Red Secrets (Marcus Rashford)

But why i love you I'll never know

All i'm gonna say is i was kicking my feet while writing this. 😽

Sofia's heart pounded in her chest as she made her way through the buzzing crowd, her fingers lightly brushing against the rim of her champagne glass. She'd had a few drinks by now, the warmth from the alcohol making her feel a little bolder, a little less careful. The night was winding down, but something inside her was pulling her toward Marcus. After his speech, he had drifted to the edges of the room, standing alone with a drink in his hand, watching the everyone from afar. She couldn't shake the memory of catching him staring at her earlier at the table, and her curiosity, fueled by the champagne, had grown too strong to ignore. She could feel a soft buzz in her veins, the edges of her senses dulled slightly by the alcohol, and it gave her the courage to do something she probably wouldn't have done otherwise.

Smoothing down her black dress, she walked over to him, swaying slightly on her heels but steady enough. He didn't notice her at first, his attention elsewhere, lost in thought. When she finally reached him, she lightly tapped his arm to get his attention.

"Marcus," she said, her voice soft. He turned to face her, his eyes widening slightly in surprise.
"Hey, Sofia," he said, his voice quiet and uncertain. She didn't waste any time, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around him in a congratulatory hug. It took him a second to react, his body tensing slightly in shock at the unexpected gesture. She could feel his hesitation, his hands hovering in the air for a moment before he finally hugged her back, awkwardly. He seemed unsure, as though he didn't know how to handle this kind of closeness right now.

"Congratulations on winning the award," Sofia said, her voice a little breathless as she pulled back slightly but still stayed close, her eyes bright from the alcohol. "Uh, thanks," Marcus replied,
scratching the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with how close they were. He quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching. "I appreciate it." There was an awkward pause between them, an unspoken tension. Sofia could feel it, but she couldn't help herself-she was feeling confident, more than she should have, and a mischievous smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "You know," she started, leaning in a little closer, "I noticed you staring at me earlier at the table." Her voice was teasing, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at him.

Marcus's face flushed immediately, his eyes widening in panic. "What? No, I wasn't-" he stammered, looking flustered. He glanced around quickly, checking if anyone had heard her, though they were far off from everyone else.
Sofia raised an eyebrow and tilted her head playfully, cutting him off. "Come on, Marcus, you don't have to lie. You were staring." Her voice was low, her words slightly slurred but clear enough. He was flustered beyond belief, his composure faltering under her teasing.
He cleared his throat, his voice barely audible as he muttered, "I thought you looked... really good tonight, that's all." Sofia froze, her breath catching in her throat. She hadn't expected him to admit it, especially not so easily. Her mind raced for a second before she managed to speak. "You thought I looked good?" she asked, genuinely surprised, a smile tugging at her lips.

Marcus's face burned, and he quickly scanned the room again, making sure no one was within earshot. He leaned in slightly, his voice hushed, "Sofia, stop. Someone could hear us."
But Sofia, emboldened by the alcohol, only smiled wider. "I thought you wanted to stop whatever this was," she said, half-joking.

His eyes widened,
panic setting in.

"Sofia, keep your voice down," he hissed, glancing around nervously. The last thing he needed was anyone overhearing them. When he saw that no one was near, he exhaled, but he wasn't taking any chances. "Come on."

Without waiting for her to respond, he grabbed her by the wrist, gently but firmly, and pulled her through the side door into a nearby storage room. It was small and dimly lit, the shelves stacked with cleaning supplies and spare parts. The door shut behind them with a soft click, and Marcus quickly locked the door before he turned to face her, his expression a mix of frustration and anxiety. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked, his voice low but sharp. "You can't just say stuff like that out there, someone could've heard you." Sofia, still feeling playful from the alcohol, shrugged. "We're far away from everyone, no one heard," she said, her tone teasing, as if she wasn't taking him seriously at all. Marcus, however, wasn't amused. He ran a hand through her hair, visibly stressed. "You don't get it, Sofia. This... this is dangerous. Jadon could've-"