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Chapter Text

Getting that phone call should have been one of the happiest moments of her life. 

Rookie of the year was right up there with winning a Natty and being first overall on Azzi's life long list of goals. But, unlike Tampa Bay, when she was surrounded by her teammates, or the draft when her parents had hugged her so tightly she could barely breath; tonight Azzi was alone, Kathy congratulated her over the phone politely, but then she went off to do commissioner stuff.  Azzi sat on her couch, Grey's Anatomy played in the background and Stewie was curled on her lap.

Azzi called her mom, it didn't go through. She checked the clock and cursed, 8pm here 11pm there. Past her bed time. 

She didn't call her Dad, he was most likely asleep. She sent her family group chat a quick note.

Azzi : Got some good news I can't wait to tell you guys in the morning.

Azzi looked at her phone for a minute more. Then called Kaitlyn Chen, her current best friend.

"Hey Az, what's up. Is everything okay?"

"Yah, KC, what's up with you?"

"Im actually out of town with Caden right now, can I call you back later?"

Azzi smiled softly, "Of course, have fun, be safe, use protection."

She could hear KC roll her eyes through the phone.

"Whatever you say Mom. Bye."

"Bye"

Again Azzi sat in the darkness of her apartment. Next she called Kate Martin, she didn't answer but texted that she was back in Illinois with her family and would call Azzi when she got back from dinner. Azzi let her know that there was no rush and they could catch up later.

This process repeated with a few other teammates, old friends, everyone was asleep, with a partner or family. Azzi tried to not let it affect her. Then she got a text.

Coach Grumpy : Heard you won ROTY,  Im proud of you kid. Never doubted you.

Azzi smiled down at her phone,

Azzi : Thank you so much Coach I couldn't have done it without you.

Azzi : How did you know anyway? It won't be released till tomorrow?

Coach Grumpy : I have my ways. And we both know that you could have done this with or without me.

Azzi : Love you Coach

Coach Grumpy : Love you too kid. Go celebrate with your friends. 

Yes, her friends, the ones she hasn't seen in the two weeks since the Valkyrie lost to the Dream in Game three of the first round of the playoffs. A heart breaking loss, but the team still celebrated how far they came in there first season. Then everyone went home to their families, and Azzi went home to her dog and her couch; and she's been here ever since.

Azzi sat there for a moment, she hadn't thought much about her lack of relationship, it had never bothered her. But now her apartment felt to big for one. She didn't sleep in her bed because it felt too big for just her. Azzi watched as the people on tv fell in love, got hurt, then got better. As Azzi drifted off to sleep, a scary thought crossed her mind, she had never allowed herself to be venerable with someone in college so she needed to focus; but what if she waited too long and now she was broken, what if she going to be alone forever.

When she woke up Grey's Anatomy still playing, Stewie was prodding her chest, "Yah Yah, Ill feed you." she got up and stretched before heading to the kitchen. She made herself a cup of coffee and opened her phone. It was only 8 o'clock but she had hundreds of notifications. Her parents, her brothers, her teammates, her collage teammates, people from around the league, her agent, her coach, her sponsors, and her social media was going insane.

Azzi smiled slightly and allowed herself to bask in the praise, and tried to forget last night.

Two weeks later there was a knock on Azzi's door. She padded over and opened it up to find her two favorite Kates standing there with massive smiles on their faces. "Hey guys, what are you up too?" they barged in. "Well Little Miss Rookie of the year. We are here to make up for being out of town on your big night." Kate shook her by the shoulders while KC ran into Azzi's bedroom, from their she shouted, "Az! Where do you keep your lingerie?". The confused woman ran to her bedroom to find her brunette teammate with a suitcase open on her bed and cloths piling up. "KC. What are you doing?" The two girls looked at Azzi with massive smiles, "We are going to ..." they did a drum roll on her bed, "TEXAS!!". 

"What? Guys, I can't just go to Texas for no good reason." they smiled and continued to pack for Azzi. Kate said, "We have a reason, you won rookie of the year. You can only win this once, Azzi. Come on." They could see the wheels turning in her head, "Okay...If we did this, what would we do in Texas?".

 KC threw a flyer to Azzi, United States Grand Prix, Austin Texas. On it was a cute boy in red with dark hair and pretty eyes, 'Charles Leclarc' was printed beneath him, to the left was a dirty blonde with green eyes, 'Max Verstappen' and in the center was a blonde woman, she was obviously the center of the poster, she wore a cocky smile, dazzling eyes, and an expression that made Azzi want to know more about her. She was gorgeous, 'Paige Bueckers'. 

"Okay, this could be fun." her teammates smiled wide and let out a cheer.

The next morning the three girls hopped on a plane, they arrived in Austin Friday night.  Kate had snagged some rooms at one of the best hotels in the city, a lot of athletes and celebs were staying here in preparation for the race tomorrow. She had seen Steph downstairs and they had a nice conversation before Azzi's exhaustion took over and she went up stairs. Now Azzi lay on her bed with her eyes closed began to drift off to sleep. Banging on the door roused her, she groaned but got up. 

The two women pushed their way onto the room the moment Azzi opened the door, KC had glasses and Kate had a bottle of cheap tequila from the hotel bar. "Pre game, pre game, per game" they chanted in unison. A smile crept onto Azzi's face but she still rolled her eyes to keep up appearances, but her girls could tell they were getting through to her. "Pre game for what? The race isn't till Sunday." They both looked at Azzi like she just asked the most obvious question ever. "Its a Friday night in Austin. ESPN is hosting a party. We are gonna get lit, be hung over for tomorrow, and be ready to go by Sunday."

The three basketball players got ready in Azzi's bathroom. Apparently the other two were sharing a room but had booked Azzi her own in hopes she would 'get some' tonight. 

KC had jeans, a black tube top and a leather jacket, Kate was in all black with a fitted tank top showing off her arms. Azzi had a navy blue mini skirt and a white  halter top, and her friends cheered when she walked out. Kate said "Yes Azzi. Gonna have a line of people asking to buy you a drink from the open bar.", and KC pretended to faint. Azzi shoved Kate but was smiling, 

"Keep it in your pants assholes"

 KC responded "No, the opposite" and Kate jumped in, " The point of tonight is to get you out of your pants." They high-fived and laughed along with Azzi. 

Soon they got the notification that their Uber was here, they each took a quick shot and ran downstairs. The lobby was busy, a lot of people were obviously planning on going out. Azzi leaned over to Kate, "How many people are going to the same party we are?" She shot her a smirk and Azzi already knew the answer, "What a silly question Az", she laughed as the introvert pushed her way outside looking for the white car that was supposed to pick them up. 

She spotted it, quickly made her way over, pulled open the door, quietly muttered "I just want to watch tv with my dog, its too cold for this shit." as started to scoot over to make room for her friends.

 A calm voice answered, "Nah, that seems like a dream," Azzi looked up startled at the blonde woman in her Uber, "Ive been wanting a dog for a while, always talk myself out of it though," she couldn't look away from those blue eyes, they truly were mesmerizing. This woman seemed so confident, but also so familiar, but she couldn't quite place where she had last seen her. Confused Azzi asked "Why are you in my Uber?" The smile grew on her face, she tilted her face and Azzi followed her sharp jawline, the muscles on her neck, she had an large jacket over a baggy t-shirt and came pants. The other girl was talking but Azzi was lost raking her eyes over her. When her eyes drifted back up to her face she found the blonde with a massive smirk, "Enjoy the view?" A blush took over her face and she forced her eyes away from those blue ones. 

Luckily Azzi was saved by the door opening. A young man with curly brown hair and a whisky mustache stood in surprise looking down at her, probably her boyfriend Azzi thought with an unwelcome feeling of disappointment. His eyes drifted to the woman behind her as he spoke, "Really P, I thought you were locking in for the Prix?" Azzi blushed, "Um, Sorry, wrong car," She got up as fast as possible. She heard the other girl, P, say, "Damn it Lando, such a cockblock" but ignored it looking for her teammates she had left behind.

 A hand gently touched her shoulder and Azzi expected to seeker girls. Instead she was greeted by the woman from the car holding out her jacket. 

"Here, you look cold. Take it as an apology for my friend." Azzi tried to ignore the jolt in her heart when she said friend. She calmly responded, "I couldn't possibly, its yours I.." she was promptly cut off by the mysterious woman. "Please. It will give me an excuse to find you later." This woman seemed so genuine it caught Azzi of guard, yes she still had a stupid grin on her face, yes her body laugh age screamed like a flirty playboy, but her voice had such a gentle tone and her eyes were looking at Azzi like she was the only one in a sea of people. 

Azzi didn't realize she had taken the jacket till that smirk turned to a soft smile, but only for a moment. "See you around Fudd." Azzi opened her mouth in shock, "How.." The blonde pointed to something over her shoulder. She turned around. On the Billboard on top of a cab was a ad for Fudd Around and Find out, the podcast she had started this season. When Azzi looked back the woman was gone. Her car nowhere to be found.

She smiled pulling on the jacket slowly. It smelled like vanilla, the ocean and, a faint smell of gasoline. For some reason it went perfectly together and Azzi took a deep breath before she could stop herself. 

"AZZI," she looked over to see KC walking over to her, "KATE, she went back up to get a jacket." Turning to her KC said, "Nice jacket by the way, goes good with the fit." Kate slung her arm over Azzi's shoulder and guided her to the car, "Yah you look nice, thought we lost you for a moment."

Yah Azzi thought, a minute. That whole interaction had taken a minute, maybe two. The world hadn't stopped functioning when she spoke, it was just Azzi's brain that did that. Azzi took another breath, she looked out the window as they began to drive away. Sandwiched between her teammates who were yapping away. Her eyes drifted to a large build board handing from a building and froze. There she was, same cocky smirk, same blue eyes, same blonde hair in the same slick-back, Paige Bueckers.  Azzi Fudd was crushing hard on one one of the best drivers in the league,  just like every other single woman from California to Connecticut. 

KC and Kate just gave Azzi a confused look when she groaned and dropped her face to her hands. 

Chapter Text

She watched Azzi as the car drove away, a friend, Kaitlyn Chen, to be specific. "Earth to Paige." Lando was giving her this annoying puppy dog look, "You in there Bueckers?" She shook her head as they rounded the corner and she lost sight of the basketball player. 

"Yah, Lando, what's up." She turned towards him putting on her most nonchalant expression. Unfortunately, Lando was to good of a friend for that to work, "She's one of the players you drool over during in your free time." Paige gave a glare, "Oh yah, I'm totally on to something. Your flustered, Your crushing hard." Lando smiled as Paige got more cranky. "I am Not" The way he punctuated the final word made Lando start to laugh. "It was cool to meet a W player, okay." He wasn't letting up, "Meet a player. Or meet the player." He curled two of his fingers in the air and wiggled his eyebrows. Paige smacked him and let out a low growl, "You are on thin fucking ice buddy. May I remind you that only one of us has had to hid in a closet because his hookup let a bunch of groupies into his hotel room." Lando smile dropped, "I told you that in confidence." 

