A.Russo: She's Somebody's Daughter

Alessia had never been the type to shy away from taking huge risks. She took pride in her ability to always see the potential of a positive ending to a journey before she had even embarked on it, even if it didn't always work out that way.

But this risk was unique. Her decision to transfer to Arsenal was more than just a cross-country move; it was much more than that. Of course, to United fans, the risk she was taking by joining an injury-prone team was ridiculous. They had just as much chance of qualifying for the Champion's League, so it wasn't like Arsenal had anything additional to offer her.

Alessia's decision to transfer had devastated Ella as well. She had hoped and prayed to be best friends with Alessia from the moment they met, and now that her hopes had become reality, she wasn't sure she could bear losing their bond.

Alessia, while still devastated, knew that this was necessary. Things hadn't been going well at her club for some time, and accepting monetary compensation without assurances of change would only hurt herself and her teammates. She had no choice but to go, even if it meant taking the most painful risk she'd ever taken.

So, with a heart burdened by sorrow and a car packed so tightly that the rear view mirror was obscured, Alessia said her goodbyes to the place she had once called home. In the absence of an audience, she made a silent vow that she would return one day. She was uncertain of the exact moment, but she knew deep down that it would happen.

London had welcomed her with open arms during her initial days in the city. The bustling streets and vibrant atmosphere had left her feeling excited, maybe even a little overwhelmed. Surrounded by her new teammates, she felt an enormous sense of love and support. Many of them had witnessed her tearful breakdown during the World Cup final. Their intention was to create an environment where she would truly feel a sense of belonging, allowing her to begin healing from her shattered dreams.

Jonas had been Jonasing. He had been there for her, offering words of inspiration and encouragement, sometimes needlessly. He made an undeniable effort to make her feel heard, asking her questions about what she believed she could achieve despite the challenging schedule she had faced. After all, she had just returned from Australia and now had to prepare for the Champion's League qualifiers. Alessia, who always aimed to please, had made a promise to him that she would do whatever the club required of her. Little did she know, this reassurance would be one she would come to regret.

And that regret came quickly, unexpectedly.

As Alessia stepped onto the pitch that day, a wave of unease washed over her. Her eyes were drawn to the big screen, where the scoreline loomed ominously. It was the last thing she had anticipated—finding her team trailing 2-0 against Paris FC. Quickly, though, she managed to make her own contribution to her new club, scoring the goal that would rekindle that belief in the team.

That's why it hurt so much.

England's journey in the World Cup had been nothing short of tumultuous. They had faced numerous setbacks and challenges along the way. However, against all odds, they had managed to overcome every obstacle and make it to the highly anticipated World Cup final. It was a remarkable achievement for the team, and her nation had been filled with excitement at the idea that football might be coming home. Alessia couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of luck. It was as if the universe had conspired in their favour, ensuring that their unwavering determination would become the stuff of legends. When she allowed herself to dream in the days leading up to the final, she would imagine the commentators discussing their remarkable journey as they made their way towards the podium to collect their winners' medals.

Resilience. That's what they would say about her team.

The sensation she had during this match was reminiscent of the one she had on World Cup final day. The beginning of Arsenal's match had been quite chaotic, even bordering on diabolical, but fortune appeared to be favouring them when Beattie managed to score during additional time. As the final minutes of the match ticked away, that thought of the commentators calling her team resilient fuelled her determination. The crowd had held their breaths as the ball left Alessia's body and headed towards the goal, the stadium erupting when it found the back of the net.

Her belief and her dreams had driven her to raise her hand swiftly, eager to take a penalty. The idea that maybe the commentators would be calling her resilient—maybe they would be recalling the risk she had taken to come to Arsenal—the fairy tale of her story. Little did she know, her shot would never find its way to the back of the net.

On both occasions, Alessia had realised those words of resilience would never be spoken.

The journey home had been filled with an eerie silence, as if every member of the team had forgotten how to speak. No one could quite believe that this was the way things had turned out. The girls had spoken to her previously, sharing their views on the story of the previous season. They referred to it as their annus horribilis. Despite the challenges they had faced, they held onto optimism, believing that every difficult path would eventually lead to brighter days. That hadn't been the case.

