Ten

I woke up with a restless energy coursing through me, a feeling I couldn't shake off. Paige's touch—the light brush of her fingers against my skin on the rooftop—kept replaying in my mind. It wasn't the kind of touch that was meant to be nothing, but I couldn't quite figure out if it meant something either.

I pulled myself out of bed, the early morning light creeping through my window. My phone was dead silent, which was unusual for a morning after the team had gone through media sessions and interviews. No texts from Paige. No cryptic messages. Just... silence.

And yet, something inside me said I wasn't done thinking about her.

When I arrived at the gym later that morning, the place was already buzzing. The team was gearing up for a scrimmage, their sneakers squeaking across the court, the sound filling the air in a rhythmic, almost hypnotic way. The coaches were giving last-minute pep talks, making sure the girls were focused, and the atmosphere felt electric. It was a big day for them—this scrimmage wasn't just any practice session, it was a chance to test out new strategies and lineups for the upcoming games.

"Inds!" Lou's voice cut through the noise, her bright smile shining as she jogged over.

"Hey!" I smiled back, adjusting the strap on my camera as I snapped a quick shot of the team huddled together.

"You ready to capture some magic today?" Lou asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Always," I replied, offering her a playful wink.

The next few minutes were a blur of motion as the girls ran drills, the ball bouncing against the hardwood in a constant rhythm. Aaliyah and Nika were in their usual competitive spirits, taking turns trying to one-up each other with fast breaks and fancy footwork. Lou and Azzi had paired up, challenging each other to see who could make the most three-pointers in a row.

And then there was Paige.

She was a force of nature, her presence dominating the court as she directed traffic, her eyes scanning the floor, calling out instructions to the team with ease. She was intense—focused—but there was something about her energy today that felt different. Maybe it was the way her gaze flicked to me every now and then, like she was aware of my every movement.

I did my best to stay focused on the task at hand, but it was hard to ignore the way my pulse quickened whenever she glanced my way.

"Inds!" Azzi called from the other side of the court, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You catching any of my good side?"

I smiled and lifted my camera. "Always, Az."

As I moved around the court, capturing the action, I couldn't help but notice Paige's intensity. There was something more calculated about her today, like she was pushing herself harder, not just for the team, but for something more. It wasn't just about the game anymore—it felt like it was about proving something to herself.

She locked eyes with me again as she ran past, her gaze lingering longer than it had all morning. I snapped a quick shot, but it wasn't of the game—it was of her.

When practice finally wrapped up, the gym was filled with the sounds of shoes squeaking against the floor, the heavy breathing of athletes pushing their limits, and the hum of coaches offering feedback. I was reviewing my photos when I felt someone approach, their footsteps familiar.

Paige.

I didn't look up at first, my fingers absently scrolling through the images on my camera.

"You caught me, huh?" she said, her voice low, just close enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I finally looked up, meeting her gaze. There was that same intensity in her eyes, but today it was mixed with something else. Something softer.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "You looked... different today."

Paige raised an eyebrow, taking a step closer. "Different how?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to put the thoughts swirling in my head into words. "Like... you were pushing yourself harder. Not just for the team, but for something else. Like you had something to prove."

She let out a low laugh, her smirk curling at the edges. "I guess I do. But it's not about anyone else. It's about me. I've got a lot to prove to myself."

I nodded, understanding more than she probably realized.

Before I could say anything else, the sound of someone clearing their throat cut through the moment.

"Yo, P! Stop flirting and get over here!" Lou called from the other side of the gym.

I looked at Paige, my heart skipping a beat at the teasing look in her eyes.

"I'm not flirting," Paige said, her voice low but playful. "I'm just having a conversation."

I smirked. "Sure, Mama."

Paige chuckled, the warmth of her laugh making my stomach do a little flip. "I'll catch you later, Inds."

"Yeah, later."

The rest of the day was a blur of photos and editing, punctuated by the usual banter with the team. There was no denying it—the chemistry between us, the unspoken tension, was growing stronger by the day. I could feel it, and I knew Paige could too. But neither of us was saying anything about it.

It was like we were both caught in this weird limbo—too close to be just friends, but too unsure to be something more.

I hated it.

———

Later that evening, after the last of the team had trickled out of the gym, I found myself lingering by the door, a half-empty coffee cup in my hand. I was so deep in my thoughts that I almost didn't notice Paige standing there, watching me from a distance.

She was leaning against the wall, arms crossed over her chest, her usual smirk in place.

"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked, her voice teasing but somehow softer than usual.

I turned to face her, my heart doing a strange little flutter. "I don't know if you'd want to know."

"Try me," she said, pushing off the wall and taking a step closer.

I could feel the space between us closing in, but I couldn't figure out if I wanted to run from it or lean in.

"Just... thinking about how things are changing," I said, meeting her gaze.

Paige didn't say anything for a beat, just watched me with that intense, steady look that made it feel like she could see right through me.

"Change can be good," she finally said, her voice soft but full of meaning.

I swallowed hard, not sure if I was ready to take the next step. "Yeah. I guess so."

Her lips curled into a smile, the corners of her eyes softening. "Take your time, Inds. We've got all the time in the world."

And just like that, she was gone. Leaving me standing there, still wondering if I was brave enough to follow where this... whatever this was, might lead.