Fashionista

Chapter 27

The skies were amazingly clear today, showing vibrant hues of blue and white, evidently contrasting the grey skies hovering above us for the past month. I couldn't decide if it was due to the world's stagnant state or the season we fell into.

The skies became a dull grey in a matter of seconds, bringing with it the harsh rain drops. I quickly opened my umbrella as I left the school building, strolling lazily until I entered Leo's car.

"How was your last test, Lia?", Leo asked, tilting his head as he asked the same question he had for the past week.

"It was great, I'm finally done with these tests. It's not fair we had to finish last.", I replied, facing the mirror and waving to Camille as she ran to the car.

Daisy laughed, "Sorry, girl. It's the timetable. Well, let's go and have some fun."

"Fun? No way! I have to get to work in the next one hour."

Leo made an unbelievably good pouting face, "Work, Lia? Didn't you tell your boss about your test?"

I sighed, "I did, but he refused to give me the day off. Said I was still too new to request leave."

"You still have one hour right? Let's go get some ice-cream, we'll be done before an hour.", Camille piped up, filling up the silence that accompanied my statement.

Leo smiled in obvious relief, "Yeah, we can do that. I know a place."

Minutes later, we arrived at a slightly big building with the inscription 'Verde Pistacchio' written at the top in blue cursory letters.

Leo parked the car and we quickly filed into the shop, where a waiter showed us our seats. It was a two-seat booth, so I and Leo sat across Daisy and Camille.

"Salve, vuole un gelato?", The brunette-haired waiter asked in rapid Italian. I looked at his name tag and saw Henry, quite a nice name. Another waiter passed by, and I noticed that the name tags seemed to be a compulsory thing.

"English, please. For the ladies." Leo responded, winking at us.

"Oh, no worries. Would you like some ice-cream?", The waiter asked again, gesturing to the leaflets which lay on the table.

I smiled, and looked at the various options of strawberry, banana, chocolate, almond and others I couldn't even mention. Confusion must have been evident on my features because Leo suddenly whispered to me, "Let me get it for you."

"Us.", He quickly corrected when Daisy raised a brow. Facing the waiter he responded, "Henry, Sembrano tutti buoni. Facciamone nocciola, mandorla e cioccolato?"

"Certamente.", He nodded as he walked away.

As soon as he left, Camille slapped Leo's arm. "What's that for, Leo? You both had us looking and feeling lost, you know we don't understand Italian so well."

"Ouch!", He muttered, "Don't worry, it's a nice surprise. I've frequented here, so just trust me on this one."

Daisy huffed, while Camille continued glaring at him. After some minutes, the waiter arrived carrying a tray containing four well stacked ice-cream cups.

"Here you go, ladies.", Henry said, handing each of us our cups before giving Leo the last cup, "and for you, Sir."

"Thank you, Henry.", Camille replied, much emphasis on his name as she glanced as his name tag and up to his face again.

When he walked off, Daisy commented, "This ice cream looks amazing. What's in it Leo?"

"Three different flavours, chocolate, almond and hazelnut. That's what I asked him for, and it's truly amazing."

It was really as nice as he said, the three flavours just had a perfect blend even with the step by step stacking. In few minutes, all our cups were empty and we all went for more, so much that I almost forgot about work.

**********

After work, Jason invited me to see a movie at the local movie theatre. Thankfully, the guy selling the tickets at 'Ilana movies' spoke fluent English as he sold us tickets to watch 'Fantasy Island'. We got popcorn and drinks, as we settled at one of the middle rows. Soon, we abandoned the movie and were talking non-stop about other events.

"You must be kidding me, you really like that song?", I asked, laughing.

"Yes of course, it's really nice.", He replied as he sipped his cola and continued in a child-like voice, "Baby shark do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do, Baby shark do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do, Baby shark do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do, Baby shark. Mommy..."

I doubled over, holding my stomach from laughter, "It's alright, I can see you do. You can stop, people are thinking I'm mad from the way I'm laughing."

"Well, that's your fault. I'm singing a perfectly good song.", Jason argued, just as we passed a woman who stared at me like I was about to fall. We had finished the movie, that we hadn't watched, and strolling back to the apartments.

"Alright, no problem about that. But please another one, not that song... it's for babies.", I retorted, smoothing my hair for the hundredth time in the last hour as we finally entered the complex. Behind us, the wind had really picked up again, fiercely blowing everything in its path. I saw a heavy storm coming up.

He shook his head and replied, "No way. Baby shark or nothing, infact it's going to be nothing because we're already at your door."

I glanced ahead and was surprised, my door was right in front of us. How had we gotten here so fast? Time really flew by when you were enjoying a good time.

I sighed, "Yeah, we are. Thanks for a good night, Jason. I really had fun."

He looked at me, and I could swear his face had moved a few inches towards mine, "Yeah, me too. It was a good second date wasn't it? With your permission, there will be more."

I laughed nervously, "You have my permission, mi lord. There shall be more."

He moved closer still, "So..."

My door opened, with Jason at the other side, "Lia, you're back."

Awkwardly, Jason and I stepped away from each other and mumbled goodnight's. I looked at his retreating form until he entered his own room, before I turned to face a glaring Leo.

"How was your second date, Lia?", He asked sweetly as I moved past him into my room. I wasn't stupid, I could hear the sarcasm dripping off his words.

"It was nice, Leo. Why are you here by this time of the night, anyway?"

"I came to check up on you, and invite you out. But you were already busy with someone else.", He answered, with the real annoyed voice I knew.

I feigned ignorance, "I didn't know you were coming, and there were already other plans. Is there a problem?"

"Lia, you know my feelings for you even after all this time. And you being with another guy is making me angry, you would have kissed him if I hadn't come out."

I put my hands on my head as I slowly asked, "So what do you want from me? I like Jason, he's a great guy and so are you. I don't want to be involved in any relationship for now."

Leo smirked at that, and moved towards me until he backed me up, "Lia, I want you to be mine and no one else's especially as I can see you still like me.", He finished, moving his head until our lips were so close I could taste cookies in the air between us.

I twisted and moved until we were a bit apart, "Leo, I don't think I want to pursue a relationship right now. Can't we just stay friends...for now?"

He stared for me for a while before sighing, "Okay, fine but know this; I won't back down from trying to win you over."

What do you think? Let me hear your thoughts. Please do vote and comment ❤️❤️