10

Chapter 10 and 11- Leo and Cat

Cat's POV

Leo and I found our seats and settled down. The award for the best player of the year wouldn't be presented until later on in the ceremony, so we may as well have gotten comfortable-ish. I sat at the outside of the row, despite urging Leo to sit there because it was easier for him to get out- to which he just shrugged and sat down on the inside anyway. 

I glanced beside me and felt myself smiling. He was chatting away animatedly to one of his old team mates, Alexis Sanchez. Alexis noticed me looking and nodded a 'hello'. I gave him a small wave back and turned my attention to the front of the room, where I could just make out the two presenters for the ceremony fiddling about with their microphones at the far side of the stage. 

I was quite proud of myself for keeping my shit together and not freaking out, even though I was completely overwhelmed with being surrounded by so many famous faces that I'd watched again and again on TV screens- scoring, defending, assisting, passing, shooting, saving. 

I suddenly felt the burn on the back of my neck of someone watching me (again?) and I spun in my seat. Steven had found me across the room. The girl he was sitting with was trying and failing to get his attention. She glanced at me once before frowning and giving up, folding her arms over her chest and slumping back in her chair. I felt briefly sorry for her. 

"Cat?" 

Leo prodded me gently in the side and I bit back a giggle, turning in my seat to face him. I was ticklish there. I scowled at him and he grinned, sticking his tongue out at me playfully. 

"You two are like big kids," Alexis commented, smirking. "It's good to see you make each other happy."

Leo nodded mutely and intertwined his fingers with mine as I leaned my head on his shoulder. "Yeah," he said, and I felt the rise and fall of his chest as he sighed. I looked up at him and he smiled back down at me fondly.

I bit my lip. Something dark flashed in Leo's eyes. I was aware of the gap between us closing rapidly. I closed my eyes-

And was instantly jerked back to reality as the presenters walked onto the stage, shouting their welcomes to everyone. I was forced into applause alongside every other spectator as the lights over the crowd dimmed, and the ceremony began.

Chaise won the journalist of the year award. My heart was filled with so much pride that it almost hurt. When I stood to applaud her, tears in my eyes, I also noticed that Chaise, Nena and I weren't the only few of our sisters there; everyone was there and we all rose to our feet together, sharing elated looks with one another around the room, as we watched Chaise accept her award and wave to the crowd- her eyes gravitating directly to us and breaking into a grin. 

I smiled to myself when I sat back down in my seat, seeing Manuel throwing his arms around his girl and showering her with kisses. He was up on stage next for the goalkeeper of the year award, alongside Tim  Howard from the US national team.

And Steven. 

I forced myself to look at either Tim or Manuel but found my gaze always slipping to Steven. He had found me among the spectators and his stare was focused on me alone. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Leo squeezed my hand gently. 

And for the second time that night, I was on my feet applauding as Manu was announced as the winner of the award. I could hear Chaise's delighted cheers as he winked at her, waving to us all, and accepting his prize just as she had. They were the Golden Couple of the night and Chaise wasted no time in dragging him down into a long kiss as he returned to his seat beside her, not caring who was watching.