Now it was Paige that was smiling "You told me that because you needed me to get security to get them out." He opened his mouth to speak, closed it again, then, finally answered, "I was in a rough place." Then his eyes narrowed, "I actually try to date. At least I don't go from bed to bed hiding who I really am from the rest of the world. At least Im not terrified of commitment." 

Paige pursed her lips, her eyes were wide. 

It only took Lando a second before his eyes widened as well and he realized what he said, "Shit P, Im sorry. I know that was unfair. I don't know why I said that." She offered him a small smile, "I understand, I get grouchy on my period too." He smiled tentatively, still wearing his guilty face.

"Besides, I know you are just projecting your insecurities about how bad I am going to beat you on Sunday" He was quick to respond, a spark lit in his eyes. "Oh wow, you this crush really is messing with your head," Paige smiled knowing she successfully changed the subject. The two would ague over who was better for the next twenty minutes till they arrived. But Lando's words still sat in the back of her mind.

When they did, they shared a smile because the place was already packed. There was already a line out the door. When Paige got out of the car a quick chill raced down her spine. For a quick moment she looked back in the car for her jacket. Then she paused, a smile creeping onto her face as she pictured the surprised look on Azzi's face when she had turned around to see Paige. 

"EH, you are ginning like an idiot P" She turned to glare at Lando, fixed her face, then walked into the club without looking back at him.  

Paiges eyes easily adjusted to the dark environment, her brain registered the music and turned it out simultaneously allowing her body to begin subtly moving to the beat. She strolled over to the bar and waived someone down. After receiving her Dirty Shirley Paige went to the VIP section, she meet a few people she knew, other drivers, a futbol player or two, some football players, and some basketball players. However, every time she saw a tall woman in the crowd, of a flash of dark curls Paige turned quickly daring to allow herself to hope. Each time she was disappointed, and frankly Paige was embarrassed. She was not supposed to be hung up on her stupid 'crush', Paige needed to get her mind off that stupid crooked grin, and intense eyes.

With the most confident aura she could muster Paige walked onto the dance floor. She cut through people trying to find a place to stay that felt right. The next thing she knew a familiar woman in an even more familiar jacket slipped beside her. 

"I pegged you for for a life of the party type" Azzi's voice was sultry, and it carried above the music, "I'm glad I was right.". Azzi wrapped her arms around Paige's neck, and began to sway her hips to the music. Paige tried to match her rhythm but her brain wasn't working, Azzi's perfume consumed her, her skin was on fire from where Azzi's fingers rested. Then she said something she never says, "Do you want to grab seat and talk". Azzi's face lit up and she nodded. 

Paige grabbed her hand and led them through the people towards her table. Internally she was freaking out. She didn't do this, she stayed danced all night, and the only place she went with a woman was to a hotel. Paige Bueckers didn't talk, she didn't simp like this; Paige is nonchalant.

"How about here?" Paige just smiled softly at the woman and nodded sitting down beside her at the booth. 

"Okay okay, so I can't believe I didn't recognize you before. I mean your Paige fucking Bueckers, I see so many fucking thirst traps of you online you should be ingrained on my mind." Azzi was definitely tipsy at this point and Paige wondered how long she's been here for. 

"Yah, and you're Azzi Fudd, I watched every game your senior season at UConn; and I caught a few of your games with the Valkyries. Congrats on Rookie of the year." Paige saw Azzi retreat into her shell. "What if tonight I'm just Paige and you are just Azzi" 

The girl gave a genuine smile that lit up her face, and enthusiastically shot out her hand, "Azzi, nice to meet you...what was it again, Penny?" Azzi's smile was so contagious the blonde found herself smiling like a little girl. "It's Paige actually. Nice to meet you."

Then they talked about everything and anything. Their families, their friends, what they had for breakfast this morning and what they wanted for dinner tomorrow evening. Paige found herself answering every question with enthusiasm. If Azzi had asked for her social security number Paige would have eagerly answered.

They moved closer and closer to each other. First just a brush of the hand. Next their thighs pressed against one another, Azzi leaned into Paige and the latter hoped she couldn't feel her heart racing in her chest. 

For the first time in a long time Paige found herself drinking, not to get drunk, but to sooth her throat so she could continue to talk. They were people watching, laughing at the guy who was so drunk her was spinning in circles, Azzi blushed furiously and buried her head in Paige's shoulder when a blonde and brunette shouted loudly and waved from across the room. Paige just laughed and waved back at them, had she been sober she probably would have recognized them. But as of right now all of her attention was fixed on the woman climbing into her lap out of sheer embarrassment.

Paige looked down at Azzi, she felt something strange bubbling within her so she forced her eyes away. Of course she happened to look up and lock eyes with Lando who raised a glass and tipped in in her direction. Paige rolled her eyes, the room tilted a little and Paige realized she should ease up on the drinks. Normally she would have left by now and in her room with some random person. 

This thought forced Paige to stiffen. "Wanna get out of here." 

It's official, Paige hated herself.

"Lead the way Paige." She smiled, her smile was almost enough to make Paige forget the sinking feeling in her chest.

 But it wasn't.

As she lead Azzi through the people and waved over a car her mind was a mess. Because why was she dreading going back to her hotel. Azzi was the most gorgeous person she has ever laid eyes on. But for some strange reason, Paige would rather be back at the bar talking with Azzi than her hotel room. But she was a coward. It was getting to real. Paige needed to distance herself from any venerability, she needed to be physical; that was the part she was good at, that is what's safe, no one ever gets hurt with a little fun.

"Whats the matter Paige, have I lost you." Azzi's voice was able to cut through all the noise in her head. Paige opened the door to the cab and followed her in giving her address. 

"Yah, sorry Az," she laid her head on Paige's shoulder. "I get it. I get lost in my head all the time." Paige wrapped her arms around Azzi's waist as the woman kept talking. "You know, I don't do this often. I mean all through college I was strictly Basketball. I mean Id go on a date every once in a while, but only cause my friends made me. Nothing really ever happened. I'd always just say I had practice in the morning, even if I didn't. I don't know why. I mean my friends made me come tonight." She trailed off and Paige squeezed her a little tighter, 

"Do you have practice tomorrow?" 

Azzi gained and chewed her lip, "No, I don't"

Paige smiled and kissed her. She meant for it to be a small peck but her body had other plans. She pulled Azzi closer, as if that was even possible, Azzi let out a moan and Paige took that as an opportunity to slip her tongue into her mouth and begin exploring. 

They stayed connected as the car pulled into the lobby, Azzi barley let Paige go in order to for her to pay, then again as they rode the elevator, exchanging a kiss at every moment. Paige began to genuinely worry she was becoming addicted to Azzi's lips. They stepped out on an unfamiliar floor, but Azzi moved confidently grabbing the tall blonde by the front of her collar and walking backwards down the hall. 

When Azzi paused at a random door Paige missed down her neck as she searched her clutch for her key. The door opened and she pulled Paige in furiously. But in the moment the tall woman looked away in order to close the door she heard a thump, "Fuck!".

Paige whipped around to see Azzi on the ground rubbing her head. She gestured to shoes on the floor, "I tripped."

She had a sheepish look on her face and Paige laughed, one of the most genuine belly aching laughs she has ever experienced. Paige scooped her up, put her on the bed, and said "Hold tight Princess I'll be right back." 

When she left she was unaware of Azzi's spiral. How in her drunken state she thought Paige wasn't coming back. 

Because the driver was in the hallway filling a bag of ice and stealing champagne from a cleaning cart. When Paige reappeared in the doorway with her gifts and a dazzling smile Azzi forced herself to memorize the feeling that came with her.

With gentle hands Paige propped Azzi's ankle up on a pillow, the one she had twisted and didn't even realize was swelling till the other woman carefully iced it. Then looked for a glass, was unsuccessful. So she popped one the bottle and handed it to Azzi with a grin. Azzi was speechless, "My favorite color is purple, what's yours?"

Azzi was surprised, "What, is my clumsiness a turn off?" 

She was right, Paige shouldn't be here. She wasn't gonna have sex with Azzi tonight, not that she didn't want to, but...she didn't want to. Paige wanted to talk to her, she wanted to learn everything about this strange woman.

"No Princess. Your clumsiness is only my excuse to see you again. So, favorite color?"

She gave a look at Azzi and waved the bottle in front of her. She took the bottle with a smile, "Pink, next question." Azzi took a swig and handed it back to Paige. 

They talked till the sun began to creep through the blinds, then Paige was blinking sleep out of her eyes. She had been laying on Azzi's chest, she was warm, her arms wrapped around Paige, Damn they were muscular. This was a new experience for Paige, she hasn't cuddled in ages, and she's never been the little spoon. She could get used to it.

As if the universe had it out for her, her phone began to ring. As fast and as quickly as possible Paige extricated herself from Azzi's arms; and she was surprised at the instant regret that filled her.

Answering the phone she was greeted by the should of Lando's voice, 

"Oi, P, Where ya at? We've checked your room top to bottom and you ain't there. I need conformation you're alive." 

Keeping her voice low she responded, "Yup, still alive. I crashed at a friends room"

His sarcastic laugh made Paige roll her eyes, "Sure Paige, your friend. And since when do you stay till this late in the morning. Normally you are back to your room and in the shower by now."

She looked at Azzi, "Yah, well, she is my friend."

"Okay, well, tell your friend you have to get your ass to the meeting room right now before you a get murdered." 

Paige looked at Azzi one more time, she committed her to memory. Her skin, how it glowed where the sun touched it, her hair, strewn messily around her face yet still in tight curls, the carefree smile that tugged on her lips, and her arms that pulled a pillow to her chest where Paige had just been, legs kicked out, the ice on her ankle completely forgotten.

"I'll be right up"

Then Paige did yet anther thing she has never done before, she kissed Azzi's forehead, "What have you done to me Fudd." 

Paige left the room quietly with a smile.

Chapter Text

Paige probably should have have gone back to her room before meeting the staff, but it was already 10:30 and she was a half hour late. 

She realized she really should have gone back to her room when she walked into the room and a series of whistles rose from the group of people. Her strength coach shouted, "Sleep well Bueckers?" she was answered by another, "Nah I don't think she was sleeping much." Laughter arose, Paige just rolled her eyes and slumped down in her seat next to Lando. She could tell there were a few people were confused that she was late, Paige was normally extremely good at not allowing her personal exploits to affect her professional life. Little did they know how different the woman from last night was. Andrea Stella cleared his throat and the room quieted, "Since Bueckers finally decided to grace us with her presence. It is high time we began." She avoided eye contact by looking down and they begin to talk strategy for tomorrow.

