Lotte and Lessi Russo

Chapter 2

As Lotte and Alessia stood in the hallway outside the locker room, Lotte took a moment to orient herself amidst the swarm of thoughts buzzing around her. Of course, she knew the Arsenal training grounds inside and out, having played here since childhood, but despite her familiarity, she was currently feeling quite disoriented.

"Alright," Lotte cleared her throat. She could sense the presence of the other woman beside her, but she refused to acknowledge her with a glance. After all, she wanted to get this over with quickly and fulfill her duty before heading home and contemplating how to avoid Alessia in the upcoming years.

"Down the hallway to the left is the weight room, and to the right is the meeting room. If you continue straight ahead, you'll reach the training pitches. The toilets and showers are in our changing room." Lotte delivered her words curtly and with a quick pace, using her hand to point in the direction she was referring to. Admittedly, her words were brief and not particularly welcoming, but considering all that Lotte had associated with Alessia, she didn't feel inclined to welcome her with open arms.

"Any questions?" Lotte asked, her voice making it clear that she didn't feel like answering any of the other woman's questions. Her tone, with its subtle sharpness, hinted at a reluctance to engage in further discussion, creating an unspoken barrier that discouraged Alessia to ask anything at all.

But as Alessia remained dead silent, Lotte's curiosity got the better of her, and she mustered the courage to steal a glance at the other woman. Despite feeling a tinge of annoyance, Lotte couldn't ignore the fact that Alessia looked stunning in the red shirt adorned with the Arsenal emblem.

The vibrant color accentuated her sun-kissed complexion, creating a striking contrast. Lotte's eyes traced the freckles that had probably emerged over the summer, adding an endearing touch to Alessia's already captivating face. It was clear that her time spent basking in the Italian sun and swimming in the salty waters had lightened her hair, giving it a subtle, beachy hue.

However, what caught Lotte's attention even more was that Alessia's usual cheerful expression has been replaced by tightly pressed lips and a searching gaze that swept across the corridors of the training grounds. There was a hint of unease in Alessia's eyes, as if she were preoccupied with something weighing heavily on her mind.

Even though she didn't really want to, Lotte couldn't help but be curious about what was going on in Alessia's mind. However, as she caught herself entertaining the thought, she realized that she needed to swiftly remove herself from Alessia's presence. Allowing such thoughts was a dangerous path to tread, so Lotte made the decision to quickly avert her gaze.

Though she made a conscious effort not to dwell on it, there were moments like this when the memories broke through the surface of her consciousness, flooding her thoughts with a mixture of longing and regret. It was in those moments, like now, that she couldn't help but be transported back to that morning when she awoke alone in bed, her body bare and vulnerable.

She knew she hadn't been alone during the night, yet Alessia had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a void that echoed throughout the room and only one medal left on the nightstand instead of two. Though she had disappeared, the ghost of Alessia lingered in Lotte's senses - the warmth of her touch still tingling on her skin, the taste of her lips imprinted on her memory. Seeking solace, Lotte turned onto Alessia's pillow, burying her face in the fabric, as if desperate to cling to the fading scent that transported her back to last night.

The mere thought of what had happened between them the previous night, the raw passion and intense emotions that had surged through their connection, aroused Lotte once again. She wanted to recreate those moments with Alessia, to experience that level of intimacy and vulnerability again.