#miedema

[vivsballer]

Need someone to create an twitter/x gc to talk about woso, arsenal…

I am @/mtcgabi

[onna0]

I'm jealous 🥲

[neuripley]

I do wish there was an arsenal version of this card but ah well

[ricegaard]

[aleswoso]

i may not be a gooner, but i have so much respect for viv, she is a fantastic, accomplished player who has inspired so many girls and women to watch and enjoy (and feel included) in football when they may have not felt that before.

she has accomplished and done so many incredible things and while i’m sad to see her leave the club she’s been at for 7 long years, i know she’ll go on to do even more amazing things, no matter what she does or where she goes.

once a gooner, always a gooner.

what a player. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[hermywolf]

i rly dont know how to feel abt viv leaving arsenal. on one hand i mean obviously thats great for us bc shes so good, AND theres the possibility that she'll join city apparently?? if she joins us i'll be delighted ofc. but shes SO arsenal though its never gonna be the same in the wsl, this really feels like the end of an era idk..

[dutchmeadema95]

Vivi 🥰

[rightscoop]

Arsenal fans' fury over Miedema was 'so great' I had to resign, says Eidevall

Former Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said the departure of club icon Vivianne Miedema in July was the main reason for his resignation in October, saying the situation created a rift with fans who had no “quick solution” and cast a “cloud” over the new station. After joining in 2017, Women’s Super League (WSL) record goalscorer Miedema produced 125 goals and 50 assists in 172 appearances for the…

[vivsballer]

🤓

Vivianne Miedema Glasses Appreciation

Request an appreciation | with @totaly-obsessed

[woso-dreamzzz]

Foster III

Vivianne Miedema x Teen!Reader

Summary: You can't stop shaking

It was only when you got on the train, that you realised exactly what you had just done.

You could feel everything all of a sudden - the pounding of your heart, the noise of the train, the feel of clothes on your skin. Your chest feels tight and you reach your hand up to try and massage it out but it only serves to make it all worse.

Your stomach feels like a deep pit, swirling and churning as you try to keep your breathing under control. The hairs on the back of your neck prick up like someone's watching you but the moment you turn around, you know you're wrong.

You know you're just imagining things because no one here even knows who you are, least of all think you're someone important enough to even give a second look at.

But it feels like you're on fire, like everyone is staring at you, like everyone is judging you for even the rise and fall of your shoulders in time with your breathing.

Your throat feels dry, like you've been walking for three days in the desert and your hands shake near uncontrollably as you try to open the lid of your water bottle.

You give up, unable to stop your hands from nearly spilling the whole thing over yourself.

No one sits in the seats near you and for that you're grateful because you can hide your shaking hands under the table and try to forget that they even exist...

Try to forget you even exist.

You're still in your school uniform - the weight of your grey school blazer heavy on your shoulders and the cotton of your tights rubbing against legs.

It was a half day today. The final bell rang at half past twelve.

You hadn't told Beth it was a half day.

You made sure she thought this was just another normal day at school.

You made sure she didn't think you were going to get the bus to the train station. You made sure she didn't think you were going to get on a train.

You made sure she didn't even suspect you.

Train tickets were expensive, more expensive than you thought they would be.

If you were still living with your parents then there would have been no hope but Beth gave you pocket money every week - a decent amount - and you'd saved it up to buy just one ticket.

The tightness in your chest doesn't fade. It doesn't become more manageable. But you do get used to the pressure. You get used to the feeling of it not going away, to the feeling of your chest staging protest against you.

Your stomach still swirls, churning and twisting in rebellion, like you can suddenly hijack this train and drive it straight back to London.

Your phone rings and you flinch, your mouth already growing dry and the pressures in your chest and stomach tightening.

Your hands are shaking, still trembling uncontrollably as you see who's calling.

Who else?

You reach out for your phone.

To do what, you're not sure.

Maybe answer it, if you can bring yourself to do it.

The name flashes on your screen and the profile picture teases you.

You reach out, a small movement but enough to bring your shaking hands back into your vision.

You can't even look at them, the way they shake and tremble like they have minds of their own.

You can't do it.

You won't.

You hide your hands under the table again and try to take another breath, no matter how much it feels like forcing yourself to swallow molten metal.

Your phone rings again and you squeeze you eyes tight so you can't hear it.

You consider turning your phone off but that requires your hands.

Your stupid, shaking hands and your apparent lack of control over them.

So, you sit on the train with your earphones in.

You listen to your phone ring over and over again.

Like on a loop.

You try to shut it out. You try to ignore it.

But the calls keep coming and the pressure in your body weighs you down, crushing you under its immense weight.

You open your eyes again and a different profile picture is on your screen.

Your throat bobs nervously but you manage to somehow ignore your trembling hands as you reach for it.

"Hi," Comes the soft voice. It's quiet and soft and not at all angry like you thought it would. "Where are you right now? Are you okay?"

"I-"

"Are you safe? Can you tell me that?"

"I'm...I'm safe," You choke out the words," I'm safe."

"That's good. Now, where are you right now?"

"On a train."

"Alright. Where's that train going?"

"Man-Manchester."

A sharp breath is sucked in on the other end of the line and you brace yourself for the anger, for the shouting and screaming and swearing.

But it doesn't come.

It never comes.

"From London, right?"

"Y-Yeah."

"I'm going to check what trains are coming in and I'll be waiting at the station for you. Alright?"

"Y-Yeah...It is."

"Now, I'm going to stay on the phone with you, is that okay? We don't have to talk. I just want to stay on the phone to make sure you're safe."

So you sit in silence for the rest of the journey apart from the odd breathing sounds that come from the other side of the line.

You're amazed that your legs aren't shaking when you get off the train and onto the platform. You're amazed that you have the wherewithal to even cross the station.

Viv's arms twist themselves around your back as you come closer, drawing you in as you bury your head in her shoulder.

"It's okay," She says," It's okay. I've got you. You're safe."

You're crying before you even realise it, gripping her tightly like you're scared she's just a phantom and not actually real. Like if you let go of her, she'll disappear with the wind.

"I...I don't...I...I worried Beth. She-She kept calling me. She's going to be so mad."

"She's not mad at all," Viv assures you," She knows you're with me. She knows you're safe. She's not mad, I promise. She just wants you safe and you are. With me."

You sniffle against her jacket.

"I don't want to see my mum this weekend. Please don't make me."

"Shh, shh," She says softly," It's okay. I've got you. You've had a long day. Let's get you home, alright? Home and fed and we'll discuss everything later. Is that alright?"

You nod.

"Good," Viv says," Let's get you home."

[wosounited]

Bossy Boots (Alessia Russo x Wiegman!Reader)

You’d met Alessia while studying in North Carolina. Your paths, to the naked eye, should have never crossed. You took different classes, you were a business student and she was on a football scholarship. Your paths should have never crossed, but they did. It was the very first day, at orientation, when, at random, students were split into groups to take tours of the university. It was your mother’s dream for you to follow in her footsteps and apply to study in North Carolina. Although you weren’t fulfilling her full dream of playing for the Tar Heels, just like she did.

Your mum was stuck at home in the Netherlands at work and couldn’t make it to your first day. While all the other freshman, as American’s call them, had a parent there, you were stuck to take this on alone. Most parents had notepads to take notes and to pay attention for their children, but not you.