 She made it through an hour of their meeting, she was listening yet her mind kept drifting back to last night. The smell of Azzi's perfume, the feel of her hand in Paige's, the slight slur in her voice when she's a little tipsy, and the addicting taste and feel of her lips.  Then Lando started talking.

"So how was your night." Lando practically whispered in her ear. She tried to ignore him, but he was persistent. 

"P, P, Paige, PB, Paigey, Bueckers, Buckets,.." She finally gave in and turned to look at him with a sharp look, "What dude, Im trying to focus." 

"I'm just trying to be a good friend. So, how was your night?" Paige sighed, she let herself relive last night for only a moment, "It was different, but, like, a good different." He gave her a look, she could tell that  there must have been a stupid grin on her face, but she could not bring herself to fix it. 

"Different. As in you want to see her again different?" He looked tentatively at her, as if he was trying not to get his hopes up.  He had been unhealthily obsessed with Paige's love life since she had come out to him a little over a year ago. So she his excitement rubbed off on her.

With a smile on her face she said, "Yah, I want to."  Lando pumped his fist violently and everyone turned to look at him, he meekly said, "Sorry, there was a fly." They locked eyes and both Paige and Lando tried to muffle their laughter, but were relatively unsuccessful. Thankfully their coaching staff were used to their antics and easily glossed over it.

"So, have you texted her?" Paige glanced around to make sure no one was watching before she answered. "Didn't get her number?" He hummed then asked, "Okay, then what did you write in the note?" She gave him a weird look, "What note?" 

Lando stood up, and the room got quite, "Quick question," Stella rolled his eyes and sat down recognizing that this was about to get way off track, "If you were to meet someone at a bar, totally hit it off, spend the night together, the whole ten yards. Then in the morning you have to leave. What do you do?" 

Almost instantaneously the room chorused, "Leave a note". Paige looked around in confusion, "No, this is a person you want to see again. Why would you leave a 'had such a good time we should do this again'. This could be serious."

Everyone stared at Paige and her confidence wavered, then someone whispered, "Oh my God she didn't leave a note." A debate then started over whether or not Paige was so stupid as to not leave a note behind to a guy she liked (few people know the truth). 

Finally Lando took pity on the confused woman, "P, you both had a great time last night, yes?" She nodded her head, "You don't have each others number, and you didn't leave a note." He paused as if she would miraculously figure it out. When she didn't he continued, "Someone is going to wake up in an empty hotel room with no signs of you, and think that you snuck out without a second thought. They are going to think they were just a one night stand to you."

Paige opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, "Oh fuck." She looked at the Stella with desperation in her eyes, he sighed heavily, "Only because you placed at the last Prix. And if you don't place this weekend you will be joining the janitorial crew for the next two weeks." Paige clapped her hands together, "Thank you so much" She started towards the door, "I'll be right back." She ran out the door.  Then she popped back in grabbed someone's notebook and pen and ran back out.

 Before she went to Azzi's floor Paige ran to her room first. She took the fastest shower of her life, brushed her teeth, and pulled on purple sweats. She put on her glasses then looked at herself in the mirror in order to calm her beating heart. She was genuinely confused about her feelings towards Azzi. 

She wanted to sleep with her. But she wanted to so much more, she wanted to wake up in Azzi's arms again and again and again. She wanted to make breakfast for the both of them in the mornings, she'd even add the gross greens Azzi had raved about last night. She wanted to go to a basketball game wearing her jersey, she wanted to look around after a good performance and see Azzi standing there. Paige wanted to be able to kiss Azzi in a crowd of people without her whole world collapsing. 

Now that Paige had stopped her initial spiral,  she went back to the fourth floor with confidence. Then her plan came falling apart. She didn't know Azzi's room number. 

She walked up and down the halls, she managed to find the ice machine, the same one that she had got ice for Azzi last night, and from there she determined the group of six doors that could possibly be hers.

 Now Paige began her idea, six times she wrote :

Hey Princess, 

Sorry I ran out this morning. I had a great time talking with you and would love to meet again, Maybe over dinner tomorrow if you are still in town? 

I remember you said you liked Asian so I hope you don't mind I booked a reservation for 6pm at the Soy Cowboy (Ive never been myself but I have heard good things.) 

I hope to see you then.

-P

Paige tried to be as vague as possible so that the five people who received this note by accident wouldn't know that Paige Bueckers was distracted the day before the US Grand Prix because of the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year Azzi Fudd. 

By the time she was done her hand was sore and she was seriously doubting her plan. But she didn't let herself chicken out and so she slipped the papers under each of the doors and said a little prayer with the last one. Little did she know how fast it would be answered. 

"Paige?" 

Paige stiffened at the sound of her voice, she slowly turned to see Azzi standing with her head slightly cocked as she looked down at her. All Paige could think of was how beautiful she looked. 

"Hey Princess, long time no see" Paige was uncharacteristically nervous, but Azzi had a soothing presence that drew her in. 

Then Azzi spoke softly, "I thought you left?" Something about her voice filled Paige with guilt. "Yah I'm sorry about that, I didn't mean to. I'm not good at the whole...morning thing," she nervously scratched the back of her neck waiting for Azzi to begin to yell at her.

Instead Azzi just let out a snort, "What, the rizz master herself doesn't know how to be considerate?" Paige tried to respond but couldn't, she should have picked fun at Azzi for knowing her title from an interview long ago. But she didn't.

Azzi just started to laugh some more taking joy in Paige's speechlessness. Finally Paige remembered how to talk, "Hey, I was totally being considerate. I wrote like six whole notes." She crossed her arms over her chest to punctuate her point. And Azzi matched her gesture saying, "okay Paige, where are these notes." 

Paige gestured to the doors, I wanted to slide one under your door but wasn't sure which was yours, so I just went with all of them. Azzi smiled and stuck her thumb in the opposite direction, "My room is over there." Paige blushed but moved closer to her, "Oh, My bad." She wrapped her arms around Azzi's waist, "I was a bit distracted last night." She leaned in slightly just barley keeping their lips apart. Azzi murmured, "What got you distracted?"

Paige kissed Azzi.

Not rushed, not desperately, slow and intentional. She kissed Azzi in the middle of a hallway where anyone could see, because the voice in her head that is supposed to tell her how bad of an idea that is was no match for the pull of Azzi; and when she pulled away she looked deep into those soft brown eyes. 

"Do you wanna get dinner?" Azzi whispered. Paige let a pout find her face, "Damn it Az, I was just about to ask you the same thing." They shared a gentle smile, "Is that a yes?" The blonde dragged her thumb in circles on Azzi's hips and said, "Yes. Dinner tomorrow?" Azzi nodded and it took everything in Paige to remain nonchalant. 

"Cool, cool, umm, I have to go practice for the race thing tomorrow." She backed up getting ready to go with a bright smile on her face. But when she turned to go Azzi called out, "P, Forgetting something?" 

She turned back to Azzi, awkwardly walked over and slowly planted a quick kiss to Azzi's lips then looked at her hesitantly. 

The basketball player burst out laughing, "Holly Shit Paige you suck at this," Now Paige was really confused, "So dinner tomorrow at midnight at Chickfila?"

"Oh" Azzi could see everything click into place for Paige, "Well I did write this into like 6 notes. But dinner at The Soy Cowboy? Ive heard great things; and umm 6 is good a normal time right?" Her confidence was falling apart by the end of her proposal  but Azzi just smiled. 

"Okay, sounds great. My friend Arike actually suggested it to me a while ago and I've been meaning to go." Paiges eyes widened, "Arike Ogumbowale? No way, that's who told me about it." Azzi slowly shook her head, "Small world. I guess we were bound to meet at some point. I'll see you in the lobby at a quarter till." Paige was nodded slowly and probably looked like a complete idiot with the massive smile, "See you then Az" She leaned over and wandered away. 

She kept her composure till the doors of the elevator slide shut and she was alone, "Yes", she pumped both her hands in the air and let the new kind of euphoria  fill her. 

Still riding high she immediately called the Soy Cowboy, after name dropping herself she was able to confirm a table for the two of them at the time they had agreed with. Paige gently cursed when she realized that yet again, she had forgotten to get Azzi's number. Promising herself that tonight she would defiantly get her number tonight, she logged into her instagram. Before she lost her nerve Paige searched up Azzi's name, then hit the follow button. That way, if all goes to shit, she can DM Azzi like all the other people that has fallen under her spell.

Paige's heart was racing, for some reason Azzi had her full attention, she had a crush for the first time since high school. And it was everything she had been afraid of,  but..but  she was Azzi Fudd.

Chapter Text

Paige had a guilty look and her face and she was nothing like the confident woman Azzi had met last night; and if it was a trick Azzi was falling for it. 

Then when Paige kissed her she lost it. Yes they had kissed last night, but that was mixed with alcohol and lust. This kiss was so different, it completely stopped her brain and she might have blacked out. All the anger Azzi had managed to hold on to up to this point completely dissolved.

And when Paige seemed so genuinely lost as she tried to satisfy Azzi with a kiss goodbye rather than actually detailing their date, Azzi almost took her back to her room right there and then.

Then when she finally turned the corner Azzi started banging on the door Paige had just been crouching by. The door finally opened to show a sleepy Kate, her hair was a mess and there was mascara smudged to her face.  "Oh hey Az, what's.." She trailed off when Azzi dropped down to grab the note on the floor. 

She ignored the look of confusion on Kate's face and read the paper ten times before she was finally able to make sense of the words. She looked into her blonde friend's sleepy eyes, "I have a date." 

Shock took over the other girls face, "KAITLYN WAKE UPPPP" She ran into the room and Azzi followed, Kate was jumping on the bed while KC was complaining and groaning. But when KC heard the words, "AZZI has a DATE!!!!!" She sat up and said, "No way, please don't tell me you're joking, tell me you're serious." Azzi rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her face and her friends were ecstatic.

"Please tell me more." The yelling seemed to finally get to the two hungover girls as they sat on the bed and looked at Azzi expectantly. It was at this moment Azzi realized she wasn't hung over, even despite all the drinking and lack of sleep, and she let herself believe that it was the result of Paige's cuddles. 

"There is this girl I met last night." Her friends were dead silent just looking at her, "She is funny and just radiates confidence. We talked all night at the bar, then when we went back to my room I fell on my face and twisted my ankle." The other girls looked at her in concern but Azzi waved them off. "I'm fine now it was just a minor issue. But I totally thought she was done, she left and I was about to cry my drunk ass to sleep. But then she came back with ice, like a bag of Ice from the machine and some Champagne from a room service cart. Then we talked all night, I don't even know when we fell asleep, because I just remember laughing with her one moment, then waking up the next." 

She finished talking with a smile and a blush, but apparently that wasn't enough, "So you fight fuck Paige?" KC gave her a strange look. But Azzi had other concerns, "How did you know about Paige?"  Kate actually laughed and responded, "Babe, we watched you get hit on then leave hand in hand with the most thirsted over woman in recent history. We were so proud of you." Azzi blushed then looked away, but Kate continued, "So, no sex, what happened in the morning?"

