Lotte and Lessi Russo

Chapter 1

Hello together :)
I actually have no idea what I'm doing here, but with Alessia's potential move to Arsenal making headlines, I couldn't shake off this idea of Lotte and her being former college roommates. It has been playing on my mind and I thought I just share it with you - and if you're up for indulging in the wild creations of my imagination, then I hope you enjoy it! Already posted ist on AO3, but still I'm not sure which platform suits the story better. Anyways, let me know what you think of this pairing and the story, which is also kinda different to my other stories so far I guess :)

There it was, black on white, or in this particular case, black on a flickering mobile phone background. No matter how many times Lotte Wubben-Moy blinked and pinched herself, desperately hoping that it was just a cruel figment of her imagination, the headline stubbornly persisted. And no matter which website she frantically searched, the news remained unchanged. The headline left the brunette woman in the Arsenal tracksuit utterly speechless, her mind struggling to process the weight of it all. It couldn't possibly be true, could it? Yet, without a doubt, it seemed to be plastered everywhere she looked.

"Alessia Russo joins Arsenal London." The words echoed in her mind, accompanied by images of the official signing, capturing the momentous occasion, as well as featuring a radiant woman proudly wearing an Arsenal training shirt. A sense of disbelief, of shock, and a twinge of anxiety washed over Lotte. They would once again become teammates, or at least they would have to attempt to be. This realization stirred memories that stretched back to the beginning of time, or so it seemed, ever since that one fateful, warm summer night in July 2019.

Vivid memories flooded Lotte's mind, each detail etched into her consciousness. She could almost see Alessia's blonde hair as it fell back, revealing the elegant curve of a long neck, a canvas waiting to be kissed. Lotte's lips had eagerly trailed along that exposed expanse, leaving her marks, a silent declaration of their passionate connection. The hot breath on her ear sent shivers down Lotte's spine, as the blonde whispered words of desire in a husky tone. It had stirred a fire within Lotte, igniting a yearning that could only be sated by further exploration. The softness of the other woman's breasts against Lotte's fingertips had been an intoxicating revelation, a tender exploration of new territory. It was a moment of discovery and curiosity, as Lotte navigated the contours with gentle caresses, reveling in the unfamiliar sensation and the shared pleasure it brought. The other woman's perfectly manicured hands had embarked on a journey of arousal and sensuality, confidently navigating her body and igniting a symphony of tingling sensations in Lotte's most intimate places.

Lotte's mind lingered on the taste of sweet lips, their tender and passionate kisses imbued with raw emotion and longing. And there, resting on the bedside table, were the gleaming symbols of their triumph from that day. The medals, still aglow with the golden hue of victory, represented the culmination of their hard work and dedication as part of the North Carolina Tar Heels. They were a testament to their skill and teamwork, a reminder of their championship win in today's game. The powerful climax Lotte had reached in the embrace of the blonde woman that night remained etched in her memory, a profound punctuation mark to the hours they had spent entwined in each other's arms during their last night before they had to fly home to England the next day.

"Lotte?" A voice snapped the brunette out of her thoughts. It was Jonas, the Arsenal head coach, entering the women's locker room. His presence disrupted the swirling memories that had consumed Lotte's mind. As she turned her attention towards him, her heart sank at the realization of what was about to unfold.

"I'm sure you already know Alessia?" Jonas said, his tone expectant. Lotte's gaze instinctively shifted towards the person standing beside him, and her worst fears were confirmed. Alessia Russo stood there, visibly uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot. Lotte couldn't bring herself to meet Alessia's eyes initially, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor, unable to bear the weight of the situation.

Summoning all her strength, Lotte finally raised her gaze to meet Jonas's expectant stare. She mustered a forced smile, her throat tight with apprehension. "Of course, glad you're here, Alessia," she managed to say, her voice betraying a mix of strained politeness and underlying tension.

