|25|

•Charlotte•

I felt someone jump on me and I immediately stopped myself from punching that person and instead groaned knowing it was Lizzie. 

"It's your birthday!" She said excitedly, pulling the duvet away from my face. The sun shined down on me as I tried to open my eyes. 

Blindly, I reached out for my phone and squinted at the time to see it was ten am but Mary had tried face timing me three times. 

Instantly I sat up in bed and pushed my hair out of my face before facetiming her again. Lizzie sat besides me just as Mary picked up. 

"Happy birthday!" Dad waved at me, the phone lowered so I could see his chin. "Mary!" He called out. "How do I work this thing? I need my glasses." 

I was laughing, smiling. The one thing I was afraid of didn't happen. He didn't forget me. 

"Lift the phone up, dad." I said to him and he raised the phone up and I could see his face. He grinned, noticing me on the screen and wished me a happy birthday again. 

"How is Italy?" He asked loudly, as if thinking his voice wouldn't reach me. 

"It's good! Have you taken your pills? Why are you awake so early though?" I asked the question, realising we were ahead by six hours. 

"We were going to wish you a happy birthday." Dad said with a smile on his face as he glanced at someone. I heard Mary whisper shush before she appeared in front of the camera with a small cake in her hand. 

"Happy birthday!" She grinned at me and I laughed, thanking her. 

"Is that cake for me?" I asked them and Mary and Dad shook their heads. 

"I'm going to sleep now so when I wake up, that's when I'm going to have it." Dad said to me with a smile on his face as I nodded. 

"I'll talk to you later, okay?" I said to him and he nodded. "I love you." 

He smiled at me. "I love you too." He said as I waved at Mary and dad who both looked extremely tired. I cut the call and grinned to myself. 

I felt happy, content today. 

"I want a cake as well." Lizzie said besides me as she climbed out of the bed and walked towards her bag. "Your actual present is at home because it's really heavy so I couldn't bring it here with me, but I bought you this." She grinned at me as she picked up a rectangular wrapped box and walked towards me. 

She climbed back onto the bed as she handed it to me. She watched me as I started opening it. "I know you would never buy anything for yourself, so I've been saving for it. I think you could do online classes once you're bored at home." 

It was a MacBook. A laptop. "Lizzie, I can't." We never bought each other expensive gifts, not because we couldn't afford it, it was just not our thing. We liked to joke around with our gifts. 

"You have to. I'm going to be joining classes, without you, and that's a big step out of my comfort zone." She started to say, "I want you to keep it just in case you want to join some online class. You can even just keep it to mark down your fights." She chuckled at me as I wrapped my arms around her tightly. 

A knock on the door made me pull away as she quickly ran towards it. She opened the door and I heard the laughter of Josh as he played the happy birthday song. 

They walked into our room, all of them. Calvin carried a big teddy bear, while Ramon held a cake in his hands. Alex and Josh were holding bags in their hands as they grinned at me. 

"Happy birthday!" Josh exclaimed as Lizzie closed the door quickly. 

"Thank you."I couldn't stop the smile that kept on growing on my face as they walked closer to me. 

"Blow out your candles, amore." Ramon lowered the cake to me, a smile on his face as he stared at me. I lowered down and blew out the candles making a wish. 

For happiness. 

"What did you wish for?" Josh asked as he handed me the bag. "Open it. It's really hot if I say so myself." He shrugged his shoulder, feeling proud of himself. 

I opened the bag, ignoring his wish question as I pulled out a black dress. It was a short black dress with spaghetti straps and a very low back. 

"I just want to say that Lizzie helped me if you don't like it. If you do, then I take all the credit for it." He crossed his arms, looking proud of himself. 

"I'm tempted to wear this today." I smiled at him and he grinned at me, fist bumping the air, muttering he was getting good at this. 

"I definitely did choose these." Alex handed me another bag and I took it off him. I pulled out the box and I smiled at it as I opened it. Black converse. 

"I know you're not a heel girl." Alex said, patting his shoulder as I thanked him. 

"Lizzie said you would like this." Calvin handed me the brown teddy bear. It wasn't a huge one but was much bigger than the small panda one I had at home. 

"Lizzie didn't leave the room last night." I said to them after thanking them for the gifts. They had all ran away, leaving us behind once we came back from The Colosseum, which was a beautiful place. 

"The power of texting." Josh said grinning at me as a knock on the door made us all turn to it again. 

Josh walked towards the door and I glanced at them to see it was Anna. "Oh." She muttered, looking confused, but a blush crawled up her face. "Mr Walter said to meet in the lobby. We will be going to the Pantheon." She smiled at him. 

