The late afternoon sun in Minnesota painted the sky in soft shades of gold, casting a warm hue over the quiet suburban street. The sound of moving boxes being dragged across the pavement echoed faintly, breaking the stillness. The trunk of a car stood wide open, overflowing with bags and oversized boxes,a clear sign that someone had just moved in. And that someone was clearly trying to do it all alone

From across the street, leaning casually against the railing of her porch, Paige Bueckers watched

Her blonde hair was down, loose and tousled from the breeze that occasionally swept through the neighborhood. She wore an open red and black plaid button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing a simple white tank top underneath. The way the shirt hung off her athletic frame gave her a laid-back yet striking look — effortless but impossible to ignore

She tilted her head slightly as she watched the new girl struggle with a box that looked way too big for her to carry. The effort was all over her body: tense shoulders, furrowed brows, curls sticking to her neck from the heat, and a wobbly knee that looked like it was about to give out

Paige’s lips curled into a small, entertained smile

She pushed off the railing and strolled down the porch steps, crossing the street in easy, measured strides. Her sneakers made little noise against the asphalt as she approached, her eyes fixed on the girl

And then she stopped. Right next to the car

The girl didn’t move

Still holding the box. Still staring

Right at Paige

For several seconds, there was nothing. Just the weight of that gaze and Paige, standing there with one eyebrow arched, clearly amused. The wind blew through her loose hair, causing a few strands to fall across her face. She brushed them away lazily, tilting her head just enough to look more directly into the girl’s eyes

Still no reaction

So, Paige took a step closer and snapped her fingers in front of the girl’s face

“Hey… girl? I’ve been calling you for a few seconds now…” she said, her voice smooth, but teasing. Her tone carried a kind of confidence that wasn’t loud it just existed, naturally

She leaned in a little, eyes narrowing slightly with curiosity

“You good? Or are you staring at me like that ‘cause you forgot how to breathe?”

A quiet laugh escaped her, low and knowing — like she was used to this kind of reaction. She let her gaze deliberately trail down the girl's body, slow and unabashed, before meeting her eyes again with a smirk

“Thought so.”

Without another word, Paige crouched down with ease and grabbed one of the biggest boxes. Her arm flexed under the plaid sleeve as she lifted it effortlessly, adjusting it against her side like it weighed nothing

“You really should’ve asked for help,” she muttered as she walked, tone lighter now, but still sharp."

“These boxes look like they’re about to fold you in half.”

She started toward the front door but paused just beside the girl. Close enough that their shoulders nearly touched