Caitlin's POV

I lay flat on the rooftop of my London apartment, the cool air brushing against my damp skin. It had been a long day, another one of those sessions where every muscle ached and yet nothing felt quite right. We were nearing the end of the season, and I could feel the weight of it—on my body, my mind, and, worst of all, on my heart.

Elena's voice cracklea through my earphones, grounding me for the first time all day. She was still in London too, but not close enough. Never close enough.

"So, you sure you don't miss getting run ragged in training?" Elena's teasing voice cuts through my thoughts, pulling me back into the moment. I could hear the laughter on the other side of the call, soft and familiar.

I smirk, adjusting the camera so she can see the faint shimmer of stars above me. "Miss it? Nah, mate, I'm absolutely thriving over here. Haven't you heard? I'm practically coasting."

"Yeah, sure," she shoots back. "You and your coasting. Bet you haven't won a single sprint all week."

"I'll have you know I left everyone in the dust yesterday," I counter, trying to suppress a grin. "Not that you'd know, seeing as you're hiding out in the wrong part of London."

Elena's eyes narrow, and even through the screen, I could see the playful glint in them. "Hiding? Nah, just keeping out of your way so I don't embarrass you."

"You're so full of it," I say, laughing as I tilted my head back to stare at the stars. This had become our thing lately, sneaking up to the rooftops of our buildings and just... being together, under the same sky. Even though we were in the same city, the loan had made it harder to see each other. But this, this helped. Even when it didn't feel like enough.

Elena sighs dramatically, angling her phone up to give me a view of the sky above her. "These stars aren't half as nice as the ones I usually see but I'll take it."

"Maybe that's 'cause you've spent too much time cooped up in training," I tease. "You need to get out more. Fresh air does wonders."

"I'm getting plenty of air, thank you very much." She pauses, her voice softening just slightly. "But I do miss this. Us."

Her words hit me square in the chest, and for a moment, I couldn't think of a witty comeback. Instead, I just lay there, letting the quiet stretch between us. We were both still in the thick of the season, but it was winding down. Every day brought us closer to the end of the WSL, and to the next thing: the World Cup.

"You ever think about the World Cup?" Elena's voice breaks the silence, and I could hear the weight behind her words. "Like... what it's going to be like? Playing against each other?"

My throat tightens, but I force myself to answer casually. "Yeah, I've thought about it." I keep my voice light, but deep down, I know it's a conversation we can't avoid forever. "I don't know. It's weird, isn't it? Working so hard, then maybe having to be on opposite sides."

Elena hums softly. "I want us both to do well. But I also want to win." She let out a small laugh, but it's tinged with something more—uncertainty, maybe. Or is it fear?

"I know what you mean." I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck as I stare up at the stars again. "But no matter what happens... you know I'm proud of you, right?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line, just long enough for me to wonder if I'd said too much. Then, softly, Elena speaks again. "I'm proud of you too. Even if you somehow manage to score against me."

I grin, relief washing over me. "Oh, 'if'? You mean when."

She laughs, that light, breathless sound that always seems to make everything feel a little less heavy. "You're so cocky, Foord."

I chuckle, feeling the tension between us dissolve, just like that. "Comes with the territory, babe."

Another comfortable silence settles over us, the kind I'd grown to appreciate over these months apart. There was something soothing about just being in her presence, even when we weren't saying much. It reminded me that, even when we were on different teams, we were still... us.

I was about to say something else, something deeper, when a fat drop of water landed square on my forehead. I blinke up at the sky, confusion twisting in my chest. "Uh... is it raining over there?"

On the other end, I hear Elena gasp. "Yeah, I think it is—wait, what the hell—"

Before either of us can say anything more, the sky opens up. The rain comes down hard, turning from a sprinkle to a full-on downpour in seconds.

"Oh, come on!" I shout, jumping to my feet. "Are you kidding me?"

Elena's laugh echoes through the phone, and I can see her scrambling too. "We've got the worst luck!"

I can't help but laugh as I grab my phone and made a dash for the stairs. "I'm blaming you for this!"

"Me? How is this my fault?"

"I don't know, it just is!"

The rain pelts down, soaking me to the bone as I bolt for cover, but I can't stop laughing. I could hear Elena's breathless giggles on the other end, and somehow, even in the middle of a downpour, everything felt... right. Ridiculous, but right.

By the time I made it inside, I was drenched, water dripping down my face as I slumped against the wall. Elena's ragged breathing came through the phone, and I knew she was just as soaked as I was.

"Well, that was romantic," she says, deadpan.

I wipe rain from my forehead, still catching my breath. "Hey, we got the star-gazing in, didn't we?"

"Barely," she shoots back, but I can see the smile in her voice. "At least we didn't drown."

As the laughter fades and we both catch our breath, I lean back into the couch, letting my phone rest lightly in my hand. Elena had propped herself up against a pillow, the rain still dripping from the ends of her hair, her cheeks flushed from the run. She wiped her forehead with the sleeve of her hoodie, shaking her head in mock exasperation, but her smile lingered.

I couldn't help but stare, my heart twisting in that familiar way it always did when I looked at her too long. Even soaked through and looking like she'd just been caught in a storm—which, I guess, we both had—she was still... ethereal. There was something about her, something I couldn't quite put into words. The kind of beauty that wasn't just about how she looked, but the way she was.

With Elena, it was more than just her striking features—the way her damp hair clung to her face, or how the soft glow from her phone screen made her skin look like it was kissed by moonlight. It was her laugh, the way it bubbled up and filled every empty space in my chest, the way her eyes softened when she thought no one was looking.

"Cait?" Elena's voice breaks through my thoughts, and I blink, realizing I'd been staring. She raises an eyebrow, a teasing smile pulling at her lips. "You alright there, or have you fallen asleep on me?"

I chuckle, shaking my head slightly. "Nah, not asleep. Just... looking at you."

Her eyes flicker with something, surprise maybe, or something deeper. "What about me?"

I hesitate, feeling a warmth bloom in my chest. "You ever have someone tell you that you're beautiful when you least expect it?"

Her expression softens, and she tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, suddenly shy. "Maybe once or twice."

"Well, add me to that list." I smile, feeling my heart swell. "Even soaking wet... you're still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

She rolls her eyes, but the blush creeping across her cheeks is unmistakable. "You're so corny, Foord."

"Yeah, but you love it," I shoot back, my voice dropping to something softer. "And I love you."

Elena's gaze meets mine through the screen, and for a moment, it feels like the distance between us doesn't matter. I could feel her with me, just as real and tangible as if she were right here on this couch.

"I love you too," she whispers, and that's all I need.

We stayed like that for a while longer, not saying much, just listening to the rain and each other's soft breathing. It was enough, for now.

When we finally hung up, I stared at my phone for a long time, a soft smile tugging at my lips. The season was almost over. The World Cup was coming, and with it, more challenges. But somehow, deep down, I knew we'd get through it.

And when we did, I was going to make sure Elena knew exactly how much she meant to me.