Prompts.

"No." Ella stated flatly.

"No? What do you-"

"I mean no. Simple as that Erin, I know you probably aren't used to being turned down but this is how it goes, you asked I said no end of story."

"Can I ask why?" The keeper was completely baffled, girls never rejected her.

"I'm not looking for someone to hook up with Erin, and god knows that's all you ever want. So no I don't want to be added to your list of one night stands."

"But I don't-"

"Goodnight Erin." The forward turned, leaving a confused Erin alone at the bar.

Little did Ella know that was not what the keeper wanted. Sure she had a reputation around Houston, but underneath the "player" facade was an insecure girl who used hookups for an ego boost.

Since a certain forward was traded to Houston however, there was only one girl that Erin wanted.

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"She turned me down Carm."

"Well can you really be that surprised bud? I know she's only been here a month, but it doesn't take much to hear about Erin McLeod around this place."

"Dammit Carm, you know why I'm like that."

Erin shouted, she hated that she was known for being a player, but only her and Carm knew that it was all a cover to hide her insecurities from when she was younger.

"Exactly, I know, but Ella doesn't! I'm sorry bud, but if you are really serious about this girl then you're just going to have to show her the real you, the you that I know."

"How am I going to do that?"

"Well for starters, i'd suggest not sleeping with any more girls."

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“Hey Ella.”

“What do you want Erin?” Ella asked, annoyed.

“Geez can’t I just say hello without wanting anything, we are teammates you know.”

“You’re telling me you didn’t come over here to try and get me to change my mind about going out with you?”

“No, trust me you’ll know when I put that plan into action. So I repeat, hey Ella.” Erin smiled obnoxiously.

“Please don’t, and fine, hello Erin, lovely to see you.” the forward stated sarcastically.

“Let me buy your coffee.” Erin offered after Ella ordered.

“Really that’s your big plan? Buy me coffee then I’ll go out with you?” Ella scoffed.

“Not at all, like I said you’ll know when I’m trying, this is just me being nice.” Erin handed a bill to the barista after ordering her own drink.

“I didn’t know you were nice.” Ella said with a wink.

“You don’t know a lot about me honey.”

Erin smirked as she grabbed her coffee and left the shop. She carried a knowing smile all the way back to her jeep as the forward watched her walk away.

-She’s just trying to get in your head, stay strong Ella… and stop checking out her butt! Dammit- Ella thought to herself. -Why did her ass have to look so nice in those pants.-

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“Here let me help you with that.” The keeper took some of the many grocery bags hanging from Ella’s hands as she walked into their apartment building.

“Were you waiting for me or something?” Ella asked incredulously.

“Oh you’re welcome Ella, anytime really.” Erin winked, holding the door open for Ella as she shook her head, walking inside. They made their way up the one flight of stairs, Ella set her bags down to unlock her door. Before she went in she turned to the keeper. “Um thank you, you can just leave them there I’ve got it.”

Erin shook her head. “Don’t be silly, I’ll bring them in.”

The forward was about to protest when Erin walked by her with the groceries, bringing them straight to the kitchen.

“Every one of these places is exactly the same, if I didn’t know any better I’d think this was my place..” Erin said shaking her head.

“Yeah they are pretty boring, but what can we expect on our salaries.”

“You just have to make it your own. You’ve got nothing on the walls.”

“What do you suggest I put up there.” Ella asked, eyeing the keeper.

“You need some artwork, let me paint you something.” Erin offered with a genuine smile, Ella wasn’t sure if she’d seen before.

“You paint?”

“One of the many things you don’t know about me.”

“So is this you putting your little plan into action then? You’re going to paint me something incredible and then I’ll fall in love with you?”

“No, I just hate boring apartments, as for my plan, I don’t do anything little, and as for the falling in love with me after seeing my art? That’s out of my control honey.”

“Stop calling me honey.”

“Whatever you say beautiful, I’ll get on that painting.”

“How about you just call me Ella.”

“We’ll see, bye gorgeous.” The keeper was out the door before Ella could come up with a response.

