Stella Starlet

Carlisle & Carter

We had been in Italy for a day now. I loved it and Carlisle's family was so kind.

That is except for his sister.

I wasn't sure why she despised me. And she made it painfully obvious that that was the case.

I shrugged the feelings off as Carlisle and I sat on the balcony that was connected to our bedroom.

He was in a white linen shirt, unbuttoned down to his chest.

He looked devilishly handsome.

"What if you parents ask how old I am?" I asked, slightly concerned.

I was turning seventeen in two weeks, but I was still too young for Carlisle.

He put his hand on my bare knee, my dress covering my legs up until my thighs.

"We avoid the topic then." He leaned in and kissed my forehead.

"Will you ever get tired of doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"You know . . . Sneaking around in a way? I mean, lying to them about me?"

"Well, Stella, I must confess something to you. When I love something or someone, I will never not do what is needed for them. And I love you. So therefore, no; I will not get tired."

I blushed. "I love you too Carlisle."

That was only the second time we had exchanged these words. 

It felt foreign.

But it felt good too.

I hadn't heard those damn three words in so many years and I truly did love this man.

"Stella, mio amore, I have to do some work today. Take one of my cars and go explore?" 

I nodded. "Maybe I'll go by the beach!" I was excited.

-

Carlisle's car was loud as shit.

There was no way to drive through the narrow, cobblestone streets without being noticed. His Aston Martin was in no way incognito.

I had to say, I was enjoying myself. The warm air of Tuscany filled the air, my scarf covered my hair from being blown all over the place from the wind in the convertible. I looked like a fifties icon with large sunglasses shielding my eyes.

I decided to stop at an art museum instead of going to the beach. 

The architecture was stunning and the building was incredibly old, but still intact. I walked through a courtyard where a fountain dripped water and flowers gently swayed in the wind.

"Alright class, you are now free to walk around but please be respectful and responsible!" I heard someone say to a large group of teenagers.

As they dispersed, their teacher sighed and ran his hand through his hair as he walked into the courtyard and sat down on one of the benches.

My breath caught in my throat. 

How the fuck can I not escape someone when I go to a different country?

Carter sat on the bench with a leather journal in his hand. He appeared to be sketching something. 

I wanted to take off my sunglasses so he would recognize me. I wanted to talk to him and hug him. 

I didn't know where my feelings stood for him. I'm walking a tightrope between platonic and romantic feelings for him. 

I wanted to check in with him, but act like a stranger.

I walked over to where he sat and took a seat on one of the benches facing him.

"Are you sketching something?" I asked gently, trying to change my voice to sound different.

He was slightly startled but then looked up at me. "Yeah, this courtyard is beautiful."

We both looked around and I nodded in agreement. 

"Do you live here in Italy?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No, just visiting. How about you?"

"Visiting. I live in a small town in Washington State."

"Must be amazing. I'm sure you're happy there?" I asked gingerly, carefully trying to phrase my words.

"It's a beautiful place but I'm missing something there. There was this girl- Oh God, sorry, I won't  gush my life story to you." He blushed shamefully. 

"No, go on if you like. I'm quite interested."

"Well, there was this girl who was living there for a short time. I fell in love with her but then one day she just disappeared. I tried calling her and I went to her house. Hell, she ran off. I even bought her an engagement ring that I never quite had the courage to do anything with it. So, here it is, sitting in my pocket everywhere I go."

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a beautiful ring. 

I gasped silently.

He wanted to marry me? 

I couldn't do this to him. He deserved closure. I never deserved him.

"Carter," I spoke quietly.

"How do you know my name?"

"For fuck's sake . . ." 

I reached up and took off my sunglasses, exposing my true identity to him.

"Stella?" He gasped, incredulously. "What the hell?" 

"I wasn't going to unmask myself, just tell you that there are 'better people' out there. But, after you said you had a ring, I realized that you deserved closure.

"Closure?" He said, unbelief clear in his voice. He laughed mockingly. "Really, you should have realized that before you ran away!"

"I know! I'm sorry! It's just-" I looked around and lowered my voice. "I ran to Washington from New York City because someone was trying to kill me. In the City, I already had a man that I cared for a lot. And then I went to Washington and met you and God, I really really liked you but I realized that I didn't want to spend my life looking over my shoulder so I went to go face him head on."

"Jesus Christ. You couldn't have at least given me a heads-up before leaving?" He exclaimed. 

"I knew I was never going to see you again so I wanted you to be angry with me so you wouldn't miss me."

"Wouldn't miss you? Are you fucking insane? I loved you, God damn it!"

"You couldn't have loved me! I was a fucking mess!" 

"Surprise, I did! But, I almost can't even look at you right now after what you did!"

"God, I just want to say I'm sorry, okay? I know you probably could never forgive me but I just want you to find someone who deserves you. I'm so so sorry."

With that, I put back on my sunglasses to hide my tear-filled eyes as I turned around and walked out of the art museum. 

I got in Carlisle's car and began sobbing. That was what I deserved for doing that to him. 

As the car hummed to life, the loud sounds of the engine drowned out my cries.