027 | from the stands

The sun was warm against Gianna's skin as she sat in the stands of the small stadium, her crutches resting beside her. She adjusted her sunglasses, squinting slightly as she scanned the field below. The women's reserve team was warming up, and Gianna spotted Cienna right away, tying her cleats and talking animatedly to one of her teammates.

Despite her injury and temporary exile from the pitch, Gianna always made it a point to support her friends. Watching Cienna play brought her a small sense of comfort, even if it made her miss the game even more.

The sound of footsteps on the metal stairs pulled her attention away from the field. She glanced up just as Marc Bernal dropped into the seat beside her, flashing his trademark lopsided grin.

"Hey, stranger," he said, leaning back and resting his arm casually on the back of her seat.

Gianna smirked, lowering her sunglasses slightly. "Hey, you."

They fell into an easy silence, watching as the teams finished their warmups and moved into formation. Marc glanced at her crutches and frowned slightly. "How's the knee?"

"Getting better," she replied with a small shrug. "I've got, like, two more rehab sessions, and then I should be cleared to start light training."

"Good," he said, nodding. "Can't have you slacking off forever."

Gianna rolled her eyes, but her lips curved into a smile. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Bernal."

He grinned, nudging her shoulder playfully. "Always."

A few minutes passed, the two of them watching in comfortable silence as the match began. Cienna was in fine form, her quick footwork and sharp passes drawing cheers from the small crowd.

"So," Marc said suddenly, breaking the quiet, "remember when we used to have a 'fling'?"

Gianna turned to him, eyebrows raised, before bursting into laughter. "Oh, shut up, you. We were just teens."

"We still are," he shot back with a mischievous glint in his eye.

She shook her head, still laughing. "That was barely a fling, Marc. It was, like, two dates and a really awkward kiss."

He grinned, leaning back and crossing his arms. "Speak for yourself. I thought I was pretty smooth."

Gianna snorted. "You tripped over your own feet trying to walk me home."

"Details," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "You were into me, though. Admit it."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "Fine. Maybe a little. But only because I didn't know any better."

Marc gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. "Wow. Brutal, Gigi."

"Just telling it like it is," she said, smirking.

They both laughed, the teasing banter easing any lingering tension between them. Despite their brief and mildly embarrassing history, Marc had always been a good friend, someone she could count on to make her laugh when she needed it most.

As the game progressed, Marc leaned over, his voice low. "For what it's worth, I think Hector would've had a heart attack if we'd ever actually been serious."

Gianna stiffened slightly, her eyes flicking to the field. "Why do you say that?"

Marc shrugged, a knowing smile on his face. "Oh, come on. You know he's always been protective of you. And maybe... a little territorial."

She laughed nervously, brushing it off. "Hector's just my best friend. That's all."

"Right," Marc said, dragging out the word like he didn't believe her for a second.

Gianna didn't respond, her mind too preoccupied with the truth she'd been grappling with for weeks. She kept her eyes on the field, her heart racing as Cienna intercepted the ball and made a clean pass.

Marc didn't press her any further, letting the subject drop as they returned their focus to the game. But his words lingered in her mind, stirring emotions she wasn't sure she was ready to face.

As the final whistle blew and the crowd erupted in cheers for Cienna's team, Marc stood and stretched, turning to Gianna with a grin. "Well, this was fun. We should hang out more."

"Yeah," she said, smiling up at him. "We should."

He reached down, grabbing her crutches and handing them to her. "Come on, let's go congratulate Cienna before she starts gloating about her assists."

Gianna laughed, taking the crutches and standing with his help. As they made their way down to the field, she couldn't help but feel grateful for Marc's easy presence-and for the way he always managed to make her laugh, even when her thoughts were a mess.