0014|unspoken tensions

ARABELLA ARMANI

Later that afternoon, after Sarah and Carter had left to nurse their hangovers at home, the house settled into a calm stillness. I lounged on the couch, a cozy blanket draped over me as i scrolled aimlessly on her phone.

The morning's antics had left me feeling both exhausted and comforted, but there was still a lingering unease i couldn't shake.

Alessio walked in from the kitchen, a cup of coffee in hand. He sat down in the armchair across from me, his usual composed demeanor intact. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the silence filled only by the faint hum of the refrigerator and the soft ticking of the clock on the wall.

"You okay?" Alessio finally asked, his gaze steady and concerned.

I glanced up from my phone, offering a small smile. "Yeah, just tired. Last night took more out of me than I thought."

He nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "It's good that you went out with your friends, though. You needed a break."

She bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "Thank you, by the way. For everything. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Alessio's eyes softened, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You don't have to thank me, Lila. I'm just glad you're okay."

There was a beat of silence before I shifted uncomfortably, her thoughts drifting to the night before. "About last night... I'm sorry if we woke you. We were trying to be quiet."

Alessio chuckled softly. "You weren't exactly stealthy, but it's okay. I'm just glad you all made it home safe."

I looked down at my hands, twisting them nervously. "You didn't have to take care of us, you know. Especially after everything."

He set his coffee down, leaning forward slightly. "bellissima, I don't mind. You've been through a lot, and if I can help in any way, I will."

His words were sincere, but there was an undercurrent of tension that neither of us addressed. I could feel it, the unspoken emotions hanging in the air between us.

I wanted to ask him about it about the way he had looked at Carter last night, the subtle flicker of jealousy I thought i saw but i couldn't find the words.

Instead, i simply nodded, offering another small smile. "Well, thank you. It means a lot."

Alessio leaned back in his chair, watching her carefully. "Anytime."

The silence stretched again, but this time it felt heavier, laden with the things we weren't saying. i felt a knot forming in my chest, the weight of my own feelings pressing down on me. I wanted to break the silence, to confront the growing tension between them, but i didn't know how.

After a few minutes, Alessio stood, picking up his empty coffee cup. "I'll be in the office if you need anything."

I nodded, watching as he walked away. Once he was out of sight, I let out a long breath, my heart aching with the complexity of my emotions. There was so much i wanted to say, so much i needed to understand, but for now, i would have to let it be.

As the afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room, i curled up on the couch, my thoughts swirling with questions i wasn't ready to answer. The only thing i knew for certain was that something had shifted between us, and sooner or later, they would have to face it head-on.

As the afternoon stretched into evening, i remained on the couch, with my mind still racing with thoughts of Alessio.

The weight of our unspoken feelings lingered heavily, and i found myself replaying our conversations, searching for clues or signs that could help me make sense of the tension between us.

The soft glow of the setting sun painted the living room in hues of orange and pink, casting long shadows across the floor. The quiet hum of the house was almost soothing, but it couldn't drown out the noise in my head.

my phone buzzed on the coffee table, snapping me out of my thoughts. I picked it up to see a message from Sarah.

~imessage~

Umizoomi Teletubby🙇‍♀️😈💦

Sarah bby😈

Heyy guys how are you feeling? We survived last night, lol.

baby mommy arabella😩🥰

Barely. My head is still recovering, but thanks again for dragging me out. I needed it.

Carter the farter😍🤞🏽💕

i'll live but tell your sexy Italian house man i'll need his cooking again but thanks for the fun night out babes!!

Sarah bby😈

Anytime! So... what's going on with Alessio? Carter mentioned he seemed a little tense last night.

~irl ~

i hesitated, my fingers hovering over the keyboard i  wasn't sure how to explain the complexity of my feelings or Alessio's so instead, i opted for a vague response.

back to imessage

baby mommy arabella😩🥰

It's complicated. I'm not really sure what's going on between us.

Sarah bby😈

Well, whatever it is, you know we're here for you. And if you need to talk, you know where to find me.

Carter the farter😍🤞🏽💕

yeah babes you know we're always here for you

if you ever need to talk to us about him you can

baby mommy arabella 😩🥰

Thanks guys i'll keep that in mind i love you guys

_____________________________________

~IRL~

i set my phone down with a sigh, leaning back into the cushions. My friends were always supportive, but this was something i needed to figure out on her own. The question was, where to start?

The sound of footsteps pulled my attention toward the hallway, and a moment later, Alessio appeared, his expression unreadable. He paused in the doorway, as if debating whether to say something.

"Hey," he finally said, his voice softer than usual. "I was thinking of ordering some takeout for dinner. Do you want anything?"

i nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, that sounds good. Maybe some Thai food?"

Alessio gave a small smile. "Thai it is. I'll call it in."

As he disappeared back into the kitchen, I felt a flicker of relief. At least we could still have these small, normal moments, even if everything else felt complicated.

A little while later, we sat at the dining table, the scent of spicy curry and pad thai filling the air. The food was a welcome comfort, and for a time, the conversation flowed easily, focused on light topics and shared memories.

But as we cleared the table and settled back into the living room, the earlier tension began to creep back in.

I could feel Alessio's eyes on me , the weight of his gaze making my heart race. I wanted to ask him what was on his mind, but the words wouldn't come.

Finally, Alessio broke the silence. "bambina, can we talk?"

i looked up, my heart pounding. "Yeah, of course."

He took a deep breath, sitting down beside her on the couch. His usually composed demeanor faltered slightly, a hint of vulnerability seeping through. "I've been thinking a lot about... us. About what's been happening lately."

My breath caught in my throat. This was it the conversation i knew we needed to have but hadn't been ready for. "Me too," i admitted softly.

Alessio met my gaze, his eyes searching hers. "I care about you,arabella more than I probably should and I've been trying to figure out how to handle that without making things complicated for you."

her heart ached at his words, the truth of her own feelings rising to the surface. "I care about you too, Alessio. I have for a while, but I didn't know how to say it."

The tension between them seemed to dissolve in that moment, replaced by a shared understanding. Alessio reached for her hand, his touch gentle but firm. "I don't want to complicate your life, but I also don't want to pretend I don't feel this way."

Lila squeezed his hand, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her. "I don't want to pretend either. Maybe it's complicated, but we'll figure it out."

He nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Together."

As they sat there, hand in hand, the weight of their unspoken feelings finally lifted. It wasn't a perfect resolution, but it was a start a step toward something real. And for now, that was enough.

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THEY FINALLY DID ITT THEY ADMITTED ITT

Im glad they finally had this little talk and we'll see how things go from there

make sure you guys vote and comment!!

thanks for reading more updates coming soon🤍