“Welcome to your orientation, my name is Pam and I will be your orientation leader today” the perky girl in a North Carolina polo shirt said. “We will be making our way around the entire campus, so please make sure to pick a buddy and stay with them for the duration of the tour. Most of you have your parents with you, so please keep them as your buddy” she smiled, waving at the parents in attendance. “Anybody without somebody here today, please pair up with someone in the group. Okay then, let’s get going” she shouted as she began to walk.

You didn’t walk at first, instead you were glancing around the group to see who wasn’t with anybody, but you were certain there was nobody.

“Hey, do you need a buddy?” A voice said quietly from behind you. You spun around to see a tall blonde girl, with a football bag slung around her shoulder stood in front of you with a goofy smile on her face. You recognised her accent was English, and she was the most beautiful girl you’d ever seen in your life.

“Yeah, I could do with one. My mum couldn’t make it” you told her as she smiled.

“Mine neither. Stuck back in England” she replied.

“Netherlands” you blurted out, telling the girl where you were from without her having to even ask.

“Nice” she smiled at you, but Pam interrupted.

“Keep up!” She shouted as you both jogged to catch up with the group.

“So, what are you studying?” The blonde girl asked you.

“International business and English studies. What about you?” You replied.

“Sport and exercise science” she mumbled, not sounding too excited.

“Oh, so you’re into sport then?” You asked begrudgingly. You hated all kinds of sport entirely with every ounce of hatred you could hold in your body.

“Yeah, I play football. I’m on scholarship with the Heels here and play for England” she replied, a bit smugly

“Sorry to alarm you, but you’ll need to do a lot more than that to impress me” you laughed.

“Oh really? Why’s that?” She smirked at you.

“My mum is the Netherlands national team coach” you giggled as the girl suddenly stopped walking. She didn’t care that Pam was striding further and further away with the rest of the group.

“Your mum is Sarina Wiegman?” She gasped. You nodded your head at the amused blonde. “So that would make you-” she trailed off, beginning to think.

“Y/n Wiegman” you replied.

“Well, Y/n Wiegman, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Alessia Russo” she replied.

“Russo?” You asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Dad is Italian, mum is English” she replied with a smile.

You got on with the tour, chatting about your upcoming college adventures in the States with the girl. Alessia made you promise to watch her football games when you could, so you could put in a good word if she was ever going to be coached by your mum in the future. The tour finished at the dorms where Pam called out the room assignments. You were living on the same floor as Alessia but she was bunking with another football player that she knew from home, Lotte. You were just about to grab hold of your bag again when Alessia picked it up off the ground and handed it to you.

“Thank you” you smiled at her.

“Is there any chance I could get your Instagram before we go?” She asked.

“Sure” you replied with a smile as she handed you her phone and you typed it into her Instagram search bar before handing it back to her. She turned her phone to confirm she had the right profile, and once you had given her a nod, she requested to follow you.

“Maybe I’ll accept you” you said, giggling at the blonde.

“You better. I know where you live” she laughed.

“Lessi, hey” a new, taller brunette ran from another tour group in your direction.

“Hey Lotte” she replied, hugging the girl.

“So stupid they split us up earlier just to put us back together for our dorms” Lotte laughed.

“So dumb” Alessia moaned as both girls laughed. “Oh Lotte, sorry. This is Y/n. We were tour buddies” Alessia said as Lotte smiled at you and stuck out her hand.

“Hey, I’m Lotte” she said as you shook her hand.

“Y/n” you replied with a smile.

“Where are you staying?” She asked.

“Same floor as you, just a few doors down” you said.

“You invited her to our party then, right?” Lotte asked Alessia.

“Not yet” Alessia replied.

“We’ve been here for like 30 minutes. How have you both planned a party already?” You laughed, making the blonde blush.

“Do you want to come?” Lotte chimed in.

“Yeah sure, when?” You replied.

“Tonight. 8pm” Alessia answered.

“I guess I’ll see you there” you said as you walked off towards you room.

“Bye” Alessia shouted after you.

“Bye” Lotte whispered mimicking Alessia’s voice. “You’re so into her” Lotte added.

“You will never guess who her mum is” Alessia laughed as they set off towards their room to set up for their house party.

-

You had just finished on a FaceTime with your mum, filling her in about how your first day had gone. You had dinner with your roommate Lily, who was on a basketball scholarship. Your mum must have played some type of sick trick on you, as you seemed to be placed in the dorms where all the scholarship students were living. You took it upon yourself to invite her to Alessia and Lotte’s party, which she accepted. It was around 9pm when you knocked on Alessia and Lotte’s door and after a few seconds, Lotte answered the door and greeted you with a smile and a hug.

“This is my roommate, Lily” you introduced them quickly as they shook hands.

“Alessia is just over there” Lotte pointed at the blonde who was sat on the couch, making small talk with the strangers in her apartment.

“Thanks” you smiled, before heading off towards her.

“How do you know Y/n?” Lily asked Lotte.

“My mate introduced us just earlier, they are so into eachother” Lotte laughed.

“Tell me everything” Lily said, closing the front door and walking towards the kitchen with Lotte

“Hey” you said taking a seat beside Alessia.

“Oh hey. Glad you could make it” she replied, moving over to make sure you had enough room to sit down. “Can I get you a drink?” She added.

“Yeah, sure” you smiled. Alessia got up and pulled a beer from the fridge and handed it off to you before taking a seat again beside you.

“Here you are” she said.

“Thanks” you replied. Your conversation flowed really smoothly and after a few more drinks, it became a giggly exchange with a few innocent lingering touches.

“So, you come late to my party. You leave my follow request on pending. I thought we had something special?” Alessia fake pouted.

“You are drunk” you laughed at the now smirking girl, pushing her back by the chest as her free hand settled on your waist. Her occupied hand however was slotted into yours, but you were both a bit too drunk and comfortable to realise. After a long while of sitting together, alone, you were both eventually pulled into different conversations. Every now and then your eyes would flick to Alessia, and you’d smile whenever your eyes would mistakenly meet hers, when she was trying to sneak a look at you too.

At 2am, the party was still going and showed no signs of slowing down. You were dancing with a group of people, and Alessia was talking to Lotte and Lily. As you were dancing, a taller, basketball player built girl put her hands to your waist and pulled you a bit closer to dance. You didn’t mind though, your mind was a bit foggy but you knew what was happening and tall sporty girls were definitely your type.

“Oh, Y/n is making moves” Lotte shouted and pointed in your direction. Alessia’s head had never shot so fast in a direction before as it did to get to look for you. Without another word, or even, another thought, Alessia walked straight over to you. She stood in front of you and stuck her hand out for you to take, which you did. She pulled you away and towards the corner of the room, knowing she could blame the alcohol later, and pressed her lips against yours. You reciprocated the kiss almost immediately, letting her deepen it and take full control.

“$20 they are together by the end of the semester” Lily whispered to Lotte as they both looked in your direction.

“You’re on” Lotte said, shaking her hand.

-

From then on, Lily was doing everything in her power to get you to ask Alessia out as soon as possible, and Lotte was doing everything to encourage Alessia to take it slow.

“Come on Y/n/n, you’re so obviously into her” Lily whined again.

“Lily, how many times do I have to say it. She doesn’t like me like that” you moaned, slamming your textbook closed.

“You are literally all the girl talks about! Her lock screen is a picture of the both of you, she shows up every morning here with your coffee order. Oh and last and most important, you two are constantly flirting and making out” Lily listed.

