Begin again

The kitchen was quiet, save for the soft sizzle of eggs in the pan and the occasional clatter of utensils as Alessia moved around. Leah sat at the counter, watching her with a lazy grin, arms crossed over the island as she propped her chin on them.

Alessia flipped the omelette with expert ease, humming to herself. “Plain, right? No veggies, just cheese?”

Leah wrinkled her nose. “Obviously.”

Alessia smirked, reaching for the diced peppers she had set aside for herself. “You have the palate of a child.”

Leah scoffed. “Excuse me for liking my eggs simple.”

Alessia flicked a small piece of pepper in her direction, laughing as Leah dodged it with a dramatic lean to the side.

A few minutes later, she plated their food, setting Leah’s omelette down in front of her before placing her own plate on the counter. Leah immediately dug in, making a pleased sound as she chewed.

Alessia sat beside her, cutting into her own omelette, lifting a forkful to her mouth just as Leah shot her a disgusted look.

“Ugh,” Leah mumbled, eyeing the bright bits of red and green in Alessia’s food like they had personally offended her.

Alessia laughed, elbowing her playfully. “You’re ridiculous.”

Leah nudged her back. “And you’re gross.”

“Yet here you are, eating food made by me,” Alessia teased, taking another bite.

Leah rolled her eyes but said nothing, instead reaching out to rest her hand on Alessia’s thigh, fingers warm through the fabric of her joggers. She gave a light squeeze before continuing to eat as if nothing had happened.

Alessia felt her stomach flutter at the small, casual touch. She smiled, nudging her foot against Leah’s beneath the counter. They ate in comfortable silence, Leah occasionally squeezing her thigh, Alessia grinning in response. It was easy, natural.

When they finished, Leah leaned back in her chair, rubbing her stomach with a satisfied sigh. “You’re a good girlfriend.”

Alessia’s fork paused mid-air, and she glanced at Leah, raising a brow.

Leah froze. “I mean, cook. Good cook.”

Alessia smirked. “Uh-huh.”

Leah shot her a pointed look, cheeks slightly pink. “Shut up.”

Alessia grinned, leaning over to press a quick kiss to Leah’s cheek before standing to clean up.

The drive to training was short, which meant Leah was allowed to drive, and Alessia was more than happy to let her. It wasn’t because she didn’t like driving -she did- but there was something about sitting in the passenger seat, about the way Leah’s hand always found its place on her thigh, that made her enjoy it more.

As expected, Leah’s hand was there within minutes, fingers tapping idly against the fabric of Alessia’s joggers. Alessia smiled, biting her lip, and after a moment, she placed her own hand over Leah’s, pressing her fingers against Leah’s palm.

Leah glanced at her briefly, smirking. “Handsy, aren’t you?”

Alessia scoffed. “Says the one who can’t keep her hand off my leg.”

Leah chuckled, giving her thigh a squeeze. “Fair.”

The conversation flowed easily as Leah drove, her voice filling the car as she rambled about how she was excited to push herself more in rehab today. Alessia listened, interjecting here and there, though she was slightly distracted by Leah’s hand under hers, by the warmth of her palm.

She didn’t think too much about it -didn’t want to. It was just…nice.

But as the training ground came into view, a different kind of thought crept in. She already knew Beth and Steph were going to be waiting for them, and she already knew they were going to be absolutely insufferable.

Leah must’ve noticed her tense slightly, because she glanced at her, brow furrowed. “You good?”

Alessia sighed, staring ahead as they pulled into the car park. “Beth and Steph are gonna grill us.”

Leah snorted, parking the car. “Oh, definitely.”

Alessia groaned. “I don’t think I’m emotionally prepared.”

Leah smirked, finally pulling her hand away from Alessia’s thigh to shift into park. “We could just kiss in front of them and really give them something to talk about.”

Alessia shot her a look. “You want me to drop dead of embarrassment?”

Leah grinned, unbuckling her seatbelt. “Nah, you’re too cute when you’re flustered.”

Alessia huffed, rolling her eyes, but the warmth in her chest was undeniable.

Leah winked, then opened her door. “Come on, love. Let’s go face the wolves.”

Alessia didn’t think about it when she linked their hands. It was natural, automatic -her fingers sliding between Leah’s, squeezing gently as they walked into the training ground together.

A few of their teammates noticed. Alessia could feel the weight of a couple of stares, but no one said anything. A couple of raised eyebrows, a knowing smile from Kim, and a whispered something from Caitlin to Katie that made the latter snort.

It made Alessia nervous, but only a little. She could handle it. This was fine. And then they stepped into the changing room, and Beth and Steph were on them instantly, like bloodhounds catching a scent.

“Ohhh, look who finally decided to show up together,” Beth sing-songed, arms crossed as she leaned against the lockers.

“Hand in hand, no less,” Steph added, smirking.

Alessia felt the heat rise to her cheeks, but she played it cool, untangling her fingers from Leah’s and heading straight for her locker. “So? We live together.”

Beth scoffed. “Yeah, but you weren’t holding hands like that before.”

