Anything But Ordinary

Part 1- First meetings

Pov y/n or Alaïa
The airport was buzzing with energy as I made my way through the crowded terminal. My heart raced with excitement as I scanned the faces, looking for my brother, Kenan Yildiz, a rising star in Turkish football. Finally, I spotted him, standing tall and proud, a wide grin spreading across his face when he saw me.

"Sister!" Kenan called out, waving enthusiastically. I hurried over, and we embraced warmly, the familiar scent of home wrapping around me.

"Welcome back," he said, pulling back to look at me. "You ready to meet the team?"

I nodded eagerly. It had been a while since I last saw him, and I couldn't wait to see him in his element. We made our way to the car, chatting about my flight and his recent matches. When we arrived at the training grounds, Kenan led me inside, where the rest of the team was waiting.

One by one, the players introduced themselves, each giving me a warm hug. But when it was Arda Güler's turn, he simply nodded, a mysterious glint in his eyes as he muttered, "Nice to meet you."

Kenan noticed my puzzled expression and leaned in to whisper, "Arda's a bit reserved. Don't take it personally."

As we walked away from the group, Kenan's expression grew serious. "Listen, there's something you need to know. The coach has a strict no-dating rule within the team. It can cause too many distractions and complications. So, no getting too close to anyone, okay?"

I nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. But as we left for the restaurant with the team, I couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement. Kenan, Arda, my childhood best friend Kiera, Leo, Kenan's best friend, and I all piled into the same car. Arda opened the car door for me, a small but courteous gesture that made my heart skip a beat, while Kenan did the same for Kiera, who blushed furiously. Kenan took the driver's seat with Kiera beside him, while Leo, who was quite broad-shouldered, sat on the left in the backseat. I squeezed into the middle, with Arda to my right.

The space was tight, and Leo's size left little room for me, pushing me closer to Arda. "Sorry," I muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"It's perfectly fine," Arda replied, a smirk playing on his lips. His casual response and the warmth in his eyes made my heart flutter. Throughout the drive, I kept stealing glances at him, only to find him doing the same.

Kenan and Kiera seemed lost in their own world, the tension between them palpable. Kenan's protective instincts were evident, especially whenever he glanced back at us in the rearview mirror. Leo, oblivious to the silent exchanges, chatted animatedly about football, his enthusiasm filling the car.

When we arrived at the restaurant, Arda stepped out first and held the door open for me. "Thank you," I said softly, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks as I walked past him. We all headed inside, but I suddenly remembered my phone and rushed back to the car.

"I'll be right back," I called, rummaging through the car to find it. As I retrieved my phone, I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Arda approaching.

"Did you find it?" he asked, his voice soft.

"Yeah, got it," I replied, holding up my phone. We started walking back to the restaurant together, an awkward silence hanging between us.

As we entered the restaurant, everyone had already been seated, leaving only two spots open next to each other. Arda and I exchanged a glance before sitting down. Kenan, seated across from us, raised an eyebrow, his protective instincts kicking in.

"What took you so long?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes wary.

"I just forgot my phone," I said, trying to sound casual.

Kenan nodded, though I could see the wheels turning in his head. Throughout the meal, I felt Kenan's eyes on us, but I also felt a strange connection forming with Arda. We didn't talk much, but our glances spoke volumes, a silent conversation only we understood.

Kiera and Kenan were lost in their own world, their unspoken feelings finally surfacing in small, tender moments. I could see the way Kenan's hand would linger near Kiera's and the way her eyes would light up when he spoke.

By the end of the night, it was clear that lines had been blurred, and rules had been tested. As we left the restaurant, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for all of us.

On the car journey back to the house where Kenan and Arda lived-and where I would be staying in one of the guest rooms-the seating arrangement was the same. Kenan drove, with Kiera next to him in the passenger seat. Leo took up a lot of space on the left in the back, leaving me squeezed in the middle next to Arda on my right.

Arda noticed my discomfort as I kept adjusting my skirt, which wasn't quite long enough, and was starting to annoy me. He leaned over and whispered, "Do you want to put my blazer on your lap? It might make you more comfortable."

I shook my head. "No, thank you. I'm fine."

He smiled, a playful glint in his eyes. "I insist. It's no trouble at all."

Before I could protest further, he gently placed his blazer over my lap. "There," he said, his tone soft and reassuring.

"Thank you," I whispered, feeling my cheeks heat up. He simply smirked, our eyes meeting in the dim light of the car.

Leo and Kiera had both fallen asleep, their heads resting against the windows, blissfully unaware of the quiet exchange. Kenan, however, saw everything through the rearview mirror. His protective gaze lingered on us, a mix of curiosity and caution in his eyes.

The rest of the journey was filled with a charged silence, punctuated only by the occasional bump in the road. Each glance exchanged between Arda and me seemed to speak volumes, the space between us both a barrier and a connection.

Finally, Kenan pulled up to the house. "We're here," he announced softly, trying not to wake Kiera and Leo.

As we all stepped out of the car, the night air cool against our skin, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Kenan's warning echoed in my mind, but the undeniable pull towards Arda was stronger than ever. This was just the beginning, and I had a feeling that my time here would be anything but ordinary.