#english courses australia

[tesol-australia]

Earn Your TESOL Certification Online

Join TESOL Australia and earn a TESOL certification online to unlock global teaching opportunities. Our TESOL courses provide the expertise needed to teach English to speakers of other languages, whether you’re teaching abroad or online. Visit us to get your TESOL certificate and start a fulfilling career in English language education.

[studyatorange]

I Spent 6 Months at Orange College and Discovered the BEST Way to Learn General English

Discover Techin's inspiring journey at Orange College! Learn how our General English program helped him build confidence, improve skills, and thrive in Melbourne's vibrant community.

Orange International College RTO Code: 41315 is a dynamic and progressive educational organisation with a firm focus on the future career aspirations of our students. It is our priority to ensure our students are academically excellent, accustomed to cultural diversity, and headed in the right direction to achieve their educational and professional goals.

For More Information:

Visit us: https://www.orange.edu.au/

Phone: 13000 69 642

Email ID: info@orange.edu.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orangecollege

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orangecollege/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/orange_edu_au

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/school/orangecollege/

Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/orangecollege/

Flickr : https://www.flickr.com/photos/orangeeduau/

#OrangeInternationalCollege #StudyInAustralia #OrangeEnglishCollege #InternationalEducation #EnglishPrograms #StudyAbroad #studymelbourne #GeneralEnglish #OrangeCollege #StudentTestimonial #LearnEnglish #EnglishCourseMelbourne #TechinsExperience #LanguageLearning #StudyInMelbourne #EnglishProgram #InternationalStudents #EducationJourney #EnglishLearningSuccess #StudyAbroad #LanguageSkills #MelbourneEducation

[smartstudy-24x7]

English Reading and Writing Programs for Kids: Fun English Learning and Online Classes in Australia

In today’s fast-paced, globalized world, proficiency in English has become essential for children to succeed academically and socially. Whether it's developing reading skills or mastering writing techniques, parents are constantly seeking the best ways to enhance their kids' language capabilities. For families in Australia, English Classes for Kids in Australia have gained significant attention due to the growing demand for flexible and effective learning methods.

In this blog, we'll explore the variety of English reading and writing programs for kids, discuss the benefits of fun English learning for kids, and look into online English lessons for kids with a spotlight on Kiya Learning, a platform that provides top-tier educational resources for children in Australia.

Why English Proficiency is Important for Kids

The ability to communicate effectively in English not only helps children excel in school but also opens doors to future opportunities. Mastery in reading and writing can significantly boost a child’s overall cognitive development. Moreover, learning English early allows kids to:

Expand their vocabulary and enhance comprehension skills.

Improve cognitive abilities, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Increase opportunities for future careers, both in Australia and internationally.

Understanding this, parents are focusing on engaging their children in reading and writing programs that promote strong foundational skills in English.

English Reading and Writing Programs for Kids

When considering English reading and writing programs for kids, it’s essential to find structured, well-rounded programs that engage children while meeting curriculum standards. Such programs help children develop skills in areas such as:

Phonics: Learning the connection between letters and sounds.

Grammar and Vocabulary: Building proper sentence structures and expanding word knowledge.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding and interpreting text.

Creative Writing: Encouraging self-expression and storytelling.

How Kiya Learning Helps in English Reading and Writing

Kiya Learning offers specialized English reading and writing programs for kids that combine interactive content, certified instructors, and personalized lesson plans. The focus is on making the learning process enjoyable while adhering to Australian curriculum standards.

Kiya Learning’s programs for kids are designed to be:

Engaging and interactive, ensuring children enjoy the process of reading and writing.

Tailored to individual needs, offering different levels based on the student’s current ability.

Incorporating fun and creativity, using storytelling, games, and digital tools to develop language skills.

Parents can choose from various reading and writing modules that target areas where their children need improvement or additional practice, ensuring a well-rounded grasp of the English language.

Fun English Learning for Kids

The phrase fun English learning for kids highlights the growing emphasis on teaching methods that prioritize engagement and enjoyment. While traditional methods of rote memorization and textbook-heavy learning can sometimes turn children off, modern approaches to language learning focus on:

Gamification: Using games and interactive activities to teach language concepts.

Storytelling: Encouraging children to create and share their stories to spark creativity.

Visual Learning: Using videos, images, and multimedia to reinforce learning points.

Why Fun Learning Matters

When children enjoy learning, they retain information more effectively. Fun learning not only helps in keeping the child engaged but also creates positive associations with education, making them more enthusiastic about school and homework. In Australia, many institutions and platforms like Kiya Learning have embraced these modern, fun-based approaches to help children learn English.

How Kiya Learning Creates Fun Experiences

At Kiya Learning, every program is designed to be interactive and engaging. The curriculum incorporates:

Educational games that reinforce vocabulary and grammar lessons.

Interactive storytelling exercises where kids can create their narratives, helping improve both reading and writing skills.

Creative challenges like writing poems, making comics, and more, which help foster imagination alongside language development.

This approach helps children see English not just as a subject but as a fun, creative outlet for expression.

Online English Lessons for Kids

In a post-pandemic world, online English lessons for kids have surged in popularity, offering a flexible and accessible alternative to traditional classroom settings. The online learning environment allows for a customized approach to education, and parents in Australia are increasingly embracing it.

Benefits of Online English Lessons for Kids

Flexibility: One of the key advantages of online learning is its flexibility. Kids can access lessons at times that are convenient for them and their families. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for parents with busy schedules.

Personalized learning: Many online platforms, including Kiya Learning, offer personalized lessons that cater to the unique strengths and weaknesses of each student. Whether a child needs to focus on reading comprehension or improve their writing skills, online lessons can be adapted to meet those specific needs.

Interactive Tools: Online lessons leverage technology to keep kids engaged. With tools like virtual whiteboards, digital quizzes, and multimedia resources, children can participate in interactive activities that make learning fun.

Access to Expert Tutors: Platforms like Kiya Learning offer access to highly qualified tutors who specialize in English for kids. These professionals are trained to keep kids engaged while helping them make substantial progress in their reading and writing skills.

Why Kiya Learning for Online English Lessons in Australia?

When it comes to English classes for kids in Australia, Kiya Learning

 is a standout platform for several reasons:

Expert Instructors: Kiya Learning connects students with experienced, certified English tutors who understand the unique needs of young learners.

Interactive Learning Modules: The platform offers interactive modules that make online learning fun and engaging for kids, ensuring that they remain interested and motivated.

Tailored Programs: With programs designed for varying skill levels, Kiya Learning ensures that every child is taught at their pace, whether they’re beginners or more advanced learners.

Flexible Scheduling: Kiya Learning offers flexible class schedules, perfect for busy families and kids with extracurricular commitments.

Supportive Learning Environment: Kids are encouraged to ask questions and participate actively in class, fostering a supportive atmosphere where they feel comfortable exploring new ideas.

Kiya Learning’s online English lessons for kids are accessible across Australia, making it easier than ever for parents to enroll their children in high-quality English programs from the comfort of home.

English Classes for Kids in Australia

Australia offers a variety of English classes for kids, but finding the right one that balances academic rigor with fun learning experiences can be a challenge. Whether you’re looking for in-person lessons or online classes, key factors to consider include:

Class Size: Small class sizes allow for more personalized attention.

Qualified Teachers: Instructors should be well-trained in working with children and possess relevant teaching certifications.

Curriculum Alignment: The program should align with Australia’s educational standards, ensuring that children are learning relevant content.

Engagement: Fun and interactive elements are crucial to keeping kids motivated to learn.

Why Parents Choose Kiya Learning in Australia

With the rise of online English lessons for kids, Kiya Learning stands out for its comprehensive approach. Parents choose Kiya Learning for its combination of:

Highly qualified tutors: All instructors are well-trained and equipped to teach kids effectively.

Engaging content: Kiya Learning incorporates multimedia, storytelling, and games to make English lessons enjoyable.

Flexible learning models: Whether you prefer group classes or one-on-one sessions, Kiya Learning offers flexibility in choosing what works best for your child.

As a trusted provider of English reading and writing programs for kids across Australia, Kiya Learning is paving the way for the future of language education with its innovative approach to teaching.

Conclusion: Why Kiya Learning is the Right Choice

If you’re looking for fun English learning for kids or structured online English lessons for kids in Australia, Kiya Learning offers the perfect blend of innovation and quality. With a focus on creating engaging, interactive lessons that foster creativity while adhering to educational standards, Kiya Learning ensures that every child can excel in reading, writing, and beyond.

English Classes for Kids in Australia should be more than just a classroom experience—they should inspire children to love learning and develop the skills they need to succeed. Kiya Learning achieves this by offering tailored programs that are fun, engaging, and designed with young learners in mind. Whether your child is looking to improve their reading, writing, or overall language skills, Kiya Learning offers the resources and expertise needed to make a lasting impact.

Let your child embark on a fun and educational journey with Kiya Learning today!

This blog provides a comprehensive look at various aspects of English classes for kids in Australia, emphasizing the role of Kiya Learning in offering engaging, flexible, and effective programs.

CONTACT  US  - 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kiyalearning/                                

Website URL - https://kiyalearning.com/             

Business Email - contact@kiyalearning.com

  Whataap Link -   

[career-makerz-home-tuitions]

Home Tuition in Panchkula for All Classes: Personalized Learning

Home Tuition in Panchkula: Nurturing Your Child's Potential

Every child is unique, with their own learning style, pace, and aspirations. Recognizing this individuality is crucial for fostering academic growth. While schools strive to cater to diverse learners, the classroom environment often has limitations. This is where home tuition steps in as a transformative solution.

Personalized Attention, Unparalleled Progress Home tuition in Panchkula offers a focused learning environment tailored to your child's specific needs. Unlike the classroom, where teachers juggle multiple students, a home tutor dedicates their full attention to one learner. This personalized approach allows for a deeper understanding of your child's strengths, weaknesses, and learning style.

A skilled tutor can adapt teaching methods to suit your child's preferences, whether they are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. This flexibility ensures that the learning process is engaging and effective. Moreover, home tuition provides ample opportunities for interactive learning, encouraging questions, discussions, and critical thinking.

Would you like to know more about the benefits of home tuition for specific age groups or subjects: https://careermakerz.in/

Building a Strong Foundation Beyond academic performance, home tuition plays a vital role in building your child's confidence and self-esteem. The one-on-one interaction with a tutor fosters a supportive and encouraging environment, where your child feels comfortable asking questions and making mistakes without fear of judgment.

