Afraid•Niccolo Genoveder Rossi •

twenty-one

|Serena|

He sat across from me in the hot tub.

The hot water bubbling the tension.

This could go many ways.

I'm just not sure which way I want it to go.

Camilla, please come out fast.

His eyes were fixed on me, waiting for me to say something.

"And the plot thickens". I mutter under my breath.

"And so it does". He replies, running a hand through his hair.

I got a random thought.

From that morning after the party.

The way he stayed.

The way he refused to leave.

He made me food for goodness sake.

And something in me flipped.

Something in me felt like a weight was taken off me.

He can't erase what happened.

But he made it less miserable.

And i didn't see that.

The entire time I was fixed on moving out of that moment.

And all he wanted to do was love me.

|Niccolo|

Her expression softened, like she was analyzing the situation.

The tension lifted.

Slowly.

Was I finally getting to her?

She moved forward a little.

"You won't regret this, Serena". I whisper, knowing what she was gonna do next.

"I know". She whispered back, moving closer.

My hand was about to brush her face when the sound of Camilla's voice was heard from afar.

We both jerked back.

"Sorry about that!" Camilla says, stepping in the tub, wine in hand.

"All good, Cami". Serena says, smiling.

"So, Serena, I heard Marco's not feeling well. Is he doing okay?" Camilla asks.

"He's okay. I just saw him before I came. He'll be back by Friday". 

"That's good. It's weird seeing you without him". Camilla says, taking a sip of her wine.

"I definetly find it weird without him".  Serena agrees.

Serena sipped a bit of her wine.

I wondered if her lips were better if she willingly kissed me back.

|Serena|

A part of me wanted Camilla to leave the hot tub.

Just for  a few minutes.

Something almost happened between Niccolo and I, and parts of me wanted it to happen and the others wanted to run in fear.

Love is a scary thing for me.

That's why I have good friendships and not relationships.

He wanted to love me.

But how much?

Do i really feel the same way?
I almost kissed him.

I wondered if I would enjoy it more if I willingly wanted this.

If I wanted to love him.

But a part of me told me that this was a bad idea.

That if I fell, I would fall hard.

And that would leave heartbreak.

I found it hard to believe that he had good intentions.

But something like that drew me in.

Maybe his intentions were good.

If i want this, I should act now.

Before I convince myself otherwise.

Every story that Niccolo shared, he looked at me.

"Remember the time when Marco ran up and down the hallway with a cigarette in his mouth yelling: "It's Serena's birthday, bitches!". She shares, leaving us all laughing.

"I do indeed remember that". I say, smiling.

"Marco's definetly a charecter". Niccolo says, a forced smile on his lips.

He was jealous of Marco and I liked that.

How he wanted me to himself.

The tension was thick.

"I'm gonna get some water. I'll be back". I excuse, standing up.

I couldn't stand the tension out there.

He could tell that my mind is starting to change.

And he'll act on that the moment he is free to.