RAVI (formerly Indie-America)

32

  (((Edited)))

   It's exactly 4:39 when they come back downstairs and despite my mental battle I quickly scan through Julie's face. No disheveled hair, no swollen lips, no red cheeks. Her clothes are exactly the same too.

Luca doesn't look different either and isn't avoiding looking at my eyes.

"Welcome back. I do hope you found what you went looking for?" I'm aware I almost sound like a snotty English.

  "Yes." Julie smiles widely and I narrow my eyes at her but stay silent.

"I never knew your parents were so passionate about football." Luca says to Julie and she slowly twirls her unhealthily oily hair.

"They're a lot of things you don't know about me."

  I blink. I'm no pro when it comes to this but I'm a 100 and 1 percent sure she just flirted.

Julie bats her eyes.

Yup. Totally flirting. But that makes no sense, Kim put her up to this to find a way to get she and Luca together. Not so Julie can flirt her way to him, which, by the way is very disturbing seeing as she doesn't care I'm here.

Luca doesn't appear to be affected by the obvious double meaning sentence but I'm sure he noticed. He may be oblivious to everything else but he can't be to flirts. That's his expertise.
 
"I hope we can do this again." He says instead and I stop myself from opening down my mouth. He practically gave her an opening.

"Definitely. Whatever time, whatever place." She may as well have added a nudge nudge wink wink just to be more clear about her intentions.

I slowly stand up and do my best imitation of Angelina Jolie and send Julie my infamous death glare.

"It's running a little late Luca. I would like to go home please."

Luca nods graciously at me then says goodbye to Julie. I smile throughout the walk to his car, ignoring the constant need I have to punch something or someone near.

***
"She's a terrible person." I say the moment we enter the car. It's very relieving to drop my happy act.

"Why would you say that?" He asks as he revs the car and starts driving.

"You can't possibly tell me you didn't get that she was flirting. With you. The ex of her best friend who she hasn't, by the way, gotten over him. Lest I forget, she wasn't bothered by my presence in the least bit–"

  "Your presence?" He interrupts and I stare at him blankly.

"Yes my presence. What do you have to say about that?"

"Ravi. You were as good as a ghost back there. I kept waiting for you to say something until I gave up."

I'm actually shocked. I mean, I'm aware I was as good as a ghost but I wasn't aware he even cared.

"You looked like you were enjoying yourself. Besides in what movie did you see the girl deflecting a flirt. I mean it isn't like she was flirting with me."

"No. She was flirting with your boyfriend. That didn't seem to bother you."

"It didn't actually. I was more amused than bothered."

"You could at least pretend to be. It won't hurt." I glance at him, his voice is sounding icy and not at the same time.

"I was waiting for you to call her out on it. Maybe you just enjoy the attention." I say after a while and I see him look at me from the corner of my eye.

"I wouldn't call out anybody on their flirt. It's embarrassing and I don't like embarrassing people. And yes, I do enjoy the attention but not from everyone."

"I doubt you would love a retired grandma checking you out."

Luca chuckles a little but doesn't smile. It registers for the first time that I haven't seen him crack a full blown smile today. Weird.

"My mum always tells me that I won't get everything I want. You're a living proof of that."

I turn to face him, "what? That makes no sense."

"It does and you know it. But as smart and sensible as you are, you tend to look past the answers and play when dumb when you don't want to believe it."

I don't know what to say to that so I pick on the easiest thing.
"What's wrong with you today?"

He lets out an involuntary sigh as he turns the steering wheel and takes us through another corner.

"Nothing."

"Bull. I thought we were friends Luca." I take the guilt trail.

"We are." He doesn't look me in the eye.

"Then you can tell me. Whenever you're ready of course."

He let's the silence between us stretch before talking again.

"Rachel isn't feeling too well."

I frown, it seems there's more to it so I wait for him to continue but he doesn't so I prod him,

"What's wrong with her?" The last time we spoke was the day we had coffee together and she looked pretty good then.

"We don't know yet. She's in the hospital right now, I'm heading there after I drop you o–"

"Rachel's been hospitalized? Luca you should've told me." I try not to shout because he doesn't look like he needs that right now.

"Didn't want to talk about it. And I don't really think it's so serious. My mum overreacts about many things."

"I'm sorry. I wish I could go with you to the hospital but mum needs me at home."

He nods. "That's not a problem Ravi. I'll just tell her you said hey."

  I offer my most reassuring smile.
"She'll be alright. Be strong."

He nods again and gives me a sad smile. I wonder if there's more to this than he is telling me but I swallow my curiosity and walk to my house.