The invitation had been casual, almost to casual.
"Come with me to Austria for the break." Sarah had said, leaning against the locker with that easy smile, she always had. "My parents are away and asked me if I could come by to see if everything is okay. And I need someone to keep my company."
Y/N had agreed before really thinking it through. And now, standing in Sarahs childhood home - surround by the warmth of her memories, a smell of pine and fresh bread filling the air - was both, heaven and hell.
Not because of the Snowstorm brewing outside.
But because of her feelings for Sarah.
The snow had been falling since the early morning, turning the small village into a winter wonderland.
They had gone to get some groceries for the next days, knowing that it could get hard to get out of the house.
Y/N stood by the window, watching the delicate flakes swirl in the dim light.
Y/N jumped slightly at the sound of Sarahs voice, turning to find her standing close.
She had taken a shower and the smell of her body wash was filling the air.
"You okay?" Sarah softly asked.
"Yeah, just...taking it all in."
Sarah hummed in understanding, stepping even closer, there hands brushing.
"It's nice to have you here, the house feels...warmer."
Y/N couldnt help but glance at her lips, just for a second, but Sarah noticed. She always noticed.
There had been moments like this for months. Moments where they would hug for longer than they should, where she would catch Y/N staring at her from across the moment and where she would find herself looking at Y/N lips.
Maybe she would have made a move, maybe she would have admitted her feelings for Y/N, but there was just one problem.
Y/N had came from Hoffenheim at the start of the season, she was one of the best players on the team, at only 19 years old, making it a twelve year age different.
For a moment, it felt like something would happen - like the inches between them would disappear - but then Sarah stepped back, clearing her throat.
Y/N let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
The snow had been falling all through the night, making it impossible to go anywhere by car.
As Y/N got up in the morning, Sarah was sitting in the living room, rummaging through an old box of photos, the table already set for breakfast.
"Good morning." Y/N said as she sat down on the couch, two cups of coffee in her hands.
Sarah hummed in response and took the cub from Y/N.
Every now and then she would pull out a photo, showing it to Y/N, who tired to memories every one of them. Trying to remember everything of little Sarah.
In the afternoon, when it had stopped snowing for a while they went outside, taking a walk.
The snow was deeper than expected, crunching under their boots as Y/N followed Sarah, leading her down a small path.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Y/N asked, she grew up in northern Germany and wasn't used to this much snow.
Sarah glanced over her shoulder, flashing that trademark mischievous grin. "What, afraid of a little snow?"
Y/N scoffed "I'm afraid of freezing to death actually."
Sarah laughed, the sound echoing through the silent landscape. "Come on, we’re almost at the lake. It’s worth it, I promise."
Y/N sighed but followed, watching the way Sarah moved effortlessly through the snow, her long legs barely struggling while Y/N felt like she was wading through quicksand. "Easy for you to say," she muttered, stumbling slightly.
Sarah glanced back at her just in time to see Y/N’s boot catch on an unseen patch of ice beneath the snow. "Y/N, watch ou—"
Y/N’s feet slid out from under her, she let out a startled yelp, arms flailing as she went down. Sarah lunged forward instinctively, reaching out to catch her, but instead, she was pulled down along with Y/N.
With a muffled thud, they landed in a tangled heap in the snow, Y/N flat on their back and Sarah sprawled on top of her.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence, their breaths coming out in soft, visible puffs against the cold air.
Y/N blinked up at Sarah, she was so, so close. Her face hovered just inches above Y/N's, her lips slightly parted, warm breath ghosting over Y/N’s chilled skin. Snowflakes clung to Sarah’s lashes, and her blue eyes flickered between Y/N’s lips and her gaze, something unreadable lingering in them.
Y/N swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. "Uh... hi."
Sarah’s lips twitched into a small, amused smile. "Hi," she murmured, but didn’t move.
