"You did great out there," Emily said, smiling sweetly. "Looks like I've got some competition."
"Oh, I-. Uh. You have nothing to worry about. I've got nothing on you," Paige stuttered.
Emily bumped her shoulder against Paige's playfully. "A little competition is healthy, Paige. Confidence is key - and I love that in a girl."
Paige swallowed hard and conspicuously watched Emily practically glide into the change room. Paige had a sudden an inexplicable urge to follow the girl and pin her against a locker. Quickly, she shook her head and walked towards the door. Clumsy and distracted, instead of pulling the handle, Paige walked directly into the door.
"Get it together, McCullers," she said to herself, rubbing a slow-forming goose-egg on her forehead.
Paige zipped up her jacket, feeling a chill as she stepped out into the brisk night air. "Need a ride?" asked Emily out the passenger's side window of her car.
Paige smiled and thought for a moment. Her parents had said to call when she was done for a ride but why wait when a perfectly good ride was right here? Besides, it would give her time to get to know one of her new team-mates like her parents wanted. "Sure, that would be great."
Emily leaned over to unlock the door. As she did so, her shirt drooped dangerously low, allowing Paige a generous view of her bare breasts. Paige gulped and immediately looked away. She would pretend she saw nothing but had to fight away an urge to grin and giggle.
Quiet music played on the stereo as Emily drove out of the school parking lot. Paige struggled inwardly to think of something interesting or funny to say but something about being around Emily made her speechless.
"I meant what I said earlier, about your performance tonight. You're a great asset to the team."
Paige smiled, blushing. "You're not so bad yourself Emily. I'm just glad I made the cut."
The rest of the drive, neither girls said much aside from the occasional comment about rude drivers, the weather, and Paige's directions to her home. Emily hummed along to a favourite song on the radio as she turned up the volume.
"Third driveway on your left," Paige finally said as they turned onto her street. "Thanks again Emily. I really appreciate the ride," Paige said, sitting awkwardly straightforward in her seat. She wasn't sure whether she should hug Emly, give her a high-five or simply vacate from the car.
"Not a problem. Any time, seriously."
Paige grabbed her duffel bag by the handle and leaned over to give Emily a one-armed hug. The girl responded warmly, hugging back and gently stroking Paige's back. Paige took a deep breath and inhaled a wonderful citrus scent from Emily's long locks. As she removed herself from the hug, their faces met and eyes locked. Paige felt heat rising from her stomach to her cheeks as she watched Emily's face become rosy as well.
Paige cleared her throat and opened the car door behind her, forcing herself up and out before she did something she thought she might regret. Emily looked down, embarassed.
Paige closed the door and turned to walk away but felt a force holding her there. The same force caused her to turn around and lean down to the car window, facing Emily once again.
"Do you want to grab a coffee or see a movie one night?" Paige asked. "You know, girls night or something," she added, surprised at her ability to properly form sentences amidst the swirl of thoughts inside her head.
Emily smiled fully and nodded. "Sure, I'd really like that."
Paige's grin stretched from ear to ear as she waved and watched Emily's car drive off into the night. Practically skipping up the driveway to her house, Paige held onto this moment of happiness as she anticipated the confusion and inner-battle she would face later.
But before that, she had her parents to deal with. As she approached the house, she saw her parents standing side by side in the door way awaiting her.
"Emily offered me a ride home. I figured it would save you two the trip," Paige said, smiling nervously. Her parents were strict and she knew that look on her father's face. The one of deep disapproval.
"You seem awfully friendly with her, Paige," her mother said sternly. "Remember the talk we had after last summer's incident at camp?"
Paige nodded and looked to the ground feeling ashamed. Her summer had been unforgettable - in a great way at first until her camp councillor had told her parents about her 'inappropriate behaviour' - holding hands and snuggling with a fellow female camper.
"Homosexuality is a sin, dear," her father said, his voice deep and booming. "I'm sure Emily is a lovely girl but people like her are dangerous and don't know the meaning of boundaries. Now get upstairs to shower and then off to bed."
Paige kissed both of her parents on the cheek as stepped inside the house, her shoulders slumped and a furrowed brow. She didn't want to push Emily away but knew her parents would never approve of their relationship, strictly friendship or otherwise.