“One, she does not talk about me all the time, she talks about football and nothing else. Two, it’s a nice photo. Three, she owes me. I do her assignments” you laughed, thinking about all the late nights you’d spent lying on Alessia’s bed while you typed away at her assignments and she watched a football match. “And four, who uses the phrase making out? We kiss when we’re drunk. What’s the big deal?” You added. Just then there was a knock on the door. “Plus can I just point out that she’s so obviously into Lotte. She literally acts so different with me when Lotte is around” you said before answering the door, leaving Lily no time to answer, just her jaw to drop.

“Hey” Alessia smiled the second you opened the door.

“Good morning” you said to the Blonde English girl standing with two coffees in her hand.

“Ready?” She asked, handing you your coffee.

“Not yet. Come in” you gestured her in as you pulled the door further open.

“Morning Lily” she greeted your roommate. You knew it was probably a bad idea, but you needed to get changed, so you left them in the kitchen.

“Good morning Alessia. No coffee for me?” Lily smirked.

“I don’t co-operate with basketball players” she laughed, sipping out of her own coffee.

“So, can you tell me why my roommate thinks you are fucking Lotte?” Lily crossed her arms, leaning against the countertop.

“She what?” Alessia spat her coffee out. “I am not- No. She’s got it wrong” Alessia stumbled over her words.

“Well, when I told her I thought you liked her, I was basically called an idiot and she said you liked Lotte” Lily told Alessia still not wiping the smirk off her face. That $20 was definitely hers. She could feel it.

“No, I don’t like Lotte like that. I like Y/n- I really like her” Alessia reassured her.

“So, ask her out. There’s only two days of the semester left” Lily suggested. You came out of your bedroom to a smirking roommate and a stressed best friend.

“Is everything okay?” You asked the room.

“Just talking about end of semester exams” Lily replied as Alessia nodded.

“Ready for class?” You asked Alessia.

“You know Alessia, for someone who’s in the same class as you, you never offer to walk me to class” Lily laughed.

“Well, maybe if you turn up for class, I’ll walk with you” Alessia replied, also laughing.

“Maybe tomorrow” Lily said, grabbing a snack and heading back to her room.

You were both walking in complete silence, but you decided to break it. You never walked in silence, usually the girl was busy rambling on about something to do with training or a match or a game she watched.

“Is everything okay, Lessi?” You asked.

“I don’t like Lotte” she blurted out.

“What?” You replied. “But she’s your-”

“I don’t like Lotte like that” she repeated herself.

“You don’t need to explain anything to me” you whispered, slowing your walking pace.

“No I do, because-” she trailed off, trying to find the words to explain herself to you. She looked around, making sure nobody was near to hear what she was about to say as she eventually looked you in the eyes. “I really like you Y/n. I want you to be my girlfriend” Alessia stuttered.

“Seriously?” You gasped.

“Is that a yes?” She smiled.

“Obviously it’s a yes, Lessi” you chuckled, before finally kissing your girlfriend. She dropped you off at class and then eventually took her seat beside Lotte in the library.

“Hey, guess what?” Alessia mumbled.

“What?” Lotte whispered back.

“I asked Y/n to be my girlfriend and she said yes” Alessia whispered in a happy tone.

“What?” Lotte shouted.

“Ladies! Quiet” the Librarian shouted.

“Sorry” they said in unison.

“Damn Less. You couldn’t have waited two days? Now I owe Lily $20” Lotte said.

“Wait, you were both betting on us?” Alessia fired out with raised eyebrows. Lotte had just realised what she admitted and stood up to make her escape.

“No, no Less. It’s a completely unrelated thing to the timing of you asking Y/n out” she said, grabbing her things and running out the door.

“Lotte Wubben Moy, get back here now” Alessia whispered shouted, running after her.

-

Five years later, you were living in London with Alessia. She had just became a Euro’s champion, a World Cup silver medalist and completed a transfer to Arsenal.

The move worked for both of you, as you had worked for a top business firm in Manchester for a while and she was playing for Manchester United. But now you had been transferred to the London branch of your company and Alessia had transferred to Arsenal.

Nobody except for Lotte and Lily knew about you and Alessia, still now, five years later. You did think about making it public, but on the very same day you’d planned to tell people, your mum became the English women’s national team coach. Alessia or you didn’t hide that you were in a relationship, you just weren’t very open about who it was with.

Your mum had met Alessia once, before becoming her manager, at your graduation. They mostly talked about football, and you knew you would have had no fear of them getting along. But now that your mum was your secret long term girlfriend’s boss, things were different. Your mum thought you had picked up a football interest when you would come to see England games, but really, it was just to see Alessia play.

-

At Arsenal training one day, the team was doing a set piece drill, when Vic crossed it to Viv, who then played it back to Alessia and she stuck it into the back of the net.

“Dat was een goede voorzet Vic” That was a good pass Vic Viv shouted to Vic, who stuck her thumbs up and ran back into position.

“Dat was een mooi doelpunt Less” That was a nice goal Less Viv said, before shaking her head and laughing. “Sorry, that was a nice-” Viv said but was interrupted.

“Oh, don’t worry. She understood you” Lotte smirked at Viv. “She speaks Dutch” Lotte added.

“Alessia, spreek jij Nederlands?” Do you speak Dutch? Viv shouted.

“Ik kan. Mijn vriendin is Nederlands” I can. My girlfriend is Dutch Alessia shouted back. Viv smirked in approval and got back to work. When training was over, Alessia sat in her cubby which just happened to be beside Viv.

“So, Dutch girlfriend, huh? You kept that quiet” Viv asked.

“Yeah, we’ve been dating for five years. Met in college” Alessia said casually, taking off her boots.

“Where is she from?” Viv asked

“Sassenheim, but she’s lived all over really” Alessia replied.

“Maybe you could bring her over to Beth and my house? We could have dinner” Viv suggested to her new teammate.

“Sure that would be great. I will run it by her and text you?” Alessia replied and Viv nodded.

About an hour later, Alessia arrived home. It was your favourite time of day hearing the door shut and her gym bag hit the ground.

“Baby, I’m home” Alessia shouted from your apartment door.

“In here” you shouted back from the sitting room. She quickly entered the room and pressed a kiss to your lips.

“Would you like to go to two of my teammates house tonight for dinner?” She asked as you readjusted your siting position on the couch.

“Would you like that?” You smiled at her and she nodded. “Okay then. Let’s do it” you squeezed her hands before she took her phone out to call Viv.

“Hallo? Vivianne? Het is Alessia. Wij zullen er vanavond zijn voor het diner” Hello? Vivianne? It's Alessia. We'll be there for dinner tonight she said through the phone.

“Leuk, tot dan” Cool, see you then Viv replied and they hung up.

“Your Dutch is getting really good” you said standing up and cupping her face.

“Dank je, mijn liefste” thank you, my love she replied. Her Dutch accent was very cute and always made your heart melt at how hard she tried at speaking it.

-

Later that evening, Alessia drove you to Beth and Viv’s for dinner that Viv had prepared. Beth answered the door and greeted both of you, her teammate first and then you.

“Hey Lessi” she said, patting the taller blonde on the head.

“Beth stop” Alessia laughed, pushing by her to go in.

“Hi, I’m Y/n” you smiled, putting your hand out for her to shake.

“Hey, Beth” she shook your hand, but gave you a funny look. “Have we met before?” She raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t think so” you replied, now being ushered into the house. Alessia was already in the kitchen talking to Viv.

“Oh here she is, Viv this is my girlfriend-” Alessia began but was interrupted.

“Y/n!” Viv shouted.

