Adelina POV:
Peaceful silence envelopps us. I stare ahead at the water, thinking over my next move. I don't have a clue on what to do anymore. The resentment I hold towards the people I've recently had to share a household with is still going strong as ever. I have no desire to be where I am now and still think it would have been better for me to go someplace else.
There hasn't been any healing since moving in with them. I'm not one to forgive, especially when they lie to my face about everything and anything. As if I'm some kind of idiot.
In my peripheral vision I could see the boy a couple feet away. He looks much like I feel. Dead. I've realized I haven't felt alive in quite a while. I've simply been surviving, and how tired I am of it.
I don't know how long we spent there, practically side by side, just basking in each others' presence. It's dumb how this stranger being here, even if he's not saying anything, is comforting.
The sun soon starts to set, traces of pink and orange now dancing across the creek.
"It's beautiful," I speak first.
The boy looks up slightly startled, being lost in his own thoughts.
"It is," he says.
A few silent seconds pass by.
"I always come here to think, it's like my own private escape. Well, I guess not so private anymore," he tries to joke.
Realization soon sets over me.
"Oh I'm sorry," I mutter while hurrying to stand up "that's a bit rude of me,"
"No, no not at all," he says raising his hands "admittedly, it could get a bit lonely sometimes. I don't mind having you here,"
"I feel like I'm intruding-" I continue.
"It's a wooden bridge over a creek," he cuts me off "it's beauty is to be appreciated. Not hidden,"
I stare down at him as his gaze returns to the water, which is now starting to reflect darkness, and sit back down.
I find myself wishing I had brought something with me, anything that Danny might've sold me. I can't handle the thoughts that are starting to creep in. Suddenly, as if sensing it, the boy next to me pulls out a pack of smokes.
I watch as he lights one and places it between his plump lips and truly start to take my time to observe what he looks like. His longer dark brown hair is place messily under his beanie. He seems to have a lean structure, probably because he's tall.
Most likely sensing my stare, he turns to look at me. I become captivated in his dark eyes, never knowing they could be so pretty. He reaches in his pocket, pulls out a cigarette and offers it to me without words. I nod and reach out to grasp it.
Once between my fingertips, I realize I have nothing to light it with. He seems to understand that too as he reaches to grab his lighter. He takes a couple seconds, fumbling with the other items in his pocket, and I start to grow impatient.
Without thinking much about it, I grab his cigarette out of his mouth. He looks at me, his pronounced jaw clenching in confusion, and I simply press the tip of his cigarette to my own. Thus effectively lighting mine.
I hand him back his cancer stick and he takes it with a smirk. The light brown straight hair that falls to my mid-back sways with the wind as the light breeze increases. I pull my phone from my back pocket. The time reads 11:48. Probably time for me to head back. I stand up and start to make my way until I turn back to thank the boy.
When I turn, I find his eyes already on me.
"Thank you, I sorta needed that," I say.
He stares a bit longer.
"No problem," he replies.
He doesn't say anything further, so I turn back to leave again but still sense his eyes on me.
"Something to say?" I speak.
"Nothing," he replies and I turn to find a cocky sort of smile on his face.
It's attractive, I must admit.
"You're staring," I state the obvious.
"Correct,"
"Why?" I laugh
He takes a second, the cocky smile not dropping from his lips.
"I think that's obvious,"
"Well I'm clearly not getting it," I say with my own cocky smile.
His face face breaks out into a grin as he licks his lips.
"You're very pretty," he finally says.
"Thank you," I repy, not knowing how to react "I should get going,"
"So soon?" he jokes and I laugh.
I start walk back in the direction where I came.
"My name's Sebastien," he calls out and I look over my shoulder.
"Adelina," I say and finally leave.
The way back to the house is difficult seeing as I don't know where I am but when I finally make it it's one in the morning and all the lights are on. Thinking nothing of it, I walk up to the house and try to open the door but realize it's locked.
I look over the house to make sure it truly is where I live now before knocking. I would ring the doorbell but don't want to risk unnecessarily waking someone up. I wait for a couple moments and hear loud voices and footsteps approach the door.
"Deve essere lei," I hear someone mutter. (It must be her)
"Stai calmo," I hear someone else say. (Keep calm)
"No, fanculo. Chi cazzo pensa di essere?" once of the voices becomes clearer. (No, fuck that. Who the fuck does she think she is).
