“No, those are from the gym,” he chuckled.
“Gym?Do you get into fights there?”I asked, surprised.
“Well, you could say that.One day, I'll show you,” he said, moving closer to me once again.I felt that familiar longing building inside me.“Can you keep this a secret?No one knows Valentina is my sister, and I'd like to keep it that way.It's safer for everyone,” he pleaded, his gaze locking onto mine, leaving me no choice but to agree.I nodded, waiting for him to close the distance between us, but he didn't.“What time will your dad be home?”he asked.
“After dinner.Why?Do you want to leave?”I blurted out.
“Do you want me to leave?”he whispered, his warm breath grazing my face like a gentle caress, a spring flower, a morning breeze, a….
“You can stay a little longer if you let me ask you more questions.”
“I have a better idea,” Zane said, sending a shiver down my spine.My imagination ran wild as I opened my mouth, ready for whatever he had in mind.
“And what's that?”I asked eagerly.
“We still have time for a movie.”He pulled back, heading to the sofa and grabbing the remote.With a teasing pat on the couch, he invited me to join him.
Whatever his reason for this push and pull, it was driving me to the brink of sanity.He was the one thing I craved above all else, and I was uncertain if I would ever have it.I fought to mask my surprise, striving to maintain a casual demeanor.This time, I didn't hesitate.I walked over and sat next to him, feeling his warmth without touching.
I was shaking.Shaking from the need to collide with him.Lava filled my veins, and I could almost see my skin steaming.I fought my instincts, I fought the urge to reach him.Madness.It was madness.
He started a movie I had never seen before.I tried to focus, but it was nearly impossible.Zane didn't move closer; he just stared at the screen, leaving me to wonder what was going on in his mind.
Then the door clicked open, and my dad stepped inside.The look on his face said it all.For the first time in my life, I knew I was going to be grounded, and it wasn't going to be for a short while.
Chapter 20
Afire raged within me, tightening my chest and tormenting me throughout the day.I felt like I had let my father down, even though I hadn't done anything wrong; he simply refused to believe me.Zane was the kind of guy no parent wanted around their daughter.
I knew I had lost my father's trust.When I insisted that the evening hadn't been planned, he did not listen.All we did was have dinner and watch a movie, yet he jumped to conclusions, leaving me to wrestle with guilt.
These past few days felt surreal, like I was floating outside my own body.I adhered to a rigid routine: school, then straight home.My dad called every 30 minutes to check on me.I was forbidden from going out or having visitors, not even from seeing Jessica.At dinner, silence consumed us; it was as if I'd lost the ability to speak.For days, I had been mute.
I saw Zane at school, but he only glanced at me briefly.That night, he left so abruptly that my dad didn't even get a chance to say anything.Maybe Zane would choose not to talk to me again; perhaps he thought I was just a child under my parents’ strict control.Possibly he was right; perhaps I had allowed it to happen.Possibly.
The next day, my mom would come home.She was recovering well, and I hoped I could confide in her; she always stood up for me back then with Marco.Dad hadn't mentioned Zane to her yet, but he planned to once she returned.He wanted a family discussion, and I knew I had to find my voice.I needed them to trust me again.
“Hi.Can I sit with you?”I turned to see Emily standing there, her eyes filled with hope that I wouldn't refuse her.My mind was in a whirlwind, and I hadn't even noticed her on the bus.Scanning the half-empty bus, I realized it was the last day of school before the holiday break, which explained why many were absent.
I thought she must have been waiting for a moment to approach me.No words came to my lips; I merely nodded, and she settled in beside me.After an awkward silence, Emily broke the ice.
“Do you remember last Christmas?Your mom let me and Jessica sleep over the night before Christmas Eve.We made a mess baking cookies, burning the last batch.The smoke filled the house, and we had to open the windows and doors.It was pouring outside, muddy and miserable, but we laughed.We laughed so much my stomach hurt.It was a disastrous day, but we had fun decorating cookies and throwing flour at each other.I thought nothing could ever tear us apart.I believed childhood friendships were everlasting.And now, here we are a year later, strangers.Those memories feel like they belong to another lifetime.”Emily looked at me with a hint of nostalgia, waiting for me to respond.
I envisioned that day, and I hardly recognized the versions of ourselves back then.Once she had been my closest friend, and now… now she was just a girl I once knew who was dating my ex.I was instinctively pushing away anyone who had ever hurt me, even slightly.I preferred solitude.
“We were kids.I guess we're not anymore,” I said, my voice brittle.Her expression shifted, clearly not what she had anticipated.
“I guess we're not…” Emily echoed, sounding uncertain.I averted my gaze, wondering if I had been cruel.I was not sure if it was her I didn't want to talk to or just people in general.“I heard your mom is coming home.I hope she's doing well.Say hi for me,” Emily said, standing up.She glanced at me one last time, as if she did not recognize me, before walking to the back of the bus.I remained frozen, a lump forming in my throat, which I fought to suppress.
Once I reached my stop, I hopped off the bus and hurried home.When I entered, I heard the sound of my dad brewing coffee in the kitchen.I approached and waved at him silently before making my way upstairs to my room.
“Luna,” he called out, causing me to freeze.“I had to tell your mother,” he continued.I stood still, simmering with anger.He had promised to wait until she was home to hear my side of the story.He likely told her I was having sex on the couch.“With the holidays approaching, soon everything will be closed; we decided to schedule an appointment for you with Dr.Paoli tomorrow morning,” he added.My mouth fell open in disbelief; I was horrified.
“What?Why?”I exclaimed, turning to meet his gaze.
“Oh, you know why,” he responded, his voice laced with frustration.
“No, I don't know why.Why do I need to see the gynecologist?It's not even time for my screening!”I said, my disappointment evident.
