"C'mon just try them. I promise, this time they'll be good, if not... I'll never bring up brussel sprouts ever again." Scott keeps insisting that I eat his brussel sprouts and it's driving me up the wall. Today he's grilled them and topped them off with chilli flakes.

The smell has permeated throughout the apartment and taken up permanent residence within my nostrils. "Fine!" I yell in frustration. "Give me a plate and I'll eat one. Only one."

Scott smiles widely like a child who's just gotten their way. It makes me happy that he's happy.

I haven't been in the best place since I found out that Dante passed away.

Of course I am aware that it could be a trap. I know that Matteo owns the police force and pretty much everything in New York. Dante could be alive... But that night is burnt so vividly in my mind... Even if he isn't dead, I can't help but feel awful for leaving him behind.

The only reason I haven't left yet is because of Scott.

He's been too kind to me, and I know that if I tell him what I'm going to do, he's not going to let me go. But I can't just leave him without saying goodbye. I don't think I'm physically capable of doing that.

"Here you go." Scott says, handing me a bowl with one brussel sprout. I don't even try to hide the distasteful expression on my face. "Eat up."

I give him one last look with pleading eyes, but he doesn't relent. Knowing I've lost, I stab my fork into the vegetable and bring it wearily to my mouth, taking a bite.

I begin to chew, and I can't help but notice Scott watch me closely, anticipating my reaction.

After a few silent seconds, I finally begin to nod my head. "Okay, alright! You got me... This is really fucking good." I moan, laughing and throwing my head back.

Scott laughs along with me. "I told you, I told you!" He yells. "I make the best brussel sprouts in the country!"

Both of us laugh and our bodies crash against each other and we roll around on the couch together. I feel his heat radiating off of him and I can't help but notice how close we are. His thick woodland scent is almost as strong as the brussel sprouts and invades all of my senses.

What is happening?

"Do you want some more?" He asks, tilting his head to the side, waiting for my response.

"Hmmmm, yeah I guess I can have a few more." I tease, making him smile once more, giving me butterflies.

"More brussel sprouts coming up for the lady."

***

"Really? I can really go out for a walk?" I question.

"Yeah, I don't see why not... It's been two weeks, I think that you'll be fine."

It's not like Scott has been keeping me inside against my will, but for the past two weeks both of us have been extremely cautious with going outside. Even Scott only goes outside to get supplies when it's absolutely necessary, though then again, it's not like his face is all over the media.

I've been watching the television regularly now, and every day I see my face followed by the reward if I am found. I haven't seen any more messages from Matteo, but I know he's behind all of it. He's still looking for me, and it doesn't look like it's going to stop any time soon.

And I can only imagine what my father is thinking, seeing all of this in the media... He wouldn't believe it, would he?

If only I could just contact him... Or even Mum.

I've deliberated calling her, but even that is too risky, Matteo has people watching her, what's to say they can't track calls?

"Oh my god Scott, you have no fucking how great it feels to be able to breathe fresh air." I sigh as we step from the apartment.

I feel like I've just been cleansed of everything, I feel clear and clean. The bad smell of old people is just a memory, and now all I can smell is the clean air.

I twirl in a circle giggling like a little girl. My floral dress twirls with me... I feel more free than I have in my life.

And it feels good, it even makes me want to forget about the idea of turning myself in. But I can't.

"You're adorable." Scott remarks. I finally stop my spinning and turn to look at him, trying to gain my balance when the world continues to spin around me. Heat rises in my cheeks at his words.

"You think I'm adorable?" I ask, joking around.

He saunters over to me, with his hands in his pockets, and a lazy grin across his lips. Those beautiful green eyes stare at me like I'm the only thing in the world, and I can imagine that's how I'm looking at him right now too.

"Yes," he whispers "I think you're adorable."

My whole body feels hot. Scott's making me feel things I don't think I've ever felt in my whole life. Why am I feeling this way? Surely I can't like Scott, I can't be falling for him... Can I?

Suddenly in the blink of an eye, Scott's gone, sprinting across the road away from the apartment, and onto the trail leading into the forest. "Last one is a rotten egg!" He yells back at me.

Oh, It's on.

***

Biting my nails, I watch as the news reporter once again drills on about me.

Surely people are getting suspicious of why so much effort is being put into finding a girl who allegedly killed someone on a whole other continent. Surely no one is actually watching this crap.

"You really shouldn't watch this stuff, it's not healthy." Scott says as he plops himself down on the couch, handing me a glass of cold Milo.

A few days ago I had begun raving about how much I missed the stuff, and that I could never find it in the states. I wouldn't stop going on and on about how much I loved it. I would have at least a glass a day back home, So of course Scott went and found it for me.

When he came back with a tin, I almost cried.