Leah, to Alessia’s horror, grinned. “Maybe we just like touching each other, Beth.”

Steph choked on a laugh. Beth groaned. “Ugh, you two are the worst.”

“Agreed,” Steph nodded. “Sickening.”

Alessia huffed, shaking her head as she pulled off her hoodie, pretending to ignore them. They might’ve gotten away with it, played it off, if it hadn’t been for Beth’s eyes suddenly narrowing as she took in Leah’s appearance.

“Oh my god.” Beth’s voice dropped to something almost scandalized.

Alessia barely had a second to react before Beth was grabbing Leah’s chin and tilting her head to the side.

“What -Beth, get off-“ Leah tried to swat her away, but Beth was grinning like she’d just won the lottery.

Steph caught on immediately. “No way.”

Beth turned back to Alessia, looking like Christmas had come early. “Lessi, is that a-“

“Nope,” Alessia cut in quickly, face burning as she slammed her locker shut.

Beth and Steph exchanged a glance before simultaneously turning back to Leah, who sighed, pulling away and rubbing at her neck like that might somehow make it disappear.

“Oh, it’s definitely a hickey,” Steph confirmed, biting back a grin.

Beth gasped, turning to Alessia with wide eyes. “You animal.”

Alessia groaned, burying her face in her hands. “I hate you both.”

Leah was no help. She just smirked, throwing an arm over Alessia’s shoulder, clearly enjoying her suffering.

Beth wiggled her eyebrows. “So, how was your night?”

“Beth.” Alessia glared.

Steph laughed, tossing her training top over her head. “You two are so obvious.”

Alessia glared.

Beth crossed her arms, grinning. “Okay, fine, we’ll stop-“

“Thank god.”

Beth ignored her. “-but just know, this isn’t over.”

Leah chuckled, dropping her arm from Alessia’s shoulders and grabbing her training gear. “Never is with you lot.”

Alessia sighed, shaking her head, but as much as she pretended to be annoyed, she couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. Maybe Beth and Steph were insufferable, but at least they weren’t making it weird. And honestly? Alessia appreciated that more than they knew. Well, until it came time for training.

Beth and Steph were insufferable. Absolutely relentless, and the worst part? Leah wasn’t even on the pitch to help. She was inside, still doing rehab for her ankle, which meant Alessia was left to deal with the teasing all on her own.

It started with little comments during warm-ups.

Steph, stretching beside her, nudged her with a smirk. “So…rough night, Less?”

Beth, on her other side, snorted. “Yeah, mate. You’re looking a little stiff.”

Alessia groaned. “You two are actual dickheads.”

“Oh, come on,” Beth grinned. “You love us.”

“Debatable.”

Then it continued into drills.

Beth and Steph were paired together, leaving Alessia free for once -until Beth deliberately kicked the ball away from Steph and straight at Alessia’s shins, smirking when she yelped.

“Oi!” Alessia glared.

“Whoops.” Beth shrugged. “Guess I’m just distracted.”

Steph, grinning, jogged up beside her. “Yeah, funny that. We’re just thinking about a certain someone with a hickey on their neck.”

Alessia rolled her eyes. “You’re both so annoying.”

And finally, it bled into the scrimmage, and that’s when Alessia had enough.

She saw her opportunity when Steph tried to show off, flicking the ball through the air, and Alessia intercepted with ease -nutmegging her so cleanly that Steph could do nothing but stand there in shock as Alessia dribbled past her.

“Oh my god,” Beth cackled. “That’s embarrassing, mate.”

Alessia smirked, turning back. “Karma.”

And then, just to make her point even clearer, she took it one step further.

Beth had the ball at her feet a few minutes later, trying to weave her way past, but Alessia had read her like a book. She stepped in, and before Beth could react, Alessia had tackled her to the ground, clean but firm. Beth landed on her back with a grunt.

Alessia, standing over her, grinned. “Sorry. Guess I just got distracted.”

Beth groaned, sprawled out on the grass. “You’re the worst.”

Steph, from a few meters away, called out, “Actually, I think that title still goes to you, mate.”

And then, as training came to an end, Alessia sealed her revenge. She grabbed her water bottle, walking casually up to where Beth and Steph were talking, and before they could react-

She upended it over both of them.

“Oi!”

“What the hell, Less?!”

Alessia was already sprinting away, laughing as she bolted for the changing rooms. Leah was inside, sitting on a bench as she stretched out her ankle when Alessia all but crashed into the room, out of breath and grinning.

Leah blinked up at her. “What-“

Alessia dropped onto the bench beside her, still giggling. “If anyone asks, I’ve been here the whole time.”

Leah raised an eyebrow. “What did you do?”

Before Alessia could answer, a loud yell echoed from outside.

“RUSSO, YOU’RE DONE FOR!”

Alessia yelped, grabbing onto her arm. “Protect me.”

Leah just laughed, shaking her head. “You really are a menace.”

Alessia grinned up at her. “Learned from the best.”

Leah smirked, looping an arm around Alessia’s shoulders and kissing thr side o c. “That’s my girl.”