There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.

Giara's POV.

I hummed to music playing on the radio as I waited for Marcus to arrive. It's six fifteen, I should hurry up, before Donati gets smell of this plan.

"PRETTY LADY!!!" I snapped my head towards him to see him running holding a bag and teddy? "I am so sorry that I made you wait but I had to.." He panted as he open the passenger's door of the car and got in beside me.

"Settle down first and then talk." I said and passed him the water bottle from the stowage. "Here." He took the bottle, gulped down every drop.

"Thanks." He grinned. I nodded and eyed the bag and white teddy bear sitting on his lap.

"What is all this?" I asked gesturing towards the stuff.

"Oh this? I was late because of this." He smiled scratching the teddy's ear. "I also bought some chocolates. Here, these are for you." He handed me a transparent box with cubes of chocolates wrapped in gold wrappers.

"Thanks I guess?" I replied taking the box.

"I hope she likes chocolates. Can someone be allergic to chocolate pretty lady? I guess no. I mean it's chocolate right. Everybody likes chocolate." He babbled. I chuckled at his behaviour. "Stop laughing at me pretty lady. I am already nervous." He scolded.

"But don't you think this is too much?" I asked.

"What I like her. I am meeting her for first time after the party. And I believe in wooing the girl I like. So I'm gonna woo her properly and treat her like a queen."

"And here I thought I was the only one." I winked at him and ignited the car.

"I thought so too pretty lady. But it seems like you already have a king of your own." Marcus retorted.

"Shut up." I grunted and stepped on the gas pedal.

"Pretty lady..." I just hummed in answer. "Why this sudden plan? I mean it's great and all but why so sudden?"

"Well, this party might be last time I could get to spend with you all." I said with my eyes ahead on the road.

"What? What do you mean by last time?" He questioned turning his body towards me.

"After this party I'll be focusing on job. I don't think I might get to spend time with you like this."

"Oh! I thought you were leaving or something" He signed in relief. I gave him half hearted smile. I felt bad for lying but I had no choice. It's better this way.

"So did Jay call everyone?"

"Yes, he did. I think everyone is gathering at Jay's house and then we will go from there to whatever, the place you know." He said.

"Hmm. I know this club, where we could get in." I answered pulling the brakes and turning of the engine. "We are here."

"Girls hostel? Why does she live her?" He asked as gathered the gifts got out slamming the door shut with his bum.

"Her dad is always out of town and she goes to the Convent school." I answered pointing towards the building that was beside the hostel.

"That's understandable." He nodded and we made our towards the hostel reception.

"Hello, how may I help you?" A young girl in nun's uniform greeted us.

"Hello, we are here to meet Sophia..." Marcus trailed off not knowing Sophie's surname.

"Donati." I continued for him.

"Yes, Sophia Donati." He said and nodded at the young nun.

"Umm. Wait a minute I'll have to talk with head nun about this." She said giving us a small smile. We nodded and smiled back at her.

"Don't you think she is too young to be a nun?" Marcus leaned down and whispered in my ear. I just shrugged.

"Hello. I am head nun here. Kailey." Another nun greeted us. "How may I help you?"

"Didn't that young nun talk with her. Why they keep asking same question?" Marcus muttered, I nudged him telling him to shut his mouth.

"Hello. We are here to meet Sophia Donati." I said smiling at her. She frowned and made a ugly face at us. Jeez, evil nun alert!

"And who are you if I may ask?" She questioned us crossing her arms.

"You may not." Marcus snapped at her. I stomped at his foot and nervously laughed.

"You may ask." I gritted through my teeth, staring at Marcus telling him to shut his mouth and turned towards the evil nun and smiled sheepishly. "He's a funny guy you know. He likes to joke all the time. Right?" I said as I pointed towards him. He just huffed. I forcibly chuckled and waited for nun to speak something but she just blankly stared at us.

"Umm I am Giara and this Marcus Moretti. We are Sophie's friends." I explained.

"And you want me to believe you because?" She said raising her eyebrow.

