unexpected love (Leah Williamson)

Under the Night Sky

Ella's POV:

We stepped out of the bustling bar, and the cool night air hit me instantly. I wrapped my jacket tighter around me, glancing over at Leah, who seemed equally taken aback by the sudden chill. She looked at me and flashed a wide smile, as if she'd lost her words for a moment. And honestly... I didn't quite know what to say, either.

"Want to take a walk? There's a park just around the corner," Leah asked, her eyes still bright with the thrill of the night.

I nodded. "Yeah, that sounds nice. Let's go."

As we strolled through the quiet streets, I felt myself slowly relax. It was rare for me to connect so quickly with someone, but with Leah, it felt different—like I'd known her for ages. She shared stories about her team, funny anecdotes about the girls and the friendly rivalries they had. I laughed until tears formed in my eyes, wondering how it was possible to feel this at ease with someone I'd only just met.

"And you?" she asked suddenly, her voice softer, as if she were just as curious about me as I was about her. "Tell me something nobody else knows. Something that has nothing to do with work."

I hesitated, caught a little off guard by the question. Most people only ever wanted to know about my job, as if being a surgeon was all there was to me. But Leah was looking at me like she genuinely wanted to know me.

"Well..." I started, running a hand through my hair as I thought. "I've always loved art. Painting, sketching, anything creative really. It's how I unwind when things get too intense at work."

Leah's face lit up with surprise. "Really? I never would have guessed. Do you still make time for it?"

I shrugged. "Not as much as I'd like, honestly. But whenever I have a moment, I try to escape into it. There's something peaceful about creating something... knowing it doesn't have to be perfect, you know?"

Leah nodded, her gaze thoughtful. "I get that. It's kind of like football for me. When I'm on the field, it's like nothing else matters. Everything else just fades away."

Our eyes met, and there was a quiet understanding between us, as if we'd each just let the other in on something hidden. We continued walking, talking about our lives, our passions, and our fears. It was the kind of conversation that didn't feel forced or planned—it just flowed naturally, like we were old friends.

Eventually, we found ourselves at a bench overlooking the park's small pond. The moonlight reflected off the water, casting a soft glow over everything.

Leah turned to me, and for a moment, we just looked at each other, caught in a silence that felt comfortable yet electric.

"I feel like I could stay here forever," she whispered, her voice barely louder than the night breeze.

Without thinking, I reached over and took her hand. "Then let's stay a little longer," I murmured, feeling her fingers interlace with mine.

And so we sat there, hand in hand, both quietly hoping this night was only the beginning.