Young Hearts Beat Fast

3) I Won't Back Down

"Come on, come on! First day of college, let's go!"

Alexis hurried around the flat, making lunches, grabbing her kit and making sure that she had some breakfast. Her sister Luce sat at the island it the kitchen watching her sister with an amused look on her face.

"Come on Luce or you'll be late. Have you finished your breakfast?"

"Nearly." Luce replied. She picked up a piece of toast and took a small bite.

Alexis sighed. They were going to be late. She placed all her stuff by the front door and went and sat on the stool opposite her sister. "Okay, what's up?"

"Nothing." Luce shrugged and took another small bite.

As Alexis sat and looked at her sister, she couldn't help but smile. Even though they were eight years apart in age, they were practically a mirror image of each other. Both had long black hair and striking green eyes. But this wasn't the time for comparing looks, Alexis needed to know what was wrong with her sister. Although, she had a feeling she already knew the answer.

See the main reason Alexis had left Liverpool and took her hiatus away from football wasn't a happy one. Alexis, Luce and their parents were involved in a horrific car crash. Only the sisters survived. It had been a hard year and a half as they both tried to grieve and move on with their lives.

Alexis had been trying to hold it all together while looking after her sister. It was her return to football that was going to keep her sane. She was so lucky to have Casey in her life. Casey had been a mother figure to the two sisters and had helped them with so much stuff since the accident. She had paid for the funeral, found a house in Manchester for the girls to move into, and gave them both jobs. Alexis as a member of her squad and Luce had now become a ball girl and assistant for the United team.

Finally things were starting to get better.

"Look, I know you're probably worried about today. You're in a new place and you don't know anyone but it's going to be okay. You're an amazing person and you will make loads of friends." Alexis reached over to place a hand on top of her sisters'.

Luce looked down at her breakfast and then back up at Alexis, tears in her eyes. "I just don't want to screw this up. I want to make mum and dad proud."

"And you will. With whatever you do. They're proud of you right now, I know they are." Alexis took a deep breath to try and keep her own tears at bay. "And so am I."

Luce rubbed at her eyes. "Thanks." She muttered.

Alexis nodded but then grinned. "I mean it though, hurry up and eat or we'll be late."

Luce laughed and carried on with her breakfast as Alexis moved around the flat, clearing up. But then she paused again, and looked over at her sister. "Hey Lex?... I'm proud of you too."

Alexis stopped in her tracks as she looked at Luce. She swallowed hard, tears nearly coming to her eyes. But she managed to grin, walked over to Luce and ruffled her sister's hair. "Let's get going." Was all she said.

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Finally training was over. It hadn't been a long day at all, but it had dragged in Janine's mind. They were taking it light because they were flying out to Switzerland tomorrow for their first Champion's League match of the season. Which the whole team was excited for, Janine included. But right now, her mind was focused on something else. The inevitable Alexis Parker-Rose once again.

But at least this meeting between them was planned, the previous two hadn't been. However, this was the main reason that Janine was feeling really nervous right now. Although they wouldn't be alone, Caroline would be there, but that didn't stop Janine's heart from pounding extra hard as she thought about it.