Thank you Eliza!!!
Once she slipped under the covers, pulling the blanket over her shivering body, Erin was glad she was able to hide underneath. Because if she was able to control at least a little bit of her emotions while down there and hold back a few tears, she wasn't able to do so now.
Releasing a sob as her cold fingers clutched onto the comforter tightly, the blonde squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to prevent the tears from falling.
But nothing seemed to help.
"Cariño", a soft voice to her left spoke up, before some weight is settled onto the mattress, signaling Erin that Misa had taken a seat beside her.
The blonde felt the warmth of the sun from outside shine into her face as the blanket was carefully tugged away from over her head, revealing a pair of worried, dark brown eyes staring back at her.
"Hola, cariño", María whispers, a gentle smile on her lips as she reaches up, brushing a few strands of blonde hair out of her girlfriend's face.
But the therapist pulls away quickly, signaling to the goalkeeper that she didn't want to receive any of those touches right now.
"Don't push me away... I... I just want to be here for you", the brunette assures her, the smile on her lips fading as she saw Erin turn aroun, the blonde's back now facing her.
She really wasn't in the mood.
"I... I want to be alone for a while", the blonde replies in a soft, yet cracked voice that is barely hearable, as she wipes away her tears, before pulling the blanket back up, all the way to her chin.
Hearing Misa release a sigh sorrowful, Erin squeezes her eyes shut.
"Erin?", the brunette breathes.
"Hm?", Erin hums.
"I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. I guess... I had a little too much to drink last night. And I'm sorry I didn't realize you really had a headache", Misa tells her in a soft voice, even though she's somewhat annoyed that Erin is shutting her out like this.
Again.
But during those months into their relationship, the goalkeeper had learned that whenever the blonde needed a moment to herself, there was no way she would be able to convince her otherwise.
What Erin needed was time.
Time to process everything that had happened.
"Okay...", was the only response Misa received, before silence settled over the room, clarifying to the goalkeeper that Erin actually wished to be alone.
Well, maybe if...
"I'm going downstairs... you can.... just let me know if there's anything you need", Misa sighs, saddened that she didn't have the power to cheer her girlfriend up, as she's managed to do so many times before.
The goalkeeper remains sitting on the edge of the bed for a few more seconds, wondering if her girlfriend was going to say something in response.
But she didn't.
So Misa stood up, releasing another sigh, as she slowly made her way to the door. Not without pressing a soft kiss on the blonde's forehead, silently telling her that she would be there for her whenever she was ready.
Always.
Because after all, she truly loved Erin.
"Gracias", was all Erin murmured when she heard the door being opened, her words instantly causing the goalkeeper to stop her movements.
"You know I'll always be there for you, cariño. No matter what. But for the future... perhaps it's worth a try to forget about what happened. Leave the past behind", Misa suggests, well aware that those were the last words Erin wanted to hear at the moment, but she decided to tell her anyway.
Hearing those words, Erin's eyes cracked open.
But she didn't answer.
She simply stares out the window, her back still turned towards Misa.
If it would be so simple to leave the past behind, she probably would've done that by now.
And of course Erin knew her girlfriend was right. The fact that enough time had passed and maybe, if the reason for her anger towards Jenni weren't that bad anymore, she would be able to forget her. To forgive her.
But there was no way Erin would ever allow that to happen.
Because the striker was, in fact, destroying her life.
Meanwhile downstairs, Martha had plopped down onto the couch, Patri by her side, while Alexia and Leila were standing at the kitchen counter.
Since the winger was the only one familiar with the past Alexia and Erin shared, she was certain her friend needed someone to talk to in that moment.
And Alexia could definitely use that.
Propping her hands up against the kitchen island, the midfielder takes one deep, shaky breath after another, trying to calm her nerves after everything she just heard.
The things that Jenni confessed.
"Ale...", a soft voice beside her speaks up, before a warm hand gently finds its way to her lower back.
"I can't believe what she said, Leila... how dare she not even try to look after Erin after what she did? She... she may not know it... but with what she did, she destroyed my life too", Alexia sighs sadly, the memories of those last few years, especially the months after they were ripped apart, very present in her mind.
Hugging her friend from the side, Leila can't imagine how hard it must be.
Seeing Alexia like that, so broken and on the verge of tears, the winger wished Jenni would come back so she could just punch her in the face.
Because in a way, that's what she deserves.
"Is that why your friendship fell apart, Ale?", Leila questions softly, so only Alexia could hear.A slight shrug of the captain's shoulders was enough to answer her question.
