A week later I push my suitcase in front of me. 'Thank you for taking me with you,' I say to Sophia's parents. 'Our pleasure. We love having you around!' Annie says and hands me my plane ticket. After we pass security and all the other stuff, we board our plane. I'm seated next to Sophia and her mother. Jack is in the row behind us by the window. 'I'm sorry you have to sit there. We could ask to switch?' I say to Jack. 'Nonsense, girl. I don't mind sitting here,' he says friendly and gazes out of the window.

              Once we are in the air, Annie puts in her earplugs and tries to take a nap. Apparently she had the night shift at her work and didn't have any chance to sleep in the last day and a half. Sophia lays her head on my shoulder and takes my hand. 'Did you hear anything from you-know?' she asks. During the week we had a few discussions about Stanford. We decided to not speak of it anymore. 'Nope,' I say and kiss the top of her head.

Sophia takes out the book she's reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. She has made me watch the film, which is actually pretty good. But I felt like I didn't understand the whole story. Maybe I should read the book after Sophia finished it? Eventually I fall asleep.

We gather our luggage as we are arrived at the airport. Annie is on the phone with her mother. It's chaotic Italian, even Sophia can't understand a thing she is saying. 'I wish you could have brought Molly,' I whisper to my girlfriend. She smiles at me. 'My nonna has a few cats. Well, they are not actually hers, but she feeds them and they are really sweet.' I smile.

A taxi is waiting for us outside of the airport. Annie takes the front seat. I sit in the middle between Jack and Sophia. 'Ever been to Italy?' Jack breaks the silent. 'Once when I was little. My sister kept pushing me in the pool on purpose,' I say. Jack looks at me in shock. 'We do get along now,' I assure him. He smiles softly. 'You are an odd bird,' he whispers. 'Dad!' Sophia exclaims. 'I don't mean it in the offending way. I like your girlfriend,' Jack says. 'It's okay.'

After a not so long, but neither short drive, we arrive at our destination. We get out of the car and are greeted by the most adorable little grandmother you could imagine. 'Antonella! È così bello rivederti! Mi sei mancata, figlia mia .' Annie hugs her mother back and mutters something in Italian. 'They missed each other,' Jack translates a little.

The adorable little lady makes her way to us. 'Ciao, nonna,' Sophia says and hugs her grandmother. They mumble something to each other no one can hear or understand. Sophia introduces me and repeats what she said in Englis: 'Nonna, this is my girlfriend, Renée.' 'Ciao,' I say and shake her hand. To my surprise she extends the handshake in to a hug and mumbles something. It sounded sweet?

Annie shows us around as Jack helps to unload the taxi and pays for it. Sophia's nonna and mother give us a big grin. 'You two are sleeping in the garden house. There's no room in the little kids room Sophia normally sleeps in,' Antonella says. 'Okay,' Sophia smiles thankful. Once we arrive in the cozy and adorable garden house, Jack gives us our suitcases.

Jack and nonna leave to go back to the house. 'I also thought you two might enjoy the privacy,' Annie says and winks at us before leaving. With flushed faces Sophia and I look at each other. We never really talked about getting our relationship a step further. But I think we have both thought about it – well, I am actually sure about that.

'We should unpack,' Sophia says and opens her suitcase. I do the same. There's only one closet, but it spacious enough to fit the belongings of five people. 'You better hide that tattoo. My nonna isn't really fond of it,' Sophia says and looks at my arm. 'Will she dislike me if she knew? She might have already seen it?' 'Well, maybe she wouldn't notice. Her eyesight is getting worse,' Sophia ignores my question.

I love Sophia, I really do. I am just afraid to tell her. Especially now that the Stanford-thing has put a weird vibe between us. If it was her who would have had the opportunity to go there, I would be thrilled. I would support her no matter what and makes the situation as comfortable as possible.

