Clumsy
Two weeks had passed since that night in Leah’s bed, and Alessia still hadn’t fully wrapped her head around how much had changed. Leah was healing. Slowly but surely.
She could now use her crutches all the time, even when they went out, and her ribs -though still sore if she twisted too suddenly- were more or less healed. Her broken ankle was still in a walking boot, which meant no weight-bearing for another couple of weeks, but she could take it off to shower and sleep.
Alessia didn’t know how to feel about that last part. On one hand, it was a good thing. Leah was getting better. On the other hand, it meant Leah didn’t need her help to bathe anymore, and Alessia was almost certain Leah didn’t need her help for the last few times she had asked.
But she’d still helped.
She’d still stood beside the shower, sleeves rolled up, carefully adjusting the water temperature before letting Leah step in. Still washed Leah’s back for her when she claimed she couldn’t twist enough without making her ribs ache. Still helped her dry off, steadying her when she pretended to wobble on one foot, despite the fact that Leah’s balance had been perfectly fine on crutches for at least a week now.
They hadn’t had any discussions about what they were, but they acted more like a couple than they did friends.
They kissed daily now. A peck in the morning before Leah even got out of bed. A peck before bed. A peck just because. And then there were the make-out sessions. Usually started by Leah, but sometimes Alessia was the one pulling her in, unable to stop herself when Leah smirked at her a certain way or nudged her thigh teasingly.
She liked this. Liked the way things were between them. No pressure. No expectations. Just…Leah, and she didn’t want to think about what it meant just yet.
Today, though, was a big day. It was Leah’s first day back at training. Not full training; just rehab, but she’d been absolutely buzzing about it all morning anyway. And Alessia had been buzzing too, happy for her, until the realisation hit that this would be the first time in weeks that she wouldn’t be with Leah, and the thought made her stomach twist uncomfortably.
She stuck close to Beth when they arrived at training, practically glued to her side, not wanting to admit to herself how much she hated being apart from Leah, even just for a few hours.
Beth, of course, noticed.
“Less, she’s literally just over there,” Beth said, nodding towards the far side of the training facility, where Leah was sitting with the physios. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Alessia sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I know.”
Beth nudged her lightly. “She’ll be okay, you know. She’s a tough cookie that one.”
Alessia frowned. “That’s not the point.”
Beth studied her for a second before her expression softened. “You just miss her, don’t you?”
Alessia huffed. “It’s not-“ She stopped, sighed, then slumped slightly. “Yeah.”
Beth grinned, nudging her again. “That’s cute.”
Alessia groaned, shaking her head. Beth just laughed, and they walked out to the pitch together, but Alessia couldn’t shake the restlessness that settled in her chest the entire session. She kept glancing over towards the rehab area, half-hoping to catch a glimpse of Leah through the windows. And by the time training was over and it was time for lunch, she all but rushed to the cafeteria, scanning the room the second she stepped inside.
And there Leah was.
Sitting at a table near the window, booted foot propped up on another chair, a water bottle in hand as she laughed at something Lotte was saying. Alessia barely noticed the people moving around her as she made a beeline for her, something inside her settling the moment Leah’s eyes met hers.
Leah’s smile was instant, and Alessia couldn’t stop the way her own lips tugged up in response. She dropped into the seat beside her, ignoring the amused look Lotte shot her, and Leah turned to face her properly.
“Hey,” Leah greeted, her voice warm as she nudged Alessia’s thigh with her knee.
“Hey,” Alessia murmured back, barely even registering the people around them anymore.
Leah studied her for a moment, then smirked knowingly. “Missed me, huh?”
Alessia scoffed, but her face was already betraying her.
Leah laughed, leaning in slightly. “S’cute.”
Alessia rolled her eyes, but she was fighting back a smile. Leah grinned, then leaned in fully, pressing a quick peck to Alessia’s cheek, lingering just a second longer than necessary before pulling away.
Alessia’s first thought, surprisingly, was not that of fear. Fear that someone would see Leah kiss her and assume they were dating. Fear that she’d be judged or criticised. It was one of want. Want for Leah to kiss her again despite the eyes watching them. Want for her to touch her again, maybe a hand on her thigh or waist.
She immediately shook herself out of it. No. Now was not the time.
*
Alessia had been okay with the second half of training being in the weight room.
It wasn’t her favourite, but she was used to it by now. Besides, Leah was in the same room, off in the corner working on some basic exercises with the physios. Exercises she could do while sat down.
That was enough to keep Alessia content. For the first ten minutes, anyway. Because then, in the middle of a set, as she adjusted her grip on the dumbbells she was lifting, she made the mistake of glancing up.
And Leah was looking right at her.
Smirking.
And then -because apparently, Leah Williamson was the devil incarnate- she winked, and Alessia felt her brain short-circuit. Her grip faltered, hands clenching instinctively, and before she could stop it, one of the weights slipped from her fingers.
