It was early winter and Arsenal were preparing for an intense match against Chelsea, but in the midst of their preparations, Alessia Russo was struggling to keep her focus. Her mind kept wandering, not to the game, not to tactics or positioning, but to the person who had unknowingly managed to occupy her every thought since the first time they’d shared a locker room together.
Leah Williamson.
Alessia watched Leah, her England captain, as she moved around the pitch during warm-ups. Leah was focused, as always. The way she led, commanding the respect of her teammates with a quiet authority, was one of the many things that made her so captivating. There was a calmness to her that Alessia found both comforting and exciting.
“Oi, Russo, you okay?” Beth Mead’s voice broke through her thoughts.
Alessia snapped her gaze away from Leah and tried to hide her blush behind a smirk. “Yeah, just... thinking about the game.”
Beth raised an eyebrow, not buying it for a second. “Uh-huh. You sure it’s not because you’ve been staring at her ass for the last ten minutes?”
Alessia laughed, a bit too nervously. “I was not staring at anything.”
Beth smirked. “Whatever you say, Lessi.”
The teasing was familiar. Beth had a way of keeping things light, even when the tension on the pitch was thick. But Alessia couldn’t shake the feeling that Beth knew more than she let on.
Leah, who had been listening in from the other side of the training ground with a small group of teammates, caught the exchange and turned toward them with a knowing look. There was a teasing smile on her lips as she approached, hands tucked into the pockets of her training jacket.
“Beth, are you giving Alessia a hard time again?” Leah asked, her tone casual but with a warmth that made Alessia’s heart skip.
Beth threw up her hands in mock surrender. “I’m just making sure she stays focused, that’s all. You know how it is.”
Leah gave a soft chuckle, and Alessia’s stomach did a flip. She hated how obvious she was being, but at the same time, she couldn’t stop it.
As the session went on, Alessia couldn’t help but steal glances at Leah whenever she could. Their dynamic on the pitch was flawless. Leah, the calm and composed one, and Alessia, the skillful and determined one. But off the pitch, things were... different. Alessia could feel something building between them. It was evident, but neither of them had said anything, not directly. Alessia felt it, she didn’t know if Leah did. She had no idea if she read it all wrong, and if she did, she wouldn’t know what to do with the embarrassment.
****
After travelling from North to South, the team gathered in the locker room, their moods different to how they first started the season. The air was filled with excitement for the match. The energy was high, and despite the tension building in Alessia’s chest, she couldn’t ignore the conversations between her teammates that were happening.
Caitlin Foord was sitting at the locker next to hers, tying her boots, while Emily Fox chatted with Lotte about something to do with defending - she wasn’t entirely sure. Laia and Vic Pelova were discussing going for lunch sometime next week, and Kyra was complaining about how much time she had to spend in front of the cameras for the media.
But Alessia’s attention was on Leah, who was talking quietly with Lia Wälti near the far end of the room. There was a quiet intimacy in the way they spoke - not romantic, but close. Very close. Alessia felt an urge. She had always admired Leah, her calm presence, the way she played, even when she was in Manchester, but she never realized just how much she admired her in other ways too.
“Oi, are you going to stare at her all day or are you going to get changed?” Beth asked, suddenly appearing beside her, grinning mischievously.
Alessia rolled her eyes. “Shut up, Beth.”
Beth didn’t relent. “I mean, seriously. You two are like the worst-kept secret on the team.”
Alessia frowned, pulling on her jersey. “What do you mean?”
“Come on,” Beth said, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. “We all see it. You’re not as subtle as you think.”
Alessia felt her cheeks flush. “I’m not-”
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell anyone,” Beth said, leaning closer, her tone softening. “I think it’s kinda sweet, to be honest. But just... don’t let it mess with you and your game, alright?”
Alessia nodded, confused and unsure of what to say. She wasn’t ready to have this conversation. Not now, not ever. Not with Beth, not with anyone.
The game against Chelsea was intense, as expected. But even as Alessia was giving her all on the pitch, her thoughts kept drifting back to Leah. She could feel her presence behind her, guiding the defense, organizing the midfield, her voice always there, always steady, always calm.
When the final whistle blew, signaling Arsenal’s hard-fought 3-1 victory, the team erupted in celebration. Alessia found herself laughing, her adrenaline still pumping, but there was a certain heaviness in her chest. A familiar weight that wouldn’t budge.
