How I Sapphire Young fell in love with Alessia Russo

Chapter 57

Sapphire's POV:

The morning was crisp as we walked to training, but my thoughts were anything but clear. The air felt thick with unresolved tension, and I couldn't shake the feeling of mistrust that had settled in my heart. Alessia and I had come a long way, but the wounds from our past were still fresh. Her history with Kyra still gnawed at me, even after everything we'd gone through to mend our relationship.

As we reached the training ground, I tried to push these thoughts aside. We joined our respective groups, and I focused on warming up. Alessia, as always, moved with grace and determination, her presence on the field commanding attention. But today, I felt a distance between us, a chasm that our words and actions had yet to bridge.

Beth, Viv, Caitlin, and Katie were already on the field, their energy contagious. "Ready to show these girls what we've got?" Beth asked, flashing me a grin.

"Always," I replied, trying to match her enthusiasm.

We dove into our drills, the routine providing a temporary escape from my worries. However, every now and then, I'd catch Alessia glancing my way, her expression one of concern. She knew something was off, and I hated that I was the cause of it.

Halfway through training, we gathered for a water break. Alessia approached me, her eyes searching mine. "Hey, can we talk later?"

"Yeah, sure," I said, taking a sip of water and looking away.

As we resumed, I could feel the eyes of my teammates on us, sensing the tension. When we moved into a scrimmage match, I found myself paired against Kyra again. Today, she seemed even more distracted than before, her usual intensity replaced by a sullen demeanour.

During a break, Katie leaned in. "What's going on with you and Alessia?"

"Nothing," I lied, trying to brush it off. "Just a rough patch."

But it was more than that, and deep down, we both knew it.

The session continued, and we transitioned into a passing drill. Alessia moved closer, her intention clear. As she leaned in to give me a quick kiss, I instinctively dodged, pretending to focus on the drill. It was a small, almost imperceptible action, but it was enough.

The hurt in her eyes was palpable, and I immediately regretted it. The rest of the session passed in a blur, my mind racing with guilt and frustration.

When training finally ended, Alessia cornered me in the locker room. "Why did you dodge my kiss?" she demanded, her voice a mix of confusion and hurt.

"I just didn't feel like it," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Her eyes widened, and the room fell silent as everyone turned to watch. "You didn't feel like it?" she repeated, incredulous. "Sapphire, what's going on with you?"

"Nothing," I snapped, but it was clear no one believed me.

Kyra, who had been quietly observing, finally stepped in, her anger evident. "This isn't fair to Alessia," she said, her voice trembling with rage. "She's trying to make things right, and you're just pushing her away."

I felt a surge of anger. "Stay out of this, Kyra. This is between me and Alessia."

"But it involves all of us," Kyra shot back. "You can't just keep punishing her for the past."

The argument escalated, with voices rising and emotions running high. I could see the confusion and discomfort on my teammates' faces, but I couldn't stop myself.

Finally, Katie stepped in, her voice firm. "Alright, that's enough. Take this outside."

Alessia and I stood there, breathing heavily, the tension thick. I knew this wasn't the time or place, but the damage was done.

We left the training ground in silence, the drive home filled with unspoken words. When we finally reached our apartment, I turned to Alessia. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice breaking. "I shouldn't have done that in front of everyone."

She looked at me, tears in her eyes. "Why, Sapphire? Why can't you trust me?"

"It's not that simple," I said, feeling the weight of my guilt. "I want to, but... it's hard."

"I know I messed up," she said, her voice soft. "But I'm trying. I really am."

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. "Do you want to go out tonight? Maybe a nice dinner, just the two of us?"

She hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. Let's try."

We spent the next hour getting ready, the silence between us heavy but not hostile. As we walked to the car, I could see the determination in Alessia's eyes, and it gave me hope. We drove to a small, intimate restaurant downtown, the kind of place where we could talk without distractions.

The dinner started off tense, but as we sipped our wine and talked about lighter subjects, the mood began to lighten. I could see the effort she was making, and it made me want to try harder too.

"I've been thinking," I said, reaching across the table to take her hand. "Maybe we should start fresh. Leave the past behind and focus on us."

She squeezed my hand, a small smile playing on her lips. "I'd like that."

We continued our meal, the conversation flowing more easily. For the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. We talked about our future, our dreams, and even laughed a little. By the time we left the restaurant, the tension had eased considerably.

As we walked back to the car, I pulled her close. "I'm really sorry about earlier."

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions. "I know, and I'm sorry too. We'll get through this, Sapphire."

We drove home in comfortable silence, the air between us lighter. When we got back to our apartment, I turned to her. "Let's make a pact. No more bringing up the past. From now on, we focus on moving forward."

She nodded, her expression resolute. "Deal."

The next morning, we woke up feeling more connected than we had in a long time. As we prepared for the day, I felt a sense of optimism that had been missing for too long. We headed to the training ground together, ready to face whatever challenges came our way.

When we arrived, our teammates greeted us with smiles and congratulations. "Welcome back, Sapphire and Alessia Russo!" someone shouted, and we both laughed.

The day went smoothly, and for the first time, I felt like we were truly on the right path. The trust would take time to rebuild, but we were committed to making it work. And that was enough for now.