Lines We Cross - Alexia Putellas

Six. Home Sweet Home

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Veronica Castellano paced the room, her mind still reeling from the news she had just received. Living together with Alexia Putellas? It sounded like a recipe for disaster. They were both passionate players, but their on-field clash had escalated things to a whole new level. As she tried to wrap her head around the situation, there was a knock on the door.

Veronica's jaw dropped in disbelief. Living with Alexia? It was like a nightmare come to life.

As the reality of their punishment sank in, Veronica felt a surge of anger bubbling up inside her. This was all Alexia's fault, she reasoned. If she hadn't started the fight in the first place, they wouldn't be in this mess.

But as she glanced over at Alexia, she could see the frustration etched into her features. Maybe they were both to blame, Veronica conceded. Maybe this was just the wake-up call they needed to put aside their differences and focus on the game.

With a resigned sigh, they made their way out of Jonatan's office and towards their new shared living arrangement.

Alexia drove the pair back silently, decided on switching the radio to a quiet song to fill up the awkwardness that lingered.

The apartment was small but cozy, filled with the faint scent of lavender and the comforting hum of city life outside. Veronica couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension as she stepped over the threshold, unsure of what to expect.

The sight of a furry ball ran towards the woman as she stepped foot into Alexia's apartment.

Veronica chuckled, reaching out to scratch behind Nala's ears. The dog's tail wagged furiously, her tongue lolling out in a canine grin.

"I think she remembers me," Veronica remarked, her heart melting at the sight of the playful Pomeranian.

Alexia nodded, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yeah, she's got a good memory. She doesn't forget a friendly face."

As they settled into their new surroundings, an awkward silence descended upon them. Veronica busied herself with unpacking her belongings, stealing glances at Alexia out of the corner of her eye.

"Well, this is quite the predicament we're in," Alexia said, breaking the silence that hung between them.

Veronica nodded, her gaze fixed on the floor. "Yeah, no kidding. I can't believe Giraldez actually expects us to live together after what happened."

Alexia sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Look, I know things got out of hand on the pitch, but we can't change what happened. We need to figure out how to make the best of this situation."

Veronica looked up, meeting Alexia's eyes for the first time since she had entered the room. There was a flicker of something in Alexia's gaze—was it vulnerability? Uncertainty? Veronica couldn't quite place it.

"You're right," Veronica said, her tone softer now. "We can't let this affect our game or our team. We'll just have to make it work."

Alexia nodded, a hint of relief washing over her features. "Agreed. So, how do you suggest we handle this?"

Veronica considered the question for a moment before an idea struck her. "Well, we could start by setting some ground rules. Like, no bringing our on-field rivalry into the house, and we respect each other's space."

Alexia nodded in agreement. "Sounds fair. And maybe we could even use this time to get to know each other better. Who knows, we might actually end up being friends."

Veronica couldn't help but smile at the thought. It was hard to imagine becoming friends with someone she had clashed with so fiercely on the pitch, but stranger things had happened.