"Okay." Josh nodded at her and he watched as she walked away before closing the door. "Well then, when did Anna get so beautiful?" He asked, confused as he walked towards me. I could feel Ramon's eyes glaring into the back of his head as Josh grabbed my arm, and lifted me out of the bed. "Time to be my wingwoman." He grinned at me as Lizzie laughed, noticing that I was only in a pair of black panties and a white shirt. 

We wanted to feel like we were in the movies where they wake up and look pretty sexy. 

Ramon pulled Josh's hand away from mine and I grinned as he pulled me towards him. He said something to the boys in italian who chuckled but walked out of the room. Lizzie laughed at us as she picked up her clothes and walked into the bathroom, leaving us alone in the room. 

"Did you tell them to leave?" I asked as Ramon reached out for me but I pulled away from him. He frowned but nodded. 

"I told them do a lot more than leave." He said, smiling as he moved closer to me. I took a step back. "Stop moving away from me." His lips formed a pout as he reached out to me again. 

I chuckled as I moved back, feeling the bed behind me. "I think maybe it's time for you to leave. I need to get changed." 

"I could help you." His eyes were darkening as he ran his gaze over my body taking his sweet time, making my body tingle. 

"Get out." I threw a pillow at him which he caught. 

"You're not escaping me tonight, amore." He grinned at me as he walked backwards towards the door. "I think I've made myself clear. I want you to be mine. If you want the same thing, I'll be here tonight." A smirk tugged on his lips as he threw the pillow back at me and I caught it. 

I watched Ramon walk out of the door and I threw myself down on the bed, the laptop box poking into my stomach as I groaned. 

***

"Ramon!" I heard Tiffany's voice squeal as she walked towards him. I stopped walking towards them, as I saw her. 

She placed her hand on his chest, looking up at him with those big blue eyes that fluttered at him. 

"Maybe we should leave her here." I said to Lizzie who chuckled but grabbed my hand, pulling me towards them. 

I was wearing my burgundy dress that came to my thighs. The weather was beautiful and warm as we stepped into the lobby. I could see the sun shining down on the windows, and everyone waiting excitedly. Lizzie had given me a bunch of long necklaces to wear with the dress. I had twisted my hair up into a messy bun and I looked beautiful. 

We walked towards them and Ramon instantly looked at me, a smile on his face as he pulled away from Tiffany and walked towards me. Lizzie let go of my hand and walked towards Calvin who was grinning at her. 

"You look beautiful." Ramon said as he stopped in front of me. He reached out for my hand and I let him hold it. "You and I. Tonight. Ice cream and watching the sunset. What do you think? We don't have to call it a date." He smiled at me, as I felt him entwining our fingers together. 

Take a leap. 

"I would like that." I returned his smile and he nodded, as he let go of my hand. 

"See you tonight." He walked away from me and towards Mr Walter. I looked at him in confusion as he said something to Mr Walter who nodded. My eyes widened as Ramon walked out of the hotel, alone. 

Where was he going? 

***

Ramon didn't join us on the trip to The Pantheon. I texted him wondering where he was, but he didn't reply back. Lizzie and I walked throughout the building, listening to the tour guide that was talking in english to us. We took a bunch of pictures together, posing against the walls, ignoring everyone's weird looks. 

We were in Rome. It was my birthday. I looked pretty and that equalled to us taking a bunch of pictures that she would place all over her room. 

"Are we having drinks in your room?" Lizzie asked Josh as we walked inside the hotel. 

"Rest up, everyone. Tomorrow we will be visiting a museum so I need you all to be awake early." Mr Walter called out to all of us. Immediately people headed to the elevator or the stairs to go to their rooms. 

"Yes but you have to sneak in. One person at a time." Josh whispered at us and I smiled as I walked towards the elevator. "If Mr Walter finds out, I am a dead man." He said chuckling as Calvin and Alex nodded. 

We stepped into the elevator. "Lizzie can come first and then we'll text you when it's clear, Charlotte." Calvin said and I nodded as Lizzie smiled at them. The door closed. 

I wasn't really in the mood to get drunk today. Lizzie wanted to have the experience but I wanted to go to my room and to ring the private hospital up to let them know I would be coming soon. 

Alex started talking about how he couldn't wait to get home as we stepped out of the elevator. I walked towards my room as Lizzie followed the  boys to Josh and Alex's room. 

I opened the door to my room and walked inside, switching on the lights. 

