CHAPTER EIGHT !
⤷ ❝ YOU'RE REALLY HERE ❞
♔♛
ⁱᵐᵉˢˢᵃᵍᵉ
nfl baby 🤗
america's sweetheart 😊 ─── alessia
nfl baby 🤗 ─── chris
america's sweetheart 😊
hiii
idk if you're already out warming up already but
i wanted to say good luck 😕😕
nfl baby 🤗
i'm about to go out
i'm just getting calf massages rn
america's sweetheart 😊
you're so bougie
who gets massages before a game
nfl baby🤗
me 🤔
it helps the blood flow in my legs quicker
america's sweetheart 😊
whatever you say..
nfl baby 🤗
if the blood doesn't flow in my legs, how will i score a td
how will i do your celebration
america's sweetheart 😊
fair enough
but now that you let me in on this information you HAVE to score
like i won't let it slide if you don't
nfl baby🤗
what would happen if i didn't
america's sweetheart 😊
ig i'd have to move on to someone who's already in the nfl
nfl baby 🤗
if you wanted to do that, you would've already
america's sweetheart 😊
and who says i don't want to anymore
nfl baby🤗
me
america's sweetheart 😊
oh okay
nfl baby 🤗
😊😊
okay i'm gonna actually go out now
i won't really be on my phone until after the game so
i'll text you then
america's sweetheart 😊
okay i'll be watching
tuned in rn
good luck 🤍
nfl baby🤗
thank you les 🤍
ⁱⁿˢᵗᵃᵍʳᵃᵐ
alessiaflores 10m
THE SUN SETS OVER THE ROSE BOWL STADIUM, a warm glow of pink, purple, blue and orange as a background for the game going on below. alessia is perched in the loge seats, her eyes fixed on the vibrant green expanse below. the buzz of the crowd and the excitement in the air create an energy that is just so college football as ucla's first drive of the game unfolds.
athena, seated beside alessia, is equally engrossed in the action. the anticipation builds as ucla moves down the field, each successful play met with cheers from the sea of blue and gold-clad fans. the atmosphere is electric, and the roars of the crowd reverberate through the historic stadium.
amidst the cheering masses, chris, emerges as a key player in the drive. his swift movements and precise catches draw the attention of the spectators, and alessia can't help but feel a little pride. chris kind of is the reason why she's here and she kind of wants to claim some of his good vibes.
alessia opted to not wear any ucla clothing. she thought it would be to crazy and that, it allows her to remain inconspicuous in the loge seats. the stadium's massive screens capture every moment on the field, but alessia hasn't made an appearance yet.
she glances at athena with a mischievous smile, knowing that chris is yet to discover her presence. "imagine they just never realize i'm here."
alessia doesn't respond right away as she's too entrance in the game. she's leaning over, hands clasped together as ethan garber scrambles around the pocket. he lets the ball in fly in chris' direction and it's a little behind him. chris makes an adjustment, turns around, and drives to bring the ball in his grasp.
the crowd erupts in cheers and so do athena and alessia. athena turns to alessia and gives him a hair five, whispering, "okay so good work choosing the best one..."
alessia laughs and bumps into her friend playfully as she continues to clap for the play. athena bumps her back and points to the giant screens overhead as the camera zooms in on chris. "aw look at how excited he is."
the cameras show chris and than briefly chest bumping and chris with a grin on his face that could be seen even with his helmet on. alessia grins, his smile making her smile. she half expects the camera to flip to her, but the moment passes, and the cameras move on to the next highlight without revealing her presence.
chris remains oblivious to the fact that alessia is in the stands, watching his performance with admiration.
ucla, now on the 20-yard line after chris' impressive play, breaks from the huddle for the next play. alessia's eyes are fixed on the field, a mix of anticipation and pride bubbling within her.
athena glances at alessia, sharing the unspoken joy of being part of this exhilarating moment. "$50 if chris doesn't score on this play," alessia tells her friend. she is just that confident. chris' cockiness is rubbing off her.
athena smirks at her and sticks her hand out. "say no more."
alessia and athena both shake on their bet and they turn their focus back to the field. as ethan sets up for the snap, alessia's heart quickens. the play unfolds with precision. it is the perfect play and alessia knows they've practiced this so many times before — a fake to tj harden, a quick scan of the field, and ethan's eyes lock onto Chris. positioned on the far left, a little deeper, chris reads the play perfectly.
