Fiddling with the sleeves of my hoodie, I walk through the isles of the pharmacy. When I finally reach the pregnancy test section, I pick up two boxes - different types.

Heading towards the counter the woman gives me a smile. "Congratulazioni," she smiles and I feel my eyes go wide. Not wanting to be rude, I give her a small smile before handing her the money.

Taking the boxes, I leave the pharmacy and head back to the house. Only then am I stopped by a voice travelling through the night. Someone I hadn't planned on running into this late.

"Heidi, was it?" I cringe and turn around to see Jacques. The same smirk is plastered on his face and I can smell the liquor from miles away.

"Yeah... you're from the bonfire?" I say and try to hide the pregnancy tests beneath the thick material of the hoodie. I hadn't realised the one I had picked up was Nico's, meaning it hung loose about me.

"Jacques," he re-introduces himself, despite me already knowing his name. "Listen, I didn't like how we left things... I was hoping we could have a redo," he moves closer.

"Yeah, sure," I say figuring that agreeing with him will probably go down better than rejecting him. "I have to get go-" he cuts me off.

"There's a small gathering at mine and you're welcome to join. Nico isn't really invited though, for obvious reasons - as long as that's okay. I was just going to get more drink for the party but I saw you coming out of the pharmacy..." he trails off looking at the boxes in my arms.

"Yeah, um, I'm just not feeling great. I think I've got a sickness bug or so-" Jacques cuts me off once more.

"I take it you won't be drinking," his smirk grows and I begin to move backwards. Slowly walking away from him. "Listen, come on... it'll be fun. Maybe you and I could pick up where we left off," he smoulders.

"I really have to get going... it was nice seeing you," I say and don't wait for his response before setting off in the opposite direction. With more speed in my step, I beg to get back without any more run-ins or even worse, Jacques following me.

I hadn't realised the several dings of my phone whilst he was talking to me. Unlocking it, I open messages from Calli - apologising profusely and blaming it on her tired state. Tucking my phone back into the waistband of my shorts, I breathe in the night air.

Finally getting back to the house, I slowly place the key into the door - praying for the door to not creak when opening. I thank the heavens when the door is as silent as ever. At least someone is on my side today.

Sliding my shoes off, I move towards the stairs but am stopped in my tracks when I notice someone sitting on the chair near the door.

"Per l'amor del cazzo. Where the hell have you been?" his voice almost makes me drop the boxes. Turning away from him, I attempt to stash them beneath the hoodie, tucking them into my waist band. Which only causes my phone to slip through and hit the floor with a loud bang.

"Shit, shit, shit," I breathe and lean down to pick up my phone. "Um... I had to take a phone call. Calli, she needed my help," I cringe at my own lie. Despite my back being towards him, I can feel him getting closer.

"Are you going to tell me the truth or am I going to have to find out what you've put under the hoodie myself?" Nico says and I curse beneath my breath.

"It's a surprise for you, so you can't see it," I say and Nico scoffs. "You of all people should know the fundamentals of surprises," I shrug.

"I'm going to give you one last chance to tell me the truth. I don't like lies, Heidi, and I'm certain that neither do you," Nico says, his voice much closer. I mean I have nothing to hide...

Taking a deep breath, I turn around to face him. "So, I went to the pharmacy because I didn't feel well," I say and Nico furrows his brows. Reaching my hands beneath his hoodie, I take out the boxes from my waistband and hold them up.

Nico stares at them, his brows knitting together in confusion. "And you decided to get them at two in the morning? Heidi, you can't just leave and not tell anyone where you're going. I would've come with you," he runs a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Heidi?" my mother calls down the stairs and I scramble to hide the tests.

"Yeah?" I call back and hear her descending the stairs. Placing both hands over my face, I feel like I could collapse. Nico places a hand on my back, attempting to calm me.

"What are you both doing up? It's the middle of the night," my mother scolds us as though we're children.

"Sorry, Mrs Ferrars, we were just getting something to drink. I apologise if we woke you," Nico says and I can tell that my mother fights back a smile. I'm guessing she didn't realise how respectful Nico is.

"Please, call me, Michelle," she says. "Just quieten down, the both of you," she points an accusing finger at us before she trails upstairs.

Silence settles between us and I, anxiously, bite my lip. "Do you know?" he asks, turning to face me before he rests his hand on my hip.

"No... it was Calli that suggested I get one, just to be safe," I explain and he nods. "I probably just don't feel well because of stress and just everything that has happened."

