who is...she?

nine

ALEXIA POV

The alarm buzzes softly next to me, but I'm already awake, lying still as the first light of dawn filters through the curtains. I reach over to turn off the alarm before it gets louder, not wanting to disturb the peacefulness of the morning—or her

I turn my head, and there she is. Even in sleep, she's beautiful, her features softened in the dim light. I still can't believe how lucky I am to have her by my side, even if the world doesn't know about us. It's our secret, and in a way, that makes it more special—something just for us to hold onto.

I quietly slip out of bed, careful not to wake her. We don't get many days off like this, and I want her to enjoy every second of it. Padding softly across the room, I head to the kitchen. I've been meaning to make breakfast for us, something simple yet special, like today.

As I move around the kitchen, I think about how different things are when we're together. Football, as much as I love it, is all-consuming. It's easy to get lost in the pressures, the expectations, the constant scrutiny. But with her, I can just be Alexia—not the captain, not the Ballon d'Or winner, just me. And that's more freeing than anything else.

I pour some coffee into two mugs, the rich aroma filling the room. I know she'll appreciate this—she loves starting the day with coffee, even more so when it's made by me. I smile at the thought as I start to toast some bread and slice up avocados.

Just as I'm finishing up, I hear soft footsteps behind me. I turn around to see her standing in the doorway, her hair tousled from sleep, eyes still a little hazy.

"Good morning," I say softly, handing her a mug of coffee.

She smiles, that warm, sleepy smile that melts me every time. "Morning," she replies, taking the mug from me and wrapping her hands around it as if to soak up the warmth. "You're up early."

"I wanted to surprise you," I say, motioning to the breakfast spread I've prepared.

She steps closer, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. "You're too good to me."

We sit down at the small table, the morning light slowly brightening the room. It's quiet, peaceful, with just the sound of our soft conversation and the occasional clink of cutlery against plates. We talk about everything and nothing—our plans for the day, silly things we've seen online, memories from our last holiday. It's these moments I cherish the most, the simplicity of just being together.

After breakfast, we decide to go for a walk. The weather is perfect—warm but not too hot, with a gentle breeze. We choose a path that winds through a nearby park, a place where we can enjoy the fresh air and some privacy. Even though we have to be careful about where we go and who might see us, there are still places we can escape to, where it's just us.

We walk side by side, our fingers occasionally brushing against each other's. There's a calmness in the air, a serenity that matches the ease I feel when I'm with her. She points out a group of kids playing football in the distance, and we both laugh, watching them chase the ball with the kind of pure joy that reminds me why I fell in love with the game in the first place.

As we loop back towards our home, she stops and looks at me with a thoughtful expression. "You know," she starts, "I've been thinking... maybe one day, we won't have to hide this."

I pause, my heart skipping a beat at her words. We've talked about this before, the idea of going public, of letting the world see who we really are. But it's complicated, so many things to consider—the media, our careers, our privacy. Yet, hearing her say it now, in this moment, makes me think it could be possible.

"Maybe," I say softly, "but for now, I like what we have. This—" I gesture around us, at the quiet street, the sun shining down on us, "—is enough."

She smiles, and there's that look in her eyes, the one that tells me she understands. We'll take it one step at a time, and for today, this is all we need.

We spend the rest of the day lounging around the house, watching movies, reading, just enjoying each other's company. There's no rush, no deadlines, no matches to prepare for—just the luxury of time, something we so rarely get.

As evening falls, we find ourselves back on the couch, curled up together under a blanket. The room is dimly lit, and I can feel her warmth against me, her steady breathing a comfort. I turn my head slightly, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you," she whispers, her voice barely audible.

"For what?"

"For today. For being here. For everything."

I smile, my heart swelling with affection. "Always," I whisper back. And I mean it, with every fiber of my being. She's my anchor, my peace, my everything.

As we drift off to sleep later that night, I know that no matter what challenges come our way, we'll face them together. For now, though, I'm content with this—our little secret, our perfect day off.

a/n

just a short filler chapter gang

i tried to start everything with capitals to see how it looked but i'm not sure if i like it....

also guess who's going to geelong for regionalss!!!

anwyas leave a ⭐ if you enjoyed!