Kim was the one who took the initiative with a tearful Alessia, reaching out to her with a soft touch on her arm. She wanted to remind her that the narrative of her transfer didn't have to be written based on what had happened that day. Katie arrived shortly after, her only action being to gently wrap her arm around the younger girl's neck, drawing her in close in a warm embrace.

The rest of the girls trailed behind, their hearts heavy with the recent memory of watching as Alessia, just weeks ago, had been wiping her tears away on worldwide tv channels as Spain triumphantly hoisted the trophy into the air. The sight had left a lasting impression on the team, willing them to protect her at all costs.

But it was Jen who brought the worst news.

"Less, I wouldn't advise that." The Scottish accent was firm."What? This?" Alessia asked, holding her phone up."Yeah, maybe just... just don't look. For now."

Alessia couldn't help but let out a heartfelt laugh, her heart filled with warmth as she observed how protective the girls were being. She couldn't help but find it amusing how they seemed to believe that she was incapable of handling any criticism directed towards her club.

But they weren't criticising her club.

"I can handle it." Alessia shrugged, typing in her passcode."It's just..." Jen began."Oh my god." Alessia choked out, her notifications filled with mocking messages.

In the days that followed, Alessia found herself consumed by an insatiable curiosity. She couldn't resist the temptation to scroll through every tweet that mentioned her name. It became a relentless pursuit; some may have even seen it as an act of punishment on herself for breaking the hearts of her new fans before she had really even had a chance to meet them.

The devoted fans of United, who had once sacrificed hours of their lives in hopes of a mere glimpse of her, were now ripping her to shreds. They found amusement, perhaps even joy, in the idea that she had made a decision to join a club that wouldn't be going any further this season than the club she had left.

It hurt. It hurt more because she had left a little piece of her heart with them.

In the week leading up to the start of the WSL season, Jonas couldn't help but notice the visible blow to her confidence. Alessia, once smiley and bouncy, was now doubting every movement she made on the ball. When given the option to finesse her shooting or her penalty kicks, Alessia had chosen the latter every single time.

That was a huge factor in his choice to extend an invitation for his daughter's 21st birthday party to the team. He hoped that witnessing the team's strong bond off the field would help shift Alessia's perspective before the first game of the season.

"You have to come." Beth insisted."I want to, I'm just not sure I'm in much of a partying mood right now." Alessia sighed."Well, all the more reason to come. You can sit in the corner with Kim and talk about how much the two of you don't want to be there. It saves any of us from having to sit with her." Beth said playfully.

Beth was met with a gasp from Kim, who refuted the idea that she wouldn't want to be there. Deep down, everyone knew she wouldn't. She didn't dislike spending time with her team at social gatherings; she just preferred a calm and peaceful dinner over being coerced onto the dance floor.

"Fine, I'll come. But I'm only doing this for you, Kim.""Great. Miserable duos are always better than miserable singletons anyway." Beth smiled proudly, winking towards her captain.

When your dad had told you that the team would be attending your party, you had no idea that this was your new journey.

You knew a bit about Alessia, primarily that your dad had video called you and done a happy dance when he received confirmation of her signing with Arsenal. You had also witnessed her tears streaming down her face during the World Cup final, a moment that tugged at your heartstrings just like it did when you saw anyone in distress.

Your dad had given you a stern warning not to bring up the Champions League exit or that dreaded final, confiding in you that Alessia's move hadn't brought her the payoff she had hoped for so far.

You had dedicated weeks of your life to meticulously organising this party, a party that your father believed was happening prematurely. He still saw you as his little girl, unwilling to acknowledge the fact that you had grown up and were no longer quite so little.

You'd picked your outfit months in advance—an emerald green dress that hugged your figure perfectly, accentuating the tan you had picked up during your summer of travelling across Europe. Your jewellery plans changed the morning of the party, opting to wear the charm bracelet your mum had given you that morning and the necklace your grandma had given you with instructions that you didn't have to feel pressured into wearing it if you didn't like it.

The party was in full swing as you entered with your family, laughter and music filling the air. You mingled with various groups of people, not really having a group of your own in London yet, but more little bubbles of acquaintances.

Shortly before 9pm, the Arsenal girls made their grand entrance, their presence instantly captivating everyone around them. They approached you one by one, showering you with warm hugs and reminding everyone that you were the main attraction of the evening, not them. You loved them for that.