A strong foundation in core subjects is essential for future academic success. Home tuition can help bridge any knowledge gaps, ensuring your child is well-prepared for exams and competitions. It also provides opportunities for enrichment activities, such as hobby classes or language learning, to broaden their horizons.

Flexibility and Convenience Home tuition offers unparalleled flexibility. You can choose the tutor, the subjects, the timings, and even the location – your home. This convenience eliminates the stress of commuting and allows for a more relaxed learning atmosphere.

Choosing the Right Tutor Selecting the right tutor is crucial for the success of home tuition. Look for someone who is qualified, experienced, and patient. A good tutor should be able to create a rapport with your child and make learning enjoyable.

In conclusion, home tuition in Panchkula is an investment in your child's future. By providing personalized attention, building confidence, and fostering a love for learning, it can make a significant difference in their academic journey.

[blogtey45]

Embarking on the journey to success in the Pearson Test of English (PTE) is often a challenging endeavor. In this blog post, we bring you the inspiring success story of Cecile, who achieved a remarkable score of 9 each in the PTE exam with the assistance of EnglishWise.

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Los del Río - Macarena (Bayside Boys remix) 1995

"Macarena" is a song by Spanish pop duo Los del Río, originally recorded for their 1993 album A mí me gusta. During a private party celebration in Venezuela in 1992, a local flamenco teacher, Diana Patricia Cubillán Herrera, performed a dance for the guests, and Los del Río were pleasantly surprised by Cubillán's dance skills. Spontaneously, Antonio Romero Monge, one half of the Los del Río duo, recited the song's chorus-to-be on the spot, as an accolade to Cubillán: "¡Diana, dale a tu cuerpo alegría y cosas buenas!'" ("Give your body some joy, Diana"). When Monge wrote the song, he changed the name to Macarena, in honor of his daughter Esperanza Macarena.

In mid-1996, the song became a worldwide hit roughly one year after the Bayside Boys produced a remix of the song that added English lyrics, written by Carlos de Yarza. The Bayside Boys added a new dance beat with English-language lyrics sung originally by the studio singer Patty Alfaro. The remix includes a sample from the Yazoo track "Situation" — the laughter of Yazoo vocalist Alison Moyet. The chorus uses female vocal samples previously used by the Farm in their song "Higher and Higher (Remix)" from their album, Spartacus.

The Bayside Boys remix hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1996 and remained at the top of the chart for fourteen weeks, becoming one of the longest runs atop the Hot 100 chart in history. It also topped the US Cash Box Top 100. Billboard ranked it as the number 1 song for 1996. In the UK the song peaked at number 2, kept off the number 1 spot by the huge popularity of the Spice Girls song "Wannabe". In Australia, it was the most successful song of 1996. "Macarena" remained popular through 1996, but by the beginning of 1997, its popularity had begun to diminish. The song stayed in the Hot 100 chart for 60 weeks, the longest reign among number 1 songs, only surpassed fifteen years later by Adele's "Rolling in the Deep". Its resurgence was aided by a dance craze that became a cultural phenomenon throughout the latter half of 1996 and early 1997. The song got the group ranked the "#1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of All Time" by VH1 in 2002. In 2012, it was ranked number 7 on Billboard's All Time Top 100. It also ranked at number 7 on Billboard's All Time Latin Songs list. In 2023, Billboard ranked "Macarena" number 500 in their list of Best Pop Songs of All Time. By 1997, the song had sold 11 million copies. In a Peanuts comic strip from December 1, 1996, Snoopy is about to join Woodstock and an unnamed identical bird at a frozen-over birdbath for a hockey game, but they start off by doing the Macarena dance first before playing, much to his embarrassment.

When the music video for the Bayside Boys Remix was filmed, Mia Frye choreographed a greatly simplified version of the Macarena dance that already existed at the time. Frye and director Calvet drew inspiration from video footage from clubs in Mexico that showed large crowds of people dancing the original, more complex, Macarena. According to Los del Río, the dance originated from the interaction between the band and the audience at concerts. It started with some improvised arm movements from the singers during an instrumental part of the song. Some people in the audience then began to imitate similar dance moves. In the interplay between the band and the audience, an early form of Macarena dance gradually emerged over the course of several concerts because stories about the Macarena dance spread among the band's fans by word of mouth.

"Macarena" received a total of 87,7% yes votes!

[c0ndensedmilk27]

Isnt it funny how other countries have badass awesome names like "Kenji", "Wolfgang", "Mikhail", and "Joaquin".

Then the english have names like fuckin bob, charlie, moe, and harry.

[mystudycounselor]

Become a Fluent English Speaker: Enroll Today! Learning English Can Be an Incredibly Valuable Investment in One's Personal and Professional Development. It Opens Up Doors to New Opportunities and Helps With Communication in a Globalized World. If You're Considering Improving Your English Language Skills, Sign Up for an English Course in Perth Australia Today.

[vivwritesfics]

Keep Rolling

Chapter One

One of the biggest F1 content creators is a Youtube Channel called FormulaY/N. She has a leg up on the competition, being Lando's childhood friend and close to the grid. Max Verstappen just so happens to be in love with her.

She looked good, but that came as no surprise to Max Verstappen, the man that had been in love with her for the last three years.

It was very simple, really. She was an artist. 

Her art wasn’t to everybody's liking, and it had taken years for her to find an audience to truly appreciate her art. The silly little videos she poured her heart and soul into, the hours she spent filming in her bedroom, editing at her desk. 

All to talk about the sport that had captivated her so when she was a little girl. 

The world of Formula One had always held a special place in her heart. Hours sat in front of the television every Sunday with her father, watching the men that would become her heroes racing around the track. When her father took her karting for the first time, she squealed in delight. 

She was good, too. Winning some races and almost winning others. But, unlike the other kids that were just as talented as she was, her family couldn’t afford to keep it up. 

She was in the sport just long enough to make some friends, though. Friends for life, friends who would tough it out with her through thick and thin. At thirteen, she went to watch the two of them race. She knew everybody on the circuit at that point, had raced against them in the past. She’d had many interesting conversations with Charles, whose English wasn’t quite there as a teenager, and stood with George Russell while he watched Alex Albon and you watched Lando. 

Max, too, had her full support. When Lando progressed without him, leaving him behind, she was still there to support him. Often doing college course work while watching, but still supporting. 

But then, her own career took off. 

Twenty nineteen, just as her best friend started his career in Formula One, the views on her Youtube Channel skyrocketed. Her videos talking F1, talking stats and facts and tidbits, talking what little she had learnt from her time karting, were suddenly getting more than their couple hundred views. A couple thousand. Tens of thousands. Hundreds of thousands. It just kept going, her videos getting more and more and more views. 

Her first rival video was her in the paddock. Silverstone, the first race Lando ever bought her to. With Lando as her part time cameraman (holding her phone), she interviewed what drivers she could with a shitty microphone she got for less than ten pounds. Those that remembered her from karting days embraced her, clearly happy to see her again.

She was happy to see them, too.

That was the first time one of her videos made money. That was the first time Youtube presented itself as a career option. And it was clear what she needed to do.

Not many would consider what she did art. Harmless videos where she had fun around the paddock during race weekends, vlogs with her best friend and silly little challenge videos with his fellow drivers. Interviews, where she got information the mainstream media could only dream of getting. Streaming in her swanky sim rig as well as collaborating with other big Formula One creators.

In the Formula One community, what she did was art. As the community grew, so did her channel. As her best friends fan base grew, so did her own.

Everything was perfect.

In the few years since her first Silverstone vlog, the quality of her Youtube Channel had improved massively. FormulaY/N. A clever name, one she had printed on the cover for her portable microphone. She had a cameraman, too. And a proper camera. Jamie followed her from race weekend to race weekend, camera always pointed at her. 

This weekend was no exception.

Australia. 

It was hot as balls and she was in prosthetic makeup. A fake nose, a cushion shoved under her too hot suit. A wispy beard and some grey, bushy eyebrows. Contacts in her eyes, changing their colour. 

Jamie looked no better. An ugly wig and a cable knit jumper. The wig was flattened down, nearly covering one eye and he wore eyeliner. His nose was his own but the ring in it (and the two in his lip) was fake. 

“Perfect,” she said, releasing a breath as she stared at herself in the mirror.

The introduction to her video had been filmed the night before, after checking into her hotel room. She had looked normal, then, actually looked kind of cute. The intro had been quick, explained the premise of her Paddock Pals video.

Paddock Pals. A series she had started just the year prior. It was always a laugh, always had the drivers rolling their eyes at her once they found out. 

The aim of the game was simple. Dress up in disguise and conduct terrible interviews with as many drivers as possible. The first one to spot that it was really her giving the interviews, and not an old man with a terrible Australian accent, won the game and bragging rights. 

The Paddock Pals video from the year before had been a great success. But that had been in Canada, and it had been raining the entire time. The stupid disguise hadn’t been this uncomfortable then, she was sure of it.

“Ready?” She asked Jamie. He looked positively miserable in his tight jeans, cable knit and fake piercings. The outfit alone was already ridiculous, some grandpa-goth hybrid; the heat of it all was only going to make things worse.

With a huff, he propped his camera on his shoulder. “Ready,” he answered and she held her portable microphone up. 

It was a little dramatic, the way she took off the FormulaY/N cover and replaced it with a sad, generic one. “I’ll miss you, little buddy,” she said as she picked the cover up from the bed, placed it into her pocket and patted it.

Her attention turned back to the camera. “Now we’ve got the important stuff out of the way, let’s go and find our first victim.”

***

The Australian accent was a terrible idea, she realised as she held her microphone up to Pierre Gasly. She nodded along, tried to make it seem like it was a real interview but she busted out the weird stuff. From the get go, she couldn’t help but feel like Pierre was side-eyeing her. He knew something was up.

She couldn’t lose on the first interview. 

When Pierre finished speaking, she was still nodding, still holding the microphone up to his mouth. He looked between her and Jamie, as if he was looking around for some help. Oh, he had no idea. 

“Tell us about your tripod,” she said, sounding dead serious. The accent made it so damn hard. 

Pierre furrowed his brows at her. “This is for television?” He asked, trying to  be quiet. But her portable microphone and the little one stuck to her jacket picked up everything. 

