seven
The entire game, Alessia was drawn to Leah. Every time Leah would look up and try to find Alessia, she did. But Alessia spent the whole game frustrated with the chances Stina got that she never had.
She wasn’t entirely sure where she stood with Leah, or rather Leah stood with her. She knew she needed to explain why she went silent. She just wasn’t exactly sure when to do so. But after the little shoulder taps from Leah while walking past in the locker room at half time and the small exchanged smiles after the team photo just before the game, Alessia thought to go to Leah’s. This time, Alessia would talk with her and Leah couldn’t run away - she thought it would be a good idea.
The way Leah had kissed her so suddenly and the way it made her heart race, yet she freaked out. Afterward, everything had felt strange, like a weight had been hanging between them, a tension that neither of them knew how to address. Leah had run off, and Alessia was left with a mixture of confusion, guilt, and longing, but she had no idea how to fix it.
After taking a long shower to clear her head, she changed into comfortable clothes, hoping that a calm conversation could somehow untangle the mess of emotions she was feeling.
She drove to Leah’s apartment, knowing she had to face her. Leah had already confessed her feelings, and now Alessia had to figure out how to confess hers.
When she knocked on the door, she felt a strange mix of nerves and anticipation. It felt like she was standing on the edge of something important. But when the door opened, it wasn’t exactly what she expected.
Leah stood there, wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt.
“Alessia? What on earth are you doing here?” Leah’s eyes widened when she saw the blonde in front of her.
"Is this a good time?" She asked.
But then, she heard a voice.
"Is everything okay, babe ?" It was Gabriella, standing confidently in the doorway of Leah’s bedroom, wrapped only in a bedsheet. The smirk on her face was unmistakable, her eyes gleaming with something knowing - something far too familiar to Alessia.
Alessia froze, her emotions instantly shifting from nervous uncertainty to a storm of anger and hurt. Her heart dropped as her thoughts were rushing through her head. She could feel the blood pounding in her ears as the reality of the situation hit her. She was standing there, facing Leah, but behind her was Gabriella, whose smirk was just as malicious as it was intentional.
The mix of emotions inside Alessia swirled. She was pissed off - furious , in fact, that Leah hadn’t told her about Gabriella. Why hadn’t Leah said anything about this? Was this some game to her? Was this why Leah hadn’t reached out for days?
Alessia felt the anger boil inside her, a tight knot forming in her chest, but it was the hurt that took over, the sense of betrayal that stung the most. She had come here, ready to be honest, to finally tell Leah how she felt, and now this? The pain was palpable, like a cold weight pressing on her heart.
Her voice, though shaky, broke through the tension. "I thought…" she said, trying to steady herself. "Well, whatever I thought I was clearly wrong."
Gabriella’s smirk only deepened, clearly enjoying the situation, while Leah remained silent, her face unreadable. Alessia’s chest tightened as she fought to keep her emotions in check, but it was clear that something had shifted in the moment. The possibility of them talking, of understanding each other, seemed farther away now.
Alessia didn’t know what to do anymore, but she took one last look at Leah, who was still silent, and took a step back.
“Nice to know where I stand. Have a nice night.”
****
Leah stood there, watching Alessia’s retreating figure until she disappeared around the corner, her heart sinking with every second that passed. "Alessia, wait!" she called out, but it was too late. She was gone.
Frustration and guilt surged within Leah, her chest tightening as she cursed herself under her breath. Why did she let her walk away? Her thoughts were a chaotic mess, swirling with regret. She had come so close, and now everything felt shattered.
But before she could dwell any longer, she heard a soft laugh - sharp, condescending. It came from behind her.
Gabriella, of course.
Leah’s blood boiled at the sound. She whipped around to find Gabriella still standing in the same place, this time with shorts and a t-shirt, with the same smirk plastered across her face.
“Really? You find this funny?” Leah snapped, her voice low but laced with anger. “You think this is some kind of joke?”
