Belonging Season

06

The rest of the school day flew by without any major incidents, and soon enough, Stella found herself walking toward the popular hangout spot, Jam and Roller, alongside Matteo and Gastón.

The atmosphere at Jam and Roller was alive with the hum of activity and chatter. Students from various grades mingled together, creating a vibrant energy. Stella took in the sight, feeling somewhat out of place compared to the more established cliques.

As they reached the skating rink, Matteo and Gastón headed off to put on their roller skates. They pointed out a spot for Stella to observe the practice, gesturing towards the stands where she could sit and watch comfortably.

Soon, the other members of the skating team started to gather in the rink, including Ambar, Luna, and Delfi. Stella noticed a brown-haired boy whom she didn't recognize. They were all preparing for their practice session, their movements efficient and practiced.

Stella glanced over and noticed a brown-haired girl with glasses taking a seat beside her, their eyes meeting briefly before both of them returned their gazes to the skating rink.

Stella discreetly shifted her focus back to the skating team, not because she was being rude, but simply because she wasn't particularly sociable by nature. In fact, if given the chance, she would much rather steer clear of any unnecessary interactions.

The girl beside her, turned to Stella and greeted her with a gentle smile. "Hi, I'm Nina. It's nice to meet you," she said, her voice warm and friendly.

Stella was caught off guard by the sudden introduction but quickly composed herself and shook Nina's hand. "Hey, I'm Stella," she replied, offering a polite but brief introduction in return.

Nina, still maintaining a smile, continued the conversation. "I'm actually Gastón's girlfriend. I'm here to watch him practice," she revealed.

Stella's surprise and suspicion grew as she realized the purpose behind Nina's introduction. She was Gastón's girlfriend, yet he hadn't mentioned her.

Realizing her initial apprehension, Stella quickly shifted gears, trying to be supportive and respectful of Gastón's relationship. She decided to change her demeanor to one that showed more enthusiasm and warmth towards Nina. "That's great," she said, a small smile playing on her lips. "How long have you two been together?"

Nina's eyes lit up at Stella's question. "We've been together for about a year now," she replied, a hint of pride in her voice.

Stella nodded, acknowledging Nina's reply. They both sat there for a moment in silence, watching the skating team practice in the rink.

Stella continued to watch as Matteo and Luna twirled and spun in perfect synchronization, their movements fluid and effortless. A small pang of jealousy tugged at her heart, watching them together so effortlessly. She tried to push the feeling aside, reminding herself that they had their own relationship and history, and it didn't end well.

Immersed in her thoughts about Matteo, Stella was abruptly jolted back to reality when her phone suddenly rang. She picked it up and saw it was a call from her best friend from Italy, Lorenzo.

Stella smiled at the sight of his name on the screen, she accepted the call and pressed the phone to her ear.

Lorenzo's voice came through the phone, warm and familiar. "Amore, come stai? I missed your voice," he said, a hint of affection in his tone.

Stella couldn't help but smile at his words. "Bene, i've been better. I miss you a lot, how are you?" she replied sincerely, her voice betraying a hint of homesickness.

Lorenzo chuckled softly into the phone, his own heart fluttering at her admission. "You know me, I'd like to say life has been exciting, but it's always the same old routine," he joked. "But hearing your voice makes it all the more bearable. I miss you anima mia."