Matteo's Eyes

Chapter 11

I wake up in the middle of the night. The room is pitch black and for a second I think I am still in the cell. I scream and thrash and try to find a light.

"Ivory? Ivory what's wrong?" Matteo is still next to me.

"Light! Turn on the light!" I scream.

"Okay okay." I take deep shaky breaths as Matteo turns on the light. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah. Can you turn on the bathroom light and leave the door open while we sleep?" I ask with tears streaming down my face.

"Of course." Matteo does as asked. "Ivory can I asked what happened and why you are afraid of the dark?"

I take a while to answer, "They kept me in the dark. No light at all. I thought I was back there for a second."

Matteo hugs me. "It's okay. Want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?"

"Yes please," I whisper.

I continue to take shaky breaths until I fall asleep with Matteo next to me making sure I am okay.

***

In the morning Matteo is gone. I assume he went back to his room after I fell asleep. I get up and head downstairs. I take short, slow steps out of my room and to the stairs. I pause at the top of the steps and mentally prepare myself to walk down them. One step at a time. One step at a time.

"Woah, woah. Let me help you." Matteo walks up the steps to come to help me.

Before I can protest Matteo picks me up and carries me like a baby to the kitchen.

"Thanks, Matteo," I say even though I didn't want him to help me in the first place.

"How did you sleep?"

"I slept okay. No nightmares after you left." I say as we walk into the kitchen.

"Nightmares?" Mom asks as she looks worriedly at me.

"Yeah, can we talk about this later?"

"Of course, sweetie," Mom says as she tries her best to give me a meaningful smile but I can see the worry in her smile.

I look over at Dad who is smiling at me but when I look in his eyes I can see he is also worried. I eat the pancakes that Dad made us. We all sit around the kitchen table eating as a family. Mom and Dad sit next to each other as always. Matteo is on one side of me and Angelina is on the other.

When we all finish Mom and Dad dismiss us, "Oh wait before you go." We all stop walking and turn to Mom and Dad, "Ivory if you are up for it we were going to have everyone over for dinner tonight."

"Sure that sounds great." I smile and walk to my room to get ready.

I am excited to finally see Shay again when he's not mad at me and I'm not barely conscious.

I decide to wear black leggings and a cropped black tank top. I leave my hair down and put on a little makeup to try and cover my bruises.

I spend the rest of the reading until the other families get to our house for dinner.

***

I look at the time and see that it is 4:45, the other families will be arriving soon. I walk downstairs to help Mom and Dad set up for dinner.

"Hey, Mom. Can I help with anything?"

"Yes, can you set up the plates and silverware for dinner, please? Make sure to put an extra plate out."

"Okay, but why an extra one?" We normally never have anyone extra come.

"Shay is bringing his girlfriend," Mom says slowly like she can see her words breaking me as she says them.

"Girlfriend?" I take a deep breath.

"Yes her name is Emily."

"Oh, okay." I manage a smile and then set the table for dinner. It's fine it's not like you and Shay are anything anyways.

Lorenzo and Lauren show up first with Gia. Then the Orlovs show up. I watch Mr. and Mrs. Orlov walk in with Alina.

I hug Alina right when she walks in, "It's been so long! Are you okay? How are you feeling?"

I giggle at Alina. She always so worried, "I'm okay."

I turn around just in time to see Shay walk in with his girlfriend. She has blonde hair that goes just past her shoulder, her face is perfectly sculpted and her body is an hourglass. I can't deny that she is gorgeous. Shay smiles at me but I just look away and go to sit down. Matteo sees me ignore Shay and shoots a glare at Shay's girlfriend.

"Ivory," I turn to look at Matteo, "I can kill her if you want?"

I pause for a moment considering it, "No it wouldn't matter. Shay doesn't like me like that."

Matteo looks at me like I am crazy and shakes his head with a sigh. I hear him murmur something but I can't hear what.

Dinner is very awkward with Emily. She talks a lot and doesn't leave room for anyone else to talk. I glance at Alina and we give each other the look.

Alina and I quickly finish eating and excuse ourselves. We head up to my room to get away from the awkwardness.

"What do you think of Emily?" I ask Alina.

"She is so annoying. Did you hear her? She would not shut up."

I laugh, "Yeah, and half the time I couldn't understand what she was saying."

We both laugh as we imitate her.

"Ivory can I ask you something?"

"Yeah sure but you already know almost everything about me."

"Do you like my brother?" I think she already knows the answer by the look she is giving me.

I look down at the bedsheets in front of me, "Maybe."

"I knew it! I knew it!" I feel my cheeks get red, "You two will make such cute babies!"

"Alina! He has a girlfriend!" I laugh along with her.

"We both know that won't last." I smile and bite my lip as I think about them breaking up.

"It doesn't matter, he doesn't like me like that."

Alina looks at me like I'm stupid, "Whatever you say."

Once everyone finishes dinner, the rest of the kids head up to my room except for Shay and Emily.

"Shay is taking Emily home. I think he got annoyed with her." Matteo says as he walks in with Angelina and Gia.

We decide to all just hang out in my room. We talk and play games like truth or dare and never have I ever.