Azzi hesitated, "Well, umm, this morning was not great.. She was gone when I woke up, I kinda tore apart my entire room trying to find a note that she left. Spoiler. There was no note." She could tell her friends were getting protective but she kept going, "So I took a shower, tried not to cry, which is ridiculous because I only knew her for ten hours, so I don't know why I was so upset,  I've had one night stands before. She is just so different."

"Wait Az, I'm confused, if you don't have a date with Paige, who are you going out with?"

Azzi smiled like a kid, "Thats the best part. After I was done sulking I made my way over here so I could complain to you. But then I saw her." Azzi held up the note, "Apparently she forgot to leave a note and was attempting to side one under my door. She says she wrote six and slipped one under all the doors in your hallway. She fully explained herself and I realized she's such a fuckboy she genuinely doesn't know how to pursue a normal relationship. But I think," 

Kate cut her off, "If you say 'I can fix her' I might smack you." KC nodded in support and Azzi blushed furiously.

"I am not trying to fix her, I just like spending time with her. I promise I won't get too attached." As she spoke she prayed that her friends couldn't tell she was lying. Because the truth is that Azzi had in fact gotten way too attached. 

KC, who had been on her phone, finally spoke, "Well, she follows you, so at least she is aware of who you are. And hopefully she knows not to fuck with you." Azzi opened her instagram frantically. There it was buried in all the notifications was the banner :

Paige Bueckers started following you 12 min ago

Azzi wasn't shy about the grin on her face. Her friends were starring but she couldn't care. She followed Paige back immediately, then another notification caught her eye,

LiLPaigey5 started following you 11min ago 

"No way." She tried to click on the profile but it was private, she groaned but took the chance and requested to follow the account back. She then logged into her spam account : PrincessAZZI_F35 and followed both accounts.

"Azzi, earth to Fudd. Whatcha grinning at?" Azzi looked up like a kid who just stole a cookie for the kitchen. "You just followed her back didn't you." KC looked at her with a smirk and Azzi let out a giggle.  She ignored the look of surprise that got from her friends, they weren't used to any reaction that want a glare when Azzi's love life is mentioned.

-------------------------------------

After she has to retell her story twenty more times, she is finally able to change the subject to their plans tonight. Tonight they had just planned to have a movie night in Azzi's room with a boat load of snacks. Little did she know what her team mates have in store for her.

Azzi had gone back to her room because her lack of sleep was finally getting to her. She curled up in a bed that had been littered by her stuff during her frantic search this morning. Azzi fell asleep very quickly and was completely knocked out.

She woke up to banging on her door. Groggily she stumbled out of bed and opened the door far KC and Kate. 

"Dang Azzi, Bueckers tucker you out?" Kate laughed at herself but Azzi just rolled her eyes and plopped back in bed. KC added, "She won't answer because she knows you're right. Somehow Azzi rolled her eyes even harder, yet she did not want to justify their stupidity with an actual response, so she  asked "What are we watching?" she was joined on the bed by KC who had taken control of the remote. "We are gonna watch some film." Azzi gave her a strange look but worry was bubbling up in her. 

KC went to Peacock and the first thing that appeared made Azzi freeze The Path of Paige Bueckers 

"Oh you can't be serious." Kate just smiled despite Azzi's expression. "Okay, she's fresh off this insane rookie year and got her own documentary, and we are going to her homecoming race, we have to know the context."  

Kc added, " We don't have to watch it if your really don't want to." Azzi let out a sigh but already her curiosity was taking over. She looked at the summary, 

The inspiring story of how a basketball protege from Minnesota became the newest face of Formula 1. Her poise and personality set her apart and make her impossible not to root for. 

 Excitement budded in Azzi's chest against her will, but she attempted to seem reluctant  "Fine." 

"Yay!!" Kate cheers and jumped on the bed with the other two and KC started the documentary.

Azzi was quickly let down, she didn't know what she was expecting, but the narrated collection of Paiges old interviews and film was disappointing. Yet Azzi was surprised to learn about Paige's basketball career. That she had been on par with Angel, Cameron and Caitlin till she tore her ACL her senior year. Azzi wanted to know more, but she wanted to hear it from Paige, even if it takes time for her to open up about it.

Azzi was checking out, she was vaguely aware of the tv listing all the records Paige broke last year, it was impressive and both her teammates were deeply invested in the information. 

But Azzi was stuck thinking of her next conversation with the blonde.

About 30 minutes into the movie they ordered room service, then Azzi felt her phone buzz. It was an instagram DM, she was slightly concerned but clicked on it.

LiLPaigey5 : Hey Princess, whatcha doing rn? 

 PrincessAZZI_F35 : I'm sorry, who is this?

Azzi let a small smile creep on her face.

LILPaigey5 : Your secret admirer 

Azzi blushed and snuggled deeper into the pillows as the movie faded into the background.

PrincessAZZI_F35 : Aww

PrincessAZZI_F35 : Well secret admirer, I am watching a movie with my girls and waiting for room service.

LILPaigey5 : What movie?

Azzi blushed again, there was no way in hell she was admitting to Paige that her face was currently all over her tv.

PrincessAZZI_F35 : Just something my friends suggested

PrincessAZZI_F35 : What are you doing?

LILPaigey5 : I'm just killing time before I have curfew.

PrincessAZZI_F35 : Or you could just go to bed early.

LILPaigey5 : BORINGGGGGGGGG

LILPaigey5 : Besides, then I wouldn't be able to see you.

PrincessAZZI_F35 : What are you planning?

LILPaigey5 : knock knock

Sure enough the sound reverberated around the room. Azzi shook her head in mock disbelief. 

"That must be room service." Kate stood up to get the door but Azzi jumped up first, "I got it" She was out the door so fast she missed the shared look of confusion that passed between her friends. 

Sure enough the door opened to reveal Paige fucking Bueckers. She wore a large hoodie and some basketball shorts with her hair down and glasses framing her face.

"Hey Princess, I have a salad, a bunch of tacos, a sundae, and few cookies and champagne." She gestured to the trays with a confident grin. 

"What the fuck? How? What are you doing here Paige?"  She shrugged and Azzi leaned against the door frame. "I thought I told you. I'm killing time before curfew." Azzi put on her most overly surprised face, "Oh my God, that is you! I had no idea." Azzi shook her head with a grin that matched Paige's.

Paige just smiled, she looked at Azzi with soft eyes and butterflies erupted in the shorter girl's stomach. Before she could say anything Kate walked up behind Azzi, "Az, what's taking so long?" She froze when she saw Paige, she let out a laugh, "Yo, KC guess whose here" 

Azzi turned to her with a look that could kill, but Kate completely ignored her look and told Paige, "We were just watching you on tv." Azzi could not bring herself to look at Paige, she could feel her eyes on her, then Kc walked up "Hey P, what's up." 

"Hey KC, long time no see." she dapped her up. "I'm just visiting Azzi." Kaitlyn gave her a look and Paige blushed  little but had a massive smirk on her face. 

"Okay Kate, lets get back our show." They grabbed the cart from Paige and rolled it back into the room. Once alone again Azzi finally looked at Paige. She was smirking at her, "Your friends are cool." Azzi shook her head slowly, and said, "Im sorry. How do you know Kc"  Paige responded, "I met her a while ago, just for a bit" 

Azzi was about to respond when an alarm went off. Paige quickly turned it off, "Shit, that's curfew I have to go." Azzi hid her disappointment well, "Okay, good luck tomorrow." Paige smiled and Azzi closed the door. But in the moment Azzi took to recollect her thoughts there was another knock on the door. 

Paige was there, she shook her head, "If I didn't know better I would think you are trying to get ride of me." Azzi laughed in disbelief, "Paige you have curfew." The blonde pouted and let out a sigh. "If I have too. I'll see you tomorrow Princess." Then she pressed a small kiss to Azzi's lips, then just like a ghost she was gone down the hall. 

Azzi laughed to herself, "See you tomorrow P".

Chapter Text

She woke up to rays of sun pouring in onto her. Azzi groaned and stretched. She has been riding high since seeing Paige last night. Something about her goofy charm has wound its way into Azzi's mind and she didn't mind. 

She was awake way before the other girls, who had been surprisingly chill and didn't mention Paige's visit. So Azzi opened her phone and pretended her heart didn't race when she saw another notification from Paige

LILPaigey5 : Miss me yet?

Azzi chuckled and felt butterflies in her stomach.

PrincessAZZI_F35 : No...

Paige responded right away, which is surprising because it is 6:30 in the morning. Yet another thing that sent shivers down Azzi's spine. 

LILPaigey5 : Because I am in your dreams.

PrincessAZZI_F35  : Ha. You wish Blondie.

PrincessAZZI_F35 : What are you doing up anyway? Don't you have a race to rest for?

LILPaigey5 : I am in prep for my race.

Azzi rolled her eyes, "This girl." She decided to not respond in order to stop contributing to Paige's distractions. However she greatly underestimated Paige's persistence. 

LILPaigey5 : Hello

LILPaigey5 : Nooo, don't leave meeee

LILPaigey5 : Please Princess, if you hurt my confidence and Im gonna loose because of you.

LILPaigey5 : Then I will be super grump on our date.

LILPaigey5 : JK, I can't be grumpy when I am with you.

Azzi couldn't keep the smile off of her face. Paige was going to be the death of her.

PrincessAZZI_F35 : You need to focus.

LILPaigey5 : OH MY GOD! You are alive. I thought I lost you there

PrincessAZZI_F35 : Put your phone away. 

PrincessAZZI_F35 : Such a screenager

LILPaigey5 : HOW DARE YOU

Kate moved beside Azzi and the curly haired woman froze. Luckily she stayed asleep and Azzi was able to turn her attention back to her phone.

LILPaigey5 : I will have you know my phone is put away.

LILPaigey5 : I am on my iPad, thank you very much.

LILPaigey5 : I have class

Azzi rolled her eyes, she pulled her phone to her chest in an attempt to still her racing heart. But, felt her phone buzz again.

LILPaigey5 : Shit I gotta go Princess. I'll see you tonight?

PrincessAZZI_F35 : See you then P. Good luck

True to her word Paige didn't respond to Azzi's message. Unfortunately, both of the other woman in her room were still dead asleep. 

Azzi doom scrolled for about a half hour, and if she fell into a dark hole of Paige Bueckers edits; who hasn't. 

Then, Kate started to roll around. She went straight off the side of the bed and directly onto KC. The woman on the ground let out a startled shout and Kate jerked back. Azzi stiffled a laugh and peaked over to see the two tangled up on the ground. Kate looked up at Azzi with a grin, "Hey lover girl. How's your morning going?" Kate seemed to have a sixth sense for whenever Azzi was talking to someone. 

