Summary: While Katie is away on national team business, you keep coming across fan edits of Katie and her ex-girlfriend. What will happen when your overthinking gets the best of you?
Warnings: Angst (with a happy ending), and overthinking.
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You were laying on the couch of your shared home with Katie, scrolling through your TikTok for you page. It was no surprise to you that a third of the videos on your for you page were fan edits of your girlfriend, you loved watching the edits over and over again, liking them, and saving them to your favourites folder. However, the video you were watching now had you frowning at your screen. It was an edit of Katie looking at Ruesha during training, on its own you wouldn't have thought anything of it, but when more and more of Katie and Ruesha edits followed you started to really analyse the videos.
Overthinking every little interaction you saw between them on your phone, all the rumours pouring into the comment sections, and seeing the pictures of Ruesha walking one of Katie's nephews onto the pitch was enough for you to pack a bag and head over to your sister's.
It was late, and you hoped that you weren't waking your sister up. When you heard footsteps coming your way, you quickly wiped the tears from your face. Leah opened the door, and immediately noticed your puffy eyes, tear stained cheeks, and the empty look behind your eyes. "What's wrong?" She says as she pulls you into her home, and into a hug. You cried into her arms for a good five minutes before you spoke. "Can I stay here for a while?" Leah wipes the tears of your cheeks, "Of course, you're always welcome to stay here. Do you want to talk about what's going on?" You shake your head, "I just needed to get away from home for a bit." Leah knew better than to push you to talk, so she watched you disappear into the guestroom.
Usually when Katie came back home, you were waiting for her in the living room, eager to be in her arms again but today the house was quiet. She looked around the house until she found a note on the counter. I'm staying at Leah's for a bit. Katie rushes back to her car, and drives over to Leah's, something was wrong. If everything was good, you would've texted her saying that you were staying at your sister's.
When Katie arrives she quickly parks her car and rushes to the door, knocking on it continuously until Leah opens the door. "Y/n said she's staying with you, is she okay?" Katie asks worriedly. "I don't know what you did, McCabe, but you better fix this." Leah looked at her teammate sternly, before letting Katie in. "Leah, come on. Please tell me what's going on. I've been away with the team for two weeks, I have no clue what happened." Leah sends her teammate an sympathetic look, "She's been in the guest room the whole week, only getting out to get to work, and for necessities. She doesn't want to talk to me, so you'll have to talk to her." It was true, Leah had no idea what was going on. You had just showed up at her house and she took you in, no questions asked. Though, she hated not being able to help you.
You had heard Katie's voice and knew she would be knocking on your door any moment now. So, when you heard footsteps walking your way, you stood up and opened the door before she could knock. Katie takes you in with a worried look, "What's going on, darling?" She asks, reaching out to pull you into a hug but before she can, you step back. Her arms dropped to her side in defeat, it started fully settling in that whatever was going on was definitely because of her. You walk to the bed and sit down, motioning for Katie to do the same.
In your head the relationship was over and Katie was going to get back together with her ex-girlfriend, so you thought it was best to just get it over with. "I can pack the rest of my stuff, and see if I can stay with Leah until I find a place of my own." Katie's brows furrow, "Wait, you want to break up with me?" You shake your head, "It's the last thing I want but you clearly have other plans, so-" Katie stops you before you can finish your sentence. "Can we please backtrack a bit? What do you mean I have other plans? I don't want us to break up." You get up and start pacing the room. "You can't have both, Katie."
Katie is more confused now than when she entered the room. "Both what?" she says trying to stay calm in order to not make whatever was going on worse. "Me and Ruesha, it's me or her, Katie." Katie is taken back by your words, Ruesha? What does she have to do with this? "There is no me and Ruesha, baby, there's only me and you. Can you please tell me what's going on?" Her words manage to get you to stop pacing the room, as you slump back down on the bed. "No Ruesha?" You ask hopefully. "No Ruesha. I mean other than that she's my teammate and friend, as you know." For the first time tonight you meet Katie's eyes. "You promise?" Katie nods, "I promise." She tries reaching out her hand again slowly. The moment her hand touches your shoulder and you don't pull back, she pulls you into a tight hug. You start crying into her chest, in response Katie keeps holding you tight as she moves her hand over your back in a soothing motion.
Once you've calmed down a bit, Katie wipes the tears off of your face, "What made you think I wanted to get back together with Ruesha?" You tell her about all the edits and comments you saw. "Oh, baby, I'm so sorry. I had no idea they were making those edits, let alone that you were seeing them. Again, I promise that there is nothing going on between me and her, we're just on the same team, that's all." You lean into her again. "I know, and I trust you. It was just a lot seeing so much of it. I'm sorry for being in my own head about it, instead of talking to you about it." Katie shakes her head. "It's okay. I'm sorry I wasn't here to show you it wasn't real." You sit together in silence for a while longer before Katie speaks up again, "You know, I have an idea on how to stop them from speculating but that's only if you're ready to have the public know about us too." Originally the two of you had kept your relationship out of the public eye, after Katie's experience with the backlash of the media after her breakup with Ruesha, she had said to want more privacy with you, especially because you weren't used to the media. "I am ready. Are you though? I don't want you to do something you're not ready for." Katie smiled, "Don't worry about me. I want to be able to show you off, and we'll deal with the public's response together, alright?" You nodded before Katie told you her plan.
After packing your suitcase back up, you walked out of the guestroom with your arm around Katie's waist, and her arm hanging around your shoulder. "I'm taking this one home again, thank you for being there for her." Katie tells Leah. Your sister looks at you, "Are you okay?" You nod, "Yes I am, I was just overthinking everything. I'll tell you about it later." You let go of Katie to hug your sister. "Thank you for everything."
Katie drives you home, deciding you would pick up your own car later, not wanting to leave your girlfriend's side at the moment. She grabs your bags from the trunk and carries them inside, placing them next to her own. The rest of the day you spend cuddled up together on the couch, some much needed down time together.
After your conversation with Katie back at your sister's place, you find yourself in the family and friends box at Windsor Park during Katie's match against Northern Ireland. You cheered on the team, repping one of Katie's old jerseys. The team was playing great, Katie was on the ball often, and helped in creating many chances for her team. Even scoring a goal of her own, during her celebration she locked eyes with you, smiling your way before her teammates flew at her from all angles.
The final whistle blew and the team won with a 1-6 score, you were so proud of Katie when they announced that she was voted player of the match. Katie heard the announcement over the intercom herself and jogged over to you, knowing that the camera's would be focussed on her for her reaction. She climbs into the stands, and stops in front of you. She smiles widely before kissing you. Both the crowd and her teammates cheer loudly, at the footage that was displayed on the big screen. "I love you." She says when she pulls back. "I love you too." You say with a big smile of your own. "Go get your trophy, I'll meet you after."
Back home she heads to her Instagram, posting about the win, receiving the player of the match award, and the picture of her kissing you in the stands. With the caption 6 wins from 6 games!! What a performance from the team so proud of everyone players, staff & thank you to the fans for all the support. Plus a special thank you to a special person, thank you for everything, your support means the world to me.