Jen had given you a makeup set, and it was clear that it had been carefully chosen by Amber. Katie, being Katie, had gifted you an Ireland top with her name and number on the back. Leah, with her impeccable taste, handed over two new records for your record player, letting you know that she had picked them out for you personally. And then there was Kim, who gave you the safety-conscious and sensible gift of a dashcam for your car, a device she had repeatedly insisted you needed before you drove the streets of London.

Alessia was last in line. As she approached you, you could sense a nervousness that hadn't been present in the other girls. In her right hand, she tightly grasped a gift bag, her fingers clutching it so tightly that her knuckles had paled, their colour fading to a stark white.

As she handed it over, you couldn't help but notice the visible tremble in her hand. There was an awkwardness in her posture, as if she was unsure whether to embrace you with the same warmth as her teammates that were more familiar with you had.

"I didn't know what you liked so I got you... sorry... I don't know why I'm telling you what's in the bag. It's a present, it's meant to be a surprise." She fumbled her words.

No matter what lay within the bag, you were sure that Alessia's main gift to you that night had been her beauty. You had always found her attractive, but seeing her in person was a whole new experience.

There was something about her presence that was captivating and intriguing. Gazing into her eyes, you couldn't help but notice how the television had failed to capture the striking shade of blue of them. And when she smiled, oh, it had you hook, line, and sinker. Her smile was perfect, and her teeth were whiter than any you had ever witnessed on a toothpaste advertisement.

"I really appreciate this, thank you so much. You really didn't have to get me anything." You smiled, wrapping your arms loosely around her.

As you released her from your embrace, Alessia's face grew a smile, but her eyes couldn't hide her obvious feeling of imposture syndrome. You watched as she made her way towards the corner of the room, where she intended to spend her night with Kim.

Although you were intrigued by her, you were thankful that she hadn't spent any longer talking to you, knowing that if you had looked at her for another moment, the telltale signs of your attraction would have been impossible to hide.

You carried on with your night, finding yourself immersed in the lively atmosphere of the private party, surrounded by the Arsenal girls. Beth and Katie, always full of energy, took you under their wing, urging you to let loose and allow your hips to speak for themselves.

Eventually needing to take a break, you beckoned for your dad, pulling him along to the bar with you. You chatted with him, thanking him for allowing you to be the one to organise all of this, before the face of a familiar blonde caught your attention.

"Sorry. You can go first." She smiled awkwardly, midway through placing her drinks order for herself and Kim."No, no. You're good. You were here before us." You reassured her.

She flashed you a warm smile, her attention shifting back to the bartender as she finished placing her drinks order. Your eyes searched for her hands, noticing that the tremble was still present. You wondered why you cared so much, to be honest.

"Thanks. I hope you're enjoying your party. Your birthday party. I hope you're having a good birthday party."

You watched as Alessia mentally chastised herself, feeling an overwhelming urge to reach out and gently steady her trembling hands. You wanted to tell her that you empathised with her experience of being in a new environment and desperately seeking to make new connections. However, just as you were about to open your mouth to speak, placing your hands behind your back to stop the urge to touch her, Alessia swiftly dashed off to her designated safe spot with Kim, leaving you to continue your conversation with your dad.

"She seems nice." You nodded towards him."She is. What did she buy you?"

You walked across to the table of gifts, returning with the gift bag, which was ever so neatly taped shut. As you peeled back the tape, a sight that made your heart flip greeted your eyes. A layer of colourful gift paper was placed across the top, crinkled and bunched in a way that told you she had probably attempted to perfect it more than once. You lifted out the paper, noticing tiny confetti in the shape of the number 21 falling through the air, making your heart flip for a second time.

"Wine, chocolate, a candle, fluffy socks, hot chocolate. Wow, what isn't in it?" You let out a laugh as you showed your dad.

From the corner of your eye, you spotted her again. She sat across the room quietly, observing you as you rummaged through the bag of gifts she had given you. In that moment, your heart sank as you noticed the unmistakable expression of embarrassment on her face.

It was then that you realised that you hadn't given much consideration to how the situation would have appeared to her. There you stood, listing off the items that she had chosen for you and sharing a laugh with your dad. You knew your laughter wasn't directed at her. It was simply a result of the delightful flutters in your heart brought about by her considerate actions. You possessed enough empathy, though, to understand that she might not perceive it in the same light.

