i didn’t mean it like that
Description: Paige tries to gently tell Azzi she doesn’t have to stay glued to her at a party. Azzi hears something else entirely.
Azzi doesn’t like parties.
She tries.
She really does.
She stays close to Paige the entire time, fingers hooked loosely in the sleeve of her hoodie like she’s afraid of getting lost in the noise.
The music is too loud.
The people are too many.
Everything moves too fast.
But Paige is warm beside her.
And that makes it bearable.
Paige, on the other hand, is everywhere at once.
Laughing.
Talking.
Greeting people she hasn’t seen in months.
She keeps coming back though.
Always back to Azzi.
Every few minutes.
A hand on her waist.
A kiss on her temple.
A quiet “you good?”
Azzi always nods.
Because she is.
Sort of.
Eventually, the night slows down.
People scatter.
The energy fades into something softer, more tired.
By the time they get back to Paige’s place, it’s late.
Too late for anything but sleep.
Azzi sits on the edge of Paige’s bed while Paige kicks her shoes off and stretches.
It’s quiet.
Comfortable.
Paige glances over.
“You okay?”
Azzi nods.
Paige smiles.
“Yeah, you did good tonight. Proud of you.”
Azzi’s chest warms slightly.
Paige sits beside her.
There’s a pause.
Then Paige says it.
Casual.
Light.
Not thinking too hard.
“You know you can talk to other people right? Like, it’s a party, you don’t talk to anyone it’s—”
She stops.
Too late.
Azzi’s body goes still.
Paige immediately notices.
“Wait, no I didn’t mean—”
But Azzi is already standing.
Her face blank in that way that means something is very wrong.
“I’m tired,” Azzi says quietly.
“Azzi—”
“I’m gonna wash my face.”
And then she leaves.
Quickly.
Before Paige can reach her.
The bathroom door shuts.
Locks.
Silence.
Paige sits there for a second.
Then stands immediately.
Knocks.
“Azzi?”
Nothing.
“Baby, open the door.”
Still nothing.
Paige tries the handle.
Locked.
Her stomach drops instantly.
“Azzi, I swear I didn’t mean it like that.”
Inside the bathroom, Azzi is sitting on the floor.
Back against the door.
Slowly wiping off her makeup with shaking hands.
Because that’s what you do when you feel too much.
You undo yourself.
Little by little.
Paige’s voice is muffled through the door.
“I just meant you don’t have to stay with me all night. I wanted you to have fun.”
Azzi presses her hand over her mouth.
Her breathing turns uneven.
Paige is still talking.
“Please open the door.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t think before I spoke, I swear.”
Azzi shakes her head even though Paige can’t see it.
Her eyes are burning now.
Because it wasn’t what Paige said.
It was what her brain twisted it into.
You’re boring.
You’re awkward.
You ruin things.
Her shoulders shake once.
Then again.
And then she’s crying.
Quiet at first.
Then not.
Paige hears it.
Immediately goes still.
“Azzi?”
The sound changes everything.
Paige’s voice softens instantly.
“Hey—hey, baby, talk to me.”
A sob escapes inside the bathroom.
And Paige’s heart drops completely.
“Oh my god.”
She starts panicking.
“Azzi, please, I need you to open the door.”
No response.
Paige presses her forehead to it.
“I didn’t mean embarrassing, I didn’t mean anything like that, I swear—”
Azzi hears that word.
And it makes it worse.
Her breathing breaks harder.
Paige hears it too.
And realizes.
“Oh no…”
Her voice cracks.
“Azzi, no no no—baby, I would never say that about you.”
Inside, Azzi curls into herself.
Paige backs up.
Then hits the door.
Shoulder first.
BAM.
It shakes.
“Azzi, please.”
BAM.
Harder.
Still locked.
Paige is shaking now.
“Please just—talk to me.”
She backs up again.
BAM. BAM.
The door rattles violently.
The handle shifts.
Paige notices immediately.
Her eyes widen.
“Oh—”
She tries again.
Harder.
CRACK.
The handle gives.
She stumbles forward as the door swings open.
The broken handle dangles loosely.
Paige drops it instantly.
And rushes inside.
Azzi is on the floor.
Paige freezes for half a second.
Then immediately drops down beside her.
“Hey.”
Her voice is soft now.
Completely different.
Careful.
Azzi shakes her head instantly.
“I’m sorry—”
Paige cuts her off gently.
“No. No, listen to me.”
She pulls her into her arms carefully.
Azzi resists for half a second.
Then collapses.
Paige holds her tightly.
“I’ve got you,” Paige whispers.
Azzi shakes in her arms.
“I’m sorry I’m like this.”
Paige immediately shakes her head.
“You’re not hard to love.”
That hits.
Azzi cries harder.
Paige just holds her through it.
Slowly.
Gently.
Until her breathing starts to calm.
Later.
Way later.
The bathroom light is off now.
They’re back in Paige’s room.
Azzi is still tucked into her side.
Paige is tracing slow circles over her hand.
Quiet again.
Safe again.
Azzi shifts slightly.
Her eyes drift toward the bathroom.
“…Paige.”
Paige hums softly.
Azzi points.
“…what happened to the door handle?”
Silence.
Paige goes completely still.
Three seconds.
Then:
“Don’t look at me right now.”
Azzi stares.
“…you broke it.”
Paige pulls the blanket up over her face.
“I didn’t break it, I emotionally retrieved my girlfriend from a crisis situation.”
Azzi tries not to laugh.
Fails.
“That’s not how doors work.”
Paige sighs dramatically.
“I was panicking.”
Azzi leans into her.
“I know.”
A pause.
“…you ran into the door.”
Paige groans.
“Multiple times.”
Azzi finally laughs softly.
Paige tightens her arm around her.
“Worth it.”
Azzi looks up at her.
“You’re insane.”
Paige nods.
“Yeah.”
Then softer:
“But I’d do it again.”
Azzi shakes her head.
“…don’t.”
Paige kisses her forehead.
“Okay.”
And this time, she means it.
