notwowrr

[notwowrr]

Almost, Always // Chapter 2

A/N: I regret my decision starting with angst, but it's too late now. I'll fix things eventually, maybe, who knows, but I wouldn't expect it anytime soon so just hang in there I guess...

Wc: 1k+

Chapter 2: The Weight of Leaving

Azzi pressed her forehead against the cool window of the plane, watching the city lights shrink below her as they climbed higher into the night. She wasn’t sure if she had ever felt this empty before, like she’d left something essential behind, something she couldn’t get back.

She wasn’t sure whether that made her want to cry or laugh bitterly.

With a sigh, she turned her phone over, thumb hesitating over the photos app before she gave in. She hadn’t planned to look, but muscle memory took over, and before she knew it, she was scrolling through years’ worth of pictures, snapshots of a life that had been intertwined with Paige’s for longer than she could even remember. There were the recent ones, from All-Star Weekend, their smiles bright for the cameras even though they had felt miles apart.

She kept scrolling, the years unraveling in reverse, pulling her back to a time when everything between them had felt effortless. When love had been something unspoken but understood, something that didn’t require hesitation or doubt. When it had felt invincible. She hadn’t even realized how much she had been searching for it, for proof that what they had was real, until she saw it—a picture buried deep in her camera roll, untouched by time but heavy with meaning. One she hadn’t seen in years.

USA Basketball, high school.

They were just kids back then, standing side by side in their oversized red, white, and blue warmups, arms slung loosely around each other’s shoulders. It had been one of those group shots taken at training camp, but somehow, even in a crowd of future stars, it was Paige she had been looking at. Paige, with that wide, reckless grin. Paige, already radiating a confidence that was impossible to ignore.

Azzi’s breath caught in her throat as the memory hit her, as vivid as if she were reliving it all over again.

Azzi had always been the quiet one. The observer. The one who kept her head down, focused on getting everything right. That’s what she had been doing—going through the shooting drills, locked in, following every instruction to the letter. And then she heard the laugh.

Loud, uninhibited, so sure of itself.

She turned her head instinctively, catching sight of the girl responsible. Paige Bueckers. The name was already everywhere, the kind of player people whispered about before they even saw her play. And even though Azzi had tried not to get caught up in the hype, there was something about her that made it impossible to look away.

Paige was different. She didn’t take herself too seriously, not like the rest of them, not like Azzi did. She cracked jokes between drills, threw behind-the-back passes like she was born doing it, moved like the court belonged to her. And yet, somehow, she wasn’t arrogant about it. She was light, effortless in a way that made Azzi feel like she had been holding her breath for too long.

It wasn’t until later, when they were cooling down after practice, that Paige came up to her.

Paige plopped onto the bench beside Azzi, still catching her breath from drills, and nudged her with an elbow. "Okay, so do you just not talk, like ever, or is it just me?"

Azzi raised an eyebrow, barely looking at her. "I think that says more about you than it does about me."

Paige gasped, pressing a hand to her heart like she’d just been wounded. "So it’s personal. Wow. I thought maybe you were just, like, super locked in or something. But no, you just don’t like me. Got it."

Azzi smirked, shaking her head. "Or maybe I just don’t feel the need to fill every silence like some people."

Paige chuckled, shaking her head like she wanted to say something back but couldn’t quite find the words fast enough.

Azzi rolled her eyes, finally looking at Paige. "I talk. Just not when there’s nothing worth saying."

Paige leaned back, nodding thoughtfully. "Right, right. You just have super high standards for conversation. Apparently, I didn't make the cut."

Azzi huffed, crossing her arms. "I feel like you’re just trying to see how many words you can get out of me."

Paige gasped dramatically, pointing at her. "Wait. Was that a full sentence? With personality? Somebody alert the media."

Azzi shoved her lightly, but Paige just laughed, that easy, infectious sound that made it impossible to stay annoyed. And maybe it was then—maybe in that exact moment—when Azzi realized she had just met someone who was going to matter. Someone who could make her laugh without trying, someone who made everything feel just a little bit lighter.

And she had.

Azzi swiped away from the photo, setting her phone down as her chest tightened. The ache wasn’t just in her heart; it was everywhere, her ribs, her throat, the back of her eyes. A dull, relentless pressure, like she was carrying something too heavy but couldn’t put it down. It was almost cruel, how the memory of Paige could make her feel so full and so hollow all at once. That had been the beginning. The first time Paige had found her, pulled her in, refused to let her disappear into the background. They had been inseparable after that. Years of growing together, pushing each other, becoming each other’s safe place.

And yet, somehow, Paige had spent all this time running from her. Pulling away just enough, hesitating just long enough, making Azzi question whether she had imagined everything they had built. Like loving her in the dark had been enough, for Paige, at least. And maybe that was the worst part, knowing that Paige had been given every chance to prove otherwise, and still, she had chosen silence.

