Alessia!
It wasn’t long until they’d been together for nearly six months. The time had flown by, every moment with Alessia feeling effortless, natural, like they had always been meant to find each other. Leah wasn’t usually one to celebrate the smaller anniversaries , but this was different. Every waking moment by Alessia’s side was special, so of course she was going to celebrate every milestone no matter how small.
They kept it low-key, just the way they liked it. No fancy restaurant, no over-the-top gifts. Instead, they drove down to the seaside, the sun beginning to dip in the sky as they wandered along the promenade hand in hand. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of salt and freshly fried food, and it wasn’t long before they found a little fish and chip shop tucked into the row of bustling stalls.
Leah squeezed Alessia’s hand. “What d’you reckon? Can’t go wrong with a chippy.”
Alessia’s face lit up. “Absolutely not.”
They ordered two portions, piling on salt and vinegar, and took their food down to the beach. The sand was cool beneath them as they settled onto a blanket, the waves lapping gently against the shore. Alessia tucked her legs beneath her, reaching into the paper tray for a chip before nudging Leah’s shoulder.
“This is perfect,” she murmured.
Leah watched her for a moment, the way the setting sun caught in her hair, turning the strands golden, the way her eyes crinkled slightly at the corners when she smiled. She felt something warm settle in her chest.
“Yeah,” Leah agreed, voice softer than she intended. “It is.”
They ate in comfortable silence, sharing bites, stealing sips from each other’s drinks, laughing when a seagull got a little too bold and Alessia had to shoo it away. Eventually, when their food was gone and the sky had turned dusky pink, Alessia leaned her head on Leah’s shoulder, sighing contentedly.
Leah pressed a kiss to the top of her head, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on Alessia’s knee. “Happy six months, Less.”
Alessia tilted her head up, her eyes shining. “Happy six months, Lee.”
After their food had settled, they wandered down to the shoreline, their fingers laced together as the waves lapped gently at their feet. The air had cooled slightly, the sky now a blend of soft oranges and purples as the sun dipped lower on the horizon. Alessia gave Leah’s hand a small squeeze, smiling as she glanced over at her.
“Still think fish and chips was a solid anniversary meal?” Alessia teased.
Leah huffed a laugh. “Best one I’ve ever had.”
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the occasional squeeze of a hand, the subtle brush of shoulders, the quiet intimacy of simply being together. But then, without warning, Leah tugged at Alessia’s arm.
“Alright, stand still,” she ordered.
Alessia raised a brow but obeyed. Before she could ask why, Leah hopped up onto her back, her arms looping around Alessia’s shoulders, her legs wrapping around her waist.
“Leah,” Alessia laughed, instinctively grabbing hold of Leah’s thighs to steady her.
“You love it,” Leah grinned, resting her chin on Alessia’s shoulder.
Alessia couldn’t argue with that. She adjusted her grip and started walking again, the weight of Leah on her back not bothering her in the slightest. If anything, it felt nice -familiar, comfortable.
Leah, however, was getting a bit too full of herself. “Y’know,” she mused, stretching her arms out dramatically, “this is quite nice. My very own chauffeur. Maybe I should get you a little uniform.”
Alessia rolled her eyes but smiled. “Oh, should you?”
“Yeah,” Leah continued, her grin growing. “A little cap, a badge with ‘Leah’s personal ride’ on it-“
Alessia didn’t even hesitate. She subtly veered toward the water, stepping in just deep enough for the waves to reach her shins, and before Leah could realise what was happening-
She let go.
Leah yelped as she tumbled backwards, landing straight on her arse in the water with a loud splash. For a moment, there was nothing but silence -just the sound of the waves and Alessia biting down on her lip to keep from laughing.
Then Leah looked up, water dripping from her, and her expression was nothing short of murderous.
“Alessia.”
Alessia burst into laughter, clutching her stomach as she took a step back. “I warned you!”
“No, you bloody didn’t!” Leah pushed herself up, splashing water as she moved. “You just dropped me like a sack of spuds!”
Alessia grinned, backing away further. “Shouldn’t have been cocky then, should you?”
Leah narrowed her eyes. “Oh, you’re dead.”
Alessia shrieked as Leah lunged for her, trying to escape, but Leah was quick, grabbing onto her wrist and yanking her straight into the water with her. They both went down, water splashing everywhere, their laughter echoing along the shoreline.
By the time they stopped wrestling, Leah was laying on her back in the shallow water, her soaked clothes clinging to her skin, her hair fanned out against the wet sand. Alessia hovered above her, bracing herself on her forearms, her blonde strands dripping tiny beads of water onto Leah’s flushed cheeks.
For a moment, they just looked at each other, their breaths mingling, their laughter still lingering in the air between them. Then, without another thought, Alessia leaned down, her lips capturing Leah’s in a slow, lingering kiss.
It was soft, unhurried, the warmth of their bodies contrasting against the cool water lapping at their sides. The taste of salt clung to their lips, mixing with the faint tang of vinegar from their earlier meal. Leah’s hands found Alessia’s waist, fingers trailing lower until they settled at the curve of her arse, squeezing playfully.
Alessia hummed against Leah’s lips, pretending to deepen the kiss, before her hand stealthily reached down to the wet sand beside them. Without hesitation, she grabbed a handful and, with a swift movement, yanked Leah’s shirt slightly away from her front and dumped the freezing, gritty sand straight down it.
