#engwnt

“Leah,” she nodded at you, not offering a hand.

“Hi, um, I’m Y/N”. She just nodded at you again.

She hated you. You had barely said 4 words to the woman.

It had continued like that for months, the entire first half of the season was instructional grunts and huffs. It was strange really, you knew she could be lovely. You had seen it. How her guard fell with Beth and Katie, how she smiled and chatty away amicably to Jordan or Jen.

And then there was you.

“Beth, I don’t get it.” You huffed, flopping down onto your bed. It was an away match, you were cramped into some random hotel room.

“What don’t you get, pet?”

“Leah.” You would be lying if you didn’t find her incredibly attractive. But there was something about the scowl that seemed a permanent feature whenever you were around.

You had just come back from dinner. She had been chatting along perfectly fine with Viv and Daan, laughing and joking around. And then you appeared, putting your plate down and she froze up like a snowman. The conversation screeching to an uncomfortable halt. You don’t know if it would be more awkward to leave and save face or just stick it out.

“What about Leah?”

Beth knew all about Leah. Her propensity to become mute whenever you were around. Her very obvious and incredibly funny crush on you was only confirmed to the striker after she had managed to get her drunk and confess a month earlier.

“She hates me.” You whacked the bed beneath you for emphasis.

“She doesn’t.”

“She does.” You lifted your head, making eye contact with the blonde.

“She most definitely doesn’t hate you.”

“Oh so she just ices me out and glares at me ‘cos she’s just likes me so much?” You rolled your eyes, flopping back down.

“Something like that.” Beth smiled. “Why?” You knew that Beth was a shit-stirrer when she wanted to be, loving to be in the middle of all the gossip in the changing rooms.

You swallowed. “N-no reason.”

“Mm-ok.” Beth let the situation drop with too much ease.

Training the next day felt like running through wet cement. You’d barely slept, thoughts of Leah’s frozen expression at dinner looping in your brain like an annoying highlight reel. Beth had snored happily beside you, blissfully unaware of your 3 a.m. staring contest with the ceiling.

Leah was already on the pitch when you arrived - of course she was. Hair still damp from a shower, sleeves shoved haphazardly up her arms, pacing in that way she did when she was already three steps ahead of everyone else. She glanced up when you walked out.

And promptly looked straight back down.

You clenched your jaw. Brilliant.You were back to being a shadow she pretended not to see.

Warm-up runs were uneventful until a wayward pass from Jill sent the ball bouncing toward you and Leah at the same time. You went for it. She went harder.

Your shoulders collided, hard enough that you stumbled but caught yourself.

Hard enough that Leah’s eyes snapped to yours, wide, startled.

“Sorry,” you muttered, even though she’d definitely hit you harder than necessary.

“No, I-“ she cut herself off. “It’s fine.”

But she kept staring.

You could feel it, a weight between your ribs, too heavy and too light at the same time.

Throughout drills she was sharper with you than usual. Not unkind, just… keyed up. Touches too precise, challenges too firm, instructions rushed out like she was chasing something she didn’t know how to name.

At one point, when you moved past her in a possession game, her hand brushed your waist. A nothing touch. Barely there.

You felt it for minutes.

By the time training ended, your nerves were frayed.

You were tugging your jumper over your head in the changing room when Jordan called that tubs were open. Most players trickled out, chatter fading down the hallway. You lingered, fishing for your phone in your locker.

When you finally turned around, Leah was still there.

Alone.

Leaning against the far wall with her arms crossed, pretending to scroll her phone. Badly pretending. Her foot tapped the floor, too quick, too agitated.

You froze.

She looked up immediately.

Your breath caught in your throat.

You weren’t sure why.

“I, um,” she started, then stopped, lips pressing together like she’d lost the rest of the sentence on the way out.

You should’ve left. You should’ve given her an out, pretended you didn’t see the conflict on her face. But something in you tightened—some thread pulled taut from months of dodged glances and clipped words and that awful scowl she only ever reserved for you.

So you stayed.

“Did you… need something?” you asked carefully.

Leah sucked in a breath like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. “No. Just … making sure everyone’s out.”

You raised a brow.

“I’m still here.”

“I know.” she said before she could stop herself.

Silence shook between you.

You could have sworn your own heartbeat echoed off the tiles.

She looked away first, staring at the floor. “I’m not—I don’t—” Her hand came up to pinch the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know how to talk to you.”

That startled something loose in your chest. “You talk to everyone else.”

“That’s the problem.”

You blinked. “How is that a problem?”

Her eyes met yours then, really met yours. And suddenly you understood why people called her captain before she’d ever worn the armband. There was an honesty in her gaze that stripped you down to the bone.

“Because when I talk to you,” she said quietly, “I forget how to be normal.”

Your breath hitched.

The room felt too small.

Too warm.

Too something.

“I don’t hate you,” she added, almost painfully. “I just … get weird. Around you. And then I make it worse. And then you think I hate you even more.”

You didn’t realise you’d stepped closer until her eyes flicked to your feet. She didn’t move away.

More silence.

Tighter this time.

Charged.

You swallowed. “You get weird around me?”

Her cheeks flushed a shade you’d never seen on her. “Apparently.”

A laugh bubbled up before you could stop it. “You’re telling me that I scare you?”

“…. Maybe.”

“I’m the scary one out of us two,” you giggled nervously. She was closer now, her hand almost touching yours.

Slowly, like she had all the time in the world, she lifted her hand, letting her fingers skin lightly over your cheek bone as she pushed some hair out of your face.

“Are you afraid of me?” Leah’s hands moved back, cradling the back of your head, her fingers twisting in your roots. She angled your head back, forcing you to look at her. You swallowed your eyes never leaving her lips.

“Yes.” you whispered back. Leah couldn’t help the slow smile that spread lazily across her face. “You are the most terrifying woman I have ever met.”

“Is that a good thing?” She was impossibly close, her smell flooding your senses.

You blinked. “Depends on how you define good,”

Leah tasted like honey. Like happiness. Her lips were rough yet perfectly soft as they slotted against yours.

Leah pulled back slowly, her hand still resting against the back of your head. For a moment, neither of you moved, the air thick with unspoken words. You could feel your pulse in your throat, in your fingertips, in the way your lungs seemed to hesitate to take in air. You had kissed her. And she had kissed you back.

She was the first to break the silence.

“Did that… was that…” Her voice was low, almost like she was trying to convince herself of something. “Did that feel weird?”

You chuckled softly, your breath still shaky. “Weird?”

“Yeah. Like… bad weird,” she said, her brow furrowing as if trying to piece together a puzzle that didn’t quite fit.

You shook your head, your hand coming up to touch your lips, feeling the residual warmth where she had just been. “No. No, it didn’t feel weird at all.”

Leah’s gaze softened, and she seemed to exhale for the first time since everything had shifted. She glanced down at her shoes, her fingers still gripping your hair just a little too tight, as if she wasn’t sure if she should let go.

You could feel the heat between you still, lingering, but now there was something else. It was as if the walls that had kept you apart for so long were finally crumbling, and neither of you knew exactly what came next.

Leah took a step back, but you didn’t let her go too far. Your hand reached out instinctively, brushing her arm, a silent plea for her to stay.

Her eyes flicked to yours, vulnerability evident in the way she held herself. "I’ve been… I’ve been wanting to do that for a while, you know?” she said quietly. "Or maybe I was hoping that maybe you would … figure it out, or whatever this is." She laughed awkwardly, clearly not entirely sure how to finish the sentence.

Your heart thudded in your chest. Hoping?