Neither of them did. The weight of Sarah on top of Y/N, the way their bodies pressed together through the layers of coats and scarves, sent a shiver down Y/N’s spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
Y/N’s gaze dropped to Sarah’s lips -God, so close. She could just lean up a little, close the distance, and-
Sarah’s eyes darkened, and for a second, it seemed like she might do it first. Her hand, which had instinctively grabbed onto Y/N's jacket during the fall, tightened slightly.
"Are you okay?" she then asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I think I hurt my shoulder a little, but otherwise yes." she said, her eyes locked with Sarahs. "What about you?"
"Well you are a pretty good thing to land on top of, really good. But now let's get you out of the snow." Sarah said, carefully getting up again and then holding her hand out for Y/N to grab.
And as she pulled her up, they were so close again. Sarah let out a sight, her hard was beating so fast, she was scared it would jump out of her chest if Y/N came any closer.
"Let's go." she grabbed Y/N by her hand again, to prevent her from falling again.
The walked back to the house, where Sarah sat Y/N down by the fireplace with some hot chocolate, before going to get something from her drawer.
"Take off your shirt." she demanded as she came back, sitting down behind Y/N.
"Excuse me?" Y/N asked, an amused smile on her face.
"I want to take a look at your shoulder and put some creme on it" Sarah replied, nestling on the hem of Y/N's dark blue shirt.
"I—uh—it’s fine, I can do it myself." Y/N hesitated, her heart suddenly pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with the injury.
"I don’t remember asking," she said, softer now but still commanding. "Come on, I’ve seen you in the locker room a million times."
Y/N swallowed hard, heat creeping up her neck. "Yeah, but this isn’t exactly the locker room, is it?"
Sarah gave her a look. "Y/N."
With a resigned sigh, Y/N slowly pulled off her shirt, feeling the cool air hit her skin. She sat on the couch, tense, as Sarah knelt beside her, squeezing a generous amount of the cream onto her fingers.
Sarah’s hands were warm when they pressed against Y/N’s bare shoulder, the contrast against the cold cream sending a shiver down Y/N’s spine. Sarah's fingers moved with gentle precision, smoothing the cream over the tender skin with slow, deliberate strokes.
Y/N tried—really tried—not to think about how close Sarah was, how her breath ghosted over Y/N’s neck, how every touch made something stir deep in their chest.
"You know," Sarah said quietly, breaking the silence, "my mom used to do this for me after my games when I was a kid. Every bruise, every scrape... she'd sit me down and fix me up, no matter how much I protested."
Y/N smiled faintly, trying to focus on anything other than the way Sarah’s fingertips traced delicate circles over her shoulder. "You? Protesting? I can't imagine that."
Sarah chuckled softly, her touch lingering a second too long. "I guess I’ve always been stubborn."
Y/N turned slightly, their faces close now—too close. The firelight flickered, casting warm shadows over Sarah’s features, and Y/N’s gaze drifted to her lips before she could stop herself.
"I like it," Y/N said quietly.
Sarah blinked, her fingers stilling against Y/N's skin. "What?"
Y/N swallowed hard, realizing what she had just admitted. "Your touch. I... I like it."
Sarah didn’t pull away. Instead, her eyes darkened, her fingers grazing Y/N’s collarbone lightly, teasingly. "Yeah?" she murmured, her voice husky.
Y/N nodded, feeling her breath hitch. "Yeah."
For a moment, it felt inevitable. Sarah leaned in, their noses brushing, her lips hovering just above Y/N’s. Y/N felt the tension coil in their stomach, their eyes fluttering shut, waiting—
But then Sarah exhaled sharply and pulled back, grabbing the box of creme and getting up.
"I will make us some food." she informed Y/N, leaving her behind.
Y/N let out a frustrated laugh, watching as Sarah walked away, the ghost of her touch still burning on her skin.
The snow hadn't stopped and Sarah insisted on teaching Y/N how do bake her moms famous Appel strudel, to pass some time, but of curse without sharing her familys secret recipe.
