The King Of Arsenal

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And the first real day of their holiday still stretching out ahead of them.

Then the afternoon continued to unfold without either of them paying much attention to the time.

By the time they finished lunch, neither Francesco nor Leah was particularly interested in going back to the resort yet.

There was still so much of Oia they hadn't seen.

And, more importantly, there was nowhere else they needed to be.

Francesco finished the last of his drink and leaned back in his chair.

"So."

Leah looked at him.

"So?"

"Where now?"

She smiled.

"Somewhere else."

"That's very specific."

"I know."

Francesco laughed.

"All right. Lead the way."

They left the café and stepped back into the narrow streets of Oia.

The afternoon sun had become warmer, but a gentle breeze continued to move through the village, making the heat surprisingly comfortable.

Oia seemed even more alive now than it had earlier.

Visitors wandered between the whitewashed buildings.

Small shops displayed jewelry, artwork, clothing and souvenirs.

Restaurants were beginning to fill their terraces.

People stopped at viewpoints, taking photographs of the Aegean and the dramatic cliffs.

And everywhere Francesco looked, there was something worth remembering.

Leah seemed to agree.

Her phone was practically an extension of her hand by now.

She stopped beside a small blue doorway.

"Wait."

Francesco stopped.

"What?"

"Look at this."

He turned.

The doorway was surrounded by white walls and small flowers, with sunlight falling across the entrance.

"It's nice."

"It's beautiful."

She lifted her phone.

"Stand there."

Francesco stared at her.

"Again?"

"Yes."

"We just finished lunch."

"And?"

"You haven't given me five minutes."

Leah laughed.

"You knew what you were getting yourself into."

"I did."

He stood beside the doorway.

Leah took several photographs.

Then she lowered the phone.

"Perfect."

Francesco walked over.

"Let me see."

She showed him.

He nodded.

"Okay. That's good."

"See?"

"You're getting very good at this."

"I told you."

They continued walking.

Every so often, they found themselves stopping simply because something caught their attention.

A tiny shop selling handmade jewelry.

A terrace covered in flowers.

A narrow staircase disappearing between buildings.

A little café tucked into a corner.

A view of the sea appearing unexpectedly between two walls.

None of it was planned.

That was what made it enjoyable.

They weren't trying to complete a sightseeing list.

They were simply discovering Oia together.

At one point, Leah wandered into a small shop while Francesco waited outside.

A few minutes later, she emerged holding a small bag.

He looked at her.

"What did you buy?"

"Nothing important."

"That means you bought something."

Leah smiled.

"Maybe."

Francesco laughed.

"I knew it."

She held the bag behind her back.

"You're not allowed to look."

"Why?"

"Because it's a surprise."

"For me?"

"Maybe."

Francesco raised an eyebrow.

"Now I'm curious."

"You'll have to wait."

He shook his head.

"You're impossible."

"And you love me."

Francesco smiled.

"Unfortunately."

Leah lightly bumped his arm.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

She laughed.

They kept walking.

Eventually, they found another viewpoint overlooking the caldera.

This time, Francesco took out his own phone.

"Your turn."

Leah looked at him.

"Mine?"

"Yeah."

She stood near the railing, with the sea stretching behind her.

Francesco raised the phone.

"Look over here."

She smiled.

Click.

"Now look toward the water."

Click.

"Now smile properly."

"I am smiling."

"That's not your real smile."

Leah laughed.

"There."

Click.

Francesco looked at the photograph.

"That's the one."

She walked over.

"Let me see."

He showed her.

Leah smiled.

"That's really nice."

"You look happy."

"I am."

The answer was simple.

And Francesco knew exactly what she meant.

They both were.

For the first time in a long time, happiness didn't feel connected to winning something.

There was no trophy involved.

No scoreboard.

No result.

No medal.

Just the two of them standing beneath the Greek sun.

They continued exploring for several more hours.

Sometimes they walked together.

Sometimes one would stop while the other wandered a few steps ahead.

They bought cold drinks when they became thirsty.

They took more photographs than either of them could possibly need.