“Hoping for me?” You asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah, I-” She stopped, exhaling a deep breath. “I’ve been acting like an idiot for months. Trying to keep you at arm’s length when I was really just…” Leah clenched her jaw, her hands fidgeting at her sides. “I was terrified.”

“Of me?” you whispered, incredulous. You couldn’t understand it. She was this intimidating, confident woman, a captain, a leader, someone who seemed to have everything under control. And yet, here she was, telling you she’d been scared.

She nodded, her gaze avoiding yours. “I’ve never been scared of anyone before. Not like this.”

Your heart gave a little lurch in your chest. You reached for her again, this time more gently, brushing your thumb over her knuckles.

“Leah, you don’t have to be scared,” you said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Leah’s gaze lifted, meeting yours again, this time with a depth that made everything else feel distant. The noise of the world outside the locker room, the rush of people still in the building, the ticking of the clock on the wall, it all faded into the background.

She let out a small, relieved laugh, and this time it wasn’t nervous. It was real. “I guess we’re both pretty good at hiding what we really feel, huh?”

You smiled, your fingers curling around hers. “Seems that way.”

Leah moved closer, her hand coming up to rest cup your cheek, her touch steady, grounding. “I never wanted to hurt you,” she said, her voice thick with sincerity. “I didn’t know how to… how to do this without making everything weird. I thought if I kept pretending like I didn’t care, it would just be easier.”

“I get it,” you said quietly. “I get why you did it. But, Leah…” You paused, taking a breath. “You don’t have to pretend anymore.”

Her eyes searched yours, almost as if looking for reassurance. She finally nodded, her thumb tracing the line of your jaw. “I think… I think I’m done pretending.”

You couldn’t help but smile, your heart swelling with something you couldn’t quite name.

“You think?”

She leaned in, brushing her lips against yours once more, just a soft, lingering press, like a promise.

“I know.” When she pulled away, her eyes were still locked on yours, a mixture of awe and something deeper. Something more. “I don’t know what this is yet,” she murmured, “but I want to figure it out with you.”

You smiled again, pulling her back into a gentle embrace. “Me too.”

After a few seconds, Leah cleared her throat, suddenly sounding a little more like her old self. “So… what now? You wanna go grab a drink or…?”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “Are we really going to pretend like we’re not both exhausted from training?”

She raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. “Well, I mean, we could always go for a takeaway?”

“Now that’s the Leah that I see with everyone else.” You grinned, feeling lighter than you had in weeks.

She winked at you. “You’re not getting out of it. Some chinese and a drink. My treat.”

“No ham sandwich? Or potato smiley?” you laughed. She just groaned, falling into you slightly, her frown returning.

“Hey,” you whined, reaching up to smooth out the crinkle. “No frowning. You’re not allowed to be scary anymore.”

——

“I don’t get it,” Katie said, her eyes tracking you and Leah from across the room, clearly intrigued by something she wasn’t understanding.

Leah had her signature frown plastered on her face, a look that made it seem like she was constantly deep in thought or ready to pounce on anyone who dared to interrupt her concentration. Her blonde hair was pulled up messily, a few strands falling out of place, but it only added to her tough-girl vibe. She was standing slightly in front of you, her posture rigid, but her focus was entirely on Steph, who was chatting away enthusiastically. Leah’s attention was unwavering, and you could tell she was listening closely, her jaw set in that familiar, slightly intense way that made everyone around her a little bit on edge.

You stood beside her, equally focused, though your body language couldn’t have been more different. You leaned a bit toward Leah, your shoulders relaxed and your gaze soft. Your expression mirrored Leah’s concentration, but where Leah had an edge to her focus, you gave off more of a calm, grounded energy. You were the calm to her storm, and it was something that those who knew you both had learned to appreciate over time.

“What don’t you get?” Lotte asked, trying to figure out what Katie was thinking as her eyes shifted between Leah and you.

“Leah and Y/N,” Katie said, her voice curious, the confusion still lingering in her tone. “They’re together, right?”

The two of them watched in silence as Leah, without missing a beat, maneuvered behind you in the queue for food. She slipped her hands onto your hips, pulling you closer as she rested her chin lightly on your shoulder. You leaned back into her, your body relaxing into the familiar warmth, while your eyes drifted over the wide selection of food laid out before you.

“Yeah, have been for years,” Lotte said with a casual nod. “Since before I came back from the States, actually.”

Katie’s eyes widened slightly. “But Leah’s so… scary,” she said slowly, as if trying to reconcile the image of the fearsome Leah she knew with the softer version she was seeing now. “And Y/N… isn’t.z”

Michelle, who had been listening quietly, joined in, her voice dripping with amusement as she kept watching you both. “Right? Like, Leah looks like she could break someone in half just by looking at them. And then there’s Y/N, all calm and chill. It doesn’t add up.”

The older girls laughed collectively, a deep, knowing laugh that didn’t poke fun at Leah’s reputation but embraced it. They knew exactly what Michelle meant - Leah had built a name for herself in the locker room as someone who demanded respect, who played hard and expected the same from those around her.

“What’s so funny?” Leah’s voice cut through the conversation, sharp and direct, as her eyes narrowed, scanning the group like a hawk. She’d clearly caught wind of the laughter.

“You’re scary,” McCabe said, grinning widely as she took a swig of her drink. “And your missus is not.”

“Oi, no I’m not!” Leah said immediately, her eyes flashing in indignation as she turned to face the group. She folded her arms across her chest, clearly not pleased with the direction the conversation had taken. “Tell them I’m not scary.”

Kim chuckled, her hand reaching out to pat Leah gently on the shoulder in a way that was both affectionate and teasing. “Yes, you are, Leah,” she said with a laugh. “And Y/N? Definitely not.”

Leah turned back to you, searching your face with exaggerated intensity. “Bubs, tell them I’m not scary,” she said, her tone dropping to a near-whine, the tough exterior cracking just a little bit.

You sighed softly, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of your lips as you turned to face her. The affection in your eyes was undeniable as you met her gaze. “Baby,” you said with a soft shake of your head. “You’re terrifying.”

The group erupted into laughter again, the sound warm and familiar. Leah, though still wearing a scowl, couldn’t help but soften at your words. She knew it was true - knew that she had this intimidating presence that was hard to shake off, no matter how many times you told her she wasn’t as scary as she thought. The truth was, you loved that about her, even if it made the others wary.

Leah rolled her eyes but gave you a quick, tender squeeze around your waist. “I’m only terrifying if you’re on the wrong side of me,” she muttered, but there was a hint of a smile playing at her lips.

“Oh, we all know who wears the pants in this relationship,” Caitlin teased, leaning back in her chair, looking more than satisfied with the playful exchange. “Leah may be scary to the outside world, but Y/N’s the one who keeps her in check.”

You glanced at Leah, raising an eyebrow and shrugging.

