you and paige had been at each others throat all morning. it was the typical game day tension but with paige it always carried more weight. youve been broken up for almost a year now but two years of history didnt just fade. not when youre still suiting up next to her every week, still hearing the way she mutters your name under her breath when you mess up a drill, or still catching her eyes lingering longer than they should during stretches

this morning it was over nothing. a missed rotation in practice and an eye roll you didnt even mean. her voice got sharp and yours got sharper. coach had told you to both cool it but now youre on the floor with your breath knocked out of you and your vision swimming

you barely even remember the hit. just a blur of jerseys and then the hard slam of the court against your ribs and skull. the crowd was buzzing, the refs whistle was shrill, and everything sounded weird and distant

"hey hey y/n. look at me." its paiges voice first. you blink with your vision still trying to focus and suddenly her face is above yours, framed by the arena lights. her brows are furrowed with that same tight line in her jaw she used to have when you stayed out too late. one of her hands was gripping yours with the other already cupping the back of your head like youre glass

"you with me?" she asks and god her voice is shaking

you try to nod but regret it instantly as the world tilts and you whisper "yeah.. i think"

"you hit hard. dont move too fast okay?" her hand squeezes yours tighter like shes grounding you or herself "medicals coming"

"im fine" you mutter but shes already shaking her head, slightly annoyed

"dont do that. dont downplay it just because you dont want to seem weak" that was still her, always cutting right to the truth

"im not" your lips twitch into a small smile "just dont want you to get soft of me bueckers"

her laugh is short and choked but her thumb brushes along your hand in a way she probably doesnt even realize "youre impossible"

“and you still care” you shoot back, dazed but honest

she doesnt answer and just holds your hand until the trainer gets there. she doesnt let go, even when they get you off court and start their exam and later after im sitting on the bench with ice to your head and a dull ache in your chest, she sits beside you while staying quiet