PART ONE OF TWO

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~Elliot~

"Okay, have you got your passports?" Austin says from my side as I boost Chloe up to put her rucksack in the roof box of Hugo's car.

"Yes" we all chorus, I share a look with Chloe, who laughs, as she perches herself on the roof and assists Hugo in putting his hand luggage in too.

"Tickets, hand luggage, general luggage, cameras, phones, phone chargers-" Austin's cut off as Hugo rolls his eyes and kisses him. Chloe makes a gagging noise and I laugh.

"Shut up you weirdo, Captain Mafia over here wouldn't let us forget anything" Hugo shakes his head and laughs at me as I frown, Austin blushes bright red and I give him a gentle nudge to get in the damn car. He laughs embarrassedly and secured his seatbelt.

"Will you stop calling me Captain Mafia? It's been a whole year"

"Mhm, and I'm pretty sure you saved Clara's little butt, and get used to it, I'm about to call you it every day for two weeks"

"It's a shame I don't speak fluent Italian, then I could apologise for my boyfriend's possibly offensive name calling" Austin pipes up as Chloe beckons us all into the car. Hugo laughs again and I nod as Austin turns to grin at me.

"Will you two stop with the flirting? I think I'm going to sick, and not from motion sickness" Chloe says sternly, but there's a joking smile on her face as Hugo and Austin instantly begin flirting at a level even worse than before.

"I am loving your shoes Hughie"

"Mhm but your sunglasses make you look a movie star Austin Powers"

Hughie, Austin Powers and Captain Mafia are just some of the nicknames that have surfaced this yeah. Others include: Bearable Bitch, who is Vanessa, who although apologised to Clara, is still a bitch, but thankful for what happened. Also, CC which has become Austin's nickname for Clara, which in long is Calamity Clara as she is always showing me a new bruise or cut when we Skype each other. Chloe has also become BBB, or Blonde Badass bombshell after Austin and Hugo discussed her abortion one night and Austin insisted she was a badass. My friends everyone.

Sixth form has been hard work, but I'm happy to say I survived my first year, the worst part is that Clara isn't there everyday like she used to be. And although her camera and sound quality sucks, so that when Skype, (rarely with video) I can barely hear or see her, it's great that she's actually there.

The whole way down the motorway, Austin and Hugo insist on singing their way through the entire Gay anthems album. Which has me in stitches and Chloe complaining about a raging headache.

"IT'S RAINING MEN, HALLELUJAH, IT'S RAINING MEN, EVERY SPECIMEN" the couple almost scream as we whizz faster than I thought down the motor way. Chloe has hunched herself into a ball due to her apparent car sickness, I'm sipping soothing words of empathy as best as I can over the racket of the not-so-talented duo in the front.

Lucky for poor Chloe, we're soon at the airport, I jump out to help Hugo unload the bags from the boot as Austin talks to Chloe.

"How are you so excitable? It's like 6 in the morning!" I question, muffling a  yawn and rubbing my eyes as Hugh then hands me Austin's case which I wheel at him.

"What can I say Elliot? I'm with the guy I love, and my best friends, on the way to see CC herself, of course I'm excited! Even if it is a demonic hour, I'm surprised you're not more excited" he peeks at me suspiciously as if he can tell something's up, his eyes watching me carefully as I look at him back.

"I'm actually really nervous" I whisper, looking over my shoulder. "Don't tell the others"

"Why? This is Clara! The girl who loves you"

"She said it when I was basically at coma state Hugh; and yes I know she said I throughout the two weeks I spent in Italy with her that summer, and the week she came home with me. But I haven't seen her for a year, her image on Skype, which I rarely saw, was always distorted. What if she's changed?"

"Change isn't always bad, and anyway, I doubt it, if she has changed it will be maybe being happier or more colour in her hair look she had when we first met her. And I don't think she's going to feel any different about you"

"Yeah; you're right, but maybe..."

"Don't you dare say it Elliot. You are good enough for her. I don't think anyone would fight a battle for the girl they like, or risk their life for that reason. You two weren't even together properly at the time"

"Okay fine, but she is so stunning that-"

"Elliot for gods sake" he slams the boot down and looks at me agitated. "Stop being such a girl. Look, I'm a raging homosexual, and take it from me, you're pretty hot too, not that I'm interested before you make things weird"

"I second that!" Austin says, sliding his arm round Hugo who leans into the touch.

"Me too!" Chloe pipes up and springs to wrap her hands round my arm. "Now come on, we've got a plane to catch".

***

"Hugo" I whisper nervously, shaking him. He groans and scoots in his seat to get more comfortable. "Hugh wake up" I elbow him in the ribs and he jerks awake, narrowing his eyes at me.

"Yes Elly Kins?" He yawns and stretches his arms our, nearly knocking me out as his fist flies past my face.

"We're here. Italy. We've landed" my stomach drops and I take a deep breath as he settles his eyes on me and smirks.

"Oooooh lets go see CC and her Daddy-O!" He shrieks, jumping to his feet, then looking around frantically for Austin.

"I'm here you little weirdo" he laughs, his taller frame wrapping around Hugo's. Hugh sighs in relief and hugs him back, I find Chloe and she smiles and leads me out to the airport central.

