Boy with the Blonde Hair

17

We arrived back in Italy in the early afternoon. Everyone else was groggy when they woke up and could barely function properly. I checked us all into our rooms while Adrianus tackled to luggage. Between the two of us, we matched them to their shared rooms and placed the luggage accordingly.

As we both entered my room, he closed my door and we flopped onto my bed.

"Yikes... for all that Caleb eats, I'm not surprised he is heavy as lead", I groan.
"I'm definitely lighter than him" Adrianus grumbled.
"Well... he is more bulky than you are" I reasoned.
"I'm still muscular though" he sulked.

I turned to my side and took a good look at him. He is VERY muscular. Well-defined biceps, abdominal muscles (which were shown through his shirt which perfectly hugged him) and really nice leg muscles.

Adrianus seemed to me admiring me as well, but broke the comfortable silence by saying : "As nice as it would be to stare at each other all day, I'd like to explore Florence."

I looked away with a small smile on my face.

"Sure, I'd love to go exploring with you." I answered.

"Well then lets go to reception and get a map", Adrianus grinned and offered me his hand after he got off the bed.

He pulled me up and intertwined his fingered with mine. I quickly grabbed my bag with all my necessities, as well as the room key, before walking with Adrianus.

He got us a map from reception and we walked out of the hotel hand in hand. I messaged Caleb, telling I'm exploring the city with his twin and where to find his room cards a long with everyone else's.

Adrianus and I walked together in a comfortable silence admiring the architecture as well as the bustling people.

I saw a little girl with her parents, looking happy as they gave her a gelato cone.

I didn't even realise a tear escaped from my eye, until Adrianus's thumb gently wiped it away.

I met his gaze and felt like I could trust him.

"Let's go get you some ice-cream", he whispered to me.

I nodded. We walked until we found an ice-cream seller where he got the cookies and crème flavour while I settled for milk flavoured.

We sat in the ice-crème café in a quieter section compared to everything else.

"So... Penny for your thoughts Callisto?" He asked me tenderly.

I looked him deeply in the eyes before replying : "I'm envious of a 5 year old girl, who doesn't have a PhD."

He seemed mildly amused at my state department before I told him something only Caleb knew.

"My parents are divorced."

He stayed silent before asking: " you don't have to go on if it makes you uncomfortable. That's the last thing I want."

"It's my past... I might as well tell you everything", I said weakly.

Adrianus changed his seating position, so he was no longer opposite, but rather next to me.

"They got divorced about a month after the abuse started, verbal abuse I mean. My father never laid a hand on me. However the insults were becoming too much. It was always a long the lines of  I was never smart enough, or I wasn't what a man would want of me. Obviously I got upset and told my mother about it. It didn't get any better. He turned his abuse on her, and before we knew it, we figured out he had been cheating on her the whole time. Naturally I didn't want anything to do with men afterwards and I felt terrible. My mother felt it worse, but remained logical and rational and filed for a divorce. My once happy family was broken, and I envied the fact that a 5 year old could have it and I couldn't. Besides the fact that my said dad was an absolute jerk."

"How long were you harbouring it for?" Adrianus asked softly.

"Quite honestly, I have no idea. I don't know if I'm still angry or just sad." I said blankly.

Adrianus looked thoughtful before asking : " My brother and I are the only people who know, right?"

I nodded.

He pulled me into a tight embrace. I returned the hug, looping my arms around his torso. He stroked my hair, making me feel relaxed.

He laced his fingers with mine and walked me out of the shop.

" You know Callisto, I know we argue a lot, and mainly over petty things, but I had no idea. I promise I'll never let you experience that ever again."

"How can I trust that?" I asked, while looking up to him.

"You can trust it by allowing me to prove myself"

"I know you like me, I mean you did confess to me back in Amsterdam... but I'm scared. I'm scared of trusting when there is a possibility of a repeat of last time." I looked away from him.

He grabbed my chin, and gently tilted my face, to face his.

"Well, I'm more certain of my feelings for you now, and they'll never change. I love everything about you, even though you can be a little annoying, I find you amazing. The reason being because I'm in love with you." He said, without hesitation looking into my eyes.

I had no idea how to react.