Azzi clenched her jaw, staring out the window, her reflection barely visible against the night sky. She should be relieved, shouldn’t she? She had walked away, finally, after years of waiting for Paige to catch up. But relief felt nothing like this. This felt like free-falling, like opening her hands to find they were still empty, like hoping for something that had never really been hers to hold. Maybe she had spent too long hoping Paige would finally stop hesitating, stop second-guessing something that had been undeniable from the start.

But how long could you wait for someone before you had to accept that waiting wouldn’t change anything? That love, no matter how deep, couldn’t force someone to be ready for it?

Azzi didn’t have an answer.

And she wasn’t sure if Paige did either.

[notwowrr]

Almost, Always // Chapter 1

A/N: Felt inspired by all the amazing writers on here so I decided to try writing something myself. This is a setup chapter. I can't guarantee that I'll update regularly and I do love angst so just prepare yourselves now...

WC: 1k +

Warnings: none

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

The airport was quieter than usual. Or maybe it just felt that way because Paige had stopped listening. Her thoughts were too loud, drowning out the ambient noise, the faint chatter of other travelers, the distant hum of a departure announcement. Something was wrong—had been wrong—but now the alarm bells were deafening. It was like watching an injury unfold in slow motion, knowing the damage was done before the pain even registered. She wanted to stop it, to rewind to a moment before everything felt like it was slipping through her fingers. But there was no going back. Azzi stood across from her, hoodie pulled up over her head, arms crossed tightly over her chest like she was bracing for a hit. Maybe she was. Maybe Paige was, too.

They were both heading back to their respective cities after All-Star Weekend, after days of interviews, photo ops, and forced smiles in front of cameras. It was supposed to be a celebration. Paige had made her second consecutive All-Star appearance, cementing herself as one of the league’s rising stars, while Azzi had been selected in her rookie season, proving that the hype around her wasn’t just noise. They had been told again and again how special it was, how rare it was for two young players—two former teammates—to stand out among the best. They had stood side by side, laughing in front of reporters, playing into the storylines that had followed them since high school. Champions together. Rivals apart. It was a fairytale, except for the parts that weren’t.

"You didn't have to walk me to my gate," Azzi muttered, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She wasn't meeting Paige's eyes, just staring at the floor, at the scuff marks left behind by hundreds of feet dragging tired bodies to their flights.

Paige exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair. "I wanted to."

Azzi let out a breath, something closer to a sigh than a laugh, her lips pressing together like she was holding back something sharper, something that might sting too much if she let it slip. "Since when?" she murmured, the words quiet but laced with something Paige couldn’t quite name—hurt, exhaustion, maybe even disbelief.

The words hung between them, sharp and unrelenting. Paige didn’t have an answer. Not one that would make sense. She knew exactly what Azzi was referring to—the moments when she had pulled away, the hesitations that had built up into something impossible to ignore. She knew what Azzi wanted, what she had been asking for months now. And Paige still didn’t know how to give her an answer that wouldn’t make everything worse.

Azzi had tried. She always tried. Even this weekend, despite the widening gap between them, she had reached for Paige’s hand as they walked into an All-Star party, her fingers brushing against Paige’s palm, warm and steady, an invitation. And for a split second, Paige had almost given in, almost laced their fingers together in front of everyone, almost let herself feel what she always felt with Azzi—safe, grounded, home. But instead, she hesitated. Pulled back. Shifted, smoothly wrapping an arm around Azzi’s shoulders like it was just another friendly gesture, another move in the delicate dance they had perfected over the years. Close enough to hint at something, but not enough to confirm it.

She had felt Azzi stiffen under her touch. Had seen the flicker of hurt cross her face before she masked it with a tight-lipped smile. And Paige had hated herself for it. Hated that, even now, after everything, she was still clinging to an outdated fear, still holding them at arm’s length when there was no longer a reason to. But habits were hard to break, and fear was even harder. And maybe, just maybe, Azzi was finally done waiting for her to be brave.

They had been here before—Paige pulling away, Azzi waiting. And Paige wasn’t even sure why. She wasn’t ashamed of Azzi—how could she be? She was everything. Confident, driven, and beautiful in ways that had nothing to do with the way cameras captured her. But people were cruel. And the world was unforgiving. Paige had spent years building a reputation, crafting an image that made her marketable, respected. She wanted to believe she didn’t care what people thought, but deep down, she knew the truth—she cared too much.

She also wanted to protect Azzi. Protect their love from the scrutiny, the relentless commentary that came with living so openly. It wasn’t fair, but fairness had never been a factor in their lives. In college, keeping their relationship a secret had been a necessity, a quiet understanding between them. They had promised each other that when the time was right, they wouldn’t hide anymore. And yet, here they were, standing at a crossroads, and Paige was still hesitating. Still doubting.

Azzi was strong. She could handle it. Paige knew that. But could she? Could they? The fear gnawed at her, whispering all the ways this could go wrong, all the ways they could fall apart under the weight of it. And maybe, just maybe, she was already letting it happen.

"Are you gonna say anything?" Azzi’s voice was tight now, frayed at the edges. Paige swallowed hard, feeling the sting of tears she refused to shed. "Or are we just gonna stand here pretending like everything’s fine?"