You felt awful.

You were ready to approach her and explain that what she had seen wasn't how it had looked. You wanted to tell her how much you appreciated the thoughtful added extras, like the gift paper and the 21 confetti, but your plans were spoiled when the lighting in the room suddenly shifted and a chorus of happy birthday resonated through it.

You momentarily lost concentration on Alessia as you found yourself basking in the idea that this entire room existed solely for the purpose of celebrating your birthday. When the lights flicked back to life, your gaze shifted across the room, desperately seeking the girl you had unintentionally hurt, but only an empty chair was visible beside Kim.

"I'm just going to the toilet." You excused yourself.

As you stepped into the bathroom, a sniffle could be heard from the cubicle furthest from the door. The sound tugged at your heart, forcing a wave of guilt across your body. The invitation to the party for Alessia was meant to be a gesture of kindness, a way to help her embrace her new life in London, but your own thoughtlessness had unintentionally made her feel like she was the butt of the joke between you and your dad, who also happened to be her new manager.

"Alessia?" You called out."Yeah?"

In spite of her best attempts to conceal the emotions in her voice, you could almost envision the scene unfolding behind the closed door of her cubicle. Your mind showed you Alessia tightly gripping a crumpled piece of toilet paper, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as she desperately tried to hold back the flood of tears that were trying to escape her eyes.

"Are you okay?""Yeah."

You contemplated the idea of simply embracing that response, allowing her to remain in the comfort of her own company, but then your mind wandered back to the time when you had just arrived in London. You thought of those moments when you would have assured others you were fine, while deep down, all you truly wanted to do was let out a scream, telling them that you weren't okay and just needed a hug.

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way but I know you're upset and I was wondering if you wanted to let me in there."

Anxious anticipation filled you as you nervously bit your lip, hoping that you hadn't done the wrong thing. After a brief pause, the sound of the metal latch being slid across the door finally played out. It was the signal for you to gently push the door open and shimmy your way into the cubicle beside Alessia.

The sight you found was exactly what you had pictured. Her hands continued to tremble, tightly gripping a tissue that had been used to wipe away her tears.

"Shall we sit?" You asked quietly.

With a nod of understanding, the two of you found yourselves sliding down the wall of the cubicle. Your arm instinctively wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close in a comforting hug. There was something about her that stirred a deep sense of protectiveness within you. It was a feeling you couldn't quite explain or understand, but in that very moment, you knew that it had become your ultimate mission to shield her from the loneliness you knew she was facing.

"I was once new to London. It's really hard, especially if you aren't used to somewhere as busy as this." You whispered.

Alessia found herself in a bit of a predicament. Her arms seemed to have a mind of their own, unsure where to settle without invading your personal space and instead just twitching around. Gently, you wrapped them around your body before moving your fingers up to fix her hair.

"I know it hasn't been the start you dreamed of, but that doesn't mean it can't be the ending you dreamed of. Dad's forever telling me that one competition doesn't define you as a team, even when it feels like that at the time. I remember thinking that when I watched you at the World Cup. I remember thinking, wow, I wish these commentators would talk about how resilient that team has been instead of how missed out at the final hurdle."

"Resilient." Alessia whispered.

You didn't know why that was the one word Alessia felt the need to repeat because you didn't know how badly she had dreamed of hearing that play out on the repeats of her World Cup final.

"Yeah, resilient. What you guys went through? Losing those players because of injuries, then... Walsh, is it? Going off on a stretcher, and then the red card! God, I couldn't believe you guys made it to the final. I couldn't believe how resilient you had all been. I'm not sure I could've been that strong."

"That means a lot. Everything, actually. Thank you." Alessia whispered.

You seemed to have finally cured her aching heart—well, mended it a little, at least. She sat up, releasing a long breath through pursed lips and dabbing at her eyes.

"I can't believe I have you sitting on the toilet floor hugging a girl you've just met on your 21st birthday. What a way to get the new manager on side." Alessia chuckled, embarrassment clear in her cheeks.

"Are you joking? I've just had the entire room sing happy birthday to me, I was glad to get out of there."

