F A L L O N

"And you're probably with that blonde girl, who always made me doubt. She's so much older than me, she's everything I'm insecure about."

. . .

Sorry?

Sorry?!

What the fuck is he sorry for? That he kissed me, or that it happened? Or for putting me in this situation?

God, why must he act so weird?

Finishing my salad, I throw away the container and go back upstairs, where I crawl in bed with a permanent frown edged on my face.

The next day, I don't see a hint of Nicholas throughout the house. Good, I don't even want to see him.

Fucking bastard who is an extremely good kisser.

As a way to distract me, I put on a tennis skirt with a matching shirt. Letting my hair loose, I decide against putting on make-up and grab my purse.

My destination is a restaurant downtown, where they sell delicious pasta and pizza. The drive isn't long, and it's not hard to find a parking spot.

Exiting my car, I lock it behind me and walk towards the entrance of the restaurant. Which I see that's quite crowded.

But I'm going to ask for take-out, so normally I'll be getting a quicker service since I'm not going to eat here.

Going to stand in line, I zone out and wait patiently until it's my turn. The waiter is asking everyone in line if they have a reservation. The people that don't, get sent back since all the tables are booked.

Maybe I should've called beforehand, and ask to ready my order so I didn't have to wait such a long time.

"Nicholas, I'm telling you, you work too much. God, even your father doesn't throw himself into his work, and he's the owner!" I hear a woman's voice say behind me.

Knowing that the chances are odd, I decide to glance over my shoulder anyway, only to have my eyes widen when I lay eyes on Nicholas.

Next to him is standing an older woman, who seems to be in her fifties. But she still looks young and has beauty to her. I instantly know it's his mother.

The green in their eyes is similar, and when she sends me a friendly smile, the same dimple pops out. Nicholas' smile is similar to hers.

The man standing on his other side takes my breath away. Even though he's older, the resemblance between him and his son is scary.

They have the same posture and built, the same shape of eyes, and their defined features match.

"Fallon?" Nicholas asks, surprised. I move my eyes to his and feel a blush creeping on my face.

"Nicolas, hey," I smile tightly. His mom looks up at her son. "You know this young girl, Nicholas?" she asks.

"Yeah, this is Fallon. I'm staying at her house with Stella," he says. His mom turns to look at me, a bright smile on her face.

"Oh, hey sweetheart! Thank you so much for letting Nicholas stay with you while his house is under construction," she exclaims and surprises me by hugging me.

"Oh, it's no problem, Mrs. Amoretto," I chuckle and hug her back, a warm feeling going through me. She feels so motherly and seems incredibly sweet.

"Please! Call me Athena," she smiles and leans back. "I'm Vincenzo," the other man speaks up, and extends his hand for me to shake. I hear a slight Italian accent in his voice.

"Fallon Lopez," I introduce myself and shake his hand. My eyes turn back towards Athena, and I'm stunned by her beauty.

"It's nice to meet you," I tell them and send them a friendly smile.

"It's so nice to meet you too, sweetheart! You should have lunch with us!" Athena proposes. My lips part, and I find myself at a loss for words.

"I don't want to intrude. I'll just grab a..."

"Oh hush! Let us treat you to lunch as a thank you for letting our son stay with you," she smiles and takes my hand in hers.

"Yes, let us do this," Vincenzo smiles, the warmth of it catching me off guard. Feeling rude if I were to decline, I can't help but give in and say yes.

I don't look at Nicholas when I do so.

"Perfect!" Athena smiles and keeps on holding my hand in hers, her grip soft and warm. When it's eventually our turn, Vincenzo steps forward.

"On the name Amoretto," he says, and the waiter checks the list first, before nodding and guiding us to a table by the window, that has a beautiful view of the city.

"So, Fallon, how old are you?" Athena asks once we're seated down. Vincenzo has taken a seat beside her, and their son is next to me.

I try to avoid the awkward tension between us. The only word he has said to me, was my name. I try not to look at him, either.

"I'm twenty," I answer and brush some strands of hair away. "Oh, so you're in college, I assume?" Vincenzo asks and leans back in his chair, asking for a glass of water when the waiter stops by our table.

I ask for water too, while Nicholas asks for white wine, and so does Athena.

I nod. "Yes, I'm in college," I grin. "And where do you study?" Athena asks.

"In New York," I answer, feeling like my replies are short and clipped. I want to elaborate, but I'm too nervous to do so.

I'm having lunch with Nicholas' parents. There's nothing more nerve-wracking than this.

"Oh, really? Our daughter Aurora lives in New York!" Athena smiles. "Yeah, how is she?" Nicholas asks.

"Good, planning to come over soon," Vincenzo replies, a smile coming on his face at the mention of his daughter. "Elena said she might stop by as well, though you never know with her," Athena sighs and shakes her head.

"Leave her alone, she's enjoying her life," Vincenzo chuckles and takes the menu card, flipping through it.

"I know," Athena smiles and focuses her green eyes back on me. "What do you study, honey? I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions," she chuckles.

"Yeah, bad habit," Nicholas mumbles, earning a glare from his mother. Vincenzo shoots Nicholas a little smile from across the table but straightens up when he gets a glare from his wife.

"Careful there, boy," he warns and clears his throat.

Athena narrows her eyes. "I don't know how I put up with you two."

I let out a little laugh and lean back a bit in my chair, seeing how well they get along with each other.

When Athena looks back at me, I remember her question. "I study archeology," I answer. Her eyes widen a bit. "Oh, wow. That's interesting," she smiles, "Nicholas likes that subject as well. So do I, actually."

"Really?" I ask, pleasantly surprised. She nods. "Of course! I've traveled with Vincenzo to a bunch of places across the world, Europe specifically."

"Dragged me there," her husband corrects.

