𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 - 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘥

𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙮 𝙎𝙞𝙭. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩

The stadium buzzed with intensity as Arsenal clashed with their fiercest rivals, Tottenham. I felt the pressure mounting, not just from the game itself but from everything that lingered between me and Caitlin. Our relationship-or whatever was left of it-was like the match unfolding before me: tense, unpredictable, and hanging in the balance.

I took place on the pitch, my mind racing as much as my feet. I glanced across the field, where Caitlin was in position, her focus laser-sharp. We hadn't really talked much in the lead-up to the game, but even with the unresolved tension, we still had that unspoken connection on the field. It was like muscle memory- I knew exactly where Caitlin would be, and Caitlin could read my every move without needing a word.

The game was close, too close. Tottenham was giving Arsenal a run for their money, and the score was still tied with just minutes left on the clock. My heart raced, both from the exertion and the unshakable awareness of Caitlin's presence nearby.

The ball comes to my feet in a flash, a perfect pass from Lia. I scanned the field and saw the opening-Caitlin sprints toward the box, cutting through Tottenham's defence with a determination that makee my heart skip a beat. This was it. The window was small, but I'd played this game long enough to know that this is our moment.

Without hesitation, I deliver a perfectly weighted through-ball, threading it between two Tottenham defenders with surgical precision. It slices through the space like it was made for Caitlin, and I didn't miss a beat. Caitlin surges forward, her eyes locked on the ball, and as she reaches it, she strikes with a force and accuracy that left the keeper no chance.

The ball hits the back of the net, and the crowd erupts into deafening cheers. Caitlin turns toward me almost instinctively, her face lighting up with a joy that hadn't been there in weeks. For a split second, it was just us two on the field. No noise, no fans, no tension. Just us.

I feel the adrenaline surge through me, but it isn't just from the assist. It's from the way Caitlin's eyes found mine, the way she runs straight towarda me, arms wide. When we collide in celebration, it's like everything else fell away-the hurt, the misunderstandings, the distance. We're back to what had always felt natural between us: working together, lifting each other up.

"That was all you," Caitlin says breathlessly, pulling me into a quick hug, her voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd. But her tone was more than gratitude for the pass; it was a recognition of what we'd always been able to do together-on and off the field.

I shake my head, a soft smile creeping onto my lips. "Couldn't have done it without you."

We stand there for a moment, surrounded by our teammates, but it feels like we're in our own world. Caitlin's hand lingers on my arm, her touch just a little too long to be purely celebratory. There's something in the moment, a spark, a reminder of what we used to have before everything got so tangled.

The whistle blew for full-time, and Arsenal had secured the win. The team surges forward to celebrate, pulling Caitlin into the chaos, but I stayed back for a second, watching as the energy of the match swirled around them. I feel my heart beating hard in my chest, not just from the game, but from the way Caitlin had looked at me-like I still mattered.

As we made our way off the field, Caitlin fell into step beside me. Neither of us spoak at first, the noise of the fans and teammates filling the silence. But there's something simmering between us now, something that hadn't been there before the game.

"You knew exactly where to find me," Caitlin finally says, her voice softer now, but there's something deeper in it too. A hint of vulnerability.

I shrug, though my heart's pounding. "I guess I never really forgot."

Caitlin's eyes linger on me, and for a moment, it's like everything between us shifted. The tension, the hurt-it's all still there, but now there's something else too. Something like hope.

As we reach the changing room, the team is still buzzing from the win, the atmosphere electric. I find a quiet corner to sit down, my mind still racing from everything that had happened. I'm not sure what is going on between me and Caitlin, but today felt... different. Like we were finding our rhythm again, slowly, cautiously.

Just as I'm about to get up and join the celebration, Caitlin appears beside me, sitting down without a word. For a few moments, we sat in comfortable silence, the noise of the changing room fading into the background.

"Thanks for the assist," Caitlin finally says, her voice low but sincere.I nod, not trusting myself to speak just yet. There's so much I want to say, but the words feel stuck in my throat.Caitlin hesitates, then leans in slightly, her tone even softer. "We make a good team, you know? On the pitch... and maybe off it, too. If you're ready for that again."

My heart clenches at the quiet vulnerability in Caitlin's words. I'm not sure if I am ready-if I can let myself trust Caitlin again. But something inside me shifted. Maybe today is a sign that we could work our way back to each other. Slowly, yes, but surely.

"I don't know yet," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "But... today felt right."

Caitlin gives me a small, hopeful smile. "That's all I need."

As Caitlin starts to leave, she pauses glancing back at me with something unreadable in her eyes. Then, with a quiet nod, she disappears into the crowd of teammates.

I stay behind for a moment, my heart still racing, the echoes of our conversation ringing in my ears. I wasn't sure what the future held for us, but for the first time in a while , I felt like we were finally heading in the right direction.

Maybe, just maybe, this was our way back to each other.