Elizabeth's POV

One thing that shouldn't have surprised me about life was its degree of unpredictability. Yet here I sat in the front seat of a Mercedes owned by the man I once claimed to hate. His eyes remained glued to the slow-moving traffic in front of us. He glared at the honking cars and often mumbled under his breath. The aircon was freezing me alive but I didn't dare say a thing about it. He looked like he was lost in thought.

The reflection of the lights from the cars in front of us illuminated his eyes in a beautiful yet mystic way. His knuckles began to turn white with how hard he was gripping onto the steering wheel.

We sat in awkward silence. I waited for him to say something, but he just remained silent and stared at the road ahead. The numbing silence didn't seem to bother him or he was just too distracted by his thoughts to notice.

Having enough of his silence I decided to talk."Where are we going?" I asked and he shrugged. "Wherever you want to go," he said not taking his eyes off the road.

"Home," I said and he turned to look at me for the first time since I got into his car.

"I want ice cream," he said and I looked at him in bewilderment. A smile began to form on his face. "I know a great ice cream shop around here. You want to go?" He asked putting his eyes back on the road.

"Fine," I said getting the feeling I wasn't going to get much of a conversation while he was driving.

The suspense of why he could have needed me ate at me. I couldn't stand not knowing anymore. Twenty-odd minutes later he switched off the car engine in front of a quaint ice cream shop. He moved to get out of the car and I did the same. The car door was heavy and I lost my grip causing the door to slam. Hendricks turned around and glared at me. "Did you just slam my car door?" he looked horrified. He looked as if he had just witnessed a murder right before his very eyes. 

"I'm sorry," I said turning red from embarrassment.

He let out a sigh and looked up to the Heavens as if he was pleading with them. He looked back at me and let out a ragged breath before turning to walk into the ice cream shop.

They had white tables and chairs outside the ice cream shop. The shop had a giant window in the front, allowing us to see everything that was going on inside. Luca held the door open for me and I walked into what felt like a freezer. The walls had a combination of green, pink, blue, and yellow stripes of paint.

Luca stood in front of the glass that displayed the various ice creams. His face was scrunched up in seriousness as he observed the ice cream choices. There was a variety. The usual chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, caramel, mint, and then the not so usual bubblegum, banana, blueberry, and cookie dough.

A lady standing behind the counter stared at Luca and licked her lips. She neatened her hair and straightened her uniform. "Hi my name is Emily," she introduced herself. Her eyes remained fixed on him. It's like I had somehow become invisible. "What would you like?" She asked smiling through her teeth.

"Three scoops of chocolate and two vanilla," he said and she giggled like it was the most hilarious thing in the world. He looked at her in confusion and then turned to me. "What would you like love?" He asked, and her giggles died down. Her eyes moved from him to me, acknowledging my presence. Her eyes were narrowed into slits but yet she was smiling at me. She kind of looked like a creepy clown. I wanted to tell her that he meant nothing by the word love and he was just English.

"Three scoops of Strawberry and one vanilla," I simply said. She rolled her eyes and started to arrange the ice cream in paper cups. What was her problem.

I took my bag off my shoulder and began to pull out a few dollars. "What are you doing?" Luca asked.

"What does it look like I'm doing. I need money to pay."

"I'm paying for it," he said and I shook my head. Ignoring me Luca handed the lady a few bills and she handed him the cups. "I said I'd..."

"Shush," he silenced, handing me the ice cream.  How dare he shush me. Not wanting to raise my voice and cause a scene in the shop I bit down hard on my tongue. He'll pay for it later. Who does he think he is to talk and do whatever he feels like.  He walked outside of the shop and sat at one of the tables. I sat across him and watched him eat his ice cream absentmindedly.

"Like what you see, princess?" He asked and I rolled my eyes.

"No actually. I was just waiting for you to quit stalling and tell me what's going on. Why do you need me to be your date for your sister's wedding when you already have a girlfriend?"

"That was a mouth full," he smiled, putting another spoon of ice cream in his mouth."

"Luca!" He was annoying.

