CHAPTER 13

                                    

                                          
The morning sun cast harsh lines across Paige's tear-streaked face as she stared blankly at her phone. 
It was a lifeless slab in her hand, mocking her with its silence.
HOURS had bled into another, punctuated by the occasional chime of a notification that had absolutely nothing to do with Y/N. The call that she'd been desperately waiting for eight hours hadn't come. Unaware that Y/N was currently on a plane to Washington.
Shifting her gaze to the ceiling, the memory of their fight in the car played on repeat in Paige's mind. Y/N's words, raw and desperate, echoed in the hollow space where her heart used to be. 
"Trapped" Paige muttered. Thats how Y/N felt. Trapped by their secret—a secret that had become a suffocating cage for their love.
Suddenly, a knock on the door shattered the suffocating stillness.
Wiping away a stray tear, Paige opened the door, not even thinking of forcing a smile.
"Hey P can I come in?" KK asked gently.
Paige nodded, stepping aside to let her in.
KK analyzed Paige as she sat herself on Paige's bed, realizing that she didn't bother to change out of what she wore to last night's game. 
An unspoken understanding hung heavy in the air.
KK knew. And Paige knew that she knew. 
"What the fuck went wrong Paige???" KK asked, her gaze filled with compassion. 
The dam broke. Paige buried her face within her palms as tears fell to the carpeted floor. Then and there she poured out EVERYTHING.
The good. And the bad. 
The fight. The pain. The unanswered phone calls.
This wasn't just a heartbreak; it was a much deeper wound. She could only imagine that it was worse for Y/N.
When Paige finished, a tense silence settled between them.
"Look Paige, I know you're sad and shit but you need to hear this. Y/N would NOT have left without a fight if she didn't care." KK said, her voice low.
"Yeah—well she left me there when I asked her to stay. That speaks volumes K."
"She let everything out and you said things that she didn't wanna hear." KK said, feeling a little bit frustrated with Paige's words. "Id leave too you know."
Paige scoffed. "She didn't give me time KK. Thats the one thing I asked from her."
"Time huh? And how long is that?" KK asked.
"I—I don't know." Paige paused to think, "I love her KK, but God said—"
"God said to love thy neighbor." KK interrupted.
"Yeah but he didn't mean fuck your neighbor especially if shes a girl." Paige said.
"Paige you're so fucking stupid. No wonder she left you." KK's words hit like a physical blow. "We're in the twenty first fucking century. No one's going to give a fuck that you're gay and christian."
"I dont care about the people's judgments K—"
Paige was interrupted AGAIN, "girl. God knows you a good person. You always been good. So if you scared you gonna be sent to hell then dont worry cause you safe."
Paige sighed.
"Go talk to a priest bro you got me STRESSING." KK said, leaving the room. Leaving Paige alone with her thoughts again. 
KK let out a huff as she closed Paige's door. 
Deep down she knew this wasn't over. Not by a long shot. She IS going to Washington, and she IS dragging Paige along. The two are going to face each other again, whether they like or not.