As they filed into the locker room, the excitement of the win faded into the familiar routine. Everyone was buzzing, talking over each other, but Alessia couldn’t help but notice Leah again. She was walking toward her, her face flushed from all the effort that she had put into her performance, with a look of pride in her eyes.
“You played great out there,” Leah said, offering her a small smile.
Alessia felt a rush of warmth in her chest at the compliment. “Thanks. You were... amazing, as always.”
There was a pause, just a fraction of a second, where their eyes met. And for that moment, it felt like the world slowed down.
Then, as if on cue, Beth popped up behind them, arms slung around both of their shoulders. “Hey, come on, you two,” she teased. “Victory photo time. Don’t make it weird.”
The tension broke, and they both laughed. But as they joined the rest of the team for the photo, Alessia caught Leah’s eye again. This time, Leah didn’t look away. She gave her a small, knowing smile.
It was enough.
After the photo was taken and the locker room began to quiet down, Leah lingered near the door. Alessia, still in her kit, hesitated before making her way over to her.
“You alright?” Leah asked quietly, glancing at her with that same, steady gaze.
“Yeah,” Alessia said, her voice soft. “Just... wanted to say thanks. For being such a good teammate. And, uh, for just... being you I guess.”
Leah smiled, a real, genuine smile, and Alessia’s heart skipped again. “No problem. That’s what I’m here for.”
There was a long pause, neither of them saying anything. And then, almost too quietly to hear, Leah added, “If you ever want to grab a coffee sometime… or go for dinner.”
Alessia’s heart nearly stopped. She looked at Leah, her face unreadable, but her blue eyes sparkling. “Yeah,” she whispered. “I’d like that.”
It wasn’t much. But it was a start. And Alessia was certain, as they both stood there in the quiet of the locker room, that it was only a matter of time before the rest of their teammates, even Beth, would be right about one thing. Some secrets were just too obvious to keep.
And maybe that was okay.
****
The following months saw Arsenal’s momentum continue as they kept improving in the league and progressed to the Champions League semi final. But for Alessia, the thing that exhausted her the most wasn’t all of their matches every three days, instead it was her quiet but undeniable feelings for Leah.
In between the matches, training, and England camps, there were some moments. A smile across the pitch at the end of a drill. Brief, soft touches when they passed each other in the locker room. The way Leah would always check in with her after a hard session, as if somehow sensing when Alessia was pushing herself too much.
Alessia had never felt more alive on the pitch, and it wasn’t just because of her goals, assists, or the team’s wins. It was because she felt Leah’s presence even more. That calm, grounding influence that was always there, just a few steps behind, always looking out for her.
One afternoon, after a particularly draining training session, Leah found Alessia leaning against a goal post, trying to catch her breath.
“You alright?” Leah’s voice was soft but full of concern.
Alessia turned to face her, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just... tired. You know how it is.”
Leah raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been pushing yourself hard lately.”
Alessia nodded. “Guess I’ve been trying to keep up with you.”
Leah’s eyes softened. “You don’t have to try so hard to impress me, Alessia.”
The words hung between them, heavy and lingering. Leah took a step closer, her voice lowering. “I see you. More than you think.”
Alessia swallowed hard.
Before she could respond, there was a loud call from across the pitch. It was Beth again, always able to disrupt.
“Oi, don’t leave us hanging, Leah!” she called out, walking toward them with a mischievous grin.
Leah shot a look at Alessia, a glint of something unspoken in her eyes. “Guess that’s my cue,” she said with a wink before turning to walk away, but not without giving Alessia a soft, lingering glance.
Alessia’s heart raced, a mix of excitement and dread settling into her chest. It was clear now. Leah was offering her something more than just friendship.
And as Alessia watched her fellow blonde walk away, she knew this was only the beginning of something.
****
The days following the quiet conversation with Leah were a mix of joy and confusion for Alessia. Leah hadn’t directly said anything, but that look, that soft moment between them - it lingered in her mind. And when they’d shared a smile after training the next day, it was different. It wasn’t just friendly.
As the weeks flew by, the Lionesses’ preparations for the upcoming Euro’s became more intense. Yet, amid all the training and the constant travelling up and down the country and abroad, Alessia found herself looking for Leah - searching for her in the locker room, on the pitch, in the crowded team buses on the way to away games. It was like Leah was a magnet, and the pull toward her only seemed to grow stronger.
