How I Sapphire Young fell in love with Alessia Russo

Chapter 20

Sapphire's POV:

As me, Ella and Alessia entered the lounge at Sarina's party, I was immediately greeted by a group of familiar faces, members of the Lionesses, England's national women's football team. Among them stood Leah Williamson, the team captain, with a friendly smile that put me at ease.

"Sapphire, right?" Leah asked, extending her hand in greeting. "We've heard a lot about you from Grace. Mind if we ask you a few questions to get to know you better?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness at the prospect of being put on the spot by a group of strangers. But Leah's warmth and sincerity made it hard to refuse, so I settled into a chair, ready to face whatever questions they threw my way.

"Alright, let's start with an easy one," Leah began. "What's your favourite football memory?"

I paused for a moment, recalling the countless moments of triumph and defeat that had shaped my career thus far. "I'd have to say scoring my first goal for my hometown team," I replied with a smile. "It was a dream come true to represent my community on the pitch."

The questions came fast and furious after that, each one more challenging than the last. From my biggest inspiration in football to my favourite pre-match ritual, the Lionesses left no stone unturned as they sought to uncover the layers of my personality.

"What's the most challenging aspect of being a professional footballer?" one of them asked.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, reflecting on the highs and lows of life in the spotlight. "I think the constant pressure to perform can be tough," I admitted. "But it's also what drives me to keep pushing myself to be the best I can be."

As the conversation flowed at Sarina's party, I found myself unexpectedly confronted with a question that struck a chord deep within me. It was Leah again, her voice gentle yet probing as she broached a topic that I had long buried in the recesses of my mind.

"Sapphire," she began, her tone soft with empathy, "I hope you don't mind me asking, but you've mentioned your dad before, but what about your mum? What was she like?"

For a moment, the room seemed to fall silent, the weight of Leah's question hanging heavy in the air. Memories of my mum flooded my mind, bittersweet and tinged with sadness. She had passed away when I was young, leaving behind a void that could never be filled.

"My mum..." I started, my voice catching in my throat as I struggled to find the right words. "She was... complicated. She never really understood my love for football, never supported me the way my dad did. She never came to any of my games, never cheered me on from the sidelines like other parents."

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unresolved emotions. Despite the passage of time, the pain of her absence still lingered, a constant reminder of what could have been.

"But despite all that," I continued, my voice steadier now, "I like to think that she would have been proud of me. Proud of the player I've become, proud of the person I am today. And maybe, just maybe, she's watching over me from somewhere, smiling down on me as I chase my dreams."

Leah nodded, her expression one of understanding and compassion. In that moment, I felt a sense of release, as though I had finally been able to share a piece of myself that I had kept hidden for so long.

As the game of questions unfolded at Sarina's party, the spotlight turned to me, and I found myself faced with a question that sent a ripple of excitement through the room. "If you could date anyone from the Lionesses team, who would it be?"

I paused for a moment, considering my response carefully. The truth was, there was only one person who had captured my heart – Grace. But as I spoke her name, a mischievous glint danced in my eyes, and I couldn't resist a playful wink in Alessia's direction.

The reaction was immediate. Alessia's cheeks flushed with a delicate blush, her gaze darting away momentarily as she tried to conceal her embarrassment. It was a subtle gesture, but one that spoke volumes about the unspoken connection between us.

Before anyone could react, Ella, always quick to seize an opportunity for fun, chimed in with a suggestion. "Let's play truth or dare! Sapphire, you won't have to wink at Alessia to show that you were going to say her instead of Grace."

The room erupted into laughter at Ella's playful remark, but amidst the teasing and banter, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Alessia. Her blush had deepened, her eyes shining with a mixture of amusement and affection that warmed my heart.

In that moment, as the party continued around us, I felt a sense of closeness and connection with Alessia that transcended words. And as our eyes met, a silent understanding passed between us, a reminder of the bond that had always existed between us, waiting to be rediscovered.

As the game of truth or dare circled back around to me, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement mixed with a hint of apprehension. With a playful grin, I opted for truth, knowing full well that it could lead to some interesting revelations.

Ella, always one to stir the pot, wasted no time in seizing the opportunity. "Alright, Sapphire," she began, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Why would you date Alessia?"

The question hung in the air for a moment, the room filled with anticipation as all eyes turned to me. But instead of hesitating, I met Ella's gaze head-on, a smirk playing at the corners of my lips.

"Because of her ocean eyes," I replied, my voice low but laced with undeniable sincerity. "She's fit and good-looking, and let's face it, I wouldn't mind having her in my bed."

The words elicited a collective gasp from the gathered guests, followed by a chorus of laughter and cheers. But it was Alessia's reaction that caught my attention, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of crimson as she averted her gaze, unable to hide the blush that spread across her features.

With a mischievous twinkle in my eye, I sent Alessia a wink, a silent acknowledgment of the playful banter that had become a hallmark of our friendship. And as her gaze met mine once again, a shy smile tugged at the corners of her lips, a silent confession of the unspoken bond that had always lingered between us.