Chapter 35
I missed the bus after school and had to catch a later one, arriving at the coffee shop half an hour late.
“I'm really sorry, Enzo. I missed the bus. I can stay late if you needed me to,” I said as I hurried inside, trying to catch my breath.
He didn't respond verbally; he just gestured with his hand, letting me know it wasn't a problem.
Ever since his wife passed away, he had become quite reserved, and I felt lost on how to support him.
I quickly stashed my belongings and got ready for my shift. Just two minutes in, my mom walked through the door, and I could see from her expression that she was aware of my tardiness.
“Where have you been?” she asked.
“I missed the bus,” I replied.
“And why was that?” she pressed, clearly wanting more details.
“I had art lab and needed to finish a project, so I stayed longer. I thought I could make it in time, but I didn't,” I explained, but that was a lie. She seemed to accept my excuse.
“Can you make me a coffee? I have a meeting with Georgia and Stefan,” she requested.
“Who?” I asked, puzzled. My mom looked at me as if I should have known.
“The couple we celebrated New Year's Eve with at our house?” she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. I hadn't bothered to remember their names, so it was no surprise that I didn't recall them.
After returning from my school trip last week, our relationship had improved somewhat: she had asked about my experiences, and we had a decent conversation—the most we'd had in weeks.
Dad had also softened, coming to my room for a hug.
He was still upset with me, but his love remained unconditional.
Once my mom finished her coffee, she left, reminding me to come by the studio after my shift. A few hours later, Andrea came in for his usual coffee but didn't say much, and I mentioned I would stop by later.
Jessica also made her usual secret visits whenever I was working, just to chat briefly.
She shared how serious things were getting with Damiano—she sounded smitten.
He had met her parents, and she had met his.
Although she was young and Damiano might just be one of many to come, seeing her happy anyway brought me joy.
My shift ended. I grabbed my jacket and backpack, and I made my way to the studio.
The glass door was ajar, so I stepped inside.
The sound of a camera clicking filled the air, and I hesitated to interrupt since I didn't see my mom around.
I continued on, spotting Andrea behind the lens, capturing moments of Georgia while my mom chatted with Stefan.
When she noticed me, she waved me over. Once I approached, I caught Stefan's gaze lingering on me, as if he were sizing me up or envisioning something.
“What do you think?” my mom asked him. I stood there, feeling out of place while they hardly acknowledged my presence, yet he continued to scrutinize me.
“Sure, we can give it a try,” he replied, and my mom’s face lit up with excitement.
“Fantastic! I'll set everything up, but you'll need to bring the entire collection here for the photo shoot,” she continued, engrossed in conversation with Stefan. I felt uncertain about whether I should stay or leave.
“Why can't we do this in Rome?” he queried.
“Oh, you know how I prefer my lighting setup, and I want Andrea here; I think he'll be taking the photos,” she explained, and he nodded in reluctant agreement, knowing it was futile to argue with her.
“Are we heading home soon?” I asked my mom.
“Yes, shortly. But first, let's try on a dress to ensure it fits,” she said, tugging on my arm.
“What dress?” I asked, struggling to keep up with her.
“Oh, Luna! We've decided to have you as the new face for Georgia’s collection. So far, she was, but they're looking for something fresh and younger.” She sounded thrilled, as if this was a monumental opportunity.
“You decided? No one asked for my opinion,” I retorted.
She pulled me aside and said, “This is a massive opportunity—not just for you to be featured on the website and in the magazine, but for me as well. Business has been slow, and I need to make a change. Plus, Andrea mentioned you were up for a photo shoot, so why not do it in style?” Her argument was convincing, but I saw a chance to negotiate.
“I'll do it, but…” I paused, noticing her expression turn serious. “You have to let me see Jessica. I want to go to her house and spend at least one sleepover there before school ends.” I was resolute in my bargaining.
“I can't do that,” she said.
“Fine, no problem. Then I'm not interested. Thank you for the offer,” I replied, turning as if to leave.
“Wait,” she called out. “Okay, just this once, and I'll call Jessica’s parents. But you need to try on that dress now.” She relented.
“Deal,” I said, suppressing a smile. We headed toward the rack of dresses.
“Try this one,” she suggested, pointing to a particular piece.
“Where can I change?” I inquired.
“You can change right here,” she replied, then realized she was speaking to her daughter and not a model who would undress anywhere. “Actually, go to my office. Let me help you,” she added, grabbing the dress.
All the doors and walls were glass, making everything visible. Initially, I regretted agreeing to this, but I reminded myself of the stakes and began to undress. My mom stood in front of me, holding the dress and partially shielding me.
“You'll need to buy nude panties and a strapless nude bra for the shoot,” she noted, clearly not considering the mismatched pink panties and white and green bra I was wearing. I nodded in agreement.
The dress fit perfectly; I thought it might be too small, but it wasn't. It had a unique shape—sleeveless with a puffy skirt adorned with bronze and gold flowers. It was definitely not an everyday dress.
I stepped out, Stefan clapped, and Georgia nodded in approval. Andrea stroked his chin with a smirk, asking me to turn around. Although the look would require wearing heels rather than my sneakers, those were mere details.
I walked around, and I caught sight of the watch, finding myself drawn to it repeatedly, my stomach tightening with each glance.
