❝ and love is a kaleidoscope. how it works, i'll never know. ❞
꩜ .ᐟ ᯓᡣ𐭩 . . .
paige bueckers x fem!oc
(all fictional)
vamptized 2024
enemies to lovers? rivals to friends?
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꩜ .ᐟ CHAP TWENTY NINE . . .
ONCE JIA HAD brushed past Paige, her hurt and frustration dissolved, replaced by a rising anger that prickled under her skin. By the time she climbed onto the bus, her expression was sharp and unyielding, a stark contrast to the vulnerable look she'd worn just minutes before. She dropped into the seat beside Nika with a clenched jaw, her posture stiff and closed-off.
Nika glanced at her, clearly noticing the shift. "Hey... what happened?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.
Jia just shook her head, her lips pressed into a thin line. "I'll talk later." The words came out clipped, barely a whisper.
As Paige finally stepped onto the bus, Jia's gaze zeroed in on her, cold and unrelenting. Paige hesitated under the weight of that stare, the intensity making her breath hitch. She quickly looked away, slipping into a seat beside Azzi, but the damage was done—Jia's gaze had sliced through her, leaving her unsettled and tense.
The bus ride back was shrouded in silence, the usual post-game chatter replaced by a tense, brooding quiet. Jia sat rigidly, her eyes fixed forward as if replaying everything in her mind. Every so often, her fingers would twitch, as if she were trying to hold back words she couldn't quite form.
When the bus finally pulled up to the dorms, Jia didn't wait. She was the first to step off, her stride purposeful and unyielding. Nika hurried to catch up, watching as Jia stomped toward their shared room, her bag slung roughly over her shoulder, her whole posture radiating a simmering fury.
Once inside, Jia unlocked the door with a sharp twist and flung her bag down with a force that echoed through the room. She let out a long, frustrated sigh that seemed to carry the weight of everything she'd held back since the game. Nika hovered by the doorway, cautious. She knew this wasn't the time to try soothing words—anything she said might only fan the flames further.
Jia's gaze fell on the stuffed shark lying on her bed, a gift from Paige that once brought her comfort. Now, it felt like a twisted reminder, mocking her with memories she wished she could erase. Her chest tightened, anger bubbling over as she fixated on it. She could almost feel the plush fabric tearing under her grip, the urge to destroy it coursing through her with an intensity that surprised even her.
She snatched the shark, her fingers digging into the soft fabric, and for a fleeting moment, she considered ripping it apart. Destroying it felt like a release, a way to sever the ties to the person who'd given it to her. But instead, with a bitter resolve, she threw it across the room, watching as it tumbled to the floor, as if casting away every moment and feeling attached to it.
The sight of the stuffed shark lying on the floor felt strangely satisfying, yet a deep ache lingered in her chest. The object once represented warmth and laughter—now, it was nothing more than a hollow reminder of broken trust. She turned away, jaw clenched, forcing herself not to care as the room settled into silence once more. Nika watched her, her own heart heavy, unsure of how to bridge the distance suddenly yawning between them.
