Alessia Russo Oneshot

Finding Common Ground

You weren't sure how it happened, but you found yourself alone in the gymnasium after practice, lost in the echo of your own voice. The familiar routine of ranting about your latest obsession—this time, it was mediaeval history—had taken hold, and you hadn't noticed Alessia Russo slipping back inside.

"Hey," her voice interrupted gently, causing you to spin around, suddenly self-conscious about your rambling. Alessia stood there, her bright eyes fixed on you with a curious expression. "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I just forgot my water bottle."

You swallowed nervously, cheeks warming under her gaze. "Oh, no worries. I didn't hear you come in."

Alessia stepped closer, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I caught some of what you were saying. About knights and armour and... castles?"

"Yeah," you admitted, feeling a mix of embarrassment and excitement. "I tend to go off on tangents when I'm into something."

She chuckled softly, her smile widening. "It's cool. I think it's kind of fascinating, actually."

Surprised by her response, you blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah," Alessia nodded. "I mean, I never really thought about it much before, but hearing you talk about it, it sounds pretty epic."

You couldn't help but grin, a rush of relief washing over you. "Thanks. It's just something I'm really passionate about."

"I can tell," Alessia replied warmly. "It's nice to see someone so enthusiastic about something."

Emboldened by her interest, you took a step closer. "What about you? What's something you're passionate about?"

Alessia paused, considering the question. "Football, obviously," she said with a smirk. "But besides that... I love photography. Capturing moments, telling stories through pictures."

"That's amazing," you said sincerely, genuinely intrigued. "I bet you have some incredible shots."

She shrugged modestly. "I like to think so."

The conversation flowed effortlessly from there, swapping stories and sharing interests late into the evening. You discovered more about Alessia beyond her prowess on the field—her love for her family, her favourite books, and even her hidden talent for baking.

As the gymnasium lights dimmed, signalling the end of the day, Alessia looked at you with a smile that made your heart skip a beat. "Hey, would you maybe want to hang out sometime? Talk more about knights and castles, or whatever else comes to mind?"

Your cheeks flushed again, but this time with happiness. "I'd love that."

And just like that, amidst the echoes of your passionate ramblings and shared interests, a new connection blossomed—one that began with a rant and ended with the promise of more conversations to come.