Where your best friend Gio sets you up with his sister.
~
"Come on, just let me set you up with one more girl." Your best friend begged, making you roll your eyes. He loved trying to set you up, but nothing ever really came from it. "Like your other set ups worked so well."
"Please, just one more before I head off to Bali. I can't leave you here all on your own." Oh he could be so annoying. "I have friends besides you Gio, you know that right?" You give him a friendly shove.
"Y/n, she's totally your type. Just give me one more chance." You knew when he was putting up his best puppy eyes, that you weren't going to be able to say no. "Fine, but it will be your going away present, so don't expect anything else."
You checked your phone one more time to check if you had gotten the right restaurant, a reservation for two under the name Russo he had said. Why he had used his name instead of yours was a mystery to you, but that mystery quickly unravelled when you saw the girl that was sitting at the table the waiter was leading you to.
"Lessi?" The girl looked up with confusion written all over your face, just like yourself. "Hey y/n/n, what are you doing here?"
"Well, apparently Gio tried setting me up with you." Alessia chuckled, "Of course he did." You hesitate for a moment, which Alessia seems to notice. "Sit, this place has amazing food. Plus Gio is paying for the whole thing." Now it was your turn to laugh. "How did you manage that?"
You settle into your seat while Alessia tells you how she convinced her brother to pay for the whole date. Alessia was right, the menu had some great choices, as you looked through them you wondered why Gio would set you up with his sister, was this one of his jokes, or was he serious about this?
"So, how have you been?" Alessia asks, breaking the brief silence. "I feel like it's been ages since we caught up properly." You had met Gio back in college, and had known his whole family for ages.
"It really has been a while, hasn't it? I'm doing well. I got promoted at work which prompted my move to London, they offered me a managing position at their location here. I've been getting used to the changes, home and work wise, but overall I'm really happy with the change. How have you been? Has Arsenal been treating you well?" Now that you think of it, you hadn't been to one of her matches since made the move to Arsenal. You often joined Gio and the Russo family on seeing Alessia play for either club or country, having watched her grow from a college athlete to this phenomenal professional player.
Alessia tells you all about her move to London and her time at Arsenal so far over the pizza's that you both ordered. It had actually been really nice hanging out with the girl one on one, something you hadn't done all too often.
When both your plates are empty, you don't want to leave yet but you know you'll have to say goodnight because you have work in the morning. "This was really nice Less, would you want to do it again some time?" You didn't know how the blonde was looking at this set up as an actual date, or just as friends catching up, but as the evening came to an end you realised just how much you had enjoyed her company, and how much you would like to go out with her again.
"I had a great time, and I would love to do it again sometime, it's a date." Your heart warmed at the words 'it's a date', glad to hear that she was feeling the same way. "Do you want to mess with Gio a bit?" She suggested, and she told you her plan after you agreed.
You step into Gio's apartment without an invitation to come in, or saying hello. "Your sister? You set me up with your sister?" You tried your hardest not to smile. His eyes widened, "I really thought you guys would hit it off, and if not it would just be funny." You shake your head and walk out of the door again. As you get in your car you quickly send Alessia a text.
Y/n: Part one of the plan has been executed :)
The next day you eagerly await Alessia's text, after lunch your phone finally buzzes with a message from her.
Alessia: Part two is in motion!
You smile at the message, imagining what Alessia has cooked up, as she was clearly enjoying pranking her brother as much as you were.
The plan was to make Gio believe he messed up with setting the two of you up, while actually you already had your second date planned.
The second date was even better than the first one, instead of sitting down at a restaurant you went to an arcade. When you headed in the bustling arcade filled your ears, as Alessia led you right to the first game. "Ready to get crushed?" A sparkle behind her eyes told you enough about how tonight was going to go. "Bring it on." You said back with determination.
You smirk as you get ball after ball in the basket, Alessia was doing well too, but your points were definitely going up quicker. When the timer ends, you have almost double the points she has. Alessia looks over in disbelief. "Less, how did your brother and I get to know each other?" She thinks for a moment before it finally dawns on her, you were both on the basketball team in college. "Okay, so that game doesn't count because there was an unfair advantage. Let's move on."
She takes your hand and drags you to a new game, where the both of you are just as competitive. The wins were divided more now, her being better at some games, and you better at others. All in all, you had a great time.
At the end of the night she invited you to come see her play on Sunday, an offer you gladly accepted. It had really been too long since you had seen her play, and you were interested to see how her playing style had changed since she joined the new club.
She walked you to your front door, "You'll be at the airport tomorrow as well right?" You nod, "I wouldn't miss it for the world" Gio was leaving for Bali tomorrow, and his family and a couple of his closest friends were coming to wave him off. Since you had stormed out of his apartment, the two of you were good again, but he still had no idea that you and Alessia had started dating.
Before she turns around to get to her car, she leans in and pecks your lips. "I'll see you tomorrow then." You kiss her again, wanting her with you a little longer. "Goodnight Less, text me when you get home?" With a nod and another quick kiss, you watch her drive off.
The next day you meet the Russo family at the airport. No one wanted to say goodbye, but you knew you had to since Gio had a plane to catch so you stepped up first. You give him a big hug, "I'm going to miss you, Gio. Have an amazing trip, and send me all the updates please."
After you, more of Gio's friends went ahead and said their goodbye's, and last but not least, his family did as well. Alessia stepped back from saying bye with teary eyes, the goodbye being emotional for the family. She walked right towards you, and you wrapped your arms around her in comfort, no longer caring about the little plan you had made.
Gio noticed the two of you embracing, and started smirking instantly. He walked up to the two of you. "I knew it!" You rolled your eyes at him. "Yeah yeah, you finally set me up with a good one." He hugged the both of you. "I'm very happy for you both. Take care of each other while I'm away?" With a promise that you would, he went off to board his plane.
Carol walked up to the two of you, "Want to join us for dinner tonight, sweetheart?" You looked over to Alessia to make sure she was okay with you saying yes to her mom. When she agreed with a nod and a smile, you told Carol you would love to.
When Gio landed you were still at the Russo's, and you Gio had added you all to a group chat called 'Bali updates for the fam', you smiled at the way he included you with his family, as the five of you watched his video showing you all the hotel room he would spend the first night.