Alessia giggled, standing to her feet and giving you a hand up as you made your way out of the cubicle. She checked herself in the mirror, sighing as she noticed the panda eyes she had given herself with her tears. She tried to rub under her eyes with the middle of her index finger, sighing again as she only smudged her make-up more.

"Here, let me." You smiled.

You took a step towards her, ignoring the way your body tingled when your face was so close to hers. She closed her eyes, noticing her own body tingle as your thumbs gently glided under her eyes. You couldn't help but appreciate her beauty, knowing that with her eyes closed, she would be unaware that you were doing so.

"All done." You whispered."Thank you."

Neither of you could deny that this was a moment. You locked eyes with her, a shiver running down your spine. There was an intensity in her gaze that seemed to go right through your being. Your eyes couldn't help but wander to her lips, which held the subtle hint of a smile.

In that moment, it felt like time was standing still. You could've sworn you saw her head tilt ever so slightly to the side, as if she were silently inviting you to replicate her movements. Slowly, your faces inched closer to one another's, neither of you quite brave enough to reach just far enough.

"There you are!" Beth burst through the doors, jolting the two of you apart."Hey.""Less, have you been crying?" Beth's face faltered slightly.

You saw the worry that filled her eyes, knowing yourself that if you aren't ready to tell someone what's going on, there is nothing worse than them asking. You needed to save her the agony of having to relive the feelings she had felt when you first entered the toilet.

"With laughter. I thought you all said she was lovely. Nope, turns out she's the type who cries with laughter when I slip in bathrooms and have to grab the sink to stop myself dying." You said dramatically, wanting to be as convincing as possible."Less! On her birthday?" Beth gasped, letting out a giggle."What can I say? It was funny. Obviously, if she had died, that would've been different." Alessia smirked, looking at you with thankful eyes."Alessia Russo, you're evil. And I love it." Beth grinned.

When you returned to the party, Alessia didn't return to that dark corner of the room. Instead, you caught glimpses of her dancing throughout the night with her new friends, her new family.

If you had thought broken Less was beautiful, happy Less was one hundred times more than that.

"Has she got a... you know?" You whispered to Katie."No, I'm not sure what you mean?" Katie smirked."You know exactly what I mean." You slapped her arm."I'll find out for you." Katie smiled."Thanks."

You were grateful to Katie for all of about ten seconds before you remembered what kind of joker the Irish woman was. Your heart pounded in your chest as her voice cut through the air, calling out for Alessia and beckoning her to join the two of you.

"Less, she wants to know if you have a... you know?" Katie wiggled her eyebrows."A you know?" Alessia questioned.

You closed your eyes and scrunched your face up, something that didn't go unnoticed to Alessia, who had finally grasped what was going on.

"Oh, a you know. No, I don't have one of those." Alessia's lips curved into a mischievous smile."Oh god, Katie you're so embarrassing!" You groaned."I can be worse." Katie said proudly."Don't!" You cried out."Too late. Sometimes when two people love each other..." "Get out of here!" You slapped her arm again, pushing her away as she held her hands up, protesting her innocence.

Alessia watched the two of you with a smile on her face, knowing that at some point she was going to catch your eyes again. Which she did.

"I'm sorry. I was trying to be discreet, I don't know why I thought Katie was the answer to that." You cringed."It's okay, at least both of us have been embarrassed tonight." She chuckled."For the record, I'm glad you don't have a you know." "I'm glad I don't too." Alessia smiled bashfully."Would you want to come over to my flat sometime? I can offer you wine, chocolates, a candle, fluffy socks and hot chocolate to share.""I'd like that. I am sorry about the mixed bag of gifts, I just didn't know what you liked and...""I loved them. You picked all of my favourite things, that's why I couldn't stop giddy giggling when I was looking through them." You cut her off.

Another moment occurred between the two of you. Despite the pulsating rhythm of the music, your eyes were locked in a silent connection of adoration. Of course, Katie, who had been watching on, had other plans.

"She's somebody's daughter, you know, Less!" The Irish woman shouted."Yep. My managers. Got it." Alessia nodded, sighing at the realisation that not having a you know made no difference, she couldn't go there.

You saw the look of disappointment in her eyes, confirming that whatever you were feeling, she felt it too. So, you took a leap of faith, doing something completely out of character for you. You took a step closer to her, finding her ear with your lips and taking a deep breath before you spoke.

"He doesn't have to know."