Their Bella

Chapter 24

This does have a time jump of about three months. 

Bella's POV:

I threw my backpack down on my bed before faceplanting into my soft sheets. I was so stressed out. I had final exams this week and I was super duper stressed. Damiano and I have been studying together even though we don't take the same classes. We just want to spend more free time together. Damiano has been getting less and less free time lately because his father has been teaching him the intricacies of the family business. 

Camilla and I have gotten close these past few months. Leo asked her to marry him last weekend, and they think they're going to get married in the summer. Speaking of brothers in relationships, Alessio just met a girl he really likes. Her name is Mia and she is super nice. 

I was lost deep in thought of how fast the last few months have passed by when my phone dinged. It was Damiano texting me.

Damiano: U want to come over for dinner at 5?  I'll pick u up.

Isabella: Yeah. 

Damiano told me how his whole family wanted me to come over so we could all have a meal together. I decided to take a shower and then get ready to go get dressed. 

I walked into my bathroom and started the steamy shower. Steam quickly started billowing out so I stepped in and began cleaning with my scented soaps. After showering and drying off I got dressed in black skinny jeans and a flowy lavender colored blouse. I squeezed the remaining water out of my hair before blow drying it on the medium setting. 

I walked downstairs where Leonardo and Camilla were watching a movie called Indian Horse. Obviously it must have been a sad movie because Camilla had tears streaming down her face. 

"I'm heading over to Damiano's." I told them since I had already texted to ask if that was okay. 

"Okay." Leo said as his eyes stayed fixated on the sobbing women beside him. He pulled out his phone. I was about to walk away when my phone dinged. It was a text from Leo.

Leonardo: I'm freaking the fuck out! I've never seen Cami cry.

Isabella: lol, deal with it. :) 

After I sent the text I waited for the face of betrayal I knew I was going to receive. Sure enough I saw Leo turn around with the face of betrayal. After feeling like I accomplished something I walked out of the house and over to where I saw Damiano's car. 

"Hey Bella." he smiled before leaning over the middle console to give me a kiss. 

"Hey. What is your mom making for dinner?" I questioned him. 

"Um I think she is making," he thought for a moment, "something like paella. It's Spanish. She never made it before so we're basically going to be her guinea pigs." 

"Well, I'm sure it will be good." We drove to the Messanelli's house in record time I think. Damiano's sister Cara was sitting on the porch in a rocking chair reading a Percy Jackson book. 

"Hi Cara." I greeted. Cara looked up from her book, her silver eyes stared at me. It was crazy how similar Mr. Messanelli, Damiano, and Cara had the same eyes. 

"Hi Bella." she greeted. 

"Are you excited for summer vacation soon?" I asked her. "You'll be coming to the high school next year right?"

"Yeah I'm excited I guess. But I'm even more excited to come to the high school building." she explained. 

Damiano and I walked into the house and continued to the kitchen where I was hoping we could find his mother. But, Damiano had different plans. He dragged me up the staircase and towards his room. 

"Damiano, I wanted to see if your mother needed help." I whined. 

"Oh well. We haven't gotten much time together that wasn't studying lately, so I wanted to cuddle." he told me with a desperate look on his face. 

"You want to cuddle?" I reconfirmed. He nodded his head and then flopped down on his bed and dragged me with him. 

I laid down on his bed and curled myself up beside him. He slung his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer. He ran his finger up and down my arm gently. 

"I'm sorry we haven't been spending much time with each other lately. My dad has been having me help out more." he told me. 

"It's ok I understand. Are you stressed because of it?" I asked him. 

"No. Not yet. Do you want to go on a date on Saturday?" he questioned.

"Sure. Where are you going to take me?" I queried. 

"I was thinking Greek food." he smiled. We always go to the Greek restaurant. At least twice a month lately.  I nodded in response to his questioned. 

"Kids! Dinner is ready!" Mrs. Messanelli yelled. Damiano rolled his eyes and sighed heavily before rolling off his bed to get up. He held out his hand for me to follow him. 

We walked downstairs and to the dinner table. Mrs. Messanelli, Mr. Messanelli, and Cara were already sitting at the table. The food was absolutely delicious. We ate dinner and talked about various things then walked to outside fire pit and roasted a few marshmallows before I decided to head home.

Damiano got in the car to drive me home. He was very fidgety on the ride over back my house. He was just acting a bit strange. 

"Are you okay Damiano?" I asked him. His head snapped in my direction.

"I need to tell you something." he said seriously. He was starting to worry me. Was he going to break up with me?

"What is it?" I asked him. We had just pulled into my driveway. He stopped the car and he turned to me from his seat. 

"I have been thinking about this for a few weeks and I can't hold it in anymore. I love you." he blurted out. 

"You love me?" I asked him to reconfirm.

"Yes." he confirmed less confident.

"I love you too." I admitted.

"You do?" I nodded, "Oh, thank God. I was super nervous to tell you that."

Damiano and I talked for a little while longer before his father called him and told him they needed to go to the office. I unwilling got out of his car and walked into the house.  I just hope that tonight will be the start to becoming closer and spending more time together.