Having cut my hair was beginning to feel like a terrible idea. I was currently changing a mannequin in the window display and my super messy bun was not holding up. I blew a hair out of my face as I squatted to put on some  jeans to the faceless guy.

Why was this so fucking difficult?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe because it doesn't move?

"Good morning, Riri!"

"Shit." I fell backwards because of the fright, hitting my butt hard in the process.

The mannequin disassembled, letting me with its leg in my hand. I glanced up and Luca was there, laughing his ass off at me.

"Good morning?" I frowned as I stood up, rubbing my butt. "It's 4 pm."

"Well, I just got up." He shrugged as he sobered up. "Here."

He handed me a cup of coffee, a smile on my face as I took it from his hands. "Thank you." I took a sip. "Is this becoming a tradition?"

"Maybe." He smirked, his eyes bored into mine as he drank from his coffee too.

"Don't tell me you have another date." I widened my eyes in realization.

He laughed. "No. I told you I would come, remember?"

I tried hard not to blush at his words. I didn't know why but his presence today was making me nervous. "How was yesterday?"

"Meh. The date was fine I guess." He licked his lips before letting out a big breath. "There were no..." he narrowed his eyes trying to find the word, "sparks, you know?"

"Sparks." I repeated amused.

"Yeah, sparks. You know that attraction you instantly feel with someone." He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I'm becoming paranoid about girls and stuff."

I turned around, letting the coffee on the floor and recollecting the mannequin's limbs. "Don't lose hope. You'll find that spark."

Luca let his coffee on the floor too and helped me finish changing the mannequin.

"Thanks." I said as I pushed another million hairs out of my face.

"No problem." He stared at the mannequin. "This shit is hard."

"Tell me about it." I said letting out a little laugh. "So, do you need anything today?"

"They gave me a promotion."

"What? That's great, Luca! Congratulations!" I smiled widely.

For some reason I could not explain, I felt happy for the man I knew just about three days ago.

"Thanks." He said mimicking my smile.

"What do you do?" I asked, walking towards a rack of clothing.

"I'm a physiotherapist."

"That's not funny." I turned to stare at him.

"I know I'm a little bit of a clown," he chuckled, "but it's not supposed to be funny."

I frowned as I opened my mouth a little wider. "I just started physical therapy school." I said putting a hand on my chest.

"Really?" He asked. "I knew there had to be something that made me like you instantly." He laughed, resting both his hands on his hips.

It was not the first time he had said he liked me, I was not used to people being so blunt and straightforward. I mean, I just met the guy. Even though I knew he said it in a friendly way, it made my heart beat a little bit faster.

"What's the promotion?" I asked trying to change the subject.

"I'm now the main physiotherapist at the soccer team I work at."

"Wow. How old are you?" I asked curiously.

"25."

"You have to be really good." I said widening my eyes.

"You can check that whenever you want." He winked at me.

I rolled my eyes amusedly and continued to put the clothes in order.

"You?"

"What?"

"How old are you?" Luca pushed my arm lightly with his cup.

"Oh, I'm almost 23."

He sighed. "Ah. Old times."

I scoffed. "You're so silly."

Luca grinned. I knew he enjoyed making me laugh, it was a long time ago since I didn't have these mindless kind of conversations with anyone.

"Well, I didn't come just to tell you that they gave me a promotion. In fact, I need another shirt. And maybe a jacket and some pants." He added. "I have a dinner with all the important people in the club, and I want to dress up nicely. I don't need casual shirts or anything like that."

"Okay." I nodded pursing my lips. "Come with me."

Luca tried on some pieces of clothing. I tried to help him from what little I knew, but I called Paul to give some advice. Just in case, since he obviously was wiser about men fashion than me.

When we were left alone in the changing rooms, Luca glanced quickly at me through the mirror before he averted his gaze as he closed the black jacket he was wearing.

"That guy likes you."

I frowned in confusion and shook my head. "Who? Paul?"

"Hmh. Haven't you noticed how he looks at you?" He glanced at me once again under his eyelashes, his head a little low.

"Luca." I deepened my voice. "He has a boyfriend."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah." I chuckled. Seeing his embarrassed expression, I tried to ease the tension. "So, are you planning on spending your whole salary at Gourdon?"

"Hey, it's not everyday you get promoted. I want to go all out." He smiled. "Do you want to come?"

"Where?" I asked oblivious.

"The dinner. Friday night. Do you wanna come with me?"

"What? Are you crazy, Luca? I don't think I should, it's something important to you-"

"So what? I want you to come. It might be a little boring, and I enjoy your company." He glanced at me biting the corner of his mouth.

I played with my rings nervously. "I don't know." Dinner with really important people, having to dress up nicely, talking to people I don't know, probably in a really fancy place, where I wouldn't know how to act.

"Come on, say yes." He stared at me pleadingly, now directly staring into my eyes, his dark brown ones making me nervous.

Sighing, I looked around looking for an answer, those eyes didn't let me think with clarity. "Okay."