Some were posed.

Some were completely accidental.

There were pictures of the village.

Pictures of the sea.

Pictures of each other.

Pictures together.

And at least one photograph of Francesco looking away from the camera because Leah had caught him laughing.

"You're keeping that one," she told him.

"Why?"

"Because it's my favorite."

Francesco looked at it.

He smiled.

"All right."

The afternoon slowly began moving toward evening.

The sunlight softened.

The crowds remained, but the atmosphere changed slightly.

People began settling into restaurants and terraces.

Others started making their way toward the famous sunset viewpoints.

Francesco looked at Leah.

"We should probably head back."

She nodded.

"I think my feet agree."

Francesco laughed.

"You said we were going to take it easy."

"We are."

"We've been walking for hours."

"That's still taking it easy."

He shook his head.

"I don't think you understand the meaning of relaxing."

"I understand it perfectly."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

She smiled.

"We relax while exploring."

Francesco laughed.

"Right."

Their transportation was waiting for them, and soon they were heading back toward Desiterra Resort.

This time, neither of them spoke much.

They were tired.

The good kind of tired.

The kind that came from spending an entire day outside, walking through beautiful places with someone you loved.

Francesco rested his head against the seat.

Leah looked through the window.

The island was glowing in the late afternoon light.

The rugged hills.

The white buildings.

The blue sea.

Everything seemed softer now.

Eventually, the resort appeared.

The taxi pulled through the entrance and stopped.

They thanked the driver before making their way back toward the Presidential Villa.

The moment the door closed behind them, Francesco dropped his keys onto a nearby table.

"Home."

Leah laughed.

"Already calling it home?"

"For the next few weeks."

"Fair enough."

Francesco looked down at his clothes.

"We should change."

"I was thinking the same thing."

They disappeared into the bedroom.

A few minutes later, they emerged wearing swimsuits.

The change of clothes immediately made the rest of the evening feel even more relaxed.

Neither of them wanted to go anywhere.

They stepped outside toward the private area of the villa.

The view was incredible.

The Aegean stretched endlessly before them.

The late afternoon sun reflected across the water, creating a bright path that seemed to lead all the way toward the horizon.

Francesco stood quietly for a moment.

"You know…"

Leah looked at him.

"What?"

"This might be the best view I've ever woken up to."

Leah smiled.

"I think I agree."

They settled near the pool.

For several minutes, they simply admired the scenery.

Then Francesco looked at Leah.

"You getting in?"

She smiled.

"Are you?"

"I asked first."

"That means you go first."

Francesco laughed.

"Fine."

He stepped into the water.

Leah followed shortly afterward.

The cool water immediately felt refreshing after the warmth of the day.

Francesco surfaced and looked at her.

"Perfect."

Leah smiled.

"Definitely."

They swam slowly.

There was no competition.

No racing.

No reason to count laps.

They simply moved through the water, talked and laughed.

At one point, Francesco splashed her.

Leah stared at him.

"Did you just do that?"

He tried to look innocent.

"No."

"You absolutely did."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

She splashed him back.

Francesco laughed.

"Oh, okay."

He returned the favor.

Within seconds, they were both laughing like children.

Eventually, they calmed down and floated beside each other.

Francesco looked toward the horizon.

The sky had begun changing color.

"This is what we needed."

Leah nodded.

"Yeah."

"No schedules."

"No schedules."

"No one telling us where to be."

"No one telling us where to be."

Francesco smiled.

"I could get used to this."

Leah looked at him.

"You have three weeks."

"Good."

They stayed in the water until they were both tired enough to admit it.

Eventually, they climbed out.

The towels were waiting nearby.

They took turns showering, washing away the salt and the exhaustion from the day's heat.

By the time Francesco emerged in comfortable clothes, his entire body felt pleasantly heavy.

Leah was already sitting in the living area.

She looked toward him.

"Food?"

Francesco nodded immediately.

"Food."

"Going out?"

He thought about it for approximately one second.

"No chance."

Leah laughed.

"Room service?"

"Absolutely."