-She’s persistent, I’ll give her that much.-

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“Seriously? Are you stalking me or something?”

Erin looked over Ella for a moment, then down at herself. “We are literally on the same soccer team Ella, this is the stadium where we practice.”

“Oh… yeah nevermind.” Ella blushed, turning away and hoping that Erin hadn’t noticed.

She did.

“You’re cute when you blush.” The keeper said, sneaking up behind Ella in the locker room.

“I was not-”

“Yes you were, I’m pretty sure you don’t always look like a tomato, but like I said,” Erin winked at the forward, “it was cute.” before walking out to the pitch.

Ella stood there for a moment composing herself before following Erin.

-So much for not letting her get to you-

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Ella was looking down at her phone as she walked towards the door of her apartment and didn’t see who was standing there waiting for her.

“Hey Ella funny seeing you here.”

The forwards head snapped up at Erin’s voice.

“Okay seriously?”

“Calm down, I come bearing gifts. Well a gift.” The keeper held up a fairly large canvas covered with a beautiful interpretation of the chicago skyline.

Ella’s jaw dropped at the sight. “You.. you really did this? In one night?”

The keeper shrugged. “I work fast.”

“Erin this is seriously amazing, you should like sell these, you’d be rich!”

Erin chuckled. “I do sell some actually, I wouldn’t say I’m rich, but it definitely helps.”

“That’s amazing, you are so talented.” The forward said as she walked into her apartment, followed by the keeper.

Erin leaned the painting against the wall as Ella switched on the radio and played some music quietly.

“I love this song.” Erin stated with a smile before starting to sing along softly.

Ella watched in awe as she witnessed apparently another talent of the keeper who like she had said, she really knew nothing about.

“Erin you are incredible, seriously save some talent for the rest of us yeah?”

The keeper blushed slightly, she wasn’t used to many people complimenting her, she didn’t sing in public often.

“Thank you Ella, that means a lot coming from you.”

The looked at eachother for a moment before Ella turned away. “Where should I hang this?” She asked, picking up the painting.

“How about riiiight… here.” Erin pointed to a spot on the living room wall.

“Okay, I don’t really have anything to hang it right now… but I will put it there when I can.”

Ella turned back to the keeper, to find she was standing quite close now looking at the forward.

“What are you looking at?” Ella whispered, getting nervous at the proximity of Erin.

“You. You’re beautiful.”

“Erin…” The keeper took the painting from Ella’s hands at set it off to the side, stepping closer to Ella. She kept walking forward until Ella’s back was pressed against the wall behind her.

She brought her hand up, pushing a stray piece of hair away from the forwards eye.

“Just tell me no if you want me to stop.” Erin whisper as she slowly leant her closer.

When there lips were only a breath apart Ella couldn’t resist anymore. She closed the gap quickly, pressing her lips hard against Erin’s. It became heated very quickly, Ella was about to tug the keeper’s shirt over her head when Erin pulled back.

“Ella wait.” She husked out with her hands still firmly planted on the forwards hips.

“What? I thought you wanted to…”

A sad look came across Erin’s face as she took a step back.

“I don’t just want to sleep with you Ella can’t you see that? I care about you.” Erin took Ella’s hand and lead her over to the couch.

“I know you turned me down because you’ve heard about all the girls I slept with, and I’m not someone to deny that, because I did. That’s not what I want from you Ella, and it never has been. I didn’t sleep with all those girls just because I wanted to, I did it because it made me feel better about myself, like someone actually wanted me. I’ve always been insecure about my body and myself in general, no one ever paid attention to me or cared about me. I was just the chubby gay girl. When I moved here, and people started noticing me, I used them to feel good about myself. Every time I would hook up with a girl it would give me that little ego boost that I constantly need to get through the day…”

“Erin I…I’m so sorry that I didn’t get to know you before judging you, I wish I could take it back.”

“I don’t blame you Ella, I just hope that maybe you’ll let me ask you out again?”

“I would love that.”

“Good, because I plan on taking you on a lot of dates in my lifetime beautiful.”