Two tubs of ice cream were placed on the table in the middle of the room. I chuckled, as I glanced around looking for him. "Ramon?" I called out but he didn't appear as I walked towards the ice cream tubs. They were still cold and frozen so he would have been here a few minutes ago. 

I dropped my bag on the bed and took my black converses off. New shoes hurt like a bitch when it came to walking. 

A knock on the door made me glance at it. I walked towards it and opened it up to see Ramon standing there, rubbing the back of his neck as if he was nervous. 

He let out a soft sigh, smiling at me. "Hey." 

"Hi." I returned the smile. "Where did you go?" I asked him. 

"I had to buy you a gift." He answered truthfully as he pulled out a small box from the pocket of his jacket. "I didn't like anything yesterday when the boys went out to get you a gift. Nothing was up to your standards and I wanted the gift to be perfect." He ran a hand through his hair as he handed me the small box. "I saw this today and I liked it. I don't know if you'll like it or not but I hope you do."

Ramon Vitali was rambling. It was cute. 

I opened the small box slowly, my eyes widened at what was inside. It was a small silver star shaped necklace and it was beautiful. It shined in the light. 

"I believe that when someone dies, they're watching us from the stars above. Your mom is watching you, amore, and I want you to know that she is always with you." His voice was low as if he was waiting for me to reject the gift. 

"I love it." I smiled up at him. "I really love it." 

I believed that she was always with me. 

He grinned at me, no longer nervous as he leaned against the door, watching me stare at the necklace. I looked up at him, again. "Shall we have the sunset date?" I asked. 

Ramon nodded immediately as I took a step back into the room. "My room has a balcony." He said to me, and I nodded as I walked to the bunch of clothes next to the wall after putting the necklace box on the bed. 

"I'm going to get changed first." I told him and he nodded as he closed the door behind myself and walked towards the table with the ice cream on it. 

I grabbed the long white shirt and walked towards the bathroom. I quickly got changed out of the dress and washed my face. Twisting my hair up into a bun, I clipped it in place and started taking all the necklaces off. 

I walked out of the bathroom, leaving everything in there. I could sort it out later. Ramon watched me as I walked towards the bed and picked up the necklace. "Help me put it on?" I asked him. 

He placed the ice cream tubs down on the table and walked towards me, his eyes never moving from mine. I handed him the silver star necklace and turned my back to him. His hands were cold and I tried to not to shudder as he placed the necklace around my neck. 

He murmured something in italian as he placed the cold chain down on my neck. "What?" I asked, turning around to look at him. 

He glanced down at the necklace that was peeking from under the collars of the shirt. "I said, you look ravishing." His voice was low and deep as I tried not to smile. 

I felt the shiver on my skin as I pushed him away, laughing. He chuckled as he walked towards the table and picked up the ice cream tubs. "Ready for the date?" He asked. 

I nodded as I grabbed my phone and pushed my feet into black flat shoes before following him out of the room. Ramon walked towards the end room and he opened it up with his key card. He stepped aside and motioned me to walk inside. I found the light and switched them on. 

The lights flickered throughout the room as they  came on, brightening up the whole room. It was a big room, with two double beds and a bathroom. There was a small kitchen area pushed right against the wall which Ramon walked towards as the door shut behind us. 

"I'll get the spoons." He said as I walked towards the balcony. I pulled open the door and the wind blew into the room. It wasn't cold at all as I sat down on one of the chairs and stretched my legs out. I wasn't wearing any pants underneath but that was because it was too hot here. 

It was barely half six in the evening but I could see the sky slowly becoming beautiful with strokes of pink and purple. 

Ramon walked out towards me and handed me the tub of vanilla ice cream. My favourite. He gave me a spoon and sat down on the chair next to mine. 

"Is it okay if I make a quick call?" I asked him and he nodded. 

I needed to ring the private hospital up. I placed the ice cream on the floor and picked up my phone to ring the hospital. After a few rings, a woman picked up asking me what I need help with. 

I had applied for a spot three months ago, so I asked her for the name Rebecca Woods and if they would accept payment in cash. I smiled as the woman said my spot would be confirmed if I did a payment in the next week. I could do that. 

I agreed to it and then ended the call with a smile on my face. 

"It went well, I'm assuming?" Ramon asked as I picked up the ice cream tub and took the lid off. It was still a little frozen except the top part that was melting slowly. 

"Yes. Next week, I can go pay for it and then my dad will get the help he needs." I answered him as I rested my head back on the chair and carried on eating. 

"Why not take him to a public hospital and not a private one?" I glanced at him in confusion as he clarified. "I heard the name of the hospital." 