“Hey, nice to meet you” you smiled at her.

“Weet Beth het?” Does Beth know? Viv whispered to Alessia who shook her head.

“Beth, Y/n, sit down please. Alessia get them drinks” Viv instructed. Alessia poured two glasses of wine, handing you and Beth one each and then getting into a very heated, whispered conversation with Viv by the stove.

“Sorry about earlier” Beth said, “You just look very familiar” Beth smiled.

“It’s not a problem. I’ve been to a few of your England games, so you’ve probably seen me there” you reassured her as she nodded. “My mum thinks I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for football, but I’m just there to support Less. And I guess, her as well” you laughed.

“Oh, is your mum involved in football then?” She smiled as you nodded and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Babe, you’re currently sitting with Dutch royalty” Viv shouted as Beth’s face fell to a frown and Alessia was biting back a laugh.

“Who’s your mum?” Beth asked as Alessia smirked.

“Sarina Wiegman” you smirked. Beth’s jaw dropped.

“Lessi, how long-” Beth began to stutter.

“Five years and no, Sarina does not know. Actually nobody does except for Lotte” Alessia replied.

“Are you ever going to tell her?” Viv asked.

“Yeah, we will soon” you replied and Alessia smiled. After dinner, you both headed back home. You were falling asleep against the window when Alessia finally broke the silence.

“Do you really want to tell your mum?” She asked continuing to look at the road.

“Yeah, baby” you mumbled and your face lit up. “I can invite her over tomorrow?” you suggested.

“That would be great” she replied.

Y/n

Hey mama, kom morgen lunchen x Hey mum, come over for lunch tomorrow x

Mama

Ok 👍🏻

The next morning when you woke, you could hear banging from downstairs. When you reached for Alessia, she was not lying beside you and you took a breath of relief that you were not currently being robbed. You rolled your eyes and got out of bed at the fact that the banging was the doing of your girlfriend.

“Baby, what are you doing?” You asked, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes.

“Y/n! Your mum is due here in two hours! The house is so untidy and we have no food” she stuttered, looking around and flapping her hands. You looked around and noticed that nothing was out of place and the fridges and pantry were fully stocked.

“Baby, relax. She’s going to be fine. Let’s go get changed and then I’ll make lunch, okay?” you said, pulling her back towards the bedroom.

Just less than 2 hours later, your mum knocked at the door. Alessia busied herself plating up lunch while you answered. You hugged her and smiled instantly when you saw her.

“So good to see you” your mum said, stepping through the door and hugging you back just as tight

“You too, mum” you replied as a bang came from the kitchen.

“Is someone here?” She asked and you nodded.

“Yes, my girlfriend. I wanted to invite you over to meet her. Well, meet her properly” you said, gesturing her towards the kitchen. As the door opened, your mum looked up and held firm eye contact with Alessia.

“Mum, Alessia. Alessia, my mum Sarina” you smiled as Sarina laughed and Alessia laughed too.

“Nice to meet you. Alessia, was it?” Sarina said.

“You too, Sarina” Alessia chuckled.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me, Y/n” Sarina said.

“I was going to, until you became her boss” you laughed.

“Shall we eat?” Alessia suggested.

“Yes please” Sarina said as you all took a seat at the table.

From then, there was no longer a need for you and Alessia to keep quiet. Alessia did take a right slagging from her teammates every so often, but she wouldn’t change it for the world.

alessia

Liked by y/n/n00, lilymcpb, lottewubbenmoy, bethmead_ and 112,438 others

alessia: Loved you then, still love you now ❤️

y/n/n00: Always ❤️

lilymcpb: Where’s my $20 @lottewubbenmoy

leahwilliamsonn: Mini Wiegman 😭

[vivsballer]

They lost but this kit is 🔥

[onna0]

favourite dutchies 😍🫶

[lvnleah]

city mascot | our little love.

couldn’t find any photos suitable for this to save my life so have the two above!

“Are you excited, mijn meisje?” Viv asked you, crouched down beside you with her arm around your waist as you waited in the tunnel. 

You nodded shyly, your fingers still in your mouth. Viv smiled and gently pulled your hand away. “Get those fingers out of your mouth,” she giggled, getting a little smile out of you. “You’re going to do great.”

Before you could say anything, another voice called your name.

“Roo!”

You turned your head and spotted Beth standing in the Arsenal lineup, her red shirt standing out against all the blue around you. She was grinning, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

“You excited to walk out with Mamma, munchkin?” She asked as she crouched beside you and Viv, pulling your city shirt down so it was a bit more straighter. 

You nodded again, but this time a little more enthusiastically, your nerves fading just a little with Beth beside you. She gave you a big smile, her hands resting on her knees as she studied you.

“Are you gonna sit with Grandad during the match?” Beth asked before leaning close, “I reckon he might get you some chips if you’re good!”

Your eyes lit up at the mention of chips, and you nodded eagerly. “With ketchup?” you asked, voice small but hopeful.

Beth chuckled. “Of course, with ketchup. Grandad wouldn’t forget that, would he?”

Before you could protest, the announcer’s voice boomed through the tunnel then, signalling it was time. The noise outside grew louder, and the players started to shift forward. Viv squeezed your hand, then glanced down, realizing how tight your grip was.

“Want me to carry you?” she asked gently.

You nodded quickly, and in one easy motion, Viv scooped you up onto her hip, holding you securely against her side. She rubbed your back as she stepped forward with the rest of the team, and suddenly, it didn’t feel so scary anymore.

When you walked out onto the pitch, the noise was deafening. Everyone was noisy and you tucked your head into Viv’s neck. As the two teams lined up, Arsenal started making their way down the line. One by one, they high-fived you, some of them ruffling your hair, others giving Viv quick hugs. You giggled when Lotte squeezed your cheek and when Katie called you a “wee traitor” before giving Viv a tight hug.

Then Beth was in front of you. She grinned, her hands reaching out before you even had time to react.

“Gotcha!” she said, tickling your stomach.

You squealed, squirming in Viv’s arms as Beth laughed. Then, before you could pout at her, she leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead. “Still my favourite little mascot,” she whispered.

Then she straightened up, meeting Viv’s eyes. They didn’t say anything, but Beth pulled Viv into a quick hug, patting her back before stepping away and joining the rest of the Arsenal team. 

As the last person high-fived you, Viv pressed a kiss to your temple before setting you down, crouching in front of you to tuck your hair behind your ears.

“You go sit with Grandad now, yeah?” she said softly. “I’ll see you after.”

You turned, spotting Rich waving from the sidelines. You ran straight over to him, he quickly bent down to scoop you up. 

“There’s my girl,” he said warmly, squeezing you close. “Did you have fun walking out with Mamma?”

You grinned, nodding. “Mummy tickled me!” you reported, making him chuckle.

“Course she did.” Rich chuckled as you made your way up to the stands. 

For the whole match, you sat on Rich’s lap with Twix held tightly under your arm. You cheered for Beth and Viv, your head going back and forth each time one of them was on the ball. By the end, Arsenal had won 4-3 making you a little disappointed that Viv had lost. 

As the final whistle blew, you pouted slightly, snuggling into Rich’s chest. “Mamma lost,” you mumbled, watching as the players shook hands on the pitch.

Rich pressed a kiss to the top of your head. “She played really well though, didn’t she?” he said gently. “And I bet she’ll still be happy to see you.”

