7: Renzo- To Be Clear

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

advice giving goddess

****

"NO," MILA REPLIED immediately, getting up from her seat.

"Wait!" I call out. I already knew deep down that she would reject me, but I still had to clear up the air between us. "Please, just hear what I have to say then you can leave. Please."

"Fine," she let out a sigh and dropped into her wooden chair. The atmosphere of the coffee, or book—who the hell even cares at this point—shop was filled with the wafting smell of everything a person like me would live for. Although sitting here made me feel bliss, it didn't take my mind off of the fact that I completely screwed up with this girl.

"First off," I begin straightening my posture. "The rumors about me are untrue."

"I never said anything about rumors," Mila retorted.

"Let me finish, would you?" I chuckle, knowing that she would cut in.

Mila had a smile tug at her lips, but I only caught a glimpse of it before she steeled herself.

"I know that you thought I was an ass the night we met," I said, this time awaiting her response.

"I did," she shrugged. "The fact that you wanted to 'get acquainted' explains why I think you're an ass. It also doesn't help that you said I would be 'crawling' to you."

"Yes," I agree. "It was way out of line and borderline sexual harassment. I sincerely apologize for my actions that night. I swear. I wasn't in the right mindset at the time and I completely regret it."

"I thought you were going to explain, not apologize." Mila raised an eyebrow at me.

"This was me just beginning," I smile. "My explanation for that night was that I was drunk because I had just found out that my little brother had left home again. I was looking for a distraction and I thought someone else would probably want the same thing as me, which was to forget, but I saw you and I couldn't help myself."

"So you're saying that you bumped into me on purpose?" Mila asked.

"No," I laugh, running my fingers through my hair. "Fletcher noticed me ogling you and pushed me to you."

"I see," she said. "But what's wrong with your brother leaving?"

"He just turned seventeen, but the problem is that he left my aunt, who is an ex-addict."

"Oh god," Mila put her hand on her mouth.

"Yeah," I sighed, really wishing that I had a cup of coffee in front of me.

"But if you had found out that he left, why weren't you with your aunt? That doesn't excuse you from the fact that you were at a party while your aunt was alone, probably feeling the urge to take something."

"You're right about that Mila," I snap my fingers. "But that isn't so simple."

"Why not? Tell me why you think it isn't simple for you to be there for your aunt when she needs you the most?" Mila looked angry, balling her hands into fists.

"Mila," I slowly spoke, keeping myself from bursting into tears. "I haven't had contact with my aunt after my mom died. And that was seven years ago."

"Then how did you find out about your brother leaving?"

"For the first time in four years, my aunt called me," I answer.

"Then what about the three years you didn't talk to your aunt, you still talked to your brother?"

"That was because we would secretly call each other from time to time, but he still visits me during our mom's anniversary."

"Enzo," she reached out to me, placing her hand over mine.

"It's okay," I smile once more. "I know where he is, but I also know that he won't go back to our aunt right away."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I honestly don't know," I reply. "I know that he is with an old friend of his, so our aunt will be okay for the time being, but I don't know what to do since I'm in New York and they're back home in Colorado."

"Just take it day by day." Mila squeezes my hand. "Take it slow and you won't be overwhelmed."

"You're right I guess." I look down at the table and slightly laugh.

Mila grins.

"Now that is cleared up," I said. "I need to make clear of a few more things."

"What?"

"I'm not covered in tattoos like everyone says," I start. "I also don't sleep around, so I don't know why people think I'm a player. It's probably because of Seth, people assume that. I've actually slept with three girls the entire four years I was here. Those three were all my girlfriends too. The night we met I also somehow ended up in someone's bed, but we did nothing I swear. I am also an art major, so most of the time I'm stuck in the art room or I'm here reading."

"I'm surprised I've never seen you here," Mila looks at me. "I'm always here."

"I'm surprised as well, how could I not notice a beauty like you?"

"Shut up," she chuckles. "Stop hitting on me."

"Okay, okay," I raise my hands in surrender. "I'll stop."

"It's really nice," Mila looks outside and then at me. "Talking and laughing, although we don't have coffee at the moment since someone stole mine."

"Yet we're in a coffee shop," I groan. "What is this preposterous situation?"

"Exactly!" Mila mimics my groan. "This is so ironic I simply can't even begin!"

We pause and both start laughing after seeing each other's expressions.

"What do you think this shop is called? Do you call it a coffee shop or a book shop?" I ask, suddenly curious.

"I actually call it a coffee-slash-book shop. Kind of weird, right?"

"No," I shake my head. "It's quite interesting. That's the first time someone has said both. They usually choose either book or coffee. It's nice to have a different approach."

"Glad you think so," Mila takes out her ponytail and ties it again, this time lower than it was before.

"Mila," I take a deep breath. "Thank you for hearing what I had to say. It's actually been some time since somebody has sat down with me and heard what I have to express."

"Every person should be heard," Mila smiles. "I'm just doing something that should be done by everyone. It's really no big deal."

"But still," I said again. "Thank you."

"Anytime, Enzo," she beamed.

"So," I take a few moments. "Are you still up for that date?"

"In your wildest dreams, Renzo."

"Did you just throw a Taylor Swift reference at me? And I thought we were having some progress with you calling me 'Enzo'."

"Yes, I did," she answers the first question. "And hey, that was only once."

"I would prefer it if you called me what my friends called me."

"So we're friends now?" Mila smirked.

"Well," I put my hand over my heart. "After you rejected going out on a date with me twice, I think becoming friends would suffice for now."

"Ah, you wound me Enzo, you're making me out to be a bitch." She clutches her shirt. I smile at the fact she changed the way she said my name.

"Who knows, we're friends after all, aren't we?" I simper.

"I guess we are."

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net