Good Luck, Babe! - Leah Williamson

8. Good Luck, Babe!

Ella's POV.

I woke up to the gentle morning light streaming through the thin curtains of our hotel room. For a moment, I felt disoriented, unsure of where I was, but then everything came rushing back. The PR event, Leah inviting me along to rebuild our friendship, the hotel room with its twin beds - except I wasn't in mine. I was in Leah's.

I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the lingering traces of sleep. My arm was draped over Leah, her back pressed against my chest. I could feel the slow, steady rise and fall of her breathing, and it was calming, grounding in a way I hadn't expected. I stayed like that for a few minutes, just listening to the rhythm of her breath, not wanting to move.

Eventually, I shifted slightly, trying to get a better look at her without waking her up. Her face was soft and relaxed, the worries and tensions of the last few weeks smoothed away in sleep. She looked so peaceful, almost fragile, and it tugged at something deep inside me.

Before I could stop myself, I reached out, my fingers brushing lightly against her cheek. Her skin was warm and soft, and I found myself tracing the line of her jaw, feeling the way her breath hitched slightly at the contact. My heart clenched in my chest, a mixture of tenderness and something else, something deeper that I couldn't ignore anymore.

I felt the truth settle over me like a heavy blanket, something I'd been trying to avoid for so long. I couldn't run from it anymore, couldn't keep pretending that the feelings I had for Leah were just a phase, or confusion, or a reaction to the mess with Josh. It was more than that. It had always been more than that.

Maybe it had always been there, lurking just beneath the surface, but I'd been too scared to face it. Too scared of what it would mean for us, for our friendship, for everything. But as I looked at her now, with the morning light casting a soft glow over her face, I knew I couldn't lie to myself anymore.

I wasn't just confused. I wasn't just in the middle of a phase. I had feelings for Leah - real, genuine feelings that went beyond friendship, beyond anything I'd ever felt for anyone else. And I couldn't deny it any longer.

The realisation hit me with a force that left me breathless. I was bisexual. And not only that - I was in love with my best friend.

The thought both terrified and thrilled me. All this time, I'd been trying so hard to keep things the same between us, to cling to what was familiar and safe, but deep down, I knew that wasn't possible anymore. Things had changed between us, and there was no going back to how it used to be.

My fingers continued to trace the contours of her face, almost of their own accord. I didn't want to wake her, didn't want to disturb this rare moment of peace. But I knew, eventually, we'd have to talk about it. About everything.

I let out a shaky breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. This wasn't going to be easy. I knew that. But for the first time, I felt ready to face it. To face my feelings, my fears, and whatever came next with Leah.

I was still scared - scared of what this meant for us, scared of how Leah would react, scared of what this meant for me. But as I looked down at her, at the way she unconsciously leaned into my touch even in her sleep, I knew that whatever happened, I didn't want to lose her.

Not again.

With that thought in mind, I gently pulled my hand away, not wanting to wake her just yet. I needed a little more time to gather my thoughts, to prepare myself for the conversation we were inevitably going to have. But at least now, I knew what I was feeling, and I knew that it was real.

And that was the first step.

As I lay there, still lost in my thoughts, my phone began to vibrate on the bedside table. The sudden noise was jarring, cutting through the tranquil morning. I winced, realising it was Josh calling. I had completely forgotten about him - about everything that had happened before this moment. The warmth and clarity I had felt moments ago seemed to shatter in an instant.