"Its been uneventful. What about you?" Now KC decided to speak up, "Oh she lying" Azzi sent her a glare, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Obviously her poker face was not enough when in comparison to the nosiness of her friends. "What did you do?" Azzi chewed her lip. Kate's smile was growing with every passing moment of silence. KC broke it, "Give me your phone Az." Before Azzi could answer Kate jumped onto the bed and started to tickle Azzi. The Curley haired woman let out a shreek and curled up trying to avoid the blonde. 

While she was distracted KC got Azzi's phone. Of course she knows Azzi's password and Azzi hadn't logged out of her spam account. 

"Holy Shit Azzi you whipped little shit." Kate stopped her assault and went over to KC. Azzi sat there, she was completely resigned to the fact that this is happening. She has been on the opposite side snooping through her friends phone. So she just sat there and let karma take over. While they scrolled through all her messages Azzi casually leaned back on the bed and noticed the clock. 

"FUck." her friends looked up, "It's 9:00, we have to leave for the Prix in two hours." Azzi jumped up, ran to her suitcase and started throwing everything around desperate for an outfit. "Why do I have no pretty cloths" She glared at her teammates who were still just laughing on the bed, "Get your asses over here. This was your Idea and I need you two to make me look pretty for Paige.

Obidiently The two girls slid off the bed and over to Azzi. Bending down to grab a shirt Azzi had thrown KC said, "I don't know what you are so worried about. She saw you in that and looked ready to drop to her knees in worship." She said it so casually, as if her words didn't make Azzi's face turn completely red.  However her friends did lock in, and helped Azzi get ready. She wore a dark blue halter top with accents of electric green, that showed of her muscles, and her jeans fit perfectly with stripes on the side that matched the top (Think the Kristin Juszczyk  Paige mercy but without the Dallas theming). She pulled her hair into a bun allowing a few curls to stick out, yet her conditioner was in to prep for her date. 

She did her make-up while her friends rushed to make themselves look presentable. They had spent over an hour preparing Azzi for the off chance she even sees Paige today, and now they were severely behind in their own preparations. And Azzi loved them even more for it.

Azzi looked at herself in the mirror, she could see the muscle she had worked hard for, the flawless skin she cultivated. She could see the faint scare on her knee, even though her jeans covered it. She could see the small parts of herself that her younger self fought to hide. It is dangerous to look to deeply at yourself in the mirror, Azzi knows this. So does Paige.

The blond's head was resting on Azzi's stomach as they lay on her bed. "Sometimes, if I look at myself for too long I wonder if I am looking at myself or the version of me people think I am." Paige innocently turned to look at Azzi, "Do you know what I mean." Under her intense gaze Azzi felt her pulse quicken, her knee twitched. "Yah. After I tore my ACL, for the second time. I used to wonder if the version of me the world knows in gone. And if so.. I wasn't sure who I was outside of her." Paige silently sat up and looked at Azzi, then she went to her knee, the ice on her ankle completely forgotten. Her fingers gently traced the scar, then her lips grazed the imperfection and Azzi's breath caught. Alarm bells rang in Azzi's head, she hated being open with her family, but with Paige the words just came out. Then, slowly and purposefully Paige pulled off her jeans. She lined her leg beside Azzi's and the younger girl recognized the mark instantly. Paige spoke softly, "I was going to be great." Azzi looked at her, a quiet intimacy had filled the room and suddenly it all fit together.

Paige Bueckers, she knew the name before she heard of F1. She knew the name because that is the insane guard UConn recruited the year before her. Was the Guard Uconn recruited. Azzi had heard the story and brushed it off with a quick prayer for the doomed girl. 

Paige continued, "I had to build myself up again without the game that defined who I was for 16 years. I would look at myself and know I lost something for good." She tore her eyes from her knee to Azzi. "I like who I am. But I wonder, who I could have been. And sometimes that keeps me up at night."

Azzi had seen many clips of Paige, she is funny and charismatic, this venerability should be strange. Yet, it felt so natural. Azzi whispered, "I give everything I have in every game because I am terrified that I will never be able to again." Her voice was steady and her confidence was growing "I am scared that it will all just go away and everyone will forget all that I went through. Then I get more scared that I care so much what everyone else thinks." Paige looked at Azzi intently. They both just looked at each other, neither saying a word, yet completely in sync. Despite being relative strangers Azzi felt more comfortable in Paige's presence than most people she has known for years, and she could tell the feeling was mutual. Their was no need far small consolations, they were in complete understanding. 

"I'm glad I met you Azzi." Th girl in question couldn't respond to Paige's soft words. So she snuggled deep into Paige's chest and held tightly as she prayed the older woman could feel what she could not say. 

She could.

Kate's voice pulled Azzi from her memories. "Yo Az, you ready" 

Azzi gave her a small smile, she nodded and walked out the door with her friends, the sweet memory played in her head while her friends made their way to the Uber. 

When they got to the venue all of the people caught her off guard, Azzi latched onto KC as they pushed through security and made their was to a box that overlooked Turn 1. It seemed like a good place to be and Azzi wondered how Kate got the tickets. 

"Kate, I'm so glad you came." None other than Caitlin Clark ran over to wrap Kate in a bear hug. Kate squealed in excitement and hugged back. But Azzi's question of how they got these tickets is answered. 

"Hey Caitlin what's up." When she let go of Kate, Azzi gave her a small hug, "Hi Azzi, Congrats on Rookie of the Year," Azzi smiled at the praise, "I got to keep up with you." They talked for a while, just catching up, the Fever had lost to the Aces in the semi's so Caitlin was filling them in on all of her plans for the off season. Then, the rumble of 20 high powered engines cut through the air.

Azzi's eyes immediately found the orange car with the five adorned on the front. Announcers spoke as the camera's followed the drivers on their warm up lap. Azzi was more focused on her conversation then the announcers. Then Azzi heard something that caught her attention,

Numbers 4 and 5 for McLaren, Bueckers and Norris, the seasoned Brit and hot-shot American. They have been near perfect this season, at least one of the two has made the podium every race so far. A true duo to watch today.

Azzi smiled, she knew Paige was good, and she felt a thrill race through her because of the mounting anticipation of the race.

"Yo, earth to Azzi", Kate gave her a nudge and regained her focus. "What did you say?" The other girls shared a laugh leaving Azzi more confused. Caitlin repeated her question, "Who are you rooting for?" Azzi blushed and she noticed the look that passed between  Kate and KC. "Umm, I met Paige the other night, so I guess I'm rooting for her." Azzi was  proud of her composure, she pointedly ignored her teammates snickers. Caitlin didn't notice them, "Yah, Paige is pretty awesome, we met a while ago doing a Nike shoot. I am rooting for her too." Azzi nodded along, the more things she heard about Paige the more the woman intrigued her.

Then the race began and Azzi became alike to a five year old watching Bluey, she was completely locked in. Conversation continued around her but she rarely joined in, only venturing to look away from the track the one time a relief car came out after Sainz and Hamilton spun out. Paige spent the beginning of the race fighting it out for 3,4,5 with Lando and Leclerc after the spin out Paige was able to gain significant ground on both of them. 

On lap 47 of 56 Paige made her move, she passed Russell and moved to P2. Then in 5 more laps she was riding the bumper of Max Verstappen. Azzi's heart raced as time ticked down. Paige kept attacking, but Verstappen was putting up excellent defense. 

Lap 54, Paige took a corner fast, a sharp turn that Verstappen had slowed down on moments before she had. The announcers went crazy, a gamble on her part, a win or a wreck, they said. And her gamble paid off.

With the little ground she gained Paige was able to grow her lead and hold off Verstappen till she crossed the line below Azzi. 

The room went crazy, Azzi was shouting, her friends were shouting, random people in the room were shouting. The Valkyries star had a massive smile on her face as she watched the final cars finish and take their cool down lap. 

From the podium Paige had a massive smile on her face that made butterflies erupt in Azzi's stomach.  Lando had pulled through to finish third, he and Paige attacked each other with the champagne. They also went after Max, all three took it in, they were all very familiar with being up there with each other. 

Seeing Paige channel her inner frat boy made Azzi feel things. When her friends finally pried her away from the window and out of the venue Azzi was buzzing with anticipation for her date in 4 hours.

But then Caitlin made a comment : "Wow what performance, I bet all of McLaren is going out tonight after that one."

Azzi felt a cold chill race down her spine, "What do you mean" KC could sense her panic through the tone of her voice and she gave Azzi a worrisome look. Caitlin continued, "You know Paige and Lando did great, Im sure they are going to go celebrate all night with their crew and coaches" 

Her heart was sinking but she tried to remain optimistic, "Yah, well they are good most of the time, they probably don't celebrate every time." Caitlin laughed good-naturedly, completely oblivious to Azzi's inner turmoil. "Party P lives to celebrate with her team, she always has. That girl will be the life of every party any chance she gets."

Azzi forced herself to laugh along and she avoided the pitting looks her teammates were giving her. She said goodbye to Caitlin and got in the car with her friends. When they pulled away Kate broke the silence, "You can always reschedule, we don't have to leave tomorrow." KC joined in, "Yah Az, we will keep you company tonight and get you ready for tomorrow." Azzi sighed and didn't respond they knew better than to push further.

She pulled out her phone, their was a new notification, it was Paige. Azzi tired to stay positive, at least she was cancelling in advance and not 5 minutes before, or just ghosting her. 

LILPaigey5 : Miss me yet..

PrincessAZZI_F35 : How could I when I have been watching a little picture of your face zoom around in circles for the lat two hours.

LILPaigey5 : Aww, you were watching me

PrincessAZZI_F35 : What ever you wanna think P

Azzi couldn't muster it within her to keep up the banter with Paige while knowing she was about to ditch her.

LILPaigey5 : Dang Princess, what's the matter

LILPaigey5 : Not exited to go to dinner with the winner of the US GP?

Azzi froze, her mind was working overtime she didn't want to hope. But she was starting to.

PrincessAZZI_F35 : I thought you were going out with your team tonight?

LILPaigey5 : Hell nah

LILPaigey5 : I can party with those guys anytime.

LILPaigey5 : I only get to go on a first date with THE Azzi Fudd once.

Azzi let out a giggle and her friends turned to look at Azzi, massive smile and all.

PrincessAZZI_F35 : You really are something Bueckers

LILPaigey5 : Just wait for tonight Princess

In her excitement Azzi threw her phone across the car, she hit Kate with her phone. "YO Az, what was that for?" Azzi just smiled and looked at them. "I have a date tonight." 

Yah, she is down bad.

Chapter Text

Paige love winning. She loves the high from blazing past that waving flag with no one in sight. She even loves the sting of champagne in her eyes. And Paige lives for the afterparty. 

Paige normally spends an hour talking to the other drivers competitors, then her crew, then bother Lando till he had to lock himself in his room and blast music to avoid her.  