"Please, princess, don't say my name like that."

"Stop calling me princess!"

"See that's why you perfect for this. I mean we already got the quarreling couple part down to the T." He was frustrating me and if I knew my way back home. I would have left.
"Okay look it's simple," he started and I folded my arms and waited to hear his explanation. "My mother hates my girlfriend, Allison. So I had to lie to her that, Allison, and I broke up. In order for her to let me come back home. I need you because she was going to set me up with this girl, Abigail. So I lied again and said I'm already seeing someone."

"Sounds like you're a pathological liar," I mumbled. "Look why didn't you just agree to go with, Abigail?" I asked and he looked at me as if I'd asked him to swallow knives.

"She is only the most exhausting creature on this planet," he shrugged. "Plus knowing my sister this is going to be no small wedding. So the duration of time I would have to spend with that girl is unthinkable."

"Kind of like me thinking about all that time I would have to spend with you. That is if only I agree."

"That's where you wrong princess. When we in England I'll leave you alone and be with, Allison."

"England!" I said, in shock. "I would have to leave the country for this."

"Did I not mention that," he said  while taking another bite of his ice cream."You do have a passport?" He asked.

"Yes but that's not the point. How am I suppose to pay for a trip to England."

"All expenses paid, princess," he said with a wink.

"And what excuse would I give to my mother and friends for leaving the country?"

"That's up to you love. See you can tell them the truth or you can lie."

"Unlike you lying doesn't come easy for me, Luca." I glared at him. He made things sound like it was going to be simple, but this was going to be anything but simple.

He scoffed. "You think it comes easy for me. Do you know how hard it was for me to lie to my mother," he asked with a raised brow.

We went silent for a while and this time I took a bite of my ice cream. There was a lot to consider. I couldn't leave the country without telling my mother.

Luca was handsome even though half his face was covered in a beard, but if I had to lie to my mother and say that he was my boyfriend then she would want to meet him. He wasn't the kind of man I imagined I would take home to meet my mother and I knew my mother would never approve of him. Also, I couldn't go to England. I had work and classes.

"This won't work I have classes and work," I said and he shook his head.

"The wedding is in a few weeks plus winter break is coming up. Just ask prissy pants for a few days of leave," he said like it was so easy. He doesn't know that prissy pants is a grinch.

"This is insane."

"I know. But I have hope that we can do this. We can pull this off."

I thought about it carefully. I wanted to help him. He helped me and I wanted to return the favor. He seemed desperate and I didn't want to let him down.

I always wanted to go back to England. What I wouldn't give to walk through the British museum doors with my father again or gaze upon the vastness and wonder about the peculiar building of stone henge with him. I was ten years old when dad first took me to England. Dad and I had a love for history and adventure. When I was eleven he took mum and me to Egypt, when I was twelve he took me to Paris. The Louvre museum. The place was rich with history and the paintings that hung on the walls were something I could just sit and stare at all day. Before he could pass we planned a trip to Greece.

I missed my father more than anything. I got my sense of adventure from him and when he left he also left a gaping hole in my heart. I have never had an Adventure after that. I've just been a zombie. Wake up, school, home, and sleep. Twenty-four hours, seven days, twelve months, three hundred, and sixty-five days. Same routine every day. My father encouraged me to do new things he encouraged me to take the risk.

My mother, on the other hand, was more reserved she worried more about the dangers out there so she preferred it if I took no risks. I would give anything to have my father back. Anything to have my adventure partner and best friend back.

"You okay princess," Luca's voice brought me out of my thoughts. "Look I know I'm asking..."

"I'll help you," I blurted, cutting him off.

"Really?" He questioned, in shock.

"Yes. I'd love to see England again anyway," I said, softly and not looking up to meet his eyes.

My mother was going to become momzilla when she found out. I would just have to deal with it and face the consequences. I can't say the thought of her giving me the 'mom stare' didn't scare the bejeebers out of me. I could deal with any punishment my mom throws my way, but the worst kind was the silent treatment.

"I knew I could count on you. Thanks, love," Luca said, with a half-smirk on his face.

