The darkness of Rome

Part 2 | The first day

I wakeup to my alarm blaring and I quickly turn it off, alarms make waking up 10x more miserable. I actually have no idea what to wear, and my eyes widen as I run to my closet. After a few minutes of looking my eyes fall on some light denim jean shorts and a black crop top, it's the first day back from summer break in Italy so it's still very hot. After laying my clothes down on my bed I shower, do my skincare and decide to try my outfit on.

It's not bad, but now for makeup. I step in front of my vanity and fill in my eyebrows a little, put some light makeup on and mascara.

I finally straighten my hair, and run downstairs to have breakfast and leave.

I'm sitting in the car with my mom outside the school, and I instantly want to cry. "What if people don't like me or I embarrass myself?" I ask my mom with pleading eyes. "They will like you just fine, and just be yourself!! There is nothing to be embarrassed of, now I hate to do this sweetie but I have to get to work. Bye and have a great day I'll pick you up after school!" my mom says quickly while almost shoving me out, I wave goodbye and start slowly walking towards the school. It's huge, way bigger than my school back home.. and I immediately notice the girls and boys all look more judgmental. I check my classes from my phone and start roaming the halls looking for what classes I will have to be in today, I see a girl standing beside my first class staring at me up and down while giggling and whispering to her friend. "You know talking about other people won't make you any less ugly" I hear a strong voice from behind me say loudly. The girl in front of me rolls her eyes and walks away, as I turn around to see who the voice is coming from. "Hey my names Luna, you're new here right?" she says smiling warmly at me, "Yeah, I just moved here. Thank you for standing up for me, you didn't have to do that" I say smiling back at her. "Oh come on, you stood there like a scared puppy. I had to." she says back laughing. I can instantly tell this girl is all the things I wish I was, confident, careless, and strong. I simply laugh back and I hear the bell ring indicating our first class, I walk towards the door and to my surprise Luna walks in right after me. She links my arm and sits me down at the desk beside her, "Just so you know that bitch's name is Alessia, the more you let her say to you the more she will. But lucky you got me now" she winks. I smile and face my attention towards the front of the class, where an older lady walks in and stands beginning to speak, "Class welcome back to school and 12th grade I hope you had a great summer, I want to start off my introducing a new student. Her name is Isabella Ricci." I sink in my seat a little and watch as everyone's heads turn towards me. I feel all sorts of stares before a boy in the back of the class yells "damn she's hot" for everyone to hear. The class erupts in laughter and I feel my cheeks blush a deep red while the teacher tells everyone to settle down. Luna looks over to me with a big smile on her face, and I wonder what she's thinking of. After what felt like eternity school is finally finished, Luna and I have almost every class together except the last one. It felt nice to have a friend with me all day, and she really doesn't seem fake at all. I'm walking towards the front entrance before I feel a hand grab my arm, "BOO" Luna yells before jumping in front of me, I jump and laugh but before I can say anything she starts speaking "So since we're friends now we MUST hangout after school, where we going my place or yours?" I pause in confusion, I've never really had a friend before and I don't know how to tell my mom that I've got plans. I remember she's waiting outside, and begin dragging Luna out with me. My mom sees me walking towards the car with Luna on my arm and instantly rolls the window down in excitement, "Hey sweetie!! Who's this?" she says not even attempting to hide her eagerness "This is Luna my new friend" I reply back simply. "Hi it is SO nice to meet you Ms.Ricci your daughter's the most amazing student this school has now!" Luna throws out. After some exchanges of words my mom agrees to take us to my house to hangout, and I feel excitement I've never felt before.

Luna and I are sat on my bed and I've been filling her in on my life, and her filling me in on hers. We honestly have had similar lives, her dad also left her mother at a young age, except her mom is not so well with raising her as mine. "So.. are you this innocent by choice or just because you haven't had any friends to do fun things with?" she asks curiously. "I guess it's because I haven't had the right friends, I do wish to have fun I'm already 18." she nods knowingly. Apparently no one at school wants to be friends with her because of her "reputation" which I think is just stupid. She's probably more real and a better friend than any of those preppy bitches could ever be. We talk for a couple hours about weekend plans, and what we should do. It's Thursday today, so technically the weekend starts tomorrow. Luna has dinner with my mom and I then heads home, I start wondering if my mom would be strict with going out or not and decide to head to her room. "Hey mom, Luna and I want to hangout this weekend and I was wondering if it would be okay? I would also be staying at her house for a couple nights since she lives closer to Rome city." my mother sits there for a minute looking at me with a blank look, "You haven't had friends to do things with or enjoy yourself with and you are 18, so I suppose you can. But please be safe and do not leave each others side, and when I call you pick up!! When will you be leaving to her house?" I breathe in relief that she actually said yes, "I will go to her house after school tomorrow" I say smiling. "Well alright then" she replies. We exchange a goodnight, and I head to my bedroom to pack my school bag with some sleepover needs before falling asleep.