Sunsets and footballers (Part 30)
Lucy Bronze x Reader (28) & Alexia Putellas x Character (4)
Masterlist (other parts here)
It was MD-1 for Barca and they were notorious for training hard on those days. Long days.
Lucy arrived alone, feeling almost naked without her phone, but she was also a little relieved to not have it, so she wouldn’t be seeing anymore photos of YFN and Leah online. After she’d shattered her iPad, Alexia had helped her find one of the medical staff who were still onsite to remove any shards of glass and wrap her hand. It wasn’t ideal, and she was angry with herself for losing her temper, but Alexia had helped her calm down and convince her that she needed to keep that space, out of respect for her girlfriend. It was media, after all, who were notorious for starting drama where there was none. Lucy knew better. She knew where Leah and Jordan’s hearts were, and if she put aside her insecurities, she knew where YFN’s was also. With Lucy. Lucy just hoped she hadn’t scared her away.
“Lucia! There you are!” One of the security guards rushed over as she arrived. “Your phone.. one of the fans found it.”
Lucy felt a sense of relief. Her need for YFN to be able to contact her trumped her jealousy of seeing photos of her stunning Australian with Leah. “Do you have it?”
“No.. they said they will bring it to the game tomorrow for you. I’ll find them and bring you to them tomorrow.”
Great. Another full day without it. “Thanks for letting me know.. I’ll look out for you tomorrow.”
Lucy walked onto the field and over to their exercise room, giving the camera a small acknowledgement that was a lot less than her usual grin. She just couldn’t pretend she was happy today when she wasn’t. The aching inside her, the unresolved discussions they had yet to have. Without her phone, she couldn’t even look up photos of the game YFN was at today, hoping she’d see her in the background of Jordan’s game. She dropped her boots outside and walked into the training room, the last to arrive. Ona was immediately on her.
“Lucia! Your hand!” She almost shouted, worried as she took Lucy’s hand. Lucy pulled it away a little too harshly.
“It’s fine.”
Alexia caught her eye and gave her a look. Lucy must have given a terrible response because Alexia came over then before Ona could try to talk to Lucy further.
“We did too much boxing last night.” Was all she said, as she stood between the two and crossed her arms, looking at Jonatan. That was the end of that. Ona still seemed slightly worried for Lucy and her mood. She rarely took things to heart, and always felt what other people felt deeply. A true empath.
The players were in groups or pairs most of the day, Alexia ensuring she kept Lucy close. They were rough with each other all day, not noticing the other players giving them wide berths and worried looks from afar.
“Okay, Lucia, enough.” Alexia said as they collapsed onto the grass, the soccer ball landing somewhere nearby.
They took their time to get their breath back, and Alexia was the first to sit up.
“What do you need, Lucia?” Alexia asked. She was asking as a Captain, because she didn’t really understand her needs.
Lucy was still on her back, staring up at the clouds. The sun was getting low, and she wanted to see the sunset. “I need your phone.”
She paused before she responded. “Okay.”
As easy as that? Lucy sat up and watched as Alexia collected her phone from the sidelines and came back over to sit on the grass near Lucy. Lucy took the phone gratefully, but perhaps also a little too eagerly as she looked for photos of the Aston Villa game. It had already ended, and Chelsea had completed dominated them, but she wasn’t looking at that. She was looking for her girlfriend who she found in several photos on the sidelines.
There she was, shivering in the rain with her purple beanie on as she smiled from the sidelines, those little dimples excited to see Jordan play. She was in the perfect spot to be caught in several photos and videos, talking to her work mates, talking to players, taking some photos of the players herself. Lucy watched one video several times where she raised the camera up to her eye, paused, clicked the perfect shot and then lowered the camera to look proudly at her work, exposing her pink nose that Lucy just knew was freezing cold. She saw her talking to Millie and Erin Cuthbert from Chelsea, and then with her arms wrapped around Jordan as they caught up after the match. She looked so happy, and Lucy’s heart missed that. It longed for her. Even more so when she realised that she was wearing Lucy’s hoodie. That was enough proof for her that she hadn’t scared her away just yet. Still, the need to have a proper conversation with her Australian weighed on her heavily.
She was staring at one photo in particular of her and Jordan cuddled together, warming each other in the rain when Alexia spoke.
“She’s pretty.”
Lucy gave a small acknowledgement at that, still staring and taking in all of her. Butterflies appeared in her stomach like she was a teenager in high school with a crush.
“You don’t want to call her?”
Lucy sighed and looked up then. “I don’t know her number. I smashed my iPad. My MacBook is at home..”
“You can buy a new phone? I can give you leave early..” Not quite the right English wording, but she was trying.
“Security says a fan found my phone and they’ll give it to me tomorrow at the game.” She had thought about buying a new phone, she really didn’t care about the money, however she though it would be better to wait until game day tomorrow rather than waiting for her phone company to activate a new sim.
Alexia nodded, and Lucy gave her phone back.
“Alexia… thank you. For today, and yesterday, and for everything. Just… thank you. I appreciate it.”
