The bus finally pulled into St. George’s Park, and as everyone gathered their bags and joked around, Yn slipped off without a word. Her mind was racing, the irritation from her conversation with Ella still fresh. She just wanted to get to her room, shut the door, and take a moment to clear her head.
Once inside, Yn tossed her bag on her bed, pacing the small room to calm down. She heard the door open behind her and turned to see Alessia walking in, a look of concern on her face.
“Hey,” Alessia said, closing the door behind her. “Are you alright? You were so quiet on the coach.”
Yn let out a frustrated sigh, crossing her arms. “No, I’m not alright,” she muttered, her tone sharper than she intended. “I’m actually really annoyed.”
Alessia took a step closer, her brows knitting together. “What happened?”
Yn hesitated for a moment, but she needed to get it off her chest. “Ella came over and started saying things about Summer. She showed me a photo of Summer and Maya Le Tissier together and acted like there was something going on between them.”
Alessia’s eyes widened. “Wait, seriously? Ella thought that?”
Yn nodded, her expression tight with anger. “Yeah. She didn’t even bother asking me about it properly, just jumped to conclusions and showed me the picture. I know what Summer was doing yesterday—she was in Manchester for a photoshoot with Manchester United. They were doing some retro jacket campaign, and she was working with Maya because, well, Maya’s United’s player, right?”
Alessia frowned, clearly trying to process everything. “But... did Ella not know it was just work?”
Yn threw her hands up in frustration. “That’s the thing! Ella just saw a picture and decided there was something going on. She could’ve just asked me instead of hinting at something so... so stupid.”
Alessia shook her head, crossing her arms. “She really shouldn’t have done that, Yn. I mean, that’s a big leap. Summer’s a model—it’s her job to work with different people.”
“Exactly!” Yn said, feeling a surge of relief that Alessia understood. “I don’t get why Ella had to make it into some drama. She should’ve talked to me first, instead of putting these doubts in my head and trying to make something out of nothing.”
Alessia sighed, sitting down on her bed. “I get it. It’s not fair to you or to Summer. She really overstepped.”
Yn nodded, feeling some of the tension ease as she vented. “Thanks, Lessi. I just... I just needed someone to understand. I trust Summer, and I know it’s just a job. It just annoys me that Ella couldn’t see that.”
Alessia offered her a supportive smile. “You did the right thing talking to Summer about it. And honestly, if Ella’s making assumptions, that’s on her. You don’t need to let it ruin things.”
Yn took a deep breath, letting Alessia’s words sink in. “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, Alessia. I just... I needed to get that out.”
Alessia gave her a reassuring nod. “Anytime. And if you want, I can talk to Ella too. Maybe get her to realize she shouldn’t have interfered.”
Yn smiled, feeling grateful. “That would help. Thanks.”
As the tension slowly faded, Yn felt more at ease, glad to have Alessia by her side.
Alessia leaned forward, her face thoughtful. "Do you want me to go talk to Ella now? She’s probably back in her room."
Yn shrugged, running a hand through her hair. "I don’t know. I mean, maybe it’ll just blow over, but at the same time… she really crossed a line. It’s not like we’re in high school anymore."
Alessia nodded in agreement. "I get it. It’s tough when someone assumes the worst, especially over a simple photo. You deserve better than that."
Yn sighed, feeling a bit calmer now. "Honestly, I think Ella just didn’t realize how much it would mess with me. But she should’ve trusted me, or at least talked to me instead of assuming Summer was doing something behind my back."
Alessia gave Yn a sympathetic look. "Do you want to go confront her yourself? Or, I can have a word with her first, soften it up a bit."
Yn thought about it, then shook her head. "I appreciate it, Less, but I think I should handle it. I don’t want her thinking I’m avoiding her or too upset to talk. I just need her to know it wasn’t cool."
Alessia smiled encouragingly. "Alright, just remember I’m here if you need backup. And, you know, sometimes Ella doesn’t think things through before acting. I bet she’ll realize it was a mistake as soon as you explain."
Yn sighed, feeling the weight on her chest lift slightly. "Yeah, you’re probably right. She can be a bit impulsive, but she’s not a bad person."
Alessia laughed. "Yeah, we’ve all got our moments. Plus, if she knew how much it upset you, I think she’d feel bad. She wouldn’t want to come between you and Summer."
Yn nodded, glancing over at her phone. "Guess I’ll go find her, then. Better to sort it out sooner rather than later."
"Good plan," Alessia agreed, giving Yn a quick hug. "And hey, if things get tense, just remember I’ve got your back. She’s got to understand this is serious to you."
Yn smiled, feeling a little lighter. "Thanks, Lessi. You’ve always got my back."
As Yn made her way to Ella’s room, she rehearsed what she wanted to say. The last thing she wanted was a confrontation, but she knew she couldn’t just ignore it. A few knocks later, Ella opened the door, looking a bit surprised.
“Yn,” Ella greeted, her tone hesitant. “Everything okay?”
Yn took a breath. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that picture you showed me on the bus."
Ella’s face turned red. "Oh... yeah. Was that… I mean, were you upset about it?"
Yn nodded, keeping her tone even. "Ella, Summer’s a model. She works with other people all the time, even players from other teams. Yesterday was just a photoshoot. But you telling me like that, like you’d already made up your mind about her… it wasn’t fair."
Ella looked down, clearly feeling awkward. "I didn’t mean it to come out that way. I just thought you should know, but… I guess I didn’t think about how it’d make you feel."
Yn softened a bit, seeing Ella’s regret. "I appreciate you looking out for me. But just… trust me, okay? If there’s something wrong, I’ll be the first to know. But this? It wasn’t what you thought."
Ella nodded quickly. "You’re right. I’m sorry, Yn. I’ll be more careful next time."
Yn gave her a small smile, feeling the tension finally ease. "Thanks, Ella. We’re good. Just… try not to jump to conclusions next time, yeah?"
Ella grinned sheepishly. "Lesson learned."
As Yn headed back to her room, she felt a sense of relief. She was glad she’d spoken up, and she knew things with Summer were stronger than ever.