Francesco picked up the villa phone and ordered dinner.

They decided they didn't need anything complicated.

Just good food, something cold to drink and the comfort of staying exactly where they were.

While they waited, Francesco and Leah sat outside again.

The evening had become quieter.

The Aegean was darker now, reflecting the fading light.

There were small lights beginning to appear around the island.

Francesco leaned back.

"This is perfect."

Leah rested against him.

"It really is."

A short while later, there was a knock at the door.

Francesco stood.

"I'll get it."

He opened the door to find a resort staff member standing with their dinner.

"Good evening, Mr. Lee."

"Good evening."

"Your room service."

"Thank you."

Francesco accepted the trays.

He noticed the staff member had carried everything carefully and had clearly gone out of his way to make sure the order arrived properly.

He reached into his pocket and handed him a generous tip.

"Thank you for bringing it up."

The staff member smiled.

"My pleasure. Enjoy your evening."

"We will. Thank you."

Francesco closed the door and carried the food inside.

Leah looked at him.

"Everything?"

"Everything."

They arranged dinner in the living area rather than sitting formally at the dining table.

It felt more comfortable that way.

They ate slowly.

Neither was in a hurry.

The day had left them hungry, but they were also enjoying the simple pleasure of being able to sit together without having to think about anything else.

Leah took a sip of her drink.

"So?"

Francesco looked at her.

"So?"

"First full day in Santorini."

He smiled.

"Pretty good."

"Pretty good?"

"Okay."

He laughed.

"It was amazing."

Leah smiled.

"Oia was beautiful."

"Very."

"The Blue Domes."

"The viewpoint."

"Amoudi Bay."

"The café."

"And all the photographs."

Francesco pointed at her.

"That's your favorite part."

Leah laughed.

"Maybe."

"You took hundreds."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

"I took a reasonable number."

Francesco shook his head.

"Your phone probably needs therapy."

Leah laughed.

"You posed for all of them."

"I was being supportive."

"You enjoyed it."

Francesco paused.

"Maybe a little."

Leah smiled.

"I knew it."

They continued eating.

The conversation gradually turned toward the following day.

Francesco looked at her.

"So what's next?"

Leah thought about it.

"We should go to Red Beach."

Francesco nodded.

"That sounds good."

"I've seen pictures. The cliffs are incredible."

"Then Red Beach it is."

Leah smiled.

"And after that…"

Francesco waited.

She gave him a look.

"Fira."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Fira?"

"Yes."

"What are we doing there?"

"Everything."

Francesco laughed.

"That's not very specific."

"Shopping."

"Okay."

"Food."

"Definitely."

"Walking around."

"Sounds good."

"And nightlife."

Francesco smiled.

"Ah."

Leah laughed.

"What?"

"You've planned the whole day."

"No, I haven't."

"You just listed half the island."

"We have three weeks."

"That's true."

She pointed toward him.

"Exactly."

Francesco nodded enthusiastically.

"I like it."

Leah smiled.

"So?"

"Red Beach."

"Then Fira."

"Shopping."

"Food."

"Explore."

"Nightlife."

"And then back here."

Leah nodded.

"Perfect."

Francesco leaned back.

"So much for a relaxing holiday."

Leah burst out laughing.

"It is relaxing."

"We've already spent an entire day exploring Oia."

"And tomorrow we'll spend another day exploring."

"Exactly."

"That's relaxing."

Francesco laughed.

"You have a strange definition of relaxing."

"We have three weeks of freedom."

She looked at him warmly.

"We should make the most of them."

Francesco smiled.

She was right.

Three weeks sounded like a long time.

But he knew how quickly time disappeared.

The World Cup had been proof of that.

One moment, they had been preparing for a tournament.

Then they were lifting the trophy.

Then they were celebrating in London.

And suddenly they were sitting in Santorini discussing beaches and nightlife.

He reached across the table and took Leah's hand.

"Then we make the most of every day."

She squeezed his fingers.

"Deal."

They finished their dinner slowly, continuing to talk about the places they wanted to see.