But today is different. Yah Paige still messed with Max and Lando, but she kept it short. She shouted a quick thank you to the crew, then ran to her room and grabbed her phone.

She was grinning ear to ear, Azzi was doing something to her. 

Paige finally forced herself to put down her phone and grabbed a towel ready to shower when she almost jumped because Lando was standing in her doorway. "Yo dude why are you creeping." He just slowly shook her head, "We aren't partying tonight. Are we." Paige gave a bashful smile. "I have a date." Lando rolled his eyes, "Do you wanna talk about it" Paige awed at his gesture, normally she would talk to her twin Nika, her favorite lead mechanic, but she tore her ACL in a game of pickup and hasn't been able come to the pit in person for months; and Paige was having withdrawals. But she'd see her during the break in a week.

"I think I really like her Lando." She refused to look him in the eye. "Wow, I didn't think I would ever hear you say that." She scratched the back of her neck, "Yah, me neither." He stood in silence for a moment then spoke confidently, "Go shower, then we are going to your room, calling Nika and me and her will train you."

"Train me?" Paige was already smiling, "Train me for what." 

He laughed, "Train you in the art of serious relationships." 

"Whoah who said anything about serious relationships" He pelted her in the head with a tennis ball almost immediately. "Wrong answer." They locked eyes, Paige could tell now was her chance to back out. He was giving her an opportunity to run away from her feelings like she always has. 

Instead Paige smiled, she tossed the ball back at him and said, "I'll met you at my room in an hour coach." She saw him smile and it made her happy, he wasn't going to say it, but he was proud of her. Paige was proud of herself too.

Once in the shower she closed her eyes and let the hot steam curl around her. She sighed but it sounded more like a groan. Her whole body hurt, she needed a nap, she probably should have an ice bath, but she definitely wasn't going to do that.

Paige made her way out of the shower, finally removing the champagne from her hair and allowing her muscles to relax. She took her hoodie and basketball shorts, and brought her ass to her room metal prepared for her friends help.

As it turns out Paige was not prepared. 

Lando had on sunglasses, a McLauren t-shirt, and grey sweatpants. He has also taken custody of Paige's iPad, which is now displaying Nika.

"Nika!" Paige went to grab her but Lando sprayed her with water. Nika spoke, "Nope, you are gonna listen to Lando." He nodded while Paige just looked back and forth between the two of them til Lando finally said something, "Okay P, Nika is gonna help you pick your outfit" Paige immediately complained, "Hey no! I have great style." He kept going, "I know you are like lesbian thirst trap Jesus, but Nika is going to encourage you to be a tab bit more...girlfriend material." 

She rolled her eyes and laughed but couldn't argue. "Okay, Nika is my stylist, what are you gonna do." He cleared his throat, "Judging by the fact that you didn't leave a note last time you were with Azzi, I am just going to refresh all the basic manners of a date." Paige could dee Nika shake her head in disappointment at the mention of Paige's slight oversight. 

Paige thinks this is weird, almost too much, then she remembered the look in Azzi's eyes when she saw Paige crouching in front of the door. She had looked so confused and there was hurt evident in her face. Paige was not going to make her feel like that again. Not if she can help it. 

So Paige locked in. She focused, she listened to what Lando said, to Nika's commentary. As a team they decided on plain jeans and a collared sweater t-shirt topped with a jacket she can give to Azzi if she gets cold, (Paige was proud of herself because she came up with that plan and her friends seem impressed) and her hair fell loosely down her back. 

As time was running down, Lando and Nika were quizzing Paige,

 "When you leave the car?" 

"I get the door" Paige knew that one.

"What do you need?" Nika kept harping on this one.

" Her phone number."

"What are bathrooms for." 

Paige blushed as she answered, "Potty and Make-up, not fucking" 

Lando nodded in approval and looked to Nika, "I think she's ready." Nika nodded, looking sternly over her best friend.

"Okay, one more thing. Are you gonna get some tonight?" 

Paige hesitated, Lando had said something about this. "Yes, probably; but that is not the point of tonight. Tonight will be a success as long as I can learn more about Azzi as a person." 

Lando whipped away a fake tear, "Look at our girl. Open to actually focusing on her date and not just skipping to the sex." 

Paige rolled her eyes and checked her phone, 5:30, okay I have to go now. She brushed off her lap and flexed her hands. "How do I look?" She was genuinely nervous, very unusual for her. Paige was normally just as confident before a date as she was behind the wheel. But she was in shambles. 

Lando put a hand on her shoulder, "You got this P, you are pretty charming when you wanna be." 

She smiled with him and walked out of her room with them. "Wish me luck"

With that she smile and ran down the stairs to the lobby in order to burn off the nervous energy. She was pacing back and forth, but only for a moment. Because then Azzi Fudd walked out of the elevator and Paige went still.

There was Azzi looking every bit like the angels Paige learned about as a child. She wore a short dark green skirt that hugged her perfectly,  and a black tube top that allowed Paige to stare at the muscle on Azzi's arms to the start of her abs. 

She didn't realize she was staring till Azzi was right in front of her speaking, "Cat got your tongue Bueckers." A cat must have crawled its way into Paige's throat, that is the only explanation for why she was speechless right now. Paige forced herself to clear her throat and she whispered, "You look incredible Azzi." Paige didn't understand why she was at such a loss, looking at Azzi's eyes completely destroyed every smooth cell in her body. Paige was smooth, she is the rizz master. 

Azzi slipped her hand into Paige's hand and pulled the blonde out of her thoughts. Paige looked around the lobby to make sure nobody was watching, once sure she tightened her grip on Azzi's hand and matched her strides.

"You look really amazing Azzi, like completely stunning." Azzi blushed and Paige is sure she must be blushing as well. "Smooth P, smooth" Paige swung herself in front on Azzi as she guided Azzi to the valet. "Thats just it Az!" She stopped walking to give her ticket to the man, "I am the smoothest smooth person to ever smooth. I don't know why you are messing with my flow so much. I just make eye contact with you and my brain goes blank." Azzi was bright red and Paige wondered if she had sone something wrong. But then Azzi shook her head and smiled her bright smile that made Paige's stomach turn. At this moment Paiges McLaren Artura, "Get in the car Paigey" Paige rolled her eyes but listened, "Whatever you say Princess." However Paige made sure to open the door for Azzi and shut her in before tipping the valet and getting in the drivers seat. 

But before Paige drove away she handed her phone to Azzi, "Your number please," Azzi gave her an incredulous look, "Hey I get distracted alright. I need to secure the bag before I charm you." Azzi laughed but obeyed, "Okay fine, but this means I get aux." Paige rolled her eyes but didn't argue, because she was getting Azzi Fudd's phone number.

Paige was quiet in the car, she didn't speed, didn't showboat in her company car. She just listened to Azzi talk. She listened to Azzi in a way she has never listened to another person. As Azzi described her experience at the game, and her friends. 

As she spoke, Paige memorized her from the corner of her eye. How her smile widened when she spoke about her teammates, how she looked away whenever Paige snuck a compliment into her story. By the time they got to the restaurant Paige was reluctant to park the car, she was scared that once they left this car, this bubble, she was scared she would chicken out. That someone would look at Paige a little too long as she sat with Azzi and Paige would scoot away, or she would pull her hand away from Azzi's, or she would call Azzi her friend in a voice loud enough anyone looking would believe her. Then she would make it up to Azzi, They would have a great night, and Paige wouldn't call. This time on purpose; because Paige is a coward.

"Paige?" The blonde didn't realize she had parked till Azzi nudged her. Paige looked at Azzi, really looked at her. Then she kissed her, short and fast. Paige smiled and so did Azzi, "Ready Princess?" Azzi reached for her door but Paige stopped her, "Wait!" She got out of the car and ran around to open the door with a flourish. "You are ridiculous P", yet she took Paige's hand without hesitation.

As she walked in Paige didn't let go of Azzi's had, her brain screamed at her to, but this thing in her chest made her not. 

"Reservation for Bueckers." The host swept her eyes over the two of them, probably not judgmental but alarm bells went off in Paige's head. She must have gripped Azzi's hand tighter because the shorter girl gently traced her thumb over Paiges hand. The blonde girl relaxed. 

They made their way to the table, it was a booth. 

Paige hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicked from the hostess to the other patrons, then back to Azzi. Azzi who had slid into the booth and was now looking back at Paige with brilliant and gentle brown eyes that made her brain fuzzy. Paige found herself sliding in beside Azzi. 

Their arms touched and Azzi's bare thigh pressed against Paige's leg, she whispered, "Is this okay." Azzi smiled and subtle leaned into Paige, "You are killing it Paige."

Paige grinned like an idiot at the praise Azzi chuckled and conversation flowed between them.

Paige told Azzi about her brothers and sister, she talked about her stepparents and her childhood. Azzi responded with storied of her own brothers and parents, she talked about life in Connecticut, about moving to California and leaving the east coast. Paige talked about living in England while she trained for RedBull in F2 before being brought up by McLaren. Paige talked about Nika and Lando, she even talked about KK, the goofy girl in McLaren F2 that Paige has basically adopted. Azzi talked about each of her teammates in detail, with extra focus on Kate and KC. Paige finally mentioned how she had meet KC at a basketball tournament when both of them were in high school and that they had kept in touch since.

The food and drinks came and went but the conversations never died. At some point Paige felt Azzi shiver so she draped her jacket over the girls shoulder. 

Their plates had been cleared and Paige paid, before Azzi even had the chance to protest. Azzi was talking but her voice kept catching, Paige was absentmindedly training patterns on Azzi's thigh as she listened to the younger girl. 

"Paige." Azzi interrupted herself, her voice was different, her eyes darker. She grabbed the hand on her thigh, "Do you wanna head back to the hotel?" It took Paige a moment to process before she stammered, "Yah, yup, lets go." 

She grabbed her hand and walked with her to her car. It took everything in Paige not to speed, now it was her who was talking. Paige was just yapping and Azzi just sitting and smiling softly while playing with the fingers on Paige's hand Azzi hadn't released since the restaurant. 

When they got to the hotel Paige forced herself to be cool, and remember : she was good at this part. She ran around to get the door, this time Azzi waited without being asked and let Paige help her out of the car. 

Paige was very aware of her steps as they walked through the lobby. Azzi walked with confidence and ease, the complete opposite of how Paige felt. But she made it to the elevator without falling on her face or doing something equally as dumb. They were both quiet, both anticipating, yet neither making the first move. 

Hand in hand, step by step, they made it to Azzi's door. The smaller girl opened the door and turned back to Paige with an expectant look. Paige scratched the back of her neck, "Um Good night Princess. I had a really good time tonight."

Paige wasn't sure if this was the right thing to say, luckily, Azzi was perfectly suited for Paiges stupidity. 

She wrapped her arms around Paige's neck and kissed her furiously. When they finally brake for air Azzi whispered in Paige's ear, "Stop being a gentleman and fuck me already,"

Paige grinned her signature cocky grin, then she lifted Azzi up, connected their lips and walked them into Azzi's room hitting the door shut with her heel. 

