One day I'll have it all. // Williamson

Brunch

I entered my car, and put on Lany's criminally underrated album 'Mama's Boy'.

The vibe didn't quite fit London, but I wasn't really focused on that.

As I neared Leah's place, my mind danced between the casual banter we shared and the unspoken currents lingering beneath the surface. It felt like I was navigating uncharted territory, unsure of where this connection with Leah might lead.

The closest I had been to having a relationship of any sort was probably holding the hand of Tommy Wallace in second grade. I didn't even like the boy. He had just asked me because he said I was cool and good at football.

There was also that time in freshman year when a boy I barely knew had asked me to the prom. I said no, cause I had a game the next day. And because I didn't want to. We never talked again.

The realization hit me – I was treading waters unfamiliar to me. Relationships, especially those that transcended mere friendship, were a foreign landscape. But with Leah, it felt different, as if the usual rules didn't apply.

I parked the car in front of Leah's house. She was already outside, waiting for me, her eyes focused on her phone. I smirked, the damn woman had had fun scaring the crap out of me by sneaking on me the last few days. I waited for a few seconds, and when she seemed the most focused on what she was doing, honked at her loudly.

The sound of the honk startled Leah, her phone almost slipping out of her hands. She caught it at the last second, then raised her head to give me a death stare, while I burst out laughing.

Leah approached the car with an exaggerated sigh, playfully rolling her eyes. I couldn't help but laugh at her reaction.

"Really, California? You enjoy scaring me, don't you?" she teased, sliding into the passenger seat.

"Well, you started it," I retorted, grinning as I started driving. I took a look at her clothes. She looked effortlessly cool, with her baby blue jeans and black leather jacket.

I focused back on the road, driving without knowing where.

"You're a pain in my ass," Leah said, while typing an address on the screen of my dashboard.

"You love it." I retorted, and she smirked, giving me a quick look, before confirming the destination on the screen, the IA voice reading out loud: 'Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London. Take a right turn in 450 feet.'

I then started driving in silence, enjoying the music and occasionally watching over at Leah. Suddenly, a thought popped up in my head.

"Did you see Chelsea's game yeste-" I started, being almost immediately interrupted by Leah.

"Oh no, Villanueva. No football talk today. I wanna hear you talk about something else."

Leah's playful demand caught me off guard, but I couldn't help but smile. The steering wheel felt strangely foreign in my hands as I navigated away from the football-related topics.

"Alright, fair enough," I replied, casting a quick glance at Leah. "Let's switch gears. What do you want to talk about?"

Leah leaned back in her seat, tapping her fingers on her thigh as she pondered the question. "I asked you what other things you liked to do besides football, the other day. You never answered. Now I'd like to know."

I chuckled, glancing at Leah with a smirk. "You're persistent, huh? Alright, besides football, I..." I started, then pondered if I should actually tell her. "You sure you wanna know? Cause it's not what you expect, trust me."

Leah raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Now you've got me intrigued. Spit it out, California. What's the mysterious hobby?"

I took a deep breath, hesitating for a moment. "Dirt bike riding."

The revelation about my unconventional hobby hung in the air for a brief moment before Leah's laughter filled the car.

"Bullshit," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "No way. You just made that up."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "No, seriously. I've got a dirt bike back home in California. Used to ride it quite often before I joined Arsenal. It's like my little escape from everything. When I have a shit day playing football, I lash out at my bike."

Leah continued laughing, clearly finding my unexpected hobby amusing. "Well, I never would've guessed."

"Why?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't know. You look so... small, and fragile. No offense, it's not a bad thing, I think it's really cute, but yeah. You on a dirt bike? Never would've guessed." She said, and I giggled at her words, blushing slightly when the word 'cute' escaped her pretty lips. "I definitely wanna see you on a bike someday."

"Nah, I kinda think my 'bike riding career' is over now. I mean, it's the best way to get injured. Maybe during the summer break."

As we reached our destination on Brompton Road, we found a quaint little brunch spot. The aroma of coffee and the chatter of people inside greeted us as we stepped in. We settled at a cozy corner table, the low hum of conversations creating a comforting ambiance. I wondered why Leah had chosen that destination in particular.

Maybe it had a special place in her heart. Maybe she had just looked for a place to eat on Google. I had no idea.

Knightsbridge was a nice part of London. One I had never set feet in before. After all, London was enormous and I had only been here for a week. It looked quite posh, to be honest.

Leah and I perused the menu, engaging in casual banter about our food preferences. The atmosphere was easygoing, and I found myself enjoying the simplicity of a regular day out.

I asked Leah about the neighborhood, and she instantly started babbling about London, a huge smile on her face. I knew she had grown up a few miles north of the capital, but she seemed so entranced by the subject still. She knew London like the back of her hand. After all, it had been her home for almost ten years now.

Leah's animated descriptions painted a vivid picture of London, and I found myself captivated by her enthusiasm. The conversation flowed effortlessly between bites of brunch, with topics ranging from her childhood memories to her favorite places in the city.

As we sipped on our coffees, I couldn't help but appreciate the simple joy of sharing a meal with someone whose company felt remarkably easy and familiar, despite our relatively short acquaintance. Leah's laughter and genuine interest in our conversation created a warmth right through my heart, making me even more confused about my own identity and feelings.

Amidst the casual banter, our eyes met, and for a moment, it felt like the world around us faded away. The unspoken tension lingered, and I couldn't help but wonder if Leah sensed it too. Her eyes seemed bluer under the artificial lights of the café. The air seemed to crackle with a quiet understanding, leaving me yearning for clarity.

As we finished our meal, Leah suggested taking a stroll in Hyde Park to enjoy the crisp winter air. The idea of spending more time with her appealed to me, even though the mention of winter made me wince. I hated the cold, especially because it was a much colder cold in London than it was in Los Angeles. Even though that didn't make any sense. I still said yes, though, and after unsuccessfully insisting on paying, I followed Leah outside, my cheeks immediately reddening with the cold air.

Leah immediately saw this, and she chuckled, gently shoving me with her elbow.

"Come on, California, walking's gonna warm you up."

"Easy for you to say," I mumbled, loud enough for her to hear.

Leah flashed me a playful grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, you'll just have to cuddle up to stay warm then," she teased, linking her arm with mine.

The casual intimacy of her gesture sent a flutter through my chest, and I couldn't deny the warmth spreading within me.

Fuck. I was definitely feeling something for Leah Williamson.