Leah wondered what kind of food they would find in Fira.

Francesco joked that she would probably photograph all of it.

She admitted that she probably would.

They laughed about Cheddar.

They wondered what he was doing back in Richmond.

They talked about Francesco's parents and how his mother would probably be spoiling the corgi.

Then the conversation drifted back toward the trip.

Red Beach.

Fira.

The rest of Santorini.

Maybe another boat trip.

Maybe a sunset somewhere quiet.

Maybe simply another day where they woke up and decided what they wanted to do.

Eventually, the plates were mostly empty.

The drinks were nearly finished.

Neither of them seemed interested in getting up immediately.

Outside, the evening had settled fully across the island.

The villa was peaceful.

The sea was dark beneath the night sky.

A gentle breeze moved through the open doors.

Francesco looked around the room.

Only a few days ago, his life had been filled with thousands of people.

Now there were two.

Him and Leah.

And somehow, that felt like enough.

He leaned back against the sofa.

"Tomorrow."

Leah looked at him.

"Tomorrow."

"Red Beach."

"Red Beach."

"Then Fira."

She smiled.

"Then Fira."

Francesco nodded.

"I'm looking forward to it."

"So am I."

He looked toward the windows.

Santorini was quiet outside.

The island still had plenty waiting for them.

But tonight, they didn't need to discover any of it.

They had already walked for hours.

They had swum.

They had eaten.

They had laughed.

They had planned tomorrow.

That was enough.

Francesco reached for Leah's hand again.

She rested her head against his shoulder.

For a while, they simply sat there.

No football.

No England.

No Arsenal.

No reporters.

No cameras.

No expectations.

Just the sound of the evening and the distant sea.

Their first full day in Santorini had been everything they had hoped it would be.

And tomorrow promised another adventure.

Then the following morning arrived, with sunlight already spilling through the windows of the Presidential Villa.

Francesco woke slowly.

For a moment, he remained beneath the sheets, listening to the quiet of the villa and the faint sound of the island beginning another day outside.

Then he turned his head.

Leah was awake too.

She was staring toward the ceiling with a sleepy smile.

"Morning."

"Morning."

Francesco smiled.

"You ready?"

"For what?"

"Red Beach."

Leah turned toward him.

"Oh, definitely."

She sat up.

"Although I think my legs are still angry with you."

Francesco laughed.

"My fault?"

"You made me walk around Oia for half the day."

"You were the one who kept stopping for photographs."

"That isn't the same thing."

"It absolutely is."

Leah reached for a pillow and lightly pushed it against his shoulder.

"Get up."

Francesco laughed.

"All right. All right."

They eventually left the comfort of the bed and began preparing for the day.

Unlike the morning before, they already knew they were going to spend a good portion of the day near the water, so their packing was straightforward.

Swimwear.

Towels.

Fresh clothes.

Sunglasses.

Sunscreen.

Phones.

Chargers.

Wallets.

A few personal belongings.

And, naturally, Leah made sure there was plenty of room on her phone for more photographs.

Francesco watched her check the battery.

"You're preparing for another photographic emergency."

Leah looked at him.

"You never know."

"You took about five hundred pictures yesterday."

"Not five hundred."

"Four hundred?"

"Maybe."

He shook his head.

"I give up."

She smiled.

"You're going to thank me when we're old."

"For what?"

"For having all these memories."

Francesco paused.

That made him smile.

"Okay. That's fair."

They finished getting ready and made their way downstairs.

The morning was bright and warm, and after a quick breakfast they collected everything they needed before leaving the villa.

There was no need to hurry.

Even though they had somewhere to go, they had deliberately avoided giving themselves a strict timetable.

They were on holiday.

That meant if they wanted to stay at Red Beach for three hours, they could.

If they wanted to leave earlier, they could.

Nothing was waiting for them except whatever they chose to do.

A taxi was arranged through the resort, and shortly afterward they were on their way.

Leah sat beside Francesco in the back seat, occasionally looking through the window as the landscape changed around them.

The roads carried them away from the quieter resort area and deeper into the island.

