Silent Vows

Chapter Five

Past

Savanna's POV - 12 years old

In the middle of class, Gianna and I exchanged notes under our desks, scribbling back and forth about the latest Ariana Grande song we both loved. Gianna's eyes sparkled with mischief as she wrote, a playful grin lighting up her face. It felt strange to think that just a few months ago, we barely knew each other. Meeting Gianna had been like stumbling onto a hidden treasure. She was Rafa's cousin, but she was nothing like him—where he was reserved and intense, she was lively, always laughing, always chattering.

Gianna had been the one to bring me into her circle of friends. I met her during one of the first weeks at school, during lunch. I was sitting alone, feeling out of place and awkward, when she'd plopped down across from me, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "You're the American girl, right?" she'd asked bluntly, her gaze curious but friendly.

I nodded, unsure of what she wanted.

"Cool. I'm Gianna. So, do you like San Marchesi yet?"

Her openness caught me off guard, but in a good way. From that day, she started joining me at lunch, slowly introducing me to her friends, pulling me into her world of gossip, inside jokes, and local dramas. I got to know her small group, but it was clear to everyone that we were a duo. Gianna was the person who made school feel less foreign, less lonely. And though I enjoyed spending time with her friends, it was Gianna I was closest to.

Now, as she finished scribbling another line on our note, she nudged it back to me, her eyes glinting with amusement. I bit back a laugh, feeling genuinely grateful for her presence. Having her around made everything feel lighter, and it was nice to have a friend who didn't question my silences or my hesitations, who just accepted me as I was.

During a break between classes, we moved out to the courtyard, settling on a bench under the shade of a large tree. Gianna stretched out, leaning her back against the cool stone, her gaze drifting over the other students milling about.

"So," she began casually, "this weekend, I was thinking we could go to the market. There's a bakery stall that sells the best cannoli. You have to try them."

I nodded eagerly. "Yes! I've been craving these. Maybe we can ask Rafa to come with us?"

At the mention of his name, her expression shifted—a subtle cloud crossing her face, her lips tightening as she looked away. It wasn't the first time I'd seen her react like that whenever I brought him up, but I hadn't pressed her about it. I assumed that maybe, despite being family, they just weren't that close. Still, the reaction always left me a little curious.

Gianna shrugged, her voice casual but distant. "Sure, if you want. But... you know Rafa. He's not exactly the type to wander around markets."

I laughed, brushing it off. "True. It's hard to picture him browsing pastries."

Before I could say anything more, I noticed someone approaching us. I looked up, my heart doing a tiny flip when I saw it was Giulio. He was one of the newer students, having arrived a couple of months after I did, which meant I was no longer "the new kid." I'd noticed him around school—quiet, a bit reserved, but with a friendly smile. I wasn't sure if I'd call it a crush, but there was something about him that caught my attention.

"Ciao, Savanna?" he said, hesitating as he glanced between Gianna and me, his cheeks flushing a little. ("Hi, Savanna?")

"Ciao, Giulio," I replied, trying to sound casual, though I felt a little thrill. ("Hi, Giulio.")

He looked around, clearly a bit nervous, before clearing his throat. "Io... volevo chiederti... domani sera fanno una proiezione dell'ultimo film di Harry Potter all'aperto in piazza. Ti piacerebbe venire?" ("I... I was wondering... tomorrow night, there's an outdoor screening of the last Harry Potter movie in the town square. Would you like to come?")