The Boy From Italy (Pentatonix)

Ch 1. Smoothie Sailing

The response I've gotten for this rewrite has been overwhelmingly nice, so thank all of you so much for that! I won't talk for too long this time since I know why all of you are here. So, without further ado, I hope you all enjoy the first chapter of The Boy From Italy!
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Tucked into the corner of a shopping mall's food court was a small smoothie bar with a horribly punny name. Working at that smoothie bar was a tall, blonde, and completely worn out teen that wanted nothing more than a break. He wasn't sure if the ten-minute breaks he got every two hours were enough anymore. Even during those, he was still worrying about things he was too young to worry about. Bills, having a full meal that night, taking care of his three-year-old half-sister.

Scott Hoying was no longer sure if he would make it through his senior year of high school. He was already eighteen, having missed the cut off date for getting into kindergarten many years ago. It had left him as one of the oldest kids in his grade. The ever-growing bags under his eyes only seem to make him look older and more intimidating.

Wearing a black apron tied over a blue-green and white striped polo, Scott stands at the counter and waits for someone to come and order something. At least when Scott was taking and making orders he was less likely to fall asleep standing up. His eyes are half closed when someone stands in front of the counter. They don't speak right away, but the second Scott notices them he's snapping up and reciting the words he had to say to every customer.

"Welcome to Smoothie Sailing where your life can be as smooth as our 27 different flavors." Oh, how much Scott hates this job. "I'm so sorry for not noticing you right away, how can I help you?"

"Are you okay, Scottie? You look like you could pass out right here if someone said you could without getting fired."

It turns out that in Scott's sleepy panic he never took a moment to look at who the new customer was. Standing there with a microscopic frown and worried eyes was Kirstin Maldonado. Scott hadn't known he was meant to be expecting his girlfriend to stop by anytime soon. Her hair is placed in a neat bun and she's wearing a red polo tucked into black skinny jeans. She must have just gotten off work.

"What are you doing here, Kit?' Scott asks the question knowing full well that he's ignoring the one he was asked a few seconds ago. Scott has never known how to lie to Kirstie and he doesn't know how to tell her that he's never been less okay in his life. So, he ignores the question and hopes that will be the end of it.

"I just got off of work. I thought I'd stop in and say hello before I go home and meet the new human living in my house for a year."

Scott hasn't forgotten about that yet. Kirstie family had signed up to host one of the foreign exchange students that would be going to Martin high school in a few weeks. He also hasn't forgotten that Kirstie isn't excited about it. Her family life wasn't always as good as it is currently and she doesn't want that to change again because of a new person living there. Scott found it reasonable.

"Good luck, sweetheart. Just text me if you need me, okay? I'd take an extended break if you ever needed me to."

"I know you would. Thank you, Scottie." Kirstie sighs and gives Scott a small smile. "When do you get off today?"

Scott glances over at the clock that was stationed behind him. He thinks for a moment before going to answer. "I have thirty more minutes. If you don't mind waiting I could give you a ride home since your car is still in the shop."

Kirstie smiles at the offer. "Are you sure, Scottie? I don't mind walking if you just want to go straight home and go to sleep. Your mom picks Norah up from daycare, right? So going straight home would give you more time to sleep. I don't want to be a bother, babe."

"No, it's okay. I don't get too see you much anyway. This can be our date for this week." Scott adds a laugh so it sounds like a joke, but it's all too real for him. It isn't even Kirstie or Scott's fault. He just can't find enough time for anything that isn't work, soccer, or Norah.

"Okay, I'll be over here then." Kirstie smiles, looking over her shoulder for a few seconds before looking back at Scott. "Your boss never installed those security cameras, right?"

"Nope. For the owner of a popular chain of smoothie bars, he is one lazy motherfucker."

Kirstie giggles quietly, glancing over her shoulder one more time before leaning over the counter separating the couple from each other. Scott raises an eyebrow and Kirstie's lips slowly come closer. "Getting caught is half the fun, right?" Scott goes to answer but another pair of lips are already on his own. He settles for a quiet hum, kissing Kirstie back softly.

When they pull apart from each other a small smile is on Scott's face. Kirstie hasn't seen that crooked but charming smile in a while. "I think that's our new motto."

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Scott gets out of work six minutes after his shift ends which is a new record for him. Usually, his co-worker shows up late or forgets how to login into the register. Smoothie Sailing really needs to hire some simi-competent employees. As Scott and Kirstie exit, the shopping mall and head to his beat-up pickup truck, one of his hands hold the baseball cap and apron that are apart of his work uniform while the other holds Kirstie's hand.

For just a moment, a single moment, everything is perfect. Scott's just a guy who's taking his girlfriend home from the mall. He isn't taking her to meet the foreign guy who will be living in her house for a year, Scott isn't holding back the tears that always want to escape, no one is hurting. They're happy. That's how it is when they're together. Scott and Kirstie are happy.

It's when they climb into the truck, Scott getting in after helping Kirstie into her side, that the worry and exhaustion sneak back in. Scott hears it seep in from the floor, sees it oozing from the dashboard, feels it wrap around his neck until he can barely breathe. Kirstie's hand on his is the only thing that grounds Scott and brings him back to the real world.

Scott gives her a weak smile and starts his car. At least it actually started this time. There were days when Scott couldn't get it started. Those were the days that almost killed him every single time.

"Straight to your house?"

"Sadly."

Scott chuckles, eyes now on the road ahead of him. "I'll figure something out soon, Kirst. Promise. It will be just us and some peace and quiet."

"That sounds nice, Scottie. I'll be looking forward to it."

"Yeah, me too." Scott knows it will be the only thing keeping him from just giving up. It only takes five minutes to get from the mall to the Maldonado residence. Scott parks in the driveway before quickly getting out of the car and heading to Kirstie's side.

Kirstie smiles at her boyfriend once he opens the door for her. She moves so her legs are on either side of Scott's waist. With the added height the truck gave her, she was finally eye level with Scott. "Hey there, handsome."

Scott chuckles, setting one hand on her waist. "Hey, Kit. My offer still stands, alright? If you need me just text me. I'll be here in a flash."

"Thank you, Scottie. I doubt it will be bad, I just have an overactive sense of imagination." Kirstie smiles as she says it.

"Well, give me one more kiss and then I'll walk you up to the door."

Kirstie leans in, much like how she had at Smoothie Sailing, as kisses Scott just as softly as before. His stubble rubs against her cheek and Scott brushes a strand of hair from Kirstie's forehead as they kiss. Another perfect moment. Another harsh jostle back to reality once it's over.

They walk hand in hand back up Kirstie's front porch and to the door. Once there the couple shares a small peck on the lips. And then Scott is heading back to his car and heading home. If Scott was lucky he'd get a few hours of sleep before more work came for him.