Paige wins twice that day. Technically three times, but who's counting.

Chapter Text

The first thing Azzi saw when she opened her eyes was golden skin. As she blinked the sleep out of her eyes she recognized the strong arms wrapped limply around her waist. Paige's head used Azzi's as a pillow.

The more aware of her own body Azzi became, she felt the soreness between her thighs, and the tenderness on her chest.

Azzi snuggled more into Paige, her hand traced her skin that was uncovered by the blankets. The basketball player smiled as memories of last night flashed through her mind. Azzi hasn't dated since high school, and has had a few one night stands, but never as sober as she was last night, never as incredible as last night.

Azzi lost track of time as she lay against Paige. She might have fallen asleep, she might be dreaming this whole thing.

Then Azzi felt a change in her breathing. Paige stiffened for a moment, her hand stopped Azzi's, which had continuously been tracing Paige's stomach. She paused for a moment andAzzi could almost hear the gears in her head turning.

Paige interlocked their hands, and with her free hand lifted Azzi's chin gently. Her voice came out raspy with sleep, "Morning Princess, sleep well?"

Paige was smiling, but there was something going on behind her eyes that Azzi couldn't quite place.

She kissed Paige's cheek, "I only slept a bit. I was a little preoccupied." Paige smiled back at Azzi and the uncertainty in her face was pushed aside, "Preoccupied you say." Paige rolled over on top of the curly haired girl. The blonde began to kiss down Azzi's chest and the woman sighed in anticipation.

—————————

Eventually Azzi had to get out of bed, much to Paige's dismay, the blonde had even tried to bargain "Cuddles only, no funny business, come on Princess" Azzi surprised herself with her ability to ignore those puppy dog eyes.

She still had a smile on her face while she stepped out onto the balcony to call her mom. Azzi had three missed calls from her and she was getting more and more ready as each ring went by without an answer.

Eventually Katie answered, "There you are Az, is it that hard for a mother to call her child."

Azzi smiled fondly, "Hey I am an adult on vacation, be glad I love you enough to wake up early and call you back. Is everything okay, you have me worried"

"Everything is alright, I just saw that you were at the race yesterday and I was wondering how it went."

Azzi laughed, "Yah, it was lit."

"Did you meet any new friends?"

Azzi smiled and tried to peek in the window to see if Paige was still in bed, she wasn't. Azzi reasoned she must be in the bathroom, except the door is open and Azzi can't see anyone. She walked back into the room slowly, her eyes scanned the room.

It was empty, the only sign of Paige was the messy bed.

"Azzi? Still there?"

"Um yah, sorry I just got distracted."

Her mom chuckled, "Oh I see, you did meet a friend"

Azzi tried to interrupt, "Mom, wait that's not..."

She kept going, " Oh it's okay Azzi, you are a big girl now. Just be safe, love you Sweetie."

She hung up before Azzi could respond, so to an empty room she groaned, "Mmooomm".  She flopped down onto the bed. Just as she started to let herself think about how Paige's spot was still warm, a charming voice said, "What's with the sad face Princess?"

Azzi slowly turned her head, Paige stood in the doorway with two plates of food and a cocky smile, she was wearing Azzi's old UConn sweatshirt and only one sock.

"I got some breakfast from the place in the lobby, you like your omelettes all green and icky right?"

Azzi shook her head in disbelief, she got up and walked over to her, "You cannot be real." She gently took her plate from Paige and gestured for her to come join her at the small table in the corner of the room.

"Hey, I thought I was being all nice and considerate. What gives?"

Azzi laughed, "I thought you ran out again, I think we need to work on our communication skills."

Paige nodded in understanding, "Okay, I can work on the communication, only if you are less pessimistic."

"Excuse me, I am just a realist." Paige smirked, "Sure you are," Azzi glared at her smug face. They began to argue back and forth as they ate, but neither could keep the smile from her face.

"So where are you off to next." Paige said as she watched Azzi steal some of her bacon. The younger girl hesitated for a moment then responded, "Well my flight back to San Fran leaves tonight, then I guess I'm just gonna chill out till Unrivaled starts."

Paige looked at her strangely, "Your leaving tonight? Like in a couple of hours?" Azzi was shaken from the fog that had filled her mind throughout this morning. "Oh shit I have to pack"

She got up from the table and ran to the closet. Paige said, "I mean it can't take too long, you don't have that much stuff." Just as she finished speaking Azzi opened the closet door and all the stuff she had shoved into it fell out. 

She sheepishly turned to Paige, who was fighting back a smirk "Dang, overpacking final boss meets the cleanliness of an eleven year old boy."

"Well I was trying to clean for you, just in case you came here. Because last time I didn't and that didn't end well." Azzi tried to glare, but Paige only smiled gently as she remembered their very first night together.

"I am only saying, my little brother is way neater than you. And he's a mess"

"So I guess you just need to help me pack."

"What" Paige's eyes widened, and she leaned away but a smile played at the edges of her mouth.

"Come on P..." Azzi walked over to the table. Paige stood up and tried to keep distance from her via the table.

As the curly haired woman tried to move closer, Paige sprung away. They both were laughing hard, Paige made a break for the bed and Azzi followed close behind. Once Azzi was in the bed Paige changed direction and then both down to the mattress. 

The room devolved into echoing giggles and the sound of sheets as the two wrestled back and forth. 

Eventually Azzi succeeded in pinning down Paige, who spoke while laughing, "Dang Princess, don't swish me with those muscles."  Azzi blushed and leaned down to give her a quick kiss. Paige tried to deepen it and whined when Azzi pulled away. She felt the blonde try and flip them but Azzi kept herself steady and chuckled, "Oh no you don't P." Azzi kissed down her neck slowly, 

"My turn."

__________

"You look gorgeous in this top." Paige was sitting on the floor re-folding Azzi's cloths that had been piled up in the corner; after some excellent convincing on Azzi's part. "You haven't seen me in that one." The brunette has to stop herself from saying 'Yet'. But the word still hung in the air for a moment. Paige smiled, "Yah, but I am like 99% sure you look amazing in anything, and this is just especially cute." Azzi shook her head, and took the shirt from Paige, but the blonde saw the smile she was trying to hide.

Despite complaining almost constantly, Paige was very helpful in helping Azzi pack. However, she had taken claim to Azzi's UConn sweatshirt and the alum didn't have the heart to take it back. "Here come sit so I can zip this thing up." Azzi gestured and Paige moved readily, she plopped herself down on the suitcase with a smile that made Azzi's heart flutter. 

"Why are smiling like that?" Azzi bent down to begin closing her suitcase but couldn't focus because of her. 

"You are really really pretty Az." Paige's voice sounded genuine. Like a kid who has their first playground crush, and for a moment every ounce of Azzi's body buzzed. She surged up and kissed her. 

They kissed for seconds but it felt like hours. Paige pulled Azzi to her lap and their bodies interwove as if they had been made to kiss each other.

Like a scene from a horrible rom com, Azzi's phone rang. She tried to ignore it, hoped that only she could feel the buzzing from her pocket. Unfortunately, Paige slowly stopped kissing her, eventually breaking off altogether with what was becoming her signature smirk.

"You gonna answer that Princess?" 

Azzi smiled lazily, she pulled out her phone intending to make a show of ignoring the call, but then she caught sight of Jon's contact, "Oh Shit. He never calls me." She gestured for Paige to wait and answered the phone, for a moment her heart raced; because they text pretty regularly, but he never calls her and she is worried something is really wrong.

"Jon? Is everything okay?"

The sound of laughter from the other side of the phone made Azzi's face fall and she knew what was about to happen.

" An F1 driver, A : gross, like I did not need to know about your one night stand, B : can you get me in the pit?" 

She groaned and rolled her eyes, she was going to have to have a serious conversation with her mom about the details she shares with her brothers. 

"You suck. I'll see you for Thanksgiving." Azzi hung up and tossed her phone across the room. 

"Where were we." She tried to kiss Paige again, but the blonde had a strange look on her face and she pulled away.

"You told people about this." Her tone was suspicious and her eyes betrayed her uncertainty. Azzi was confused, "Well no, my mom just called me this morning, when you left," she didn't mean for her voice to have such an edge when mentioning Paiges absence, but it did, and they both flinched, "She assumed I was with someone, and she must of mentioned something to my brother, and that's why he called. Are you okay."

Paige forced a smile, but the tension was still in her body, "Yah, sorry. I didn't mean to over react.    Let's finish packing." 

"Thats a shit explanation and an even worse change of topic." If Azzi prided herself on one thing, it was taking zero bullshit before coffee; and she has had no coffee this morning. "Why are you all weird cause my brother assumed I slept with a driver." 

Paige's eyes narrowed, she looked like she was ready to match Azzi's stubbornness; but then, her shoulders fell and she sighed, "I am in the closet." She paused and Azzi sensed she had more to say, "My whole career my people have told me to be careful who I am seen with and what I do. I'm done with that shit." Azzi raised an eyebrow, "Really, I am. But I guess they trained me well." 

Paige offered a half hearted smile, Azzi just looked at her. "Thanks. You didn't have to tell me that, I'm sorry for my bluntness earlier."  For the first time Azzi saw Paige, unguarded. Not the cocky and charming adrenaline junky, not the bumbling romantic trying to woo her; Azzi saw her, all of her, no walls. Then they were back.

Paige just laughed hollowly and flopped down on the floor, "What a pair are we, an asshole and a coward." Azzi joined her, taking her place resting on Paige's chest. "I am not an asshole." 

Paige's intoxicating laughter, the genuine kind, filled the room. "Oh I hate to break it to you Princess, but you are complete and total meanie pants." Azzi gasped and tickled Paige the girl shrieked, "Take that back right now Bueckers." Paige laughed hard and tried to escape, she managed to choke out, "Never!", and she began to retaliate. They rolled around till the other dropped in exhaustion. 

The room was silent except for the sound of labored breathing. Azzi reflected on the last fourty eight hours since she met Paige. Time had gone by so fast, yet she felt as if she's know Paige all her life. 

Azzi thought back to Paige giving her jacket, Paige taking her to the hotel, Paige asking her out, Paige sliding into her DM's, Paige fucking her so good she forgot her words existed other than the driver's name. While Azzi knows she returned the favor on the last one, the blonde's confession had made Azzi realize they were both new to..whatever this is. And so far Azzi has stayed in her comfort zone and let Paige take all the risks. 

Her words from earlier rang in her head, 'My turn'. Azzi turned to look at Paige, she had a content smile on her face and was watching the fan spin above them. 

"Can we talk." Paige turned to look at her, "Damn, why do I feel like I am in trouble." Azzi shook her head, "Oh, sorry, that came out wrong. I mean can we keep in touch after I go back to Cali and you go back to traveling the globe." She murmured her final words, "I like talking to you."