You nodded, but your bottom lip was still pushed out as you watched Viv and Beth chatting on the pitch. Beth looked up and spotted you in the stands, waving enthusiastically. You lifted your hand to wave back, but your pout stayed in place.

A few minutes later, as the players started making their way off the pitch, Beth came up to the stands, “Oi, munchkin, what’s with the sad face?” she teased, reaching out to ruffle your hair.

“Mamma lost,” you said quietly, gripping Twix a little tighter. “She’s gonna be sad!”

Beth crouched in front of you, her hands resting on her knees. “She did, but you know what? She still played amazingly. And I bet she’s more excited to see you than anything else!”

You didn’t say anything, just hugged Twix to your chest. Beth gave Rich a look before leaning in closer. “You know, when I lose, I feel a bit sad too. But when I see you, it makes me feel all happy again. I think Mamma will feel the same.”

You considered her words, glancing back toward the pitch. A few seconds later, Viv came up to the stands, her face a little tired but lighting up the second she saw you.

“There’s my meisje,” she called, holding her arms out.

Without hesitation, you wiggled out of Rich’s arms and ran straight to her. Viv scooped you up, pressing a kiss to your cheek. “I missed you,” she murmured, rubbing your back.

You pulled away slightly to look at her. “You sad you lost?” you asked softly.

Viv smiled, brushing some hair from your face. “A little,” she admitted, “but seeing you makes me feel so much better!”

Beth appeared beside you both, grinning. “Told you,” she said, tapping your nose playfully.

That finally got a giggle out of you, your disappointment fading as you curled up against Viv’s chest.

“Come on,” Beth said, throwing an arm around both of you. “Let’s go find some chips to cheer everyone up, yeah?”

You perked up instantly. “With ketchup?”

Viv and Beth both laughed, and Viv pressed another kiss to your forehead. “Of course, with ketchup.”

[mercurycft]

𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐑 — 𝐀𝐖𝐅𝐂

## reader x awfc !!

hi all!! finally releasing this, which is in honour of jonas finally pissing off away from our girls and our team! i hope you enjoy! love always, RGx

warnings: angsty team x management arguments, mentions of mental health!

3.6k words.

“i’m sure the team will be buzzing with joy this evening after tonight’s win, but how are the girls and yourself taking the recent and surprising departure of a lifelong gunner?”

“yeah, as you said we’re all pleased with the result tonight - it was a great match with a good side and i think the score reflects the determination we took onto the pitch with us.” you watch as beth pauses, like she is searching for words that will do her feelings justice. “she was the best of us, not just the team but the best of us and our friends. i think she was and is destined for great things, but life and people unfortunately happened to get in the way. but i’m happy, we’re all, happy for her.”

you've known beth long enough to know when she is lying and it pains you to realise how the tone of her voice drops at the mention of you. it stings momentarily, but you shake it off and allow pride to take over you as the camera pans to the rest of the team taking their victory lap.

you find yourself smiling absentmindedly at your phone, having sat through the entire match with your eyes glued to your phone - watching your girls on the pitch from your home, instead of beside them for the first time in years. your stomach filled with a cocktail of emotions that you can’t seem to process at this very moment. a toxic mixture of sadness and despair, twisted and twined with anger and hatred for what the situation had become.

its been two weeks since your statement went out, three since you made the decision and four since the argument. in an ideal world, it wouldn’t have gone this way - you would’ve stomached your feelings for longer and swallowed your bubbling anger, bit your tongue and carried on as usual. but for some reason, you just couldn’t.

------

1 month ago.

a 3-0 win should be celebrated. it should fill you with joy and overwhelming excitement - but it doesn't. instead, it fills you with nothing but anger and resentment for the club you once loved, you used to love. in place of congratulations and pats on the back, is a lecture. a plethora of critiques and corrections despite the effort and conviction everyone had shown.

you and the rest of the girls stand huddled in a group in the locker room, stood in an agonising silence. your hair is still wet, from the sickly british rain that decided to visit, your face still tinted red and your chest still heaving.

you tune out to jonas' voice, watching absentmindedly as he paces ahead of the group - volume above his usual decibel as he tears into the group, pushing further and further. you don't listen, allowing your mind to wander. no one dares talk back, instead choosing to take his words. you, however, fail to be as nonchalant as them - swallowing the bubble of anger in your throat and biting your tongue to the best of your ability.

your mind is brought back into the tiled room at the snap of your name from the front of the group. you look up to be met with jonas' eyes on you - his eyebrows raised and seemingly awaiting an answer. "what?" you mumble through gritted teeth, eyes locked on his.

"do you care to fill the rest of us in on what is so important besides my feedback right now?"

you shake your head, matched with a sarcastic looking, sickly-sweet smile and lift your hand top gesture towards him. "oh please, carry on."

"i dont appreciate your attitude," he quips back, screwing his facial features together, feining disgust.

"whatever," you scoff, rolling your eyes and peeling yourself away from the bodies beside you - now overly aware of their eyes on you.

"i'm out." pause. "i'm going to leave, and have a glass of wine and celebrate a fucking win." you turn away from them, too busy to take off your kit and instead scrunching your clothes and belongings into your kit bag. "which by the way, is what we should all be doing! instead of standing here taking shit because he didn't like how we were moving on the pitch!"

there was a shift from him, and a deep red tint crept up his neck as he shot daggers at you from across the tiles. “i do everything for this team! maybe once in a while, it would be nice for you to do the same if you think you know better! please, do tell us, what makes you think you have done anything of significance for this team? for arsenal!”

it changed, then. the small shred of sympathy you had, the small shred of guilt - gone. ripped from inside you and splattered across the walls of your home stadium locker room. the girls around you seemed shocked at his words, confused and unsure of what to expect next.

you paused. taking a deep breath and halting your shoving of clothes and shoes into your bag, and turning to face him directly through the sea of red and white kits in front of you.

“what do i do, for this team?” the question sounded almost broken, like you couldn’t actually believe he was playing this card. you searched for the answer deep within yourself for a few seconds, allowing the hurt to build in your throat and fuel the fire burning deep behind your eyes and in the pit of your stomach. your eyes flicked over each of the faces now looking at you and a small smile teased at the corners of your lips as you looked at their concerned expressions.

after a few more moments of silence, you inhaled deeply and began. “i’ve given my life, to this club. to this team. i put in the work, i trained day and night in the academy, until i was enough for the senior team. and when i made it here, i made a difference. i stepped up when kim was out, when leah was out. when laura first moved here, i took her in.” you paused, taking another shaky breath, cautious of the tears held back by nothing more than your water line. “i don’t expect you to give a shit. but whilst you were too busy tearing this team down. katie for her aggression, kim for her captaining style, leah for her rehabilitation, viv for her performance, beth for her drive, lia for training hours and every other fucking player in this building. i was building them back up, i was trying to make this right.”

silence fell over the room, and you shook your head. “im done.” you all but whispered, slinging your bag over your shoulder and moving towards the large doors leading away from the locker room. “i can’t do this anymore, this club is my home - and i will not watch you tear it down.” you shoved the door, a single teare slipping down your cheek the second you heard the door swing back on its latch and close again. you didn't stop to say goodbye to the familiar faces in the building, instead, with your head down and focused on the floor beneath you - you walked straight into the carpark, got into your car and drove home.

as you drove away, the weight of your decision settled in your chest. you couldn't believe it had come to this, that you had walked away from the team you had poured your heart and soul into. all the emotions you had been burying for weeks and weeks on end were now uncontrollable, tears streaming as you contemplated your actions but you knew you couldn't bear to stay in an environment where your efforts were belittled and unappreciated.

after a 40 minute drive, you found solace and refuge in the familiar walls of your apartment. the silence enveloped you as you sank onto the sofa, reaching for your phone. you hestitated in pulling it out of your bag, unsure of what may be waiting for you when you unlock it.

but still, you did, heaving a deep breath when your screen lit up with a message from beth. her words expressing concern and confusion about what had transpired in the locker room. as you read beth's message, a mix of emotions washed over you - relief that someone cared enough to reach out, but also a pang of guilt for leaving without saying a proper goodbye. to her, to any of the girls in the room. you quickly typed out a response, skipping over the details of your motives - instead opting for a light hearted message, apologising for your abrupt exit and apologising for not controlling your temper.

minutes turned into hours as you sat there, staring at your phone, the weight of your actions heavy on your shoulders. you hadn’t moved, still sat in your jacket and kit, boots still tied to your feet. the sound of a familiar notification pinged through the room - like it had been doing on repeat since that first message from beth, and you saw more messages popping up from your now ex-teammates.

