✰ ✰

"𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲"

"Bella, you're making us lose," Uncle Eliot huffed.

I shifted in my seat to face him and lightly whacked him on the shoulder.

He gave me a startled expression and began to rub his shoulder dramatically.

"Layla, tell your child to stop abusing me please,"

I heard my mum sigh from across the room, "Which child, Eliot?"

"Landon's spawn,"

Uncle Andre busts out laughing, "Oh my God."

I frown at both of them, Nicolo presses his lips together to keep from laughing, and I simply shake my head at them all.

"I'm sorry Bells, you know I love you," Uncle Eliot throws his arms around my neck, and I huff slightly as he tightens his grip.

Being a football player and all, Uncle Eliot was a fairly buff dude, so you can imagine him hugging me to my death.

I pat his back and tell him quietly that I had seen Nicolo and Uncle Dre's Uno cards and was confident we would win now.

He grinned and we all returned to the game. It was now Monday night, and I had all of my usual classes today. I hadn't seen Roman or Theo either; they both weren't in business class.

After our courses, Kara, Aydan, Nicolo, and I went to a local mall and hung out for a while. We agreed to go to a club that was opening up tomorrow night.

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about Roman today, well more like all day. He seems to have taken over my thoughts; I've spent the entire day thinking about him like some naive high school girl with a silly crush.

I was obviously getting some sort of feelings for him, something more than just attraction, even if I didn't want to accept it.

But somewhere deep down, I liked it.

"Uno!" Eliot exclaims as he places our final card on the table "Suck on that hoes!"

Uncle Dre just scowls at us, particularly Eliot, as Nicolo groans while tossing his cards onto the table.

Uncle Dre sags into the couch, "You cheated."

"You shouldn't assume old man," Uncle Eliot said and waves his hand at him.

Uncle Dre crossed his arms and frowned at him, "Dude, we're the same age, plus, thirty-eight isn't old."

Eliot shrugs at him and sits off the couch and heads towards the kitchen where Aunt Violet and mum were.

"I'm going to order some food, do you want anything?" Nicolo says this as he rises from the couch.

"Do you even have to ask?" I said tilting my head, he rolls his eyes and pats my head before stepping out of the room.

I start to pack up all the cards while Uncle Dre started to talk to me.

"So, how was the mission on Saturday?"

I glance at him for a quick second and then return to the cards, "It was good," I answer normally.

"Oh yeah?"

I hum continuing to place the cards inside of the box, "Did you work well with Roman?"

The mention of his name suddenly made something inside me jump.

"Yeah, we worked good together," I say still keeping my eyes down at the cards.

This conversation was completely unnecessary, which meant he was trying to sus me out. Why? I had no idea.

I looked up when I felt the couch beside me dip. Andre sat comfortably next to me, a faint grin on his lips making me anticipate what he was going to ask.

I face him directly, crossing my legs, and calmly wait for him to ask his next question.

"I was wondering," He pauses and looks away briefly, "are you and Roman, friends?"

I nervously bite my lower lip as images of our night together flashed through my head, particularly the fingers he brutally fucked me with.

Narrowing my eyes at him, I looked at him sceptically."Why?" I questioned, unsure of where this was leading.

"Oh, no reason," He shrugged, "I was just curious." He said casually, as if it weren't a big deal and that our discussion was perfectly regular.

"So, any new boys I should know about?"

I snort and shook my head, "No, and I wouldn't tell you either,"

He gasps, perhaps a little too dramatically. He gapes at me, his eyes wide with surprise "Why not? I thought I was your favourite?"

"You're all my favourite, equally," I smiled.

"That's not fun," He sighs causing me to look at him amusedly.

"How about you? Any girls I should know about?"

"Maybe," He teases, wrapping his arm around my shoulder, "but I wouldn't tell you either," he remarks, turning my own words against me.

But that didn't matter; his response was far more intriguing.

"Maybe?" I said rather loudly and enthusiastically, his palm clamped over my mouth before I could speak anything else.

"Hush, I don't want anyone knowing," He says sternly, well as sternly as he could be for Andre.

I quickly nod, and he removes his hand before rubbing it on my shirt, making me scowl.

"So, who is she?" I said eagerly, but quietly.

He smiles and looked across the room, "She works at the local hospital as a nurse. I ran into her at a vending machine and got her phone number."

I couldn't stop grinning as I listened to what he said; he deserved someone; the poor guy had been lonely for a long time; aside from sleeping around, he hadn't been in a relationship in... well, I have no idea.

"You need to go out with her ASAP and take her somewhere special," I said grinning and I wrap my arms around his neck and give him one of his own bear hugs.

He chuckles and pats my back, "Will do, Ma'am,"

"Don't call me that, I'm only nineteen," I mumble while pulling away from him.

He grins at me and pinches my cheek causing me reflectively slap his hand away.

"Andre, leave her alone," Dad sighs walking into the room.

Uncle Dre raised his hands up in defence while he stands up from the couch and follows my dad out of the room.

As I was now left alone I went back to my room. I flopped down onto my bed, lying on my stomach while opening up my phone and began to search through social media.

I ate and studied with Nicolo for the remainder of the night, finishing a small essay we were assigned as well as watching some additional films and notes we needed to take down.

Unfortunately for me, I didn't manage to get much sleep that night. When Nicolo had left, which was around midnight, I was extremely restless, not knowing why.