Rocky hills rose beside the road.

Small white buildings appeared between stretches of dry volcanic terrain.

Occasionally, the sea came into view, bright beneath the morning sun.

Francesco pointed toward it.

"There."

Leah looked.

"Beautiful."

"Everything here looks better in person."

"I know."

She lifted her phone.

Francesco immediately laughed.

"Don't."

"What?"

"You're taking another picture."

"Of course."

The camera clicked.

Francesco shook his head.

"You're never going to stop."

"No."

He smiled.

"Fair enough."

The closer they came to Red Beach, the more dramatic the landscape became.

The familiar whitewashed buildings began disappearing behind them.

The terrain grew darker and more rugged.

Eventually, the first glimpses of the famous red cliffs appeared.

Leah leaned forward.

"Is that it?"

The driver nodded.

"Yes."

Francesco looked out.

"Wow."

Even from a distance, the landscape was striking.

The cliffs rose sharply beside the shoreline, their reddish and rust-colored surfaces standing in stark contrast to the deep blue Mediterranean.

The beach itself was darker than the pale beaches they had seen in photographs elsewhere.

Volcanic stones covered parts of the shoreline.

The entire place looked almost otherworldly.

When they finally arrived, Francesco stepped out and immediately looked toward the cliffs.

"This is completely different from Oia."

Leah smiled.

"That's what I wanted."

She took out her phone.

Francesco laughed.

"Of course."

"Look at this."

"I am."

"No, look properly."

He did.

The red cliffs towered above them.

The sunlight highlighted every layer and rough edge in the volcanic rock.

Below, the water was remarkably clear.

Blue and green shifted together as the waves rolled toward the dark shoreline.

Francesco nodded slowly.

"Okay."

Leah smiled.

"Beautiful?"

"Very."

They found a place to leave their belongings before changing into their swimwear.

Once they were ready, neither needed much convincing to get into the water.

The Mediterranean was cool enough to be refreshing without being uncomfortable.

Francesco stepped in first.

He looked back at Leah.

"Come on."

She walked into the water.

"It's cold."

"You'll get used to it."

"I don't know."

Francesco splashed some water toward her.

Leah stared at him.

"Did you just—"

He grinned.

She splashed him back.

"Oh, we're doing this?"

"You started it."

"I absolutely did not."

She laughed.

Within moments, the quiet swim had turned into another ridiculous competition between them.

They splashed one another.

They chased each other through the shallow water.

Francesco tried to swim away when Leah retaliated, but she followed.

"You're not escaping."

"I wasn't escaping."

"You were."

"I was swimming."

"Very quickly."

Francesco laughed.

Eventually, they gave up and simply floated beside each other.

The cliffs rose behind them.

The sea stretched toward the horizon.

The sunlight warmed their faces.

Leah closed her eyes.

"This is perfect."

Francesco nodded.

"Yeah."

He looked around.

There was no stadium here.

No crowd.

No cameras.

No one asking him about the final.

No one talking about his goals.

For once, nobody needed anything from him.

He could simply swim.

Laugh.

Relax.

Be with Leah.

That realization made him smile.

"What?"

Leah opened her eyes.

"Nothing."

"You're smiling."

"I'm happy."

She smiled back.

"Me too."

After swimming for a while, they returned toward the shore.

Leah immediately picked up her phone.

Francesco saw her.

"Here we go."

"Stand over there."

"Where?"

"Near the rocks."

Francesco looked toward the red cliffs.

"You want a picture?"

"Obviously."

He stood where she pointed.

Leah moved around until she found the right angle.

"Don't move."

"I wasn't planning to."

Click.

She checked the photograph.

"That's really good."

"Let me see."

She showed him.

Francesco nodded.

"Yeah."

Then she took another.

And another.

Then one with the cliffs behind them.

Then one of the shoreline.

Then the water.

Then herself.

Then Francesco again.

Eventually, Francesco laughed.

"You've taken more pictures here than yesterday."

"It's different."

"You said that yesterday."

"Because it's true."

He took her phone.