She nodded, trying to keep her face stoic. If she tried hard enough, she could become the weird old reporter who had been a part of the sport forever but was always too scared to get in a car. She could become that man if she really tried. “What does the world need to know about your tripod?”

Pierre’s cheeks heated up. “Nothing!” He cried. 

“Well, little Johnny and I heard it might be broken. So, we’ve got you something that can hopefully help.” Shenodded to Jamie (or little Johnny, as he was for this bit) and he put down the camera. Grabbing something from her bag, he handed it to her and picked up the camera again.

Pierre’s face was full of confusion as she opened up the tripod. An actual tripod, not a euphemism. An actual tripod for capturing videos. “There,” she said as she set it down. “A temporary replacement until yours gets better,” she said. 

Before Pierre could react, she clapped him on the shoulder and walked away. One victim down. Only three more and she would have beaten her record from the year previous.  

Pierre continued to stare after her as she and Jamie walked away, tripod still beside him. It looked like it would hold a hefty piece of equipment, not a cheap, shit one. “Wait a minute,” he mumbled to himself. 

Her next victim was easily her favorite. Charles. Charles was the reason last years Paddock Pals was so successful. He was just… Charles; he needed minimal prompting and ran with the weird interview. 

His smile was polite as she spoke to him. “First of all, I got some things here for you to sign.” 

Ferrari cap (he'd already signed it for her), Ferrari baby grow, shitty, tiny cardboard cutout of him, bag of crisps, a FormulaY/N hat and an MV1 hat (she insisted he sign on the one). 

With each signed item that he handed back to her, she threw it over her shoulder and let it disappear. 

“So, Charles,” she began. “When can we expect new music?” A perfectly normal question to get started, to catch him off guard. 

Charles kept his smile polite as he began to give an answer to her and to the camera (now just propped up on a wall). He didn't seem to notice as Jamie set up a small toy piano behind the two of them. A small thing that had real keys, as well as making fart and dog sounds. 

“When can we collaborate?” She asked him, pretending not to notice the piano, either. 

A chuckle left his lips. “You need to show me your music first!” He said, keeping his composure even though he was side eyeing her. But Charles was pretty good at this whole PR thing. 

She stepped behind the Casio keyboard. “Sing along if you know it!” She called to him. 

Jerry Lee Lewis. She played Great Balls of Fire in the middle of the Australian Grand Prix paddock. 

If that didn't give her away, she didn't know what would.

Charles didn't hesitate to sing along, along with a couple of Red Bull engineers as they walked past. A small group, all shouting the ‘Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!’ part.

Her fingers hit the keyboard one last time, finishing the song. “That was great, Charles. Have your people talk to my people about our album!” She called as she walked away, leaving the piano there. 

Charles stared down at it. He hit a button that made a fart sound and turned his gaze to follow her. 

Something was definitely fishy. 

Her third victim. He wasn't even supposed to be her third victim, it just sort of happened. 

His smile was too warm for the kind of interview they were having. But he was rolling with the weird questions, giving equally as weird answers. 

Admittedly, she had nothing planned for Max. The Paddock Pals videos didn't seem like something he wanted to be in. But he was doing great. 

She swallowed as she asked another question. Max was matching her energy. Why was he matching her energy? 

He had to know. He had to know it was her and that she was filming a Paddock Pals video. He had to know and that was why he was so relaxed. 

Before she could get her final question out, her beard was yanked from her face. “Hey!” She shouted as it tore away from her skin. That was supposed to be a gentle procedure, one that didn't have her wincing as the glue was ripped away from her skin. “Ow, Charles!” She shouted and held her face. 

He grinned at her, half a fake beard dangling pathetically from between his fingertips. She glared at him as she pulled off her fake nose and pulled her pillow out from beneath her suit. It was an instant relief from just how hot it was, but the oversized suit was still uncomfortable. 

With a sigh, she pulled the FormulaY/N microphone cover from her pocket and swapped it over. Pulling the hat and grey wig from her head, she dropped it to the floor and turned to the camera. “There you have it, folks! The winner of this year’s episode of Paddock Pals is Charles Leclerc.” She held her hand out to him. “Your prize? Bragging rights.”

Charles shook her hand and took the microphone off of her. “I would like to thank Arthur and Leo for this achievement and I can’t wait to win next year’s Paddock Pals.”

Snatching the microphone back from him, she rolled her eyes as she sent him on his way. But it wasn’t nasty, and she was grinning the entire time. “Just like last year, we only managed to interview three drivers before we got found out. Once again, congratulations to Charles and thank you to all of my unwilling participants. I’m gonna get dressed out of this ugly ass suit, and I’ll see you all at the track.”

Jamie cut the camera and put it down. “I’m gonna go and edit,” he mumbled and tossed the duffle bag on her shoulder towards her. Not saying anything else, Jamie walked away. 

She tried to shout a goodbye and a thank you, but Jamie was long gone. He picked up all of the ridiculous items that they had brought for the silly interviews on his way.

“A Paddock Pals video, huh?” 

She clutched the bag against her chest as she looked at Max. “C’mon,” she mumbled. “You knew it was me the entire time.”

Max nodded his head. He smiled, only a small one that she didn’t read too much into. “The contacts were a nice touch. They were what had me doubting it was you.”

When she began walking, Max fell into step beside her. “Did I go too overboard with the outfit? Is that what gave it away?” She asked, leading the way to the McLaren garage.

“Maybe,” he answered. “I think I’d be able to tell, anyway.”

She shrugged off her jacket. “So, what I’m hearing is that my challenge for next year is to try and catch you out?” She stopped in front of the McLaren garage, her smile a mix of sly and sweet as she stared up at him. 

“You can try,” he answered, his smile growing. 

But then she disappeared into the McLaren garage. Max was still watching her, eyes still following her as she greeted Lando and continued on, no doubt heading to his driver's room to get dressed into something more comfortable. It was what she had done last year.

Of course, last year she didn’t interview Max. He knew it was her, with the fake boobs and brightly coloured wig. Everybody had to know it was her, right? They had to be playing along, for the video, right?

Max couldn’t help but keep his eye on the McLaren garage. He didn’t realise he was doing it, until his vision was filled with so much orange, it was nearly blinding. 

But then she stepped out. 

Black shorts, orange corset style top with a lightweight, black jacket on top. She had taken a moment to brush out her hair, to put on some jewellery, and to put her typical Lando Norris hat on top of her head. 

She looked good, but that came as no surprise to Max Verstappen, the man that had been in love with her for the last three years.

[tesol-australia]

Learn TESOL Certification Online from TESOL Australia

Start your journey in teaching English as a second language with TESOL Australia. Get a TESOL certificate online or enrol in TESOL courses to teach English worldwide. Flexible study options are available. Advance your career today with TESOL certification online by visiting us!

[studyatorange]

Melbourne is a vibrant and dynamic city, known for its high-quality education and diverse cultural experiences. For international students, studying carpentry in Melbourne offers numerous benefits, from top-notch training to excellent career opportunities. Orange College stands out as a premier institution for carpentry studies, providing a comprehensive education and supportive environment. In this blog, we’ll explore the key benefits of studying carpentry in Melbourne for international students.

1. High-Quality Education

Overview: Melbourne is home to some of the best educational institutions in Australia, offering world-class training and facilities.

Benefit: Studying at Orange College ensures you receive a top-tier education from experienced instructors, equipping you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in carpentry.

Highlight: Orange College’s Certificate III in Carpentry covers all essential aspects, from theoretical knowledge to hands-on practice, ensuring a well-rounded education.

2. Practical Experience and Modern Facilities

Overview: Carpentry is a hands-on trade that requires practical experience with tools and materials.

Benefit: Orange College provides state-of-the-art workshops and facilities, allowing you to gain extensive practical experience and master various carpentry techniques.

Highlight: The college’s emphasis on practical training prepares you for real-world scenarios, making you job-ready upon graduation.

3. Strong Industry Connections

Overview: Melbourne’s thriving construction industry offers ample opportunities for networking and career growth.

Benefit: Orange College has established strong relationships with local businesses and industry professionals, facilitating internships, job placements, and networking events.

Highlight: These industry connections can significantly enhance your career prospects and help you build a professional network in Australia.

4. Cultural Diversity and Inclusive Environment

Overview: Melbourne is known for its multicultural population and welcoming environment.

Benefit: As an international student, you’ll experience a rich cultural diversity, making it easier to adapt and feel at home.

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[katiascraft]

"Him" | LN4

Parings: Lando Norris x bestie!reader.

Summary: Oblivious idiots to lovers. That's what Max said.

Word count: +2,7k.

Warnings: nooone just pure fluff and some language hehe. Not a native english speaker so there could be (so many) errors. Not proofread.

Author's note: AAAAAAA i loved writting this one 🥹 Dont forget to comment, like or reblog! And follow me so we can be friends :3 (and drink mate together!)

MASTERLIST

“You only say that because you fancy him, y/n. You can't play with me”Max said out of nowhere while talking about the whole Lando drama and his fourth championship at Danny Ric’s house. Your three have been best friends for quite some time now. Actually, you have been friends with most of the grid for a couple of years now. They were like family to you and recently, you moved countries to live and study in Monaco and be able to spend more time with your friends.

“What have you just said motherfucker?” you acted offended. Nethertheless it took you by surprise that he said such a thing when you have never talked about Lando and your feelings for him with him nor danny. But Max knew you too well to already know the whole story. Of course Danny laughen and you could feel the heat going up your face. You feel exposed so you try to cover up by drinking another sip from your glass of white wine. You thank god it was in the privacy of Danny's house and not some random bar for everyone to hear.

“Oh c’mon y/n, i think it’s pretty too obvious by now” max continued noticing the panic and surprise on your face.

“Yeah, it is obvious and cute to see how you drool, staring at him everytime he talks. And not to mention you eat him alive at races when he is all sweaty -” danny continued the torture but you stopped them both making them laugh.

“Just stop!” you said “you guys are impossible!” your face was red and anxiety took over you for a moment.you sighed defeated. “To be honest with you, yeah, I do like him. But lets be real, im nt even his type at all” you said remembering how he was kissing magui, that model he fucks now and the, kind of a situationship, in front of your fucking face the whole night a few weeks ago. “And even as impossible as it sounds, if there was an actual chance for me with him, we wouldn't work either. I'm complicated. And he doesn't see me like that. He never did. And i'm sure that won't change like ever” you added just convince yourself of everything you said. It was impossible, right? There was no chance in this universe for him to see you like that. You are so far from what he used to date. It's just an innocent crush. You’ll meet someone,right? You saw Max denying with his head.

