𝐆𝐈𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐀 𝐕𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐎, a young girl who's never known stability. Raised by a reckless, unstable mother, she spent her childhood caught between drug runs and police raids, ruining her right for a normal childhood. One night when her mother go...
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Low music played on the aux, the weather was getting chillier and the trees were started to bloom with orange and yellow leaves. Leaves scattered on the road before being crushed under the fast tires of Luca's car.
The weekend was over and so was my hiding. I had to go back to school.
My stomach twisted at just the thought of it. I'd spent two days pretending I could forget, convincing myself that if I stayed curled up at home long enough, the world outside would stop waiting for me. But Monday came anyway.
But Rafael assured me not to worry about him. He promised me and I believe him.
I don't know if I should but it's not like I had any other choice. I couldn't fight Kaiden alone, on my own. That was already proved once.
Maybe I'm stupid for trusting Rafael. Maybe I'm just desperate. But he said the words like he really meant them, like he'd actually stand there and fight Kaiden himself if it came down to it..
I don't even realize we'd pulled into the parking lot until Luca's voice cuts through my thoughts.
"Lia?"
I snap my head towards him where Luca's turned around in his seat. "What?"
His brows are drawn in concern and his hand still on the gearshift. "I asked you if you're sure about this. Because I'll take you home right now if you say the word. I don't care what Rafael says."
I looked at him, wondering if he really meant it.
"If you don't want to do this, you don't have to," he adds.
Every part of my body wants to say yes. Just let him turn the car around, drive me back where it was safe and quiet, where I didn't have to think about Kaiden or anyone else. But then I swallow hard and shake my head.
"It's fine," I mutter, even though it didn't feel fine. "I can't avoid school forever."
Silence settles in the car after that. Luca lets out a slow breath, his knuckles tightening once on the steering wheel before he nodded.
I shift my gaze toward the window, anything to avoid the way my heart was pounding. I catch Damon's eyes on me reflecting in the rearview mirror.
I look away first.
I get out of the car and make it halfway across the lot. Luca catches up to me, falling into step quick by my side. He throws his arm around my shoulder, like he always does.
"You want me to walk you to class?" he asks.
I glance at him, then back at the school doors ahead.
"I'll be okay," I say, even though I don't mean it.
Luca doesn't move, and I can feel him deciding whether or not to push it. Then he just nods once, shoving his hands deeper in his pockets.
