The Luciano family's mansion was strangely bursting with energy despite it being a Wednesday morning. Amara came down from her room and headed straight to their breakfast nook. Her parents and her siblings were already eating as she took her seat.

"Good morning, princess." His dad greeted with a suspicious gleam on his eyes. "Enjoy your date?"

Amara reached for the toast. Her dad was usually gone when she woke up but he must have stayed to interrogate her. "Dad, you're gonna be late."

"You haven't answered my question yet," he mumbled.

"Darling..." Her mother warned as she wiped at Arwen's jam stained mouth. "Didn't Aiken tell you what happened?"

"Yeah. They had tea," Aiken mumbled as he ate his bacon. "Who even drinks tea in the evening?"

"People with good taste?" Amara and her mom answered at the same time.

"Tch. Why did you ever grow up?" He leaned down to kiss Arwen's hair. The five-year-old laughed as she tapped her father's cheek. "Arwen baby, please stay a baby for at least ten years."

They all chuckled at the man's antics. Her parents hadn't expected Arwen's arrival. Amara knew her mom had given up from having another child as Aiken turned nine, given the age gap and everything. But Arwen was a miracle.

Her mom had been embarrassed at first but watching her dad fuss over his wife's cravings made the experience worth it. She and Aiken had fun recording every moment until Arwen's birth.

It may be the reason why she still remained single. She couldn't accept any man unless they had the same look her dad gave to her mom.

They ate together for a while before her dad took his leave after kissing them goodbye. Amara licked her lips as she drank her apple juice.

"So..." her mother started. "You enjoyed your date?"

Amara eyed her mother's mischievous smile. "Mom... did you tell Primo that Aiken was waiting for me?"

"Of course. You know I'm supportive."

She gaped at her. "What? Supportive?" Amara let out a startled gasp as she realized what her mother meant. "Mom! Ew! No!"

"No? You do know how your dad and I started, right?" Her mother didn't lose her playful smile.

"Like Primo too!" Arwen commented as she jammed a fork in her cereal. Then she laughed and clapped her hands as she started singing. "Primo and Ama sitting on a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

"Oh god! Who taught her that?" Amara yelled as her face flushed. Her mom and Aiken began laughing as she reached out to slap Aiken's hand. "Did you teach her that?"

"It's not me!" he complained but didn't stop chuckling.

"Nothing like that will happen between us, Mom," she stated as she stood up and grabbed her bag. "He's my friend. That won't change."

"If you say so..."

Amara let out a grunt of frustration as she went to the car. Her mom was unbelievable. There's no way Primo and she could be like that. It was nauseating. Impossible.

Despite that, the thought haunted her on the whole ride to school. She chewed at her bottom lip as she yanked her copy of the Divine Comedy from her locker.

"Good morning, princess." Primo leaned in to whisper in her ear.

Amara froze as his minty breath made her skin tingle. She stumbled backward and swatted his arm with vehemence. "Cazzo! Don't do that!"

Primo chuckled. "What's wrong with you?"

Amara shut her eyes, calming her racing heartbeat. God! This was her mom's fault. She took a deep breath and flicked her hair over her shoulders. "I'm fine. I just had a stupid thought."

A strange expression flitted over his face. Primo inserted his hands on his black pants. "I know right. There seems to be a lot of stupid thoughts lately."

"Why are you here?" she asked. Amara now had the chance to look at him closely. Primo had his sleeves rolled up, flaunting his arm tattoos. His tie was loosened as his left ear sparkled with a cross earring.

Truth be told, Primo was one of the best-looking guys she had seen. He was charming, sweet, and sensitive to her needs. Like her dad.

Was her mom right?

"I have something to give Natasha. You have Lit together, right?"

And just like that, Amara was reminded why her thoughts and her mom's observation were stupid.

Very stupid.

She shouldn't have entertained the idea in the first place. So stupid.

"Yeah." They walked together and she noticed the folded paper between his fingers. "Oh, so the note thing is back."

Primo ignored her gibes. "You're the only one who doesn't like compliments."

"It's not like that. I just thought you'd do something special."

"Fuck. You're right." Primo clicked his tongue. "I'll think of something. Maybe on our field trip. You'll also be there, right?"

"I'm pretty sure the field trip is a requirement for seniors, Primo."

The academy had a special trip at the end of the school year. They're meant to deepen the class' bonds or something. Amara knew it was just an excuse to get drunk and fuck.

They reached the classroom and Amara entered. She tapped Natasha's shoulder and gestured at the doorway as she took a seat beside her.

She set her book down and opened it to where they had left off.

A minute later, Natasha returned. She sat down with a huff as a crumpled note fell on the ground.

That couldn't be from Primo, right?

Amara deliberately let her pen fall. She bent and snatched her pen along with the paper.

She straightened the wrinkled paper and saw a tiny scrawl. It wasn't from Primo.

Amara was too curious that she narrowed her eyes and read the small handwriting.

Natasha, please give me another chance. I won't fuck up this time.

She raised her eyebrow at the last two words. This time.

So, Natasha had an ex-boyfriend after all?

And the boy was still in love with her?

✘✘