As the blonde beside Jonas finally lifted her gaze too, Lotte locked eyes with Alessia for the first time that day. It was a moment fraught with emotions - unspoken apologies, unresolved feelings, and the undeniable weight of their shared history. Alessia's smile mirrored Lotte's, strained and seemingly apologetic, acknowledging the complexities of their reunion.

"Great, Lotte," Jonas continued, unaware of the tense atmosphere in the room. "I thought you could show Alessia around here a bit. She's just signed her contract, as I'm sure you've seen, and since you've known each other since university days, I thought you'd be perfect as a guide for our new addition!"

Lotte's mind raced with a mix of emotions as Jonas's unexpected request settled in. This was not what she had anticipated when being called to the locker room. Negotiations for a new contract or administrative tasks were far more mundane compared to the prospect of showing Alessia, the woman she had consciously avoided for years, around their training grounds.

It was a situation that held little appeal for Lotte and for a moment, she even considered the possibility of declining. The memories and emotions that had resurfaced threatened to overwhelm her, casting doubt on her ability to spend any more time with Alessia. But she couldn't let fear dictate her actions. Taking a deep breath, she mustered her courage and nodded, her resolve firming.

"Sure, Jonas. I'd be happy to show Alessia around," Lotte replied, her voice steadier than before. It was a commitment she made not only to her coach but also to herself - this was a chance to navigate the treacherous waters of their shared past, where boundaries between friendship and desire had blurred that one time that night.

As Jonas bid his farewell and left the locker room, Lotte suddenly found herself alone with Alessia. The realization hit her that this was perhaps the first time they had been alone together since July in 2019, back when they shared a room in the college dorm. The sound of the door slamming shut sent a shiver down her spine. She felt trapped, caught in a web of unresolved emotions, while staring at the closed door.

She couldn't simply walk away from this situation, as much as she may have wanted to. Alessia was now her teammate, bound to be a part of Lotte's life at Arsenal for the foreseeable future. With a deep breath, Lotte gathered her resolve. Despite the complex emotions that threatened to overwhelm her, she chose to approach this situation with maturity and openness. Slowly, Lotte turned to face Alessia, her eyes meeting the blonde's gaze and her heart racing with uncertainty.

Alessia's calm voice broke the silence, her words filled with a tinge of apology. "Sorry, I didn't know Jonas would choose you to show me around when he offered me to have a tour around the training grounds," she admitted, avoiding direct eye contact as her gaze wandered around the room, finding solace in anything but Lotte's presence.

Lotte, determined to maintain a facade of nonchalance, responded with an emphatically casual tone, masking the whirlwind of emotions that Alessia's sudden appearance had stirred within her. "It's okay," she reassured, her voice still holding a hint of insecurity beneath the casual facade. "Let's get this over with." How she hated that her voice sometimes let her down in situations like this.

Lotte didn't want her counterpart to perceive how deeply her presence had thrown her off track. After years of actively avoiding Alessia, Lotte believed this should no longer be the case. They had crossed paths during several England camps, and yes, they had even achieved to become European champions together last year. However, their interactions had been limited to the necessary contact and polite small talk. To be honest, Lotte always felt a sense of relief when those gatherings with the national team came to an end, with Alessia going one way and Lotte heading home in the opposite direction.

But now, they were faced with a new reality. As teammates at Arsenal, they could no longer skirt around each other. Although her initial instinct was to maintain distance, their journey as teammates was about to unfold. But now, as Alessia made her way out of the locker room, opening the door that marked their entrance into a new chapter, Lotte was struck by a powerful wave of nostalgia.

In that fleeting moment, as the door swung open, it served as a poignant reminder of how Alessia had once suddenly walked out of her life years ago, just as she had exited that locker room right now - and as Lotte trailed the blonde out the door, she couldn't help but notice that the painful thoughts that had plagued her for years and all the unanswered questions that had weighed heavily on her mind since that night seemed to follow her relentlessly.