I knew you were trouble when you walked in
Alessia
Alessia has had the best time at her first senior camp. Her skill has come on wildly fast and she’s become fast friends with so many of the players and staff. The pace and style of play is still so different from what she has been used to at UNC but one thing hasn’t changed. Her job is to get the ball in the back of the net. And she’s pretty damn good at it.
She thinks some of the others have noticed too. Keira runs over and gives her a big hug after she scored an absolutely worldie volley tee’d up by Georgia. Lucy is always there for a flirty, friendly but flirty, word of encouragement and she’s noticed a certain defender often looking her way. Leah's gaze always makes Alessia shiver. Goosebumps spread from her neck down her back and arms after just a glance from half a pitch away. She has to remind her body that those reactions are inappropriate to have when thinking about your friend. And that’s what Leah is, a friend. She knows for a fact Leah wouldn’t want anything more.
By the time the last few days roll around, they have all fallen into a nice routine. Alessia has become more confident around the squad and in the changing room joking around.
As the final night comes Alessia is sore from the last training session. She spent an hour in the hot tub afterwards just trying to soothe her muscles but she still can’t get a knot out of her shoulder when it comes time to go to bed.
For hours Alessia rolls around on her bed trying to get comfy but sleep does not come.
‘Less if you don’t stop moving and making a racket right now I’m going to bungee cord you to the bed,’ Georgia finally snaps at midnight.
‘You brought bungee cords with you to camp?’ Alessia replied giggling slightly. The joke was clearly not appreciated as she is soon hit square in her face by a pillow launched at her from across the room.
‘Go and get some ice and then go to sleep’
Alessia sighs and sits up. She pads her feet around trying to find her slippers and then walks to the door, swiping to pick up her key card on the way past.
The bright light of the hallway momentarily blinds her as she waits a second for her eyes to adjust.
Once she has regained her sight she makes her way to the ice room. She shivers as she walks in and goes to fill a small bag with ice to be able to put on her shoulder. Once full she wraps the bag in a small towel and places it on her shoulder taking a sharp intake of air at the sudden change in temperature. She sighs loudly and closes her eyes at the instant relief.
‘You alright Russo?’
Alessia jumps and spins around at the voice behind her.
‘Leah?! What are you doing here?!? You gave me such a fright!’
Alessia looks her up and down. Leah is standing there in an oversize faded band t-shirt and pyjama shorts with slides on her feet. Her hair was scraped back into a flawless messy bun. How did she still look cool at midnight after a full day of training? Alessia was suddenly very aware of the matching pyjama set from marks and spencer's she was wearing that had a teddy bear picture on the front.
‘Sorry Less didn’t mean to sneak up on you’ If Leah had noticed Less staring at her she didn’t mention it.
‘How did you know I was in here?’
‘I didn’t know it was you but I heard the ice machine turn on and got curious as to who was still awake’
‘Oh ok’
‘Is your shoulder ok?’ Leah asks while gesturing towards the ice Alessia still had firmly pressed against it.
‘Oh it’s fine, just a bit stiff and sore after training today’ the striker shrugs like it’s nothing but quickly regrets that choice of gesture and winces in pain.
‘Doesn’t look like it’s fine’ Leah replied bluntly, ‘let me take a look’
Before Alessia could protest Leah had a hand on her bicep and was turning her around with such authority there was no use in arguing. Suddenly the taller girl could feel the defender's breath on her neck and a hand gently moving the ice away. She shivers at the contact, sure that the goosebumps must be visible to Leah.
‘Damn Russo you’ve got a knot so big I can see it’
Alessia blushes, thankful to not be facing the defender and mutters nonsense under her breath, unable to string a full sentence together while Leah had her hand on her neck.
Suddenly she feels the shorter girl's hand reach over and gently squeeze the affected shoulder.
Alessia's brain is going 100 mph. The contact feels amazing. Leah keeps going, kneading at the striker's shoulder. No fucking way. No fucking way is Leah fucking Williamson massaging her shoulder. After a minute or so Leah hits the right spot so hard Alessia involuntarily makes a moan-like sound followed very quickly by throwing her hands up to cover her mouth. Leah lightly chuckles under her breath but then stops. Alessia winces at the sudden lack of contact. She spins around now face to face with the defender. And only a foot apart.
‘You are too tall to do this here’ Leah says matter of factly, ‘come to my room and I’ll work you out properly’
‘Sorry what?’ The words tumble out of Alessia's mouth before her brain gets a chance to catch up.
‘It. I’ll work it out’ Leah corrects her face in a slight frown. Alessia knows that face. It’s the face that no one can disagree with.
Alessia still says nothing, her face still definitely showing shock from Leah’s previous statement. Leah takes the lead and grabs Alessia's hand and half drags her towards the door and to her room.