Leah’s reaction was immediate.
“You-“ She gasped, her whole body jerking as the cold, grainy sensation hit her skin. “Alessia!”
But Alessia was already scrambling to her feet, slipping slightly in the wet sand before taking off at full speed down the shoreline, cackling as she went.
Leah let out a furious, shrieked laugh, twisting onto her stomach as she desperately tried to shake the sand out of her shirt. “Oh, you’re so dead, Russo!”
Alessia only laughed harder, glancing back over her shoulder to see Leah already on her feet, her face a mixture of outrage and amusement as she charged after her.
“You better run, you little shit!”
Alessia yelped and bolted faster, the sound of Leah’s splashing footsteps gaining on her, her heart racing as she darted down the shore. But Leah was faster than Alessia gave her credit for. Within seconds, she caught up, launching herself forward with all the force of someone out for revenge.
Alessia barely had time to squeak before Leah tackled her, sending her sprawling face-first into the sand with a thud.
“Ugh,” Alessia groaned, her breath knocked from her lungs. A moment later, she coughed, spitting out a mouthful of sand. “Oh my God -that’s disgusting.”
Leah, straddling her back triumphantly, let out a breathless, wicked laugh. “That’s what you get, you absolute menace.”
Still pinned, Alessia could do nothing but huff and collapse fully into the sand, her limbs going limp in dramatic defeat. “I regret nothing.”
Leah scoffed, pressing her hands into Alessia’s back to keep her firmly in place. “Yeah? You sure about that?”
Alessia twisted her head slightly, pouting up at her. “Maybe a little.”
Leah smirked, tapping her fingers against Alessia’s shoulder like she was contemplating her next move. “Hmm. Tempted to shove a whole handful of sand down your top now.”
“No, no, no,” Alessia whined immediately, squirming under Leah’s hold. “Leah, please, I yield.”
Leah grinned, clearly enjoying her position of power. “Oh, now you want mercy?”
Alessia let out a long, exaggerated sigh, still lying helplessly in the sand. “I am but a weak, defenseless fool. Have mercy on me, my love.”
Leah snorted. “You’re ridiculous.”
Alessia peeked up at her again, a hopeful, cheeky glint in her eyes. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
Leah narrowed her eyes, lips twitching. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Alessia beamed. “So true.”
Leah rolled her eyes but finally climbed off her, offering a hand. Alessia took it, letting Leah pull her up -only for Leah to immediately ruffle her damp, sand-covered hair in retaliation.
Alessia gasped in offense, swatting her hand away. “You are evil.”
Leah grinned, throwing an arm around Alessia’s shoulders as they trudged back toward their things. “And yet, you’re still in love with me.”
Alessia sighed dramatically, leaning into her. “Yeah, yeah. Unfortunately for me.”
Leah just laughed, pressing a quick kiss to her temple.
Back at the car, reality hit them like a slap in the face. They were soaked, covered in sand, and their clothes clung uncomfortably to their skin. The salty breeze that had once felt refreshing now sent a chill through their damp bodies.
Leah pulled open the driver’s side door and immediately groaned. “Shit. We didn’t bring towels.”
Alessia winced, rubbing her arms. “Yeah…didn’t really think that far ahead.”
They both glanced at Leah’s car -her nice, expensive car, the one she babied like it was her child. The leather seats practically gleamed in the dim light of the car park, completely dry and blissfully free of sand or seawater.
Leah frowned. “We can’t get in like this.”
Alessia hesitated, shifting on her feet. Then, with a quick inhale, she turned to Leah, gave her the most apologetic look she could muster, and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.
“…Less,” Leah said slowly, immediately suspicious.
Alessia offered a sheepish smile. “I love you.”
And with that, she turned and rounded the car, yanked open the passenger door, and climbed in. Leah stood frozen, staring in absolute horror as Alessia wiggled back into the seat, settling in like she hadn’t just committed a crime.
“Alessia!” Leah shrieked. “Are you actually joking?”
Alessia winced as she felt her soaked clothes press against the leather. “Oh…yeah, that’s definitely wet now.”
Leah’s jaw dropped. “I cannot believe you just-“ She gestured wildly at the car, then at Alessia. “I treat this car with love and care, and you just violated it!”
Alessia pressed her lips together, trying -and failing- not to laugh. “Babe…it’s just a car.”
Leah clutched her chest like she’d been physically wounded. “Just a car? Just a car?!”
Alessia bit her lip, reaching for Leah’s hand. “We can clean it?”
Leah glared at her, though there was no real heat behind it -just the exaggerated, dramatic kind of anger she knew Alessia found funny. “Oh, you’re cleaning it.”
Alessia grinned, giving her hand a little squeeze. “Worth it.”
Leah exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down her face before grumbling, “Unbelievable,” and climbing into the driver’s seat. She immediately cringed as her own wet clothes made contact with the seat.
Alessia tried to stifle her giggle but failed. Leah shot her a side-eye.
“You owe me, Russo.”
Alessia leaned over, pressing another kiss to Leah’s cheek. “I’ll make it up to you.”
Leah sighed, shaking her head as she started the car. “You better.”
And with that, they drove off, Leah still muttering under her breath about how some people had no respect for luxury vehicles, while Alessia just sat there, smug and amused.