Paige smiled, wide and bright. She wrapped her arms around Azzi and rolled them on the floor.

"She likes me! She really really likes me!" Paige shouted over Azzi's laugh. 

'Yah' Azzi thought 'I could get used to this'.

Chapter Text

The media had taken notice of Paige's absence, she knew they would. Photos and videos came out through the day, Paige had been ignoring the buzz of her phone, keeping herself in the moment with Azzi.

But now she was standing at a podium in Mexico, a week removed from her win in Texas. 

"Paige, you are normally very eager to celebrate your success on the track with you team, yet last week you appeared to be absent from the festivities last week."

Paige forced a smile as she answered, "Is there a question?" 

The reported continued, "Were you there? And if not, why?" 

More camera's flashed trying to catch her reaction, Paige was suddenly grateful for all the media training she had to go through with CD when she was a rookie. 

"I was not at the team celebration." Somehow more camera's went off, "Back in the US, I ate some of my favorite food, spent time with a friend who came to watch the race, and just laid low". 

Paige placed over at Lando, who was sitting beside her. His face was perfectly neutral, but when he locked eyes with Paige he couldn't help but wiggle his eyebrow and give a small smirk. Paige smiled a little. Then she heard a new voice.

"Do you have a response to the rumors that you spent the night with the WNBA rookie of the year Azzi Fudd?" 

Paige's eyes snapped to the reporter. Her fists clenched beneath the table, she could feel Lando's concerned gaze burning into her. She pursed her lips, then her fighting hands fell upon the cheap bracelet that she had been wearing for five days.

When Kate Martin and Kaitlyn Chen came to Azzi's room they were obviously surprised to see Paige standing in Azzi's cloths holding her bags. After an embarrassing few  moments for Azzi as Kate tried to intimidate Paige and KC was struggling to contain her laughter.  

Paige doesn't remember exactly what they said, but Azzi's embarresed blush will live in her mind for a long time. Paige lost Rock Paper Scissors so she had to carry all of  Azzi's bags.  When they got out of the elevator Azzi had gasped and pulled Paige's arm. 

Of course she followed the shorter girls lead, she ended up in front of a small claw machine by what looked like a small arcade. Azzi had given her a look and Paige didn't hesitate, she put in a quarter and let Azzi direct her to a pink unicorn. Once they had agreed upon the placement of the claw Azzi eagerly hit the button and the claw dropped.

Paige remembered the exited jump Azzi did as the small pink animal was lifted up and fell perfectly into the slot. She remembered laughing as Azzi reached down and grabbed it, and her sweet voice, "What should we name her."  

"Hmm, first child, big decision. What to you think."

"Tex!" Azzi held up the little unicorn and Paige rested her head on Azzi's shoulder, "Good name. I love me some Tex-Mex" 

Azzi laughed, "No need for the government name." 

Paige had rolled her eyes and re-collected her stuff in preparation to help Azzi to the car. Then Azzi thought aloud, "Okay Bueckers, now that we have a child  you really can't ghost me." Paige liked the way her stomach tightened in anticipation of seeing Azzi again. "Same goes for you Fudd. I expect updates on my little angel."  Azzi responded with something sarcastic, then took the little collar from around it's neck and slid it onto Paige's wrist. "There, now you're stuck with us."  

And Azzi was right, because Paige could not get that bracelet off, not that she had tried all to hard.

She snapped back to attention, "I met Azzi, yah, some mutual friends introduced us a little before the race. She's an excellent basketball player and and even better person." 

The reporter was not content, Paige winced in anticipation for her demanding details, or clarity, or yet another thing that had nothing to do with what Paige does on the track. 

"I am sorry, we need Bueckers for a clarification regarding the practice times she recorded this morning. Please feel free to address any remaining questions to Norris." Paige turned to Nola with a smile, her Coach, the great Nola Henry herself with the save of the century. 

Paige politely excused herself from the table and followed her around the corner. But once she was out of sight she groaned and threw an arm around Nola, "Dama, next time I am being a stubborn prick with you fell free to rub this in my face." She laughed and hit Paige's back, "Thanks for your permission P, but we both know I was gonna do that anyway."

Paige went to go to her trailer, but Nola grabbed her shirt and yanked her. "Oh no you don't P. We do have to go over some stuff before Sunday." Paige groaned but then a new woman rounded the corner. 

"Complaining again twin?" Paige went up to Nika and punched her in the shoulder. "You know me cripple." 

She would never say it to her face, but Paige was so happy Nika was back. Even if she was hobbling around the halls. Annoying her is much more fun than annoying Lando.

"P, stop your yapping and get in the car." She turned to Nika with a smile, "I get to drive." Neither woman responded but Paige zipped up the fireproof layer she had around her and ran down the hallway with a massive grin.

She went straight for her helmet, the only problem was that she now had 6 or 7 different ones to choose from. Paige is sponsored by the company that makes them so now that they have her measurements they just pump out new ones all the time and Paige can never pick witch one to wear. She grabbed her old smelly purple one because she didn't have the energy to actually pick a new one. 

"Paige you coming?" She jogged out of the room wincing as she heard the helmets she had precariously shoved into a closet crash to the ground. Nola gave her a look but Paige just shot finger guns at her and smiled. 

Turns out they just wanted Paige to try a new line on hards, She went around twice, hated how it felt, made sure to tell Nola that every second, and then she pulled back in swerving as much as she could before she absolutely had to pull in. 

She popped out and pulled off her helmet, "Yah, no way in hell are we running that shit." Nika hid a chuckle and went to meddle with something in the bumper. Nola raised her arms in surrender, "I am so sorry for actually trying to improve our strategy rather than just putting you in a car and hoping you can out psycho everyone else on the track." Nika popped up, "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't do my car like that." Nola nodded at her, "Ah yes, put P in the best car on the track then watch as you crash it into a tree." Paige stuck out her tongue, "Jokes on you, there are no trees on the track."  

Nola smirked, "Exactly."

Paige tried to storm off but she had to go review the stats recorded on her most recent run. During the session they cleared up some strategy for the upcoming competition, Paige told them  how she was feeling, and Nika discussed some tweaks she is planing to make. 

After about two hours Paige collapsed onto the small couch in her prep room, she pulled out her phone for the first time in hours and smiled to see a certain notification. 

Azzi : Morning P

Azzi : Yikes just saw the press this morning.. hope it didn't mess with you out to much.

Azzi : Side note, you think Im an 'excellent basketball player and an even better person'

Azzi : I am so flattered

Paige : Great, I was worried your ego would take control

Her phone started buzzing with Azzi's contact and a smile immediately found her face. 

"Hey Princess, how have you been." Paige was becoming addicted to the blush that fell over Azzi's face with that pet name. Her curly hair was pulled into a messy bun and Paige could make out yet another Uconn sweatshirt. 

"Ive been well, you know a lot has happened since we last talked." Humor sparkled in Azzi's eyes. Realistically, last night they had talked till one or two in the morning.

"Oh really! Please, fill me in."

Azzi walked her dog, she watched some gossip girl, she played some laundry basketball, then she doom scrolled on her phone, that's where she saw the clip from Paige's press conference. Paige tried to to apologize for her name being brought up. But Azzi interrupted, "P, I am an adult. I make my own decisions, and I am rather glad I chose you."

 Paige felt herself blush, and her suspicions were confirmed when Azzi smirked, "Dang, stop cheesing" Azzi laughed and Paige couldn't help but join in. 

As she listened she thought, 'Azzi Fudd has the most intoxicating laugh and I want to memorize it'    

They must have been talking for an hour or so when Nika popped her head into Paige's room. "P? What are you still doing here? I thought you went to get food." Her, eyes found Paige's screen and she smirked. "Oh..I see." She had such a cocky look on her face Paige threw a helmet that had been laying on the floor at her. Nika dodged and shut the door but the sound of her laughter broke through the door, "Just make sure you head home before they lock up."

Paige just barley heard Nika's shout because her focus was back on Azzi, "Is that Nika?" Paige nodded, she had told Azzi about Nika their very first night together when they had just talked all night. "What did you throw at her? It sounded harder than a pillow."  Paige laughed, "Yah, I threw a helmet at her," She showed Azzi the floor, littered with them, "I have this sponsorship thing, so they just keep giving me new ones and I can get it down to top three, but then I get stuck." 

Azzi clapped her hands, "Show me I'll help!" 

Paige was suspicious, "You sure Az, I've only known you for a week and you may just be the most indecisive person I have ever known." Azzi scoffed, "I am not that bad, I take offense. Show me the top three." 

Paige rolled her eyes but obeyed none the less. 

One was Navy and White with a Red visor . It was kind of plain, Paige wasn't sure why she liked it so much. The second was a mostly lavender helmet with a few dark purple accents. Paige liked it because it was her favorite color. Final Pick was a shiny teal that had fades of purple. Paige liked it because but was shiny.

 She explained her initial impressions to the girl and Azzi didn't even hesitate, "Gotta go with the Uconn one." Paige gave her a confused look, "What one?" 

Then, she looked at it again and felt something click in the back of her head, "Ohh". Her mind filled with the posters hung on her walls as a kid, her dream school. That felt like ages ago, a completely different life. Paige felt a phantom pain in her knee, a reminder of how everything changed. 

"Earth to Paige, you okay" She focused on Azzi's voice. Even through the phone Paige could see the concern shining through the gentle smile on her face. Paige cleared her throat, "Sorry, I knew this one reminded me of something. I can't believe I didn't put it together."

Paige gently held up the helmet, admiring it from a new point of view. "You were going to go to Uconn," Azzi spoke softly, "Right?". Paige froze. She really didn't like to talk about this.

But she looked at Azzi, her kind eyes, her warm smile, the care written across her gorgeous face. Paige felt the walls she had put up years ago chip away. "Yah, it was my dream school." 

Was 

"I don't really like to talk about it, but..I am trying to, I don't know, confront the things that happened in my past; instead of just ignoring them."

Azzi listened carefully and when Paige finished speaking she took a moment to respond.

"Thank you telling me that if I ever ask something that makes you uncomfortable let me know. But I am also glad you feel comfortable to share what you have with me. You are a pretty special person P." Azzi gazed at her with a look Paige could not decipher. But she liked it.

"I guess you are pretty cool to Fudd." Azzi winked. 

Paige laughed and just like that the tension in the room dissipated. Paige and Azzi talked till  Paige got kicked out of the training facility, then Azzi described the game she was watching over the speakers of Paige's rental car, and they ate takeout together hundreds of miles away from each other. 

As Paige fell asleep looking at Azzi's sleeping face through the camera, she felt a peace fall on her. She still didn't know what they were. She didn't know what she wanted them to be. But 

Paige decided in that moment that she wanted to be with Azzi, friends, lovers, or something in-between. Whatever it takes to hear her laugh and see her smile.