------

1 week later - 3 weeks ago.

the days blurred into a week as you settled into a routine without the training sessions, team meetings, and the constant thoughts of upcoming matches that used to consume your time. you found freedom in the quiet moments alone, the weight of expectation now lifted off your shoulders, a sense of liberation starting to bloom within you. you finally felt like a person, not just a player.

you had been speaking to the girls everyday, each of them keeping you up to date on life behind the scenes of the club. the drama and tension seemed to have escalated in your absence, with rumors swirling about disputes between jonas and some of the other players. your decision to leave had sent shockwaves through the team, but it also seemed to have sparked a newfound sense of unity among everyone.

it was a miserable london evening when you got your first unexpected visit, darkness just creeping across the clouds when a knock at the door interrupted your law and order binge.

to your surprise, standing on your doorstep was leah, with a hesitant smile on her face.

a flood of questions and uncertainties raced through your mind as you stood frozen in the doorway, unsure of what to say or how to react to her unexpected visit.

"hey," leah began, her voice soft yet laced with underlying tension. "uh, can I come in?"

you hesitated for a moment, the inner turmoil evident on your face as you considered whether to welcome her inside. finally, you stepped back, wordlessly opening the door wider to allow her entry. leah entered cautiously, taking in the familiar surroundings of your apartment with a mix of nostalgia and apprehension.

there was a palpable tension in the air as you both stood in the living room, the silence stretching between you like a taut wire. you shared the quiet for a second or two before leah spoke up, her words carefully measured. "i know things have been rough lately... for all of us, you especially, i wanted to come here and talk, clear the air maybe?”

you studied her face, searching for any hint of insincerity, but all you found was genuine concern etched in the furrow of her brow. with a sigh, you nodded, gesturing towards the couch for her to sit. as she settled on the edge of the cushion, you perched on the arm beside her, like you used to.

"i just... i wanted to say that i'm sorry. sorry for not speaking up before, for not standing by you when things blew up. i let my own fears and doubts cloud my judgment, and i should have been there for you, we all should have been there for you."

her words hung heavy in the air, mingling with the unspoken tension that had plagued your relationship for months. you could sense the sincerity in her voice, the raw vulnerability that she rarely showed to anyone.

“i appreciate it, but it wasn’t your fight, le.”

“your fights are our fights, you’re one of us, you always have been. you always will be”

you gave her a half smile in response, and moved closer to her on the sofa - opening your arms to her. she mirrored your smile, allowing your arms to wrap around her and hers around you.

after a few moments, you pulled away, looking at her directly. “thank you, for coming round. and for looking after me for all these years. but i think,” you paused, sniffling and turning your attention to the fabric of the sofa below you. “i think its time,”

she nodded along with you, taking a deep breath before smiling at you. “if that’s what you want to do, then do it, and we will support you. i promise.”

“i don’t know how to tell the girls, i haven’t seen any of them since i left. i don’t want them to find out through social media,” you rambled.

“we’re all meeting at mine tomorrow, why dont you come along? i know they want to see you, and i think you deserve a night to relax with us - gunner style.” you share a laugh at her comment, agreeing to see the girls. a small shred of anxiety tore through the depths of your stomach, but you shook it off; determined to do the right thing.

the next day seemed to fly by, seeming to disappear from you as you spent the hours doing odd jobs - attempting to distract yourself from the uneasiness gnawing at your insides.

now, you find yourself outside leah’s flat. she said 7, but you underestimated the traffic at this time in this part of the city - so you’re late, as per usual, and composing of yourself on the door step. after a deep breath, you raise your hand to knock.

once, twice, then the door flies open. a smiley young aussie waiting to greet you, her arms immediately around you and pulling you tight to her frame. “jesus, i missed you,” she whispers into your shoulder. “i missed you too, k.” you pull apart and she grabs your hand, pulling you from the now closed door and into the living area. it’s littered with everyone you know and love.

they greet you like nothing has changed, arms wrapped around you and whispers, comments and remarks of support. you slip into the group like you never left.

after you’ve eaten, and have returned to the living area, you stand up - allowing everyone’s eyes to fall on you. you take a deep breath, smiling at them then looking down at your thumbs. you twiddle them and enterlock your hands as you search for the best way to say it.

“i wanted you to hear it from me, that next week, a statement will be released. a statement explaining my temporary contract termination from arsenal. i love you all, like my family. i don’t want any of you to feel like any of this is your fault, but i just feel like i’m at a different point in my life right now - a point where my views, and the clubs managment’s views no longer align. i can’t jeopardise my mental health, for people who can’t seem to put me, or my friends, first.”

you say it in one, your mouth and words moving faster than your brain can comprehend. you finish with a shallow breath, looking up to the group. they take it well, a few of them shedding tears at the offical loss of their friend and teammate, others hugging you and sharing comforting smiles. you know it needs to happen, but this is the part that kills you. leaving behind your family, your people.

the night draws to an end and you begin saying your goodbyes, promising to keep in touch and arranging plans to meet up soon. as you start making your way out of the room and towards the door, kim pulls you aside. you can’t read her expression, a sickening mixture of sadness and happiness for you.

“i’ll miss you,” she says softly, reaching out to squeeze your hand. “but I know you’re doing what’s best for you. just don’t be a stranger, okay?”

you nod, feeling a lump form in your throat as you hug her tightly one last time before heading out the door.

------

1 week later - 2 weeks ago.

3pm. your phone dings with a notification from the arsenal woman’s football club instagram and app, giving you and thousands of others the news of a new and important post. you hover your finger over the notification, hestitating.

you open it eventually, propping your phone up as the video loads onto the screen. you cringe at the sight of you, expectant of whats to come.

“hi gooners, it’s so nice to sit down and speak to you. this year marks my 15th year at arsenal, if we’re taking it all the way back to my first academy scouting when i was 8. i have nothing my fondness and admiration for this club, these people and this community. to be apart of this team and to watch the growth of woman’s football has been an honour and a pleasure i will forever be grateful for. when i think back on my years here, i have nothing but happy memories. memories of friends, of wins and of losses, of meeting fans and selling out stadiums. some of these things we never believed would be possible, but you, every last one of you, have made it possible. after 15 years of my life dedicated to the game, i think it’s time to take a break. temporarily and indefinitely, i will be taking a step back from the club. thank you all for your unwaivering support, it means the world to me. this is a special club, which remains my home. but my health and wellbeing needs to be my number one priority. thank you.”

you watch as the video comes to an end, and the messages, comments and likes begin. you switch off your phone after a few minutes, tucking it under a cushion on your sofa and resuming your show - tuning out the constant buzzing.

