Second chances in extra time (alessia russo x williamson!reader)
(note: for the sake of this story please just pretend Alessia didn't signed up with man u)
The chill of the autumn morning lingered in the air as Y/N Williamson stepped onto the training pitch at London Colney. The familiar sights and sounds of the Arsenal Womenâs training ground greeted her like an old friend, but today, there was an unfamiliar tension hanging over her.
It had been years since Y/N had last seen Alessia Russo, but the memories of their time together were still as vivid as ever. They had grown up together, two football-loving kids in a small town, inseparable in every way. Y/N had been taller, stronger even then, but Alessia had always been the fierce, determined one. They balanced each other out perfectly. And somewhere along the line, between endless matches in the park and stolen moments under the stars, they had fallen in love.
But then Alessia had been offered a scholarship to play football in the United States, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that neither of them could ignore. They had tried to make it work, promising each other that distance wouldnât change anything, but reality had other plans. The calls became less frequent, the texts shorter, and eventually, they had drifted apart. The breakup had been mutual, but the pain was anything but.
Y/N had stayed in England, following in her sister Leahâs footsteps to play for Arsenal. She had grown stronger, taller, and more skilled, but with each passing year, she had also become more reserved. The bubbly, carefree girl she had once been was now a quiet, introspective woman. She had learned to keep her emotions close, sharing her deepest thoughts only with her sister.
Leah had been her rock through everything, always there to support her, even when it meant holding her hand through the pain of losing Alessia. And now, after all these years, Alessia Russo was back, having signed with Arsenal. Y/N couldnât help but feel a mix of excitement and dread at the thought of seeing her again.
But when the day finally came, and Y/N saw Alessia for the first time on the pitch, it wasnât the reunion she had imagined. Alessia was still as beautiful as ever, with her piercing blue eyes and golden hair, but there was a hardness to her now, a coldness in her gaze that hadnât been there before.
âLook who it is,â Alessia said as she approached Y/N, her voice dripping with sarcasm. âThe famous Williamson sister. I see youâve bulked up a bit.â
Y/Nâs heart sank at the harsh tone. She had expected awkwardness, maybe even a little tension, but not outright hostility. She forced a smile, hoping to defuse the situation. âItâs good to see you again, Less.â
Alessiaâs eyes narrowed. âDonât call me that,â she snapped. âYou donât get to call me that anymore.â
The words hit Y/N like a punch to the gut, but she didnât let it show. She had always been good at hiding her emotions, at pretending that nothing could hurt her. âIâm sorry,â she said softly, looking down at the ground. âI didnât mean to upset you.â
âWhatever,â Alessia muttered, brushing past her without another word.
Y/N watched her walk away, her chest tight with a mix of sadness and confusion. She didnât understand why Alessia was acting this way. She had hoped that time would have healed the wounds between them, that they could at least be civil, but it seemed that Alessia was still holding onto the pain of their past.
As the weeks went by, Alessiaâs attitude toward Y/N didnât improve. In fact, it seemed to get worse with each passing day. Every time Y/N tried to talk to her, Alessia would respond with a snide comment or a dismissive remark. She would criticize Y/Nâs performance on the pitch, belittle her efforts, and make cutting remarks about her appearance. It was like Alessia was determined to push Y/N away, to make her feel as worthless as possible.
And it was working. Y/N, who was usually so strong, found herself retreating further and further into her shell. She stopped trying to engage with Alessia, opting instead to stay quiet and avoid her whenever possible. She focused on her training, throwing herself into every drill, every exercise, hoping to drown out the pain with physical exertion.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldnât shake the feeling of loss that gnawed at her heart. She missed the Alessia she had once knownâthe girl who had loved her fiercely and unapologetically. The girl who had made her feel like she was enough, just as she was. But that Alessia was gone, replaced by someone who seemed to hate her.