alessia leans forward, her hands getting ready to clap before the ball even leaves ethan's hands. the connection between ethan and chris is seamless. they both know what each other are going to be doing all the time. chris is already taking off, a burst of speed that leaves defenders in his wake. ethan releases the ball, and it's a perfect pass. alessia and athena join the collective gasp of the crowd as chris effortlessly snags the ball.
time seems to slow as chris, in a display of sheer skill and finesse, practically walks the ball into the endzone. the crowd erupts in cheers, the stadium shaking with the intensity of the moment. alessia and athena rise to their feet, clapping and cheering, their voices blending with the collective roar of the fans.
athena turns to alessia, an incredulous grin on her face. she grabs her shoulders and shakes her lightly. "are you seeing this shit? that's your man right there!"
alessia nods, a radiant smile on her face. the pride she feels for chris is mirrored in the joyous atmosphere around her. the cameras capture the celebration on the field, and chris, once again, is at the center of the spotlight.
"my man and my $50," alessia responds with a nod as she continues to clap for chris.
the rose bowl stadium echoes with cheers as chris triumphantly strolls towards the nearest broadcasting camera. his helmet is still on, but everyone can see the playful smile dancing on his lips. the stadium's giant screens zoom in on chris, capturing every moment of his celebration.
alessia's heart skips a beat as she watches him put his head on top of his hands, feigning sleep. it's the celebration he promised her, a gesture that feels like a private joke between the two of them in the middle of this grand spectacle with 80,000 people in the crowd. the crowd goes wild, and alessia can't help but laugh along with the infectious joy that fills the air.
athena nudges alessia with a knowing grin. "your celebration too, huh?"
alessia shrugs her shoulders innocently, her eyes glued to the screens. chris, still "asleep" on national television, adds a touch of charm to the game. then, as if aware of alessia's gaze, he lifts his head and opens his eyes, blowing a playful kiss into the camera. it's a moment that transcends the distance between the field and the loge seats, a moment that's just for her.
chris continues the celebration, high-fiving and chest-bumping all his teammates. he basically prances all the way to the sideline, his infectious energy radiating from the field all the way up to her.
alessia has to bite back her grin. chris is the player who's stealing the show yet he's like stealing it to give it to her. it's cute. alessia can't deny the warmth that spreads through her, knowing that the celebration is just for her.
♔♛
chris jogs towards the sideline, his heart still pounding from the exhilarating play. the cheers of the crowd echo in his ears, but he's focused on the sea of blue and gold jerseys that await him on the bench. he reaches the sideline, and the cacophony of excitement from his teammates envelops him.
his helmet comes off with a satisfying whoosh, revealing the adrenaline-fueled grin on his face. his teammates pat him on the back, and there's a collective eruption of "attaboy, chris!" and "he tough!"
as he makes his way down the line of congratulatory teammates, coach kelly approaches, a proud smile etched across his face. "picking up right where you left off!" the coach's words are a mix of encouragement and acknowledgment of a job well done. chris feels a surge of pride at earning the respect of his coach. coach kelly gives him a tap on the back with his clipboard and turns back to the field.
amidst the chaos, a staff member hands him a cup of gatorade. the cool liquid is a welcome refreshment, and he takes a moment to gulp it down, the sweet taste a brief respite from the intensity of the game. his eyes scan the stands, searching for familiar faces, but the sea of fans makes it challenging to spot anyone in particular.
he's looking for his brothers and his friends but he can't see any that he really knows. the adrenaline his making it hard for him to focus really. it is still coursing through his veins as he high-fives a few more teammates and exchanges words with others. the energy on the sideline is contagious, and chris revels in the shared triumph with his teammates.
chris takes a seat on the bench, the cool breeze on the sideline contrasts with the heated intensity of the game. his fingers tap rhythmically on the cup of gatorade as he catches his breath, relishing in the triumphant moment.
as he takes a sip, a familiar voice breaks through the buzz of the crowd. "fucking goat!" dante, one of his teammates, slaps him on the back, a wide grin on his face. chris grins back and holds his hand for a dap up.
dante accepts it, using it to lean in, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "good thing you did that in front of your girl." chris furrows his brows, momentarily confused. dante notices and turns to point towards the big screen, where the camera has captured a shot of alessia and athena in the loge seats. chris follows dante's gaze and spots alessia, talking and laughing with athena.
at first he has to narrow his eyes and squint because there is no way. she told him she wouldn't be here. she told him she had work stuff. then, a grin spreads across his face as the big screen confirms it for him. it says her name and she turns to face the camera with a smile, waving.
realization dawns. "oh, she's here?" he hadn't noticed her in the excitement of the game. not once did they show her on the cameras before this and the realization adds an extra layer of satisfaction to his performance on the field. he did do pretty good and he did add something a little extra to the celebration.
dante chuckles, pointing at chris. "it was my comment bro for sure." the teammates share a laugh as chris takes another sip of gatorade.
chris stands up from his spot on the bench and turns around to look at the seats that alessia is seated in. dante, still buzzing with excitement, follows chris' gaze, catching on to the fact that something significant is happening.
chris sees her. she sees him and chris can't believe she's here. at his game. like really here. selfishly, he likes to think the only reason is him.