Flour dusted the countertops—and Y/N’s face—while Sarah sat on the counter next to her, correcting her terrible dough-rolling skills.
"You're terrible at this." Sarah teased, before jumping of the counter and grabbing a hand full of flower.
"Here let me show you." She stepped behind Y/N, placing her hands on top of hers.
Y/N froze as Sarah’s breath tickled the back of her neck, her body pressing close. "You have to knead it like this," Sarah murmured, guiding Y/N's hands with slow, deliberate movements.
Sarah felt her heart beat faster, as Y/N turned around, their faces suddenly only inches apart.
Sarah noticed Y/N, looking at her lips again and for a second she thought something would happen but Y/N pulled back, grabbing a handful of flower and tossing it playfully at Sarahs face.
"How old are you? 5?" Sarah asked, trying to wipe to flower off but before she cold do so Y/N grabbed her hand.
She reached out, using a finger to draw a heart in the flower on Sarahs cheek.
"Some people say I'll be turning 20 this year." Y/N answered, turning around again to put the strudel into the oven.
"You take that back." Y/N grabbed another hand full of flower, ready to throw it at Sarah.
"Don't you dare throw that at me!"
"So what if I do?" Y/N smiled mischievously, raising her hand.
Y/N pretended to think about it for a second, using her chance to throw the flower at Sarah and running out of the kitchen.
"HEY!" Sarah screamed, storming after her, she chased her to the living room and then finally managed to grab her.
Y/N suddenly stopped, forcing Sarah to run into her, and nocking both of them over, only this time, Y/N landed on top.
"We have to stop doing this." Y/N whispered, hovering above the older women.
"Landing on top of each other. Could be weird if it happened during practice."
Sarah smiled, her eyes flickering over Y/N face, her skin looked so soft, it was hard for her not to just touch it.
Maybe she would have done it, but the sound of the phone ringing broke the moment.
"I need to get that one." Sarah mumbled, quickly getting out form under Y/N and hurried to get the phone.
The power had gone out during the night, leaving the house bathed in an eerie stillness.
Y/N sat on the floor, leaning against the couch with a thick blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Sarah was next to her, sitting cross-legged, poking idly at the fire with a metal poker. The flames crackled and spat, filling the quiet space between them.
"You ever think about how weird life is?" Sarah mused suddenly, her voice low and thoughtful.
Y/N glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Weird how?"
Sarah stared into the fire, the glow catching the sharp angles of her face. "Like... how we end up where we are. How we meet the people we meet. If it’s all just random... or if there’s some kind of plan to it."
Y/N thought for a moment, shifting to get more comfortable. "I don’t know. I think about that sometimes too. Whether things happen for a reason, or if we're just... floating through life, hoping for the best."
Sarah chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Floating, huh?"
"Yeah," Y/N said, smiling faintly. "Like...you know when I was younger, I thought I knew what I wanted to do in live. Becoming a teacher, working with kids you know. But then I got better at soccer and I was playing for Hoffenheim and basically the next day I got a call from Alex, asking if I wanted to play for Bayern Munich. It showed me that sometimes you don't get want you want, but what you need."
Sarah nodded slowly, her gaze distant. "You're right."
Y/N glanced at her, sensing something deeper beneath her words. "Did you have a plan?"
Sarah exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "Not really. I mean, I knew I wanted to play. But there were times I wondered if I was good enough, if I was making the right choices." She paused, her fingers absently tracing patterns on her knee. "And sometimes I think... what if I hadn’t made it? Who would I be without football?"
Y/N felt a pang in her chest at the vulnerability in Sarah’s voice. "I think you'd still be... you. Football or not."
Sarah gave her a small, grateful smile, but her eyes still held a shadow. "It’s hard to imagine, though, isn’t it? Taking it all away. Who are we, really, without the one thing we've built our whole lives around?"
Y/N swallowed, feeling the weight of that question. "I guess... we’re just people, trying to figure it out like everyone else."
