𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

𝟎𝟗| 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐳𝐞

Antoinette

A wordless tune that played softy from the patio radios gracefully blew along in the evening air. The sky was an orangish color, the setting sun casting a beautiful light across the big Montalvan estate. Underneath the patio different conversations was held amongst the ten of us sitting at the long wooden table. Growing up I loved when Esmerelda or Carla invited me to stay for dinner, their large family created a homely atmosphere that I adored. It was so much different from my home dinners which consisted of just Andrew and I, some nights only me if he got held up at work late or was invited to a party that I could not attend.

Don't get me wrong I was thankful for my brother, but I sometimes couldn't help but to wish that we spoke with our other relatives. There was always so much life in the Montalvan family which always made me wish I was a part of a big family,

Although tonight's Montalvan family dinner was much different from the others. On one side of me was my best friend who was holding a conversation with her older brother Domenico, the chair on my other side was occupied by Matias Montalvan. But in front of me was Micheal who'd eyes hadn't left my face in the past ten minutes that we've been sat for dinner.

There was a warmness in the skin of my cheeks that I was unable to rid, and underneath the table my fingertips pulled at the hem of my Jean skirt. I tried my best to keep my eyes on the plate of Caprese Salad in front of me but sometimes I couldn't help but to look up and meet his dark ones. Like always Micheal's expression was something that I couldn't read but I had enough common sense to know that he was upset with me for some reason.

Micheal stealing my book from me bothered me in a way that I couldn't explain. The CD was one thing, but Romeo and Juliet was something extremely sacred to me.

I wanted it back.

When my father died, Andrew basically erased everything that showed he existed, similar to what they did with my mother. The book was one of the few things that I had of my father, and it would pain me for something to happen to it. There was a part of me that wanted to belive that Micheal wasn't cruel enough to do something to my book... but I was beginning to know better.

I couldn't understand him...

The way that he spoke to me inside of the garage hurt my feelings. It made me sad that no matter how nice I was to him, he'd never reciprocate those emotions. It felt like no matter how much effort I put into being kind and understanding, it was never enough to break through his walls.

I was beginning to realize that underneath Michael's nonchalant demeanor, he might actually not like me. Micheal's his indifference was not just a facade but a genuine reflection of his feelings toward me.

My lack of understanding about Micheal had been the first thing on my mind when I woke up this morning and that frustrated me. The idea of Micheal was starting to cloud my brain way too much for my liking. Of course, he crossed my mind at least once a day during the past three years but now it seemed to be at least once every thirty minutes.

My mind hurt from the confusion that I was experiencing,

Even more because as I gazed back at the dark-haired man there was nothing behind his eyes. I could never understand how something so beautiful could be twisted with such darkness and emptiness. And Micheal's eyes weren't just beautiful because of the color, a numerous number of small details contributed to the beauty of them... and although it left me confused, I believed that the lack of emotions made them allure as well.

"Annie, I seen your performance last week online and it was beautiful," Carla's familiar voice pulled me away from thinking of Micheal and I'm thankful. Reluctantly I pulled my eyes away from the man in front of me and towards the end of the table.