I don't know where he found it, but it doesn't matter.

Me being the true Aussie that I am, I taught him the right way to make it, with a heaping ten tea spoons followed by a dash of milk.

"Why can't he just give up? It's almost been three weeks, Scott. Why does he still want me?" I question, taking a sip of my drink.

"Sometimes people will do anything to get what they want. They would go to the ends of the world and to hell and back."

"Hmmmm," I breathe out, "How are you the same age as me, but a billion times wiser?" I ask, leaning my head towards him.

"I got it from my mother." He says, taking a swig of the milo before scrunching his face up. "How do you drink this stuff?"

I begin to cackle like a witch. "I love you." I laugh, almost yelling. Slowly I come to the realisation of the three words I just bellowed.

Scott doesn't seem to phased though. "Do you?" He asks casually, a small smile forming on his lips.

I scrunch my face up trying to hide the embarrassment and red tinge. I probably look like a tomato. "I--I..." No words seem to come out of my mouth. What am I even supposed to say? Do I love him? Is it possible to fall in love with someone within weeks?

I look into his mesmerising eyes, and before I know it, he's closed in on me, his lips pressing against mine.

The heat of the kiss spreads throughout my body, and tingles run through my veins like fireworks.

I begin kissing him back, hungry for more.

I want him, I want everything he is, and I don't care if I love him or not. I only care about now. And I need him now.

I grip onto his shirt and pull it off of him while he does the same to me.

My hands feel all over his exposed skin, eager to feel every inch of his body. His hands cup the back of my neck, neither of us getting enough of each other.

Pulling away from his, I gasp for air, and so does he. "You have no idea how long I've wanted this." He mumbles as he begins trailing kisses down my neck and along my collar bone. At the same time, he unclips my bra, exposing me to him.

Standing, Scott abruptly lifts me from the couch bridal stile and heads towards his bedroom, then carefully places me down in the centre of the bed.

Standing back, he stares at me and grins before crawling onto the bed and once again begins trailing kisses from my belly button to between my breasts. Heat pools at every spot his lips come into contact with me.

He begins to slowly trail kisses back down until he reaches my shorts, then stopping. His eyes look up to me, and I give him a small nod, before he begins to pull down my shorts and underwear, leaving me completely bare.

"Are you sure?" He asks.

"Yes, I'm sure."

***

I lie on the bed, Scott's arms embracing me. I stare at his peaceful face as he releases shallow breaths. I brush away a strand of his curly blonde hair from his face.

"Yes," I whisper, "I do love you."

***

"Did you hear that?" I ask as I empty the last of the milo into my glass.

It's managed to last a week which I'd say is an achievement. Though, it was difficult restraining myself.

"Hear what?" Scott calls back from our bedroom.

"It's probably just the neighbours moving things around." I reply as I pour the milk into my glass.

The past week has been probably the best week of my life. Scott and I have taken regular walks into the forest, and some days I would even go by myself. Sometimes we would spend hours just lying in the grass and staring up at the sky. It's kind of like what Scott had told me when we were in the cellar.

'When we're out of here, I'll take you to a restaurant in a small country town I know, in England. You'll love it. We can sit outside under the stars while listening to the music from inside. Then we can go back to my place and we can drink hot chocolates and laugh about childhood memories.'

I still hope he can one day fulfil that promise.

Strolling the the window, I peer outside hoping to see what was causing all that ruckus just moments ago.

My glass slips from my hands and crashes against the hard wooden floor, spilling its contents everywhere and onto my legs. I can feel small shards of glass penetrate my skin, but it's nothing compared to what I'm feeling right now.

I look down at the five black cars pulled into the apartment's shabby car park. Men jump from the cars and begin fanning out around the apartment.

He's found me.

"Scott." I try to say, but it comes out as nothing but a whisper.

Oh god... If Matteo finds Scott here, he'll kill him.

I look back down through the window, checking that no one has yet headed for the door.

I look back towards the bedroom. "Is everything alright?" He asks. "What was that sound?"

I choke back a sob. "Nothing," I call back, "I just accidentally dropped my glass."

My legs move against everything within me as I head towards the front door. My fingers wrap around the handle and I take in a shuddering breath.

The door opens and I slip through the crack before Scott can hear the creak, closing it quietly behind me.

Tears slip down my cheeks as I press my hand against the door.

We never planned for what we would do if he found us. I think it was because we were both too hopeful that it would never happen. But deep down I was always sure that if it came to it, I would leave Scott behind, even if it killed me.

I descend the stairs with my head held low, not daring to look anywhere other than my feet.

When I've finally reached the front door to the apartment, I open in without any hesitation. My head is still cast down at the ground when my eyes meet the familiar black, leather shoes.

Goodbye Scott.

"Hello principessa."

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