unexpected love (Leah Williamson)

Taking the Leap

Leah's POV:

Days after the girls' visit, life started to settle into a new rhythm. Ella was over constantly, helping with my physio routines, cooking meals, or just keeping me company. There was something unspoken between us that felt stronger, like we'd crossed an invisible line. I knew it was time to take a leap, even if a small part of me still felt scared. The truth was, I couldn't imagine going through this without her. And I didn't want to.

One evening, as the autumn sun set outside my window, casting a warm glow over the flat, Ella and I sat on the couch, both nursing mugs of tea. She was telling me about her day at work—a particularly challenging surgery on a young patient who'd come through against all odds. Her face lit up as she recounted the story, and I found myself just watching her, letting her words fade into the background.

"Leah? Did you hear me?" she asked, giving me a playful nudge when she noticed I was staring.

"Oh, yeah, sorry!" I laughed, feeling a little embarrassed at being caught in the moment. "Just... got a bit lost."

She tilted her head, her expression softening. "Lost in what?"

"Just... you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, the words escaping before I'd fully realized what I'd said.

Ella's cheeks flushed, and she laughed, a little shy but not pulling her gaze away. "Well, I guess there are worse things to get lost in."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself. Now was the moment. I could feel it.

"Ella, I—" I paused, nerves tightening in my stomach, but I pushed forward. "I've been wanting to ask you something."

She looked at me, curious and a bit anxious. "Alright... what's on your mind?"

I placed my mug on the coffee table, then turned to face her, taking her hand in mine. Her hand was warm, her fingers soft yet steady, the same way she'd held me through my recovery so far. I looked down, giving her hand a small squeeze, before looking up at her again.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," I began, my voice shaking a little. "These past few weeks, with everything—my injury, the surgery, the recovery—I don't think I would have made it without you by my side. And, honestly, I don't want to imagine my life without you anymore."

She smiled, her thumb brushing the back of my hand, waiting for me to continue.

"Ella... would you—would you be my girlfriend?" The words hung in the air, and for a split second, time seemed to freeze.

Ella's eyes widened, a smile spreading across her face that was equal parts shock and joy. She looked down, a soft laugh escaping her, then met my gaze again.

"I've been waiting for you to ask me that," she whispered, her green eyes sparkling as she leaned in, brushing her lips softly against mine. Her kiss was gentle but filled with a promise, a warmth that spread through me, washing away every last trace of doubt.

When we pulled back, she kept her forehead pressed against mine, her fingers intertwined with mine. "Yes," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "Yes, Leah. I want that, too."

We sat there, wrapped up in each other, a weight lifting from my chest. This felt right, like everything had finally clicked into place. Ella was by my side, my girlfriend, my constant, my anchor.

After a few moments, she leaned back, giving me a playful grin. "So, what exactly does 'being your girlfriend' involve? Is there some kind of Arsenal girlfriend initiation?"

I laughed, rolling my eyes. "Oh, yeah, there's a whole checklist. You'll have to sit through games, listen to me rant about drills, tolerate my taste in music..."

"Oh no, not your music!" she gasped, feigning horror, her laugh infectious.

"Too late, you signed up for this," I said, leaning back into the couch, her hand still in mine. "And I don't plan on letting you go."

Ella's POV:

That night, I stayed over, our first night together with this new label, "girlfriends." I hadn't expected such a simple word to make everything feel so different, but it did. We lay in bed, Leah's arm wrapped around me as we talked into the early hours, our conversation flowing like it never had before. There was a comfort in the quiet, in knowing that we'd chosen each other, not just as friends or companions, but as something more.

At one point, Leah turned to me, her face serious. "Thank you for sticking with me," she whispered, her voice low. "I know I'm not the easiest person right now. I'm still struggling with this whole injury thing, and I'm going to have my low moments... but I don't want to shut you out."

I touched her cheek, brushing away a stray tear that she didn't even realize had slipped. "You're allowed to have those moments, Leah. I'm here because I want to be, not just when it's easy, but especially when it's hard. So don't hold back. Let me be here for you."

She pulled me closer, her embrace warm, the weight of her gratitude and love settling around us. We stayed that way, tangled together, until we drifted to sleep.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be—right here, by her side, through every high and low.