𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩

Annie's pov:

The sun light started to appear in the room, the sound of the alarm rushing in my ears "it's already seven in the morning?" Sarah said waking up "Yeah" my eyes were still getting used to the morning light "We have to photograph the team's practice remember?" I told Sarah "uhum...just 5 more minutes" And she went back to sleep, but I got out of the bed and decided to take a shower. Today I would photograph the team professionally for the first time, I was happy of course, but the idea of being in the same place as Paige and photographing her was not my favorite thing in the world at this moment. As the water ran down my body I was trying to convince myself that I could do this, I was starting my photography career like I always dreamed I couldn't let a girl ruin it, I never did why would I now?

I finished my shower still thinking about everything, actually overthinking about everything, my mind is never quiet and today it seems to be worse. I have never experienced a heartbreak like this, everything is new, all the new feelings, the new experiences involving photography and my personal life, but I have to face it. And the only person who can make it easier is the one who has been with me since I was born, my mother.

I put on clean clothes, a basic black top and a low-waisted jeans, did my everyday makeup and grabbed my phone to call home. I went to the small balcony I had in the dorm room to not wake Sarah and called my mom, it didn't take long and she answered "Good morning sweetheart, how are you?" My mom's voice is the best thing I could hear after overthinking even the color of my clothes "Hi mom, im good and you?" She replied with an 'im good too' and talked a little about what was going on in her life "But how is Iowa treating you?" She asked "Well, so far so good. Today is the first photoshoot with the team here..." I said trying not to sound worried "Let me guess, you're freaking out right? And even more so now that you're not okay with Paige" But she is my mom... "Oh mom I wish you were here with me to protect me" "Honey you can do it, Paige is not a monster" She laughed "And I know you'll rock the photoshoot, I trained my girl well" I laughed at her pride "It's just-" Suddenly a intense urge to cry took over me and I couldn't hold back the tears, I let it out everything I was holding back "Oh my love don't cry, you need to trust yourself Annie. Stop letting people get into your mind, you are such a strong girl" My mom kept comforting me with her calming words "I miss you so much mom" I said wiping my face that was now covered in mascara "I miss you too An" a comforting tone in her voice "you're going to rock I know it! Do this for me okay?" "I hope so...I have to go now..." I said with my voice still shaking "You can do it Annie, I love you" "Thanks mom, I love you too". I hung up the call, already feeling that hole in me that only my mom can fix.

I went to the bathroom to redo my makeup and make sure I looked presentable, then Sarah woke up "Shit, im late" She got out of bed running to the bathroom "Take your time, I don't feel like eating breakfast right now..." We would have a breakfast with the team this morning, in fact all 3 mornings we would be here. Sarah finished getting ready in perfect time unfortunately, and we went to the breakfast room "Morning sleepyheads" KK said to me and and Sarah, and after that she hugged Sarah like she would disappear if she blinked, Im so glad they got it together. I decided to have pancakes with red berries, I wasn't really hungry but I needed something to eat, I sat at a table with Sarah,KK, Azzi and then Nika and Paige came over to the table, I couldn't avoid Paige I know that, but I was so nervous "Good morning" Nika and Paige said and everyone at the table replied, they kept talking about random things and I was nodding along "We should do a live" KK said and Paige and Sarah who were next to her agreed, she opened TikTok and people started to joining the live. Paige getting a lot of compliments of her fans, Sarah and KK trying to not be too obvious to the public 'private but not a secret' and Nika decided to show up for a bit "Hey guyss" Nika said to the phone screen, I was too focused on eating my pancake and wasn't paying much attention to them "What is Paige looking at?" KK read a comment out loud "KK read the comments in your mind first, geez" Sarah said and I glanced at them quickly, Paige was looking at me, she was staring at me, like she needed to say somenthing "She is tired guys, she does this when she is tired" Sarah said trying to calm the things out "um im backing to my room" I said feeling a little uncomfortable, Paige still had her eyes on me "Can you focus here?" I could hear Nika whispering to Paige "Sorry" she replied "What are we doing? Having breakfast" KK said as they continued the live.

On the way to my room Azzi called my name "Annie" I turned around "Hi Azz" "Are you okay?" She asked me walking beside me "Yeah, I just need to get a few things from my room" "Got it. It's because you left the table so suddenly, I was worried that you were feeling excluded or something" She said with a worried tone "Oh no,never, I just don't like to show up too much you know? But thanks for worrying" I answerd "Always!" "Do you want to come with me? I'll probably get some ice cream after I stop by my room" I asked Azzi, I enjoy her company "Sure".

After getting some ice cream with Azzi we headed to the court to start the practice "Where have you been?" Sarah asked me "With Azzi" "I see, you and her now...leaving me" She said in a dramatic voice "come on Sah, you were with KK" "Just kidding" We both laughed "Anyway... Paige can't stop to looking at you" Sarah said as we set up our camera and the girls were stretching, Paige was looking at me and our eyes met she smirked and I couldn't help but blush "I wouldn't stop looking at you either if you were my girl and were wearing those pants, they make you look so hot" Sarah said "Oh stop Sarah" I said shyly "and im not 'her girl' " I said looking at Paige again but this time she wasn't looking at me "But you want to be?" Sarah asked me and I kept quiet "Whoever stays silent agrees" She said teasing me, but I stayed silent and looked at Sarah "Okay...I get it" "I just don't know what to do... she was with another girl, she doesn't want me" I said holding my camera close to my face and starting to take pictures "Talk to her An" Sarah said and I looked at her "I will...". The practice started and for some reason my camera always caught Paige, the way she was playing today was different, she was more determined, more focused, like if she was trying to prove something, I wish I could tell her how beautiful even when she was all sweaty. It was hurting me so much to know she was with another girl that night, I needed to know her reasons, I needed to know if I did something wrong, I needed to talk to her. Practice continued and my mind was only on Paige, 'Annie focus' I was telling myself but it didn't helped "Okay that's it for today" Coach Geno said, the girls started going to the locker room, and the others came to talk to me and Sarah, but Paige didn't come...

We got back to the hotel and Sarah and I were in our room watching The walking Dead because we were having some free time "I think im in love for Michonne" Sarah said closing her eyes in a dramatic way "Me too" I replied giggling because who isn't in love with her? "Im hungry, do we have anything to eat here?" Sarah asked getting up from the bed "I bought some ice cream earlier, there should be some left" Sarah was getting the ice cream from the small freezer the room had and suddenly someone knocked on the door "Im coming" Sarah said in a singsong tone, she opened the door "Oh... Hi Bueckers" when I heard her name I turned my head to look at the door and sat on the edge of the bed, I could only see parts of her blonde hair "Can I talk to Annie?" She asked "umm, I guess...?" Sarah looked at me with just her head still holding the door, I froze, I didn't know what to do, it was time to know the truth, I needed to face it, so I nodded to Sarah and she let Paige in "Come in" Sarah said making room for Paige and she whispered a small 'thanks' to her "Im going to see KK okay?" Sarah said feeling that me and Paige needed some time alone, but before she left the room I saw her saying quietly to Paige 'don't mess it up'.

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆...

A/N

We had a moment to honor us fans of The Walking Dead in this chapter (by the way, I'm OBSESSED with TWD).

Mia yapping 😽

I heard that TikTok is going to be banned in the US, I'm going to miss you guys, my fy is like 80% American LOL... But speaking as someone who is from a country where they already said they were going to ban TikTok twice and didn't, I still have hope that they won't ban it there too.

I hope you liked it, sorry for any mistakes and don't forget to vote! See you 🤍