"Yes!" A wide smile crossed Luca's lips. "What's your address? I'll go pick you up around six thirty. Wait." He paused and took his phone out of his jeans that were now lying on the floor. "Give me your number and you can send me your location."

I nodded, telling him my number and he gave me a call.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Luca left, I really started to panic. I didn't own any fancy clothes and I didn't have the money to buy anything. I threw back to my bed all of my clothes from my closet. Jeans, hoodies, shirts. I owned a black skirt and some blouses. I couldn't show up to the dinner wearing that.

I tugged at my short hair. And I didn't even know how to style this mess! Before, I would have just curled it a little bit and that was it. My hair was beautiful as it was. But now?

God, why did I have to say yes?

I needed to buy something. It could be like an investment. Maybe I needed to wear it for another occasion. I checked my bank account app and I almost cried.

Buying something= not an option.

There had to be another way.

Perhaps, if I had some friends, I could ask them to borrow a dress. I could call my sister but she would have to drive all the way here and lend me a dress that would surely not fit me.

Wait a moment. I worked at a clothing store. Maybe I had some kind of discount?

Why didn't I read that on the contract?

Oh, let's see. Maybe because you don't give a damn about fashion?

Oh, yeah. And the fact that I didn't expect going to a fancy dinner too.

I texted Ashley about it before making my way towards the kitchen -literally five steps- to make something to dinner.

I really enjoyed cooking and I didn't have much time lately, so I decided to make a more elaborated meal tonight.

Setting my eyes on a red pepper in the fridge, I began to cut it. My phone buzzed next to me on the counter and I took it to check the new text. It was Ashley, of course.

Yes! We have a 50% discount unless it's on sale! Have you put your eye on something?

I decided to reply after I finished my dinner. Since I had some meat and vegetables, I finally made up my mind and made a stew. I always cooked for too, so it ended up being too much for one person.

An idea crossed my mind and I made my way towards the door, pot in hand.

"Good evening, Margaret." She looked at me surprised. "Uhm, I know it's a bit late, I was just wondering if you have had dinner yet? I made a stew and I think I made a little bit too much." I let out a small awkward laugh.

She smiled at me. "I haven't actually. Get in, dear. Be careful with that vase." She warned as she opened the door for me to step inside. "I'm used to having dinner later than they do in here, I'm sure you too."

I nodded as I smiled and sat down in a floral couch. She grabbed everything we needed to dinner and I served two plates for both of us.

"Mhm. You really are good at cooking." She licked her lips. "Did someone teach you?"

"My mom did. She-" I didn't know why I continued talking but this woman conveyed trust, "she and my dad died in a car accident six years ago."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart." She put a slightly cold hand on top of mine and I instantly felt better. "Are you on your own? Do you have any siblings?"

"I have a sister. I have lots of cousins too, they just live too far away."

"Well, you have a family in this house for whatever you need. Right, Theodore?" She asked as her cat rubbed  his furry body against her leg.

"Thanks." I smiled at her. I never had a grandmother, never had the opportunity to meet them but I had the feeling that this was something similar to having one.

We continued eating and she told me everything about her husband. It felt like a movie. She was a nurse and he was a soldier. They met during war in Vietnam nd they both fell in love. When the war ended, she retired and they began a family. They had two kids. A boy and a girl. She said they visited her during the weekends. Her daughter not so often since she worked a lot. 

"I remember one time, when we were dating," she made a pause to explain, "you know, there were times when I didn't see him for a long time... Well, there was this time, when it had been six months that I didn't see him. He brought me flowers." She looked up dreamingly, as if she was seeing it right in front of him. "He was so handsome in that uniform... and the flowers. They were big red roses, they were magnificent. The problem was-"

"What?" I asked curiously as I finished my tea.

"That I am incredibly allergic to them!"

"Oh, God." I laughed.

Margaret laughed to herself. "I took them, because I had really missed him and I didn't want to disappoint him or anything. Then I started sneezing, and then more and more, and I couldn't spend a single minute with him without doing it. But I put up with it. He didn't know why it happened, he just thought I had a cold and since I didn't tell him, he always brought me flowers when we saw each other."

I shook my head as I widened my eyes biting my lips incredulously.

"You never told him?"

Margaret let a little laugh out. "I did. I had to, it was insufferable, dear." She talked as she stared at her cat with a small smile. "When I told him he almost kill me. He started buying me fake flowers then." She shrugged amused.

"It's incredible the things we do for love." I said letting out a breath.

"Yeah." She yawned. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry." I laughed. "I need to go. I have to get up early."

"Thanks for the dinner, dear. Sometimes I'm too tired to cook."

When I left her alone at home, I remembered I didn't have classes tomorrow. Senior students at this university didn't have classes on Thursday. Jumping happily on my bed, I took my laptop and decided to put on a movie since I didn't own a tv.

It was something I really enjoyed, a chill night watching a romantic movie, eating some popcorn. That reminded me, I had to make some.