Leah let out a dramatic sigh, clearly pretending to be exasperated. “Alright, alright,” she said, her voice carrying a of exasperation. “You all win. I’m terrifying. But don’t forget, I’m also the one who keeps Y/N from getting too wild.”

england versus spain always carried that edge now. history. rivalry. a match where nobody could really tell who was gonna be the winner until the 90 minutes were up. the match something a little more personal for some.

alessia stood with her hands on her hips, chest rising and falling, trying to slow her breathing. england had won. hard fought. frustrating in places, a scrappy goal, good chances in other areas.

but her eyes, predictably weren't on the scoreboard. they were on you. spain's number 3.

the two of you had always sort of known each other, mutual friends on social media before the two of you had ever properly met. youth camps, international tournaments, campaigns and passing mentions from teammates.

alessia with england, you with spain. the kind of familiarity where a name rings a bell, a face feels vaguely recognisable but you've never actually shared a conversation. just two players orbiting the same world, crossing paths without ever colliding.

until the one night in london, a mutual friend by the name of niamh charles finally closed the distance and you were introduced to the blonde properly. it was meant to be casual but the music was loud and the people milling everywhere.

but alessia barely noticed any of it once you started talking. there was something disarming about you, the easy confidence and the spanish twang of your accent when you spoke even though you've been in england for the past five years, that and the way you held eye contact just a second too long.

alessia had laughed more than she meant to, stayed closer than she planned to and by the end of the night, when you leaned in with that same quiet charm and said something in spanish that alessia didn't understand but somehow could feel, alessia then knew she was in trouble.

the rest, as it turned out, didn't take long at all. now nearly two years later your both happily living together and still in the same little love bubble.

but now across the pitch though you were still in spain red, hair slightly damp and pushed back in a bun, laughing at something one of your teammates had said. you looked annoyingly unaffected like you hadn't just played ninety minutes under wembley lights.

alessia huffed quietly to herself as she watched from afar walking along the pitch with lotte and georgia. but before she could make her move though she watched as you wandered towards a couple of the england girl more specifically some of the chelsea girls.

alessia's brows pulled together slightly, watching as you effortlessly spoke with aggie, lauren and lucy.

aggie of all people grinned when she saw you wandering over, already tugging at the hem of her shirt. there was a quick exchange, words which alessia couldn't hear and then just like that they swapped.

you handed over your spain shirt, aggie handed over england's. and while alessia shouldn't really be this upset about a silly spain shirt which she knew there was a draw filled of your spanish shirts back at home there was still something underlying in her chest as she watched the interaction.

—

"alessia.”

her name had barely settled in the tunnel before aggie appeared at her side, all bright-eyed mischief and barely-contained excitement, like she’d been waiting for this exact moment.

there was something slung over her shoulder.

red. spanish red. your shirt.

alessia’s gaze dropped immediately. no hesitation, no pretending this time, just instinct. the familiar number, the name she knew by heart even without seeing it properly… yeah. that one stung a bit.

aggie noticed. of course she did. her grin widened, sharp and playful. “you look like you’ve just lost something.”

alessia blinked, straightening slightly, forcing her expression into something neutral. casual. completely unaffected. “no i haven’t,” alessia said quickly. too quickly.

aggie hummed, unconvinced, shifting the shirt so it hung a little more obviously between them. she smoothed a hand over the fabric like she was handling something precious, which, to be fair, she probably thought she was.

“shame, though,” aggie said lightly. “thought you might’ve wanted it.”

alessia let out a scoff, turning away with a dismissive shake of her head, like it didn’t matter in the slightest. like she hadn’t clocked it immediately. like her chest hadn’t done that annoying little thing the second she saw it.

“you swapped,” alessia shrugged. “that’s your problem.”

behind her, aggie let out a soft laugh fond, not mocking. there was no real bite to it, just the kind of teasing that came from knowing exactly what buttons to press.

“yeah, i did,” aggie said, stepping around so she was back in alessia’s line of sight again, still holding the shirt.

“cause she’s,, well… her.” she shrugged, a little sheepish but still grinning, alessia knew how much she appreciated your game as a footballer even if you didn’t play in the same position. “but of a full-circle moment, innit? chelsea and all that.”

that softened it. just slightly.

alessia’s eyes flicked back to the shirt despite herself, then up to aggie. “you’re such a fan.”

“massive,” aggie said, not even pretending otherwise. “always have been. she’s cool”

there was a beat. then her grin turned wicked again. pest mode was back. “but also,” she added, tilting her head, “thought it’d be funny.”

alessia narrowed her eyes immediately. “funny how?”

aggie lifted the shirt again, giving it a little swing. “dunno… just… taking my teammate’s girlfriend’s shirt right in front of her.

alessia couldn’t help it she let out a short laugh, shaking her head. “you’re a nightmare.”

“and you’re jealous,” aggie shot back, far too quickly.

“i am not.”

“you are a bit.”

“i’m not,” alessia repeated, though there was less conviction in it now, her eyes betraying her as they flicked back to the shirt again.

aggie’s expression softened just a touch still teasing, still playful, but warmer now. she bumped her shoulder lightly against alessia.

“y/n was asking about you, by the way,” aggie said, almost as an afterthought.

that landed. alessia’s head turned back sharply. “what?”

aggie grinned again, clearly pleased with herself. “relax. not in a ‘i’m stealing your girlfriend’ way,” she added quickly, laughing. “more like… making sure you weren’t sulking somewhere.”

alessia rolled her eyes, but there was a small, involuntary smile tugging at her lips now. “i don’t sulk.”

“course you don’t,” aggie said, completely unconvinced.

she patted alessia shoulder, already starting to back away down the tunnel. “don’t worry, i’ll look after it.”

alessia watched her go, arms folding across her chest, jaw tightening just slightly.

because yeah she got it. aggie admired you. looked up to you. same club, same badge, same dressing room most weeks. of course she’d want your shirt.

didn’t mean alessia had to like it.

she exhaled sharply through her nose, glancing down the tunnel again.

two steps. three.

—

the tunnel had settled into that strange in-between state. no longer the chaos of full-time, but not quiet enough to disappear into.

staff from both teams drifted past with a post match buzz and headsets, a few players lingered in clusters still chatting on, laughter echoing faintly off the concrete. somewhere further down, cameras were being set and the low hum of media chatter building again.

and yet alessia spotted you instantly. like her eyes had been looking for you before she’d even realised it.

you were leaning back against the wall, one shoulder pressed to the cool concrete, mid-conversation with one of the spanish staff. relaxed. focused. completely at ease in a way that made something in Alessia’s chest tug.

you hadn’t seen her yet.

alessia slowed without meaning to completely forgetting what she had left the england changing room for.

she could go over. she should go over.

but instead, alessia hovered off to the side, thumb dragging aimlessly over her phone screen, not actually reading anything. every few seconds, her gaze flicked back up quick, almost guilty glances, like she might get caught staring.

waiting. and it took longer than she liked.

long enough for her to start overthinking it. long enough for alessia to consider just leaving it, catching you later on a blurry screen and sleep eyes, pretending she hadn’t been—

then you shifted. conversation done, body turning slightly as if to head further down the tunnel back to the away end of wembley.

alessia didn’t think. she just moved. fast.

closing the distance in a few quick strides, alessia reached you before you’d taken more than a step her hand slipping instinctively around your waist, fingers pressing in just enough to anchor you as she tugged you sideways.

out of the flow of people. into a quieter pocket between stacked equipment cases and a wide concrete pillar, tucked just enough out of sight.

you startled, just for a second, your body tensing under her touch before recognition settled. “what on—oh, lessi.”

“hi,” alessia said, a little breathless from the sudden movement, a little pout still lingering in her tone.

her arms stayed where they were. wrapped loosely but deliberately around your waist, hands resting warm against your sides, thumbs absentmindedly brushing small, slow arcs through the fabric of your under shirt.

you blinked at her, then smiled soft, immediate, like it was automatic whenever you looked at her. “hi.”

there was a beat.

neither of you moved away.

alessia didn’t loosen her hold instead, if anything, her grip shifted slightly, fingertips pressing a fraction firmer, like she was grounding herself in you.

“…you swapped shirts,” alessia said, attempting casual and missing it entirely.

your lips twitched. “i did.”

“with aggie.”