Straight onto her foot.
Her cry of both surprise and pain was instant, sharp and unfiltered as she jolted upright, clutching her foot as she hopped in place. The weight hadn’t been too heavy, but it was heavy enough, and she knew instantly that it would bruise.
Beth was at her side in an instant. “Less, what the hell?”
Alessia gritted her teeth, wincing. “I dropped it.”
Beth blinked at her. “Yeah, I got that. Why?”
Alessia didn’t answer, her gaze flickering back towards Leah.
Beth followed her line of sight, and when she saw the way Leah was biting back a smirk, realisation dawned.
“Oh my God,” Beth groaned. “Did she -did you-?”
Alessia said nothing. Beth stared at her for another second before sighing and throwing an arm around her shoulders, steering her towards the bench at the side of the room.
Meanwhile, across the gym, Steph gave Leah a knowing nudge, and Leah rolled her eyes.
Steph only smirked. “Go on then.”
Leah huffed, but when Steph gestured towards Alessia again, she sighed and begrudgingly pushed herself up from her seat, grabbing her crutches and making her way over. Back on the bench, Beth was looking at Alessia like she was the dumbest person alive.
“So let me get this straight,” Beth started, arms crossed. “You were fine. Lifting weights. Minding your own business. And then Leah winked at you.”
Alessia swallowed hard, shifting slightly in place. “…Yeah.”
“And that made you drop a dumbbell. On your foot.”
Alessia’s cheeks burned. “…Yeah.”
Beth stared at her for a second longer before laughing, shaking her head. “Jesus Christ, Less.”
Alessia groaned, burying her face in her hands. “I hate her.”
Beth snorted. “Yeah, sure you do.”
Before Alessia could respond, the familiar sound of crutches clicking against the floor reached her ears, and then Leah was stopping in front of them, one eyebrow raised as she took in Alessia’s position.
Beth smirked. “Took you long enough.”
Leah ignored her, turning her gaze to Alessia. “You good?”
Alessia sighed, still pressing her fingers against her temples. “Peachy.”
Leah bit back a smile. “Didn’t mean to break your brain, Less.”
Alessia shot her a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. Leah only grinned, shifting her weight onto one crutch so she could reach out and pat Alessia’s knee.
Beth scoffed. “You’re lucky she’s obsessed with you.”
Leah smirked. “I know.”
Alessia groaned again. As Beth headed off to grab some ice, Leah settled beside Alessia, setting her crutches aside before holding out her hand and wiggling her fingers expectantly.
Alessia didn’t hesitate. She didn’t even look around to see if anyone was watching. She just reached out and took it. Leah noticed, though. She noticed the way Alessia’s fingers curled naturally around hers, the way she didn’t shy away, didn’t overthink it. And though she didn’t say anything, she did squeeze her hand, a proud little smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Alessia, noticing the look on her face, flushed and gave her a gentle nudge with her shoulder, and Leah only grinned wider.
Beth, returning with the ice pack, caught the exchange immediately and rolled her eyes. “Are you two seriously flirting in the workplace?”
Both Alessia and Leah turned to her at the exact same time. “Shut up, Beth.”
Beth scoffed, amused, before tossing the ice pack to Leah. “Here. Deal with your own girlfriend.”
Both of them froze. Neither of them spoke, and neither of them denied it. Beth clocked this instantly, her lips twitching in amusement before she shot them both a knowing smile and turned to head back towards the weight racks.
Leah cleared her throat, forcing herself to move past it as she turned back to Alessia, patting her thigh. “Foot up.”
Alessia obeyed, shifting slightly before resting her foot on Leah’s lap. Leah’s hand was warm as it traced gently over her ankle, fingers gliding across the skin before she set the ice pack carefully over the bruised area. Alessia shivered, and Leah’s gaze flickered up to hers, a smirk playing at her lips. “Ticklish?”
Alessia swallowed. “No.”
Leah hummed, amused, fingers tracing over her skin one last time before she settled both hands around the ice pack, holding it in place. Neither of them noticed Beth making her way over to Steph, a knowing smile still on her face.
Steph glanced up as Beth approached, pausing in her reps. “What’s that look for?”
Beth nodded her head towards the bench, where Leah and Alessia were still in their own little world. “They’re so gone for each other.”
Steph smirked. “Yeah?”
Beth grinned. “Told them they were flirting in the workplace. They told me to shut up. In sync.”
Steph laughed.
Beth raised an eyebrow. “Then I called Leah her girlfriend. Neither of them denied it.”
Steph’s brows lifted. “That right?”
Beth nodded. “They’re done for.”
Steph glanced over at them again, at the way Leah’s fingers absentmindedly traced over Alessia’s shin, at the way Alessia sat there and let her, barely even aware of it.
She smirked. “Yeah. I’d say so.”