“y/n, i know you are not the most confident human being i know but be fucking for real, you are not complicated. And everything you said it's nonsense. You are fun to be around, you make him laugh until he pisses himself, you give him his favorite things, you bake him cookies and pies, you listen to him when he is sad, you are like the bestest person next to him. And let me tell you, I have no doubts he is into you as much as you are. It's in your eyes guys. You love each other more fondly than you want to admit” he said leaving you speechless for a moment and with a mess of confusion around your head. You wanted to believe him but at the same time you can’t.

“Mic drop, sir” Danny said and they both laughed. You smiled but rolled your eyes in disbelief.

“I wish” you finally said, making Max roll his eyes.

“Two oblivious idiots, can you believe it danny?” Max said ironically and Danny followed him.

“I see it mate. It's sad. I wanna cry” he said.

“You guys are impossible." You declared to go back to your trivial talk about cats and australia barbecue.

(...)

It was a beautiful saturday. You were thankful Ria said yes to accompany you to buy a new outfit for tonight's party. Martin Garrix was in town and lando invited you all to his friend's show. Coffees in hand, you were chatting about everything and anything.

“So the plan is a sexy outfit just to impress your boy?” she teased and you rolled your eyes.

“Why is everyone so obsessed with the idea that I like lando? As if he would care what I wear or not” you said, a little irritated. You just wanted to conquer someone else tonight to forget about all of this and move one. You knew it was impossible that Lando liked you back so why be stuck in it? You were gonna dress up and doll up and conquer whoever you may please. That was your masterplan.

“Girl, you need to relax. I say it first hand: he cares a lot fucking much. He likes you. I just know.but you two are too dumb to accept it” she said raising her shoulders.

You felt so confused once again. These were Lnados friends who knew him just like you did. First it was Max and Danny and now it is ria. You didn't want to fool yourself. And at the same time you wanted him to know for the longest time. You wanted him to notice you. And you also knew him and you knew how he is with girls and if he liked you then he would've told you by now.

“Ria, dont play with me” you begged. Concern showed in your voice. She gave you a gentle hug by your side.

“I won't ever do that to you y/n. I would never in a million years forgive myself if I did. You're my friend and I just want you to be happy. Believe me” her voice was soft and sweet. You just smile and change the subject. You didn't want to discuss this anymore. Nor did you think you could handle it.

(...)

Saturday night finally came and so did the margaritas you so dearly adore when you needed to forget reality. You were pretty tipsy by now. You met Franco Colapinto and you didn't even know he was invited but oh god he was so fun to be around. You've Been talking to him the whole night about whatever to be honest.and yeah, he looked really hot tonight by the way. You felt lucky he even looked at you and so you followed around.

You bumped into Max at the bar table after ordering yet another margarita. He looked at you a little tipsy as well.

“So you replaced lando for an argentine prince, huh?” He teased you.

“Oh shut the fuck up verstappen. Were in public” you said going back to the barman who was handing you your precious margarita drink. He rolled his eyes.

“Be careful. Lando's not happy” he said and disappeared into the people holding his vodka with red bull. Weird mix but he was loyal to his employers i guess.

You came back to where Franco was waiting for you to be back. He looked so cute under the lights in that white shirt he was wearing. And speaking of white shirt you saw Lando talking to him. You cursed yourself right there. You may or may not have ignored him the whole night. But you just couldn't face him after what all your friends said. You just didn't want to be tempted by his pretty shiny green eyes and his mouth. Oh what you'd give up just to taste his lips.

“Oh there is the missing girl,” Lando said, looking at you when you arrived and smiling nervously. The tension established between you two even Franco noticed it.

“Guess it is my turn to go to the bar. Be right back, guys” he said and left the two of you alone. You took a sip from your glass avoiding his sight.

“What's wrong with you?” he said kind of offended? Anger could be clearly heard in his voice. You sighed not knowing what to answer.

“What do you mean lando?” you decided to play the fool. You wanted to run away. His eyes were intimidating you.

“One day we watch movies together and bake cookies and the other you ignore me for several days and even flirt with another dude straight to my face?” what he just told you took you by surprise. You frowned, confused at his statement. The tension was burning your throat. He got closer and so you finally faced him. You looked at him. His face straight and his eyes dark with a little sparkle. You couldn't read what was going on inside him. Maybe he was just as confused as you were. “You look too pretty in that dress to be talking to him and not me” you could breathe his warm breath tasting tequila mixed with lemon. You swallowed hard. Your insides exploded. what was happening? He grabbed your waist and pulled you closer to him. His touch burns your skin sending shivers down your spine. This was actually happening? Your hands were shaking. You really thought about what to tell him. A devilish smile appeared in his face when he thought he left you speechless. But you weren't ready to let him win.

“Well, for your information, I'm single and I can talk to wherever my vagina pleases so that shouldn't be none of your business. Also, why would I talk to you if you have been talking with more than one girl tonight? I'm a selective lady. What can I say” you smiled innocently.

He bit his lip. He tightened his grip around you. More possessive. More irresistible. Your innocent smile turns into a triumph smile. ”so if you dont mind i’ll keep talking to Franco and luckly fuck him. Have a good night Landito” you said provocatively leaving lando hanging into his words as you pulled away and walked away from him. His brain is malfunctioning.

And as you promised you kissed and fucked Franco Colpinto that night.

(...)

It was already the next sunday and Lando had disappeared. There was nowhere to be found. He didn't reply to your texts nor your calls. He became just dead silent. That made you feel even more confused than you already were. What did it mean what happened at the party? What were his intentions? Why didn't you kiss him? You were torn into feeling guilty and stupid at the same time. Like you had an actual chance with him but you didn't take it. And you didn't even know why. You hated yourself so much for that. How stupid.

Max, Lando's best friend, invited you over along with Pietra and Lando. You were cooking some vanilla flavored cookies with chocolate chips. The famous crumble cookies. Lando has been pretty much ignoring you. And you have been really quiet. Very unusual both ways. The tension was irritating. Max and Pietra tried to play it cool but it was very uncomfortable. When Lando came back from the bathroom, Max took him into the terrace and you stayed with pietra inside in the kitchen doing your stuff.

“Babe, what happened between you two?” she sounded genuinely worried. You sighed stressed.

“To be honest with you, I don't know. After a weird moment at the party last Saturday, he has been ust ignoring me. I didn't know if he was even alive if Max didn't invite us here. Very childish in my opinion but what can I say? I Didn't face him either.” you explained and pietra frowned her eyebrows.

“You need to talk honey. You need to tell him” she said, sobbing in your arms. You pressed your lips together looking outside through the glass door straight to lando seriously talking to max.

(...)

After the worst and most traumatic hang around with Max and Pietra - the cookies were great by the way - Lando offered to give you a ride and you said yes. Probably the worst decision of your life because the tensi could be cut by a knife and it was hard to breathe of how dense the air was inside the car. His radio was playing Jmaes Blunt ‘you’re beautiful". It was one of your favorite songs. How pretty was to you to enamour someone just by existing in the subway going to work or going back from university. You just romanticized that idea. You started mumbling the lyrics in a whisper just to not disrupt his comfort. But after a few seconds he turned off the radio and you looked at him weirded out.

“I can't do this anymore,” he said, parking his car on the side of the road. Anxiety kicked you. You licked your lips looking at your hands and he was just starting to nowhere outside his car window.

“I really like you y/n. I am in love with you in fact. And dim so stupid i realized about it when i saw you with Franco kissing. His hands touching you grossed me out. It felt wrong because that should've been me - not him” he finally looked at you. What he just said took you by surprise and you wanted to cry but holded inside. You looked back at him. The knot in your throat was unbearable.

“We are idiots,” you said, remembering what Max said to you a couple of months ago.”Because I'm in love with you. I was too afraid to tell you and ruin what he had. Losing you terrifies me. And to be honest I just thought you wouldn't even look at me that way. I never felt pretty enough for you, I don't know why” when he heard you say that last sentence his heart sank.

“I always felt you were out of my league to be honest. Please, y/n, you're gorgeous, and funny as fuck, and intelligent, and sweet and such a great person. You're almost perfect. Don't ever talk about you like that. I'm just an idiot. A normal stupid ass dude. Don't compare yourself like that ever again” he said feeling a little guilty for you to feel that way even though it was not his fault.

You gave him a soft smile nodding.”you know? I can't believe every single friend of yours told me for months that you liked me and I just couldn't believe it. How dumb I gotta be. So I'll fight the intelligent compliment of yours” you said, making him laugh.

“But let's be honest, who thinks straight when they are in love?” he said with the most precious smile and sparkly eyes looking at you so fondly. You knew you had heart eyes in your eyes.

“Fair point” you said, smiling widely. And you giggled out of nervousness. He did too.

Two kids in love. You dreamed about this day for so many years. You just hoped that it wasn't another dream because it felt like one. And without asking, Lando took you out of your self doubt and inner conversion pressing his lips into yours in the most felt kiss you have ever given. The man that you are Lando norris. You cupped his face on your hands making the kiss more intimate and passionate. A kiss you two wanted to give for so long. You said everything in that kiss. You just knew this was it. This was the start of the most exciting and magical love story. And it was yours.

It was him. It has always been him. Lando. Your best friend. Him and no one else by your side.

(...)

Your eyes filled with tears of joy. You were at the wedding of one of your best friends: max verstappen. Lando was holding your hand gently and so dearly. They were speaking their vows and everything was so emotional. You were such a sensitive soul. Lando loved that about you. So pure in emotions. So vulnerable yet so strong and brave. That was you and watching the isle,he knew it was you who was gonna be there with him when the moment came around. The bride kissed the man and you two cheered the new wife and husband of the group. You looked at Lando for a moment knowing he was the love of your life and it was gonna be you two there one day.

What you did not expect was to take in your own hands the wife’s bouquet announcing you were next in line to get married. Youcelebrated in happiness and laughter around your friends and Lando. You kissed him so fondly.

“I love you bestie” you said between his lips grabbing him by the neck, the bouquet in one of your hands.

“I love you bestie, forever” he said with heart eyes hugging you looking at you with love in every fiber of his body.

