thanks to everyone that's come to my new account since the old one got fucking nerfed lol
here's an 800 word snippet of the beginning of chapter five to express my gratitude.
It's very unedited, so things are subject to change.
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"Azzi's been acting weird," Paige says.
Paige is getting shots up with Chase at the park. Something the two of them have been doing regularly this season.
He's rebounding for her.
"What do you mean?"
It's the fourth day of their "sex ban." There are two more days off until game day, then the day after, the two are going to have what Paige's been referring to (in her head) as the "sexplosion."
Classy.
But her will to wait has been running increasingly thin.
"Um," Paige starts, scratching her neck. She's never really talked to chase about Azzi and their personal life, let alone their sex life. But Chase is kind of her only option to have this conversation with—he's really the only person far enough removed from Azzi to do so.
"Well, its kind of embarrassing, but we have this rule. I mean, I have this rule." She coughs in to her fist then stuffs both hands into her pockets. "It's about sex."
His fumbles with the ball on the next pass while his eyes widen. "Damn, okay." He laughs. He laughs, and it's definitely awkward, which is making Paige already regret this conversation. But what other choice does she have? "So what's this rule?" He asks.
She catches the fumbled pass easily and places it on her hip. "I probably shouldn't even be telling you this, but I've just ran in to a wall here. Like, I don't really know what to think."
She squares up and shoots; it clangs off the rim, and Chase runs after it.
"So, like, my rule—and I've had it for a while, mind you—is no sex on the nights before or on game day. We've been following it since UConn. But lately she's been tryna get me to break it"
Paige hasn't looked up from the ground since her miss. She's too embarrassed.
"And we kinda did?" She says, "I don't know. It was a whole thing." She moves the ball to the other hip, eyes still firmly planted on the asphalt. "But then the night after, she said we shouldn't have sex for a week. That we should wait until after the game against New York. But, it's just…things have gotten weird."
She finally spares a glance at Chase. His face is blank except for the slight upward turn of his lip. She can't tell if he's amused at the sex-ban or that she's talking to him about this.
"Okay, so your girlfriend put you on a sex ban because she's mad at you?" he asks. "I'm confused."
Paige shakes her had, then dribbles the ball a few times before shooting it again. She's trying to break the tension she's feeling. It clangs off the rim again.
She's on edge. Either from this conversation or from being sexually frustrated. Who knows? She figures to things can be true at once. People contain multitudes.
"No, I don't think she's mad. That's not how she put it."
He throws the ball back to her. "Okay, then what? You said she's acting weird and that she put you on this ban. Explain, bro."
"I'm trying!" she protests. "Bro, she said, "let's just spend this week together, focus on us." Told me we'll be so locked in for the game." She shoots again, making it this time. "Which is like the whole point of the rule, mind you. But she's been doing shit that is so contradictory, like it's almost as if she's trying to get me riled up."
Chase stops running after the ball, which has landed in the grass. Then he laughs. He fucking laughs.
"Dude, why are you laughing? I was just like vulnerable with you and shit," she grumbles.
"No, sorry," he apologizes between laughter, "it's just, I think she's playing you, P."
"What?"
Chase grabs their water before responding, tossing one to Paige. He takes a big gulp before explaining. "You said you almost broke the rule a few days ago, right? That she's always hated the rule?"
Paige nods.
"Now she's saying to take the rule to another level even though she literally hates the rule?"
Paige nods again.
"Now she's trying to like seduce you or something?"
Paige nods for a third time.
He takes another long sip of his water. Actually, it might be Gatorade. His lips are blue. "Well, seems to me like she's got a plan. One that you're not in on."
"I coulda told you that!"
"I wasn't done," he says, holding his hand up. "I was gonna say that I think she's tryna make you break."
"Break? Like get me to have sex with her?" He nods. "Why would she suggest the break then?"
He shrugs. "Maybe she's tryna get you to give in at the end of the week. You know, right before the game?"
"Oh my god," Paige says, realization finally dawning on her, "she's trying to get me to break my rule. She's actually insane."
"Sounds like it."