Sarah let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "That’s kind of terrifying."
"Yeah," Y/N agreed, bumping Sarah’s knee lightly with hers. "But maybe it’s also kind of... freeing?"
Sarah looked at her, a flicker of something thoughtful in her expression. "Freeing how?"
Y/N shrugged. "Like... maybe we’re more than just what we do. Maybe we get to decide who we are, over and over again. Maybe some of us are still searching for what they want in live, for who they want to be."
Sarah stared at her for a long moment, something unreadable in her gaze. "You ever feel like you're still searching?"
Y/N sighed, her fingers playing with the edge of the blanket. "Every day." she looked down, avoiding Sarahs gaze.
"It's not that I'm unhappy about my life, about playing football, but sometimes I'm asking myself if this is already everything."
"I think you need to appreciate that little moments more, remember how happy you were when Giuli invited you to hang out with them for the first time? I could see it in your eyes, that it made you feel seen."
"So you were watching me?" Y/N asked, a smile forming on her lips.
"That was not what I was trying to say."
"I know. But I get what you mean and you are right with that." Y/N admitted, looking up at Sarah.
For a while, they just sat there, the fire crackling, the wind howling outside, and the space between them charged with something unspoken.
Y/N turned her head slightly, watching Sarah in the soft firelight—the way the light danced across her features, the quiet vulnerability in her eyes. It was so rare to see her like this, stripped of her usual confidence, just... real.
"I like this," Y/N said softly.
Sarah blinked, turning to look at her. "What?"
Y/N hesitated, her heart hammering in her chest. "Talking like this. With you."
Sarah’s lips curled into the softest of smiles. "Yeah. Me too."
"...I always do." Sarah admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Y/N's breath caught in her throat. There was something about the way Sarah said it—soft, sincere, like a confession she hadn't meant to make. The fire crackled beside them, but the warmth Y/N felt had nothing to do with the flames.
Sarah seemed to realize what she had said and cleared her throat, quickly looking away. "I mean, you're new to the team. I like to make sure you're okay."
"Right," Y/N said, trying to ignore the way her pulse had jumped. "That makes sense."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. Y/N wanted to say something—wanted to ask why Sarah always seemed to pull away just when it felt like something was about to happen. But instead, she just nodded and looked back at the fire.
Sarah did the same, but Y/N could still feel her watching.
By nightfall, the storm had gotten worse and due to the lack of power there was no source of heat except the fire.
"This is ridiculous." Sarah muttered, she had stoped in the doorway on her way to go to bed, a blanked tightly wrapped around her shoulders. "We’re gonna freeze, to death in our rooms."
Y/N, curled up under a mountain of blankets on the couch, shivered. "Tell me about it."
"Alright, give me a moment." Sarah said, walking away.
Just a few minutes later she came back, carrying the big blanked from her bed and a few pillows.
"Move!" she demanded, dropping the pile off next to Y/N.
"It'll be warmer if we share a bed and here we also have the fire." she explained, laying the pillows down on one end of the couch and spreading the blanked. "Unless you’d rather turn into an icicle out here."
Y/N's heart skipped a beat. Sharing a bed with Sarah? After everything that had happened these past few days?
But she was freezing. And Sarah was right—it was just practical. Nothing more.
"Fine," Y/N mumbled, trying to sound unaffected.
But when they were finally lying next to each other, under layers of blankets, it was impossible to ignore the way their bodies naturally gravitated closer. The house was quiet except for the howling wind outside and the cracking of the fire.
"Better?" Sarah murmured, her voice close in the dark.
Y/N swallowed hard. "Yeah. Better."
Sarah shifted, and Y/N felt the slightest brush of her fingers against her arm. Maybe it was accidental. Maybe it wasn’t.
Neither of them moved away.
The minutes passed, but for Y/N it was impossible to fall asleep, not when her heart was beating that fast with Sarah being so close.