Paige opened her mouth, closed it. "I don’t know what you want me to say."

Azzi shook her head, taking a step back, and that was when Paige knew—this wasn’t just another fight. This wasn’t something they could patch up with an apology and a late-night call from different time zones. This was a fracture running too deep, a space growing between them that Paige couldn't seem to close no matter how much she wanted to.

Azzi’s flight was boarding. She didn’t move.

"Tell me this matters to you," Azzi said softly, and Paige had never heard her sound like that before—small, like she was already preparing for Paige’s answer to break her heart. "Tell me this is worth fighting for."

The answer should have been easy.

Paige had fought for championships, for her career, for herself. Fighting was what she did.

But she hesitated.

And Azzi saw it.

Paige could see the exact moment something in Azzi’s eyes dimmed, the moment she realized that maybe, just maybe, they had lost the thing they swore they never would.

The final boarding call rang over the speakers. Azzi exhaled, her shoulders rising and falling with the weight of something Paige wasn’t sure she could take back.

"It does matter," Paige blurted out, the words tumbling from her lips too fast, too desperate, rough with emotion she hadn't let herself acknowledge. "You matter. This—us—it’s everything."

For a second, Azzi froze, her breath hitching like she wanted to believe it. Like she was waiting for Paige to follow it up with something more, something real. But Paige had already hesitated too many times. And maybe words weren’t enough anymore. Maybe they never had been.

Azzi’s gaze searched Paige’s, looking for conviction, for the fight she had always known Paige to have. The same fight that had carried her through injuries, through comebacks, through proving herself time and time again. But this was different. And Azzi saw it now—there was something hollow in Paige’s voice, something laced with fear, with uncertainty. A hesitation that spoke louder than the words themselves.

Azzi let out a slow breath, her expression unreadable, but there was something heavy in her eyes, something final. "I can’t keep doing this," she whispered, voice barely audible over the noise of the terminal. "Loving you in the dark, waiting for you to be ready. I thought I could, but... I deserve more than almost, Paige. We deserve more."

Paige’s chest tightened, the weight of it pressing down on her ribs, making it hard to breathe. She wanted to tell Azzi she was right. But what good were confessions now, when they were spoken through the cracks of something already breaking?

Before Paige could say anything else, before she could fix it, if there was even anything left to fix, Azzi turned.

She didn’t look back.

And for the first time in their lives, Paige didn’t chase her.

[notwowrr]

https://www.tumblr.com/notwowrr/787093767706542080/youre-so-obsessed-with-caitlin-and-dont-even?source=share

Tf you mean sniffed a shooting slump 😂 her whole start to the season was a shooting slump and all yall did was blame her coach and teammates

ur gonna sit here and act like paige wasnt coming off a whole ass season and just underwent a tournament run, mind u w that 'slump' she still broke records and made history

[notwowrr]

are people deadass mad azzi wore a mystics jersey😭😭

[notwowrr]

you’re so obsessed with caitlin and don’t even realise it. she’s just in a slump rn, it happens. why do you feel the need to constantly tear her down more ? genuine question.

If paige were to even smell a slump your fanbase would say the nastiest shit since when was pointing out the obvious dragging someone down

[notwowrr]

[notwowrr]

dont let this distract you from the fact that cc went 1/10 from 3🤫🤫🤫

[notwowrr]

PAIGE U ARE EXACTLY WHO THINK YOU MVP

[notwowrr]

WTF

[notwowrr]

Paige jealousy game incoming

Georgia gave Azzi a jersey and Paige looks appalled Azzi wearing a Mystics jersey

[notwowrr]

like be happy with what is given to us , these athletes aren't social media influencers theyre giving us the privilege of seeing their posts

ur reminder that just cuz paige and azzi have made their relationship public doesn’t mean they are any less deserving of privacy and boundaries…neither of them owe us anything. don’t harass them, their family, teammates, or other players on social media asking for info or just being a bother. that is never okay. we don’t know these girls personally, so don’t act like they’re your best friends. let the girls hoop and have fun and be in love without being a fucking weirdo, and for the love of god, actually watch their games

[notwowrr]

We got the launch , like actual launch so them live comments dont need to happen cuz noone is answering your questions when azzi just spelt it out😭

please be respectful and not embarrassing and invading

[notwowrr]

And all of yall who are sad about the lack of content or social media posts … these are basketball players first, not influencers? paige and azzi could completely stop posting about each other at any point and that’s fucking okay. idk why i even say this but you do not have any claim to them. stop it with the corny “i miss paige posting about them” and “i wish they’d post more coupley stuff” shit. their relationship is sacred and between THEM and they are under NO obligation to post about it. don’t be that person constantly asking for more

[notwowrr]

TO ADD ONTO THIS PAZZI HARD LAUNCH

CC stinker, fever loss on juneteenth, Pazzi spotted, did i mention CC STINKER? yes cc stinker🙂‍↕️🤗

[notwowrr]

Holy shit.......

[notwowrr]

YALL COME OUT AND VOTE, 80% where yall at