"yoooo," ethan says, coming up behind dante and chris with his hand over his mouth. "chris you really got alessia fucking flores to come to our game."
alessia, having spotted chris, grins at him, her eyes sparkling with amusement. chris just shakes his head as he's holding on to the top of his pads. "i know dude." chris turns to him for a quick second. "i have no idea she was coming either."
the stadium lights cast a warm glow on her as she gestures playfully. dante, unable to contain his excitement, waves frantically at alessia, a mix of disbelief and awe on his face. he can't believe he's sharing a moment with a popstar.
ethan, wanting his own part in the moment starts waving at her too. laughing, alessia waves back at them both as chris just keeps staring at her in awe. "bro," ethan says as he and dante stop waving. "you are welcome for that touchdown pass."
chris, shaking his head with a smile at both ethan and dante's enthusiasm, laughs. "now will you two give me a few more?" chris glances back up at alessia and since he's the only one looking at her, he notices her give him a wink. he shakes his head and looks away to try to hide his absolutely blinding smile. "i'm trying to secure a dinner tonight."
"oh i got you," dante says placing his hand on his shoulder. "next drive just get open." chris nods and both ethan and dante walk away from him.
chris now alone, takes a moment to wink back at alessia. even from a distance, alessia is still giving him butterflies. he feels an extra layer of motivation get added on with the new knowledge of knowing she's here.
the surge of energy and determination continue as it is time for the offense to go back in. dante, still occasionally glancing towards alessia in disbelief, continues to pat chris on the back, reveling in the shared excitement.
chris though, is refocused and re-energized, turns back towards the field, ready to dive back into the game. as he jogs back onto the field, he glances towards the loge seats one more time, catching alessia's eye for a brief moment. the shared glance is all he needs for the rest of the game.
the sun is now fully tucked away for the day and stadium lights cast a glow on the field as the post-game festivities unfold. the team is celebrating and doing on-field-interviews even though they will definitely have more post-game. chris, still basking in the energy of the game, is ushered towards the sideline for an on-the-field interview. the reporter, a microphone in hand, approaches with a smile.
"chris, what a phenomenal performance tonight! nine receptions, 234 yards, and an incredible four receiving touchdowns. how are you feeling about your standout game?"
chris, a mix of exhaustion and elation on his face, runs a hand through his hair, beads of sweat glistening in the stadium lights. he takes a moment to catch his breath before responding.
"man, it feels amazing. i gotta give credit to the whole team, though. we came out here hungry, executed the plays, and got it done. the quarterback, the offensive line, everyone played their part, and i was just fortunate to be on the receiving end of some great passes. defense was probably better than the offense tonight too. 0 points allowed? that's crazy."
"definitely a great performance by those on the other side of the ball," the reporter nods, capturing the excitement of the moment. he looks down at a notecard in his hand and continues. "you seemed to have a strong connection tonight with both ethan garbers and dante moore despite it being dante's freshman year. can you talk about the chemistry you guys showcased on the field?"
chris grins, the camaraderie with his quarterback evident in his response. he looks over at the stands for a second to check that alessia is still there. she is. he needs to get to his phone before she can leave. "absolutely. ethan's just a baller. we came to ucla together and we've always been boys. tonight, we were just boys playing together." chris pauses and daps up a teammate walking by him. "with dante, we've been putting in the work on and off the field, building that connection. he's a freshman so we haven't had much time together but tonight, it just clicked, you know? we trust each other, and that trust translated into some big plays tonight."
the crowd's cheers echo in the background as the reporter delves into the significance of the game. "this win is crucial for ucla. to get you started for the rest of your season. how does it feel to contribute to such a pivotal victory, especially with the upcoming games in mind?"
chris' eyes light up with pride. "every win is crucial, but this one, it sets the tone for what's coming. this is just the beginning so we aren't about to be dwelling on one win. we have off tomorrow, then monday it's back to work for another game next week. that's what we're thinking about right now. one game at a time."
the reporter, sensing an opportunity to add a personal touch to the interview, decides to bring up a more private aspect of chris' life.
