who is...she?

thirty-five

alexia's pov

the morning sun streamed down as I arrived at the training ground, excitement bubbling within me. today's session was crucial; we were ramping up for the upcoming match, and the energy was palpable. the smell of fresh grass and the sounds of laughter surrounded me as my teammates gathered, ready to push themselves.

"hey, lex!" one of my teammates called, jogging over. "ready to crush it today?"

"always!" I grinned, feeling my nerves ease in the familiar atmosphere. after a quick warm-up filled with stretches and banter, I could feel the bond with my teammates strengthening.as our coach gathered us, I focused intently. 

"all right, ladies, today we're honing our passing drills and tactical positioning. let's sharpen our skills and build our chemistry on the field."

I nodded, eager to dive in. I thrived on drills like this; they challenged me strategically and allowed for seamless collaboration. breaking into smaller groups, I found myself paired with ingrid. a flutter of excitement coursed through me at the thought.

"let's show them what we've got," ingrid said, determination evident in her voice.

"you read my mind," I replied, feeling the adrenaline kick in.

-----

the first drill was all about quick, short passes, designed to enhance our footwork and communication. as we moved through the drill, I concentrated on my technique, the ball gliding effortlessly between us. I felt the rhythm sync, each pass becoming more precise.

"great job, lex! keep that energy up!" ingrid encouraged, igniting a fire within me.

we transitioned to longer passes, focusing on accuracy and timing. I took a deep breath, visualizing the perfect kick. setting my stance, I focused on the target and struck the ball with precision. it soared through the air, landing perfectly at ingrid's feet.

"nice one!" she cheered, her smile radiant. pride swelled within me, our connection on the field mirroring what we were beginning to rebuild off of it.

-----

next came tactical positioning, where we had to anticipate movements and react accordingly. I thrived in this part, directing my teammates and finding openings. I moved fluidly, my instincts guiding me as I dodged opponents and created opportunities.

"lex, over here!" ingrid shouted, breaking through the defensive line. I glanced over, heart racing as our eyes met. sending a quick pass her way, I watched as she maneuvered the ball, setting up for a shot on goal.

"let's go!" our team erupted in cheers as she scored, satisfaction washing over me.

------

as we wrapped up the session, we moved into scrimmages, a chance to put everything into action. the intensity ramped up, and I felt adrenaline coursing through my veins. I thrived in these moments, relishing the challenge.

the game was fast-paced, each player pushing themselves to their limits. I found myself in fierce battles for possession, my determination fueling me as I tackled opponents and made swift passes. I could hear my teammates' encouragement, their voices blending into a motivating chorus.

when the whistle blew to signal the end, I collapsed onto the grass, panting but exhilarated. looking around at my teammates, flushed with effort, I felt fulfilled. but beneath that, thoughts of my conversation with ingrid lingered, the prospect of rekindling our relationship brightening my mood.

-----

after training, I grabbed my water bottle and sat on the sidelines, watching my teammates chat and laugh together. I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me, but thoughts of my conversation with ingrid still lingered, filling me with hope.

ingrid approached, a soft expression on her face. "you played amazingly today," she said, settling beside me. "I love how we worked together out there."

"thanks! it felt great, especially with you by my side," I replied, my heart racing. "cna i ask you a question?"

"course lex, what's up?" she asks, placing herself down next to me

"i was thinking of asking you know who to be my girlfriend again" i say, cautious of the other girls around us.

"but i'm not sure when or how" i admit, looking down at my feet as i fell the heat rise up to my cheeks.

"hmmm...." se says, trying to help me think of a way to ask her.

"i have an idea. how about next week, you know how we have the Copa de la Reina final?"

"yes?"

"why not, if we win, you bring her onto the field and ask her then? it would be a good way tot ell the girls and if you are ready, the world." she says, looking over at me trying to sense a reaction

"and what if we don't win?" i ask

"take her out on a date sometime and ask her then. us girls could help you set it up and everything if you need." she says.

"that's a perfect plan. let's hope we win next week then." i laugh as we both make our way to the locker room, where we get changed and both head home to our sperate homes.