caller • mattia polibio

005.

Laura spotted three boys staring at her and Claudia. She pulled off the scarf putting it back, feeling rather embarrassed.

"Let's continue shopping" She said, mindlessly looking at the different tops on the rack.

"You okay Laur?"

"Yeah, just some boys were staring" Laura gave Claudia a sheepish look.

Laura cared about everyone seeing her, she always had to be in cute outfits, her hair was always done, makeup too. That's just how the girl was, it saddened Claudia how her best friend was insecure how she looked but could never change her mind.

"Let's find me some cute tops!" Not wanting to hang over the topic. "At the minute I've been loving the colour purple"

Soon the boys were out of Laura's mind, with many bags in their hands, with again a pocket emptying trip. It was time to head back home, knowing that all their new clothes was about to be tried on, having a mini fashion show.

——————

The girls were giggling loudly, in mix match of clothes.
They had been doing little fashion shows since little girls, with their princess dresses and plastic heels. Their parents would watch as they twirled and danced to disney songs, now they pose in photos that would probably end up on instagram later on.

A knock on Claudia's door, broke their laughing, they weren't even sure what they were laughing at anymore.

"Come in!" Claudia spoke through more fits of laughs.

"Tesoro, I would like you to work tonight, your Uncle is unable to."

Her father stood at the door, with age lines on his face, dark patches under his eyes from little sleep and his uniform for work, stained here and there with sauces.

"Of course, Pa. Laura and I will just clean up and I'll drive over."

"Thank you, you really are good to me."

Her father only had Claudia and her Uncle. When Claudia was nine, her mother fell ill, really ill. Until one day she passed in her sleep. Laura's mom was her best friend and she raised Claudia like her own. Recently her uncle had started falling ill, again, really starting to effect her father. She couldn't help but be there for him. Be the perfect daughter she can be.

—————

Claudia was staring at the clock, watching the time.
It had now passed seven, even though it was Saturday, she hoped that Mattia would decide he's feeling a bit greedy this night. Though as another hour passed it seemed unlikely.

"You okay in there?"

Her dad opened the door slightly, checking up on Claudia.

"All good Pa"

He pulled the door back and walked away with Claudia's reassured smile. She worried about her Dad's well-being but didn't have much time to dawn on her thoughts because the phone started to ring. With reflexes, she picked up the phone quicker than normal.

"Please be Claudia.. Please be Claudia.." Whispered the voice down the phone.

"Wow, I am wanted that bad, huh?"

"Shit.. You picked up the phone quick" His voice chuckled with a hint of embarrassments "I guess you are"

"Well what can I get for you tonight Mattia?"

"I would like a portion of Garlic Bread please"

"Garlic.. Bread?" She giggles at such the pointless order.

"Is it wrong to crave some Garlic Bread?"

"No! No of course not!"

"That's what I thought Claudia"

She giggled at their banter, she enjoyed Mattia's presence and she didn't even know him. It was just something about the way they got along so well, it just came so naturally.

"Well Mattia, It'll be $5.49 for your Garlic Bread, can I get you anything else? Doesn't seem like your friend is with you tonight."

"Could I get your number?"

"Goodbye Mattia"

She ended the call. She looked at the two pieces of paper on her table, picking up the order and handing it to her dad and headed back to the small office. She sat down and looked at the eleven digits written down.

Mattia's number.