Ethereal

18

Luca

"Luca, where were you?".

"Sorry Auntie, I just went out to meet someone" I said, as I walked past her to the kitchen.

"Your mom called" Aunt Zina, Alec's mom, said.

I froze, my hand gripping the handle of the fridge. 

"She did?".

"She's thinking of coming to visit this weekend" she said.

"I'm busy this weekend".

"Luca, you can't avoid her forever" Aunt Zina said, sighing. 

"Well I can try to" I mumbled, grabbing an apple from the fridge. 

"Anyways, she's coming Saturday. I expect you to be home by the time she comes. We're going to have a family dinner" she said.

Whatever.

~~

Hira

I felt exhausted the next day; both my body and mind felt heavy. Yesterday had been eventful, from listening to the truth about my parents' relationship to getting into a relationship with Luca. 

Luca.

I smiled softly to myself when I thought of him. Even though we had spent so much time together he still messaged me saying he missed me the second we parted yesterday.

"Hira? Are you listening?".

"Sorry what?".

Claire rolled her eyes and stared at me through her rearview mirror. 

We were on our way to school, as always she had picked Gia and I up to drive us to school. Gia had passed out in the passenger. When Claire picked her up she had got into the car mumbling how she was tired and didn't want to be disturbed.

"I said that I think I'm going to break up with Alec". 

"Oh okay" I replied, looking out the window.

"Aren't you going to ask why?" Claire asked. 

"No. It's not surprising you're breaking up with him, your relationships last a month max before you get tired of them" I replied.

Claire sighed. "You're...not wrong. I don't know I just lose interest after a while like no matter how amazing the relationship or the guy, I just...get tired of being with them".

"Maybe you have commitment issues" I said. 

"Or maybe I just never got over my first crush..." she whispered.

My eyes widened a bit. "Who's your first crush?" I asked.

Claire didn't reply and the rest of the ride to school was silent; the only noise was Gia's soft snoring. 

~~

"Hira!".

I smiled widely when I saw Luca standing outside of the school waiting for me.

He's so cute.

 "Did you guys have plans to meet?" Gia asked me.

I didn't reply as I quickly dashed over to him. "Hi!" I said, hugging him. 

He hugged me back tightly. 

"Wow she's never been so excited to see either of us like that before" Claire mumbled behind us.

"Aw look at our little ice princess all grown up and in love" Gia chimed in dramatically.

We pulled apart but Luca softly held my hand in his as we turned to look at them.

"Let me guess, you're dating now?" Claire asked, smiling softly.

"Yeah, since yesterday" Luca replied. 

"Cute" Claire said.

"Y'all are adorable together. I shipped it since Quinn's party".

"Weren't you blackout drunk at his party?" Luca asked.

"Uh no. I was just plain drunk. I still remember you guys being all cute by the pool" Gia said.

"Are you happy Hira?" Claire asked.

I blushed slightly and nodded.

"You better not hurt her! I swear I will inflict twice the pain on you that you cause her " Gia said, "I will not hesitate to cut off your-".

"That's enough Gia", Claire interrupted, "Come on, let's give the two lovebirds some space". 

Claire grabbed her wrist.

"Luca I swear if I see her even FROWN when she's with you I'll-".

Claire clamped her hand over Gia's mouth and smiled sweetly at us, before dragging her off once again. 

I looked over at Luca, who seemed sort of lost as he stared in the direction where Gia and Claire went.

"Would she really hurt me if she so much as saw you frown when you're with me?" Luca asked.

I laughed slightly. "I mean I wouldn't be surprised if she did" I replied.

"Well your resting face is a frown how am I supposed to change that!" Luca said, teasingly, poking my cheek.

"You have a lot to say for someone who also has a resting bitch face" I replied, smiling at him.

He leaned down and kissed me softly. "C'mon let's get to class" Luca said.

~~

Claire

"Why did you drag me off like that! I wasn't finished talking" Gia whined, as I pulled her with me through the hall.

"You were embarrassing Hira, besides I'm sure they wanted to be alone for a bit" I replied. 

Gia pulled her wrist out of my hand and I looked back at her

"So you think I'm embarrassing?" she asked, her voice wavering a bit as she stared at the floor.

"Not really, but I think Hira wouldn't appreciate you bullying her boyfriend" I replied.

She looked up at me. "You're right...all I do is ruin relationships" she said, pushing pass me.

Huh.

"No wait, that's not what I was trying to say!" I said, grabbing her wrist.

"Let go Claire" she said firmly.

"No".

She looked up at me, her eyes watering. "Let. Go" she said.

"I won't unless you tell me what's wrong" I said.

What's going on with her?

Gia pulled her wrist out of my grip and stomped off, not saying anything.

"What the hell?" I whispered to myself, staring after her.

 ~~

Song: Cloud 9 by Beach Bunny