My face burns. I roll my eyes. "You're insufferable."
"Yeah," he says, still holding me. "But I'm yours."
I pause for a second. And then I smile. "Okay," I mumble. "Next page. Let's see how cringe I got after that."
Dear Diary,
Today Gio did that thing again where he jumps off the stairs like he's in a movie. It's so dumb. He thinks he's so cool. Everyone was watching and clapping and stuff. Come on, it's not even that hard to jump four stairs. I could do it too if I wanted. I just don't want to.
Anyway, he landed and then looked around like he was in some superhero movie. Then he winked at someone. I think it was me. But maybe not. But probably me. Not that I care. His jacket was flapping in the wind. It was kind of awesome. Like a cape. Not that I was impressed or anything. I'm just saying that it looked scientifically dramatic. That's all.
Also, he fixed my bike chain after school because it broke. He said "don't tell anyone, Ravioli." I didn't. He really likes bikes and motorcycles. He said my hands were too soft to fix it myself. Rude. He's so annoying. I think I hate him. I definitely don't like him. Stop looking at me like that, diary.
—R
Gio's already laughing as he finishes reading. I can feel the teasing bubbling up in his throat before he even opens his mouth. "Oh? Scientifically dramatic?" he grins, nudging my leg with his knee. "Damn, Ravioli. You were practically in love with me and I didn't even know."
I roll my eyes, grabbing the pillow behind me and shoving it lightly against his chest. "I was ten. Nothing I wrote in there is valid." He holds up the notebook.
"This is the cutest, most incriminating evidence I've ever seen."
"Shut up."
"Stop looking at me like that, diary," he mimics in a terrible impression of my voice.
"Gio—" Before I can finish, he leans down and starts planting kiss after kiss after kiss all over my face.
My cheeks, my nose, my forehead, my mouth. One after the other. I'm laughing so hard I almost fall back, trying to push him away, but not really.
"Gio, stop," I wheeze between giggles, "I'm trying to be mad at you." But he just kisses me again, this time slower.
"Too late. You're mine now, science boy."
I feel so loved. So home.
Gio's already reaching for another page.
I try to stop him. "Please," he says, dragging the word out and pouting dramatically. "Just one more. I'm begging you."
I groan and bury my face in his thigh. "Only one," I mumble. "I can't take any more emotional public nudity."
He laughs. "You're literally hiding in my lap right now, that's not very private either."
I glare up at him. "Read it and shut up."
"Deal," he says. He flips to the next page gently.
I brace myself. I don't even remember what's on that one, but I know it's going to kill me either way.
Here it goes.
Today was weird. Like…really weird.
In the morning, everyone was acting strange. My mom was crying in the kitchen but told me she was "just chopping onions" even though we weren't having anything with onions. I'm not stupid. She thinks I don't notice things but I do.
Then she hugged me for way too long and said I was "so strong." I don't know why she said that. I didn't do anything strong. I just brushed my teeth.
Then Daisy came over and tried to distract me by watching cartoons. But she kept glancing at her phone like she waswaiting for something bad to happen. I hate when people do that. It makes me nervous.
