[Sorry in advance for some of this chapter. As I write this, I, moments ago, just deleted the second half of this chapter, and it was pretty good, but I don't remember what I wrote so I'm just starting over. AHHHHHH (That was my frustration)]

With the changing of the leaves came the cool weather. With the game the next day, the NYU team were huddled under blankets in their rooms, napping and just resting in preparation. The team wasn't at their peak, to say the least. Most of them were ignoring Alex because she was dating Kelley, they had become official that day. Hope and Alex seemed to have some sort of war going on between them, which no one had an explanation for. Carli also seemed to be colder and grumpier, throwing unnecessary shade at Hope and Alex as well as Ash and Ali, claiming the team was "distracted" because of the couple's relationship, which wasn't true at all.

Speaking of the two, they couldn't be happier. The keeper and the defender were so in love: at least the love that eighteen year olds knew of.

Ash felt butterflies in her stomach every time she looked at the brunette, her heart raced a little faster and she wondered how she was so lucky.

Ali, on the other hand, while deeply in love, was afraid they had rushed into a relationship. After all, they had only met in September, and the chilly end of October air brought concerns. The defender's parents had met in the season fall, started dating that next summer and got married six years later. Ali and her brother Kyle had been born four years after that.
To put it simply, the Kriegers were not rushers.

Ashlyn and her girlfriend were cuddled up on their sofa, watching as the credits of You've Got Mail scrolled down the black screen. Ali murmured something against the pillow she was hugging, which the keeper didn't pick up.

"Do you want to go to the park?" Ashlyn suggested removing the fuzzy blanket covering the duo and folding it into a triangle.

Ali shrugged. "Didn't Opal say we have to stay in our rooms and prepare for the game?"

Ashlyn smirked, gently pushing the brunette's shoulder playfully. "Lex, since when do we do what we're supposed to?"

Ali smiled, but her thoughts were somewhere else, focused on her lover's words.

Since when do we do what we're supposed to.

Ashlyn's words sent a shiver down Ali's spine. She knew it had to be a coincidence, but the sentence made Ali feel as if the blonde had read her mind. Since when do we do what we're supposed to do. It made Ali think of the fact that she and Ashlyn had rushed into their relationship.

Okay, but why did they have to be slow? Because Ali's parents were? Just because the young women had met the month before, it didn't mean that their love wasn't as real as Ken and Debbie's, Ali's parents, or Opal and her boyfriend, Patrick.

"Lex."

"Alex."

"Ali."

Ali spun her head to look at her girlfriend, who had been trying to get her attention while the defender had been lost in her thoughts.

"Sorry, babe. I got distracted," Ali smiled apologetically.

Ashlyn smirked. "I know, honey. Do you wanna?"

The brunette stared at her, confused. "Do what?"

Ash rolled her eyes. "Go to the park!"

"Oooh... Yeah, that sounds good," Ali stood up, following Ashlyn in putting her Nikes on.

"Bring a jacket," Ash reminded, picking up her girlfriend's sweatshirt off a peg on the wall and passing it to her, who put it on.

"Ready?"

Ali nodded, pulling her hair back into a ponytail, stepping outside the couple's dorm room silently, in case Opal or anyone that might tell her was watching.

As soon as she stepped outside of the building, Ali could feel the cool air wisp her hair backwards with the wind and send goosebumps spiraling up and down her arms. A cold hand fell into her own, and she smiled as she felt the goalkeeper's warm presence next to her.

"It's nice out," Ashlyn muttered softly, looking up at the starry sky. "Come on, we need to get there."

Ali looked at her girlfriend suspiciously. Why would the keeper bring her out the night before their big game, in the dark, and to the place where Ash first flirted with Ali? The keeper definitely had something planned. Ali didn't ask though, she didn't want to ruin it if Ashlyn was planning a surprise.

"Hurry up," Ashlyn said impatiently, tugging anxiously at her girlfriend's arm. The two finally arrived at the green, Ali following the keeper to the middle of the park, where they lay down on the dew soaked grass. Ali winced, feeling the wetness soak through her athletic shorts and coat her muscular legs in grass cuttings.

"Ash, what're we doing?" she whispered, peering around for anything obvious. Nothing.

"Watch," the keeper ordered, gesturing to the sky with the hand that wasn't enclosed in Ali's.

Ali did as she was told, looking up. Nothing happened.

Then, a loud crash sounded and Ali jumped almost a foot in the air. Her baby hairs flew backwards as she stared up into the lit sky, watching the exploding fireworks combust in a splash of violet, black and bright white, the campus colours of NYU. Looking over at Ali, Ashlyn's face lit up almost as bright as the sky. She loved seeing that brilliant toothy smile on her girlfriend, her eyes scrunched up in delight and her three dimples appearing on her cheeks.

Ashlyn couldn't help but think about how beautiful her girlfriend was and how lucky she was to have her.

Without thinking, the blonde keeper leaned over and pressed her lips against the defender, feelings exploding inside of her, resembling the fireworks exploding in the atmosphere. Ali placed her hands on Ashlyn's cheeks, bring the keeper closer to her.

Ashlyn felt the defender's warm body pressed against hers and she knew she was so in love. But it wasn't a sexual or dirty feeling. It was sweet but craving; the blonde needed her lover's touch so badly, but simply a stroke on her face or a kiss to the shoulder was enough. For now, at least...

Ashlyn broke off the kiss, staring deep into her girlfriend's dark brown eyes.

"Ali..." Ashlyn trailed off, suddenly conscious of her beating heart and the sweat beads forming on her forehead.

"I...I think I might love you," she stammered nervously, saying the phrase for the first time in her life and praying Ali felt the same way.

A wave of relief spread through the keeper as she saw Ali smile before she responded, "I love you too."

-

YAY KRASHLYN FLUFF!

Hopefully the gif above lightened up your day, I know it made mine!

Disney channel and pudding are a good mix.

IMPORTANT:

WOULD ANYBODY BE INTERESTED IN A SEPARATE ONE SHOT ABOUT OPAL AND WHY SHE IS LIKE IS SHE IS??????

PLEASE COMMENT BECAUSE THERE IS A LACK OF COMMENTS WHENEVER I ASKED FOR PEOPLE'S OPINIONS AND IT MAKES ME FEEL AWKWARD. I'M AWKWARD ENOUGH ALREADY, SO PLEASE RESPOND!!!!

YOU CAN SAY NO ALSO. BE HONEST. THANKS! :)

Edited.