"Give me that."

She looked surprised.

"What?"

"Your turn."

He stepped back.

"Go stand there."

Leah smiled and walked toward the water.

Francesco framed the shot.

"Look toward me."

She did.

Click.

"Now look at the sea."

Click.

"Smile."

She laughed.

Click.

Francesco lowered the phone.

"Got it."

Leah hurried over.

"Let me see."

He showed her.

She smiled.

"I love those."

"Good."

He handed the phone back.

They continued taking photographs throughout the morning.

Some were carefully posed.

Others were completely natural.

Leah caught Francesco laughing after another splash.

Francesco photographed her walking along the shoreline.

They took pictures of their feet in the water.

Their reflections.

The cliffs.

The beach.

Each other.

At one point, they sat side by side near the edge of the water, simply looking toward the sea.

Neither spoke.

Leah quietly took a photograph.

Francesco noticed.

"You took one of me."

"You looked nice."

"I was doing nothing."

"Exactly."

He smiled.

"Keep it."

"I will."

The hours passed almost unnoticed.

They swam again.

They walked along the shoreline.

They sat beneath the warm sun.

They talked about nothing important.

They laughed.

They took more photographs.

Eventually, Francesco glanced toward the sky.

The sun was higher now, and the day had begun moving toward afternoon.

He looked at Leah.

"We should probably go."

She sighed.

"I know."

"We can come back another day."

Leah smiled.

"Maybe."

They gathered their belongings and found somewhere to change out of their swimwear.

Fresh clothes felt good after several hours in the sun and water.

Francesco slipped into comfortable clothes and looked toward the beach one last time.

"I'm glad we came."

Leah nodded.

"Me too."

They found a restaurant nearby and sat down for lunch.

After the heat and swimming, both were hungry.

Leah placed her phone on the table.

Francesco looked at it.

"How many?"

She frowned.

"How many what?"

"Photographs."

She opened the gallery.

"Don't ask."

He laughed.

"That many?"

"Two hundred and—"

"No."

She stopped.

"What?"

"Don't tell me."

Leah laughed.

They ordered lunch and drinks, then spent part of the meal going through the photographs.

Some made them laugh immediately.

Others were genuinely beautiful.

The red cliffs looked even more dramatic in the photographs.

The water almost glowed.

There were pictures of Leah smiling toward the sea.

Francesco laughing.

The two of them standing together.

A few photographs were slightly crooked.

Others had people walking through the background.

One had Francesco looking away at exactly the wrong moment.

Leah laughed.

"I like this one."

Francesco looked.

"I look ridiculous."

"You look happy."

He smiled.

"Okay."

They continued eating.

"So," Leah said, "Fira."

Francesco nodded.

"Fira."

"I want to shop."

"I figured."

"And eat."

"Definitely."

"And see the town."

"Of course."

"And maybe stay until tonight."

Francesco smiled.

"Nightlife?"

She nodded.

"Nightlife."

He laughed.

"You really don't know how to take it easy."

"We're on holiday."

"That's your answer to everything."

"It works."

Francesco smiled.

"It does."

They finished lunch and eventually arranged another taxi.

As they drove toward Fira, the landscape changed once again.

The roads carried them through more of the island's rugged interior.

The sea appeared between hills.

White buildings became more frequent.

The closer they came to Fira, the busier the roads became.

Eventually, the town appeared ahead.

Fira felt different from Oia.

Where Oia had felt picturesque and almost dreamlike, Fira was livelier.

There were more people.

More shops.

More traffic.

More restaurants.

More movement.

Francesco stepped out of the taxi and looked around.

"All right."

Leah smiled.

"This is more your speed."

"I'm not sure about that."

"You'll see."

They began walking.

The afternoon passed easily.

They wandered through streets lined with shops.

Leah immediately found herself drawn toward clothing stores.

Then jewelry.

Then small shops selling souvenirs.

Then artwork.

Then another store.

Francesco carried one bag.

Then two.

Then three.

He looked at Leah.

"How many things are you buying?"

She looked innocent.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No."