Sarah exhaled softly, and Y/N could hear the slight smile in her voice. "You're not sleeping either?"
Y/N let out a quiet chuckle. "No chance. Too much on my mind."
Sarah hummed, staring up at the wooden ceiling. "Like what?"
Y/N hesitated. Like you. Like the way you look at me. Like the way I feel when you’re this close.
"Just… everything," she said instead, her voice softer now. "The storm, the season, the team… life, I guess."
Sarah turned her head slightly, watching her. "You put a lot of pressure on yourself."
Y/N huffed a quiet laugh. "Like you don’t?"
Sarah didn’t argue. They both knew the truth.
A few moments of silence passed before Sarah let out a quiet sigh. "You ever think about what you really want? Not in football I mean, but in live."
Y/N turned her head to face Sarah now, their faces just inches apart. The low light softened Sarah’s features, but her green-brown eyes were piercing in the dim glow.
"You're asking about my dreams?" Y/N asked in a teasing tone.
"Sometimes," Y/N admitted. "But I try not to get caught up in things I can’t have."
Sarah’s lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something—but then she hesitated. Instead, she reached up, tucking a strand of Y/N’s hair behind her ear. The gesture was so gentle, so deliberate, that it made Y/N’s breath hitch.
The silence between them stretched, thick and heavy, until Sarah spoke again—barely above a whisper.
"And what if… what if you could have it?"
"I think I...I wish for someone to share all of this with, the good moments, the bad...just my life."
The warmth of Sarah’s fingers lingered against her skin.
A sharp clatter from outisde broke the moment.
They both tensed, their heads snapping toward the doorway. It sounded like something had fallen—maybe the wind knocking something loose outside.
Sarah let out a breath, dragging a hand through her hair. Nature just had the worst timing ever.
"Get some sleep, Y/N," She murmured after a moment.
Y/N turned her head, watching her. "Yeah," she whispered.
But she knew she wouldn’t sleep.
Not with Sarah this close.
Not with the promise of something hanging between them, just out of reach.
Warmth. That was the first thing Y/N registered as she drifted toward consciousness. Not just from the thick blankets cocooning her, but from something -or rather, someone- pressed against her side.
The second thing she noticed was light, soft, golden light spilling across the cabin, warming her face. The storm was gone.
Slowly, she blinked her eyes open, and the sight nearly stole her breath away. The snow outside glowed beneath the morning sun, untouched and glistening. It poured through the small window, casting everything in a hazy, golden glow—including Sarah, who was still fast asleep beside her.
Y/N swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of their position. Sometime during the night, they had shifted closer, their bodies now tangled under the blankets. Sarah’s arm was draped over Y/N’s waist, her face nestled against her shoulder, breaths slow and even.
Y/N didn’t dare to move. Not yet.
Sarah’s hair was messy from sleep, a few strands falling across her forehead, catching the sunlight in a way that made her look almost ethereal. Her face was peaceful, her lips slightly parted, her body completely relaxed against Y/N’s.
Y/N exhaled slowly, willing her racing heart to settle. She should move. She should. But there was something about this moment—about the warmth, the golden light, the quiet—that made her want to stay just a little longer.
A small sigh left her lips as she shifted, her hold on Y/N tightening slightly before she stilled again. Y/N held her breath, her heart pounding.
“Mmh… comfy…” Sarah’s voice was low, thick with sleep.
Sarah hummed, nuzzling closer. “Mhm… warm.”
Y/N could feel the heat in her own face now, but she couldn’t bring herself to move away.
The golden light danced across the room, the world outside perfectly still, as if waiting for them to wake up.
Sarah shifted again, finally cracking one eye open. She blinked lazily at Y/N before a slow, sleepy smile tugged at her lips.
Y/N’s breath hitched. “Morning.”
For a moment, they just lay there, golden light spilling over them, neither moving, neither speaking.
Then Sarah gave a contented sigh, stretching slightly before letting her head fall back onto the pillow, still close enough that Y/N could see the flecks of gold in her brown eyes.