Leah noticed the change in her sister almost immediately. She had always been protective of Y/N, and seeing her so withdrawn, so defeated, broke her heart. Leah knew that something needed to be done, but she wasnât sure how to fix the situation. She couldnât force Alessia to be kind, and she couldnât make Y/N stand up for herself if she didnât want to.
But Leah wasnât one to give up easily. She had always been a leader, on and off the pitch, and she was determined to find a way to help her sister. She started talking to the other players, those who had been around long enough to see the change in Y/N, and together, they came up with a plan.
One evening after training, Leah gathered a small group of players in the locker roomâBeth Mead, Kim Little, Vivianne Miedema, and Katie McCabe. They were the core of the team, the ones who had seen Y/N grow into the player she was today, and they all cared deeply for her.
âAlright, we need to talk,â Leah began, her voice serious. âItâs about Y/N and Alessia.â
Beth nodded, leaning back against the bench. âYeah, Iâve noticed the tension between them. Itâs like walking on eggshells whenever theyâre in the same room.â
âExactly,â Leah agreed. âAnd Y/N isnât handling it well. Sheâs pulling away, and thatâs not like her. Sheâs always been so open, so loving, but now⊠I donât know. Sheâs just not herself.â
âSheâs hurting,â Kim said softly. âAnd itâs clear that Alessia is the cause of it. But why? What happened between them?â
Leah sighed, running a hand through her hair. âThey were together, a long time ago, before Alessia went to the States. They were childhood sweethearts, but the distance⊠it tore them apart. And now, I think Alessia is still in love with Y/N, but sheâs angry. Angry that she still cares, angry that Y/N is here, and maybe even angry that Y/N has moved onâor at least, she thinks she has.â
âSo what do we do?â Vivianne asked, crossing her arms. âWe canât just sit back and watch this happen. Y/N deserves better.â
Leah smiled, her eyes glinting with determination. âWeâre going to bring them back together. Weâre going to remind Alessia why she fell in love with Y/N in the first place, and show Y/N that Alessiaâs anger isnât really about herâitâs about the love sheâs trying to deny.â
The others nodded in agreement, their minds already working on the details of the plan. It wouldnât be easy, but they were determined to help Y/N and Alessia find their way back to each other. They had both suffered enough, and it was time for them to heal.
The first step of the plan was simple: get Y/N and Alessia alone together, away from the pitch, away from the team, and in an environment where they couldnât avoid talking to each other. Leah suggested a team bonding night at the pub, something they hadnât done in a while. It was the perfect excuse to get everyone together, and with a little nudging, she convinced Y/N and Alessia to come along.
The pub was cozy, with low lighting and warm wooden furnishings. The team gathered around a large table, drinks in hand, and for a while, the atmosphere was light and cheerful. Y/N sat at one end of the table, nursing her drink and trying her best to stay engaged in the conversation, but her eyes kept drifting toward Alessia, who was sitting at the other end, looking just as uncomfortable.
Leah watched them both carefully, waiting for the right moment. When the conversation lulled, she leaned forward, catching Alessiaâs eye. âHey, Less, why donât you and Y/N go grab another round for us? I think weâre running low.â
Alessiaâs eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her surprise with a cool nod. âSure,â she said, standing up and glancing at Y/N. âYou coming?â
Y/N hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest, but she nodded and stood up as well. âYeah, okay.â
They walked to the bar together in silence, the tension between them almost palpable. Y/N could feel Alessiaâs eyes on her, but she kept her gaze fixed on the floor, unsure of what to say. She hated thisâhated the awkwardness, the distance, the way Alessia made her feel like she was walking on eggshells.