On Thursday afternoon, the team gathered for their usual meeting before the last game of the season. And that happened to be the Champions league final. Somehow they had made it, and they were only one game away from winning, but they had Barcelona to compete against. And that was going to be the hardest game yet.
Renée Slegers was standing at the front of the room outlining their plans for a high-press game against the Spanish giants. Leah sat beside Alessia, and every now and then, their eyes would meet, and though neither of them said a word, it was as if their connection had been drawn even tighter in that silence.
"Alessia, Caitlin" Renée suddenly called, breaking Alessia’s train of thought, "I need you both to make sure we stay compact when we press. I’m counting on you to lead that charge. You’ll be the ones setting the tone for the rest of the team."
Alessia gave a quick nod and her stomach fluttered slightly when Leah’s gaze met hers, but she quickly swallowed her nerves. "Got it," Caitlin said firmly.
Alessia followed up with a more playful "Of course," earning a smile from the blonde next to her. After the meeting, as the players began to file out, Beth crept up to Alessia, a knowing grin plastered on her face.
“Feeling the pressure?” Beth asked with an exaggerated eyebrow raise.
Alessia rolled her eyes, trying to brush it off, but she couldn’t hide the red tinge to her cheeks. “Shut up, Beth,” she muttered.
Beth snickered. “You’re so obvious, you know that? I’m surprised you haven’t been busted by the rest of the team. Although, Wally and Kim have a pretty good idea.”
“Wait, what?” Alessia’s voice squeaked as she turned to Beth, eyes wide with disbelief.
Beth raised her hands innocently. “Relax. Everyone sees it, Lessi. Just... don’t make things awkward, alright? The team doesn’t need that right now”
Before Alessia could respond, Beth was already walking off, her laughter echoing down the hallway as Steph had just told a joke.
Alessia leaned against the wall, trying to calm her nerves. Could Beth really be right? Did the others notice? And what about Leah? She was so focused and carried the weight of the team on her shoulders. Could someone like Leah really feel the same? Alessia knew that Leah could choose anyone. Why her?
****
The night before the final, the team gathered in the hotel lobby in Lisbon for their usual pre-game meal. The excitement was palpable, and the energy in the air was almost contagious. But for Alessia, it was a struggle to focus on anything except the seat across the table, where Leah was sitting.
Lia Wälti, probably the most observant one, noticed Alessia’s gaze and nudged her with a sly grin. “You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you?”
Alessia flushed. “Li, please-”
“Oh come on,” Lia interrupted with a teasing glint in her eye, “Don’t pretend you’re not. We all saw how you two looked at each other last week during training. It’s so obvious."
Alessia quickly looked around, but the rest of the table was too busy chatting to notice. She leaned in closer to Lia, trying to keep her voice low. “I don’t know what you mean. It’s just... a little complicated.”
Lia laughed softly, a knowing smile curling on her lips. “Don’t worry, Less. No one expects you to figure it out right away. Just don’t make her wait too long, yeah?”
Alessia didn’t know what to say. Her heart pounded. What if Lia was right?
The next morning, before the match, Alessia could barely focus. She felt so anxious that she felt like she was going to physically be sick. She would even say that this game that she was about to play was more nerve wracking than the Euro 2022 final three years ago. As she dressed and tied the laces on her boots, she stole a final glance toward Leah, who was slipping her shin guards in her socks a few feet away. Their eyes met for just a second, and this time, Alessia felt like it was no longer a question of "if" there was something between them. It was now a matter of when.
The match against Barcelona was everything that they expected it to be. Fast, intense, and competitive. Alessia gave Arsenal the lead after scoring an early goal and then doubled it after scoring from Katie’s corner minutes later. She couldn’t believe this was actually real life.
In the final minutes of the match, Arsenal were holding a tight 2-1 lead, after Barcelona managed to get a goal back early into the second half. Leah found herself dribbling the ball into space, eyes looking up to see who was in position. She spotted Alessia near the edge of the box, and with a precise pass, she sent the ball up toward her teammate.
Alessia took a step back, allowing the ball to come down into her path, and deciding to waste as much time as she could, she took the ball to the corner flag.
Moments later, the referee had blown her whistle. Arsenal had just won their second Champions league title..