“Forever and always” you assured him.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hope you liked it 💌 if you have any idea my inbox is open so send your requests!

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[pazziescapism]

Break Our Ice - Chapter 1

pairing: paige x azzi

wc: 7.8k (what?? holy shit)

au fic what??, figureskater!Azzi x icehockeyplayer!Paige

fake dating, just like playful banter teasing relationship to lovers, basically paige and azzi dancing around each other

a/n: okay so!! first post/fic kinda nervy..AHAH all these great writers on here have really inspired me so yeahhh, I haven't written fanfic or really written anything in a REALLLYY long time so um yea im a little rusty ngl. anyway, the motivation needs to keep pumping so i would love to here some live reacts or just any comments and feedback, lwk unedited so like if u see anything just lmk so here goes nothing!! love y'all (wait also im from australia, yep, all the way down under, i tried writing this with like american spelling n what not cuz we use british english) - but if i made any mistakes again let me know <3

Over a decade of figure skating, and Azzi hasn't ever hit anyone with an ice skate.

She was currently considering it, but she figured that the fact she hadn’t was mostly a sign that she was a good person, on the account that she thought of it and was actively refraining. Surely, that made her a better person than someone who never had to resist the temptation.

“Thank you for that fascinating look inside your brain,” Caroline says when Azzi voices this thought. “I hope you see a therapist about these disturbing violent urges.”

“Nobody likes a backseat psychologist,” Azzi tells her, and twists away before Caroline can tell her she’s misusing the phrase or something unwaveringly supportive.

It’s easy to lose herself in the motions of this routine, which is a beginner practice she chose for a cooldown. And the quieter her mind gets, the less homicidal she feels, which is probably better for everyone all around.

“Oi,” someone calls from the spectator stands, and Azzi’s mind splashes red very briefly. “I just said we booked this rink.”

Paige, the potential victim of ice-skate homicide, is looking over the stands, her jawline clenched in a way that looks very lickable (but she very quickly buried that thought).

“Didn’t you hear?” Azzi says brightly, spinning away, one foot crossing gracefully over the other. “You aren’t allowed to book the rink on the first Saturday of the month! It’s free use!” She calls over her shoulder.

She spins back around in time to see Jana, the giant Egyptian on their team, straighten up to a full height of probably 6’2. “Oh, okay! Sorry to bother you!”

She turns to leave and is stopped by Paige’s hand gripping her shoulder.

“Jana,” Paige says, her eyes shutting briefly as if praying for patience. “Wisen up, huh?”

Azzi snickers, sliding nearer to see that angry jawline up close, but her fun is quickly spoiled by the sight of the hockey team coach approaching the rink, evidently coming to see what the hold-up was.

“Ah, well,” she says hastily, crossing to the other edge to exit the rink. “I tried!” She yells across the ice to where the team is, and she swears on her life she can see Paige try to hide a smile.

She meets up with Caroline in the locker room, because of course Caroline had left at the specified time instead of sticking with Azzi to piss off the hockey team.

It wasn’t that Azzi enjoyed it, really. She was just generally opposed to getting walked over. If the end result was that the delicious-looking vein in Paige’s neck began to show, that was only a side benefit.

(And if Azzi and Kaitlyn occasionally go to their games, Azzi will maintain to her dying day that it is actually to throw them off their game and not an attempt at manifestation.)

“A poked bear may stumble in its sleep but eventually its eyes will open,” Caroline tells her.

“Caroline, you really are a weird girl,” Azzi says. “Repeat that with real-life words, please.”

Caroline thinks this over. “One of those guys is going to snap and hit you one of these days,” she offers instead.

Azzi scrunches her nose in disdain. “You should be more worried about me snapping.”

“I am,” Caroline says. “I’m worried that them snapping will make you snap and then we’ll get banned from this rink.”

“Out of curiosity,” Azzi asks, swinging her bag of practice clothes over her shoulder. “Why are you getting banned in this scenario?”

“I wouldn’t cooperate with law enforcement when they came to arrest you,” Caroline says solemnly.

Azzi stares at her, strangely touched. “Thank you. I’ll try not to get arrested.”

This resolution is tested immediately after leaving the rink, which had admittedly not been in Azzi’s plans.

“Azzi!” Jayden yells at her, jogging over from where he had been standing by his car parked outside the rink. “Hey, Azzi, listen-”

“I’ll piss on your grave and listen to your corpse roll,” Azzi says, but only quietly and only to herself.

“I got two tickets to a hockey game a week from now,” Jayden says, catching up to her, smiling that horrible smile that makes Azzi want to knock his teeth out. “I got a lot of girls asking me to come, but I thought I’d take you out.”

“Oh, did you?” Azzi asks, as flatly as possible. She’s already walked to the bus stop, and now she’s stuck waiting there while Jayden talks at her.

“C’mon, we can make a whole thing out of it,” Jayden says, oblivious to the murderous vibes Azzi is projecting.

“Not interested,” Azzi says. “Take one of the girls.”

“Aw, but I want to take you,” Jayden says, almost whining. “Besides,” oh god here it comes, “you do kind of owe me, for the whole free rink access.”

There it is. There is how Azzi has been roped into accepting nearly every invitation this stupid bastard has thrown her way over the last few months out of some desperate attempt to try and buy his way into her pants.

“I owe your dad,” Azzi reminds him, though she knows it won’t work. “Who owns the rink. Not you.”

“You know my dad wouldn’t want you to turn this down,” Jayden responds, like he always does. “He wants us to get closer.”

Azzi, in no small way, owed Geno her career, a debt that mattered more to her than any other chain she was attached to. And, no, Geno would not want Azzi strong-armed into going on pseudo-dates with his son, but it would make him upset if Azzi started fighting with the bastard, which was bound to happen soon because Jayden did not like to be told no.

“I can’t,” Azzi says, more out of spite than anything else.

“Why not?”

“I-” Azzi licks her lips and stares at the pimple sprouting on Jayden’s chin as maliciously as possible. She hopes it explodes. “I have a girlfriend who wouldn’t like that.”

Even as she says it, she regrets it. She isn’t even sure why she said it.

“A girlfriend,” Jayden echoes, his tone incredulous.

“A girlfriend,” Azzi maintains, desperately committed to her sinking ship. “She’s kind of overprotective, really.”

God, she’s fucked the second Jayden asks to see a picture. Or by next week, when Jayden inevitably asks why her so-called girlfriend has yet to drop by when Azzi practices. And then she’ll have to explain that she lied, and then Geno will look at her all confused and disappointed like the time Azzi had basically melted the entire rink by accidentally turning off a master switch that killed all the power in the building, and then her career and all her professional relationships will be burned down and it’ll all be Azzi’s own fault because she can’t keep her mouth shut and deal with a couple hours with Jayden. And apparently she likes to self-sabotage.

Azzi feels like she’s going to vomit. She feels like the sidewalk she’s standing on is starting to cave in beneath her, like the sky is suddenly bearing down on her shoulders, too heavy to carry, so close to pushing her to her knees.

“Hey!” A familiar voice calls from behind her. “You forgot your skates!” Azzi manages to turn on shaky legs to see Paige jogging towards her in sweatpants and her hockey jersey. She’s carrying a pink bag that had been a present from Kaitlyn, which Azzi uses to store her skates when she’s taking the bus.

“Ah, Paige” she manages to say through the depths of her spiralling thoughts.

She’s got a light sheen of sweat on her forehead- she’s probably been practicing, Azzi thinks dizzily- and her shoulders seem especially broad with that jersey on.

“Here,” Paige says, holding the bag out. When Azzi doesn’t make a move to take it, she clicks her tongue and, in a shockingly gentle movement, pulls Azzi’s hand up herself, so that she can place the bag on her palm. Then Azzi takes it, clumsily adjusting her grip so she’s holding it properly by the handles. Her breath is still coming too fast, her lungs burning in his chest.

A heavy hand settles on her shoulder, fingers settling near the nape of her neck shaking her lightly so that Paige can peer up into her eyes. “Hey,” she says, in a voice so soft it could have given Azzi an instant warmth in her con other, much different, circumstances. “What’s wrong with you?”

Paige’s hair is in its usual braided style, always neat, yet effortless like someone hadn't even wasted a second of their time putting it up like that. She’s got nice eyes, Azzi's noticed them before. A sort of blue that pierces into your soul and stays there. Her eyebrows are currently pulled down low, making the skin of her forehead wrinkle. 

Jayden, who had been blissfully silent, up until now, decides to chime in. “Is this the girl?”

Paige steps forward, frowning. “Who’s this?” She asks, and she’s talking to Azzi but she’s looking at Jayden, and Azzi’s never been quite this grateful for Paige’s slight resting bitch face before. 

“Just a friend,” she says smoothly. “Azzi, properly introduce us sometime, okay?”

“Sure thing!” Azzi says, as nicely as possible, which makes Paige head turn towards him again. It doesn’t matter because Jayden is already slithering back into his car that cost way too much money, not to mention insurance premiums, making excuses about why he has to leave.

It’s only once Azzi can’t even see the fumes created by that hideous fucking car that she lets her shoulders drop, her forehead drooping to rest on Paige’s shoulders. A little voice in her brain pops up to tell her that, in normal circumstances, she would rather die than be this vulnerable in front of this girl. But right now, in these circumstances, Azzi has just barely avoided having a panic attack in public and Paige’s jersey smells sweaty but not dirty, and her shoulders are such a steady place to rest her tired head.

“Um.” Paige says, and then a hesitant hand is rubbing her back, up and down in comforting strokes.

“Thank god you’re so scary, p,” Azzi mumbles, fisting his hands into jersey material on both sides of Paige’s chest, unwilling to pull away just yet. Fortunately, Paige doesn’t try to move, just keeps running her hand down Azzi back. It’s oddly comforting, Azzi’s breath starting to level out again.

“Don’t tell me you were letting that guy bully you,” Paige says, disbelieving. “You? I once saw you make Nika cry. Actual tears!”

Azzi laughs, despite herself, and finally stands up straight. She reluctantly releases the jersey she had clenched in her fists, and watches the material stay gathered where she had grabbed it.

“It’s hard to explain,” she says. “And I think your teammates are looking for you.”

KK has, in fact, wandered out, her hockey stick held out in front of her chest like a protective barrier.

“They were probably worried we’d killed each other,” Paige says, and makes a gesture Azzi can’t see at KK, who beams and gives her a thumbs up before running back inside.