Gabriella’s smile widened, and she raised an eyebrow, almost enjoying Leah’s frustration. “I mean, it’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think? You’re freaking out over her, when-”
Leah didn’t let her finish. Her patience was gone, and the anger inside her couldn’t be contained any longer. She stormed up to the brunette, grabbed her by the arm, and shoved her toward the door.
“I’m done. Get out. Don’t come here again.”
Gabriella glared at her but didn’t fight back. With a scoff, she grabbed her things and stormed out without another word, slamming the door behind her.
Leah stood there, breathing heavily, the adrenaline still pulsing through her veins. She ran her hands through her hair, trying to collect her thoughts, but nothing made sense anymore. She shouldn’t have called Gabriella after the loss, she should’ve gone home and calmed down by taking a long shower or watching a movie or just something. Anything else.
Without wasting another second, Leah grabbed the first thing she was in her closet, which was an Arsenal tracksuit, and threw it on, then snatched her car keys off the kitchen island. She had to fix this.
****
Leah drove in a daze, not even paying attention to where she was going. All that mattered was reaching Alessia. She couldn’t let the night end like this. She had to make it right.
When Leah finally arrived at Alessia’s apartment complex, she parked quickly and rushed up to the door, her hand trembling as she knocked. She waited. And waited. Nothing .
She knocked again. Still nothing. Her heart raced with every unanswered knock. She wouldn’t give up. She couldn’t.
An hour passed, and Leah refused to leave. She stood there, knocking again and again, each knock more desperate than the last. But Alessia didn’t answer. Every moment stretched on painfully as Leah’s hope began to wither.
Eventually, feeling defeated, Leah sank down onto the steps outside the apartment complex, her mind in turmoil. She couldn’t understand why Alessia wouldn’t answer, why things had to be so complicated. Her thoughts kept running back to the kiss, to everything that had happened between them, and how she had screwed it all up.
She didn’t know how long she sat there, but eventually, she saw Alessia coming around the corner, her head down, her steps slow and heavy. She had been on a drive to clear her head, Leah could tell. The tear stains on her cheeks were enough evidence.
Leah’s breath caught in her throat when she saw Alessia. She stood up quickly, trying to steady herself. Alessia’s eyes met hers, but the moment was brief. Alessia kept walking, not even sparing Leah a second glance.
“Alessia, wait,” Leah called out, her voice wavering.
Alessia kept walking, ignoring her.
“Please,” Leah begged, her voice cracking. “Alessia, I’m so sorry. I know I messed up.”
Alessia stopped in her tracks, her back still to Leah. But she didn’t move away. Leah felt a tiny sliver of hope spark in her chest.
“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen,” Leah continued, stepping closer, her voice raw with emotion. “I care about you, Less. I care about you more than you know. I never wanted to hurt you. I just... I just didn’t know how to tell you. I was scared of what it all meant, and I messed everything up by pushing you away. And then I did something that wasn't fair on both of us in the car park and it felt like I had just tarnished our friendship.”
Leah’s hands trembled, but she didn’t stop. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to lose you, and now I feel like I’ve already lost you. Please... I know I can’t take back what just happened, but I can promise you that I’ll do everything I can to make things right. If you’ll just let me.”
The silence that followed felt like an eternity. Leah felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, afraid to fall, afraid to face the consequences of her actions.
But finally, Alessia turned around, her blue eyes swollen from crying, her face a mixture of pain and confusion. Her voice was soft, almost a whisper. “You mean that?”
Leah nodded, her heart in her throat. “I do. I really do.”
Alessia didn’t say anything for a long moment. She just stood there, her tear-streaked face unreadable. But then, she took a deep breath, her shoulders trembling slightly. “I don’t know where we go from here, Leah. But I think we need to start by talking. And I mean really talk. No more hiding things.”
Leah’s heart swelled with relief. She nodded again, a tear slipping down her cheek as she whispered, “I’ll be here, whenever you’re ready.”
“Go home, It’s late. I’ll call you tomorrow.”