Through Her Eyes - Alexia Putellas

Bonus Chapter

⭐️Don't forget to read my new book, Odds Against Us - Alexia Putellas

The Stadium Australia was lit up in flashing lights, and roaring crowds as England and Spain walked out of the tunnel, in awe of the scene in front of them. Fans shouted for their favourite players, throwing flowers towards them to show their appreciation.

Valerie couldn't help but grin widely at the sight, lining up in the middle of Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze—the dark brunette nudging her friend's side, once the cameras appeared as England sang their national anthem.

In that moment, she couldn't help but think of her sister—Leah, who was currently out of the team due to her ACL injury but knew that she was watching and supporting them from a distance.

Next, Spain would sing their anthem and Valerie's focus directed onto a pair of eyes watching her closely from the bench, the pink-haired woman unable to stop the smile appearing on her face once their eyes clashed against each other's.

"Focus, Val." Lucy chastised, happy that her two friend's from Barcelona were together, but they knew that they had a game to win—and no matter what, one of them would come out victorious.

"I know." Valerie nodded, tearing her eyes away from her girlfriend, even though she didn't want to—her focus redirected on to the Spanish player's and her friends who shook her hand, sharing small smiles to show that they still appreciated one another.

Once the whistle blew, Valerie felt an overwhelming pressure when the ball fell at her feet, running forward but instantly was blocked by Salma's quick feet, stealing it and sprinting towards England's goal.

Mary acted quickly, picking up the ball and spotted Lucy out of the corner of her eye.

"Push up, girls!" Millie screamed across the pitch, the players adhering to her command as ball hall rolled up pitch and Ella Toone got onto the ball, striking it towards the Spanish goal.

The stadium waited in silence, then erupting once again when the ball hit off of the crossbar and scooped up by Cata, the Spanish goalkeeper sighing in relief.

Valerie was confident in their performance, until the twenty-ninth minute and remembered how she fell in shame when the ball passed by her feet and Olga ran onto it, entering the box and striking it into the back of the net.

Spanish supporters screamed in joy, ecstatic that their team were leading by one and the players ran across the pitch, overjoyed by the match's outcome—Olga lifted her shirt, displaying the message underneath.

"Keep your heads up, we can do this." Valerie reassured her teammates, whose faces that were once filled with smiles had fallen into sullen frowns, but the Barcelona player was determined to win the final—whether or not, it was against Alexia.

Throughout the match, England had an opportunity frequently, the ball shooting at Spain's goals on numerous counts yet it failed to hit the back of the net.

Valerie watched as Alexia was subbed on to the pitch, in the last minute—and her belief that England would win the final, was beginning to dimmer more and more. Everything that they had worked for, would be for nothing.

As the two women passed each other, Alexia grabbed hold of her hand and squeezed it three times—ensuring that the cameras didn't pick up on the gesture, as their relationship was still secret though fans had their suspicions, over the two years they had been together.

Not long after her girlfriend entered the pitch, the ball appeared in Valerie's line of vision—as if a miracle had been handed to her, it was only the Spanish goalkeeper that was keeping England from equalising, and maybe, just maybe becoming World Cup champions.