Something's Wrong - Chapter 1
I wrote this in an hour while procrastinating homework. It's a one-shot but I could probably keep the story going if anyone wants a part two. Lemme know.
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Azzi walked off the court and grabbed her water bottle and bag before quickly making her way over to her mom. There was something wrong and she needed to talk to her mom about it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the problem followed her.
βAzzi!β The skinny blonde girl called out behind her. She tried to keep walking but her mom made her stop and wait.
βAzzi, be polite.β Her mom whispered as the girl ran up to them. βHi.β Katie smiled at the blonde girl.
βHello maβam. My name is Paige Bueckers.β Paige held out her hand to Katie to shake. βItβs very nice to meet you.βΒ
Katie looked over to Azzi and shot her a small smile before grabbing Paigeβs hand to shake. Clearly her mom liked this girl. This was going to make the problem even harder to deal with. βItβs nice to meet you Paige. Iβm Katie Fudd.β
Paige looked over at Azzi expectantly. After Azzi just stood there silently, her mom spoke up to break the silence.
βIs there something we can help you with Paige?βΒ
Azzi groaned internally. Curse her momβs need to be polite. She just wanted to get out of here and get away from this girl. Something was wrong with her.
βYeahβ¦ umβ¦β Paige turned her body to face Azzi. βI, uh, just wanted to say that you played super well today. Iβve never seen anybody whoβs as good as me. And you might even be better than me.β Paige smiled at Azzi with seemingly her whole being.Β
When Azzi didnβt say anything her mom nudged her. Rather rudely Azzi thought.
βOh, uh, thanks.β Azzi shot Paige a small forced smile.
After another awkward moment of silence Paige cleared her throat.
βUh, I was just wondering if I could get your phone number? Iβd love to talk to you some more. Maybe get some tips about my form?β Paige looked shy for the first time since she walked into the gym this morning. It made Azziβs stomach feel funny.
She really just wanted to get out of there.
When Azzi didnβt respond right away her mom jumped in to save Paige from the awkwardness. βIβm sure Azzi would love to talk some more.β Katie sent Azzi a look that Azzi read as be nice but chose to ignore.
Azzi pulled her phone out of her backpack anyway and handed it over to Paige. βYou can put your number in.β She mumbled.
Paige just grinned and began typing. She handed Azzi back her phone. βIt was nice to meet you Mrs. Fudd. Iβll see you guys tomorrow!βΒ
Katie began to correct Paige and tell her to call her Katie, but she skipped away too fast.Β
Katie looked at Azzi curiously but Azzi just began to walk out of the gym, expecting her mom to follow. Katie didnβt say anything until she and Azzi were in the rental car on the way back to the hotel.
βSoooβ¦ what was that?βΒ
βWhat do you mean?β Azzi questioned.
βI know that you donβt like people that much, but youβre usually polite anyway. Paige was trying to talk to you and you ignored her.βΒ
βI needed to talk to you. She was holding us up.βΒ
βOk. What did you want to talk to me about?β
βThereβs something wrong with that girl.β Katie just laughed at that.Β
βWhat?β Azzi was confused.
βWhat do you mean there is something wrong with her? Sheβs good at basketball, she clearly knows youβre good at basketball, sheβs polite, and she seems to have a lot of energy. Maybe she could balance you out nicely.βΒ
βNo itβs not that.β
βOk so what is it?β Katie was confused.
βI donβt hate her.βΒ
Katie paused for a moment, trying to process what her daughter was telling her. βAzzi youβre going to have to explain to me what you mean. Because Iβm lost.βΒ
βI donβt hate Paige. Sheβs annoying, sure, but, like, that doesnβt make me want her to go away.β Katie kept quiet, prompting Azzi to continue. βLike you said, I donβt like people that much. I mean it took me like 8 months to warm up to Jon and Jose and theyβre my brothers.βΒ
βSo somethingβs wrong because you like her?β Katie questioned slowly.
βYes.β Azzi confirmed.Β
βMaybe youβre just maturing. You are starting high school soon.βΒ
βNo it canβt be that because I hated all the other girls there. Itβs just Paige.β
βSo itβs not you. And itβs not the other girls.β Katie said.
βExactly. Which means Paige is the problem. Something is wrong with her.βΒ
Katie stayed silent for a minute, trying to figure out how to word her question.
βHave you thought about the possibility that you might just like her? That sheβs not a problem, but sheβs special?βΒ
Azzi paused. She hadnβt thought about that. She supposed it might make sense. Paige was good at basketball (shockingly good for a skinny white girl), sheβd made Azzi laugh during tryouts when she was trying to focus, and while she was a skinny white girl, she was really pretty for a skinny white girl. Then Azzi remembered her stomach feeling funny before.
βWhat do butterflies feel like?β She asked softly.
βWell, for me they feel a little bit like a tummy ache, but not in a bad way. It feels like fluttering.β
βThatβs why they call it butterflies?β
βThatβs why they call it butterflies.β Katie confirmed.
Azzi thought about it some more. Katie stayed silent the whole time, probably sensing that this was a big moment for Azzi.Β
βWell, shit.β Azzi finally said.
βAzzi.β Katie warned.Β
βSorry.β Azzi paused for a moment. βI justβ¦ I think you might be right. I think I might like her.β
βThank you for telling me. Is Paige the first girl youβve liked?β Katie spoke carefully. She knew that conversations like this could go really well, or really really poorly. She wanted her daughter to know that she loved her and accepted her.
ββ¦I think Paige is the first anyone that I've liked.βΒ
βOh.βΒ
βCan we not make a big deal about this please?β Azzi asked.
βOf course sweetie.βΒ
A few more minutes passed with soft music playing in the background.
βYou should text her when we get back to the hotel though.β Katie suggested with a slight lilt to her voice.
βMoooommm.β Azzi shoved her face into her hands to try and hide the blush creeping up her neck.
βSorry. Sorry. Iβll let you decide what to do.β The car was silent for the last few minutes to the hotel. Just before Katie opened the door she heard a very quiet, βwhat should I say?β from her daughter.
She turned and got out of the car so her daughter couldnβt see her smile. Something in her just knew that Paige was about to become very important in her familyβs life.




















