Thirty

The cafeteria in Gampel Pavilion was a chaotic mix of loud voices, laughter, and the clatter of plates and cutlery. By the time Paige and I got there, half the team was already scattered across the tables. Azzi and Amari were locked in a heated debate about Marvel movies, while Aubrey and Ice were sharing what looked like their third plate of fries.

Paige grabbed two trays, sliding one toward me without asking. "You're not skipping lunch," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Yes, mama. Wouldn't want you worrying about me."

"You're damn right I'd worry," she said with a smirk, piling food onto her tray like she was preparing for battle. "You need fuel if you're gonna keep up with me."

"Keep up with you?" I snorted, grabbing a salad and a water bottle. "I think you mean the other way around."

Paige just shot me a look, one of those playful but challenging stares that always made my stomach flip.

We found seats at a table in the corner, close enough to the team to stay in the mix but far enough to have some space. I could feel Aaliyah's eyes on us as we sat down, her grin wide enough to be seen from across the room.

"What's up with you two?" she called out, leaning back in her chair.

"Nothing," I said quickly, stabbing at my salad.

"Definitely something," Nika chimed in, sliding into a seat next to Aaliyah. "India's blushing."

"I'm not blushing," I protested, my cheeks heating up.

Paige, ever the instigator, leaned back in her chair and smirked. "Maybe she just can't handle being this close to greatness."

"Oh, please," I muttered, glaring at her. But the warmth in her eyes made it impossible to stay mad.

Lunch continued with the usual team chaos—Azzi accidentally spilling her drink, Amari trying to steal fries from Aubrey's plate, and Nika cracking jokes that had everyone in stitches.

At one point, Paige leaned over, her voice low so only I could hear. "You good, baby girl?"

I nodded, caught off guard by the softness in her tone. "Yeah, I'm good. Why?"

She shrugged, her fingers brushing mine for just a moment. "Just checking."

After lunch, practice turned into a scrimmage. Coach had the team split into two groups, with Paige captaining one side and Azzi the other. I stayed near the sideline with my camera, capturing the intensity of the game—the sharp passes, the quick footwork, the moments of pure athleticism that made this team so special.

Paige was in her element, barking orders and making plays like a general on the court. Her chemistry with Nika was electric, their passes seamless, almost telepathic.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing. At one point, Paige went up for a layup and got blocked—hard—by Ice.

"Ohhh!" Aubrey hollered from the bench, her laugh echoing through the gym. "P got humbled!"

Paige grinned, shaking it off as she jogged back down the court. "Don't get used to it," she called, shooting a glare that was more playful than serious.

The scrimmage ended with Paige's team taking the win, thanks to a last-second three-pointer from Nika. The gym erupted into cheers and groans, the team collapsing onto the benches in a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration.

Paige walked over to me, sweat glistening on her forehead but her smile as smug as ever. "You catch that?"

"All of it," I said, showing her the last shot on my camera.

She leaned in to look, her shoulder brushing mine. "Damn. You're good at this."

"Don't act so surprised," I teased, nudging her lightly.

After practice, the team started to drift out, heading to the locker room or grabbing their stuff. Paige stayed behind, stretching on the court while I packed up my equipment.

"You staying late again?" she asked, her voice casual but her eyes curious.

"Probably," I said, shrugging. "Got some editing to do."

She nodded, then stood, grabbing a basketball and spinning it on her finger. "Wanna shoot around for a bit?"

"Me?" I laughed. "I'm not exactly a star player, P."

"Doesn't matter," she said, tossing me the ball. "Come on, baby girl. Show me what you got."

To my surprise, I actually made a couple of shots—enough to earn an approving nod from Paige. But mostly, it was just an excuse to mess around, her teasing me every time I missed and me firing back with whatever witty comeback I could muster.

At one point, she caught the ball mid-air and held it above her head, smirking down at me.

"Come on, Inds," she said, her voice low and teasing. "Jump for it."

I glared at her, crossing my arms. "You're impossible."

"And yet, you're still here," she shot back, her smile softening.

As the gym lights dimmed and the evening settled in, I couldn't help but feel like something was shifting between us. It wasn't just the banter or the stolen glances—it was the way she looked at me, like I was more than just the girl behind the camera.

And maybe, just maybe, she was becoming more than just the star player to me.

"Ready to call it a night?" she asked, dribbling the ball one last time before tucking it under her arm.

"Yeah," I said, grabbing my bag.

As we walked out of the gym together, side by side, I realized I didn't want this day to end. And something told me Paige felt the same.