------

present day.

you watch until the live recording of the match ends, you watch all of the post-match interviews, with nothing other than a smile on your face. when the stream finally does end, you feel like you can breathe again, switching to your messages app and drafting a text into the groupchat to congratulate the girls on their win. you press send, then abandon your phone beside you somewhere on the sofa. paying it no mind and you lean back into the comfort of the cushions and pillows surrounding you.

as you sink deeper into the softness, you let out a content sigh, feeling a sense of peace wash over you. you close your eyes and let the sounds of the television fade into the background, relishing in the quiet of your own thoughts.

you dozed off, allowing the safety of sleep to engulf you for a few hours. you lay peacefully until the doorbell rings, jolting you awake. you groan in annoyance, wondering who could possibly be bothering you at this hour. you reach for your phone as you stand, 9pm. reluctantly, you shuffle away from the sofa and make your way to the door, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

as you swing open the door, you are met with a pair of familiar faces that brings an instant smile to your lips. beth and viv, stand on your doorstep with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"surprise!" beth exclaims, holding up a bottle of wine and a bunch of flowers. "we come bearing gifts. can we come in?"

you step aside, allowing them to enter, still slightly taken aback by their unexpected visit. they both breeze past the threshold, only stopping for a moment to give you a hug before making themselves at home on your sofa.

“i didn’t know you were back in london, viv!” you exclaim, watching her set the flowers on the counter. “and shouldn’t you be out celebrating?” you ask beth with a laugh, shutting the door and joining them on the sofa.

“there’s no where we would rather be, mijn liefje.”

its the later end of midnight when you all start to tire, spread across the sofa and floor with eyes barely open and focusing on the movie playing.

“do you guys want to just stay here tonight? i don’t wan’t you driving home tired.” you say through a yawn, stretching your back out and turning to look at the both of them cuddled up beside you. both of their eyes closed and chests rising peacefully. you smile to yourself, moving to grab a blanket from the basket beside you and cover them both up. you switch off the tv, turn off the big light and make your way to your bedroom.

it isn’t long before you’re asleep too.

------

the next morning you wake to a persistant buzzing sound, your phone rattling on your bedside table. notifications from twitter and instagram flood your lockscreen, along with messages from the arsenal groupchat and from distant friends.

your eyes are just barely open when you reach for it, giving your eyes a moment to adjust before looking at the screen. you swing yourself off the bed, feet finding the cold of the floor as you pad through the flat until you find beth and viv.

they’re awake, both sharing the same expression as they look at you in the doorway between the two rooms.

you begin to read from your phone. “we can confirm that jonas eidevall has resigned from his position as head coach of our women’s first team and leaves us with immediate effect.”

[meazalykov]

never a footballer

vivianne miedema x reader

summary: you told yourself that you would never date a footballer

you vowed to never date a footballer.

the memory of elisa always lingers when someone brings up relationships in football. back when you played for wolfsburg, you thought you had it all—a solid career, a supportive team, and a relationship with someone who understood your life. 

the reality of being with elisa had been far from perfect. the constant arguments, the exhausting long-distance flights to paris just to spend a day together, only to fight over something trivial. you’d promised yourself after that breakup that you would never mix your personal life with the professional one again. 

footballers were off-limits.  

you were doing just fine sticking to that promise.  

that is, until vivianne came to manchester city.  

she arrived during the transfer window, making the switch from arsenal, and you knew her from the pitch—vivianne miedema, one of the best forwards in the world. you’d marked her countless times when you faced arsenal.

her skill, her strength, her composure—everything about her had been a challenge to contain. but off the pitch, you’d never paid her much attention. now, here she was, training alongside you.  

vivianne had an undeniable presence, one that made you notice her even when you didn’t want to. four inches taller than you, with striking features and an aura that made it hard to look away. you hated how easily your eyes would drift to her during training sessions, especially when she had her hair pulled back, focused, intense. it was distracting, and you didn’t need distractions.  

one day, during training, you crouched down to tie your laces, stealing a glance at vivianne across the pitch. she was standing near the goal, her long legs stretching as she practiced shots. you didn’t realize you’d been biting your lip until jill crouched beside you, smirking.  

“what is that?” she whispered, nudging your arm.  

“what iss what?” you replied quickly, fumbling with the knot in your laces.  

jill gave you a knowing look. “don’t play dumb. i saw you looking at viv. with the lip bite, no less.”  

“you’re imagining things,” you muttered, standing up and dusting your hands off.  

“sure, i am,” jill teased, following you as you jogged back into position. 

“just know, i’m onto you.”  

you ignored her, brushing off the comment as nothing. deep down, you hated that jill had caught you in a moment of weakness. because that’s all it was, you told yourself—a fleeting moment of attraction. nothing more.  

a week later, mary cornered you in the locker room.  

“so, how’d the date with penelope go?” she asked, sitting down beside you on the bench.  

penelope, a manchester lawyer who’s friends with mary and bunny. 

you sighed, pulling your hoodie over your head. 

“it was okay, but its clear that there won’t be a second one. she’s nice, mary, but it’s just not there.”  

mary frowned. 

“not even a second date?”  

“no,” you said firmly, shaking your head. 

“nothing happened, and nothing will.”  

as you spoke, you noticed vivianne nearby, tying her boots. her expression was unreadable, but there was something in her eyes as she glanced in your direction. 

you couldn’t tell if she was amused or curious. either way, it made you nervous.  

then came the game against chelsea—a match that could put manchester city at the top of the league table. it was a massive game where your efforts could push manchester to the top. 

four minutes in, you found yourself with the ball near the halfway line. the chelsea defense was pressing high, and you saw the goalkeeper off her line. instinct took over, and you struck the ball with everything you had. it soared through the air, arching perfectly before dipping into the back of the net.  

the stadium erupted, and for a moment, you couldn’t believe it. you threw your hands up in disbelief, running toward the sideline. before you could process what was happening, vivianne was there, wrapping her arms around you from behind.  

“that was fucking insane!” she said, her voice close to your ear.  

your breath hitched as you felt her hands on your waist, her grip firm but gentle. the rest of the team swarmed around you, pulling you into a celebratory huddle, but all you could think about was the way vivianne’s touch lingered just a second longer than necessary.  

despite the early goal, the game didn’t go as planned. chelsea fought back hard, scoring three unanswered goals by the final whistle. the loss stung, especially with how much was on the line. 

back in the locker room, the mood was somber. you sat on the bench, your head in your hands, replaying every mistake in your mind.  

“you okay?” a familiar voice asked.  

you looked up to see vivianne standing in front of you, her expression soft.  

“no, not really,” you admitted with a weak laugh, trying to mask your frustration.  

vivianne sat down beside you, her knee brushing against yours. 

“you played well. that goal was something I couldn't even have scored. it’s not your fault we lost.”  

you shook your head, staring at the floor. 

“it doesn’t matter. we needed to win, and we didn’t. i feel like i let everyone down.”  

vivianne tilted her head, studying you. 

“you know, it’s okay to feel like that. but you’re not responsible for the whole team.” 

her words were kind, but it was the way she said them—calm, confident, like she truly understood—that made your chest tighten. you looked at her, and for the first time, you noticed how her eyes softened when she smiled.  

