Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Leaving

“Wait, that’s it? Where are you going?” she asked as I started to get up.

“They already got everything they wanted,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“But he’ll come in here,” she begged, keeping her eyes on the door as tears started to fill them.

I ignored her and opened the door, revealing a hurt Alessandro. He started to walk toward the room, and I stood in his way.

“She isn’t worth it,” I whispered.

He shut his eyes tightly, and I pulled him in for a hug. I closed the door and hugged him tightly.

“I—”

“Shh, I know,” I said, cutting him off.

“I’m okay,” he said, pulling away from me.

I frowned, not believing him, but didn’t push him on it. “Bake with me?” I asked softly.

He smiled brightly and nodded his head. “Last one to the kitchen is a rotten egg,” he said before running off.

“You’re a cheater,” I giggled, chasing after him. I jumped on his back, making him stumble a little.

He caught his balance again and groaned as he walked the rest of the way. “Now you’re the cheater,” he teased.

“Nuh-uh, that was strategic,” I said, giggling.

He shook his head as he chuckled. He put me down as we entered the kitchen. We split up in different areas and started another competition, except this time instead of racing we were baking.

He walked past me and purposely bumped into me, making me spill flour on myself. I screeched and grabbed a handful of flour before throwing it on him.

He did a high-pitched scream, making me burst into giggles.

“Ahem,” a voice said, making us halt mid-fight.

“It was her fault,” Alessandro said, pointing at me as we turned to face Giovanni.

“Traitor,” I mumbled, elbowing him.

Giovanni chuckled and shook his head as he joined us in the kitchen.

I jumped, trying to sit on the island, and Giovanni walked up to me before picking me up and putting me on it, making me blush.

He froze in between my legs like he’d just realized how compromising our positions were.

I chewed my bottom lip nervously and he awkwardly cleared his throat before backing up and sitting on a stool beside me.

Alessandro sat down on the stool beside me and chewed the inside of his lip like he was holding back a smirk.

Giovanni suddenly stood up and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. “Everything is going to be okay,” he whispered.

My eyes filled with tears, knowing what he was referring to, and I nodded my head sharply as I hugged him back and did my best not to ruin his shirt with my tears.

His phone dinged with a message, and he pulled away from me to read it. “I’ll be back,” he said before pecking my lips and leaving the kitchen.

I froze, and Alessandro started making kissing noises beside me.

“Shut up,” I mumbled before elbowing him again.

We told each other jokes, doing our best to make each other laugh like we used to.

“Did you love her?” I asked softly.

“Yeah, I was starting to think she was the one,” he admitted. He smiled sadly, and I ruffled his hair up.

“She’s still out there,” I said as he tried to swat my hand.

We turned our attention back to the cakes and the chicken timer sitting on top of the oven.

“Do you really have to go?” Alessandro asked, catching my attention.

I sighed sadly and nodded my head.

“Yeah, I do. I can’t go back to Johnathan, and I’m not going to let him kill any of you guys just to get to me,” I said, closing my eyes.

“I understand. It’s just—we just got you back, and you’re leaving again,” he said gently.

“I know. It’s not fair,” I said, putting my head on his shoulder.

“Yeah,” he mumbled.

“I promised I’d help you guys get into college, and I meant it. I’ll keep in contact this time,” I promised, even though there was a chance I may not be able to keep it.

“Good,” he said, and the smile was evident in his voice.

“Miss,” a voice said from behind me.

I turned around to see a woman in a lab coat holding a clipboard and looking at me expectantly. “Yes?” I asked, slowly standing up.

“Is it okay if I talk to you in private?” she asked softly.

I frowned and slowly nodded my head. “Don’t burn my cake,” I said, glaring at Alessandro.

He rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the oven.

I followed the lady out of the room, and she took me back to the medical wing.

“I’m Dr. Linda. It’s nice to meet you,” she said, gesturing for me to lie on the bed.

“Luna,” I said, sitting on the bed.

“I’m going to take some of your blood to test it. Any questions?” she asked as she started to pull her gloves on.

“What do you need to test my blood for?” I asked, watching her skeptically.

“There’s a chance you may be pregnant,” she said gently.

I burst into giggles and shook my head. “There’s no need. I’ve never—” I cut myself off as I realized what I was about to say. “Oh God,” I gasped as reality sank in.

She smiled sadly at me and I nodded, letting her know it was okay for her to run a blood test. After she collected my blood, she handed me a small cup and led me into the bathroom.

“Why do I have to pee in a cup?” I asked as I handed her back the cup that was now full of my urine.

“The blood test is accurate, but I figured you might want backup evidence,” she said softly.

“Yeah,” I mumbled as I waited nervously for both test results.

The timer she set dinged and my heartbeat slowed in my chest as she got up and walked to the test. Everything seemed to slow down as she started to walk back toward me.

“You’re pregnant,” she said softly.

“Oh,” I croaked, taking a deep breath.

“You have options,” she said, taking my hand in hers.

“Just please don’t tell anybody,” I begged as I tried to remember to breathe.

She slowly nodded her head and kept talking about options.

I stood up, shaking my head, and walked out of the room.

“Hey, I was just coming to get you. What’s wrong?” Alessandro asked. He caught me as I started to fall forward and hugged me into him.

I sobbed in his chest and gasped for air as her words played in my head over and over.

“I-I need to go,” I croaked, standing up.

He stood up with me and grabbed my arm just as I was about to walk past him. “Where are you going?” he asked.

“Airport.”