Francesco laughed.

"We've been here twenty minutes."

"And?"

"You already have three bags."

"They're small."

"That doesn't make it better."

She laughed.

He followed her into another shop.

She browsed through jewelry while Francesco looked around.

Eventually, she held something up.

"What do you think?"

Francesco considered it.

"I like it."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah."

She smiled.

"Then I'm getting it."

Francesco laughed.

"I knew that was coming."

They continued from one shop to another.

Leah found clothing she liked.

Small souvenirs.

A few gifts.

Some pieces of local artwork.

Francesco eventually raised both hands.

"I've lost count."

Leah laughed.

"You're carrying them."

"Exactly."

"That means you're useful."

"I've just realized your entire shopping strategy."

"What?"

"You buy things and make me carry them."

She smiled.

"Maybe."

They stopped occasionally to eat and drink.

They found small places where they could sit outside and watch people passing by.

They tried local dishes.

They ordered drinks.

They talked.

They laughed.

And, naturally, Leah continued taking photographs.

Fira provided plenty of opportunities.

The architecture.

The narrow streets.

The rooftops.

The distant sea.

The busy terraces.

Flowers spilling from balconies.

People walking beneath the warm afternoon light.

She photographed all of it.

Francesco took his own pictures too.

Some were of the town.

Some were of Leah.

Some were of the two of them together.

At one point, he caught her laughing while holding several shopping bags.

He took the photograph before she noticed.

She turned.

"Did you just take a picture of me?"

"Maybe."

"Let me see."

He showed her.

She smiled.

"That's actually really nice."

"See?"

"You're learning."

"I had a good teacher."

She laughed.

By the time evening approached, Fira had begun changing around them.

The sunlight softened.

Lights started appearing in shop windows.

Restaurants became busier.

Tables filled.

Music drifted through the streets.

The atmosphere grew louder and more energetic without becoming overwhelming.

Leah looked around.

"This is nice."

Francesco nodded.

"Very."

They decided there was no reason to leave yet.

They had nowhere else to be.

So they stayed.

They found a lively place where they could sit together, order drinks and enjoy the evening atmosphere.

Music played nearby.

People talked and laughed.

Couples moved through the streets.

Groups of friends gathered together.

Fira seemed to come alive after dark.

Francesco looked at Leah.

"You were right."

She smiled.

"About?"

"Staying."

"I know."

He laughed.

"You enjoy being right."

"Very much."

They talked for hours.

About the trip.

About their families.

About football, but only briefly.

Mostly, they talked about what came next during their holiday.

They laughed at old memories.

They watched people passing.

They tried more food.

They listened to the music.

At one point, Francesco leaned back and looked around.

"This is strange."

"What?"

"Being able to sit somewhere like this without worrying about tomorrow."

Leah smiled.

"We should get used to it."

"We should."

He looked at her.

"Because once we're back in England…"

She nodded.

"Everything starts again."

Arsenal.

Training.

Matches.

England.

Travel.

Schedules.

The endless rhythm of football.

Francesco smiled.

"But not yet."

"Not yet."

Leah raised her glass.

"To three weeks."

Francesco lifted his.

"To three weeks."

They clinked glasses.

Then laughed.

The evening continued.

Neither of them rushed.

They knew they would eventually have to return to the resort, but that didn't mean they had to think about it every minute.

Eventually, though, fatigue began catching up with them.

Francesco looked at Leah.

"You ready?"

She sighed.

"I think so."

"Long day."

"Very long."

"But good."

"The best."

They arranged another taxi.

When it arrived, they gathered their shopping bags and climbed inside.

Fira slowly disappeared behind them as they drove back toward Desiterra Resort.

This time, they were both quiet.

Not because they had nothing to say.

They were simply tired.

Happy.

Satisfied.

Leah rested her head against Francesco's shoulder.

He looked out of the window.

The island passed by in the darkness.

Occasional lights appeared across the hills.

The sea was barely visible beyond them.

Francesco smiled.

"Red Beach and Fira in one day."

Leah laughed softly.