"Can you stop calling me love," I said, in annoyance. I was not going to deal with his stupid nicknames. I was not some common girl that melted in a puddle of goo when he uttered them.

"What should I call you then?"

"By my name."

"Your name is boring princess half the woman in England are named, Elizabeth."

"That was my grandmother's name," I said in outrage. There was no arguing with him. Talking to him was like talking to a brick.

"You ready?" He asked and I looked down at my ice cream that was now milkshake.

"Just drink your ice cream and we can leave." I chuckled, but I did it anyway. I looked at him after drinking the ice cream and he burst out laughing.
"That's quite the mustache princess," he said,  trying to suppress his laughter. "I might just have to start calling you prince instead," he said, in amusement, and I was mortified.

"Here," he said, chuckling. He pulled out a handkerchief and reached over the table to wipe the top of my lip. His green eyes met mine and the smile he had on his face disappeared. He immediately cleared his throat and pulled his hand back. "I should probably get rid of these cups," he said handing me the handkerchief. He grabbed the cups and walked over to the bins while I cleaned my face of any ice cream remains.

"Shall we leave?" He asked and I nodded. We walked back to his car and he opened the car door for me. I got in and he closed it after me. He had done this earlier too. I think because he knew the door was heavy.

"So what time will I be meeting your family on Friday?" I asked when he got into the car and buckled his seat belt.

"I'll pick you up at four," he said, starting the car.

He remained silent for the next thirty minutes. His eyes stayed fixed on the road and I looked out my passenger's side window.

He drove into the campus housing and I noticed that the lights were off again. I was getting tired of this lame excuse of a prank. The person doing this was disrupting everyone's life. Without lights, I had to study by candlelight. "Do you remember my address?" I asked and Luca smirked.

"Sweetheart, I can't remember every girl's address."

"Fifty-two," I said in annoyance. Why couldn't he just give me a straight answer. He always had to try and get on my nerves.

"Got it," he said craning his neck to look at the house numbers. Finally, he stopped the car outside my house.
"I'll see you on Friday then," he said not looking at me but the road ahead.

"Yeah," I said awkwardly and moved to get out of the car. Someone came outside of the house with a flashlight and I got temporarily distracted and let the car door slam shut.

"Elizabeth!" Luca said rolling down the car window. "I swear woman I'll never let you back in my car."

"I'm sorry," I said and he put his window up again before speeding off. I couldn't help it the door was heavy. The Mercedes disappeared into the darkness and I let out a sigh.

I turned around and walked up to the house and noticed it was Beckett holding the flashlight. "Hey," I said and moved to pass him to walk into the house.

"Who was that?" He asked.

"A friend," I shrugged and moved through the house that looked like an obstacle course due to all the light's being off. I walked into the kitchen to find them all seated around the table playing cards.
I would tell Blaire and Himari everything that happened later.

"Shall we deal you in Lizzy?" Himari asked shuffling the cards.

"Okay, just one game. I'm pretty tired." I sat down at the table and Beckett sat next to me.

"We ordered pizza," Blaire chimed in.

"Yes this creature wanted pineapple on it," Callum said gesturing to Blaire. "Can you believe it pineapple on pizza!"

"Actually pineapple on pizza isn't half bad. You guys just make a fuss about it because that's what social media tells you to do," Himari said and Blaire gave her a fist bump.

"Thank you Himi," Blaire said before glaring at Callum.

"So what will it be Liz," Callum asked, placing the two pizza boxes in front of me. This felt like I was making a serious life decision.

"I'm kind of stuffed," I said and it was the truth. That ice cream filled me up.

I played more than one game of cards with them. My thoughts kept drifting off to the eventful night that I've had. The hate I had for Hendricks had dissipated in the last few hours. I still had so many questions for him but I was certain I would get all the answers.

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A/N

I sense trouble.

There is a storm brewing fellow wattpaders.

The next chapter is in the Englishman's pov.

Please vote if you enjoyed it and feel free to drop a comment. I love reading them and communicating with my readers.

💜💜💜 P. A