sunburn

If college is a solar system, then Alessia is the sun, Lotte reckons. She burns brightly at the centre of Lotte's world, always smiling, always shining, even on the dreariest of grey days when she's homesick or training goes badly or she regrets ever coming here, wondering if she should just have stayed at Arsenal. She burns so spectacularly that she outshines Lotte, but the older girl never cares. How could she?When Alessia looks at her, no matter the gaze - be it casual, cheeky, concerned, accidental, happy, sad - Lotte doesn't know where to put her hands. Her legs tremble and butterflies swarm beneath her ribs. When Alessia touches her it sends shockwaves through her skin. When Alessia hugs her, whooping after a goal or pulling her close when they say goodbye or slinging an arm around her shoulders as they walk the campus together, Lotte's whole being lights up.It's bad.Because Alessia doesn't tremble. Her skin doesn't warm just at the brush of a hand. She doesn't feel butterflies.Not for Lotte, anyway.