The team went crazy. Alessia found herself running towards the closest teammates, her chest heaving with the rush of victory and adrenaline. But there was more to it than just the win. She ran across and reached Leah, pulling her into a tight hug.
“We actually won,” Alessia said softly, her breath warm against Leah’s ear.
Leah grinned, pulling back just slightly to look at her. “Thanks to you!”
Without thinking, Alessia stepped closer, the noise of the crowd fading around them. Leah didn’t move away. Instead, she looked at Alessia, a quiet smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Leah..." Alessia began, her voice barely above a whisper.
Leah’s eyes softened. “I know."
Leah reached out, gently brushing her fingers against Alessia’s hand.
Leah looked around quickly to make sure no one was paying attention. Then, with a mischievous smile, she leaned in closer, her voice barely audible, “How about that dinner? The one we talked about a few months back?”
Alessia’s heart skipped a beat. “Yeah. I think I’d like that."
****
The first match of the Euro’s in Switzerland was around the corner. The team was more focused than ever, and for England, this wasn’t just any other competition - it was their chance to prove that they were still the best in Europe.
And when game day arrived, the England locker room piled up with nervous energy. The team was focused, locked in, and ready to go out and win. Leah stood in the center, calmly adjusting her captain's armband as her teammates finished preparing.
“Alright, ladies, you know what we’ve come here to do,” Leah said, her voice strong and clear. “We’ve trained for this moment. We’ve been through a lot together, and now we start this competition with our best performance. Play for each other, and we leave it all on the pitch.”
Alessia, who was beside her, exchanged a quiet smile with Leah, who winked back. For a split second, the nerves were gone. They were in this together. They had grown even closer since that moment in Lisbon and their chemistry on the field kept improving.
The match kicked off, both teams showing what they were made of. France were quick and dangerous, with players like Katoto and Cascarino constantly looking to break down England's defense. But Leah, as always, was solid at the back. The way she read the game, positioning herself like a wall alongside Alex greenwood, made her a rock that France could not break through.
Alessia was as sharp as ever up front, with Lauren to her left and Beth to her right. France’s defense was under pressure from the start, with the trio pulling defenders out of position and finding pockets of space. But despite all the opportunities, neither team could find the breakthrough in the first half.
In the 65th minute, after a saved shot from Georgia Stanway, England were awarded a corner kick. Beth stood at the corner waiting for the whistle, and Leah was already lining up for her jump.
The ball flew in towards the edge of the box. Alessia, timing her run perfectly, rose above the French defenders, meeting the ball with a powerful header. The ball landed in the middle of the penalty box and Leah was there to tap it past the French goalkeeper into the bottom corner of the net.
1-0. England.
The roar from the England fans in the stands was deafening, but the moment between Alessia and Leah felt like everything had frozen. Leah had scored and Alessia was the one who had helped make it happen. The way Leah celebrated, running toward her with her arms wide, only made it clear. It was more than just a goal.
Leah slid into Alessia’s arms, the two of them crashing into each other with a mix of exhilaration and relief. "That's how we do it," Leah grinned, her eyes sparkling with joy.
Alessia chuckled, breathless from the intensity of the moment. "You had that one in the bag, didn’t you?"
Leah pulled back just enough to wink at her, her voice low. “Of course. You know I’m always on the lookout for those chances.”
And as the final whistle blew, Alessia smiled. A perfect start to the tournament.
****
They beat the Netherlands 4-2, with goals from Alessia, Lauren Hemp and two from Lauren James. It made their job of progressing a lot easier as they only had Wales left. And only a few days later, it was confirmed that they would qualify for the knockout rounds. A 0-0 draw had done it.
Meeting Sweden in the quarter final sounded difficult on paper. But on the pitch it wasn’t as hard as it seemed. Just like the last time they met in this competition, they put four past them. Two goals from Georgia and two goals from Alessia.
Next up was the semi final. And when they found out who they’d be playing against the team all started to feel the pressure. Germany was tough to play against. They had managed to beat them to win this competition a few years back, but since then it wasn’t that easy to compete against them. But thanks to a last minute goal from substitute Grace Clinton, they booked a place in the final.
****
The night before the final, the team gathered for their final pre-match meal in the team hotel in Basel. The mood was tense, but they were all hungry for it.
