Inevitable

Alessia

She watched from the side-line as the defender strode across the pitch, never once taking her eye off the ball in play ahead of her. As the opposition pushed back, their own midfield retreated and turned to reassess. A swift kick and Alessia watched as the defender stopped the ball in one fluid motion under her foot. Total control. The defender looked up, a deep scowl on her face as if she was mentally calculating the outcomes of each possible pass she could make. Frown lifting, she starts to run. Crossing over to the wing slowing only to bypass an opposition midfielder who she left behind her in the dirt having failed a tackle attempt. The defender looks up, and as if in slow motion swings her foot backwards and forward making contact with the centre of the ball and forcing it to fly across to the other wing right in front of her teammate. Waiting unmarked. No one between the striker and the goal. A second and a swift kick later the ball ricochets into the back of the net.

Alessia breathes out the air she had unconsciously locked in in awe as she watched the senior team huddle together in celebration. She stares as the teammates congratulate the defender on her monumental assist. The play had been like poetry.

‘What a cross Leah!’ Alessia hears one of the players shout as they clap the defender on the shoulder.

Leah. Leah Williamson.

Alessia was there to watch and learn from the senior team. She was supposed to be taking notes on how Kiera Walsh and Georgia Stanway pushed up to attack from the midfield. She knew she needed to work on her ball handling if she was ever going to get called up to a senior team but she just couldn’t take her eyes off of Leah. The defender was a brick wall.

As the final whistle blew, score 3-0 to England, the team huddled together and started to walk off the pitch towards the dugouts where Alessia was. She stood there, paralysed in her spot, arms leaning against the barricade at the side of the pitch. It wasn’t until the team was a mere few metres away from her that she realised her eyes were still glued on Leah. She watched as Leah looked her up and down until their eyes locked for the briefest of moments. The smallest of smirks at the side of Leah’s mouth. Alessia’s breath caught in her throat. She quickly darted her line of sight down to the ground.

As the team chatted amongst themselves about the game and their plans for the evening, Alessia stayed silent. After a moment, Georgia approached her.
‘Hiya Less! I didn’t realise you were coming to watch this match?’

Alessia blinked. ‘Oh yeah, my coach suggested I come watch you! Gotta learn how to play like the pro you are!’ Alessia smiled and knocked her shoulder into Georgia playfully.

‘Oh yeah is that so.’ Georgia laughed. ‘You’ll be taking my spot in not too long!’

‘Never! I could never replace you!’

Georgia chuckled again. ‘So what did you think of the game?’

‘You guys all played amazingly. I’m going to have to seriously up my game to get a chance.’

‘Well, if what I’ve been hearing about your play for the U21’s is true, I don’t think you’ll be having to wait for long!’

‘Oh yeah? You’ve been keeping tabs?’ Alessia chuckled, knocking into Georgia’s side again playfully.

Georgia laughed. ‘More like I am forced to listen to excruciatingly detailed updates on all the U21 matches fro…’

At that moment Alessia looked to her side and saw Leah sauntering over. She was so transfixed that she didn’t register how Georgia finished her sentence.

‘You two sound like you are having fun?’ Leah spoke confidently, coming to a stop at Alessia’s side. She lent down so her arms rested on the barricade next to Alessia’s. Elbows centimetres apart.

‘Yeah, Less here was just telling me how great we all are and how much she wants to be exactly like us when she grows up’

‘Oh really? Is that so?’ Leah smirked.

‘Well I don’t think that’s quite how I put it, G.’ Alessia was flustered. She could feel her cheeks starting to rose.

‘Oh so you are saying we were bad then?’

‘No no no that’s not what I said either!’ Alessia’s rosy cheeks were quickly working their way to a deep red. ‘All I said was that you all played amazingly’.

Leah’s smirk turned into a full on grin.

‘Well that’s very nice of you to say.’

Alessia took a breath and tried to calm down. A sudden moment of confidence and she turned herself slightly towards Leah. Their eyes locked for a second time. Alessia studied her face. Leah’s blonde hair was slicked back and held in place with a hair band, but small parts were starting to fall out of place after playing the full 90 minutes. Her cheeks were still a little bit flushed, and her forehead glistened slightly with sweat. All her features were strong and powerful. She was the perfect combination of sharp angles and round features. Alessia’s eyes dropped further to her mouth. Two perfectly pink lips parted ever so slightly.
It was at this moment that Alessia realised she had been staring for what had felt like an eternity. Her eyes darted back up to Leah’s. Leah’s eyes didn’t meet hers though. They were slightly south staring at what Alessia thinks must be her nose.

It was then that she felt Georgia’s elbow in her back. To be honest, Alessia had forgotten she was there. She slowly turned back around to face the pitch. The two senior players on either side of her. She felt Leah’s gaze drop from her and move back around also. She suddenly felt cold.

‘Well I guess Lee and I should be heading back inside,’ Georgia stated. ‘It was good to see you again, Less. Hope we will be seeing you soon at the next England camp!’

Alessia felt Georgia stand up right and start to walk around behind her. At the same time, Leah leaned in ever so slightly. Imperceptible to any one else.

‘Fingers crossed.’ She heard the defender say quietly enough for only Alessia to hear.

Leah pushed up off the barricade and started to walk in stride with Georgia. Alessia turned around only to watch them walk away. Their conversation is now too far away and too quiet for Alessia to hear.