I stared at the sky. "I think a private hospital will help him more. I've been saving up for it and I want him to get the best treatment he can. Nothing but the best." 

"I admire you for that. When my father died, I didn't take the time to stop and look back. I kept going forward, taking care of everything he left behind. I admire you for always making your dad your first priority." He said to me, his voice filled with awe and a hint of pride as he stared at the clouds. 

"Last year I fucked up." I chuckled at him and he turned around on the chair, staring at me. 

Raising an eyebrow, he asked. "What did you do?"

I wanted to tell him all about Logan. To ask him not to bring me in between this feud they had going on but it wasn't Ramon's fault. He either knew it was me and was choosing to ignore it, or he didn't know. 

I wanted to keep this happy bubble alive for a little longer. 

"I got involved with the wrong crowd and my dad grew sick, which made me realise I have to pull my big girl socks on." I said, shrugging my shoulders as I ate the ice cream.

"I noticed." He said simply. 

I turned to look at him. "You noticed what?" 

"There is a lot you don't know about me, amore."  He chuckled to himself as if whatever he was hiding would make me run. It wouldn't. 

"Tell me. Share your darkest secrets with me, Ramon." I said to him as I crossed my legs and sat up straight, facing him. He didn't dare look down at my legs as I pulled the shirt over them. "Tell me what you noticed." 

"I noticed a girl who deserved the world." He was staring at me. "She deserved happiness." 

I could feel the blush rising on my cheeks as I raised an eyebrow at him. "Happiness?" 

He nodded. "I saw you every day. You would laugh with Lizzie, talk back to Tiffany. You just didn't give a fuck and I loved that." He blurted out as I tried not to widen my eyes. He chuckled to himself as if he couldn't believe he said it. "Want me to be honest with you, amore?"

Ramon stood up, and he stretched his hand out to me. I placed my phone down on the chair before holding his hand and standing up. I felt his hands on my chin as he tilted my face up, his fingers caressing my cheek. "I am in love with you, Charlotte." It was a whisper. "The day I saw you, was the day I thought, yes. That's my girl." 

I tried not to grin, as his right hand cupped my face. "In love?" I asked him and he grinned at me. 

There was something there for us. Something that was making me want to break every barrier I had built and to enjoy life. I liked him and there was no denying that. He stared at me, watching me think, his eyes glancing down at my lips. 

I couldn't keep the small smile off my face as Ramon leaned down. He waited for me to pull away, but I wanted him to kiss me. To make this desire inside of me burst up into flames. He saw it. His eyes darkened, as he placed a hand on my waist and pulled me closer to him. 

Ramon leaned down towards me, just as I heard a big crashing noise from the room. Pulling away from him, I quickly looked at Calvin and Lizzie. 

Lizzie had her legs wrapped around him, as she pulled on his shirt and took it off, returning back to the kiss that was getting heated. 

Ramon muttered something in Italian to himself as I glanced up at him. "You think we should break up their moment?" I asked him. 

"Fuck yes. They broke mine." He glared at them through the door before walking towards it and pulling open the door. "Hey!" He walked into the room, exclaiming at them. 

I laughed as Lizzie and Calvin immediately pulled away. Lizzie giggled as she spotted us. 

"Hi."She giggled again. "Josh ran off to tell Anna she is so beautiful." She laughed as she pushed her hair out of her face. It was completely messy as if someone had run their hands through it. "Then Alex went to go chase him down and Calvin and I drank loads of vodka." She sighed as she looked up at him. He chuckled. 

Lizzie turned to me. "You look pretty." She walked towards me and wrapped her arms around me tightly. "I need a hug." She mumbled to me, holding onto me tightly. 

"Let's get you to bed." I said to her as I wrapped my arms around her and pushed back against her knees. Lizzie walked backwards without letting go of me. 

"Did you have a good birthday?" She asked me as she laid her head on my shoulder. 

Ramon opened the door to me, waiting for the answer. "The best." I answered her as I looked up at him. 

Ramon smiled at me, knowing whatever had happened on the balcony would happen again. One day. I walked out of the room, dragging Lizzie with me and headed towards our room. 

The barriers between us had collapsed and I happily allowed it. I was happy and for once I wanted to do something for myself. 

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Hi guys, I want to try a little experiment. If I reach 1k followers on instagram (glitterxox1) before the book is over, I’ll triple update! The next couple of chapters are my absolute favourite. Probably the best I've ever written. Otherwise the next update will be on Monday or Tuesday!

Question- How freaked out and excited would you be if I told you book two is about Ramon and Charlotte as well? The idea came to me last night and my plan is to start writing it today!