Alessia sat next to Leah at the dinner table, though they hadn’t spoken much all evening. The team was discussing the match against Spain in hushed tones, analyzing the way their opponents would set up and how they could break them down. But Alessia, once again, found her thoughts drifting to Leah. She couldn’t help it.
A gentle hand brushed against her own, the smallest touch that sent a shiver down Alessia’s spine. Leah kept her attention on the conversation around them, but her touch had been deliberate, and it hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“Don’t get distracted,” Beth whispered from across the table, a teasing glint in her eye. “We still have a final to win tomorrow, you know.”
Alessia felt her cheeks warm but shrugged it off, trying to keep her composure. “I’m not distracted,” she replied, though she wasn’t sure if she was lying to Beth, or to herself.
As dinner ended and the team headed back to their rooms, Leah and Alessia found themselves alone for a moment in the hallway. The noise of the team’s chatter faded behind them as Leah walked a few paces ahead, clearly lost in thought.
“You ready for tomorrow?” Alessia asked, stepping up beside her.
Leah turned to her, offering a small smile. “Of course. But you... how are you holding up?”
Alessia blinked, slightly thrown off by the question. Leah’s gaze was steady, sincere. It was clear she cared, beyond the match, beyond the pressure of the final.
“Honestly?” Alessia said, her voice soft. “I’m really nervous. Not about the match. I can do that. But... I don’t want to let anyone down. I don’t want to let you or the team down.”
Leah’s expression shifted, her lips curling into a reassuring smile. “You won’t. We’re a team and we’re all in this together.”
The words were comforting, but it was the look Leah gave her afterward that lingered. But before Alessia could say anything else, Leah closed the small gap between them, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.
“I know how much pressure you’re under, Less,” Leah murmured. “And I know how much this means to you. But remember that you're not alone in this. Not now. Not ever.”
Alessia felt a lump form in her throat. They were inches apart.
Leah’s voice was barely above a whisper. “When this is all over, win or lose, we’ll have time. Time to figure everything out.”
Alessia’s breath caught in her chest. “Yeah,” she said, her voice shaking slightly, “That would be good.”
And then Leah pulled back with a soft chuckle. “Good. Now, let’s go get some rest. Big day tomorrow.”
****
The morning of the final arrived and surprisingly the team was calm. At the stadium, the atmosphere was electric. Inside the dressing room, there was only focus. The team had been here before, they knew what they needed to do.
Leah stood in the middle of the team’s huddle, addressing her teammates with the confidence and calm that made her such an incredible captain. "We’ve worked for this. We’ve earned this," she said, her voice steady but full of belief. "We don’t need to play for the trophy. We need to play for each other. Play like you know how, and we’ll leave here with what we came for."
The final whistle blew, and the game began.
It was a physical, tactical battle. Spain came out strong, but England held their ground, with Leah orchestrating from the back and Alessia making dangerous runs forward. Alessia had a couple of near-misses in the first half, her efforts denied by Spain’s goalkeeper, but she never gave up. The minutes ticked by. Then, in the 87th minute, it happened.
Beth Mead delivered a perfect cross into the box, curling the ball just outside the reach of the Spanish defense. Alessia, reading the play perfectly, made a decisive run into the empty space, leaping high into the air. The ball met her head just as she collided with the defender, sending it past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
England had taken the lead.
The final minutes were a blur of pressure, with Spain pushing harder for an equalizer, but the Lionesses stood strong. And when the final whistle blew, Leah dropped to the ground. The team hugged, cried, and laughed, their hard work paying off in the most rewarding way.
Leah soon found Alessia, a grin spreading across her face. “We did it,” she said breathlessly, before pulling her into a tight hug.
Alessia laughed, the weight of the moment overwhelming her. “We did it,” she echoed, feeling the tears well up.
It was then that Leah pulled back slightly, her hands on Alessia’s shoulders. There were no more words.
Alessia leaned in, their lips meeting in a kiss that felt like it had been waiting for the right time, the right moment. In that instant, everything else faded away. They didn’t care that the cameras would be on them, they didn’t care about the reporters watching them.
****
Later that evening, as the celebrations raged on and the team celebrated their victory even more, Leah leaned over to Alessia with a smile that was pure mischief. “So,” she said softly, “What do we do now?”
Alessia laughed. “I think... we figure it out together.”