“mhm.”

alessia’s eyes narrowed just a touch, trying to look annoyed but the way she leaned in closer, the way her fingers curled slightly into your sides, gave her away completely.

“didn’t even look for me.”

“i did look for you,” you said gently, tilting your head, your hands coming up instinctively to rest at her hips. not grabbing just settling there, familiar, like they belonged.

“you were busy.”

“i was not.”

“you were talking with Lotte.”

“i wasn’t for—” alessia cut herself off, exhaling sharply, her grip tightening for a second before easing again. “that’s not the point.”

your smile widened, fond and just a little bit teasing. “no?”

“no.” alessia muttered, stepping that tiny bit closer without thinking, until there was barely any space left between you. “i wanted it.”

“what? the shirt?”

“yes, the shirt.”

you hummed, like you were considering it deeply, even as your thumbs started to move slow, absent strokes along the sides of her hips, tracing the fabric there, grounding and warm.

“un poco posesivo de tu parte…” you murmured softly. (“a little possessive of you”)

alessia blinked, immediately suspicious. “what?”

you just smiled, all innocence, your fingers slipping a fraction further under the hem of her shirt barely there, just enough for your fingertips to brush warm skin.

“nothing, te amo.”

her frown deepened, though she didn’t move your hands away. “no.. what did you just say?”

“mhm?” you tilted your head, feigning confusion. “i said it’s unfortunate.”

“you did not say that,” alessia shot back instantly. you bit back a grin. “maybe you should learn spanish.”

“or maybe you should speak english.”

“¿dónde está la diversión en eso?” you teased, your voice softer now, your hands settling more securely at her waist, thumbs pressing gentle, rhythmic circles against her skin. (“where’s the fun in that?”)

alessia stared at you blankly for a second, then sighed, her forehead tipping briefly toward yours. “…i don’t know what that means either.”

“that sounds like a you problem,” you said lightly, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips.

quick. but warm.

your hands tightened slightly at her waist as you did, anchoring her there, like you didn’t want her slipping away anytime soon.

alessia rolled her eyes, but there was a smile tugging at her mouth now, her hands shifting one sliding from your side up along your back, fingers curling lightly into your shirt.

“you’re annoying.”

“y todavía me amas,” you murmured, leaning in closer, your nose brushing hers. (“and you still love me,”)

alessia squinted at you, suspicious. “that better not be something cocky.” your grin gave you away instantly. “y/n.”

“what?” you laughed quietly. “you don’t even know what i said.”

“that’s the problem!” your expression softened just a touch at that something gentler slipping in. you leaned in again, this time slower. a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

then another proper kiss this time, lingering just long enough for her to melt into it slightly, her grip on you tightening in response.

her thumb brushed unconsciously along your side as she pulled you a fraction closer.

“…that doesn’t replace it,” alessia murmured when you pulled back, though her voice had lost all bite it previously had.

“mh,” you hummed, lips trailing lightly along her jaw, just beneath her ear. “no?”

“no.”

“qué pena…” you whispered against her skin. (“what a shame…”)

alessia let out a quiet, frustrated sound, her head tipping back just slightly before she caught herself. “stop doing that.”

“doing what?”

“speaking spanish when you know i don’t understand.” you pulled back just enough to look at her, your hands still steady on her waist, thumbs brushing slow, absent patterns.

“i can translate, my love.”

“then translate.”

you considered her for a moment, eyes flicking between hers, then shook your head slightly, a teasing smile returning.

“mhm… just that i love my girlfriend.”

alessia let out a disbelieving laugh, shaking her head, her hand pressing lightly against your shoulder. “you’re unbelievable.”

“and you’re still pouting.”

“i am not.”

you lifted a hand, thumb brushing gently over her lower lip, soft and deliberate. “you are.”

alessia huffed but didn’t pull away. her fingers tightened slightly in your shirt instead. “…i still wanted your shirt,” she admitted quietly.

that softened you completely. “okay,” you said, voice gentler now. “next time, in the reverse fixture. your the first person i find.”

alessia searched your face for a second, like she was weighing it. “…promise?”

“pinky promise.”

there was a small pause.then your smile shifted mischief creeping back in.

“but…”

alessia narrowed her eyes immediately. “what.”

“we can swap something else.”

alessia blinked, still a little dazed. “like what?”

you shrugged lightly, like it was obvious, your hands giving her waist a small, playful squeeze. “shorts?”

alessia froze. “…what?”

“my shorts,” you repeated casually. “you can have them.” she stared at you, completely thrown.

“in the tunnel?” alessia hissed, glancing instinctively over her shoulder, her hand flattening briefly against your side like she might physically keep you in place. “are you serious?”

you grinned. “what? it’s efficient.”

“there are people here.”

“they’re busy.”

“and there are cameras here.”

“not right here,” you murmured, leaning in again, your lips brushing just beneath her ear, your fingers pressing a little firmer into her waist as you held her there.

“and besides…”

your voice dropped, softer now. “en casa puedes verme sin nada cuando quieras…” (“at home you can see me without anything whenever you want...")

alessia went completely still. her hands stilled on you, grip tightening just slightly. “…i don’t—” she started, then stopped, she didn’t know what you had said but she had a feeling it wasn’t exactly family friendly as her eyes widened a fraction. “wait.”

you pulled back just enough to see her face, clearly enjoying yourself far too much.

“that sounded suspicious.”

“you think?”

“yeah,” alessia said immediately. “translate it.” you just smiled. “y/n.”

“hmm?”

“translate it.”

“no.”

alessia gasped quietly, shoving at your shoulder, though she didn’t actually create any distance. “you’re actually the worst.”

you laughed under your breath. “you’ll survive.”

alessia glanced around again, lowering her voice, but her hands had crept higher now one settling more firmly at your back, pulling you just that little bit closer again. “you cannot just say things like that when there are people around.”

“why?” you said lightly. “you don’t even know what I said.”

“i know you and i know that tone.”

you grinned. “ok fair.”

alessia shook her head, but she didn’t let go if anything, she leaned in closer, her forehead brushing yours for a second.

“…later,” you muttered. your expression softened again, all teasing slipping away just for her.

“later,” she agreed.

then, quieter, right against her lips “te lo traduzco después.” (“I'll translate it for you later.")

alessia exhaled softly, something between exasperation and a smile.“you’re unbelievable.”

“and you love it when i in talk spanish.”

alessia didn’t even try to argue cause it was true even if she had no idea what it was you were saying the accent, the confidence that radiated you when you spoke in spanish made her melt.

so instead, alessia pulled you in properly this time one hand firm at your back, the other still at your side as she kissed you again.

quick. warm. familiar in a way that made the rest of the tunnel fade out for just a second.

the kiss lingered just a second longer than it probably should have soft, warm, grounding in a way that made everything else blur out for a moment.

alessia’s hand stayed firm at your back, fingers curled slightly into the fabric like she didn’t quite want to let go yet. your thumb brushed once more along her side, slow and absent, before you finally pulled back just enough to breathe, just enough to look at her.

alessia was smiling now. not the pouty, jealous one from before something softer, a little quieter, like she’d settled again.

“you’re trouble,” alessia murmured, though there was no real complaint behind it.

“and you love it,” you replied easily.

alessia huffed a small laugh, eyes flicking down briefly to your lips before back up again, like she was considering going back in.

and she probably would have—

“LESS!” the shout echoed down the tunnel, cutting straight through the moment. taylor.

alessia froze. you didn’t even try to hide your grin.

a second voice followed, louder, more dramatic. the one and only ella toone. “i swear to god, if you’re still loitering! you’re literally the last one left!”

alessia squeezed her eyes shut for half a second, her forehead dropping lightly against yours in defeat. “..unbelievable,” alessia muttered.

you laughed softly, your hands sliding from her waist but not completely letting go fingers still hooked loosely at her sides like you were reluctant too.