I found that some things I once loved had faded away as I grew up, while others I didn't enjoy at all became my passions. I had never been particularly fond of photography, yet I hadn't realized that as I grew older, my disinterest would only deepen.
It was a Friday morning, and I had just finished a history test that I felt went surprisingly well. Now, I found myself in art lab, skillfully sneaking out. With students constantly moving around the classroom and the door left ajar, it was easier than I expected.
I dashed downstairs to the usual secluded bathroom and knocked three times. The door swung open, and a hand pulled me inside, quickly locking it behind us.
“I missed you so much,” Zane whispered, planting soft kisses on my neck, cheek, and lips.
“I missed you too. This is tougher than I anticipated,” I confessed.
“Well, we don't have many choices. If your parents found out…” he replied, his eyes reflecting the weight of the situation. We both understood that this had to be our reality until the end of school.
Back in Florence, we surrendered to our feelings, kissing as if the world would end tomorrow. The connection between us was undeniable, and we couldn't bring ourselves to resist it. We agreed to keep our relationship a secret until graduation, after which everything would change.
“I want to take you out on a real date—dinner, a romantic stroll, and a sweet goodnight kiss,” Zane said, his smile making my heart race. “I wish to see you in a dress, just not white, please,” he added, and we both laughed.
“I wish we could. But anyone could tell my parents if they saw us together,” I replied, feeling a pang of sadness.
“Maybe here, but in Rome…” he paused, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face. My heart leaped at the thought.
“Let's plan a date in Rome, just the two of us for an overnight adventure,” he suggested, gently cradling my face in his hands.
“You mentioned a goodnight kiss, not an entire night together,” I teased.
“After our night together, I promise you a perfect goodnight kiss,” he said, and we both laughed once more.
“What about tomorrow?” I asked, and his expression shifted.
“Do you think we can pull this off?” he questioned.
“I think I've got a plan—I just need to work out the details,” I replied with a smile. Then, he leaned in for another kiss, our bodies pressed together, sending shivers through my entire body. I was boiling hot. My body became boneless and weak, surrendering entirely to Zane’s, filled with hunger and anticipation.
“I should go,” I said, reluctantly pulling away.
“Alright, but I need to stay here a bit longer…” he grinned, “to cool off, you know.” I quickly planted a kiss on his lips and slipped out, already plotting my escape route. I texted Jessica to meet me at the coffee shop later, hoping everything would fall into place.
Time was of the essence, and I needed to move fast. When I arrived at work, I quickly shared my plan with Jessica, who immediately called her parents to ask if I could spend the night.
As expected, they agreed. Next, I had to reach out to my mom.
At first, she hesitated, but when I explained that Jessica had just broken up with her boyfriend and was feeling really low, she finally relented.
Of course, that was a lie. My mom then confirmed with Jessica’s mom. That was step one completed.
In the evening, I packed a small bag with essentials: a dress that Zane had requested, matching underwear (all white, unfortunately), and a few extra outfits just in case, along with my toothbrush and toothpaste.
If I had known about this sooner, I would have bought something more stylish.
Jessica had her own important task to manage, but she assured me that Damiano would assist her.
Saturday at school was a blur for me, filled with anxiety and distraction.
I crossed my fingers that everything would go smoothly.
Zane had told his dad he was spending the night at a friend's house, which was a common occurrence, so I figured his dad wouldn't give it a second thought.
Zane also mentioned he had booked an Airbnb near Piazza Navona, given the short notice.
Once I got home, I took a shower, shaved even parts I never thought I would, washed my hair, and styled it, which was a rare treat. By 6 PM, my dad dropped me off at Jessica’s house after exchanging a few pleasantries with her dad.
Now came the tricky part. Jessica informed her mom that we had already ordered pizza and were having a girls' night in her room—a frequent routine for us. At 6:15 PM, the pizza arrived, along with Damiano.
Jessica’s mom popped in to check on us, and we both wore our pajamas for the occasion. If she came in again, Jessica planned to say I had fallen asleep while she finished the movie. We had even set up some pillows to create the illusion of me being tucked in.
Our plan was to have me back by 8 AM, 9 at the latest. If Jessica’s mom caught us in the morning, we would say I had stepped out to get croissants, and if we needed more time, I could always pretend to be caught up in a chat with someone.
After Jessica’s mom left, we sprang into action. She tucked pillows under the blanket and even donned a blonde wig she had used for Halloween.
The next challenge was climbing out of the second-floor window.
Once we opened it, Damiano was ready with a ladder.
Thankfully, it wasn't too high, and the house was sheltered from prying eyes.
I climbed down with my bag in hand, and that part went smoothly.
I quickly hopped into the back seat while Damiano folded up the ladder and stowed it in his SUV.
Now it was time to meet Zane. Damiano drove a little outside town and parked behind Zane’s car. I thanked him and quickly slid into the passenger seat next to Zane. Moments later, we were off to the dream date we had planned.
My mind was racing with thoughts, and the reality of the situation began to sink in—I was in a car with Zane, headed to Rome for a romantic dinner and an overnight together.
The thought sent shivers through me; my stomach knotted, and my heart raced faster with each mile we drove.
Tomorrow, I would wake up next to Zane, and everything would change.