Two Minute Warning

Between the Lines

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The hum of the city was quiet at this hour, the streets nearly empty as Joe drove Alessandra back to her apartment. The post-game celebration had been exactly what they needed, an escape, a night of joy, a moment where they weren't the quarterback and the cheerleader, the rising star and the athlete. They were just Joe and Alessandra.

Alessandra glanced over at him, the soft glow of the dashboard illuminating his face. His hands were steady on the wheel, his expression relaxed but thoughtful. He had been like this all night, present but reflective, like something was lingering on his mind.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked, her voice soft in the quiet space of the car.

Joe's fingers flexed on the steering wheel before he sighed. "Just....us."

Alessandra's stomach did a little flip. "In what way?" Joe pulled into her apartment complex and put the car in park, but he didn't make any move to leave. Instead, he turned toward her, his blue eyes meeting hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.

"I've been thinking about how much things have changed," he admitted. "How we went from barely talking to being here...like this."

Alessandra smiled. "Yeah, it's been a whirlwind, hasn't it?"

Joe chuckled, shaking his head. "More like a damn hurricane." He reached out, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear. "But I wouldn't change it."

Her heart pounded. This was the side of Joe she loved the most, the one who let his walls down, who let her see the emotions he usually kept locked away.

"I wouldn't either," She admitted. "But I also know things are only going to get harder."

Joe frowned slightly, his thumb brushing over her cheek. "You think so?"

Alessandra sighed, leaning into his touch. "Joe, I'm still figuring out my career. You have yours. We both have demanding lives. And I don't want to be someone who holds you back."

His expression darkened. "Alé, you could never hold me back."

"But I know what this life is like," she continued. "Traveling, pressure, expectations. I want to be with you, but I don't want us to become a casualty of everything around us."

Joe was silent for a long moment, his fingers tracing absentminded circles on her skin. Then, he exhaled. "I get it. And I won't lie...I worry about it too. But I think we've already proven that we can handle the hard stuff."

Alessandra bit her lip, her mind flashing back to everything they'd already endured, her relationship with Cole, Joe's attempts to reconnect, the distance, the media, the uncertainty. They had gone through hell and back, yet they were still here, still choosing each other.

"So, what do we do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Joe smiled, slow and confident. "We take it one day at a time."

Alessandra exhaled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. One day at a time. That, she could do. He leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was both soft and sure. She melted into him, her hands sliding into his hair as he deepened the kiss, pouring everything he couldn't say into it. By the time they pulled apart, her head was spinning.

"Come inside?" she asked, her voice laced with hope.

Joe smirked, pressing one last kiss to her lips before nodding. "Yeah, I'll stay."

Falling asleep next to Joe had become something Alessandra cherished more than she ever expected. It wasn't just the warmth of his body beside hers or the way he always managed to pull her close in his sleep, it was the security of knowing he was there, that she wasn't in this alone.

When she woke up the next morning, he was still asleep, his arm draped over her waist. She smiled to herself, taking a moment to just exist in the quiet before the chaos of the day began. But soon enough, her phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking the peace. Groaning, she reached for it and saw Harlow's name flashing on the screen.

Harlow
Brunch? I need details about last night

Alessandra grinned, shaking her head before responding.

Alé
You're insatiable. But yes, brunch sounds perfect

She carefully maneuvered out of Joe's grasp, slipping out of bed without waking him. After getting ready, she left him a note on the counter and headed to meet Harlow at their favorite brunch spot.

"You know, you could've at least waited until noon to blow up my phone," Alessandra teased as she slid into the booth across from Harlow.

Harlow rolled her eyes. "Please, we both know I have no patience when it comes to your love life."

Alessandra laughed. "Fair."

"So...." Harlow wiggled her eyebrows. "Tell me everything. How was the night out? How was Joe? Did he finally confess his undying love for you?"

Alessandra rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the smile that crept onto her lips. "It was perfect. The game, the celebration, meeting Ja'Marr's girlfriend, everything just felt.....right."

Harlow rested her chin on her hand, studying Alessandra. "You're glowing, you know that?"

Alessandra laughed. "I think I'm just really happy."

"And Joe?"

Alessandra's expression softened. "I think he's happy too."

Harlow smirked. "Good, because if he screws this up, I will personally destroy him."

Alessandra snorted. "Noted."

Over the next few weeks, Alessandra and Joe settled into a new rhythm. She balanced her cheerleading schedule with writing music, spending hours in the studio, pouring her emotions into her songs.

One night, after a long studio session, she sat in her apartment with her guitar, strumming a melody she had been working on.

Joe, who had been lounging on the couch watching her, finally spoke. "That one sounds different."

Alessandra glanced up. "Good different or bad different?"

He tilted his head, thinking. "Good different. What's it about?"

She hesitated before answering. "Us. The uncertainty, the trust, the way we keep choosing each other even when it's not easy."

Joe sat up, resting his arms on his knees. "Sing it for me?"

Alessandra took a deep breath before playing, her voice soft yet strong as she poured her emotions into the lyrics. When she finished, she looked up, finding Joe staring at her with something unreadable in his expression.

"That was beautiful," he said quietly.

Alessandra set her guitar down and moved toward him, settling onto the couch beside him. "I meant every word."

Joe pulled her into his arms, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. "Then I'll make sure I live up to them."

Alessandra smiled, sinking into his embrace.

No matter what the future held, they had each other. And for now, that was enough.