“go,” you said gently, nudging her slightly. “before they come looking.”

“they already are,” alessia mumbled, though she didn’t move straight away. her hands lingered one brushing down your arm, slow and absent, like she was memorising the feeling. the other gave your waist one last small squeeze.

another shout from down the tunnel— “LESS!”

this one followed by a chorus of exaggerated groans.

“COMING!” alessia called back, finally pulling away but only just.

she took a step back, then another… then paused, looking at you again like she’d forgotten something important. “you better keep that promise,” alessia said, pointing lightly at you.

you tilted your head, all innocence. “what one?”

alessia narrowed her eyes, though her smile gave her away. “don’t start.”

you laughed, stepping back yourself now. “go shower, lessi.”

alessia rolled her eyes, but there was that softness again as she leaned in quickly stealing one last kiss, fast and fleeting, like a secret. “…later,” alessia murmured against your lips.

“later,” you echoed.

then she was gone jogging back into the noise of the tunnel, getting an immediate round of teasing the second she rejoined her teammates.

you watched her for a second longer than necessary, a quiet smile settling in.

You didn’t talk too much and you weren’t annoying like some younger sister’s could be. But Beth wanted you to branch out. She couldn’t take any more of you clinging to her when she was just trying to spend her free time with her own teammates. After the 100th time of Beth telling you to politely fuck off, Leah came up with a plan to introduce you to one of the other under 23’s so you would make friends with them and leave Beth alone.

“What about Alessia?” Leah asked as Beth watched on at you all finishing up training. “She’s too nice to tell Y/n to piss off” Leah laughed as Beth smirked, knowing Leah was right.

She walked over to the blonde striker, taking her by the arm and marching her straight over to you. After Beth’s brief introduction, she practically pushed Alessia onto the bench beside you, before skipping off to a smirking Leah.

“I didn’t know you were Beth’s sister” Alessia smiled, sitting down next to you. You would have fallen for her right there if you were looking at her when she smiled at you, instead of being fixated on your boots.

“Did my name not give it away?” You laughed as the girl rolled her eyes. “You play at Brighton, right?” You asked.

“Yeah, but I’m just about to go to the States for Uni” She smiled.

“Oh, cool” you said, now remembering all the American university acceptance letters that were currently stuffed in your bedside drawer. “Which one?”

“UNC” she replied.

“Yeah, the Tar Heels” Lotte shouted, high fiving Alessia as she sat down on the ground, right infront of the bench that you and Alessia were sat on.

“You get accepted too?” Lotte asked you. You rattled your brain at all the logos on the letters and UNC rang a bell.

“Yeah, I think so” you nodded and started fidgeting with the laces on your boots.

“You think so?” Alessia laughed.

“What? You’re not going?” Lotte frowned, fixing her shin guards.

“I, uh” you stuttered, looking up towards Beth before you felt a hand fall on your leg.

“You should come, the three of us would have so much fun” Alessia smiled.

Your skin burned under where her hand had touched you. Maybe it’s because you were young and stupid, but as you watched her and Lotte walk towards the changing rooms, you knew that you were in love with the girl you’d met properly just five minutes ago.

-

The three of you had made a group chat and had been keeping in touch ever since camp. All the group chat was really being used for was to convince you to go to UNC. You decided to see what the general consensus would be at family dinner one evening.

“I think I’m going to go to UNC” you casually said at the dinner table. Both your parents, brother and Beth’s heads whipped in your direction but you were fixated at looking at your plate.

“Where is that?” Your dad asked.

“It’s in America” Beth answered, staring at you.

“Why do you want to go to America?” Ben asked.

“My friends are going” you shrugged.

“What friends?” Beth frowned.

“Bethany” your mum groaned.

“It’s a genuine question” Beth replied.

“Are you sure? America is very far away” your dad hummed, but you nodded. Anywhere Alessia was, you wanted to be too.

“Love, I don’t think we could afford-” your mum tried but you stopped her and pulled out your acceptance letter.

“I got accepted on a scholarship. Someone in the FA helped me apply for it a few months ago” you shrugged as Beth took the paper from you.

“This is a full scholarship. Are you smart? You definitely didn’t get this for football” Beth asked.

“Beth” your dad sighed.

-

When you moved to America, you couldn’t have gotten closer to her. You, her and Lotte were all assigned to the same dorm. The accommodation was cool, it had three bedrooms and a shared kitchen and living area. Lotte took the bedroom closest to the front door, then there was yours, right in the middle, then Alessia’s, which was closest to the kitchen.

You were all taking different classes, but saw each other every day. You’d sometimes meet up in between classes to get coffee or you’d go to the library together. You were all playing for the Tar Heels together, so you’d see each other at training and then you would all head back to your shared dorm.

You were extremely quiet, and always had been. You hadn’t really branched out, usually sticking to your routine with just the two of them or flying solo. The other two however, were social butterflies and made friends easily and quickly. They’d head off to a party while you stayed in your dorm, went to the gym, or were at the library studying. Of course, they’d invite you, but they knew you’d always say no. They’d try to convince you, but every time they’d be rejected.

Did you really want to go and get wasted at a stupid party where Alessia would probably kiss someone else and cause your heart to smash into a million tiny pieces?

Lotte was good at balancing both, she was doing well in classes and socially. You were doing great in class but didn’t speak to anybody. Meanwhile Alessia spoke to everyone but was failing, miserably.

A knock on your door, distracted you from your head being buried in your laptop, writing an essay that was due next week.

“Yeah?” You shouted and Alessia came in. “Heading out?” You asked as she shook her head.

“Lotte just left” she mumbled. This was new, usually she’d be going too. “I was wondering if you could help me with this?” She sighed, holding up one of her college books.

“What is it?” You frowned, holding out your hand to take the book from her. She smiled when you’d agreed to help and skipped over to your bed to sit down. “What don’t you understand?” You didn’t take the class, so you didn’t know why she was asking you for help.

“I just don’t get it” she shrugged. “I’m failing in everything”

You searched up her class on the university page and found some exam papers that have came up in previous years.

“Okay, look here” you turned the laptop around, starting to explain the questions, what they were looking for, and then pointing to the pages in the book you were holding that gave her the answers.

“Jesus Meado, you are smart smart” she giggled. “Can you help me with an assignment?” She used her puppy dog eyes and you instantly caved.

You put away your own work, while she grabbed her laptop and came back with tea and snacks for you both. She put her head on your shoulder, and you put the laptop on your lap and explained things as you were typing. Alessia loved physical touch so you were used to her being this way with you by now, but it still killed you a little bit.

Every now and again she’d pick up a sweet, throw it in her mouth and then put one in yours. You were so in love with her that even if you were allergic to whatever she was feeding you, you still would have eaten it. You realised after a while of not being fed treats, that Alessia was asleep against your arm. Nonetheless, you continued to type away at her assignment.

You heard Lotte come in around 2am, and heard her shuffle past your door to get to the kitchen, clearly getting water to try to sober up. She opened Alessia’s door, only to find the bedroom empty, before she came into yours. Lotte normally didn’t knock, even sober, she just came in, regardless of the time.

“Y/n, have you seen, oh” Lotte whispered when she noticed the girl asleep on your bed. “What are you doing?” She asked. You put Alessia’s laptop safely on the ground, and removed yourself from her hold, replacing yourself with a pillow.