“That’s okay, Lucia Roberta,” she said and cheekily nudged her shoulder with her own. This was the real Alexia. “We stick together, si?”
“We do.. so enough about me. Why do you seem even more grumpy today than you were yesterday?”
Alexia was in her vulnerable, non-Captain state, but still paused to think about how open she would be with the right back. Apparently she needed to vent to someone, and Lucy had chosen the right moment. “I… dream about her.”
“Bad dream?”
“No.. good dream. But then it’s a…bad dream.”
“Ah.” Lucy understood her hesitation now. Her best guess? A sex dream which potentially ended with her leaving for months on end. Lucy usually teased people, it was her thing, but she knew it was the wrong time, especially when Alexia finally seemed to be opening up to her after knowing her for a few years. “And going to the bar tonight would be a bad idea..”
Alexia nodded as if she’d already had the same thought. No point stirring that beehive before the game. “Today… was good.” She looked at Lucy; thoughtful hazel eyes meeting empathetic green ones.
“I needed today.” Lucy agreed.
When Lucy arrived home, her attention first went to greeting Narla, followed closely by her opening up her MacBook to multiple messages, emails, notifications. She found the one she wanted; a message from YFN that morning. She must have sent it just after Lucy had closed her laptop.
YFN: I’m sorry for taking so long.. I’m really not used to this, Luce. I can’t stop thinking about you. Can we talk?
Her heart skipped a few beats. She couldn’t stop thinking about her. Was that why she wore her hoodie? And she was sorry, after seeing all of those photos?! She took a deep breath to control herself. She couldn’t start a conversation over text, she didn’t want to risk any miscommunication. Lucy wanted to do everything right by her little Australian from now on.
Lucy: Sorry, little one. Just got home from training. Lost my phone yesterday.
YFN replied almost immediately and she wondered where she was and what she was doing.
YFN: How are you texting me..?
Lucy: MacBook.
YFN: I was starting to worry.. can we talk?
She was worrying? Lucy guaranteed YFN hadn’t been as worried as she had been all day. The past few days. Okay.. since she’d last seen YFN. She worded her next text carefully.
Lucy: We need to talk, but not over text. I’m not a good texter. Security said a fan found my phone so I’ll get it tomorrow at the game and call you after it, okay?
There was a pause for a minute or so before she replied.
YFN: Okay Luce.
Okay! Good. She wanted to talk. Lucy worked out the time.. her game started at 3pm London time, it would finish at 5pm, and she could escape early by 5:30pm if she asked Alexia.
Lucy: I’ll call you about five-thirty your time. Will you be free?
Please be free.
YFN: Okay, I’ll be driving to Crawley then.
Crawley that late? She did the math in her head. She’d be in Crawley very late at night. She was worried.
Lucy: You’ll be staying in the London apartment overnight, I hope?
Another pause.
YFN: Is that still okay?
She was worried Lucy wouldn’t be okay with it? Her heart sank a little as she thought about YFN feeling like she shouldn’t use the keychain she’d given her. She would never regret that.
Lucy: I’d be upset if you didn’t. I meant it when I gave you that keychain.
YFN: I love it, Luce. How’s your hand?
Lucy let out a breath. Okay, she’s going to stay in London. She’ll be safe and have somewhere to sleep. Perfect. And worrying about her hand meant she’d also been following Lucy’s day online, but she didn’t want to stress her with the real story just yet.
Lucy: It’s okay. Stupid accident. I’ll tell you about it tomorrow, okay?
YFN: Yes, please. Have a good game tomorrow, Luce.
Lucy would have given anything for her to be at that game tomorrow, or vice versa.
Match day. Lucy arrived early, again finding an excuse to not go with Ona. She knew she’d have to explain eventually, but that would be for later, when YFN was in Spain perhaps. She dropped her things off in the changing room, surprised she wasn’t the first there, and wandered until she found the security guard from yesterday. Disappointingly, he hadn’t seen the fan yet.. they hadn’t arrived. He had their phone number and texted them and they said they’d meet after the game, asking that they get to meet Lucy as repayment for finding her phone. With gritted teeth, she agreed. She did love her fans... the good ones… but she didn’t like being forced into situations like the one she was currently in.
Frustrated about her phone, she decided to take it out on the pitch rather than bottle it up. To be fair, she didn’t see how she could have stopped herself if she wanted to. She just felt so… angry. Annoyed. Needy. This unresolved matter putting more and more strain on this new relationship she had. One that, until she had left for Spain, had been absolutely perfect in every way.
The opposition eventually worked out not to pass down through right back as Lucy was being so fucking aggressive, though just before this, she’d managed to pass a perfect little lob assist to Salma for a goal. It was the most relaxed move she’d made all game. Most of her just wanted to launch the ball towards goal as hard as she could and break the fucking net.
Unfortunately for Sevilla, they also couldn’t go through the midfield either, because Alexia was on a mission. She’d gotten away with so many trips and late tackles that even Lucy was surprised.