My mind had been awake all night, thoughts brewing while I watched Netflix to keep my mind at bay.

When the next morning arrived, Tuesday morning to be precise, I was just not feeling it; the second day of the week simply served to remind me how distant we were from the weekend. And on this dreary Tuesday, I was completely exhausted and irritable.

Having a max of thirty minutes of sleep will do that to you. Though I had gotten ready considerably earlier today, everything was packed and I was down the stairs by seven.

While I waited for Nico to get ready, I prompted myself on the counter in front of where mum was. She held a steaming cup in her hand, which I assumed was tea since she had stopped drinking coffee.

"You okay, baby?"

I give a dull nod. I was far from okay, I had tried covering the bags under my eyes while my hair was tied up in a bun on my head messily, with a few strands coming down onto my face.

My attire consisted of a pair of denim ripped jeans and an oversized band tee, which was not my regular 'go to' but would do.

She smiled at me sympathetically and wrapped her arms around me. I bent down slightly and wrapped my arms around her, mum gave the best hugs they were warm and comforting. I guess that's why dad is always hugging her when she's not by his side.

I admired their love, and it was something I aspired for one day.

Mum pulled away and kissed my cheek, "You can talk to me, yeah?"

I smiled weakly and nodded at her, "Of course," I reply.

She gave me another smile before she drifted her eyes to something behind me, they lit up brightly and I quickly understood who it was.

I stood there watching as she moved up to my father, who was somewhere behind me, while Nicolo came into view and went over to the refrigerator.

"Can you drive? I didn't sleep last night," I ask him while getting off the counter.

He looks at me while he sips from the water bottle in his hand.

"Sure," He says, shrugging as he moves around the counter.

I follow him, wishing my parents goodbye and head out the door and into his car.

✰

I walked into my business lesson with Nicolo and Aydan, listening to Aydan's voice as he talked to me, but it soon faded as soon as we got inside. My eyes swept the rows of chairs for a certain person, but there was no sign of him.

I knew I shouldn't be feeling this way, but I did, and since I didn't care any longer, I concluded that it is what it is.

I sighed dejectedly as I make my way to my normal spot, landing on the firm chair. As the lecturer and a few other students entered, I got out my notes and laptop and began loading everything up.

When I sensed someone sitting beside me, my heart began to race. Snapping my head in their direction my already droopy tired eyes, lower in disappointment when I see it was only Theo.

He smiles at me and relaxes back in his seat, his blue eyes twinkling.

"Well, I thought you'd be a little bit happier to see me," He said teasingly.

I smile sympathetically at him, "Sorry blondie, I was expecting someone else,"

I turn my gaze back to the classroom doors as he spoke again.

"Someone else... as in Roman?"

"What?" I stammered looking at him with wide eyes.

"Why would you think that?" I add furrowing my brows.

He smiles and rolls his eyes, "Well, he's the only other person who sits here,"

Right.

"Oh, yeah," I admitted, shifting in my seat awkwardly.

I heard blondie sigh from beside me, I looked over to see him staring at the class below him.

"He's been busy," He confirmed.

I rose an eyebrow up in questioning, shifting my gaze back to him.

"Busy?" I question looking at the side of his face.

He glances at me and lowered his head, "Yeah, he's been doing some things, he'll be back tomorrow,"

I nod my head slowly while turning my attention back to the professor.

Busy?

Like Mafia busy? or-

Enough Arabella, focus girl.

Shaking my thoughts away, I bring my fingers to my laptop and begin to listen to the professor, ignoring the impulse to fall asleep in the middle of class.

An hour went by and we were all packing up as our class had ended. Aydan had already left as he had practice to attend to, leaving me with Nicolo.

We both descended the stairs and out into busy corridors.

"Kara's driving tonight by the way," Nicolo says while pulling out a cigarette from his pocket.

I frown confused, "Tonight?"

He glances at me and scoffs, lighting up the stick between his lips and shaking his head, "The club, remember?"

Oh, I forgot.

We made it outside and we stopped aside near the wall that faced the parking lot.

"Do you not want to go?" He asked and leaned against the wall while exhaling the smoke.

"No, I do," I say softly and shift on my feet.

"You sure? You look half-dead,"

I scoff and look back up at him while rolling my eyes, "Thanks brother,"

He smirks, taking another drag, "Just being honest, Bells,"

"I'm fine. Though, getting drunk on a Tuesday doesn't sound so bad,"

He laughs and leans off the wall, walking towards me and flinging his arm over my shoulder.

We start walking and he shook his head amused.

"Mhm, Tuesday out of all days," He mutters while pushing back his golden locks.

I giggle and continue walking to his car.

✰

"You ready, Bella?" Nicolo knocks on my door.

"Yeah, I'll be down in a second!" I shout back.

When I hear his footsteps retrieving, I hurriedly spray some of my favourite perfume along my collar and set it back on my vanity.

I nod approvingly at myself once more before grabbing my phone and hurrying out the door.

Once I reached outside, I noticed that everyone was already in the car. I enter the bustling car through the back door and close it behind me.

"You look so fucking hot, Bella!" Kara squeals and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"As do you, Kara," I say, winking at her playfully.

She blushes and waves her hand at me before turning to the boys.

"Let's go, Amigo's!" She claps.

Aydan chuckles and cranks up the music in the car, forcing it to pound loudly against the speakers while he sped out of the gates and onto the roads.