“She did look glad to be out of the crossfire,” Azzi says, amused.

“Ah, you scare her,” Paige says dismissively, and then looks at her carefully. “Hey, uh-”

Azzi’s not sure what she expected, but it wasn’t for Paige to step forward and chuck her under the chin. “Cheer up, alright?“

“You’re ridiculous,” Azzi says exasperatedly. She doesn’t say thank you, but she hopes Paige can see it in her eyes. Maybe not. Either way, Azzi thinks, watching the girl lope away, she had been a temporary solution to a much bigger problem.

“It’s not a problem,” Kaitlyn tells her that evening. Azzi thinks she might be rolling her eyes, but she can’t tell because her face is smashed into her couch cushion, so all she can see is the thin cracks beginning to line the fabric. Kaitlyn is prone to rolling her eyes when Azzi complains to her, so it’s a strong possibility.

“It is a problem,” Azzi says into the couch, not budging from her comatose position. “I’m never leaving my apartment again. My body will atrophy, and my flesh will rot, and you’ll find it here, on this couch, being eaten by flies.”

“You sure have a talent for dramatics,” Kaitlyn says, blatantly unsympathetic. “If figure skating doesn’t work out, I’m sure you have a career waiting for you in monologuing.”

“I think you would make a great Hamlet,” Caroline adds helpfully, perched on Azzi’s armchair like an overgrown crow, brown hair cascading how her shoulders. 

“Or the evil witches in Macbeth,” Kaitlyn says.

“I wish you guys were dead,” Azzi says, and rolls over onto her back so she’s looking at the ceiling instead. God, her ceiling is so fucking ugly, and she can’t even get it fixed because she’s never going to the Olympics, and she’s going to be poor and useless and tragically beautiful for the rest of her life-

“What is wrong with you?” Caroline says, and Azzi realizes belatedly that she’d been saying all of that out loud.

“I’m so fucked,” Azzi says, and her voice shakes more than she had meant it to. “What do I do?”

“You could confess you lied,” Kaitlyn suggests. “And say it was a spur of the moment thing, whoopsie.”

“And then what?” Azzi says glumly. “I’m stuck following Jayden anywhere he wants to go for the rest of his life, and being polite to him even when he starts acting like I’m some kind of Oliver Twist orphan his father took in and nurtured and I owe him my first born child”

“Christ,” Caroline says. “Just get your little hockey player to pretend she’s your girlfriend.”

Azzi sits up at that, tousled strands of hair falling out of her braids. “Are you completely insane?”

“I think it’s a good plan,” Kaitlyn says, unerringly loyal to the end. “You’re so smart, carol.”

“It’s an awful plan,” Azzi hisses. “What am I supposed to say? Sorry I’ve been actively antagonizing you and your team for a bit, please pretend to be my girlfriend to keep my career alive, and also if you notice I can’t stop blushing when you’re near me, don’t pay it any mind, I just think you’re really pretty?”

“Not exactly like that,” Caroline says. “But yeah, that’s the gist of it.”

Azzi stares at her for a minute, trying to will Kaitlyn to show some sort of outward contradiction. When it doesn’t work, she collapses with a huff back onto the couch. “I’m fucked,” she repeats.

KK the first one to notice her the next day, hovering awkwardly around the entrance as the team wraps up. Azzi remembers what Paige had said about KK being scared of her, so she tries her nicest smile, giving a small wave with her right hand.

“Hey!” KK says easily, coming up to her. She’s still in her hockey gear, but her ice skates are off. “Are you looking for Paige?”

“I am, yeah,” Azzi says slowly. “How did you know that?”

KK blinks at her, her head tilting slightly to the side in silent question. “You’re always looking for Paige.”

“Am not,” Azzi says, too defensively but she’s saved from hearing whatever KK has to say about that when Nika comes up to them, slinging an arm over KK’s shoulders, and making a mean face at Azzi.

“Don’t bully KK, her nerves can’t handle it,” Nika says and then takes a closer look at her face, and stops, eyes narrowing. “Woah, what’s wrong with you today?”

Azzi can’t imagine what she looks like right now. She has trouble sleeping at the best of times, and last night had been one of the worst. She had spent most of it lying on her back and picturing herself penniless and destitute, until the swirling darkness had seemed to take on a physical shape and that shape had started to laugh at her. By the time she’d gotten up, she hadn’t even had time to fix her hair, or cover up the dark circles that had formed under her eyes.

She pictures herself, her hair tangled and her skin greasy, and a new zit starting to pop-up over her cheekbone and just about turns herself around and walks out of the building all together.

“Azzi,” Nika says, “Azzi, Azzi, Azzi.” She’s waving a hand in front of Azzi’s face, concerned eyebrows visible through the gaps in her fingers.

Azzi flinches and smacks her hand away. “Listen,” she says. “I’m not in the mood to argue today. Is Paige here?”

Nika and KK have matching flabbergasted expressions, which is less than flattering. “You’re not in the mood?” Nika asks, like Azzi has just told her the Earth is going to get flattened by an asteroid in thirty seconds.

“I’m just-” It’s occurring to Azzi that this is possibly a really terrible plan and she should go home and think it over some more, without Kaitlyn’s cackling laugh in her ear, or at least come back with her hair brushed properly. “Yeah, I’m not in the mood, I’m gonna go, honestly-”

“No, don’t go!” KK says quickly, her hand lashing out to wrap around Azzi’s arm. Azzi stares at her dead-eyed, and she winces and repeats, quieter. “Don’t go, Paige’s just changing out. She took a hard hit today, so we let her off without helping clean up. She should be here any second.”

“Azzi?”

“Speak of the devil!” KK says, sounding relieved and steps fully away from Azzi so she can see Paige approaching them, a long bag slung over her back. Her jacket is nice, Azzi notices, an expensive brand Azzi sees at competitions sometimes. It’s zipped up fully, the black fabric clinging tight to every defined muscle in her arms and chest.

“You don’t practice here today,” Paige says. She looks concerned too. Azzi is getting a little tired of these hockey players looking concernedly at her.

Azzi can think of fifty million different things to say here. Maybe a ‘how did you know that?’ or a ‘what do you care?’ or ‘hey can I talk to you?’

What comes out of her mouth is, “are you okay?”

Because Paige’s got a red, swelling mark on her jaw, sure to darken into a bruise over the next hour. She seems a little surprised by the question, her eyebrows lifting. “Yeah, just took a hit this practice. It happens.”

“Right,” Azzi says, because she knows that, because she’s seen a hockey game before. She shifts from foot to foot carefully. She’s become horribly aware of how her tongue is sitting in her own mouth. “Happens.”

“Yeah,” Paige says slowly. She looks like she wants to check Aziz’s temperature. “Do you want to sit down?”

“No,” Azzi snaps immediately, her shoulders rising to her chin. “Do I look tired to you?”

The answer is yes, probably, and it would be right. Azzi is exhausted, and she does want very badly to sit down. Still, something in her eyes must show that Azzi is running low on straws to grab at, because Paige doesn’t say yes immediately, just pauses and shakes her head slowly.

KK and Nika are both still there, Nika draped over KK’s back, watching the two of them like she’s seeing a particularly rough tennis match.

“What are you guys still doing here?” Azzi says, irritated.

Nika only smiles insufferably, lips curling up. “There she is. All back to normal. C’mon KK, let’s leave them alone.”

Azzi watches them traipse off, her irritation rising inexplicably when she sees they’re holding hands.

“I actually fell when I got hit,” Paige says apologetically, distracting her. “So if you’re here to see me, I’m going to need to sit down. For my leg. Which hurts.”

Azzi fixes her in place with a hard glare, her feet firmly planted where they are.

Paige’s eyebrow twitches, just a little. She grabs her leg, completely unconvincing. “Ouch.”

The glare is getting a little hard to keep up.

“Fuck,” Azzi says, after a moment, feeling the burning frustration in her throat subside. It hits her suddenly, as her mind clears, what she must look like to Paige, and her lips twitch. Paige’s eyes widen in alarm and Azzi breaks into laughter, a genuine laugh, rising up from her chest, her shoulders dropping back down, her body relaxing like a puppet with its strings cut.

“Sorry,” she says to Paige, who is staring at her. “That wasn’t hysteria. Sorry. I just realized I was being stupid. Also, you suck at lying. Let’s go sit down.”

Azzi kicks absent-mindedly at the legs of Paige’s chair, too nervous to look up and meet her eyes. “So, that’s the situation,” she says. It sounds more insane when she says it out loud than it had when she’d practiced it.

“Sure,” Paige says. They’ve sat down in a dingy little fast food place next to the ice rink, empty at this time of day, which is good for professional athletes who need to discuss crazy people schemes in relative privacy. A packet of limp fries sits between them, grease saturating the packet, spreading in blobs across the thin paper.

“Sure,” Azzi mimics. Her kicking grows faster, the chair legs squeaking as she hits them harder and harder.

A hand wraps around her ankle the next time it flies to kick the seat and Azzi finally looks up to meet Paige’s eyes.

“If you break it, I’m not paying for it,” Paige says warningly, and then releases Azzi’s leg.

Azzi kicks the chair one more time for good measure and then sweeps her legs under her own chair. “Can you just say something?” She asks, trying to cover the flush rising to her face. “And if the answer is no, that’s okay, but just so you know I’m trusting you to not tell anyone else that I asked you-”

Paige runs her hands over her face, groaning, and for the first time Azzi notices that her ears are bright red.

Knowing they’re in the same boat makes her inclined to be kinder, and Azzi settles down in her seat, determined to wait her out.

“Alright,” Paige says. “We need to talk about this somewhere else. People could walk in here any time and the last thing I need right now is to become tabloid fodder.”

“Ah,” Azzi says knowingly, both of them standing up. “Olympics selection is coming up.”

“Yeah,” Paige says, scrubbing a hand through her hair, making it even more frizzy. “Also, I generally don’t like seeing my face on newsstands.”

Azzi considers that, as someone who also does not love to see their face on newsstands and even more so on tabloids yet somehow always ends up on them. Azzi used to really struggle with all the added media requirements but it seems that it just seems so come with the whole ice skating package. “seems reasonable..”

“Oh, that’s right,” Paige says, leading them out into the parking lot. “You’re always doing all those modelling campaigns. I guess you see yourself a lot, huh?”