"We did a lot."

"A lot?"

"Yes."

"You bought half of Fira."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

She nudged him.

"Stop."

He laughed.

Eventually, the familiar entrance of Desiterra Resort appeared.

The taxi pulled in.

They thanked the driver before stepping out.

Francesco collected the shopping bags.

Leah took the smaller ones.

Together, they walked toward the Presidential Villa.

When they opened the door, the familiar quiet immediately surrounded them.

After the energy of Fira, the silence felt almost luxurious.

Francesco put the bags down.

"Home."

Leah smiled.

"Definitely home."

They looked at everything they had brought back.

Shopping bags.

Photographs.

Memories.

And the realization that they had managed to experience so much in a single day.

They had started with the dramatic red cliffs of Red Beach.

They had swum in the Mediterranean.

They had laughed in the water.

They had spent hours photographing the shoreline.

They had eaten lunch.

Then they had explored Fira.

Shopped.

Tried different food.

Watched the town become alive at night.

And now they were back where they could finally rest.

Francesco sank onto the sofa.

"I think my legs are officially done."

Leah laughed.

"You said that yesterday."

"And today they're serious."

She sat beside him.

"You survived."

"Barely."

Leah leaned against his shoulder.

For a moment, neither said anything.

The villa was quiet.

The lights were soft.

Beyond the windows, the Aegean was hidden beneath the darkness, but they knew it was there.

Francesco looked toward the shopping bags.

"We should probably unpack those tomorrow."

Leah laughed.

"Probably."

"Probably?"

"Definitely tomorrow."

He smiled.

"Fair."

They had no reason to worry about it tonight.

They could sleep.

They could recover.

Tomorrow would come when it came.

And there would be another day to enjoy.

Another place to explore.

Another memory to make.

Francesco took Leah's hand.

"This holiday is going pretty well."

She smiled.

"Very well."

"Even with all the walking."

"Especially with all the walking."

He laughed.

"Of course."

Leah rested her head against him.

Francesco looked around the villa once more.

Only a short time ago, his world had been filled with stadiums, celebrations and thousands of people chanting his name.

Now, after another extraordinary day, he was sitting quietly in Santorini with Leah.

No one was waiting for him.

No match was approaching.

No interview had been scheduled.

No trophy needed to be lifted.

Tomorrow could wait.

Tonight belonged to them.

Francesco squeezed Leah's hand.

"Good day."

She smiled.

"Really good day."

Outside, Santorini settled deeper into the night.

Inside the Presidential Villa, Francesco and Leah remained together in the peaceful aftermath of their adventure, tired from the hours of walking and swimming but happier than either of them could remember feeling in a long time.

__________________________________________________

Name : Francesco Lee

Age : 19 (2017)

Birthplace : London, England

Football Club : Arsenal First Team

Championship History : 2014/2015 Premier League, 2014/2015 FA Cup, 2015/2016 Community Shield, 2016/2017 Premier League, 2015/2016 Champions League, Euro 2016, Premier League Champion 2016/2017, FA Cup 2016/2017, 2016/2017 Champions League, 2017/2018 Carabao Cup, Premier League 2017/2018, FA Cup 2017/2018, Champions League 2017/2018, and 2018 World Cup.

Season 17/18 stats:

Arsenal:

Match: 59

Goal: 76

Assist: 6

MOTM: 7

POTM: 0

England:

Match: 11

Goal: 14

Assist: 1

MOTM: 7

Season 16/17 stats:

Arsenal:

Match: 55

Goal: 87

Assist: 5

MOTM: 14

POTM: 1

England:

Match: 1

Goal: 1

Assist: 0

MOTM: 0

Season 15/16 stats:

Arsenal:

Match Played: 60

Goal: 82

Assist: 10

MOTM: 9

POTM: 1

England:

Match Played: 2

Goal: 4

Assist: 0

Euro 2016

Match Played: 6

Goal: 13

Assist: 4

MOTM: 6

Season 14/15 stats:

Match Played: 35

Goal: 45

Assist: 12

MOTM: 9