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Azzi hadn't planned on drinking tonight. After winning a game against USC, the whole team went to Ted’s to celebrate, and between some shots pushed to her here and there, Azzi now found herself drunk.
She was drunk, sad, horny, and missing her girlfriend, who wasn’t really her girlfriend yet. The one person she needed and wanted by her side was the only girl on the team who didn’t go out that night, saying she was too tired to go out.
Everyone was toeing the line between tipsy and drunk, it was a close game after all. Most of the girls were now on the dance floor, except for Azzi and Caroline, the most sober of them all, who was now obligated to care for a clingy and crying Azzi.
Azzi was perched over her side, mumbling something about how last night with Paige was incredible, and unsure if the wetness on her face was sweat or tears. Caroline must have noticed, because the next second the woman was bending to look at her face.
“Why are you crying, Azzi?”, she asked, partially screaming because of the loud music.
“I just miss Paige so, so much”, she responded, letting the tears fall harder.
“Paige is at home, Az, you’re gonna see her soon”.
“I know, I just wanted her here”, she said, stirring her drink. “It’d be much better if she was here… no offense, Caroline”.
The woman sighed, opening her mouth, but Azzi beat her to it. “I miss her smell, I miss her hands… God, I miss her hands, they’re just so…”.
Caroline opened her mouth once again, this time being interrupted by a man approaching them. Well, mostly Azzi. He started making small talk, entering her personal space, which seemed to go unnoticed by the curly-haired, who only understood he was flirting with her when he asked to buy her a drink.
She turned to Caroline quickly, with surprise written on her face. “This guy flirting with me?”, she questioned, thinking he couldn't hear.
“Yeah, Az”.
“And you didn't tell me?!”.
“I thought you knew and were just being polite”.
Azzi rolled her eyes and turned to the guy, getting dizzy with the motion. Looking at him for the first time - tall, blond, brown eyes confused looking between the two women, mouth twitching slightly - his light hair reminded her of Paige, making her heart stutter again. If Paige were there, none of this would be happening in the first place.
“I have a girlfriend”, she declared, sobering up for a second. That wasn't enough, because she continued. “I have a girlfriend and I love her so much, she treats me so well and fucks me so well, I absolutely do not want you to buy me a drink, thanks”.
The guy - had he said his name? - widened his eyes, murmuring a quiet “sorry” before leaving, his shoulders down in defeat. Caroline scratched her throat, giving her friend a look.
“Was it too much?”, Azzi asked.
“You're not gonna remember this tomorrow, don't worry”.
Azzi whined, lowering her head to the sticky table. The music was too loud, all their friends screaming the lyrics around them, the air was too hot and sticky, her curly hair, which she spent a good amount of time getting done, was now up in a bun. She wasn't sure when she started crying again, but now she found herself sobbing, her heart aching from love, her head hurting from all the overstimulation.
“Are you crying again, Az?”, the brunette questioned, putting a hand on her back.
“No…”, she tried to fake it, but the tears kept streaming down her cheeks unsuccessfully. Her mascara was smudged around her brown eyes, which were heavy with sleep and drunkenness, making Azzi put in extra effort to let them open. “He was blond like Paige, but his hair wasn't nearly as perfect as hers. And Paige would be so mad if she was here, she wouldn't even let him get near me”.
“That's it, I'm calling her, for the sake of the two of us, and honestly anyone who tries to approach you”.
The phone only rang twice before the blonde picked up, already suspicious of what was happening. Caroline was always the sober one, so she only expected it once she saw her name light up the screen.
“Hey, Carol, what’s up”, she said, her voice low with sleep.
“Paige, come get your girl”.
“Can I say hi to Paige?”, Azzi ordered, already talking next to the speaker. Caroline gave her a look, knowing the blonde would kill her once she realized how drunk Azzi was. “Caroline you’re so boring… can you tell Paige I miss her sooooo much?”.
Paige chuckled on the other line, shaking her head at how dumb in love Azzi always sounded when drunk.
“Maybe she drank a little too much, and now she's yapping my ears off about how she misses you, and other stuff I'd really rather not repeat”.
“Oh, God”, Paige sighed, blushing at the thought of what her almost girlfriend could've said. “Tell her I’m coming, and don't let her drink any more”.
“I won’t”.
That promise wasn't kept for two seconds, because the moment Caroline turned to hang up the call, KK got Azzi without the brunette looking, taking her to the dancefloor with two shots in hand, already giving one to her, followed by the other.
“Azzi!”, Caroline called, already behind her. “I promised Paige you wouldn't drink more, she's gonna kill me”.
“Don't worry, Carol, I'm not gonna let her kill you, she always listens to me”.
Five minutes, two songs, and many complaints later, Paige was finally at the bar. Azzi turned to the door the moment she walked in, her “Paige senses”, as the girls on the team liked to call, working even when she was drunk. She wore sweatpants and a white tank top, one of Azzi’s favorites, her hair down after being in a ponytail all week, and her purple glasses at the tip of her nose. Azzi’s heart fluttered at the sight, running in her direction and wrapping her in a hug, too drunk to care about PDA.
