Chapter 5: love

football player falls for angelWords: 5711

The house was quiet when Lance arrived at y/n's. The soft hum of a piano echoed from the living room, the warm golden light spilling from the window. Y/n’s parents weren’t home tonight, leaving the space to herself. And she had invited Lance, wanting to share a part of herself that she had kept hidden for so long.

He knocked softly at the door, his heart pounding as he waited. The door opened, and there she was—looking as beautiful as always, her gentle smile making him feel like everything in the world was okay. But there was something in her eyes today, something that told him she wanted to talk.

“Hey,” Lance said softly, his voice warm as he stepped inside. He could already hear the faint melody from the piano in the other room. "You okay?"

Y/n smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She led him into the living room where the piano bench was set before the grand piano, the keys untouched but still holding the stories of her quiet heart. She motioned for him to sit beside her.

"Come, sit," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lance did as she asked, settling down next to her, feeling the weight of the moment, though he couldn’t yet understand what it was about. She was nervous, but it wasn’t the kind of nervousness he was used to—this was different, quieter, deeper.

For a few moments, they just sat there, the soft notes of her piano playing filling the silence. Finally, y/n spoke, her voice trembling just slightly as she opened up, revealing a side of herself she had kept hidden for so long.

"I haven’t always been this quiet," she began, her fingers tracing the keys without pressing them, almost as though the piano was a comfort to her. "I used to talk a lot, laugh… but something happened. I just… I stopped."

Lance watched her carefully, his heart heavy with concern. "What happened, baby?"

Her gaze dropped to her hands, and she paused, taking a slow, steadying breath before speaking again. "I grew up a little differently than most people think. I had a lot of pain in my past. I didn’t know how to speak about it, so I didn’t. I just bottled it all up, carried it with me for years."

Lance felt a tight knot in his chest as her words sunk in. He wanted to reach out to her, comfort her, but he knew she needed to say what was on her mind first. He just sat there, waiting for her to continue.

"I’ve always been afraid of being too much, or being too little," she continued, her voice soft as she finally met his eyes. "I didn’t want to make anyone uncomfortable with my feelings, so I kept them inside. But it hasn’t been easy. I’ve spent so many nights crying, and the loudest part of me is always in my own mind when I’m alone."

Lance’s heart ached for her. He could feel the weight of her pain, even though she wasn’t telling him every detail. The way she carried herself—so graceful, so beautiful, yet with a quiet sadness in her eyes—made him realize how little the world had really seen her.

y/n’s voice faltered, a single tear slipping down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, embarrassed. "I don’t know why I’m telling you this, Lance. I guess… I guess I just trust you."

Lance’s hand moved to gently lift her chin, wiping away the tear with his thumb, his heart breaking as he saw her vulnerability. "baby," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, "I don’t need you to explain everything. I’m here for you. Always. Whatever happened, whatever you’ve been through, it doesn’t change how I feel about you. You are everything to me. And I’m never going anywhere."

Y/n looked up at him, her eyes searching his for any hint of doubt. But she didn’t find any. All she saw in his gaze was love—unwavering, pure love. He cared about her in a way no one ever had before.

"I’m so sorry, Lance," she whispered. "I didn’t mean to burden you with my past."

Lance shook his head, his voice gentle but firm. "You’re not a burden. You’ve never been a burden to me. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m lucky to be the one you trust."

She let out a shaky breath, finally giving in to the flood of emotions that had been waiting to spill out. She let herself be vulnerable, and Lance was right there beside her, his hand on hers, offering her the security she needed.

"This world doesn't deserve you," Lance thought to himself as he watched her. "You deserve so much more. You deserve peace and happiness, y/n."

Seeing her in this light made him more determined than ever to protect her, to be the person she needed. The girl who was so pure, so untouched by the world’s cruelty, yet so strong in her own way. The girl who had taught him more about love, about care, than anyone else ever could.

"Y/n," Lance whispered, his voice low and tender, "you’ve changed me. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what. You never have to carry that weight alone. I’m right beside you, and I always will be."

She gave him a soft smile, a small but sincere one. Then, without saying another word, she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. Lance wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close, as if holding her was the only way he could keep her safe, keep her from ever feeling alone again.

In that moment, they didn’t need any words. They just needed each other.

And as the quiet hours passed, Lance couldn’t help but think that y/n was too pure for a world that didn’t deserve her. But he knew he would do whatever it took to show her that she mattered, that she was enough, and that she would never be alone again.

this is the last chapter I've written so I'll have to write another one thank you all sm for the ones that have been reading 😇