't knowâ"
"She what?"
"yeahâ said we were better best friends right now.."
Caitlin leans back in her chain confused, "that's soâ" she shakes her head, "Tell me this Midow.."
"what now.."
"If she really friend zoned you why would she pay for me and kate to get here?" My eyes widen as do Caitlin's, "fuck i wasn't suppose to tell you that.."
"Paige is the reason your here?"
"She got us hereâ she mentioned it to me a few days ago and got me and Kate a ticket the minute our coach let us have a few days off.." Caitlin shrugged, "Jenna, that girl is head over heels for you in love... If it was me i wouldn't pay atleast half the money she paid to get us here to see our best friend finally play in her first game back..."
"i just don't understandâ"
"Jenna, there's nothing to understand, it's right there infront of you... and i'm sorry if me bringing Kate confused you but i thought maybe if i brought someone you had a minor crush on it would finally convince you that whatever is going on between you and paige is far from minor."
"Caitlin, you saw the way Paige reacted when she saw Kate! She knows, she knows everything in the past, she saw that instagram post, what if she thinks Kate's here for us to get back â"
"Well then that's on her JJ.. if she's blind to see that you love her then you can't do anything more then what you already have!"
"I can't justâ" I groan
"Jenna it's always been Paige..." Caitlin grabs my hand softly, "Kate knows that.."
"What's all the chit chat about huh? talking shit?" Kate walks back over to the table setting down the fries.
"Noâ Jenna was just telling me about the bar we are going to tonight!"
Paige
"So we are going to Tommy's? Tonight?" I sigh as i focus on my game of fortnite.
"That's what Jenna said, " Azzi shrugs as she paints her nails on my bed, "Her, Kate and Caitlin are going to meet us there."
"Then i'm not going" I shrug shaking my head.
"Paige â what?"
"I said what i said.. i'm not going.." I repeat pausing my game before turning to Azzi, "and what get my heart broken my Jenna Midow againâ you know i've been thinking i think i could take seeing her kiss Blake but Kate," I shake my head, "ain't no fuck ass way.."
"Okay so when did my bestfriend become such a prude"
"take that backâ"
"It's a night at the bar â not a fucking frat or a strip club, all the cameras are on you her and martin, i doubt Jenna would be stupid enough toâ"
"dont even finish that because she already did.." I sigh picking up my phone to show Azzi the instagram post from an Iowa fan.
"Two years ago Paige! God are you okay? because your just hurting yourself in the process of this.."
"I'm saving myself heartbreak from when she picks Martin over me" I shrug.
"oh and suddenly you can tell the future?"
"you didn't see the way she looked at herâ"
"HER BEST FRIEND SHE HASNT SEEN IN 5 MONTHS PAIGE DO YOU HESR YOURSELF?" Azzi groans, "Do you even realize how that girl looks at you?"
"She doesn'tâ"
"Paige.. jesus fuck do i need to spell everything out for you? You two could be the greatest love story! That girls heart beats for you Paige ! You turned her world around more than you even know! I'm sorry paige but this is tough love and i'm tired of watching you pretend! It would be comedic to watch that girl go to someone else after the way she looks at you! God you are 22 years old and i swear you act like a child sometimes!"
"Fine i'll go... but that doesn't mean i'll talk to her.. a-at least not yet... I want her to spend her time with them.."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Good."
"good."
"Get dressed Paige."