“Missed you”, she said, burying her face at the crook of her neck. “Soooooo bad”.
“I heard, baby. I also heard you've been drinking too much tonight”, Paige noted, wrapping an arm around her waist to support her weight.
“Well, you weren't here to take care of me”, Azzi pouted, eyes glossy again, and the blonde had to resist the urge to kiss her right there.
“I'm sorry, baby. But I’m here now, and I'm gonna take you home, we’re gonna take a nice bath and cuddle to sleep, how about that?”.
“I like that”, the youngest smiled, and they were soon out of the bar into the chilly night air, Paige almost carrying her to the car.
Once in the car, Azzi curled into the passenger seat, grateful for finally being in silence and with her girl. She closed her eyes, ready to doze off to sleep, when Paige put her head up, her hand instantly finding her thigh, an attempt to distract her from sleeping.
“No sleeping, I need you awake, Az”, she said, looking over quickly. “How about you tell me how it was?”.
“A guy hit on me”.
“Really?”, Paige wondered, her hand gripping her thigh slightly harder.
“Yeah… but I said I had a girlfriend, and she treats me really well and fucks me even better”, she giggled, realizing how awful it must've sounded to the guy.
“You do?”, the blonde teased.
“Yeah, well except for the girlfriend part, you haven't quite gotten there yet”, Azzi answered, almost closing her eyes before Paige poked her side, parking next to their apartment complex. “Which doesn't even make sense, y’know, ‘cause I tell everyone you’re my girlfriend”.
“Mmmm”, was the only thing the blonde responded, getting out of the car to open the passenger door and pick Azzi up, bridal style. She didn't even protest, too tired to climb the stairs to Paige’s apartment, and in that position she got to smell the woman’s cologne, her favourite scent in the world.
Once in the currently quiet apartment, something that never really happens, the oldest took her to the bathroom, making her sit at the counter.
“You’re so strong”, Azzi voiced, running a hand up Paige’s arms. The girl chuckled, giving her a quick peck on the lips.
“Can I take your clothes off, Az?”, she asked, fidgeting with the hem of her black crop top.
“God, please”, Paige laughed, throwing her head back, leaving Azzi confused and pouting. “What?”.
“Not like that, Az, you need to take a bath”, she kissed her lips again, this time lingering for a while. “Maybe tomorrow when you’re not drunk and have rested, okay?”.
“Not fair”, the curly-haired protested, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “I’m not drunk, I’m not that tired and I don't need a bath”.
“Yeah, you do, you’re stinky”.
“I'm not stinky!”. Paige laughed again, making Azzi even angrier. “Stop laughing at me”.
“I'm sorry, baby. Lift your arms, Ms. I'm Not Stinky”, she asked, taking the black top off of Azzi, who let her sleep-heavy limbs fall the next moment. “You’re so sleepy”.
Azzi murmured something unintelligible, probably about how she’s definitely not sleepy, despite her almost closing eyes and inability to stand on her own.
Paige stripped off her own clothes, pretending not to notice the hungry look the brunette gave her, smiling to herself as she turned on the shower. Once in the shower, the blonde did everything for her, washing her every corner and holding her tight so she didn't fall.
Wrapped in their towels after brushing their teeth, they made their way to Paige’s room, Azzi slightly behind her, complaining about how absurd it was that she needed to walk on her own.
Azzi let herself fall on the girl’s bed, letting her almost girlfriend worry about what she’d wear. Allowing her eyes to flutter shut for the first time that night, she listened to Paige wondering if it was too cold to sleep with only boxers, or too hot to sleep in pajama pants. She giggled to herself, her heart swelling with how much love she had for the woman, wondering how lucky she’d gotten. Even when they were only friends, Paige had always been like that - always worrying about her, making sure she was comfortable and safe.
“C’mon sleepy head, up up”, Paige requested, already dressed, holding a pair of boxers and Azzi’s favorite sweatshirt of hers. Managing to at least try to be helpful, lifting her arms and legs when asked, Azzi was finally dressed, already tucking herself under the covers.
Paige followed her after a minute, being met with a big hug once she finally lay down by her side. They found themselves like every other night: Azzi resting her head on her chest, absentmindedly running patterns against Paige’s stomach with her finger, Paige tenderly running her fingers through her hair.
“I love you, P”, the youngest secreted, half asleep.
“I love you too, Az”.
Minutes later, when Paige thought the woman was already sleeping, she was proved wrong by Azzi asking:
“When are you gonna ask me to be your girlfriend?”.
Paige smiled to herself, hoping Azzi wouldn't notice her racing heartbeat, dropping a kiss to her hair. “Don’t worry about it”.
Azzi murmured something quietly, dozing off to sleep the next moment. The blonde watched the scene fondly, hoping that it could be something she could watch every night for the rest of her life.
And if in the next day Paige had a surprise waiting for Azzi when they got brunch, the reason she didn't make it to Ted’s that night, she could only wait for her reaction and dream of her saying yes when she finally got to sleep.