Julia Lelieveld and the battle with the underworld

~12~

After I picked up my dress I took the stairs down, not wanting to risk the elevator getting stuck again.

I walked out of the department store towards my bicycle. I automatically looked again at Renzo's door and the place where he used to park his motorcycle. And he stood there.

I hesitated for a moment whether I should ring the bell. He would probably have enough on his mind and would like to be alone for a while. But on the other hand, I really wanted to see him. And Lucas's conversation had brought up some questions that I'd like to ask him. I rang the bell and it took a while for him to answer. The intercom cracked.

"Who's there?" he asked.

"It's me, Julia."

"I'll open the door."

And with those words, a buzzer sounded and the door unlocked. I closed the door behind me and walked up the stairs to his apartment. Once upstairs, the door to his apartment was open. I carefully stepped inside and looked around. No Renzo.

"Renzo?"

He came walking from the bedroom, wearing only joggers and towel drying his hair. "Hey," he said, a little hoarse with a shy smile. My stomach jumped.

I walked over to him and kissed him in greeting. He was only too happy to accept this. The indescribable feeling took possession of me again. The minutes passed and finally we were strong enough to break our deep kiss.

I looked at him inquiringly to see if I could tell from his look how he felt. But that didn't work. But before I could say anything he started.

"Do you want to drink something?"

"Do you have tea?"

He nodded, went to the small kitchen and turned on the kettle. I sat down at his dining table and waited patiently.

A moment later he came over with my tea and a glass of Coke and sat down next to me.

"How are you?" I asked cautiously. He was lost in thought for a moment. He sighed deeply. "It's complicated. My mother is a very unstable and very impressionable person, which means that she often ends up in the wrong situations. She's got herself into trouble again and she always calls me." He shrugged briefly. "I've tried to help her and push her in the right direction again."

"Did that work?" I asked him.

"I think so."

"It should really be the other way around," I told him.

He nodded. "I know, but hey, I hope it worked again and she can do it herself now."

"I hope so for you too."

He was quiet again. Did I really have to bother him with my questions? He had it hard enough, but then again it was just out of the blue. Otherwise I would just keep walking around with it and start thinking about things that weren't true at all and only start doubting us. No, that wouldn't be good. I don't want to lose what Renzo and I have.

"I just talked to Lucas," I said cautiously.

He was immediately alert and looked at me with all his attention. "What happened?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I went to get my dress for the Christmas ball." And I pointed to the bag that lay with my coat. "And before the elevator closed Lucas came running into the elevator and before the elevator went up the power went out and we were stuck in the elevator. We talked about our powers and the feelings that go with them. It was quite a surprising conversation."

I knew Renzo didn't like it, but I had to be honest with him. What's the point if he later found out for himself and drew conclusions that weren't true at all.