“She asked for help with her assignment” you whispered as you both walked into her bedroom.

“Yeah, it looked like she was giving great input” Lotte laughed.

Your face turned bright red at the teasing. You’d been so caught up doing her assignment that your stomach began to hurt at how natural that all felt. Her resting against you, feeding you little snacks. It hurt being in love with her because you knew it wasn’t how she felt.

“Don’t stay up too much longer now” Lotte teased as you rolled your eyes and headed back to your room, slotting Alessia back into your arm. You picked up her laptop and started working on her assignment again and didn’t stop typing until it was done. Then finally, you headed off to sleep.

You woke the next morning with Alessia shuffling out of your arms.

“Hey, sorry” she smiled, quickly cupping your face, but you were too tired to take any notice. “Didn’t mean to wake you”

“It’s cool. I finished your assignment” you mumbled, pointing at her laptop which was on the floor.

“You finished it?” She frowned as you nodded, squeezing your pillow and closing your eyes again.

“Less, you up?” Lotte shouted.

“Yeah” Alessia called back. “Thank you, Meado”

“Anytime” you grumbled as you got out of bed.

You took a shower, got changed and packed your bag for the day. As you got out of your room, you literally walked into Lotte’s friend Laura, who came over almost every morning. Usually, you’d answer the door for her as you were the only one in the apartment awake.

“Oh, hey” you whispered, a hint of a pleasant and friendly smile on your face.

“Good morning” she beamed. “You heading to class?” She asked as you nodded. “Wanna walk together?” You and Laura took some classes together. She played volleyball and you would be lying if you said she wasn’t attractive.

But she wasn’t Alessia.

She personally invited you to a party in her dorm for her birthday and due to that, you couldn’t really say no. You knew Lotte would be going too, and if Lotte was going, that meant Alessia was more than likely going. So you agreed, only because you knew the blonde that you shared a wall with was going too.

-

The pair had given you somewhat of a pep talk on the way over to Laura’s apartment, that only stopped once the door swung open.

“I’m so glad you came” Laura gushed as the three of you walked through the door. You waited for her to hug Alessia or Lotte, but instead her arms connected around you.

“Oh, uh” you stuttered.

“Wait here” she smiled as she sped off towards one of her friends.

“She’s so into you, mate” Lotte whispered to you, making a frown appear on your face. “Remember our rule, no being a nerd tonight” Lotte smirked.

“To start, you can drink this” Alessia giggled, handing you a drink. You’d do anything she asked you to.

You were drinking an awful lot for someone that barely left their dorm room. You looked to the right of the room, and noticed Lotte talking to a boy. You then scanned the room, trying to find Alessia, but wish you’d kept your eyes planted to the floor. She was kissing some guy from the football team that was in one of your classes. You now hated him, you hated yourself, you hated everyth-

“Hey” Laura smiled. “You having fun?” She asked.

“I, uh, think I’m gonna go” you mumbled, pointing to the door.

“Don’t go, it’s my birthday” she pouted, gripping your hand and resting it on her waist. “Kiss me” she slurred.

“What?” You stuttered. You’d kissed girls before, this was fine. You weren’t being a nerd.

“Kiss me” she repeated, gripping your neck and smashing your lips together. It felt good, you couldn’t deny that it was a great distraction. “Come on” she whispered against you, practically pulling you towards her room.

“Yes Meado, in there” Lotte chanted, which made Alessia break free from the guy she was currently with.

“Meado got with someone?” Alessia asked as Lotte laughed and nodded towards the closed bedroom door.

“Laura” Lotte smirked. Alessia pushed the guy away as he leaned in again, pulling Lotte out of the apartment and back to their own place. “Less, what’s wrong?” Lotte shouted after her.

It was fun with Laura, but you were in love with Alessia. You were too nice to ever lead anybody on.

“Laura, wait” you mumbled as she gripped the bottom of your t-shirt.

“What?” She huffed, tightening her grip on it.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” You asked, not able to even look at her.

“Are you?” She frowned.

“It’s just-” you stuttered.

“It’s fine, I know you’re into her” Laura shrugged. “I’m not looking to date you” she chuckled, before kissing you again. That was good enough for you.

You were scrolling on your phone when Laura came back to bed, after running to the bathroom quickly.

“So, Alessia?” She teased. Great conversation to have with someone you had just slept with.

“Yeah” you shrugged.

“That’s cute” she giggled. “Are you ever going to tell her?” She asked and you shook your head. “I’m happy to keep this casual” she added.

“Yeah, same” you nodded.

Alessia was straight, and would never look at you like that. Plus, you’d only started talking a few months ago before you decided to move to the other side of the world just to be close to her. Telling her would ruin everything.

It became a regular thing with Laura, she knew the boundaries, and knew you were in love with Alessia, who seemed to be able to get any boy she wanted. You didn’t stray from Laura, despite a few offers, and Laura never strayed from you. Thankfully, she never caught feelings and you’d both managed to keep up your casual agreement in place for the full three years.

Anytime you had Laura over, Alessia never once came out from her room, and if she did, she left the apartment. The two barely looked at each other. Laura found it too awkward looking at your roommate that she knew you were in love with, and Alessia seemed to just hate Laura for no reason.

-

All the scholarship students, guys and girls, were out tonight to celebrate the end of term. After watching Alessia and a boy from the basketball team going at it all night, you decided to step further out of your comfort zone. Deciding your presence was not enough hell at this party, you got drunk enough that you could pretend this night never existed. You were fairly wasted when the Volleyball team showed up, much to the amusement of a certain Volleyball player.

“Oh, your girlfriend’s here” Lotte joked as Laura walked through the door.

“She’s not my girlfriend” you shook your head, heading up towards the bar and coming back with two drinks, shoving one into Laura’s hand and spilling half of it in the process.

“Christ, you are wasted” she frowned, peering over your shoulder at Alessia and the guy. “I can take you home, if you want?” She asked and you shook your head. Your vision was so blurry now that you couldn’t even make out who or where Alessia was in this bar.

You and Laura were friends. Yeah, you slept together, a lot, but you cared about each other and looked after one another. She’d tried to get you to a sofa to sober you up with water, but when you’d pulled her onto your lap, and kissed her, she knew you didn’t want to be sober. She kissed you back for a few minutes, before you went to get both of you more drinks. Laura sidled up towards Lotte who was people watching from a booth.

“Are you really trying to tell me that you two aren’t together?” Lotte frowned at Laura.

“Yeah” Laura giggled, watching on as some girl was talking to you on the dance floor and knowing you were in no way listening. Clearly she had interrupted you on the way to the bar.

“But you guys-” Lotte began.

“I mean, yeah. But she’s so hooked on Alessia that she won’t ever-” Laura tried to explain.

“Alessia? She’s into Less?” Lotte gasped.

“Shit, Lotte. You cannot say anything” Laura frantically began waving her hands and shot to her feet.

“Chill” Lotte grabbed the girls hand and yanked her back into the seat. “It’s just unexpected”

“Well, Y/n constantly has her face buried in-”

“Laura, you do not need to finish that sentence” Lotte gagged.

“I was going to say a book” Laura rolled her eyes before both girls busting out laughing. “I think she knows it will never happen, she just needs time to get over it” Laura nodded.

“Can I tell you something?” Lotte whispered as the girl nodded. Laura looked genuinely shocked when you got to the booth, empty handed, having ditched the bar all together to get away from the girl on the dance floor.

“Lotte, do you have a key?” Alessia asked, the same boy standing behind her with a smug look on his face. Lotte started fiddling around in her pocket, as you and the blonde made awkward eye contact, with you not having taken a seat yet.

