Luca was pacing the school yard, phone in hand, trying Isa's number again and again. No answer. His eyes scanned the crowd until he spotted her best friends, deep in their usual little discussion. It looked more like a fight than a chat.
Leo, sitting beside Elena, raised his head just in time to see Luca walking toward them. He leaned closer to her. "Guess who's coming."
"Who?" she asked, eyes widening.
"Don't turn your back. Just act normal, okay?"
"Act normal??" she gasped. "Luca is coming??"
"Yes, he is. Better behave yourself."
"How the hell do you expect me to behave?" she hissed, already fixing her hair. "Hey, do you have lipstick? And a mirror—ugh, maybe some eyeliner, and—"
"Can you shut up?" Lenny cut her off sharply. "He's almost behind you."
Before she could panic further, Luca's voice slid into the air, smooth and teasing.
"Relax, Elly. You look fine."
Elena froze, cheeks heating, while Luca's smirk lingered like a shadow.
"You always get nervous when I'm around," he teased, tilting his head. "What is it? Am I that scary?"
"She's not nervous," Lenny said quickly. "Stop tormenting her."
Luca's gaze swept over them. "Have you seen Isa? I've been trying to call her, but she's not picking up."
The two exchanged a quick glance. "We thought she was with you," Leo replied.
"Maybe she went home," Elena added hurriedly.
Luca hummed, nodding slightly. "Alright then. See you some other time."
"I don't even want to see you," Leo shot back immediately.
"And who wants to see you? I'm not gay," Luca fired back with a sly smirk. "And even if I was, you're seriously not my type."
"Yeah, whatever," Leo muttered.
"You're leaving already?" Elena asked before she could stop herself.
"Okay then. See you some other time, Elly… and I hope you'll stop avoiding my gaze." He let the words hang in the air for a beat before leaning in just slightly, his tone dropping into something smooth and deliberate. "Dolcezza."
Without glancing back, Luca walked away, already certain her face was as red as a tomato.
The moment he was out of sight, Elle spun toward Leo , her smile wide. "Did you see that Lenny? He called me dolcezza!"
Leonardo groaned, rubbing his temple. "He's just messing with your head, idiota."
"Whatever," she shot back, flipping her hair with a dreamy sigh. "Don't you think he's in love with me?"
Lenny groaned, covering his ears and making exaggerated noises. "Ooooooo, I can't hear you! Oooooo!" He started walking away, clearly not wanting to listen to her silly rambling.
"Lenny! Wait!" Elena called, running after him, waving her arms and laughing.
"Marry me."
Her voice was steady, almost daring. No hesitation. No trembling. Just… defiance.
I leaned back, one arm resting on the chair, the other lifting my glass. "Marry you?" I let the words linger. "And why would I do that, piccola?"
She met my gaze without flinching. "Because you can help me. You're powerful. Unlike the stranger they want to force me on, at least I know you."
A low chuckle escaped me. "Know me? You don't know anything. For all you care, I could be worse than him."
She shrugged, but her eyes didn't waver. "Then maybe I'm willing to take that risk."
I leaned forward, elbows on the table, voice dropping. "Really? You'd give yourself to me just like that? No conditions, no questions?"
Her throat moved as she swallowed, but her voice was clear. "Yes."
I let the smirk curve my lips, slow and sharp. "Piccola… you don't even know what you're saying."
Her eyes flicked with fire. "And stop calling me piccola. You're only a year older, aren't you? You're probably a piccolo yourself."
I froze, the smirk fading. Did she just call me little?
I straightened, voice low and measured. "You just called me little? Piccola?" My gaze pinned her, quiet but intense. "Do you know how many people fear me? How many freeze when my name is mentioned?"
She held my stare, defiance still blazing. I let a thin smile creep back. "Well… since you're just a spoiled brat, I won't blame you. Ex-spoiled brat, actually. Imagine… your father selling you out. That's rich."
She let out a small gasp and looked down, cheeks burning, embarrassed.
I leaned back again, calm but sharp, letting the weight of my presence fill the space. She didn't know what she'd stepped into, and part of me wanted to keep it that way.
"I think I made a mistake," she said suddenly. "I want to go home. I'll find someone else."
"Someone else to do what?" I asked, slow.
She raised her chin. "Someone else to get married to, of course."
I spread my hands, a proud little motion. "Do you think you can meet anyone as good as me?"
"Ohhh, Mr. Peacock, bring down that feather," she shot back, rolling her eyes.
I smiled, something soft and dangerous at once. "You're lucky you're my dolcezza. I would've plucked out your eyes a long time ago."
She inhaled, pushed back her chair, and stood up. "Fine.I want to go home," she said.
I'll drive you," I stood, making sure she was right in front of me. My eyes couldn't help but follow her every step, glued to her—especially that ass—until we reached the car.
"Can you stop acting like a maniac?" she asked, her voice soft but sharp, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"What do you mean?" I raised an eyebrow, amused.
"You were staring," she admitted, looking away quickly.
I shrugged, letting a slow smile curl on my lips. "Ohh, you were right in front of me, and I'm seriously not a saint, you know."
We got into the car, the air between us charged, comfortable and tense all at once.
When we pulled up in front of her house, she looked at me curiously. "How did you know my house?"
"My driver dropped you the other day," I replied, keeping my eyes on her as she nodded thoughtfully.
"Ohhhh… thanks for today. I'll see you some other time," she said, her voice soft.
"Sure. And I'll think about your proposal," I added, leaning in to press a quick peck on her forehead.
She playfully hit my chest, biting her lip like she was holding back a smile.
"Come on, stop being a shy baby," I teased.
"Whatever," she muttered, finally stepping out of the car and disappearing inside.
I watched her go, chest tight in a way I didn't fully understand, and drove off, the thought of her still lingering in every corner of my mind.