I can't tear my eyes from her exposed olive skin. She's stunning; not that I would ever admit that to anyone. Her long chestnut hair fell in loose waves down her back and her brown eyes revealed streaks of green as the sun shone on her tanned face. I kick myself for being so rude earlier, but it's not my fault those dumb girls wouldn't stop following me around, I thought she was one of them. After the win in football yesterday that fan club has not left any of the guys alone for a damn minute. I watch the droplets trickle down her skin as she watches me and Nico mess around in the pool. She probably thinks I'm some entitled ass; I don't blame her. She eventually sinks back into the water and disappears under the surface, eventually appearing again at the other side. She does this a few more times before returning inside, wrapping a sky blue towel around her. We end up sunbathing on the deck chairs and I can't stop wondering what she's doing. I try to scheme up ways of getting her to think I'm a decent person, but unsurprisingly I can't think of any. Why do I even care? She's just Nico's sister.
"Wanna go raid the kitchen?" Nico suggests and I pull my shirt back over me before following him into the refreshingly cool house. We take the familiar route into the kitchen and I head for the fridge as he opens a cabinet, pulling out two glasses. Just as we sit at the island I hear light footsteps pad across the floor behind me and turn to watch her as she grabs a pot of vanilla ice cream from the freezer. Her wet hair soaks through her loose shirt and trickles down her face.
"Don't eat too much of that, dinner's in a couple hours." Nico instructs her and I see her eyes roll as she grumbles a quiet "Mhm".
"Rose I'm being serious dad will get mad." Rose, I like it, it suits her.
"Whatever." She replies as she climbs back upstairs.
"Hey mate look, Amara and Lucia want us to go round Amara's house." Nico shoves his phone in my face, forcing me to read the messages.
"Really?" I ask; I hate to admit it but I completely forgot about Lucia, I should probably go see her.
"Yeah, let's go." He pulls me from my seat and drags me outside. I climb into my prize, my joy, my green jeep. I put the roof down and drive us out of Nico's place, starting to head towards Amara's house. I drive slow, enjoying the view of the river and the crowded streets. That's a lie. I drive slow, partly because I don't feel like seeing Lucia right now, partly because I want to see Rose again. I don't know why she's so captivating.
The door opens and Lucia greets me with a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. I watch as Nico throws his arm around Amara and head inside with her. Lucia grabs my arm - my hands are shoved deep in my pockets - and pulls me inside, closing the door behind us. We sit on a sofa as they chug down beers and puff out breaths of grey smoke. I don't feel like it today for some reason, I can't get over how rude I was to Rose earlier, I can't get over the fact she probably thinks I'm a horrible person. Lucia keeps batting her thick, obviously fake eyelashes at me and stroking my chest with her fake nails. Amara wears stuff like that too. Now that I think about it most girls in our school wear stuff like that: fake hair, fake nails, fake freckles, fake personalities. I didn't care much about it before, too focused on getting them to like me, but I didn't really think about if I liked them.
Suddenly her touch is repulsive, I push her hand off of me and go to the kitchen to 'get water'. I lean on the counter, trying to breathe normally again. Why can't I just be normal and get drunk and flirt with Lucia like I usually do. Nico follows me into the kitchen, pops open a beer and hands it to me.
"Dude, what's up with you? Just have a drink and loosen up." He pushes the beer upwards to my closed lips and I swallow down a couple gulps. Why can't I just loosen up? Just have fun Elio. Don't be a buzzkill Elio. I chug down the beer and grab another one.
I get drunk, I'm not really to surprised. I don't know exactly what happened but I know I'm in Lucia's bed in the morning with one hell of a hangover. How did I get here? I slowly place my feet on the floor, careful not to wake her. As I shove my clothes on, I check my phone. It's 3am, I've got time to get home before dad's back. I sneak out of her room, down the stairs, out of the front door and into my jeep. Idiot. Drunk driving again. How stupid can I be? I pull into my driveway and head upstairs to get another couple hours of sleep before school.
"Ow, dad, really?" I grumble as he shoves open the curtains, light flooding into my room and burning my sore eyes.
"Get up, school." He instructs before slamming my door shut behind him. I groan as I drag myself out of bed. Getting ready is almost painful and I grab an apple before rushing out the door.
"Fuck's sake." I grumble as I pull into school, seeing Lucia waiting for me, giggling with her group of minions. I push my shades further up my nose, covering the large bags under my eyes, and lock the car. I desperately try to pass Lucia, almost running as I move around the gaggle of girls.
"Hey, Elio." She shouts, joining my side as I walk to English. She talks and talks, giving me even worse of a headache. Why can't she just leave me alone? I know I'm being an ass but I was drunk, I don't even remember last night. Eventually I reach my class and she runs off to her friends to gossip about something or the other.
I slump into my seat, laying my sore head onto the cool wood of the desk, trying to soothe the pain pulsing through my skull.
"So Elio." Lyo drawls, "How was your night?" I groan in response. Why does she always have to tell everyone everything?
"Have fun?"
"I don't know, but I'm certainly not now." I reply, lifting my head carefully upwards. He chuckles at my pain and starts talking about his new TV, I don't really listen. I watch a small blackbird hop around the tree next to the open window, it's black feathers glow slightly orange in the bright sun and it chirps every now and then, it hears no reply and sits sadly on the branch alone. Blackbirds were mum's favourite. I don't get how she could just leave. I get dad's a dick but she could have left a note or something, or at least taken me with her.
"Dude, are you even listening?" Lyo asks and I'm saved by the teacher entering and ordering us to be quiet.
"I've organised for your next project to be combined with the year below, you will be paired with an anonymous person and will send letters to them in English." She instructs. Boring. I'm lucky mum was American, she taught me English when I was really young, she always wanted me to go to this school.
"We will write the first letter tomorrow so don't be late to class."
The day passes agonizingly slowly and I'm starving by the time lunch finally arrives. I haven't seen Rose yet today, I wonder if she's in school. I'm dragged to a table by Lucia and shoved down next to her before I even know what's happening. She won't get her hands off of me and I'm tempted to slap them away, I don't. I just don't have the energy to deal with the backlash today. The boys just wouldn't understand it, even I don't understand it. She's hot, why don't I like her? The girls would just spread rumours about me and try and destroy my reputation. I don't have the energy to deal with the backlash today.
Then she's there, walking past me with a button nose and rounded lips. The light freckles dotted across her face are barely visible but perfectly frame her upturned eyes. My eyes follow her as she passes by, she watches Lucia. I'm suddenly aware of her hand on my chest and her head on my shoulder. Rose joins Lyo's sister a few tables over and I feel guilty for some reason. I don't know why.
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