I decided to go with About time. It was a movie that I loved, and being a romantic at heart as I was, I melted almost at every scene.

When I was crying my lungs out, my phone rang.

"Shit." Wiping my tears with the back of my hand, I stopped the movie and picked up the phone without even checking who it was. "Hello?"

"Riri? I'm Luca."

Again with that nickname. Not complaining, I liked it. My dad used to call me like that.

"Luca," I couldn't hide the surprise in my voice, "hi."

"Sorry to bother you, were you sleeping?"

"No, no. I was watching a movie." My nose itched and I unconsciously sniffed.

"Are you crying?" He asked.

"No?" I didn't sound very convincing.

"Mhm, okay. I just called to remind you to send me your location and to tell you that I'll be there a little later, if that's okay with you. Half an hour or so."

"Yeah, perfect with me."

I didn't tell him before, but if I wanted to get out of work early, I needed to do some extra hours another day, and since I didn't have any classes tomorrow I was going to take a few hours at the store in the morning.

"Maybe I'll go see you tomorrow again." I could hear the playful tone in his voice.

"Then why calling me now?" I asked biting my lips.

"Maybe I also wanted to talk to you."

My heart started beating fast again. Talking to him relaxed me and made me nervous at the same time. It had been a long time since I didn't begin any kind of friendship with anyone, if I could even call it that. I didn't know him three days ago.

Despite all that, it was as if I knew him for a long time now.

Turning on my side under my covers, I smiled to myself. "Hmh. What do you wanted to talk about?"

"I don't know. I'm here all bored, my roommates went clubbing."

"Why didn't go you?"

"Because tomorrow is my first day." I could sense the coy smile on his face.

"Oh, right." I chuckled. "Do you guys go clubbing a lot?"

"Yeah. It's good to keep our minds off the real world. We didn't go that often before, but a friend of mine went through a break up and we started going a lot to cheer him up."

"Did you guys achieve it?"

"No." He laughed. "But they're together again now, so."

I was really curious about his group of friends, I was a little jealous when I saw people talking and having fun with friends. I thought I didn't need them when I was with my ex boyfriend, but who doesn't need a friend?

"How many of you are?"

"Well, There's Ace. Who's my best friend. He's the one we had to cheer up." He chuckled. "He's at medical school. Then there's Leo. Remember the double date?"

"Yeah."

"Well, he was doing a major in Exercise and Sports Science. Now he's taking a sabbatical year to find himself." He scoffed and I couldn't help but laugh too.

"Is he having any luck?" I asked amused.

"I don't know if he has found himself but he has surely found an STD."

I broke out laughing. "Oh my god."

"Then there's Josh and Sam who are currently working as personal trainers and sometimes Nick with his girlfriend Sarah. They're inseparable. Oh, wait. And Ace's girlfriend, Martina. I love that girl. Sometimes there's also others girls like Sam's girlfriend's friends, but I wouldn't call them friends. Leo is constantly trying to hit on them." He chuckled.

I let out a little laugh. "Wow, that's a lot of people."

"Meh. They're not bad." He laughed. "What about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. Tell me about your friends."

"I..." I struggled to put into words that I didn't have any. It was one of the most difficult things to do. Admit that you're alone. Put it out there and let people judge you. Maybe you're just weird or maybe there's something wrong about you. I was wondering about telling the truth or inventing a cool group of friends.

I was not a liar.

"I don't have much friends." I said. "Well," I let out an humorless laugh, "I don't have any."

Luca made a sound between a scoff and a groan. "Their loss. You're amazing." He paused and a feeling of sadness filled my chest. I felt like crying. "I can be your friend if you'd like, Riri."

Biting my lips, I brushed away a traitorous tear. "I'd really like that." We stayed silent and I could sense him smiling on the other side of the line.

"I used to have a group of friends, you know." I didn't know why but I began to tell him a little bit of my story. "But I... I started going out with this guy and I lost contact with them. That's why I came in here, after I broke up with him. It was... it was a really toxic relationship."

"Riley," He said letting out a breath, "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"It's okay, I feel like I'm free now." I laughed quietly.

"Hell yeah, you are." He exclaimed a little bit louder. "Let's go clubbing next weekend. I'll introduce you to my friends."

I laughed. "I've never gone clubbing, Luca."

"Really? Well, do you like dancing?"

"Yes, but I'm horrible at it."

"That's not important. What really matters is to have fun. Say you'll come."

I laughed once again, shaking my head and rolling in my bed. "Okay, I'll go."

"Yay!" He exclaimed like a little kid. "You won't regret it."

I chuckled.

"I hope."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There it is! I hope you liked it!

Thoughts about this chapter?

As you can imagine, Luca's group of friends would make an appearance in one of the next chapters. Guess you'll be seeing a little bit of Ace and Martina 😁

Don't forget to vote and let me know what you think in the comments!

By the way thanks for more than 150 reads ❤️❤️