“Come on, we’re going” you said, pulling Laura’s hand and guiding her up off the couch and out of the nightclub.

“They’ll go to Laura’s” Lotte mumbled, attempting to hand Alessia the key.

“Can you just bring me home?” Alessia pouted, leaving Lotte stumbling to get to her feet and ushering Alessia away from the boy and out of the venue.

Lotte was wrong, you took Laura back to your apartment.

But Laura was right. You never got over Alessia, regardless of the distraction of being with her. You and Alessia remained friends and as 3 years went by at University, every time Alessia looked at you, said your name, or worse, touched you, you fell more in love with her. Lotte always kept your secret, even from you. The only person that knew your secret, in your mind, was Laura, who you still managed to keep in regular contact with. She stayed at home in the States and was happy with someone now, while the three of you moved back to England. Alessia moved to Manchester and signed for United, you and Lotte to London and Arsenal.

You’d grown up a lot since that very first camp where you’d just started talking to Lotte and Alessia. You no longer were stuck to Beth’s side, you mostly did your own thing or hung out with Lotte. You moved in with Lotte when you both signed with Arsenal and landed up in London together. You’d never had any issues in the 3 years at university and were comfortable around each other. You two had became really close friends.

Alessia and you were also extremely close still. You seemed to have gotten closer when you left university, and you noticed she talked to you a lot more when Laura started posting pictures online with her boyfriend. You were so protective and caring of her, you just kept your feelings pent up and to yourself. Even when she was in Manchester and you were in London, you still made some excuse to speak to her everyday or spend time with her when you got a chance to leave London.

You two became inseparable at England camps, but you kept your walls sky high with her. If you broke them for even a second, you would be afraid you’d tell her about your years worth of unrequited feelings. And this back and forth worked for you. She was far enough away that you weren’t reminded everyday that it would never happen. But she was close enough that you could spend time with her to remind yourself it was never going to happen.

-

You were all heading to the World Cup this Summer before randomly, one day, Alessia arrived at your front door with all of her stuff.

“You’re bringing all of this to Australia?” You frowned as the girl stared at you. You grabbed the bags and lugged them inside. Your genuine confusion left the girl wondering if you knew what she was going on.

“It’s not all for Australia” she mumbled.

“Why’s it here then?” You asked, your tone of voice was a bit more abrupt than how you usually talked to her.

“Roomies once again” Lotte pumped her fist in the air. “Can’t believe you’re moving to the Arsenal” she chuckled as your eyes sprung out of your head.

“Lotte, did you remember to tell Y/n?” Alessia asked, as both of the girls turned to look at you, jaw dropped to the ground and eyes wide.

“Y/n, Alessia is moving to Arsenal and is moving in with us” Lotte smirked cheekily. “Incase that wasn’t clear” she laughed, gesturing to Alessia’s bags and suitcases. Alessia trudged upstairs, pulling a bag and a suitcase up with her as you were still rooted to the spot.

“You going to just stand there?” Lotte asked, starting to grab some bags.

“I’m just going to go to Beth’s for awhile” you mumbled, grabbing your car keys, putting your shoes on and practically flying out the door.

That’s when it was obvious to Lotte, your feelings that you had in University still hadn’t gone away for the blonde striker.

“Hello sunshine” Beth smirked at your stressed looking state standing on her doorstep. “Oh, do please come in” she called after you with a mocking tone as you pushed by her and began to pace in the living room. You were yet to speak as your sister and her girlfriend, Viv, watched you as if you were a real life tennis match, bobbing their heads from left to right.

“Is she going to say something?” Viv whispered.

“Eventually” Beth nodded, and continued to wait for you to speak.

“She fucking moved in with us” you grunted.

“Who?” Beth asked.

“Alessia” you groaned.

“Why are you angry? You’re friends” Beth frowned.

You looked at your sister and her girlfriend and Viv knew that look on your face. It was clear as day to anybody what that look meant.

“How long have you liked her?” Viv asked as Beth’s head turned quickly to look at her.

“Since I met her” you sighed with a shrug.

“You like Less?” Beth asked as you sunk to the ground with a nod.

“You could move in here, with us” Viv suggested.

“I couldn’t do that to you guys” you shook your head.

“If you still feel it would be better after the World Cup, you can more in here. Or Lia will adopt you” Beth smiled and squeezed your shoulder.

It was only a couple of days until you left for the pre World Cup camp, you could last living in the same house until then. You lived together for three years in America, what’s a couple of days?

You got back to the house and headed straight to the kitchen, bypassing the living room where both girls were sitting. You grabbed something quickly from the fridge, and turned to notice Lotte in the doorway.

“All alright?” Lotte asked and you nodded. “You sure? You ran out of here pretty quickly earlier” she frowned, stepping into the kitchen further and closing the door.

“I’m fine” you huffed.

“Listen, I know about you and Less” she hummed as you almost dropped what you had in your hand.

“What do you mean?” You stuttered.

“I mean, I knew you liked her in college, I just didn’t know you still-” Lotte mumbled, bouncing on her toes.

Shit.

“I don’t, I-I didn’t” you lied, trying to end this conversation quickly.

“I’m sorry I told her she could stay here. I should have checked it with you to make sure you were okay with it” she sighed sympathetically, squeezing your shoulder as you remained quiet. “Are you ever going to tell her? Because I think-”

“Oh, you’re back” Alessia smiled, skipping over and jumping into your arms. “Is Beth okay?” She asked as you frowned.

“Yeah, they found Myle” Lotte coughed, looking at you sternly.

Clearly she’d made up some elaborate lie as to why you left the house earlier rather than telling Alessia that you being in love with her was the reason you sprinted out.

Alessia was a clingy person with people she felt comfortable around, and you hated that, because when she touched you, it was torturous. So, when she pulled you by the hand into the living room and sprawled herself across you on the couch, the girl didn’t even bat an eyelid.

You sat in complete silence, staring directly at the film she’d picked for the three of you to watch flashing on the screen. Not daring to move an inch just incase you made her uncomfortable and she’d remove herself from being cuddled into you.

Lotte was exhausted, but was really trying her best to stay up, for your sake. But eventually, she had to cave to just how tired she was, and headed upstairs, leaving you and Alessia downstairs.

“Want to watch something else?” She asked, already flicking through movies. You knew you’d be here at least another hour and you were practically pumping sweat.

“Yeah, whatever you want, Less” you nodded a little bit flustered.

“Are you okay?” She asked, putting the back of your hand against your forehead. “You are roasting, take that off” she frowned, pulling at the bottom of your hoodie. You lifted it up over your head and she threw it to the end of the couch.

“Put your movie on” you said.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You’re sweating” she pointed out as you nodded back. “I can move?” she suggested, lifting her head off your shoulder.

“Please don’t move” you shook your head. Your heart was thumping so fast you forgot what normal breathing or a usual heart beat felt like.

Is this what dying felt like?

Due to the close proximity of her ear and your heart and the hard, rapid beats going off every few milliseconds, she knew something was wrong. She pushed herself off your chest and cupped your face with her hand.

“Hey, calm down. It’s okay, I’m here” she said calmly. Even mid heart attack, or whatever was currently going on, you noticed her eyes had fallen to your lips.

Did she want you to kiss her?

You’d only known Alessia as a girl who got with boys. You’d never seen her with a girl, she never talked about girls, but you didn’t know what her deal was. What you did know though, was her eyes were still firmly planted on your lips. You felt like you were about to die anyway, so if you were going to go out, you may as well shoot your shot.