"How're you feeling El?" She smiles, arm wrapping through mine so we can stay close but walk side to side, without losing one another in the crowd.

"Terrible if I'm honest Chlo, really really nervous. It's been so long, and there are just some things that can't be satisfied with just a Skype call" 

"You'll be fine" she grins, wrapping her arms round me and hauling me along as a laugh manages to escape me.

As we leave the airport, Chloe is suddenly hit with the realisation that we have no idea where we are going except they are in Florence. I have no idea where that is from where we are and none of us speak Italian. But the real problem is that the town is reportedly quite large and I have no idea where Clara and the Mafia is actually located.

"Shit" Hugo voices all of our thoughts as we stand at the entrance of the airport. Taxis and commotion everywhere we look, everyone speaking Italian and everyone giving us odd looks.  We all look at Chloe who rolls her eyes at how we are expecting her to know what to do.

She manages to hail us a taxi and she tries to explain to the driver where to go, but he doesn't speak very good English. He shakes his head at her and frowns, eyeing the three of us guys in the back.

"Can someone try and call Clara? Hugh, your Mum bought you that Euro contract thingy right?"

Oh yeah that's another thing. Not long after Hugh had been staying at my house, his Mum came over in floods of tears and said that she could accept who he was. She said how Jesus said we should love one another but was not gender specific and so she now also adores Austin. Bizarre I know, but also incredible for Hugh and his sensitivity.

"Yeah!...Oh for fucks sake, no service" he sighs and rests his head against Austin's shoulder. Looking worried about the situation and upset.

I know, even though he hasn't said, but Hugh is looking forward to seeing Clara too, he trusted her with the biggest secret he ever kept and she was so kind to him about it. Austin loves her to pieces and Chloe is her best friend, Clara encouraged her to stand up for herself and to finally ditch Vanessa.

We get dropped off at the edge of Florence and Austin pulls out his map, which by the confusion on his and how he is turning it over and over in his hands and glancing at Hugh who shrugs, he can't even figure out what way it is.

We follow Chloe, who has stolen the map with a huff and a muttering of: "boys". She leads us down a country road and through a small town, with a fountain and a cobbled road. Chloe sighs and flops down on a wooden bench which Austin and Hugo fall onto. Panting slightly in the hot heat.

"This....is...hopeless" Chloe says, between pants. "El, are you sure you know nothing else?"

"Positive, they're the Mafia Chlo, they're so confidential, you're lucky I could get you all to come too" I say, slightly agitated, I spin round and fold my arms, lowering my head in disappointment. Here we are, stranded in Italy, with little money and no idea where we are exactly.

Then something bright and vibrant catches my eye, not far from us, a girl with dark hair but with lilac highlights. Austin stares at me then follows my eye line and nudges the others. Hugo gasps as she flicks her purple tinted hair and sits down at the stone fountain. It's truly a sight, she looks striking with the fountain covering half of her and the sun bearing down to shine upon the colours in her hair.

"Is that-"

"Clara. CLARA!" I yell, unable to hide my desperation to just hold her again. Her head turns and a grin spreads across her face as I run across the square, pigeons fly everywhere as I do and she picks up her pace to meet me half way. Her new colourful hair flying behind her, but the brunette in that I know so well twists and intertwines with the new colours, her hazel eyes sparkling and bright. As I am within her reach I wrap my arms around her and lift her into the air, her laugh dances through the air and rains down on me as we both beam at each other. I don't think I've ever been so happy to see someone in my whole life. I kiss her hard and passionately and she giggles as kiss around her face, shaking my head in glee.

"I can't believe you're finally here!" she exclaims. "I missed you"

She then hugs Chloe and Austin and Hugo, who are almost as thrilled as I am to see her. She looks amazing, tanned like she was when I first met her, with colours in her hair and a strong Italian accent that had faded. But I love it when she speaks Italian, so I am certainly not the one complaining.

She takes my hand and leads us to a shop called gigli Rosa e Milo di in a pink cursive font on a wooden crème sign. It translates, as I'm told to Rosa and Milo's lilies. We smile and I hug Rosa and her new boyfriend; I notice a photo on the wall of Milo, looking younger and happier, I smile and Rosa pats my shoulder as she lets us lay candles on the wooden shelf I front of his picture, then we make our way to the basement. Clara pushes forward what looks like a vase but is actually some sort of lever and we take the lift down to the third underground floor.

Clara knocks on the door, smiling at me, as a familiar voice booms for us to enter. Franco Devoto rises from his desk and I hear Chloe gulp nervously. Then he laughs and I see them visibly relax, he introduces himself to them and thanks them for looking after his daughter and how he is delighted to meet them. He then shakes my hand.

"It's wonderful to see you again Elliot, I'm so glad you both worked something out"

"Well Sir, thank you for making sure I could wake up in time to stop my girl from slipping through my fingers" Clara smiles at me and grips my hand tighter, he shakes my hand and then surprises me by hugging me.

"I feel like you're a part of my family Elliot, and believe me, it's a pleasure to have you with us"

I look at Clara who looks delighted at her Father's words. I smile and nod.

It really is a true pleasure.