“The storm’s gone,” Sarah mumbled, voice still husky with sleep.
Sarah glanced toward the window, taking in the sunlit snow, before turning back to Y/N. There was something unreadable in her gaze, something soft.
"If the weather stays like that I think the streets will be free of snow by tomorrow and then we can leave." Sarah explained, but there was no urgency in her voice. No rush to move. It was more like she didn't want to move at all.
"And what if I don't want to leave?"
Sarah's eyes flickered downward, just for a second.
Then she pulled back, just slightly—not hurriedly, not awkwardly, just… a shift. Like she knew they had lingered in this moment long enough. Like she had been aware of the closeness just as much as Y/N
Y/N let out a quiet breath she hadn’t realized she was holding
"I can leave you here, but beware that my parents are coming back on Sunday." Sarah answered before sitting up, rubbing a hand through her messy hair, squinting at the bright light filtering in through the window.
“Damn,” she murmured, staring out at the untouched snow. “It’s kinda beautiful.”
Y/N sat up slowly beside her, her shoulder brushing against Sarah’s. “Yeah.” But she wasn’t looking at the snow.
Sarah turned, catching Y/N’s gaze, and for just a second, something passed between them again—something quiet, something unspoken.
Then Sarah smirked, nudging Y/N playfully with her elbow. “Come on, kid. Time to see if our car is buried under a snowdrift.”
Y/N rolled her eyes at the nickname, but she couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips as she threw back the blankets.
The cold hit them the moment they stepped outside, but it was nothing compared to last night’s storm. The sky was clear now, and the world looked almost untouched under a thick blanket of fresh snow. The sun hung low, casting everything in a golden glow, making the frozen landscape almost beautiful.
Sarah stopped in her tracks and groaned dramatically. "My poor car.”
Y/N laughed, following her gaze. The vehicle was barely visible, buried under a ridiculous amount of snow. Only the side mirrors and the faintest outline of the roof stuck out.
“You sure you parked a car here? Cause I’m only seeing a snow sculpture,” Y/N teased.
Sarah shot her a look. “Very funny. Come on, let’s get to work before I freeze to death.”
She grabbed a shovel leaning against the wall and tossed another to Y/N, who barely caught it. Then they got to work, Sarah attacking the thicker piles with determined movements while Y/N brushed the snow off the windows and roof.
For a while, they worked in comfortable silence, the only sounds being their breathing and the scrape of shovels. But it didn’t take long before Y/N noticed the playful glint in Sarah’s eyes.
She should have seen it coming.
Sarah suddenly flung a shovel full of snow right at her, hitting her square in the side.
“Hey!” Y/N yelped, stumbling back.
Sarah grinned, eyes full of mischief. “Oh, sorry, was that your leg? My bad.”
Y/N narrowed her eyes, tightening her grip on her shovel. “You sure about that, Zadrazil?”
Before Sarah could react, Y/N scooped up a handful of snow with her gloved hands and launched it right at her chest.
Sarah let out a dramatic gasp. “Oh, that’s how it is?”
Y/N barely had time to smirk before Sarah lunged, grabbing a handful of snow and shoving it down the back of her jacket.
The shriek that left Y/N’s mouth was almost unholy. “Sarah! That’s cold!”
Sarah doubled over laughing, but Y/N wasn’t about to let that slide. She scooped up more snow and tackled Sarah, pushing her backward into a deep snowdrift. Sarah let out a surprised oof as she landed on her back, sinking halfway into the fluffy white powder.
Y/N stood over her, triumphant. “Karma.”
Sarah looked up at her, face flushed from the cold, a lazy grin on her lips. Then, before Y/N could react, Sarah grabbed her wrist and yanked—hard.
With a yelp, Y/N lost her balance and tumbled down beside her, landing with a soft puff in the snow. She turned her head and found Sarah already looking at her, still grinning. Their faces were close, breath visible in the cold air.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then Sarah chuckled, breaking the moment. “Alright, now we should probably dig my car out before it freezes into the ground permanently.”