We decided to go swimming in a small lake not far from here. I take a look at the view. It's beautiful here. We are out of the city and it is so quiet and peaceful. But freakishly hot. I dip my toe in the water and am surprised by the cold. 'Well, that's cold,' I say. 'You have to just jump right in,' Sophia says and puts our towels on the grass. 'That's actually not healthy,' I say but am ignored by Sophia jumping in the water.

I use a different approach by going in to the water in steps. 'Hurry, you girlfriend wants to splash you,' Sophia laughs. The straps of her red polka dot bikini on her shoulders are brighter in the sunlight. 'Did we brought the sunscreen with us?' I ask before I swim to her. 'Yes, it's in our bag, you vampire,' she smiles and comes closer so she can kiss me.

Sophia wraps her arms around my shoulders and her legs around my waist. I try to stand still in the water, but slip on the slippery ground beneath my feet. We take a dive and go back to the surface laughing. 'Sorry, I slipped,' I laugh. Sophia laughs and splashes me. 'Now come back here so we can finish that kiss,' she says and takes my hand to pull me closer. For safety, we both keep standing on our feet.

When our lips meet, sparks fly. Just like the first time we kissed. I remember at the beginning of the schoolyear, how she would watch me. I was surprised someone noticed me. From the moment we met I thought she was beautiful. I just never thought I would actually fall in love with her and be her girlfriend. But I am very glad and grateful it turned out this way.

Sophia stops kissing me and then hugs me. 'Don't you ever leave me,' she whispers begging. My stomach ties into a knot and I don't answer her. If I would have never met her, there would be no one to hold me back and stop me from my dreams. But now there is. I let her go and step out of the water. I put my towel flat on the dried grass and take a seat.

Sophia looks at me hurt. 'Sunscreen break,' I say and take the bottle out of our bag. I start put sunscreen on my arms and legs. I am wearing a swimming suit with shorts. Sophia gets out of the water too and takes the bottle of sunscreen out of my hands. She gently puts sunscreen on my shoulders and back. She then takes my head out of our bag and puts it on my head. 'Wouldn't want you to burst into flames,' she says coldly.

I try to ignore the uncomfortable silence as I watch the view of the landscape. Our silences were never uncomfortable, but now they are. We need to communicate, we both are bottling things up. 'Why are you not supportive of my dreams? If it would be the other way around, I would personally drag you to Stanford and support you as good as I can.' 'You didn't got in yet,' she says and puts her sunglasses on. I sigh and shake my head.

I take my towel and slippers and walk away. 'Renée! Wait!' Sophia shouts and packs her stuff before running after me. 'I wanted to talk about it, so the awkwardness would go away. I never felt uncomfortable around you and now I want to tear my own skin out to be a little comfortable. I really don't why you are giving me the cold shoulder,' I say.

'How would you feel if the one person that makes your life better would move across the ocean for a few years?' 'Do you think I like leaving you here? You make my life better too,' I say and start walking faster. 'No,' Sophia simply says. 'Then why are you making a whole scene out of it and making it harder?!' I shout and look over my shoulder to her.

Shocked by the emotions she just stands there and looks at me in surprise. I never shouted at her, never. I want to apologize, but I am feeling to much to do so. I sigh and shake my head again before I start walking back to the house. 'Because I love you, you smart idiot! I love you and want to see you as much as possible. And I am afraid if you go to Stanford everything will fall apart.'

Sophia has to shout too, because I am farther away to understand her normal speaking voice. I stop walking and turn around. I can see some tears in the corner of her eyes that make their way down her cheeks. 'You love me?' I ask as I walk back to her. 'Yes! I wanted to tell you last week, but Juliette wal-' I interrupt her by kissing her.

'I love you too,' I whisper and give her another little kiss. Sophia lets out a deep, relieved sigh as if she was holding her breath for too long. 'I am sorry I shouted at you,' I say and hug her. 'That's okay.' I take her hand and we start walking back to the house. 'And I do support your dreams, I really do. I am sorry if I made you doubt that.' 'You are forgiven,' I say and kiss her hand.

Translations in order:

'Antonella! It's nice to see you again! I missed you, my daughter!'

Wordcount: 1706