Best Friends / Mariano Castano

chapter 8 // feelings

his phone started ringing. i looked away from him and pointed at his phone. "robert." our manager.
"hello?" he answered. i flashed him a confused look and he pressed the speaker button. "hello mr. castano. you never answered my texts so here i am!" robert said. (a/n: idfk) i rubbed my eyes in confusion. i was extremely high. and i could tell mariano was just as high with his red eyes. i looked out towards the city. i felt so relaxed but so confused. were we just about to kiss?
i was brought back to the call when mariano exclaimed. "i don't want to go live with her!" "im sorry mariano but you have to. tomorrow. thats final. good night." he hung up without waiting for mar to respond. "what happened?" i asked as mariano shoved his face into his hands. "i have to go live tomorrow with alessya and someone from the house." he grumbled. "alessya? alessya farrugia?" i questioned. "what other alessya do you know?!" he snapped. i frowned deeply, "calm down i was just asking." "asking stupid ass questions. fucking irritating." he growled. i quickly stood up moving to the window. "have fun tomorrow. don't come asking me to be in it. fuck you." i flipped him off. i swung our door open and slammed it back shut behind me.
      i fumed stomping my way to the girls room. i swung the door open and immediately started to cry. "what's wrong?!" the voices of the girls asked. i felt someone grab my arm and lead me to the bed. "he's so mean." i whined. i felt myself get pulled into several arms. "shhh just let it out." raves voice said. "it's okay girl." peyton said. i finally stopped crying and looked up from the arms of the person holding me. it was maile holding me, kaylee holding my hand, devy, peyton, addy and rave surrounding the bed. "im sorry." i apologized. "girl we got you always." addy said smiling at me while the other girls nodded. "thank you." i sniffed. "what happened?" peyton asked. i quickly explained everything. "ill go live with him." rave volunteered. i shrugged. "ask him tomorrow." she nodded. "i was going to ask to sleep here but it's full." i laughed, looking at the two beds. "you can sleep on the couch." kaylee offered. "who rooms with who?"
i asked. "here it's me, kaylee, devy , peyton and maile. cayman and addy. jackson alone. keith and bryce. malcom alone. you and mar." rave explained. i nodded and agreed on staying on the couch with maile. after talking for another few hours, we all said our goodnights. i laid on the couch, warm and comfortable but unable to sleep. i huffed and grabbed my phone. no texts from mariano or mattia. i rolled over in attempt to fall asleep.
        i sat up wrapping the blanket around me and quietly left the room. it was dark but with the moon shining brightly i was able to navigate my way downstairs. i glanced at the time and read 2:14 am. i plopped on the couch and turned my phone on, startled when i saw mattia had sent me a text message reading:
sorry i never texted or called. i chickened out. you up?
i saw you on my live
ik you made it obvious
chileee....anyways why are you up so late?
ft?
i panicked when i read the message. it had been such a long time since i talked to him. instead of replying i pressed the facetime button. immediately he answered. his face popped up with a smile, "hey valentina." he greeted smiling. "hey mattia." i greeted back. "why's it so dark? they keep you in the basement or sum?" he joked. i chuckled standing up and walking to the corner of the couch, next to the table with the lamp. i turned it on and plopped on the couch again. "better?" i questioned. "way better. why don't you have your bonnet on?" he asked. i laughed. "it's in my room but im not going in there." i explained awkwardly. "where are you?" he questioned looking behind me. "living room. i couldn't sleep. so...what's up?" he sighed messing with his hair. "ive been thinking a lot and...i miss you." he confessed. "mattia..." i breathed out. "i know. i was the one that ended things. i know... but what if we start over." he offered. "start over?" i questioned looking at him weirdly. "as friends." he explained. i stayed silent and stared at him, he looked at me with hope eyes and a pout decorated his lips. i cracked a smile and nodded. "okay mattia." "fuck yes!" he yelled, immediately slapping a hand over his mouth with wide eyes causing me to chortle. "sei sicuramente la persona più stupida che conosca." i spoke. (translation: you are definitely the dumbest person i know) his eyes widened even more and he gasped at me. "when did you learn italian?!" he questioned. i winked. "during quarantine." i replied nonchalantly. "when she speaks three languages, heart eyes." he said smiling. "shut up mattia." "im deadass! its hot." he exclaimed. i rolled my eyes laying down on the couch, turning off the lights. "i can't see you anymore!" he whined. "too bad." i muttered covering myself with the blankets. i felt flustered. was this his way of being friends? jeez mattia. "alright fine you won't see me either." he said turning off his lights. i chuckled still being able to see his face when he laid down and placed it next to him. "aren't you tired?" i asked yawning. "what time is it?" he questioned. "2:43. so it's 5:43 there. the sun is about to go up mattia." he chuckled yawning. "stay on facetime." he demanded. "friends do that?" i asked teasingly. he grinned. "yes." i giggled, fixing my phone so it laid against the couch. "okay. good night mattia." "good night valentina. sweet dreams." i smiled closing my eyes, immediately feeling myself fall asleep.
     next thing i know im being shaken awake. i open my eyes and see a confused bryce. "why are you down here?" he asked concerned. i yawned sitting up. "got in an argument with mar so i was going to sleep in the girl room but i couldn't sleep." i explained looking at the clock that read, 10:45 am. "oh yeah i heard a door slam yesterday. was that you?" he asked sitting besides me. I nodded, "yeah sorry about that. are you the only one up?" "keith and addy are awake. getting ready probably." he explained. i jumped up when i heard a loud snore. "what the fuck." bryce said. i grabbed my phone that was now face down. my heart melted when i saw that mattia still faced the camera. "ouuu. y'all fell asleep together?" bryce teased. i nodded shyly. "shhh tho okay?" i told bryce puting my index finger up to my lips. he chuckled and nodded, standing up just as keith came down the stairs. "what the hell. why are you down here?" keith asked as he spotted me. "fight with mar." i said simply as he pulled me into a hug. "can i use your shower guys?" they both nodded. "wait is that-" keith started pointing at my phone. "mattia yes." i blurted. he gasped and snatched my phone. "he's sleeping!" i whispered loudly snatching my phone back. he pouted slightly, "ill explain later okay?" i said walking past him. "better!" he called after me. i  looked back and said, "keith can you get me clothes from my room and bring it to yours?" i asked sweetly. he rolled his eyes nodding. i blew him and kiss and walked away. i glanced at my phone as i walked up the stairs. mattia mouth was open and small snores came out. i giggled making my way to bryce and keith's room. surprisingly it was clean and organized. i looked at mattia and smiled. i hung up, shooting him a text.
i quickly took a shower and dried off, wrapping a towel around my body. i opened the door cautiously, seeing no one but a pair of clothes and shoes on one of the beds.
"keiths got style." i muttered putting on my clothes.