Y/N rolled her eyes and sat up, brushing the snow from her clothes. “Yeah, yeah. But just so you know—you totally started that.”
Sarah smirked. “And I totally won.”
Y/N shook her head, laughing as she stood up and reached out a hand to help Sarah up. Together, they finished the job, working side by side until the car was finally free from the snow.
By the time they stomped back into the house, shaking off the cold, something felt different. Lighter.
And just as Sarah pulled off her jacket, the room filled with a low hum.
Then, one by one, the lights flickered back on. The heater rumbled to life.
Sarah let out a triumphant laugh, throwing her arms up. “Yes! The universe loves us!”
Y/N smirked. “I think it just got tired of watching us suffer.”
Sarah grinned and nudged her toward the kitchen. “C’mon, now we celebrate. Hot coffee?”
Y/N smiled, warmth creeping into her chest. “Hot coffee sounds perfect.”
And as Sarah moved around the kitchen, Y/N couldn’t help but think -getting snowed in with her? Maybe not such a bad thing after all.
The cabin felt strangely empty now that their bags were packed. The fire had burned down to embers, and the golden morning sun streamed through the windows, making the wooden walls glow with warmth. Outside, the snow-covered trees stood still, the storm now a distant memory.
Y/N stood by the couch, fingers grazing the blanket they had shared. The past few days had felt like a dream - being snowed in with Sarah, the quiet moments by the fire, waking up tangled together. But now reality was creeping back in. They would leave soon, go back to Munich, back to their normal lives.
Sarah was standing near the door, her hands in the pockets of her jacket, watching her. There was something unspoken in her gaze, something Y/N could feel pressing against her chest like a weight.
“We should go,” Sarah said softly, but she didn’t move.
Y/N swallowed, taking a step forward. “Sarah…”
Sarah’s gaze dropped to Y/N’s lips. Just for a second.
Y/N closed the distance between them, reached up, and kissed her.
For a heartbeat, Sarah froze.
It was soft at first, hesitant, but then something shifted. Sarah’s hands found Y/N’s waist, pulling her closer. Y/N’s fingers tangled in the collar of Sarah’s jacket, holding on as if letting go would break something fragile.
It was desperate, breathless, too short.
Because suddenly, Sarah was pulling away.
She took a step back, shaking her head as if she needed to clear it. “Shit.” Her voice was hoarse. “We—” She exhaled sharply. “We shouldn’t have done that.”
Y/N blinked, still catching her breath. “Why not?”
Sarah raked a hand through her hair. “Because I’m—” She let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m so much older than you, Y/N.”
Sarah let out a humorless chuckle. “So, it’s not that simple. You’re nineteen. I’m thirty-one. That’s a huge difference.”
Y/N shook her head, stepping closer. “I don’t care about that.”
“You should,” Sarah said, stepping back, rubbing a hand over her face. “I’m much older than you. I should know better.”
Y/N took a deep breath. “Sarah… who cares how old we are? We play on the same team, we live in the same world, we want the same things. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before, and I know you feel it too.”
Sarah shook her head, but not in disagreement—more like she was trying to fight something she had already lost to.
“I do,” Sarah admitted quietly.
“Then stop pushing me away.”
Sarah looked at her, really looked at her. And whatever she saw must have been enough because, slowly, her walls started to crack.
She exhaled, then gave a small, almost reluctant smile. “You’re impossible.”
Y/N grinned. “You like that about me.”
Sarah let out a breath of laughter, shaking her head. Then, with a soft sigh, she reached out, cupping Y/N’s face and pulling her in for another kiss—this time slower, more certain.
When they pulled away, Sarah rested her forehead against Y/N’s again, smiling against her lips.
“Let’s go home,” she murmured.
And this time, when they walked out the door, they weren’t leaving anything behind. They were taking it with them.
