Chapter Text
The hall is quiet as Alice walks back to the office. A quick coaches meeting with the boss had brought her upstairs after practice today, and she stifles a yawn as she makes her way downstairs.
They had a road game last night, the bus arriving back at the Richmond compound around 2am. Training today took up most of the day, leaving her tired and ready to go home. Her bed is sounding more and more enticing despite it being early afternoon.
Ted and Beard mumble behind her, trailing by a few feet. She tunes them out, and turns to shove her shoulder into the door leading to their office.
“Hey Alice?” Ted prompts.
She sighs and turns, her shoulder still pressed against the door, “What?”
“You good with locking up today? Beard and I have a date with a mate at Mae’s.” He smiles, the wide cheesy one that is way too earnest.
She nods, then turns on her heel and pushes through the door.
The words follow her faintly, “Do we think that was an actual yes? You know how I like verbal consent.”
“Let’s go coach.” Beard responds.
The door slides shut behind her, shutting their voices away. The office is calm, and she sighs in relief. Gathering her stuff in her bag, she slings it over her shoulder. She hits the lights as she walks out, but hears a muffled groan and a thunk.
Her eyes narrow. All the girls should be gone, they had plenty of time to shower and head out after practice. It’s a Friday afternoon, and all employees should be gone as well. Suddenly aware she’s alone in a very big building, she sneaks around the corner toward the sound.
There’s another sound, followed by a louder thunk. It sounds like it’s coming from one of the conference rooms. She edges along the wall, shoulders relaxing as she takes in the sight.
Gemma is face down, head pressed against the open books spread across the table, and her laptop casting a white glow. Alice watches her for a second, curious why she’s here exactly. Maybe it’s the curiosity that keeps her there for a second.
So she stays. Watching as Gemma lifts her head and scrubs a hand over her face before seemingly re-focusing. She sits up taller in her chair, shuffling closer, before clicking to the next slide. Exhaustion weighs her shoulders down, and Alice feels a strange lurch in her chest at the sight.
They’re…friends now? She thinks. That’s the only reason she hesitates.
She turns back toward the office, takes two steps, then turns back to the conference room door. She should kick Gemma out. Go home to Camille. Sleep. But something stops her. Gemma must have other places to study. It would be easy to kick her out, and it probably wouldn’t be too big of a deal for her to move her stuff. But also it’s kind of annoying to be settled in somewhere to study and have to pack up all of your stuff and then get focused again, and Alice knows that Gemma has a big test tomorrow. Best if she just lets her study, right?
She nods to herself, firm. Stops oddly standing stuck in between the two doors and comes to the realization she’ll probably be here for awhile.
Pulling out her phone, she texts Camille. I’ll be home late.
Fifteen minutes later she walks back in, striding toward the conference room. She holds a cup in each hand, one a simple decaf tea for herself and the other one that she had spent nearly ten minutes in the coffee shop debating, wondering, really, if Gemma’s coffee order is the same one as forever ago.
Without allowing herself to hesitate, she slides her tea over to one hand so she can open the door. Gemma’s head snaps up at the noise, watching her as she crosses over and sets the coffee down. Her eyes are tired as she looks up at Alice, an odd mix of shock and confusion and something almost grateful in her gaze.
She grabs the coffee and brings it right under her nose, taking a big inhale.
The silence makes Alice shift on her feet and she can’t help opening her mouth to fill it, “Its that sugar abomination you used to drink. I hope its okay.”
Gemma sends her a grateful smile, before taking a sip. She puts the cup against her cheek as she looks up at Alice. Her eyelashes flutter, and the look on her face is pure adoration.
Alice doesn’t know what to do with that, so she looks away.
“I could kiss you right now.” The words cut through any rational thought she was having. They repeat on a loop as she feels herself flush. It takes her a minute to realize Gemma is still talking. “…just so exhausted and I really needed this, so thank you.”
“Yep. No problem. Happy studying.” Turning on her heel, she walks to the end of the table and tosses her bag into a chair. It leaves her stuff just out of range of the spread of Gemma’s books.
The image of her face stays permanently in her mind as the words roll around. I could kiss you right now.
I could kiss you right now. I could kiss you right now.
She shakes her head to get rid of the strange unsettled feeling under her skin. Pulling out her computer she puts on their last game and starts to make notes.
It takes a minute for her heart rate to slow back down, to feel normal again. Soccer always helps with that. It doesn’t stop her eyes from flickering up and over, to catch a glimpse of Gemma’s face. Focused and intent on her screen, before glancing down to jot some notes, then mouthing the words.
It’s kind of cute.
She…ignores that. They spend the next hour in silence, working on their own stuff. It’s pleasant. To work individually but be in the same space. Alice has never really felt comfortable in other people’s space.
Alice finishes the game film, packing up her computer and putting away her notes. Pulls out the book she’s been reading, still sipping her now cold tea.
Another hour passes.
She’s almost done with her book when Gemma’s voice cuts through their comfortable silence, “You don’t have to stay, you know?”
Alice barely looks up, her book is getting quite good honestly, and answers, “Yes, I do.”
“No, you don’t?” Gemma asks, though the words sound more like a question for both of them.
Feeling the slightest bit of ire, she puts her book down. “Yes, I do. I have to lock up and I have the keys and you don’t. Now, hush and study, I’m almost done with my book and I am finally getting some answers about these fucking kids.”
When an answer isn’t forthcoming, and she doesn’t hear the telltale sounds of Gemma taking notes, she glances over. Gemma is looking at her softly, confused.
“What?” She bites out. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Alice, did you stay just so I can study?” She asks softly, eyes searching.
Feeling uncomfortable under the weight of her gaze, she deflects. “No, I had work to do.”
Dryly, Gemma pokes back, “That doesn’t look like work.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” She pointedly goes back to reading. There’s the sound of a book closing and papers sliding, and Alice interrupts her, “Hey, no. Stop putting your stuff away!”
Gemma huffs, “No, I’m not keeping you late on a Friday. I can study at home.” She continues to put away her books, shutting her laptop when Alice’s hand grabs her wrist. They both freeze, and Alice isn’t sure what possessed her but she continues anyway.
“If you could’ve studied at home, you would’ve went home. Right?” She challenges. “And you didn’t. I know you have a test, so I’m telling you to study.” They stare at each other, until Gemma slumps back in her seat.
Alice snatches her hand back. Tingles erupting across her hand where they were touching as she suddenly remembers Gemma words from earlier - I could kiss you right now - rumble through her head. Clearing her throat, she stuffs her face back into her book.
It takes her a minute to actually read the words on the page, ignoring the unsteadiness that’s currently stumbling through her heart and her hands. She’s nearly able to focus, just about to dive into the last few chapters and find out how this character dies, when Gemma speaks up again.
“Thank you.” She says softly.
They meet eyes for a second, something passing between them, and Alice offers her quick smile. More the flash of a smile before it fades, but a smile nonetheless. “Of course.” She feels a bit warm all over, and it lasts until they walk out of the back door together.