Fine Line

Make Me

It had been about a week since Alessia's conversation with Mary on the beach and it still sat with her. She knew that Mearps had been Ella's rock recently, taking her in until she found another flat of her own. But she must've misread just how devastated Ella was about everything that had happened.

She couldn't help but feel a small ounce of guilt creep in as she remembered the night she had spoken to her brother about everything. All because Ella hadn't answered her phonecall. She hadn't stopped to think that the midfielder might've not answered because she couldn't.

Alessia had assumed that Ella was doing well. Every time she spoke to her, she would always have a beaming smile, always super excited to hear about Alessias day, what she had gotten up too, who she had been with and so on. So when Ella stopped returning her calls, she assumed it was because Tooney was moving on too and it hurt. A lot.

The truth was, Alessia knew, the second she heard her brothers voice that the heartbreak would start but it didn't make it any less brutal. There were so many nights she stopped herself from ringing Tooney, now she had released the floodgates on years of feelings and emotions. She needed the time to process them and try and get over them. She thought she had, but with each passing day, her feelings were maturing away from anything platonic. Nothing had changed.

The realisation settling in when she was speaking with Mary on the beach. A flood of feelings warping her mind as she admired Ella from afar. Something she had been able to restrain since her first encounter with Ella in St.Georges just 10 days ago.

Alessia sat alone in the make-shift common room that had been set up for the staff and players. There was a comfy two seater couch, a tv, games console, dart board, radio and a bookshelf. Along with a large table with a couple of board games.

The striker needed some alone time and as much as she would usually love to be in Ella's company, she envied the cold comfort of her London flat right now.

She looked at the time, 8PM. She counted on her fingers trying to work out the time back home, it was roughly 7am. She called Gio.

"Morning!" Her brother was unusually chirpy for the time of morning it was at home.

"Hey!" Alessia smiled.

"How are you? Ready for your first start tomorrow?!"

"Great! It's been amazing, we had a really good training today, I'm buzzin' !"

"That's brilliant!" He paused. "Is there something on your mind Lessi?"

The striker got up from her place on the couch, scouting around to room to make sure she was alone before a quick look out into the corridor.

"I don't know what to do Gio"

"Ella.." he replied softly

Alessias breath hitched. She couldn't muster a reply, she bit her bottom lip holding back her emotion.

"You're strong Alessia. You can get through this, enjoy the experience"

"No I am, and I'm so grateful to be here it's just she's..."

"Lessi, we spoke about this.. Ella sees you as a friend. She has made it abundantly clear to you that she's straight."

There was a pause between them.

"Im sorry for being so blunt Less but, I don't want you getting hurt and I want you to make the most of this experience"

Ouch. The strikers head fell into her hands. That one hurt. She knew he was right but it didn't make it hurt any less.

"No I appreciate it Gio. Love you"

"I love you too!"

"I'm going to head up to bed but I'll call you later yeah?"