Forbidden Kiss (Danielle Savre and Stefania Spampinato)

3. Bruises

"You know we'll need to talk about what happened eventually?" Stefania leaned in closer to Danielle.

"As far as I remember, you were the one who kissed me, so you should be the one doing all the talking," Danielle waved to Cara, who was looking around the parking lot. "Cara!"

"As far as I remember, you kissed me back," Stefania took a step back as she saw Cara approaching them.

"How could I not?" Danielle nervously laughed. She could feel her cheeks burning, and the way Stefania looked at her now didn't help at all.

"I think we should talk about this somewhere more private," Stefania took another step back as Cara practically ran into Danielle and wrapped her arms around her.

"Hey, little one," Danielle said as she hugged Cara back. "Not so little anymore,"

"I missed you so much," Cara said. "Ms. Spampinato, sorry,"

"Cara," Stefania smiled. "Haven't seen you in a class all week. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, I just had to go home early," Cara looked down at her shoes. "Hopefully, I can come next week,"

"Hopefully," Stefania looked down at Cara's wrist. As much as she tried to hide it, Stefania could see that it was bruised. "Can I have a word with Danielle real quick? I promise to get her back to you in a minute,"

"Of course," Cara looked at Danielle.

"You can wait in a car," Danielle gently caressed her cheek. "I'll be right there,"

Both Danielle and Stefania watched Cara get in a car. Danielle could feel that something is wrong and that feeling got even worse when Stefania took her hand and walked them further so Cara couldn't hear.

"I know I said I shouldn't be talking about this, but she has those bruises, and it's not the first time I see them on her," Stefania said before facing Danielle.

"Bruises?" Danielle looked back at Cara.

"On her wrist," Stefania looked down as she was still holding Danielle's hand. "Spiacente,"

"You think someone is hurting her at home?" Danielle asked. She could feel the rage building inside her. Danielle knows how it feels to be abused by someone. She knows how scared and vulnerable it makes you feel and how hard it is when you don't have anyone to help you.

"That's my guess," Stefania nodded.

Danielle could feel her chest getting heavy. She felt like someone's hand is on her chest, pressing and not letting her breathe. The thought of Cara getting hurt was hard to process.

"Danielle, are you feeling okay?" Stefania gently touched Danielle's arm.

"Bruises on your skin, they disappear, but the ones in your heart stay with you forever," Danielle put a hand on her chest.

"Who hurt you?" Stefania took a step closer as her voice got quieter.

"I have to go," Danielle looked at Stefania before walking away.

Danielle heard Stefania call her name at least twice. She could also feel her brown eyes staring and trying to understand. Danielle felt stupid for saying what she said, and she knew that Stefania would bring that up the next time they meet somewhere.

"Am I in trouble?" Cara asked as soon as Danielle got in the car.

"No," Danielle looked at Stefania, who was still standing in the same spot, with her arms crossed on her chest. "Should we get some food?"

"I love food," Cara said.

"Me too," Danielle laughed, even though she wanted to cry herself to sleep.

Few hours passed, and Danielle was sitting on an empty beach while barefoot Cara was walking next to the water. She didn't have the courage to ask Cara about the bruises, mostly because she was scared of her own demons coming out.

"Beautiful but deadly,"

"Marcus," Danielle jumped. "You scared the hell out of me,"

"About time," Marcus sat down next to Danielle.

"Not funny," Danielle looked at her friend.

"Sorry," Marcus smiled. "Thank you for taking care of her,"

"She's still that pure, kind-hearted girl I knew. We got destroyed by society way earlier," Danielle looked at Cara, who was looking for seashells.

"Couldn't tell that she's going through hell, huh?" Marcus looked at Danielle for a second. "He's awful with her too,"

"I saw bruises on her wrist," Danielle gently rubbed her own wrist before laying down on the sand. "Well, technically, Stefania told me about the bruises before I saw them myself,"

"Stefania?" Marcus looked at Danielle with surprise on his face. "Cara loves her dance classes,"

"She's worried about her," Danielle closed her eyes. The sound of the ocean made her feel calm and relaxed.

"I'm trying to convince my mother to kick him out, but she's worried that he'll go crazy and do something to Cara or me,"

"They always go crazy when something doesn't work out," Danielle took a deep breath. "They lose control for a second, and it makes them go wild,"

"What happened with Thomas?" Marcus asked after laying down next to Danielle.

Danielle opened her eyes the second she heard his name. The name of a monster who destroyed her made her vulnerable and scared. He made her believe that she's not worth being happy, loved, or appreciated. He broke her trust in people, and most importantly, in herself.

"Nothing," Danielle could feel tears coming down her face.

"What did he do?" Marcus' voice was cold. Colder than the breeze coming down from the ocean.

"Please don't," Danielle turned her head to the side. "I'm not ready to talk about what happened,"

"Talking about your problem might help," Marcus sat down and looked at Danielle.

"Problem?" Danielle laughed after wiping away her tears. "One way to call him,"

"You know what I mean, Danielle," Marcus waved to Cara.

"I'm not sure if I'll ever be ready to talk about him," Danielle smiled at Cara. "Did you find any seashells?"

"Just a few," Cara hugged Marcus. "Can we come here more often? I love this place,"

"Yes," Both Danielle and Marcus said at the same time.

They spend some more time at the beach before it got too cold, and they all decided that it's time to go home. Danielle was putting her shoes on when Marcus started giggling.

"What?" Danielle looked at him, confused.

"She's a good one," He looked at the sky and smiled.

"Who?" Danielle looked around.

"Stefania," Marcus looked at Danielle before pinching her cheek.

"Why would you suddenly start talking about her?" Danielle pushed Marcus' hand away. "What do you mean she's a good one?"

"I saw the way she looked at you," Marcus made a heart out of his hands.

"What way?" Danielle nervously laughed.

"The 'I would kiss you right now' way," Marcus pretended to kiss someone, and it made Danielle laugh.

"She already kissed me once," Danielle said before walking away from Marcus. 

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Thank you for all the reads and votes! It means the world to me. ❤ (English is not my first language, so I'm sorry for the mistakes). Stay safe and much love. 🥰