"and before you go, chris, your long-time crush alessia flores was here cheering you on? we saw you waving to her on the cameras earlier. do you think that contributed to you playing the way you did?"
chris smirks, a playful glint in his eyes. he laughs and looks down at the ground as he pretends to kick dirt off his cleat. "definitely man." he gives a nonchalant shrug, downplaying the significance with a grin. "you would've played the same."
the reporter chuckles, understanding the need for privacy. "keeping it low-key, i see. well, congratulations again on the fantastic game, chris. go enjoy the celebrations with your teammates!"
with that, chris waves to the camera and gives a quick nod before jogging off the field, making his way through the jubilant crowd of players.
chris, riding high on the wave of victory, takes a moment to connect with some of the fans who have been cheering for him throughout the game. a group of excited kids gather near the sideline, waving pens and memorabilia, their eyes wide with admiration. chris, always generous with his time, approaches them with a warm smile.
"thanks for coming tonight," he says, crouching down to their level. the kids beam with excitement, and chris starts signing footballs, jerseys, and even a few hastily crafted signs expressing their support. the joy on their faces is palpable, and chris revels in the chance to share the win with the younger generation of fans.
as he signs autographs, a group of girls, no doubt fans of both his athletic prowess and probably his looks, catch his attention. they hold out their phones, asking for selfies, and chris happily obliges. with each signature and photo, the crowd around him swells, and the energy is infectious.
however, the thought of alessia waiting in the stands lingers in the back of his mind. the desire to share this moment with her adds a sense of urgency. with a final round of high-fives and fist bumps, chris makes his way towards the tunnel leading to the locker room.
"gotta run," he calls out, flashing a regretful smile. "thanks for the love, though!"
the kids and fans, though slightly disappointed, send him off with cheers, understanding that their football hero has other obligations. chris, determined to get to his phone and connect with alessia, quickens his pace.
the locker room beckons, and with each step, he mentally rehearses what he wants to say to her. the post-game celebrations continue in the background, but for chris, the real celebration awaits – a private moment with the person who inspired him to shine on the field.
ⁱᵐᵉˢˢᵃᵍᵉ
america's sweetheart 😊
america's sweetheart 😊 ─── alessia
nfl baby 🤗 ─── chris
nfl baby 🤗
are you real
america's sweetheart 😊
i feel real
a little hot in this stadium though
nfl baby🤗
you're really here
america's sweetheart 😊
i am
nfl baby 🤗
how are you here
don't you live in new york
don't you have work
america's sweetheart 😊
i had work in la
couldn't pass up the opportunity to see THE chris sturniolo play irl
nfl baby🤗
biggest ego boost of all timeee
everyone on the team was like "yeahhhh chris"
like yeah go me
got alessia flores to come to a game
who is doing it like me
unless you have other football hoes on coastal carolina or something
america's sweetheart 😊
you're my only football hoe
however after that game i may have to add more to my roster
nfl baby 🤗
very funny
america's sweetheart 😊
i know
so how fast were you running to that locker room to text me
you're still in full jersey aren't you
nfl baby🤗
i am
had to confirm that i wasn't hallucinating from the heat
america's sweetheart 😊
stfuuuu
nfl baby 🤗
let me take you to dinner
i'll get us a reservation rn
america's sweetheart 😊
oh good you finally asked
i would've been mad if you didn't
nfl baby🤗
idk if you watched the game lessy but i don't fumble
america's sweetheart 😊
okay that was probably your best one yet
nfl baby 🤗
oh get ready for tonight
i need to shower really quick but i can be out in like
30 minutes
america's sweetheart 😊
okay
where should i wait for you
nfl baby🤗
there's a lounge where all the family and girlfriends go
you're at the loge seats right??
america's sweetheart 😊
yeah
nfl baby 🤗
okay you can just follow a security guard or ask for the family lounge
someone will take you and you can wait for me in sturniolo section
america's sweetheart 😊
you have your own section..?
nfl baby🤗
i'm a big deal don't act so shocked 😒😒😒😒😒
america's sweetheart 😊
you give me more and more reasons to call you hotshot everyday
nfl baby 🤗
yeah but wait there
i'll come get you
america's sweetheart 😊
okay
nfl baby🤗
alright let me hurry up
i'll text you when i'm coming
VAL SPEAKS
irl chris and alessia chap next. they are soooo "slut!" by taylor swift just you wait 😊😊
also everytime i make a new cover i can never replicate the same energy for another one and then I can't use it i'm mad