Never Not You

No more leaving

As Leah made her way back onto the pitch for the second half, her eyes were constantly scanning the stands. She felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety, hoping to catch a glimpse of Aurora amidst the sea of spectators. Her heart pounded as she looked for a familiar face among the crowd.

Keira and Georgia, noticing Leah's distracted demeanor, came up beside her. "What's up, Leah? You seem a bit off," Keira said.

Leah, still scanning the stands, replied breathlessly, "Rory's here somewhere. I'm trying to find her."

Without hesitation, Keira and Georgia joined the search. They all three scanned the crowd, but the sheer volume of people made it nearly impossible to spot Aurora. The stands were a dense maze of faces, banners, and flags.

Georgia, trying to help Leah stay focused, suggested, "Maybe she's where all the phones and cameras are pointed. You know, where everyone's taking pictures."

Leah's head whipped around toward the direction Georgia had indicated. She saw a cluster of phones and cameras pointed in one spot, a sign that something or someone was drawing attention. Leah squinted through the bright stadium lights and the mass of bodies, straining to see if Aurora was among them.

Despite her best efforts, Leah couldn't clearly make out Aurora's face. The crowd around the area was dense, blocking her view. It was like looking through a fogged-up window. Leah's frustration grew, knowing her love was so close yet just out of reach.

Keira and Georgia, sensing Leah's mounting distress, continued to help her look, but the throng of people made it increasingly difficult. Leah's hope flared briefly with every new angle she tried, but each attempt only heightened her anticipation and longing to finally reunite with Aurora.

With the game about to resume, Leah had to refocus on the bench, her heart still racing from the excitement of discovering Aurora was in the stands. She continued to search the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of Aurora, but the sea of spectators made it difficult to spot her.

As the whistle blew to start the second half, Leah reluctantly shifted her focus back to the pitch. Her mind, however, remained preoccupied with thoughts of Aurora. Despite the mounting anticipation and her yearning to be reunited, Leah knew she had to stay composed and concentrate on the game. The promise of seeing Aurora and Mateo soon kept her hopeful and determined.

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After the final whistle blew, signaling England's 3-0 victory, Aurora waited a few minutes before making her way down to the barrier. The excitement in the stadium was palpable, with fans crowding the barriers, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite players or grab a quick photo. Aurora's nerves were on edge as she navigated through the throngs of people.

She took deep breaths to steady herself, her heart pounding with anticipation. Despite the cheering crowd, her focus was solely on Leah. She scanned the area around the barrier, trying to spot Leah through the sea of jubilant faces. Her heart fluttered with both nervousness and excitement as she approached the area, hoping for a brief reunion amidst the chaos.

When Aurora reaches the barrier, the first voice she hears is not Leah's but Keira's.

"Over here, Aurora!" Keira shouts, waving her over.

Aurora makes her way to Keira, who reaches over the barrier and pulls her into a warm hug. "How you doing?" Keira asks, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"I'm okay, Keira," Aurora responds, trying to sound reassuring.

"Sure?" Keira presses, her eyes searching Aurora's face for any signs of distress.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Aurora insists.

Keira nods, then adds, "She's been looking for you, by the way," pointing towards Leah, who is scanning the crowd at the barrier.

Aurora raises an eyebrow and says, "And you brought me over here?"

Keira grins mischievously. "Gotta make it hard for her, don't I?"

Aurora laughs softly. "Call her over."

"Stay here. I'm gonna get her," Keira says, before sprinting towards Leah.

Aurora watches as Keira approaches Leah, speaking animatedly. Leah's head turns in Aurora's direction, and her face lights up with a radiant smile. The joy in her expression is unmistakable as she quickly finishes signing a fan's shirt, then rushes over. Without hesitation, Leah practically leaps over the barrier to wrap her arms around Aurora, their reunion filled with a mixture of relief and elation.

Aurora gazes into Leah's eyes and says softly, "Hey, baby."

Leah's voice trembles with urgency and emotion. "Don't leave me again, Rory."

Aurora gently pulls back, her hands still resting on Leah's arms. "I kind of have to," she says, trying to lighten the mood. "I can't stay here forever. Got to get back to Teo, and I don't fancy living in a stadium."

Leah's eyes well up with tears. "I'm being serious, Rory."

Aurora's expression softens, her own eyes reflecting the depth of her feelings. "I know, Leah. I won't leave. I promise."

Leah clings to the promise, her voice firm. "You're staying now, yeah? No more going away."

Aurora nods, her resolve clear. "No more."

In that moment, Leah's worries about the crowd and the cameras melt away. She closes the distance between them, her lips finding Aurora's in a passionate kiss. The world around them fades as they lose themselves in each other.

Aurora kisses her back, deeply and tenderly, but she remains mindful of their surroundings, aware of the crowd and the cameras capturing their every move. Despite the intensity of their kiss, Aurora keeps it from escalating too far, balancing her love for Leah with the reality of their public setting.

Aurora pulls back from the kiss, a playful smile on her lips. "That's gonna be plastered all over social media later today."

Leah grins, leaning in for another kiss. "I don't care," she says, pressing her lips against Aurora's once more. The kiss is intense but brief as Aurora keeps it restrained, aware of their surroundings.

Leah pulls away, her gaze searching Aurora's face. "Where's Teo?"

Aurora's eyes soften. "He's at the hotel. Eli and Alba are with him."

Leah's eyes light up. "Can I come see him?"

Aurora chuckles softly. "You don't need to ask me. If you can come then come if not then you're just gonna have to wait."

Leah's expression is resolute. "I'll come, I don't care if I'm not allowed."

Aurora shakes her head gently. "No, Leah. You're going to ask first. If they say yes, then you can go. If they say no, then you'll have to wait."

Leah nods, understanding the need for proper channels. "Okay, I'll ask. But I'm definitely coming to see him. He's my little man too."

Aurora's smile widens. "I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you."

Leah leans in for one last quick kiss before stepping back, her eyes never leaving Aurora's. "I love you."

Aurora's eyes glisten with emotion. "I love you too, Leah. Always."