Chapter Text
Summer break started almost two weeks ago and Paige had been absolutely miserable. Don’t get her wrong, she loved summer, hell it might just be her favorite season, but this year was different.
Every summer she would leave to go stay with her “bestfriend” Azzi. But this year, with her parents getting divorced recently her dad decided that it was best if she stayed home.
“Hey sweetheart.” She wasn’t really sure when her dad had come home, she hadn’t even heard the alarm go off, but here he was standing in the doorway of her bedroom that she hadn’t left since yesterday.
Even though part of her longed to just be seen and understood by anyone, she couldn’t help but be slightly annoyed by her dads presence.
“Hey dad.” Her voice was dry and mixed with traces of annoyance and sadness. She had curled her body into fetal position hours earlier and she hadn’t moved since. Her gaze was trained on a picture frame that had been sitting on her night stand for God knows how long. The picture frame held a collage of pictures. All of which were pictures of her and Azzi over the years. The younger girl had given it to her for her birthday last year, and now it seemed like it was one of the only things tying them together.
“You doing alright kiddo?” Her dad asked. In all honesty Bob was worried about her. She wasn’t eating, she hadn’t left her room, without being forced to, in days, and she had even passed on going to the gym to hoop with him and her younger brother.
“Yeah,”
“Paige-” His voice was softer now and she could hear the sympathy in it.
“I’m fine dad, really!” She didn’t mean to snap at him. She was just tired of being asked if she was ok all the time.
She knew she was nowhere close to being ok, but she had never opened up to her dad about how she felt. Not when her parents first split when she was only 3 years old, not when kids at school would ask her why she didn’t live with her mom, and not even when her dad introduced her to her stepmom and stepbrother. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, she just wasn’t sure how to.
“I’m sorry.” He would never force her to talk if she wasn’t ready.
“It’s ok dad. I get it. You're not the only one who’s worried about me and honestly…I don’t blame you.” She sighed.
Even though her parents had been separated for years she knew that the finalization of the divorce had been hard on him, and she never wanted to be the reason why his stress grew.
“How about we talk about all of this?” Her dad closed the door softly behind him, and made his way towards the foot of her bed and sat down cautiously.
“I guess”
She didn’t really wanna talk about it. It had already been on her mind every second of everyday and the thought of talking about it made her realize how real all of this was. She had never liked to talk about her feelings, but she knew that her dad only wanted what was best for her and their family.
“Can you tell me how you’re feeling?” He was aware that his daughter didn’t like to open up to him, or anyone really, but he figured it was worth a try.
She sighed as thoughts of how to word her feelings began to swirl in her head, but her gaze still never left the frame.
“I miss her dad-” It came out as more of a whisper as she tried to hold back her tears.
All of this had become too much. Of course she missed Azzi. She was Paige’s world, she had been since she was 15. They had spent every moment they could together. Even states away they made sure to make the other their number one priority.
“I know Kiddo.”
“This is the longest we’ve ever been apart and…I know I can call her, but it’s not the same.” Silent tears began to spill down her face as she spoke.
“Have you called her?” He knew the answer but he thought he should ask.
“Of course! We talk everyday-” Paige let out a soft sigh before continuing. “But it’s not the same as being there next to her. I can’t hold her or give her hugs. I just…I want to be with her dad. I need to be with her.”
Bob’s heart ached. He never wanted his daughter to feel this way. He knew how much Paige loved Azzi. Even when she claimed they were just best friends he knew that their love for each other ran far deeper than a platonic friendship. And he knew that he would do anything to see his daughter smile again.
“ I know kid, and I know that she’s your best friend. Don’t get me wrong, I'm beyond grateful for her and her family. They love you as their own and I don’t know what we would do without them.” Paige stayed quiet as she let his words sink in and he took it as a sign to continue. “Paige, look at me for a second please.” She slowly changed positions so that she was now facing her dad. “I talked to Moe and Katie, and we all think that it would be best if you went to Virginia.” A bright smile took over his face as he spoke.
“Really?” Paige sat up slightly, supporting herself on her elbows. She had prayed every night for this moment but no part of her ever thought it would come.
“You’re miserable here kid. I want you to be happy and enjoy your summer. We all do. We know how important this is to you. To both of you. This is your last summer before college and you deserve for it to be special.”
“Thanks dad!” Tears fell from her eyes, but this time they were tears of joy.
“Anytime kid.” His smile was still plastered on his face as he watched his daughters spark return for the first time in almost two weeks.
“Does Az know?” She couldn’t stop the wide smile and blush that came on her face at the thought of the curly headed girl.
“Not yet. We thought that you’d want to be the one to tell her.”
Paige quickly reached for her phone that had been plugged up on her nightstand and clicked Azzi’s contact.
It only took two rings before the call connected and Azzi’s face lit up Paige’s screen.
“Hey P!”
“Az!” Her voice was shaky with leftover tears and excitement.
“Someone's excited.” Azzi pointed out with a small chuckle. The one that made Paige's heart flutter every time, and Azzi was glad to finally hear the happiness in Paige’s voice again.
“I’m coming to virginia, and I get to stay all summer, and I-”
“Whoa whoa whoa. Slow down beautiful. You're coming here?” Her eyes widened slightly. Paige just nodded her head in excitement. Not being able to fully form words.“I thought your dad wanted you to stay there for the summer?”
“He did, but he said I looked miserable.” She said with a small chuckle of her own. Paige looked over at her dad who was still sitting on her bed with a wide closed lip smile on his face. “He said he talked to Moe and your mom, and they all agreed that it was best if I came there.” Paige was slightly out of breath as she finally finished her rambling.
“That’s…that’s awesome P!” Azzi was smiling from ear to ear on the other end of the phone. “When do you fly in?”
It was at that moment Paige realized that she wasn’t sure. She turned to look at her dad again, giving him a questioning look.
“Dad?”
“She flies in tomorrow night.” Her dad said just loud enough for Azzi to hear him through the phone.
“Tomorrow?!” The two girls said in unison. Shocked by how soon the flight was. Bob just nodded and let the girls continue to revel in their excitement.
“Az!” Paige didn’t even know what to say “I-”
“ I know P” Azzi understood everything Paige wanted to say. Even when she hadn’t said much of anything at all.
They sat in silence for a second. Giving themselves time to take in the new information. “Hey P?”
“Yeah Az?”
“I gotta go cause I have weight training in 20 minutes but I’ll call you tonight I promise.”
She didn’t want to get off the phone and she knew the blonde felt the same, but she really did need to head to the gym soon.
“Ok Az, I love you!”
“Love you too Paigey!”
Azzi hung up the phone shortly after. Leaving Paige alone with her dad once again.
“Thank you dad” It still hadn’t sunk in completely, but she was more than grateful that her dad was willing to let her go.
“Anytime kiddo.” He smiled again before standing from the bed. “You should start packing soon. You don’t want to wait till the last minute.” He walked to the door but turned to face her once more before he exited. “I would bring a few bathing suits, Katie said they have some things planned for you all.” He winked before leaving and closing the door behind him. Leaving Paige with sore cheeks from grinning ear to ear.