“thanks,” you said quietly, feeling a blush creep up your neck.  

she leaned back, resting her hands on the bench. 

“if it helps, i think you’re one of the best defenders i’ve played with. and that’s coming from someone who’s played against a lot of good ones.”  

you laughed softly, the compliment catching you off guard. 

“you don’t have to say that.”  

“i’m not just saying it,” vivianne replied, her tone sincere. “i mean it.”  

the conversation felt easy, natural, like you’d known her for longer than just a few months. but as much as you enjoyed talking to her, there was a part of you that couldn’t ignore the warning signs. the promise you’d made to yourself echoed in the back of your mind—never date a footballer.  

and yet, as vivianne stood up and gave you one last reassuring smile before leaving the locker room, you couldn’t help but question that thought. 

however, you weren’t expecting the change in routine eiher. 

training had always been predictable—tough drills, friendly banter, and the same partnerships. bunny was your go-to partner for most exercises, a pairing that worked well because of your chemistry on and off the pitch. 

so, when vivianne approached bunny during warm-ups and asked if they could switch, you were caught off guard.  

bunny raised an eyebrow, looking between you and vivianne. “you want to pair with her?” she asked, her tone more amused than surprised.  

vivianne nodded, her expression calm but determined. “if you don’t mind.”  

bunny glanced your way, grinning. 

“nah, it’s fine. jill and i will dominate anyway.”  

you blinked, unsure what to say as vivianne jogged over to you. 

“guess we’re partners today,” she said casually, as if this was normal.  

“uh, yeah,” you managed, adjusting your socks to cover the flush creeping up your neck.  

vivianne’s presence beside you felt different—focused yet playful, with a subtle tension you couldn’t quite place. during the 2v2 drills, her skill and vision were undeniable. she found you with perfectly timed passes, and you worked seamlessly to outplay the other pairs. 

by the end of the session, you’d won the mini-tournament, earning a round of applause from the team.  

as you walked toward the locker room, still buzzing from the morning’s success, vivianne jogged up beside you.  

“you were amazing,” she said, her voice light but genuine.  

“you’re not so bad yourself,” you replied, smirking.  

she laughed, the sound warm and melodic. “listen, there’s this italian place down the street. want to grab lunch?”  

you hesitated, assuming it was a team outing. 

“sure, sounds good. is everyone going?”  

vivianne shook her head. “just us.”  

the simplicity of her words caught you off guard. you blinked, trying to hide your surprise. 

“oh. okay, yeah, let me grab my stuff.”  

twenty minutes later, you found yourself sitting across from vivianne in a cozy italian restaurant, the scent of garlic and fresh herbs filling the air. the setting was intimate, far more personal than you’d anticipated.  

vivianne was relaxed, her elbows resting on the table as she scanned the menu. 

“they do a great spaghetti carbonara here,” she said, glancing up at you.  

you nodded, suddenly hyper-aware of how shy you felt under her gaze. 

“i’ll try that, then.”  

the conversation started easy—training highlights, upcoming matches, favorite foods. vivianne had a natural charm that made you forget your nerves, her smile disarming and her laugh infectious.  

after a while, the dynamic shifted. vivianne leaned back in her chair, her tone turning playful. 

“so, bunny mentioned you went on a date recently. with a lawyer, right?”  

you blinked, startled by the sudden turn. 

“yeah, but it didn’t work out.”  

vivianne tilted her head, her lips curving into a teasing smile. 

“so, no lawyer girlfriend waiting in the wings?”  

you laughed, shaking your head. 

“nope. no girlfriend, no nothing. it’s been a few years since my last relationship.”  

vivianne’s expression softened, her curiosity genuine. “what happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”  

you hesitated, then sighed. 

“i was with elisa, elisa from psg. we were long-distance for most of it since i was still at wolfsburg, and it just… didn’t work. we argued a lot, and balancing our careers made everything harder.”  

vivianne nodded slowly, her gaze steady. 

“i get that. things with beth ended not long before i found out i was leaving arsenal. it wasn’t easy.”  

you reached across the table, squeezing her hand instinctively. 

“i’m sorry. breakups suck.”  

vivianne smiled faintly, her thumb brushing against your fingers. 

“they do. but sometimes they make room for better things.”  

your heart skipped at the subtle implication in her words, and you pulled your hand back, suddenly flustered.  

things progressed slowly after that lunch, though not without hesitation on your part. vivianne’s flirtations became more apparent—small compliments during training, lingering smiles, a touch on your lower back that lasted a second too long. 

part of you enjoyed the attention, but another part was terrified. you’d promised yourself never to date another footballer, and yet here you were, drawn to vivianne like a moth to a flame.  

it reached a tipping point one evening when you found yourself overthinking everything. sitting on your couch, surrounded by the flowers vivianne had sent over the past few weeks—bright arrangements that made your apartment feel warmer—you decided to seek advice.  

jill and kerstin, vivianne’s dutch teammates and your friends, were the first people that came to mind. you texted them to meet for coffee the next morning, and they agreed without hesitation.  

“so,” jill said, leaning forward with a mischievous grin as you sat down. 

“what’s this about?”  

kerstin smirked, already sensing where the conversation was headed.  

you fidgeted with your cup, struggling to find the words. 

“it’s about viv.”  

jill’s eyes lit up. 

“i knew it! go on.”  

“i don’t know if i should… go through with it,” you admitted, staring at the steam rising from your coffee. 

“she’s amazing, but she’s a footballer. after what happened with elisa, i don’t want to make the same mistake.”  

kerstin leaned back, her expression thoughtful. 

“vivianne isn’t elisa. besides, you’re on the same football team as viv so there is no distance. she’s one of the most thoughtful people i’ve ever met.”  

jill nodded enthusiastically. 

“seriously, she worships the ground you walk on. she talks about you all the time when you’re not around.”  

you blinked, surprised. 

“she does? the same way you talk about jana?”  

“oh, shut up! but yeah.. constantly,” jill said, laughing before grinning softly. 

“and don’t even get me started on the flowers.”  

“wait, you know about that?” you flared your eyebrows. 

“yeah, viv told the whole team about it!”

kerstin smiled knowingly. 

“she’s smitten, y/n. if you’re even considering it, i think you should give her a chance.”  

their words stuck with you as you headed home. maybe they were right. maybe vivianne was different.  

that same evening, vivianne invited you to dinner, something casual at a small bistro she liked. you dressed simply but thoughtfully, your nerves buzzing as you arrived. vivianne was already there, standing near the entrance with her hands in her pockets.  

“hey,” she greeted, her smile lighting up the dimly lit street.  

“hey,” you replied, feeling the familiar warmth in her presence.  

dinner was perfect—easy conversation, laughter, and a growing sense of closeness that made your chest ache in the best way. as the evening wound down, vivianne leaned forward, her expression more serious than before.  

“can i ask you something?” she began, her voice soft.  

you nodded, your heart pounding. the question was inevitable at this stage. 

“would you… want to be my girlfriend?” she asked, her gaze steady but nervous.  

you froze for a moment, the question hanging in the air. then, as a smile spread across your face, you leaned in, closing the distance between you.  

your lips met hers softly, the kiss tentative at first but quickly deepening as you felt her hand cup your cheek. when you pulled back, your cheeks were flushed, but you couldn’t stop smiling.  

“yes,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.  

vivianne’s grin was brighter than you’d ever seen, and she leaned in to kiss you again. something that felt undeniably right for someone who thought this would never happen again.  

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