"Look here you old lady I don't know why you keep asking us these questions as if we are some criminals. We are her friends who want to meet her. I am not sure if you heard my name correctly. Marcus Moretti is my name." It looked like the bitchy side of Marcus snapped. There was pin drop silence. Nobody uttered a word. Both of them glared at each other and I stood there thinking what to do? To tell the truth I am scared to speak. I think they will skinned me alive if I dare to uttered a word.

"Giara? Marcus?" Our head snapped towards the sweet and surprised voice. There stood Sophie in white blouse and long pleated red skirt. Her hair up in a tight bun.

"Sophia you know them?" The nun asked her as Sophie walked towards us.

"Yes Nun Kailey. They are my friends." Sophie answered politely.

"What a rude pair of friends you got Sophia." The nun huffed but left us alone. Finally. I sighed in relief and turned towards Sophie.

"Hey." I grinned at her. She jumped in my arms hugging me. I laughed. "Jeez, it's been what, one day Sophie since we met."

"I know we just met few days ago but I missed you!" She exclaimed pulling back.

"I missed you too Sophie but I think someone missed you more than me that he couldn't wait." I said and wiggled my eyebrows at Marcus who blushed and averted his eyes. Sophie turned red and ducked her head down. I grinned and pushed her towards him.

"Hi M-Marcus." She stuttered.

"Umm Hi Sophia." Marcus greeted. I waited for their conversation to continue but they just stared at each other, making googly eyes.

"Should I leave and come back tomorrow when you are done with making googly eyes?" I said making them snap back from whatever world they were. They both blushed. "Enough of blushing and smiling you both."

"Stop it pretty lady." Marcus glared at me. "Umm Sophie this is something from me." He said handing her the teddy and chocolates.

"T-thank you." She said as she took the gifts.

"So are you guys done yet?" I teased.

"Yes we are done pretty lady." Sarcasm was dripping from every word.

"By the way how did you guys knew that I would here?"

"Pre-" I cut off Marcus before he reveal my secret.

"I guess you don't his name." I said gesturing towards him. "Marcus Moretti." I imitate him from early.

"First of all I don't talk like that." He pointed his forefinger at me. "And Sophia you know I have my ways." He winked at her.

"Oh okay I guess." She blushed.

"And there she goes again." I said rolling my eyes. "Whatever. Sophie you are free, right? Because we are partying tonight!" I exclaimed.

"Yes I am and party, where?" She asked.

"Club where we could get in." Marcus answered.

"But-"

"No buts Sophie. We came so far just to pick you up." I gave her the puppy eyes.

"Okay. I'll go ask Nun Kailey." She sighed and then grinned at us. "But I am so excited though."

"Yeah me too." Marcus grinned.

"Me three." I grinned too. "Now go hurry up." I said pushing her. She nodded and walked towards the direction where the old nun went.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Guys, let's go!" Sophie shouted as she ran towards us with clothes changed. She wore a pretty red dress.

"Thank god I thought that evil witch won't let you go." Marcus said earning a smack from Sophie.

'Cause girls like you
Run around with guys like me
'Til sundown, when I come through
I need a girl like you, yeah yeah

"That's my phone." Marcus said taking out his phone. "It's Rina. Let me put her on speaker."

"Marcus where the hell are you guys?" Rina shouted from other side.

"We are just leaving for Jay's house." I answered.

"Giara? Well hurry up. I bought dresses. We need to get ready girls!!" She exclaimed.

"Okay we will be there shortly." I replied chuckling.

"And Rina next time refrain from shouting okay?!" Marcus shouted.

"Oh go eat shi-" Marcus hanged up from before she could complete her sentence. "Okay. Now ladies let's go." He grinned offering us his arms. We both locked our arms with him and made our way outside the hostel. As we walked towards my car only one thing was going through my mind.

Stage one is complete, Donati.

A/N:

Here is your long awaited chapter guys! I hope you like it. Don't forget to vote, comment and share this story with your pals.

Love,
Alba 💜