Paige had been anxious the entire flight back to Storrs. She couldn't help but feel that way because of the probability that the girl she'd been developing feelings for might be interested in someone else. She'd been in her head the entire morning as she developed scenarios of how their conversation would go, and how she should react if Robin was interested in someone else.
She couldn't stop the woman from venturing towards someone else, that wasn't her place at all. She knew when it came to the happiness of the volleyball player, she'd be willing to go on the back burner as she continued to be in a relationship with another person. Paige cared for her so much that she'd settle as being a friend before ever coming between Robin and whoever she'd fallen for.
Anyone was lucky to have her, Paige had just wished it could be her.
"Paige, you've had the same facial expression the whole trip back home," Azzi stated, a concerned look displayed on her face, "what's wrong?"
The blonde hesitated in opening up to her teammate, and best friend, knowing that she'd sound selfish if she were to tell her that she wanted Robin to herself. But, she knew she needed to talk to her about it, since Azzi always knew what to say in these situations.
"It's Robin," she started off, looking down as she began picking at her fingers, "ever since she posted on insta with the whole caption thing, I've been wondering who she'd been talking about. Then, last night I texted her asking about it, so now we're going to talk when we get back on campus."
Azzi nodded, already knowing that Paige and Robin had feelings for one another. Everyone could see it. Since they met, the pair had spent almost everyday with one another, whether it was at their dorms, going to dinners, even going out to get ice cream. Azzi had known Paige for a long time, and she began to notice how different she was around Robin, in a good way.
Robin truly brought out the best of Paige, allowing her to break down her walls, and finally open up to someone outside of the team. Azzi knew how important basketball was to Paige, but at times, the blonde would pour so much into the sport that she wouldn't have a life outside of it. However, ever since she met Robin, she'd begun to open up, come out of her shell, and finally find peace within someone.
"What's making you nervous, P?" Azzi asked.
"I'm-" Paige whispered, trying to form her words without sounding like a complete mess. "I think I like Robin, and to think she's found someone else is like messing with my head, I guess? We're supposed to be friends, and I feel like I'm fucked up because I caught feelings for her, and she's falling for someone else."
Azzi nodded, allowing Paige to continue voicing her feelings, "I don't know, Az. I feel like it's one-sided and I don't want to put her in a position where I confess my feelings for her and she feels stuck between me, and whoever there is. But, I also know that I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't be with her. I don't want to make things awkward."
Azzi sighed, grasping her friend's hand, "P, the relationship that you and Robin have is strong enough for you to be able to talk to her comfortably. From my understanding, she's never made you feel like you couldn't talk to her about how you feel?"
Paige nodded and Azzi continued, "Exactly. Robin adores you, P, and everyone can see that. When you two talk today, you should be honest with her, and just see where it goes? I don't think it'll make things awkward or weird, if anything she'd appreciate you being honest and be willing to work with you from there."
"Thanks, Azzi," Paige mumbled, squeezing her hand. "I appreciate you."
"I know I'm the best." she shrugged, releasing her hand, "Now, we have about twenty minutes until we make it back to campus. So, put your big girl panties on and prepare yourself to talk to your girl."
At her dorm, Robin began to pace back and forth. She had just received a message from Paige notifying her that she was on the way to her dorm. Harley had stepped out, telling her that she would be going to the gym, leaving her alone to think about what she would say to Paige.
"Okay, maybe I'll just be like, 'Hey, P, the post was about you because I actually have liked you since you saw me crying hysterically on the floor!' Nah, I do not like that. Maybe I should be like, 'Hey, Paige, the post was about you, but don't think I'm weird.' No, fuck, I don't know what to say!"
Before she could continue talking to herself, Paige knocked on the door softly, causing her to run towards it, and open it. She was face to face with the blonde woman that she was falling so hard for.
"Hey, you," Robin said, pulling the girl into a hug, wrapping her arms around her waist, "Congratulations again on the win, superstar."
"Thank you, birdie," she responded, her head nuzzled in the shorter's neck, "I really did miss you."
The two embraced each other for a moment before Robin pulled her inside her dorm and directed her to sit next to her on the couch. The two sat in silence for a moment before Robin began speaking.
"I know you feel like you've been out of the loop with the whole post and everyone in the comments." Robin started, looking at Paige, who began to pick at her fingers. "But the truth is, you're not, P. I was talking about you."
Paige stopped what she was doing, her eyes flickering up to look at Robin's face. There seemed to be no hesitation in her voice, like she was being serious right now.
"It's always been you, P. Ever since you helped me that night, and you comforted me without even asking questions was the night that I knew that you were so much different from anyone I met. You have continuously shown me so much kindness and the time that we've spent together has been amazing. In now way do I want to ruin our friendship or make you uncomfortable for admitting these feelings, but I know how I feel about you. There've been so many mistakes that I've made in the past, but this, me confessing this to you, is not a mistake."
Relief was spread throughout Paige as she listened to Robin pour out her feelings. The anxiety that she began feeling this morning was replaced with solace. The girl that she had been falling for this entire time had finally come out and said that she felt the same way.
"Paige?" she said, snapping the basketball player out of his thoughts, and a smile spread across her face.
"You just gave me so much relief," Paige admitted, "I thought that you were falling for someone else, and the whole way back home I was so anxious. I was going to come in here and tell you that I liked you, but you beat me to it. Even when I saw you on Miles' social media, I would think about how much better I would treat you. You deserve the kindness, and the laughter, and appreciation, birdie, and I am willing to give all of it to you. I like you back, Robin, so much."
And finally, in that moment, both girls were honest with one another, and themselves. Pushing past all negative thoughts and insecurities, they'd finally opened up to one another and admitting the feelings that they've felt the moment that they had met.
"Where do we go from here, then?"