The Cute Hat Thief

I. Is that a challenge?

My best friend Sofia and I were finishing up our lunch at a local sandwich cafe on our campus food court. Our first semester of college just began last week and I was loving life here in Florence, Italy. Having worked my butt off since middle school, I was beyond blessed to have gotten a full ride scholarship to go the University of Florence.

Having been fascinated with nature since I was a little girl I was now a Natural Sciences major at UF. Sofia was a Humanities major, having dreamt of becoming a Magazine editor for magazines like Harper's Bazaar and Vanity Fair.

The two of us rarely saw each other in between classes so we had tried our best to eat lunch together and meet up after our classes to go explore the city. Sofia was staying with a family friend while I was renting a studio apartment nearby. She was over at my place so often it felt like she was my roommate.

"I'm done. That smoothie was really good." Sofia wiped her hands as she got up to throw away her trash.

I popped the last bite of my sandwich in my mouth, savoring all the flavors of melted cheese, salami, and sauce that met my tastebuds. Ugh, I love Italy.

"How much time do we have left?" I asked with my mouth still full. Sofia scrunched her nose at me, tapping the phone of her screen to check the time.

"About 10 minutes. What do you want to do?"

A soft breeze blew in the air and feeling it run through my hair I grinned at her.

"Sis, let's play a game. It's been a while since we have."

My best friend groaned at me, shaking her head slightly, "Oh no, no Alexi. The last time we played something, I ended up with a tattoo." Her hand went up to her shoulder, mindlessly rubbing where the tattoo had been.

"Oh come on, it wasn't even permanent!" I laughed at her. "You're such a wimp."

Eyes opening slightly, I knew I had her. "What did you call me?" She leaned in, trained on me as she tried to look threatening.

I shrugged, picking a nail, "A wimp. A boring wimp."

"Is that a challenge?" I met her blue eyes, sticking my tongue out.

"Yes it is! Let's play What are the Odds," I looked down at my trash from my food, trying to think of a penalty for when one of us didn't want to do the dare. "The penalty will be having to drink something gross."

Sofia rubbed her forehead, "I don't know why I always agree to these games with you. I always end up getting the most penalties or losing!"

Laughing in response I took the lid off her smoothie cup, squeezed some ketchup in, and mashed the last bits of fries I didn't eat, scooping some in. I shook in some salt and pepper, watching her face gag at the horrid concoction I was making.

Putting the lid back on I used the straw to mix everything together, grimacing as the previously red smoothie turned an unpleasant shade of brown.

"I'm not drinking that. I will literally throw up." Pushing the drink to the side, I rolled my eyes at her.

"It's only the penalty, just don't be a wimp and you won't have to drink it." Giddily clapping my hands, I asked "Okay, should I go first?"

Sofia eyed the drink, "Um.. I don't trust you so yeah, you first," tapping her finger on her lip she looked around, trying to find a dare for me to do.

"Let's start off relatively easy- what are the odds you'll take the hat off of the next person we see wearing one?" Lifting an eyebrow I gave my best friend a look.

"Pssh, slight work. That's got to be the easiest dare you've ever given me," I crossed my arms, "come on, think of something harder for me to do- something fun."

Rolling her eyes, Sofia flicked down her sunglasses, seeming to look around to find someone wearing a hat. Once she faced me she grabbed her glasses and looked over them, something grabbing her attention behind me.

"Oh... this is going to be fun." She said smugly, eyes still on whatever was behind me.

"What are you-" I started before she grabbed my shoulders, stopping me from turning around.

"Wait don't look yet! You said you wanted something fun right? Well does taking the hat of a super hot, curly headed boy sound fun enough?" Not really registering what she was saying I squinted as I tried seeing the reflection of said boy in her sunglasses.

She continued, "What are the odds?"

"Wait- for what, exactly?" I said carefully, Sofia's hands still on my shoulders.

"Just pick a number range- hurry!"

"Uh, 1-10..?"

"Perfect! Okay, three, two, one-"

We both said "six." Sofia laughed sort of giddily, releasing my shoulders.

"Go take the hat off of that kid walking over there, the one wearing the timberlands."

I finally was able to look at said boy, eyes widening as I recognized who is was- the guy all the girls in my English class had been ogling over since classes began.

I had yet to know his name. He was a tall, slightly built, tanned guy with dark curly hair that reached just above his shoulders, not quite touching them. I've only ever saw his side profile, but even from that I could imagine his full sculpted and angular face. 

Turning to quickly face Sofia I stuttered, trying to get myself from possibly making a fool of myself in front of the kid, "Wait wait wait, are you kidding me? I don't even know his name! It doesn't help that we have class together!"

She just shook her head, "Wait, are you saying you don't want to do the dare?" She pushed the drink closer to me, nudging it with my hand.

Not wanting to drink the gross concoction of ketchup, mashed up fries, salt, and smoothie that I had made as punishment for not completing a dare, I mustered the courage to get up and casually walk towards the boy.

Ignoring the voice in my head that was telling me to turn around, I huffed as I shot a look of annoyance to my best friend behind me.

Slightly easing up behind the dude I quickly snatched the hat off of his head of dark curls and not wanting to see his reaction, took off sprinting in the opposite direction.

Hearing a loud, boisterous laugh as I passed Sofia and our table where we were having lunch, I laughed aloud as I realized how ridiculous I must be to the kid.

Arms and legs pumping, I looked back and saw the kid- following me?!! And he was fast! As I was about to whip my head around I saw a look to horror run across his face, his hand reached out as I heard him yell "Watch out!" Not really able to register what he said I looked forward, barely making it over a bush that I hurdled over, thanking God for my past years of track and field in high school.

I continued sprinting straight through the large park I found myself in. Why was I still running? Maybe because I love to run. And also the boy was hot on my tail. It felt exhilarating. I knew I was fast and I wanted to see if this kid could catch up to- oof.

In a flash I was off my feet and instead on my stomach in a pile of leaves, faced mushed in the ground as I literally ate dirt. Realizing there was a heavy weight holding me down I turned my head, groaning.

~~~
a/n:
First chapter done! I want my readers (if I ever have any lol) to help with the story plot since this is all on a whim and I'm typing stuff as I think of it.

Yall ready for some Alexi x Giovan action 👀🤪
I've never written anything sensual or whatever bc I don't feel comfortable with doing that but there's def going to be some moments of heat between the two... in which I will advice yall in advance for.

Pls enjoy- hopefully I'll actually finish the book.
🤧