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Mr.Perlman stubbornly insisted that Elio should give Stella his room for the summer. So Stella did.
She walked in,the smell of books and nature rolling over her. The window was still open, letting a calming breeze flow through.
Elio's things were still scattered everywhere. He had never been super organized.
But Stella loved it. The room was lived in and warm. Just like Elio.
The two would share a bathroom, which made Stella's stomach twist in a way she couldn't quiet place.
After unpacking a little, she changed into short pajama shorts and a thin tank top. She wasn't used to the heat of summer in Italy yet.
After changing, Stella wanted to hang out with Elio for a bit. So, she walks through the bathroom and to the door that led to his connected bedroom.
She expected him to be reading, writing, or playing his guitar. Instead, she caught a quick, startled glimpse of his hand quickly being pulled out of his shorts. His eyes went wide like she had just caught him committing a crime.
He froze. She froze. The world seemed to stop spinning for a second.
She just shook it off as quickly as possible. She pretended to have not seen anything. That was the kind thing to do. "Goodnight, Elio."
"Night." He smiled tightly, embarrassment very visibly on his cheeks.
Stella turned to leave, walking slowly. She was painfully aware of the eyes on her back. It was like he was burning holes through her.
Just as she reached her doorway, he called out, "I'm glad you're here."
Stella turned back around. She saw his nervous expression written all over his face, and softly smiled. "Me too."
Stella finally shut her door and ran over to the bed, face planting into it.
She knew that they were both older now. She knew the two had physically and mentally changed.
But she never thought about how Elio is become a man. About how little Elio, the boy who used to cry when he lost at hide and seek, had feelings like that.
It never occurred to her that little innocent Elio wasn't so innocent anymore.
Stella sighed and rolled onto her back, trying to close her eyes. Trying to sleep.
