Lissy Romano

48| Win Win.

Lissy Romano

Morning sunlight peeked through my curtains, but my mind was heavy. I blinked a few times, trying to shake the grogginess. Just as I reached for my phone to check the time, a knock interrupted my thoughts.

"You can come in," I said, trying to sound firm but failing to hide the exhaustion in my voice.

The door opened, and Vincenzo stepped in, carrying little Jax in his arms. My puppy. Seeing him made my heart ache. I'd completely forgotten about him. I'd begged for Jax, and now, I couldn't even care for him properly. What kind of person am I?

"Jax, boy, I'm sorry I didn't take you earlier," I whispered, guilt tugging at every word as I reached for him.

Vincenzo gently placed him in my arms. His tiny, warm body settled against me, his tail wagging softly. I noticed the blood staining my hoodie sleeve, panic flashing through me. I quickly tucked my arm under the blanket before Vincenzo could see.

"Lissy, what's up with you?" he asked, his voice laced with concern as he sat beside me.

I stroked Jax's fur, feeling his soft breaths as he yawned and nestled into my lap. How could I have left him alone last night? The thought of him in the dark, lonely and waiting for me, broke something inside. Tears welled up in my eyes before I could stop them.

"Lissy," Vincenzo murmured, brushing a tear from my cheek with his thumb.

I hated crying in front of him. It made me feel small, weak, like I was breaking in ways I couldn't control.

"Leave me alone," I said harshly, the words sharper than I intended.

Vincenzo's face softened with hurt, but he didn't back away. He reached out as if to comfort me, but I pushed his hand away.

"I said, leave me alone!" I snapped, louder this time, my voice trembling with the weight of everything I couldn't say.

Vincenzo stood slowly, his gaze steady on mine. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue, to say something that might fix everything. But instead, he just nodded.

"Just know I'm here for you, Lissy, if you need me," he said softly before walking out.

The guilt hit immediately. He didn't deserve that. None of them did. But I didn't know how to let them in, how to share this pain without making it worse.

As soon as he left, I gently set Jax on the blanket and rushed to the bathroom. My hoodie sleeve was soaked through, and when I unwrapped the paper towel I'd hastily applied last night, the cut looked worse than I thought. The skin around it was swollen and red.

I ran cold water over it again, watching the faint trickle of blood swirl down the drain. It wasn't bleeding as much anymore, but the damage was there, deep and undeniable.

Back in my room, I grabbed a clean hoodie and layered more paper towels over the wound before pulling the sleeve down. It would have to do for now.

I was exhausted, but I couldn't tell if it was from crying, the blood loss, or the weight of everything that had been piling up. Skipping school crossed my mind, but it wasn't an option. I had to keep going, even if I didn't know how much longer I could manage.

Enzo Romano

"I don't know what to do," Vincenzo said, his voice low and strained with worry.

We were gathered in his office, all of us on edge after how Lissy had acted last night. She barely ate, didn't say goodbye, and left the room looking like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.

"Why?" Dante asked, his brows furrowed.

"She's not okay. She needs help," Vincenzo replied, leaning back in his chair.

"Do you think something happened?" Domenico asked cautiously.

"I don't know," Vincenzo admitted, shaking his head. "She wouldn't let me touch her. She looked pale, tired, like she hadn't slept in days. She cried in front of me, and she never cries for no reason."

"She never cries without a reason," I corrected him. Lissy isn't the kind of girl to break down over nothing.

"She was at Viola's house yesterday. There was that boy, Cole. Maybe he did something?" Giovanni suggested, fear flickering in his eyes.

"Or maybe something happened at school?" Santino added, his concern palpable.

"But Dario was with her. What could've happened?" Vincenzo asked, sounding frustrated.

"Not during lunchtime," I pointed out, remembering how we saw her in the cafeteria with Viola and Cole—but no Dario.

"Call Arthur," Vincenzo ordered Dante and Santino. "Get the camera footage from the cafeteria and send it to me."

"I'll check on her," Matteo offered, already standing.

We all nodded in agreement. Out of all of us, Matteo had the closest bond with Lissy since that day in the locker room when Noah tried to assault her. She trusted him, and he'd been there for her in ways none of us had managed yet.

Still, it didn't make the rest of us feel any less helpless.

I couldn't help but think back to when we were younger. Lissy was my little shadow, following me everywhere, sitting by my side as I played with my toy cars. She'd squeal with excitement every time I showed her a new color, her tiny hands clutching my arm.

I wondered if she remembered any of that. Probably not—she was so little then. But I remembered every moment. And one day, when she was ready, I'd tell her about it. About how she used to hold my finger with her tiny hand and make everything in the world feel right.

Now, I didn't know how to bridge the gap between us. She kept so much to herself, walls built so high that none of us could climb them. But I'd wait. No matter how long it took, I'd be here for her.

She's been through hell, and it's left scars we can't see. I just hope she knows we're here, even if she doesn't trust us yet. One day, I believe she'll let us in.

Until then, we'll keep fighting for her, the way she's been fighting for herself all this time.

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