Leal

12.

The boys left late last night, long after Giovanni and Noah had returned from the cemetery.

Noah ended up joining in on our conversation whilst Giovanni had to take an important call, being updated on something urgent going on.

And today I received a message from Oscar telling me that his parents wanted to see me before I move. Obviously, Oscar had updated them on my current situation.

But they also want to meet Giovanni and Noah, 'to make sure I'm in safe hands' as Oscar said.

Both of my brothers had agreed to come over and now we're stood in front of the door, waiting for either Marc or Chloe to let us in.

"By the way," I try to warn them both, "Oscar's parents helped look after me after Mum's death, so I don't know how they'll be right now."

As I say this, the red door we're stood in front of opens and I'm met with the face of Oscar's mother.

"Oh, my baby," I'm immediately pulled into her warm embrace.

I return the hug, resting my head on her shoulder and shutting my eyes tightly.

I hoped Chloe, Oscar's mum, could feel the gratitude I felt for everything they've done to support me and bring me to the point where I am today.

I hoped she felt that even though I'm eternally grateful for her and her husband's support, it's not needed anymore.

And that in itself, I'd say, shows how far I've come.

She lets us all into the house and we stand in the doorway taking off our shoes as more footsteps make their way over to us.

"Chiara," Marc greets me, pulling me into his arms as Chloe, the mother she is, starts asking my brothers about their food preferences and if they have any allergies.

"You sure these boys are going to look after you properly?" He whispers into my ear.

"I think so," I pull my head away and whisper back with a small smile.

It's going to be okay.

We get sat down at the table after Oscar comes in. He sits next to me whilst Noah and Giovanni sat opposite us, Marc and Chloe sat at either heads of the table.

I'm going to be okay without them.

We eat. Well, they all eat. I push my food around my plate and force myself to eat some whenever Oscar or any of the others at the table look over at me.

It's going to be okay.

The whole evening passes in what I can only describe as a blur. We move over to the living room and sit of the sofas. Marc speaks to Giovanni about his work and seems to be impressed. I don't listen, though, too occupied with my thoughts.

It's got to be okay.

Chloe sits and speaks to Noah about school and what he'd like to do when he's older, if he knows and how he wants to get to that point. Oscar sits next to me and frequently sends me worried glances.

He saw how much dinner I left.

That's okay though.

And I do feel guilty. Chloe has treated me with nothing but kindness since I met her when I was young. And I can't even eat the last dinner she's given me.

I've wasted it and I'm probably wasting her time.

She's okay though.

And Marc is okay, Oscar is okay, Giovanni is okay and so is Noah.

And I can't eat. And I'm moving to a whole new life. And I won't see anyone I properly know for most likely months.

And I don't know how to cope.

And I want to leave. I want to get away from this place.

And I want to be okay, too.

(AN - SHORT CHPTER BC THIS ONE WAS A STRUGGLE.

LIKE NO JOKE.

ANYWAYS.
I made more collages.

It's a guilty habit.

They're not for a specific chapter, they're collages for the whole book.

Cutie pies anyways.

Next chapter will be a .5 chapter and we'll be getting a POV from someone we haven't had a POV from yet... Hint: not someone in America.

I actually spend too much time on collages but I love them so much I acc cant.

Anyways what tf had been going on in the UK recently. THIS HEAT.

IM SAT TYPING THIS W MY LEG UP AND A FAN STOOD UP ON MY STOMACH LEANING AGAINST MY LEG. YUHUH. THATS HOW HOT IT IS.

The fan is one I took from my dead granddad's house.

Enough yapping anyways)

DOUBLE UPDATE SO MAKE SURE TO VOTE AND COMMENT ON 12.5