Half time was a much needed break, and both Alexia and Lucy were pulled aside, away from the team. Jonatan didn’t ask what the problem was, his only concern was that they didn’t get red cards. Alexia and Lucy looked at each other as if they each thought each other was the bigger issue. Jonatan rolled his eyes at that, giving up his attempt to talk down the two most stubborn and independent women in the team.
After half time it took three minutes for Lucy to get her yellow card. The player marking her had been trying to shove back all game and Lucy was sick of the disrespect and hip and shouldered her over the boundary line for the ball. Unfortunately, she took the ball with her and Lucy knew she was lucky to get a yellow. Two minutes after that, and perhaps a little inspired by Lucy, Alexia received a yellow for a very late tackle of Sevilla’s best player in the midfield. Lucy heard her yelling at the girl to “Get up!” and couldn’t help but chuckle. It was so unlike Alexia.
The game ended in domination 7-0 to Barca, though Lucy watched the final whistle blow from the bench as she’d been subbed off not too long after her yellow. She hated being subbed off or not playing but in this instance, she understood.
After the game, she immediately found the security guard again and he led her to the boundary where the fans with her phone were apparently sitting. She had to step on an esky to reach them, however. The security guard pointed at three girls then, and Lucy froze as she stared at the ‘fans’ directly in front of her.
Her body locked with her jaw, as she stopped her immediate reaction, which would have been to drag her over the fence.
“Hey Lucy.” Kristie smiled brightly, as if it were their first-time meeting.
Lucy didn’t reply. She just stared at the woman who seemed early to mid 20s.
Kristie blushed. “I… I have your phone.”
So it was her she saw in the crowd the other day. Why the fuck was she in Spain? And wearing her Barca Bronze jersey? She wanted to rip it away from her. Lucy opened her mouth to speak but was cut off as Kristie leaned closer to her.
“Lucy.. we’re surrounded by fans right now who can hear everything you say.. so maybe just think about that, hm?” She gestured to the photographers watching them interact. “I know you’re great with fans, so we also don’t want a picture misinterpreted either.”
Then she gave a bright smile, and Lucy struggled to believe how manipulative she was. She still didn’t speak until Kristie took Lucy’s phone from her pocket and waved it in front of her. Lucy went to grab it but she pulled it back.
“What. Do. You want.” She asked through gritted teeth.
She leant closer to Lucy, resting her weight on the barrier between them and locking eyes with her. Blue, determined eyes.
“I want a date with you.”
Lucy scoffed.
“I’m being serious,” she said with an innocent expression. “I know you, Luce-”
“Don’t call me that.” She said harshly and flinched as she saw that someone close by had heard her snapping.
“I do, though. I know you. Better than her… maybe even better than yourself. I think we could have a great time getting to know each other.”
Lucy didn’t speak. Did she really think she would accept that?
“Look, Lucy, I know things haven’t gone well between us lately..”
Was she kidding? Lucy didn’t even know the woman.
“…but I think everything had been misinterpreted and just blown up too much. I’m sorry about my friends.. they know I like you and they’ve been the ones sending the photos and with the window incident…” She gave a sheepish look that make Lucy feel sick. The manipulation. Anyone listening could have actually believed her. And Lucy didn’t for one second believe that all of it wasn’t her doing. “So I want to apologise for them. They went way too far, so I’m here to say sorry to you.”
Lucy looked at her ‘friends’ either side of her and scoffed again. Why had they agreed to this?
“What you’ve done is unforgiveable. Give me my phone.”
“So you can text her?” She asked with audacity and jealousy.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Lucy, please! She doesn’t even know who you are. She doesn’t even like football. She’s just here to use you and drive your car and get work through you. That’s it. I’m really sorry to have to be the one to tell you, but that’s all she wants from you, and I can’t stand by and watch her abuse you like that. I care about you too much.”
Lucy took a deep breath in, pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes. She didn’t trust herself to speak.
“Think about how you met her.. I mean.. I bet if you take a moment to think about it, it’ll be suspicious as hell. She’s purposely wormed her way in and used you. I’d never do that to you, Luce..” Lucy flinched. “Like I said… I know you. You care a lot, especially about your family. You work hard. You love to have fun and tease. And… I wouldn’t do what she’s done. I wouldn’t shut you out because someone sent me photos of you with a friend.”
Lucy’s gaze shot up and met hers. She pulled back slightly, realising what she’d just admitted. So the photos of Lucy and Ona had been from her. Of course they had.
“I was doing it for you.. to show you that she doesn’t know you and doesn’t deserve you, Lucy. I know you’d never cheat.”
Lucy stared blankly, almost conflicted.
“So go on a date with me tonight… and I’ll give your phone back at the end. Who knows, you might be surprised at just how well we get on. I can be pretty entertaining.” She flashed her smile again, and if Lucy was being honest with herself, it was pretty.
So that was the crux of it all. A date for her phone. She looked at the time showing on the screen. Five twenty-eight pm. She realised then that she would miss her phone call with YFN.
“She can go another night without hearing from you.” Kristie cooed, as if reading her thoughts and wiggled her phone in front of her. “It’s your choice.”
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