Ties of Blood (Book One)

Chapter 32 ~ Gianna

Gianna Rostova

I had gotten pretty settled into Camilla's apartment but I had hardly healed the my heart.

Camilla went out on a date with Allesandro and I was home alone. Me, a movie and a bucket of ice cream that was now, slightly melted and had a salty taste thanks to my tears.

I decided to go shopping since Camilla had already done so much by letting me stay here, I figured it was the least I could do to get her some groceries.

After another breakdown I dragged myself out of bed and I wore an oversized shirt with some sweatpants light make up to cover up the red rims of my eyes before stepping out, I didn't have a car and Camilla took hers out so I decided to take the bus.

I hadn't done it before but how hard could it be, people took it all the time.

I walked over to the bus stop and waited, according to my phone I had to take bus number 13 to the local store which should come in around 5 minutes.

I stood at the stop where the app said I should and waited. I kicked my feet about, and kept my eyes on the floor. I tried not to think too much because I'd just end up thinking about a certain brunette that I want nothing to do with. 

The bus came a little late but it was fine, it arrived and that was all that mattered. I stepped on and didn't have any smaller bills so I have the driver 100 dollars and he eyed me suspiciously.

"Is that real?" He asks in a thick southern accent.

"Yes, why?" I ask.

The bus driver raised an eyebrow, holding up the bill and inspecting it closely, his suspicion deepening. "Ain't every day someone hands me a hundred for a two-dollar ride," he said, his accent thick and slow, like molasses.

I bit my lip, feeling awkward under his scrutiny. "I don't have anything smaller," I muttered, shifting uncomfortably as I glanced around at the other passengers. They were mostly minding their own business, but I could feel a few pairs of eyes on me.

The driver sighed, shaking his head as he fished around in his cash drawer. "I ain't got change for this."

I blinked, realizing I hadn't even thought about using a card. "Wait, I um," I said, fumbling for my wallet. I found my debit card and handed it to him, grateful when he swiped it without further comment.

"You're good," he said, handing it back.

I gave him a tight smile before making my way down the aisle. The bus wasn't too crowded, but I still felt a little out of place. I wasn't used to public transportation.

Everything felt unfamiliar, as if I was drifting through someone else's routine.

I found an empty seat near the back and sank into it, staring out the window as the bus pulled away from the stop. The city rushed by, a blur of buildings, streetlights, and people living their lives.

The bus ride was quiet, but my thoughts were anything but. I couldn't stop thinking about Matteo, about what he had said, and how quickly everything between us had shattered.

I kept replaying his words in my head, trying to make sense of it all, but no matter how many times I went over it, the hurt stayed the same.