the connection ~ Kimi Antonelli

Chapter 25

Florence's POV

"Hello?" I groaned, my voice muffled by the plush comforter enveloping me, as I wondered who in their right mind would interrupt my beauty sleep at the ungodly hour of midnight. The world outside my cocoon was silent, interrupted only by the distant hum of a passing car.

"Florence? It's Kimi," a voice that could rival espresso in strength resonated from my phone, its distinctly Italian timbre cutting through my grogginess.

"Antonelli, you're on thin ice. You better have a good reason for calling me or else I'll stop liking you," I grumbled, my free hand emerging from the blanket fortress to check the time on my bedside table.

"Sorry, sorry. I couldn't sleep, and-" Kimi started, his words carrying a mix of urgency and hesitation.

"That's when you call y/n, your... girlfriend. Rule number one," I chimed in, offering unsolicited relationship advice at the unholy hour of midnight. I snuggled deeper into my blanket, mentally preparing for whatever nocturnal drama awaited me.

"I know-well, she's not my girlfriend, we haven't-nevermind. I called you because, apart from Ollie, you know y/n best, and well, I'm only here for another three days. So, uh, I was wondering if you could help me with a little thing," Kimi explained, and my free hand performed a face-palming motion, silently questioning my life choices that led me to this midnight conversation.

"Mhm, depends on if you buy me breakfast and promise I won't have to wake up before sunrise for it," I bargained, my eyes still closed, attempting to cling to the remnants of sleep.

"Ok, deal. I feel like an idiot just leaving her without saying much after kissing her. I just didn't know what to do; I felt guilty for falling for her because it's going to be hard to keep a relationship, but I also felt so nervous and excited. So, I want to make it up to her," Kimi babbled, and I could practically feel the sleep deprivation in his words. At this point, my brain was practically awake, but I could tell his had been working hard, spiraling for the past few hours.

"Well, I think that's a very good decision. I wanted to send you a strongly worded letter after you just left her standing there," I admitted. "But, I think you're good for her, so what's the grand plan, maestro?"

"She told me she likes picnics, so I want to take her to one of those pretty botanical gardens tomorrow, but I need you to help me get the stuff," Kimi revealed.

"What stuff?" I inquired, now intrigued. To be fair, I just wanted Y/n to be happy so, no matter how reluctant I sounded, I would have always agreed.

"I want to get her a present, but I don't have time to grab the blanket and food. I was thinking that you could maybe get that for me," Kimi suggested, and I nodded, imagining myself as the nocturnal Cupid, armed with blankets and breakfast.

"Tomorrow? That's not a lot of notice-wait, have you even told her?" I wondered, now sitting up slightly in my bed, fully embracing the midnight operation that lay ahead.

"I just texted her, 'Meet me at your favorite Gardens at 11 am tomorrow,' and I added the love heart," he assured me. Cute touch, I thought. In truth, Y/n wasn't easy to score-quite difficult actually-but oddly enough, Kimi managed to make her cheeks go red and her skin tingle. Something I had never seen in my best friend before.

"Well, that's vague but good, I guess. So, I need to have everything ready for you by what time?" I asked, grabbing a pen and my notebook from my bedside table, officially signing up for this midnight madness. I pulled the cap off the pen from between my teeth as my other hand was holding the phone. I prayed to the lords my parents couldn't hear me and had woken up.

"A little bit later than nine; I'll take a car to your house and pick it up," Kimi declared, and I scribbled the time on my paper.

"Kimi, she lives about three houses down from me; I think she may see you," I warned, hearing him hum on the other end.

"I'll park around the corner, and you can meet me there," Kimi concluded, and I nodded in agreement, fully embracing my role as the undercover love assistant.

"Perfect, I'll see you then, Antonelli," I said, ready to dive into the world of romantic espionage, armed with blankets and breakfast. God, I feel so lonely. But my mission is for these two to stop hiding behind the walls they've put up. It's annoying to see so much love and it being oppressed. Sounds familiar. No, Florence. God, shut up, you sound so gross. Ollie doesn't like me in that way.