Athena sends him another glare. "You were the one who took me there first. It's your fault I got addicted."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," he grins and kisses her hand, before placing it on the table.

"And uh, how do you and Nicholas know each other?" Vincenzo asks after some time, having put the menu down.

"I'm best friends with his fiancée, Stella," I answer. He nods. "I see, well, I'd like to meet your family, it's very kind of them to let our son stay with them," he smiles.

"I will inform my parents about it," I grin.

"Fallon!" Our attention is snapped away when someone calls out my name. Two little hair-buns are bobbing up and down in the air, attached to the head of Suzie.

"Suzie!" I gasp, shoving my chair backward so I can catch her. She jumps into my arms and wraps her tiny arms tightly around my neck.

"Fallon!" she giggles and hugs me. I hug her right back, smiling and rubbing her back. "Hey munchkin, what are you doing here?" I ask and lean back.

She pops my nose with her finger. "Eating, duh!" she laughs.

"Suzie! What are you doing?" an older woman who's headed towards our table asks. Her hair is blonde, and her eyes are just as blue as Suzie's. She's tall, dressed in a red dress, and her hair cascades down her back. She screams business.

"Mommy! I'm greeting Fallon! She's my best friend!" Suzie exclaims and hugs me tighter. I glance up at the woman and extend my hand.

"I'm Fallon. I babysat your daughter the other night when she was with Stella," I explain. She shakes my hands, her cold rings touching my warm skin. She woman nods.

"Oh, I see. Thank you so much for doing so, sweetheart. I hope Suzie wasn't too much trouble," she chuckles and throws her blonde hair over her shoulders.

I shake my head. "No, she was an angel," I grin. The woman's eyes move behind me, and they flash with recognition.

"Oh, hey Nicholas," she grins and walks around the table, quickly greeting Nicholas with a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey Liz," Nicholas greets. The woman – whose name appears to be Liz – walks back around the table and picks up her daughter, hoisting her on her hip.

Suzie sends me a toothy grin and waves at me. I wave back. "Well, sorry that my daughter has disturbed you. She got excited upon seeing... Fallon. Sorry, I forgot your name," Liz chuckles.

"It's no problem, really," Athena assures. Liz walks away, but Suzie keeps on stealing glances at me, sending me secretive smiles.

I'm already growing too attached to the little girl, and I've only met her once.

The waiter comes back to our table, ready to take our orders. I ask for a pizza, and so does Vincenzo. Nicholas asks for pasta and Athena does the same.

"This place is one of the few places in which I can tolerate the pizza and pasta," Vincenzo mutters, taking a sip of his water.

I smile, recalling the time in which Nicholas had something to say about my mother's lasagna. I can see where it comes from.

"That's why I keep coming here," I grin in reply, earning myself a smile from him. "Good, you have taste," he states, approval clear in his eyes, which he moves towards Nicholas.

"Lei mi piace," he tells his son. Nicholas lets out a soft chuckle but says nothing in return.

I'm happy when Athena starts asking her son questions. Being under her gaze makes me nervous. I want to impress her, and I'm not sure if I'm doing a good job at it. She asks Nicholas how he is, how he's handling work, and all the other things a concerned and loving mother asks.

When the food arrives, I can feel my mouth starting to water. The pizza smells delicious, the cheese perfectly melted on top, and the crust looking so goddamn crispy.

Athena and Vincenzo make some small talk, including me which relieves me from any awkwardness.

The whole time though, I don't as much as glance at Nicholas. His parents keep me entertained enough not to give me time to look at him. Or talk to him.

When I'm about to reach for the bottle of water to refill my glass, he beats me to it and unscrews the cap, pouring in the water for me.

I look up and meet his eyes. My throat runs dry when I lock eyes with him. "Thank you," I murmur softly. He takes away the bottle and puts it back on the table.

"Of course," he replies.

Athena glances between the two of us and grins, before continuing to eat.

Lunch was nice and I enjoyed the company of his parents. I insist on paying, but both Athena and Vincenzo won't let me have any of it.

So instead, I quickly went to the restroom since I've been holding it in for quite a while, and when I'm about to round the corner, I hear Nicholas and Athena talk briefly.

I know I shouldn't listen to their conversation. I know. But I still halt in my footsteps.

"She's better than Stella anyway."

"Nothing is going to happen between us, mom," Nicholas reassures.

"I don't understand what you see in Stella. She's too... sophisticated. Arrogant," she says and lets out a sigh. "But if she makes you happy, there's nothing I can say. I just know better."

Willing my blush to go away, I close my eyes and take a few breaths, before making my appearance.

"All done," I grin. Athena looks over to me and sends me a soft smile. "It was such a pleasure meeting you, darling," she says and hugs me.

I relax in her arms and hug her back. "Likewise. I'm so happy to have met you," I tell her, meaning it.

Vincenzo walks over from just having paid, and he surprises me by hugging me, too.

"Good to having met you, hope I will see you soon," he says and sends me a friendly smile, before grabbing his wife's hand.

"It was nice meeting you, too," I say. And then my eyes move over to Nicholas, who is standing behind his parents.

"I'll see you at my house," I tell him, trying not to show how awkward it has gotten between us. He nods.

"Yeah, I'll see you there," he replies.

. . .

Please bring the fairy comments back. That would make my day.

Also, don't watch the movie Black Widow if you want to be emotionally wrecked.

There is only one thing I need to say, btw.

It should've been Clint.

Spoiler without context, right there.

I'm still talking to the guy, he's so fine sksksks but the mf has a girlfriend AHDJBDAH.

Boutta pull an Aurora.

Jk.

BUT HE CALLED ME A STAR.

A. STAR.

He said a bunch of other stuff too AAAAAAH.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you so much for reading.

I love you.