As they reached the bar, Y/N cleared her throat, finally gathering the courage to speak. âAlessia, Iâm sorry if Iâve done something to upset you. I never wanted things to be like this between us.â
Alessia didnât respond right away. She stared at the bartender as he poured their drinks, her jaw clenched tightly. When she finally spoke, her voice was low and laced with bitterness. âYou didnât do anything, Y/N. Thatâs the problem.â
Y/N blinked, taken aback by the harshness of her words. âWhat do you mean?â
Alessia let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. âYou didnât fight for me. When I left, you just⊠let me go. Like I didnât matter.â
Y/Nâs heart clenched at the accusation, and she swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. Y/Nâs throat tightened, a lump of guilt rising as Alessiaâs words settled in. âI⊠I didnât know what to do, Less. You had this amazing opportunity, and I thoughtââ She struggled to find her voice, every word feeling like a fragile confession. âI thought letting you go was the right thing.â
Alessiaâs eyes flashed with anger as she spun to face Y/N. âThe right thing? Do you have any idea how hard it was for me? Leaving everything behind, leaving you behind? You didnât even try to stop me. You just stood there, like I didnât mean anything to you.â
Y/Nâs stomach dropped at the accusation, and for the first time, she felt the sting of tears at the corners of her eyes. She blinked them away quickly, refusing to let Alessia see her cry. âThatâs not true, Alessia. You meant everything to me. You still do. I thought⊠I thought I was being selfless by not holding you back.â
Alessiaâs gaze softened, just for a moment, but the anger quickly returned, a shield against the pain. âYou shouldâve fought for me,â she repeated, her voice breaking just enough to reveal the hurt underneath. âBut you didnât.â
Y/N stood there, frozen, feeling the weight of her past decisions crushing down on her. She had always been strong, always held herself together, but Alessiaâs words cut deeper than anything sheâd ever felt on the pitch. She had failed herânot by letting her go, but by not realizing how much Alessia had needed her to fight.
âI didnât know how to,â Y/N admitted, her voice barely a whisper. âI was scared of losing you⊠scared of making the wrong choice. I thought you wanted to be free, and I didnât want to be the reason you couldnât follow your dreams.â
Alessiaâs eyes softened again, but this time, she didnât pull back. Instead, she looked at Y/N for a long moment, the anger slowly draining from her expression. âI wanted you to come with me, Y/N. I wouldâve given up everything to stay with you if you had asked. But you never did.â
Y/Nâs heart shattered at the revelation, and she felt a tear slip down her cheek before she could stop it. âI didnât know, Less. I didnât know you felt that way. I was stupid, and I was scared, and I thought you were better off without me.â
Alessia sighed, the frustration finally ebbing away, leaving only exhaustion in its wake. âI wasnât better off without you. Iâve spent years trying to forget about you, but I couldnât. No matter how hard I tried.â
Y/N looked down at her hands, her chest aching with regret. âI never stopped thinking about you either. Not once.â
The silence between them was heavy, but this time, it wasnât filled with anger or resentment. It was filled with the weight of everything they hadnât said, of all the time they had lost. Y/N wanted to reach out, to take Alessiaâs hand, but she didnât know if she had the right anymore.
But Alessia was the one who made the first move. She sighed and, for the first time since theyâd been reunited, the edge in her voice softened. âY/N⊠itâs not all your fault. We both made mistakes.â
Y/N looked up, her heart pounding. âDoes that meanâŠ?â
Alessia glanced at her, something unspoken hanging in the air between them. âI donât know what it means. But maybe⊠we donât have to keep hurting each other.â
Y/Nâs breath caught. This was the first glimmer of hope sheâd felt in weeks. âI donât want to hurt you, Less. I never did.â
Alessia gave her a small, tired smile. âI know.â
The bartender slid their drinks across the counter, and Alessia picked them up. As she handed one to Y/N, her fingers brushed against Y/Nâs, sending a jolt of electricity through her. For a moment, their eyes met, and Y/N saw something there that she hadnât seen in a long time: the flicker of the girl she used to know, the one who had loved her.
They returned to the table in silence, but this time, the tension between them was different. It wasnât the suffocating weight of anger and regretâit was something softer, something that felt like the first step toward healing.