"Una ragazza di 15 anni, la cui vita è stata messa sottosopra. Stai calmo," the other replies. (A 15 year old girl, who's life got turned upside down. Stay calm.)
"Porta!" someone else yells.
The door then swings open to reveal Francesco, Angelo and Valentino while other footsteps rush down the stairs.
"What's up?" I say pushing past them and into the entrance.
I start to take off my shoes while they look at me dumbstruck. Abruptly,Francesco takes a very sudden step towards me.
"Do you know-" he raises his arms but is interrupted by my flinching.
They all notice my jerking motion, one of fear and practice, and take a step back while I rub the back of my head where it hit the wall.
"How about we all talk in the living room," Angelo speaks softly.
They all leave and I hear a few of the other boys asking questions as they all make their way to the living room.
Fucking assholes is the only thing going through my mind.
My body betrays my mind and I head to the living room where I find all my brothers seated. It looks less formal but the thick tension in the room makes you sit with your back straighter. There's space to sit wherever and I unconsciously pick a seat between Valerio and Raffaele.
"Well," Francesco starts, seeming to have cooled down "Where have you been?"
I slightly lean into Valerio and I let my heartbeat steady.
"Out," I reply simply.
"Where did you go?"
"Why's that important?" I lighlty snap.
"Because we were worried," Angelo steps in.
Domenico's eyes burn holes in the side of my face but I don't dare turn my head.
"I was safe, I'm ok. I'm alright, aren't I?"
"You can't just leave-"Â Francesco starts to get irritated.
"Francesco, go get some air," Domenico interrupts.
"But-" he starts again but a glare shuts him up and he reluctantly leaves.
Raffaele has his eyes downcast during the entre interaction, Valentino looks at me with a sympathetic look and Valerio is oddly silent and stiff although I can't see his facial expressions.
The room is suffocating and I can only dread, with a blank face, what Domenico has to say.
I can practically feel everyone's worry radiating off of them.Domenico turns towards me with a menacing stare.
"You're living in a house with six other people now," he finally says "it shouldn't be hard to inform at least one of us of your whereabouts. Please keep that in mind the next time you decide to just up and leave."
"Didn't know I had to," I sigh rolling my eyes.
The boys all tense up.
"Let this be your warning-" he starts but I interrupt, muttering under my breath.
"For fucks sake,"
"Language" he booms giving me a deathly glare.
"This will not happen again, " he announces "it's a simple demand. I have not imposed rules on you as of yet, do not force my hand,"
"Yes chief," I reply in a mocking salute while getting up.
"I'm your brother, Adelina," he says.
"Yep yep, sure," I reply making my way upstairs to my room without another word.
It isn't long before I make it to my room. I hastily shut the door and walk over to the closet to change. Finally getting out of those jeans is the biggest relief. I throw on sweatpants and a different hoodie just in case the smell lingered when I hear a knock at my door.
I groan, not loud enough for te person to hear but loud enough to express my discontent.
I call out to the person and realize it's Angelo. My eyes widen a bit in surprise and I check around my room for anything he might yell at me about. When all comes up clean, I open the door and he comes in. He sits on the bed and motions for me to take a seat next to him which I reluctantly agree to.
He explains a lot about Domenico and Francesco. Things guessed but felt good knowing I got right. Like how Domenico is strict and Francesco can get hot-headed. What we both couldn't understand, however, is why Domenico let me off. Apparently, not even the most mindless of the siblings would think about swearing or rolling their eyes at him. I got off with something they wouldn't even consider a warning.
I don't know who sent Angelo to my room, or even if he came by himself, but I know he is here to check up on me. I guess that's something new. No one ever did much of that before. He asks for another hug that I more politely decline this time. I don't want to be rude to someone performing a kind gesture even if I just think it's a strategy to gain my trust.
He doesn't really care, just pretending that he does. I, very unintentionally, found them rather than them finding me.
He eventually leaves and I get ready for bed, thinking about my day. He was beautiful, that stranger I met. Who in their right mind wouldn't wish to see him again? That definetly will not be my last time going to the creek.
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hi lovelies!
how are you all?
I, for one, am super stressed about this math test but am writing instead of studying. Ah, story of my life.
how did you guys like this chapter?
and Sebastien? ;)
please comment your thoughts!
I hope everyone's doing well!
See you all next week!
Bye loveliesssssss