Nico nods before kissing the tip of my nose. "It's probably just a scare," Nico says and I nod my head. It's negative, it has to be.

"Do you want to take it now or wait?" he asks and I know that if I wait a moment longer I'll be riddled with more anxiety than I could possibly take.

"Now," I say and Nico kisses me once more before following me to the bathroom. We attempt to be hushed as I force Nico to turn around whilst I pee on the stick and pray for my life to not be ruined.

Finishing up, I place the cap back on and turn it upside down on the side before washing my hands. Setting a timer on my phone for two minutes, I tug at the roots of my hair. Sitting down on the edge of the tub, I, impatiently, wait for the verdict on my future.

Nico kneels before me, peeling my hands away from my face. "Hey, it's going to be okay," he reassures me as he tucks my hair behind my ears.

Nico presses a kiss to my lips and I wrap my arms around his neck. "I didn't forget to take the pill, not once," I say, burying my face in the crook of his neck.

"Then it'll be negative... don't stress over the what ifs,"  Nico says and I nod, holding onto him like he's my lifeline.

Eventually, the timer sounds and my nerves seem to multiply, as if that was even possible. "Can you do it?" I ask and Nico looks into my eyes before nodding. Letting go of him, I watch as he picks up the test before turning it over. His eyes flicker between the instructions and the test itself. "And?"

"It's negative," he smiles although it doesn't meet his eyes. I feel like I can breathe again as I stand up and take it from him, double-checking that there isn't a second line.

Negative, I can't help my smile. Holding my hand to my chest, I finally feel like my lungs are getting enough air as I close my eyes. When I open them again, I notice the sadness in Nico's eyes. Moving towards him, I wrap my arms around his waist.

"What's wrong?" I ask and Nico folds his arms around me in a tight embrace, resting his chin on my head.

"I can't help but wonder what having a mini you would be like or a mini me. To wonder what it would be like to watch you carry my child," Nico says and I have to remind myself that I am eighteen and in no way ready to have a child. Also, that I've only known this man for over two weeks - but it has felt like a lifetime.

"We're far too young and in a far too complicated situation. I'm sure you'll be an amazing father in the future," I say and Nico kisses the top of my head.

"I love you," he says and I return the gesture. "Let's go to bed," Nico suggests and I nod before following him back to the bedroom. I'll dispose of the tests in the morning.

That night I held Nico close like never before, wanting to stay as close to him as possible. His strong arms wrapped around me as though I was going to disappear and I bathed in the feeling of being safe.

The morning brought an unyielding brightness and the absence of Nico. He had left in the early hours, around sunrise, and I vaguely remember me begging him to stay. I wish I'd been successful as I wake up to an empty bed full of nothing but coldness.

Walking downstairs, I'm yet again disappointed by the fact that I don't see that handsome man in the kitchen. He really did leave. But for good reason, he had work. I mustn't be selfish because after I leave, his life will remain the same.

I ate breakfast with everyone and, surprisingly, it went smoothly. When I'd returned to my bedroom, I noticed a small piece of folded paper upon the nightstand. Moving closer, I open the crumpled sheet to read...

Another surprise, tonight. I'll pick you up at seven, be ready amore mio - N

I couldn't help but smile to myself as I anticipated what tonight could bring. Goddammit, Niccolo Emiliano. You won. I have succumbed to the luxuries of surprises. Surprises are now what I crave more than anything else and it's his fault.

I'd spent the day with my family - attempting to make amends with my mother. Something had changed in her but I wasn't sure what... I was soon to get to the bottom of things. This is what she's done, what she's created. Her countless lies and deceptions have only instilled paranoia in me. Paranoia towards what her next move will be - if I even want to find out.

A migraine sets up camp in my head, a sharp blistering pain that feels as though it could splinter my mind into a million pieces. My nausea and stomach cramps had lessened throughout the day due to a trusty hot water bottle Vienna had stored away.

Nico had ended up coming to the house early, but I didn't mind as it meant he could help me choose what to wear and I could berate him with questions.

"All I'm telling you is that you'll love it and that's where my hints end," Nico says as I rifle through my wardrobe. I want to scream. Why has everything worthy that I brought on holiday just disappeared?

"Can you at least tell me how to dress?" I whine and Nico laughs before standing up from the bed and moving towards me. His arms lace around my waist as he presses a kiss to my shoulder.

"Something you'll be comfortable in," Nico says before resting his chin atop of my head.