Azzi smiles. “I took two medals at last year’s Grand Prix,” she says. “I’m in high demand, p”

Paige looks skeptical. “Oh really? Ask one of your model friends to date you for real.”

“Why do that, when I could hang out with you?” Azzi asks, cheerful once again. They’ve reached Paige’s car, which is apparently the more private place Paige had been talking about.

“The windows are tinted,” Paige explains, as they both climb into the vehicle. It’s a nice car, Azzi thinks jealously, trying not to stare too obviously at the smooth, expensive-looking interior.

“Do you think any of the players from your team are going to get selected?” Azzi asks, leaning against the passenger side window to look at Paige.

“Well,” Paige says, slanting a crooked grin in Azzi’s direction. “Me, obviously.”

As the smirk turns into a soft laugh Azzi feels her heart constrict and tries to remember how to breathe properly. “Obviously,” she says, and if it doesn’t sound half as sarcastic as she meant it to, Paige doesn’t mention it.

“Nika, too,” Paige continues, thoughtfully. 

“I guess I’ll see you there,” Azzi says, and watches the crinkle around her eyes make a reappearance.

“Why can’t you just use another rink?” Paige asks. “If you won two medals already, you can probably afford it.”

Azzi tips her head back and tries to think of the best way to explain this. “Figure skating isn’t like hockey, or football, or basketball. We don’t get contracts for the season. We get paid if we win, and the costs of equipment and training add up. A lot of professional figure skaters rely on their families, or work side jobs. Plus, we retire early, so I need to save up while I’m ahead.”

Paige is watching her steadily, blue eyes giving Azzi her full attention. Somehow, Azzi hadn’t expected her to be this good of a listener.

“And this rink is private, so no fans show up to watch you practice, and it’s near my house.”

“It’s near mine too,” Paige shares and Azzi stores that information away in a small folder of her brain with a picture of Paige’s face taped over it.

“That’s not even it, though,” Azzi continues. “Figure skating’s hard to get into, if you don’t have any connections. When me and my family moved here- our last city didn’t even have an ice rink. I learned to skate on a frozen over pond. When we moved, I used to practice before school, after school, weekends, whenever we could afford it. Geno set everything up for me, he got me a good coach, he made all the right introductions. I do owe him, whatever he might think about it. I don’t want to make him upset.”

Paige is silent for a moment and then slumps forward over the steering wheel, making a noise like a dog throwing up, her forehead hitting the top of the wheel.

“Paige?” Azzi says, immediately concerned. “What the fuck?”

Paige doesn’t lift her head up, just mumbles to the floor. “Have you just been secretly cool this whole time and I didn’t know it?”

It’s enough to startle a laugh out of Azzi, the second time today.

“I feel like there’s definitely a less insane solution,” Paige says, straightening up. “But I can’t think of it, so I’ll do it.”

“You’ll do it?!”

“Just said I would.”

“Oh my god,” Azzi says, beaming so hard her cheeks are starting to ache. “Paige, you are a lifesaver. I will never say anything about your hockey team again.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Do you want a ride home?”

Azzi nods, so incandescently happy, she thinks she might be glowing, practically bouncing in her seat as she turns to buckle her seatbelt.

When she looks back at Paige again, Paige is already looking at her.

Azzi blinks. “What?”

“Nothing,” Paige grinds out through gritted teeth as she starts the car. “Nothing.”

“By the way,” Paige says, as the two of them inch through the weekday traffic. “Why do you take the bus anyway? Aren’t you worried you’ll be recognized?”

“No one is looking for a figure skater on public transport, Paige,” Azzi says. “Besides, I never learned how to drive, I much prefer being a passenger princess.”

Paige looks over at her, incredulous. “You never learned how?”

“I was busy,” Azzi says defensively. “I’m only twenty-two, you know. And there’s lots going on in my life.”

“I wasn’t judging,” Paige says, “just surprised. I failed mine like three times.”

Azzi sits up straight in her seat. “Three times? How do I get out of this car?”

Paige tsks disapprovingly. “Relax, it’s fine. I passed in the end, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, on the fourth try,” Azzi mutters. “I’d probably pass the bar exam if I took it on the fourth try.”

“You are not funny” Paige says, but she’s smiling as she says it. “Better to try and fail than never try, right?”

“Personally,” Azzi says, as haughty as she can manage. “I’d rather try and succeed.”

When they pull up in front of Azzi’s apartment complex, Azzi is nervous again, fidgeting with the hems of her sleeves as Paige parks.

“Should we like,” she winces even as the words leave her mouth, “come up with rules, or a plan or something.”

“We could,” Paige says dubiously. “But if you say some corny shit like ‘rule one is don’t fall in love with me’ I’m gonna break up with you.”

“I wasn’t going to say that!” Azzi snaps. Then because she can’t help herself, she adds, “Anyway, that would be the last rule. For dramatic effect.”

“I can’t believe people think you’re scary,” Paige says. 

“Shut up,” Azzi says, ineffectively, as she pulls out her phone. She opens up her Notes app, and types in ‘Rules’ into the header.

“Nerd.”

“Hush.” Azzi types in ‘Rule 1’ and then stares at it.

“Well?” Paige prompts.

Azzi scowls at her. “Rule number one is don’t be mean to me.”

“Rejected,” Paige says, and unbuckles her seatbelt to settle a little more comfortably into her seat.

“Fine,” Azzi says. “Rule one is, we have to keep going for about two months. That’ll be enough time to convince Jayden the relationship is real, and for him to get off my case.”

Paige agrees, so Azzi moves on. “Rule two is you have to go with me to weekly dinners at Geno’s house.”

Paige sits up at that, alarmingly straight. “Every week?”

“Well, not if you’re super busy,” Azzi says, a little taken aback. “I can try to get you out of the first few, but we’ll definitely have to go to a few.”

“It’s just,” Paige pauses, and then looks at Azzi, seeming incredibly pained. “I’m like, a really bad liar.”

The earnest worry on her face is too much to bear, and Azzi turns her head to stifle her laughter into her shoulder.

“I can still see you laughing,” Paige says heatedly. “I���m serious!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Azzi says, still giggling a little. She holds up her hands. “Not laughing at you, I swear. I’ll do most of the talking, you can just sit back and nod along. I’ll tell them you’re shy.”

“Of course you will,” Paige says, shaking her head. “Fine, yeah, that’s alright then.”

“Rule number three is,” Azzi hesitates, trying to think of something that’ll annoy Paige to just the appropriate level. “Rule number three is you have to drive me home from practice everyday.”

She looks at Paige expectantly, hoping to see that thrilling neck vein start to stick out, but the other man just looks thoughtful. “I probably can’t everyday,” She says.

“Paige” Azzi says, staring at her, wide-eyed. “I was just kidding, I obviously don’t expect you to just drive me around.”

“I guess it depends on how our practice schedules line up,” Paige continues, like Azzi hadn’t spoken at all. “Send me yours, and I’ll see, alright?”

“Paige-” Azzi says, bewildered by how quickly this conversation has gotten away from her, but Paige keeps speaking.

“Rule four,” she says. “Since we’re already doing this, I have a family function to go to about two months from now too. If I do this, you have to come pretend to be my date for that.”

“Ooh,” Azzi says. “The Paige Bueckers can’t get a hot date on her own?”

“You’re one to talk,” Azzi says, impassive.

Azzi sticks out her tongue, but adds it down into her notes. She isn’t sure what to do with rule number three, so she leaves it on there, and then shows the list to Paige.

“Sure,” Paige says affably. “There we go.”

Azzi hesitates. “Just like that?”

“Do you want us to spit and shake?” Paige says, amused.

“Definitely not.” Azzi looks at the list of rules in her phone again, chewing on her lower lip. “Just like, should we sign something?”

Paige sighs heavily, and then holds out her fist, pinky finger extended. When Azzi doesn’t move, just looks at her, she wiggles the finger impatiently. “C’mon.”

“Just checking- Are you seven years old, by any chance?” Azzi asks, but holds out her pinky anyway.

Paige doesn’t respond, but her eyebrows furrow slightly in focus as she loops their pinkies and then touches their thumbs together. “There. Now we’ve pinky promised.”

Azzi wants to pull on this girl’s cheeks. She wants to chew on her cheekbones. She wants to take Paige’s face between her two hands, and pepper little kisses over her nose. “Yeah,” she says helplessly. “Pinky promise.”

Azzi shows up at the rink again the next day, late in the evening after practice, and Paige waves her over from a bench where she’s wrapping up her gear and stuffing it into a bag. She’s wearing the same expensive jacket Azzi had seen yesterday, and for the first time, Azzi wonders just how much Paige earns in a year. Their team is good, she knows that, so she imagines it’s a lot. Definitely more than she earns, Azzi thinks bitterly. Nobody so much as questions her approach as she makes her way over, making Azzi wonder what Paige told her team. They had never really discussed it, so she guesses it’s fine if they know that Azzi needed a fake girlfriend.

“What’s that face for?” Paige asks as she gets closer, so Azzi makes an even worse face, scrunching up all her features and sticking out her tongue.

“Gross,” Paige says, and she looks like she’s going to say more but Jana and Ice are both coming over, the two of them together creating an almost overwhelming whirlwind of energy. They don’t question Azzi’s presence at all, looking vaguely eager as they approach.

“Hi Azzi, Paige,” Ice says. “Are you coming out with us for drinks next week, Azzi?”

Azzi turns to Paige, who shrugs as if to say up to you. 

“I might,” Azzi says, uncertainly, and in an effort to be nice, she adds, “sounds like a real party.”

“The last time I was at a party was when my sister got kidnapped,” Jana says thoughtfully and Azzi isn’t sure which part of that statement should be addressed first.

“What?” She settles on.

“It was a search party, obviously,” Jana amends. “Not like a ‘ha-ha’ party. We were all very worried.”

“Sorry,” Paige says, looking as dazed as Azzi feels. “Did you say your sister got kidnapped?” 

“It was a misunderstanding!” Jana says brightly. “You know, KGB agents and stuff. She was alright in the end.”

“Good for her!” Ice says, evidently not bothered by this story at all. 

As the pair leave, Azzi turns to Paige and mouths kidnapped? Paige shrugs helplessly.

“What did you tell them anyway?” Azzi asks once the two of them are out of earshot. “About like- this whole thing?”

“About you propositioning me?” Paige asks, and Azzi winces at the word choice. “Nothing. I was going to lie and say we were dating if someone asked, but no one’s asked.”

