Fine Line

My Village

Alessia didn't know how to describe what had happened between her and Ella on Sunday. Was Ella going to kiss her? She hadn't tried to do it since.

If anything, Ella hadn't really been in Alessia's space. It hadn't been awkward but it had reignited that feeling she had as a 16 year old. She couldn't stop thinking about it.

She was reluctant to speak to Gio, although her brother was unbelievably supportive, he couldn't see what Alessia could. She didn't think that Ella's actions were still platonic. She needed someone who she could trust. Someone who knew Ella well too.

She scanned the group as they trained.
Stanway? Definitely not. Too unserious. Roebuck? Again. Would probably laugh thinking Alessia was on the wind up.

Mary? Her eyes resting on the goalkeeper as she pondered. Mary knew both Alessia and Ella really well, and the blonde was 99% sure Mary knew that Alessia had feelings for the brunette. But after their disagreement over Alessia leaving, it probably wasn't the best idea.

The striker and goalkeeper had got on as normal since their conversation. But it stuck with Alessia, it wasn't something she would forget. She could be stubborn in that manner.

Then it dawned on her. How could she be so dim?

Lotte.

The defender already knew about Alessia having a crush when she was younger and since then she and Lotte had lived with one another. They knew each other inside out. It was time for Alessia to broach the awkward conversation she was going to have with Lotte the week before in the common room.

As the team retreated to the changing rooms, Alessia walked up behind Lotte, raising her arm around her shoulder and slowing the defenders pace.

"can we talk?" Alessia's serious but quiet tone told Lotte all she needed to know.

"Of course" she reached her arm around Alessia's back.

"I find myself in a bit of an awkward position" Alessia started still speaking just loud enough for Lotte to hear through strained ears.

"What's up?" The defender looked up, a concerned frown on her brow.

"Can you remember before America, how I had a little crush on Ella?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it never really went away" Alessia scrunched her face expecting a reaction from Lotte but there wasn't one.

"Ok"

"You're not surprised?"

"Well no Less" Lotte giggled. "You were smitten even when we were in North Carolina"

"Oh is it that obvious" Alessia cringed.

"No!" Lotte hurried to comfort her "it's only because you've told me I've noticed."

Alessia sighed in relief as they continued their stroll.

"Has something happened between you? Is that what you were speaking to Gio about?" Lotte prodded.

"No, nothings happened. Well, it has and it hasn't all at once. I've tried explaining to Gio but he can't see what I'm seeing, Ella's different" Lotte could sense the frustration in her voice.

"Okay tell me everything. We'll talk it through"

Lotte really was Alessia's village. As they walked, the striker gave her a breakdown of everything that had happened over the past 2 months, since that night out in Manchester.

"Lessi, you could've come to me about this before" the defender raised her brow sympathetically. Trying to wrap her mind around how the blonde has functioned with so much emotional turmoil since the age of 16.

"I was too scared" The striker shrugged, they slowed their stroll even more as they approached the changing room.

"Okay, I think, the first thing you need to do is speak to Ella about how she was when you left." Lotte started her solution.

"But I'm scared of telling her-

"- you won't need to tell her about your feelings, Lessi. You're asking her about hers. See if she opens up. It'll give you peace of mind too... because out of everything you've told me, that's one thing you didn't include much detail on. That tells me you feel guilty about it"

Alessia stopped her stroll, smiling at the ground.

"You really do know me" she chuckled.

"I guess I really do" Lotte shrugged back smiling.

"Okay. I'll talk to her. Maybe after we beat Denmark hey?" She winked playfully reaching for the changing room door.

"Yes!! I like that talk Alessia" Lotte followed behind, placing her hands on Alessia's shoulders and giving them a playful shake.