Alessia Russo Oneshot

Revelations

The air in the locker room was thick with tension, a palpable mix of disappointment and frustration after a particularly tough loss. Alessia Russo, normally the life of the team with her infectious energy, sat in a corner, shoulders slumped, staring into the abyss of her thoughts.

You knew this feeling all too well. As her friend and sometimes-confidante, you approached cautiously, knowing how much she hated to dwell on defeat.

"Alessia," you started tentatively, sitting down beside her. "Tough game."

She nodded, not meeting your eyes. "Yeah, tough game."

Silence stretched between you, punctuated only by the distant sound of showers running and teammates shuffling gear around.

"I knew I loved you when you started hating me," you blurted out suddenly, surprising even yourself with the raw honesty of the statement.

Alessia's head snapped up, eyes wide with shock. "What?"

You took a deep breath, gathering your thoughts. "I mean... When we first met, you didn't really pay much attention to me. I was just another face on the team. But then... then we started to clash. Over strategies, over plays... You got mad at me, I got mad at you. And in that moment, when I saw how passionate you were about the game, about winning, something changed."

Alessia studied you, her expression unreadable. "I never hated you, you know. I just... I get so caught up sometimes. I'm sorry if I made you feel that way."

"It's not about that," you replied softly. "It's about how much you care. You put your heart into everything you do, and that's what I admire about you."

A flicker of a smile crossed Alessia's lips, and she finally looked at you fully. "You've been watching me that closely, huh?"

You chuckled nervously, feeling a blush creeping up your cheeks. "Maybe... I just... I care about you, Alessia. More than I think I realised until now."

For a moment, neither of you said anything. The weight of your confession hung in the air, heavy and uncertain.

Then, Alessia reached out, her hand finding yours. "I think... I think I might feel the same way."

Your heart skipped a beat, relief flooding through you. "Really?"

"Yeah," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess... I guess I knew I loved you too when I couldn't stop thinking about you, even when we were arguing."

You couldn't help but smile, your fingers intertwining with hers. "Well, at least we know one thing we both agree on."

Alessia grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Yeah, winning's overrated anyway. I think I'd rather have you."

And just like that, the tension in the locker room lifted, replaced with a warmth that only comes with newfound understanding and affection. As you sat there, hand in hand with Alessia Russo, you couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, losing that game wasn't such a bad thing after all.