Strings Attached

14

"Yeah, like you would play basketball," Paige said sarcastically.

Paige had finally been able to see Lana in a new light. Lana wasn't like anyone else. She was real. Paige couldn't describe it, but for some reason, she felt a closer connection with the brunette.

"Paige, if we weren't on the same team, I would fuck you up," Lana said, her shoulders tall.

"Mhm..." Paige said, not breaking eye contact with Lana for a second.

"Okay, can you guys stop flirting?" Maddie said with a disgusted face as she began walking away.

"We are not flirting," Lana mumbled, walking behind the girl.

Paige leaned in just a little closer, her voice dropping to a soft, teasing tone. "We aren't?" she whispered, her breath warm against Lana's ear, making Lana visibly stiffen.

"You know, for someone who's so confident, you're easy to throw off." Paige laughed.

The trio finally made it back to Lana's house as the clock read 7:00 p.m.

"Hey, I'll miss you, Mads," Lana spoke softly as she pulled her sister tightly into a hug.

"I'll miss you too. Please text me more often," Maddie said, her voice muffled into Lana's shoulder.

"I will, I promise. Call me if you need anything, alright? And be safe, please," Lana said in a tone more like a mother.

As the girls pulled apart, Maddie pulled Paige into a tight hug.

Paige returned the same energy, hugging the younger girl with the same amount of force.

"Bye, Paige. It was fun hanging out with you," Maddie said.

Lana couldn't help but smile at how close the two had gotten in only the matter of a day.

"Bye, Maddie. You're a really good tour guide," Paige complimented. "You should come to Storrs—I can give you a tour of a farm or something."

The two had an hour or two to spare, so they decided to spend their time at the bar down the street.

The door jingled as they walked in, but it wasn't that part that made their entrance known. It was Lana practically screaming, "KEVINNN!"

"Oh, what's up, Lana?" Kevin said, surprised to see the girl. "What are you doing in town?"

"Just stopping by, you know, blessing everyone with my presence for some holiday spirit," Lana paraded.

"And who is this?" Kevin asked, raising his eyebrows.

"This is my dear friend Paige." Lana grabbed Paige's shoulders and shook her. "It's nice to meet you." She stuck her hand out.

He mirrored her action, giving his hand.

"Okay, so like, who wants a round of shots?" Lana asked enthusiastically.

Kevin laughed, waving the bartender over. "Alright, shots it is. And don't go getting too crazy—I don't need you two wrecking my bar."

Lana's grin widened. "It's not a party until something gets wrecked."

The bartender brought over a tray of shots, and the trio clinked glasses, toasting to... well, nothing particular—just the moment, the night, and the strange ease that had crept between them.

Paige took her shot and set the glass down with a satisfied exhale. "This place has a vibe," she remarked, her eyes scanning the room: dim lighting, old wood paneling—the kind of place where every corner had a story.

"Yeah, this place is like the unofficial town hall," Lana said, looking around. "Everyone's here at some point. You just haven't seen the regulars yet."

"Do I even want to meet the regulars?" Paige asked with a raised brow.

"You might," Lana teased. "They all have stories. It's part of the charm."

Kevin leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You'll want to hear about Jim. The guy who tried to build a treehouse and accidentally turned the whole backyard into a swamp. It's a classic."

Paige laughed, shaking her head.

"Alright, alright," Kevin said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll save the best ones for later. For now, enjoy the drinks."

As the night wore on, the atmosphere shifted, and Paige could feel the distance between herself and the small town narrowing. It wasn't so different from her own—just a little slower, a little quieter—but there was a warmth here, one that had nothing to do with the temperature of the drinks.

By the time they finished their round and began heading out of the bar, the night had fallen deeper, and the streets were lit only by streetlights casting long shadows. It was a good night—one that was still unfolding.

Lana had become something of a mystery to Paige. The girl who had seemed so distant at first, someone whose walls Paige wanted to tear down, was beginning to feel more like someone she could understand. Maybe even someone she could be closer to than she had originally anticipated. Paige couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the more time she spent with Lana, the more the lines between teasing and something else blurred.

As the night carried on, two shots turned into eight, and suddenly the girls were starting to feel it.

"Ah, fuck, what time is it, P?" Lana asked.

"Uh, 10... we should probably head to the airport," Paige suggested.

"Yeah," Lana agreed. "Kevin, I guess that's my cue. I'll see you soon," she said, pulling him into a hug.

"Bye, Lans," Kevin pulled away and dapped up Paige. "It's been real. You two should visit again soon," Kevin smiled.