You leaned in and pressed your lips to hers, and she didn’t pull away, not even a single inch. She matched your intensity, although the kiss, like you, was soft. She brought her other hand up to your neck as both of yours fell on her lower back.

“You don’t understand how long I’ve waited for you to do that” Alessia whispered.

You kissed her again, a bit more rushed, but quickly both of your lips found a nice rhythm. There was no battle for dominance, it just worked. You slotted so well together that it was as if you were individually designed specially for the other.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you since that day at England camp” you softly hummed back. “I’ve really liked you since the day we started talking”.

“I wish one of us did this sooner, I just didn’t know-” she sighed.

“You’re the most beautiful girl in the world, Lessi” you said, leaning back in and kissing her again. It was like the world stopped when she was against you.

“Sorry, forgot my, oh” Lotte smirked, re-entering the room. “Forgot my phone” she said, pointing at it.

“Here” Alessia practically threw the phone at your housemate.

“So, you guys told each other then?” She laughed.

“You knew this whole time?” You both shouted, before looking back at each other.

“I’ve held on to both of your feelings for 6 years, give me a break” Lotte huffed, heading back off upstairs.

“You’ve liked me since uni?” You frowned at the blonde who nodded.

“That night at Laura’s stupid birthday party, you made me so jealous. I cried to Lotte the entire night” she admitted as you laughed. “What’s funny?” She said, punching you softly in the arm.

“That night, I told Laura I was in love with you” you said so casually you didn’t even realise what you admitted.

“You - you love me?” Alessia asked.

“Yeah” you nodded. “I’m so in love with you, Less”

“I love you too” she smiled, pulling you in for another kiss. You felt like you could have melted from her lips being so soft.

Mini Meado

I think I’ll be okay here

Myle’s Mum

Did something happen?

Did you kiss?

Did you tell her?

Myle’s other mum

We require more information

Mini Meado

👍🏻

Myle’s other mum

That is not an acceptable answer

-----

“Another win for the Arsenal!” You cheer as you lift your PlayStation controller. “Another? That was our first game.” Your lips curled up in an evil smirk, and Aggie knew instantly she wasn't going to like your answer.

“Oh, because I'm counting the real life derby from last weekend.” Aggie rolls her eyes, "You're insufferable." She laughed. 

“You chose this life when you decided to date an Arsenal fan.” Aggie chuckles, “That I did.” She leans in and kisses your lips. 

When she pulls away she holds your eye contact, the rivalry gone for a moment, until she exclaims, “Rematch!” And you're right back to where you were before the kiss, ready to beat her Chelsea team.

By some miracle from the universe, you're able to beat Aggie again with a last minute goal to break the tie. As the final whistle blows you turn around with your lips pursed, wanting to make a London is red comment, but knowing you are pushing your limits on rivalry jokes with your girlfriend.

“This game is rigged.” She puts her controller down in disappointment. You put yours down as well and turn her way. Instead of making another joke, you climb onto her lap and kiss her. Her arms snake around your back, instantly forgetting she'd just lost twice  as she pulls you closer and kisses you back.

Eight months ago, you'd never imagined you'd end up dating a Chelsea player. Now eight months later, somehow, you'd learned to live with the rivalry. At least most of the time.

Your family had strongly objected to the idea of you dating a Chelsea player. Then Aggie showed up with flowers, charmed your mum within ten minutes, and spent the afternoon helping your dad carry things into the shed. They'd reluctantly decided she was the exception. 

“Wanna play another?” Aggie asks as you move off her lap again. You smile, “Yeah, sure, if you want to lose to Arsenal again.” She shakes her head and rolls her eyes playfully. “No way in hell.”

Aggie goes to set up the next game, but sees you shivering beside her. “Hold on, let me grab you a hoodie first.” You smile as she rushes off, Aggie had a talent for noticing the little things, and you loved how she instantly took action.

She rushes back into the room, as though it were a matter of life or death that you needed that hoodie. She holds it out to you. “Thank-” you stop yourself when you see the blue Chelsea badge peeking out. “No way.” 

Aggie moves the hand that's holding the hoodie down in confusion, “What’s wrong?” 

“Seriously Ags?” Your girlfriend looks genuinely confused so you keep talking. “That’s Chelsea.”

“I swear that was unintentional.” She moves the hoodie. “But it's mine, see? It has my number.”

You look at her, trying to figure out if she's messing with you or if she is being genuine.

“You wear my clothes all the time. Especially my football stuff.” Aggie was still staring at you in confusion, which was enough to tell you she genuinely didn't understand. 

“Your England football stuff, not your Chelsea stuff. That is different. England is my country too, I support England. Chelsea not so much.”

Aggie nods in understanding. “Okay, well I will grab you another hoodie then.” She pauses for a moment as she looks at the screen, her smirk grows when an idea pops into her head. “If you win the next match.” 

“What?” You look between her and the screen. “If you win, I will grab you another hoodie. If I win, you will wear this one.”

You think about it for a moment. You have won both games so far, and your track record overall is also slightly in your favour. Aggie knows you like a challenge and don't like backing down from one, so her chances of you agreeing are high.

“Fine.” You say, already regretting your competitiveness not knowing when to back down from a challenge.

Aggie puts the hoodie down beside her and settles back onto the sofa to start the next game.

It was looking like you were going to bring the match into extra time, but this time it was Aggie scoring a last second winner.

“Rigged you said, right?” You say instantly. “We can't use a rigged game for a challenge.”

Aggie simply takes the hoodie and holds it out in front of you. “A deal is a deal.” 

You roll your eyes and reluctantly take the hoodie from her. “Fine, but I want to make another deal.” You put on the hoodie, because, as much as you hated having to wear it, a bet was a bet.

“We play again. If I win, I get to exchange this hoodie for a non-Chelsea one.”

“What if I win?” Aggie asks. “Then I will have to keep wearing this awful thing.” She laughs at the clear disgust written on your face. “Deal.”

“So, how do I look?” You ask with the hoodie now fully on. Silently cursing how ridiculously comfortable it was.

“Perfect.” Your girlfriend answers with a proud smile.

“Wrong.” You say back instantly. “I look like a traitor.” Aggie laughs and you can't help but smile a little, but you quickly compose yourself again. “No pictures.”

“No pictures.” Aggie repeats. 

“I mean it. If my dad finds out I am wearing this, he will disown me.” Aggie looks at you like you’ve lost your mind. “Dramatic much?” You shake your head. “This is deeper than just you and me, and you know it.”

“No pictures, I promise.” She grabs the front of your her hoodie, and pulls you in for a kiss. “But I at least have to kiss you while you're wearing this.”

“Let's just play the game so I can get this off.”

You fight hard during the game, but Aggie gets an easy win this time. You drop the controller next to you with a deep sigh. “This is Sock Gate all over again.”

Aggie knows not to comment on her win. Having to wear her Chelsea hoodie is probably already too close to the rivalry limit. But the Sock Gate mention cements that, so she just turns off FC26. 

“How about a movie?” You nod, clearly still annoyed at the loss. She lets you pick the movie, hoping to smooth things over a little. 

It doesn't happen often that you're on opposite sides of the sofa watching a movie, and Aggie didn’t like the distance between you one bit, but luckily you gave in quickly. Shuffling closer to her already after ten minutes of the movie, and leaning into her side within the first fifteen.

Aggie looks down at you curled up into her side and smiles to herself when her eyes land on the Chelsea badge on your chest. You might be wearing it because you lost the bet, but you were still wearing her hoodie, and she loved it when you wore her clothes. Especially when it was her personalised clothing.

-----

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