"I couldn't stand to look at her anymore, Leila... I couldn't imagine the way Erin was suffering through all of this. Alone. I could picture her completely depressed every time I looked at my best friend. So I... I told Jenni to leave. I told her I didn't want to see her anymore", Alexia breathes, her heart hammering into her chest as she holds onto the edge of the kitchen island, supporting herself as her entire body freezes.
Somehow, she even felt a little sick.
"I get your point. You chose your love over your friend... and I can't blame you, to be honest. I probably would've done the same thing", Leila nods, assuring her friend that she would be by her side, no matter what the captain decides to do.
Hearing that word, Alexia's eyes shoot up.
Her cheeks blush that light shade of rose, and the captain's delicate lips form the smallest of smiles.
Love.
"Maybe... But it's... not that easy. I wish it was, though", the midfielder blushes, nervously running her fingers through her hair as she turns away, trying to hide the blush on her cheeks.
For a moment, Leila just chuckles.
And Alexia is surprised when her friend comes a little closer, turning them away from the others to be able to talk to Alexia more privately.
What now?
"Well, I made it really easy for you in my opinion. How many more chances shall I give you guys before you finally admit it?", Leila mumbles, brow furrowed, her voice low, as she watches Misa descend the stairs, immediately noticing the sad expression on the goalkeeper's face.
"W... What?", Alexia breathes, her eyes dilating.
"Really, Ale? And I used to think you would be clever. Come on... why the hell do you think I keep spending time with Misa? Because I still love her? Hell... no... I mean, we were happy most of the time, yeah... but I was just trying to keep her busy so you and Erin could.... well... work things out", Leila shrugs, acting like it's no big deal, but Alexia didn't seem to think so.
"Are you being serious?", the brunette gasps, stunned by what her friend did for her.
What a gesture.
"You are my friend, Ale. You told me that this woman, who's up there crying, is the one for you... so of course I'm trying to help", the winger chuckles, noticing the way Alexia looks at her, completely stunned, the brunette pursing her lips in surprise.
Leila couldn't help but crack a smirk when she saw her longtime teammate and one of her best friends looking at her like this.
It was amazing to see Alexia's eyes sparkling that way.
Leila was happy to see her like that.
Because she'd never seen that sparkle in the brunettes hazel eyes.
"You are... really great. I wish I could convince her", Alexia sighs sadly, nervously adjusting a couple of glasses on one of the shelves, a habit she used to have whenever she was nervous about something.
Trying to concentrate on her task, the captain felt a warm hand resting on her shoulder.
"Keep trying, Ale... if you really love her, I'm sure she won't be able to resist you much longer. I mean... how could anyone?", Leila winks, a knowing, determined smirk on her lips as she gave her friend's shoulder a little squeeze.
And Alexia couldn't help but smile.
Leila truly was the definition of a friend.
However, she couldn't believe what the winger had said. The word she had used to describe Alexia's feelings towards Erin.
Love.
Could that really be? After all these years? After they hadn't seen each other for so long? And after both of their lives heading into completely different directions?
Maybe.
"Now let me take them out to the pool and keep Misa busy... while you go upstairs and have a talk with your girl", Leila whispers, a soft smile on her lips as she watches the sparkle in Alexia's hazel eyes.
And before the captain was able to reply, Leila was already on her way towards the couch, ready to spend some time with Martha, Patri and her ex-girlfriend.
Only keeping her busy so Alexia could spend some time with Erin.
Gracias, friend.
Without wasting another moment, Alexia hastily retrieves a bottle of water from the fridge, along with a glass for Erin, and before anyone had a chance to see her, the captain was on her way upstairs.
On her way to Erin's room, she felt so nervous, Leila's words still very present in her mind. But Alexia was truly glad she might be given a chance to help this irresistible woman calm down.
The captain craved to be there for Erin.
To hug her. To hold her.
She hadn't done it then, so she at least wanted to do it now.
Gently tapping her fingertips against the door, leaning closer so she could hear a possible response, Alexia felt her heart rate pick up.
She was so nervous.
Cautiously, after not receiving a response for a couple of seconds, the captain nudged the door open, giving her just enough space to let herself in, and discovered a blond head peeking out from under the covers, the therapist's back turned towards her.
"What part of 'I want to be alone' did you not hear?", Erin snaps, obviously grumpy, listening to the door being shut.
And she wasn't kidding.
She had no idea, though.
"Are you sure you want me to leave, Bonita?", the captain asks quietly, coyly clasping her hands behind her back as she awaits Erin's reaction.
⬇️⭐️⬇️
Will we reach 220 ⭐️ for this?
Because I'm convinced we're all up for some irresistible fluff!