Azzi pauses. “You were going to lie to your teammates for me?” She asks, feeling strangely warm at the thought.

“I would’ve tried,” Paige says, grinning. “I think I overestimated how much attention they pay to their surroundings.”

She pats the spot on the bench next to her. “Are you getting back from practice?”

“Yeah,” Azzi says, sliding onto the bench, so that she’s straddling it, facing Paige, one leg on either side. “Mats today.”

Paige hums a questioning noise, her eyes still focused on the tape she’s wrapping around her stick.

“When you do like jumps and stuff,” Azzi shares, feeling strangely shy. “You have to practice somewhere you won’t get hurt as bad before you try on the ice.”

“Can you get the same effect?” Paige asks, seeming genuinely interested. “Like, isn’t it different on the mats versus the ice?”

Azzi is struck, just then, by how strange it is to be sitting here, talking to Paige like a normal person, explaining the details of figure skating to her like they’re friends.

“Um,” she says out loud. “Yeah, it’s different. But it helps to get the footwork down.”

Azzi keeps talking, feeling like she’s separating a little from his body as Paige keeps working on her equipment, nodding along at all the right places, asking questions when Azzi stops speaking.

When Jayden slams a hand down on her shoulder, it feels like a sharp and unwelcome return to reality.

“I thought I’d drop by, but you weren’t at the bus stop,” Jayden says, in a stupid long coat that makes him look like three children stacked on top of one another. Azzi frowns.

“Paige is driving me home today,” she says, and Jayden turns to look at Paige who’s briefly paused her work to observe their interaction.

“So this is the girlfriend, huh?” Jayden says brightly.

Azzi nods, and stands up, moving to stand behind Paige, nudging her back gently. She feels a little jittery already, and she mostly just wants Jayden to leave, to let Azzi return to the conversation she had been having before he arrived.

“We actually have to leave,” she announces, and she can see Paige start to place her equipment into her bag again, starting to pack up. “Sorry to ditch as soon as we see you.”

“I was just wondering,” Jayden says, ignoring this, “because you guys don’t seem very coupley at all. Not to judge, or anything.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Azzi says sharply. “What does ‘coupley’ even mean?”

Couple things, she thinks desperately, what are couple things?

Her smile beginning to twitch at the corners, she reaches down and very hesitantly places a hand on Paige’s shoulder. Her face immediately begins to burn, blood rushing upwards so fast she’s starting to feel dizzy. That was so fucking stupid.

Straight-faced, Paige reaches up and pats Azzi’s hand. Pats it. Once, twice, and stops, returning to her task.

Azzi isn’t sure whether she wants to laugh or cry. This is where their attempt at public displays of affection ends, apparently. Azzi slowly lowering her hand onto Paige’s shoulder like she’s touching a hot stove, and Paige patting that hand twice.

She looks down to see Paige’s face and Paige looks back up at her, and when their eyes meet, Azzi can see that for once, they’re in complete agreement. We are terrible at this.

Jayden doesn’t seem to miss the terrible awkward exchange (it would be like missing an especially bloody train wreck, in Azzi’s opinion), judging by the narrowed suspicious eyes he’s aiming at the two of them.

“Strange,” Jayden comments, casually, so casually. “Azzo normally goes for brunettes”

That is both underhanded and untrue. She does not go for brunettes. Azzi doesn’t “go for” many people at all at all. People go for her. They might as well just show up at her house and form an orderly queue.

Azzi is currently less worried about the slander of her reputation and more worried about whether Paige would get worked up and hit Jayden over this.

“Really?” Paige asks, tipping her head back to look at Azzi for confirmation.

“I don’t chase,” Azzi says lightly. “I attract.”

Paige rolls her eyes, not meanly- something Azzi could mistake as fond if she didn’t know any better. “Well, there you have it,” she tells Jayden.

“She doesn’t like hockey players much, either,” Jayden says, clearly still on this. This part, at least, is true.

“Are you trying to ask a question?” Azzi asks, her tone biting.

Jayden is not phased by Azzi’s biting tone. “Just seeing if she’s really up to your usual standards,” she says, and Azzi wouldn’t even blame Paige if she hit him for that one. Still, she tightens the hand on Paige’s shoulder in warning.

Azzi shouldn’t have worried because Paige doesn’t even blink, just lifts her eyebrows, slightly sardonic. “Are we having a dick measuring contest? I would've brought my ruler.”

“Not a contest,” Jayden says, that fake smile slipping off his face. “I was just asking some questions.”

Paige snorts, continuing to pack up her gear. “Ask away.”

“Ask away later,” Azzi says hastily. “Because we have to go right now. No time for an interrogation.”

“Not an interrogation, either,” Jayden says, sticking his chin in the air. “Alright, I’ll go. Give you two some privacy.”

He looks at the two of them as though she’s expecting them to tell him to stay. When nothing is forthcoming, he turns on his heel and strides away, hands tucked into the deep pockets of that flaring coat.

“Looks like fucking Vader in that thing,” Paige comments, swinging her bag over her shoulder. “Cartoon supervillain.”

They start walking towards the exit, the small musty hallway that leads into the parking lot.

“You handled that surprisingly well,” Azzi says. “I kind of expected you to hit him.”

Paige glances at her out of the corner of her eye, that familiar scowl on her face again. “I’m not that easy to piss off. It takes a little more than that to rile me up. Give me some credit.”

Azzi stares at her, mouth agape. “Are we talking about the same Paige? You’re so easy to rile up. Incredibly easy. It’s thrilling every time.”

Paige comes to a stop, and turns to point a thick finger at her chest. The two of them are standing alone in the dark hallway leading to the exit door, one dusty light bulb flickering on and off above them. The bruise on her face is turning a nasty colour, unlikely to fade for another week.

“You,” Paige says, squinting at her accusingly, “are just a special breed of irritating.”

With that, she turns and walks away, leaving Azzi standing still behind her, watching her retreating back.

“Was that a compliment?” Azzi yells after her, not moving from her spot. The sound of Paige’s answering laugh echoes off the walls, bouncing back towards her, Azzi’s lips pulling up in response, as she runs to catch back up.

“Wait,” Paige says, once they’re in the parking lot. Night has already fallen, early in the wintertime, the pavement around them lit up by tall streetlamps, casting yellow light over their faces. “Here, I’ll get in the passenger seat, and you drive.”

“Are you sure that’s safe?” Azzi asks, not moving.

Paige shrugs, already moving around to the passenger seat. “Come on, the lot is empty, I’ll teach you how.”

“Do you even know how?” Azzi asks, reluctantly accepting the keys Paige is proffering towards her, “I kind of figured that you just annoyed the test takers with your persistence until they let you pass.”

“Bruh,” Paige says mildly. “Go on, get in.”

Once Azzi’s sitting in the driver’s seat, she just stares at the wheel. There seem to be an awful lot of controls.

She turns to Paige. “What now?”

“Well, first you have to buckle your seatbelt,” Paige says, and Azzi scowls.

“I know that.” She doesn’t move.

Paige sighs. She seems to do that a lot around Azzi. Then Azzi is frozen for a different reason, as Paige leans over her, one hand gripping Azzi’s shoulder as she reaches for Azzi’s seatbelt, smooth muscle shifting under her skin as she brings it over Azzi’s body and buckles it.

“Dear god,” Azzi whispers. Paige smells good.

“Relax,” Paige says, taking her mumblings for nervousness. “You can’t possibly mess up that bad.”

Azzi frowns. “How do you know that? I could be the worst driver you’ve ever met.”

“I doubt it,” Paige tells her. “I crashed the car the first time I took the test.”

Azzi stares at her. Then she starts the car.

“Right pedal is gas, left is brake,” Paige says. “You have to put the car in reverse to get out of the spot, and then press lightly on the gas.”

“Right,” Azzi says, and moves the gear stick accordingly before pressing on the gas. The car lurches forward, coming to a jerky stop right before hitting the curb in front of them, Azzi’s blood draining entirely from her face.

“So, that was actually drive,” Paige says calmly, one hand braced on the window. “Reverse is lower.”

Once Azzi gets used to the controls, they manage to go in large bumpy circles around the parking lot.

“How did you fail the second time?” Azzi asks, carefully executing another terrible turn.

“Try to stay on the right side,” Paige says, unbothered by the possible damage Azzi is inflicting on her car. “I almost hit a stop sign. They got really mad about that one.”

“I would be making so much fun of you over this if I wasn’t so tense right now,” Azzi informs her. "Remind me to do it later."

“Looking forward to it- make sure you’re slowing down before you turn.”

“What about the third time?” Azzi says. She presses too hard on the brake, and the car nearly comes to a full stop in the middle of her next turn.

Paige seems to be pouting, by the sound of her voice. Azzi debates taking her eyes off the road long enough to check. “I waited almost a full year before taking it the third time. I practiced basically everyday. It went so well, the instructor was telling me I was one of the best drivers he’d tested that year.”

Azzi snickers. “And?“

“And on the way into the test center parking lot,” Paige says, “I hit the curb. Automatic fail. They wouldn’t even let me test at that center anymore, I had to go out of the city. Never trusted a driving instructor since.”

Azzi gives up on trying to hold back and bursts out laughing. To her surprise, the car doesn’t immediately crash.

“You’re laughing,” Paige says, and her face is stony, but Azzi can hear the smile in her voice. “I share my deep, personal, insecurities with you, and you’re laughing at me.”

Azzi shakes her head, small giggles still escaping her. “Those poor test administrators, you must have made them miserable.”

She can imagine it very easily, a smaller, angrier Paige, marching into a testing center with the energy of a Marine off to combat. The thought makes her snort with laughter.

“You look pretty when you laugh,” Paige says, and it’s that soft, honest voice, so rare to hear from her. Azzi’s laughter breaks off as she turns to look at her, captivated by that gentle sincerity, so unexpected from this girl, so sweet to hear.

“Az- the brakes!”

The car rolls over a curb and comes to a slamming halt right before a small tree, the branches brushing the windshield, leaves already fallen off in the winter cold.

She called me Az, she thinks, and presses her forehead into the steering wheel and smiles- a small giddy smile, just for herself

[blogtey45]

In the realm of PTE success stories, Harpreet's journey shines as a beacon of dedication and achievement. Overcoming challenges and embracing a strategic approach, Harpreet secured an impressive score of 8 in each section of the PTE exam