Over the next few days, Y/N and Alessia didnât talk much, but the harsh comments and cold stares stopped. Alessia seemed to be struggling with her own emotions, and Y/N gave her the space she needed. But Leah, ever the protective sister, wasnât content to let things linger in awkward silence.
âWeâre making progress,â Leah said, gathering the core group again in the locker room after practice. âBut we need to do more. Theyâre clearly not going to talk unless we push them together.â
Katie McCabe grinned, leaning back in her seat. âWell, weâre a team. We can get creative. Maybe they need a little⊠forced bonding time.â
Beth raised an eyebrow. âAre you suggesting we lock them in a room together until they sort things out?â
Katie shrugged. âNot a bad idea, is it?â
Leah laughed. âLetâs not go that far. But I do think we need to create a situation where they canât just avoid each other.â
âLike what?â Vivianne asked.
âLike a team dinner, maybe,â Leah suggested. âSomewhere casual, low pressure. We can make sure theyâre sitting next to each other. And if that doesnât work, weâll come up with something more drastic.â
The group nodded in agreement, their eyes twinkling with mischief. It wasnât often that they got to play matchmaker, and they were determined to see it through.
That weekend, the team gathered at a cozy Italian restaurant in central London, the kind of place with candlelit tables and soft music in the background. Leah had made the seating arrangements, ensuring that Y/N and Alessia were placed right next to each other.
Y/N felt her heart rate spike as she took her seat beside Alessia, but Alessia didnât seem as tense as before. In fact, she even managed a small smile when their eyes met. It wasnât much, but it was enough to give Y/N a flicker of hope.
As the evening wore on, the conversation flowed easily around the table. The team laughed, joked, and shared stories, and slowly, Y/N felt the tension between her and Alessia begin to melt away. At one point, Alessia leaned over and whispered something about one of the other players, and Y/N couldnât help but laugh, the sound surprising even herself.
For the first time in a long time, it felt easy. Natural. Like maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.
After dinner, as the team spilled out onto the street, Leah nudged Y/N gently. âWalk Alessia home,â she whispered.
Y/N hesitated, but Leah gave her a reassuring smile. âGo on. Itâs time.â
Y/N swallowed her nerves and turned to Alessia. âHey, do you want some company on the way home?â
Alessia looked surprised for a moment, but then she nodded. âSure. Iâd like that.â
They walked in comfortable silence through the quiet London streets, the cool night air brushing against their skin. Y/Nâs heart raced with every step, but she didnât know what to say. It wasnât until they reached Alessiaâs building that she finally spoke.
âIâve missed you,â Y/N blurted out before she could stop herself.
Alessia paused, her keys in hand, and looked up at Y/N. Her expression softened, and for a moment, Y/N saw the girl she had fallen in love with all those years ago.
âIâve missed you too,â Alessia admitted quietly.
The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Y/N took a step closer, her heart pounding in her chest. âDo you think⊠we could try again?â
Alessiaâs eyes searched Y/Nâs face for a long moment, as if weighing her options. Then, slowly, she nodded. âYeah. I think we can.â
And with that, the distance between them melted away. Y/N stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Alessia, pulling her close. It felt like coming home.
From that moment on, things between Y/N and Alessia began to heal. The bitterness and anger faded, replaced by the love that had always been there, buried beneath the hurt. They took things slow, rebuilding the trust they had lost, but it wasnât long before they were back to where they had once beenâlaughing, teasing, and loving each other with the same intensity as before.
And this time, Y/N wasnât going to let Alessia go. Not again.
The rest of the team watched their relationship blossom with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that they had played a small part in bringing them back together. Leah, in particular, was overjoyed to see her sister happy again, and she made sure to remind Y/N every chance she got that familyâand loveâwas worth fighting for.
And so, as the seasons changed and the matches came and went, Y/N and Alessia faced every challenge together. They were stronger, not just as teammates, but as partners, and they knew that whatever the future held, they would face it together.
Because this time, they werenât letting go.