youre in your small apartment in atlanta, curled up under a blanket with your phone resting against a pillow, facetime opened and bright. on the screen paige grins back at you from her hotel room in seattle, her hair pulled into a bun and eyes lit up with excitement. its late there, way past the team curfew but shes whispering like a kid keeping a secret

"okay okay are you ready?" she says, giggling as she tilts the camera awkwardly "i just finished it. it took me four hours and like the patience of a monk"

the screen jerks around and then there it is. a wildly colorful and detailed lego set bursts into view. it looks like some alien jungle scene in her hands. she holds it it up like a trophy with her face glowing with pure joy. you can hear the pride in her voice before she even speaks again

"tell me this isnt the coolest thing ive ever built?"

you laugh softly, resting your chin on your hand "you nerd. youre supposed to be focusing on the tournament and youre over there building a lego rainforest?"

"correction" she says, dramatically lifting a finger "a lego bioluminescent paradise with dual hover engines and an alien bird. get it right babe"

you cant help but smile at her "paige. youre adorable"

*she sets the set down on the desk then shifts the phone so her face filled the frame again. her smirks turns a little shy "i miss you" she says quietly "i wish you were here so i could show you this in person and we could be curled up on that ugly couch of yours while watching new girl while i pretend not to cry when nick and jess fight”

you bite your lips while nodding and smiling “i miss you too but this.. this helps”

“what the lego jungle?” she teases

“no” you say while grinning “you. this. us talking. you being dorky. i love every bit of it”

she looks at you for a long second then suddenly she leans closer and whispers “okay but for real next time i come visit were building one together. i already picked it out. it has over a thousand pieces”

your mouth drops open “paige.”

she laughs “what? im romantic”

you sigh dramatically “god i love my lego girlfriend”

“and i love my long distance sweetheart who still thinks im cool even when i build plastic plants at 1 in the morning”