Elio Bianchi's POV:
It is now lunch time, and I'm currently walking with Adalyia to the cafeteria. She has her arms wrapped around herself and her head down. I nudge her side with my elbow to get her attention, and I hear her wince. I stop in my tracks and ask, "Are you alright?". "I'm fine. I'm just sore from the showcase. Nothing serious", she says brushing me off and continuing down the hallway.
I catch up with her and tap her shoulder. She stops, turns around and looks up at me. She looks adorable looking up at me with those innocent eyes. I snap out of the little trance I was in and ask, "Do you usually sit with James and Sophia during lunch?". "No, Sophia usually eats in the orchestra room with the string players and James hangs with some of the upperclassmen dancers at lunch", she says looking back down at her feet. "So, where do you usually go?", I ask her, slightly confused. "I usually chill by the field, in the gym, or just skip lunch and practice in the studio", she says matter-of-factly.
"Do you want to sit with Mateo and I during lunch today? You don't have to if you don't want to. Maybe you'd like some company", I say shoving my hands in the pocket of my hoodie. "Sure, company wouldn't be so bad at least once. Right?", she asks looking back up at me. "Right", I say smiling down at her.
We arrive in the cafeteria, and I look around for Mateo. I soon spot him in the lunch line. I look down to Adalyia and ask, "Did you bring food or do we need to get in line with Mat?". "Well I just brought some chips with me. So I'll just eat those", she says biting her lip. "Chips are not lunch. Come on I'll get you something", I say rushing off to join Mateo in the line. "Wait, Elio no you really don't have to do that", she says trying to catch up with me. I kept looking back at her and laughing because she looked so cute with her little legs.
I finally reach the line, and move to stand next to Mateo. He looks at me and asks, "Where have you been dude? I have so much to tell you about first period". "I was walking with Adalyia and we stopped to have a quick conversation", I responded. "Speaking of the little dancer, where exactly is she?", he asks looking around. In that moment I realize that she hasn't met with us yet. I look around and see her standing in the back of the line. "I'll be right back, save our spots yeah", I quickly say to Mateo and he nods.
I make my way over to her and give her a confused look. "Why are you standing back here? Mateo saved our spots so we won't have to wait", I look at her. "You guys can do that because you're popular. I can't, if I even tried to walk up there with you guys people would give me glares and I just really don't want that", she says looking down at her feet.
As I was about to respond Charlotte Jones, one of Isla's friends, walks up to us. She smiles at us and says, "There you are Adalyia! I've literally been looking all over for you. You weren't in any of your usual spots..", she trails of and smirks at the two of us then finishes, "and now I see why". Adalyia clears her throat and responds, "What's up Lottie?". "Right, um Isla isn't writing the song for the first game it's just gonna be Candy Girl this time", she says. "Yeah I know, Roxanne told me during first period", Adalyia says nodding her head. "Oh that's good I guess, is everything alright after this morning. Isla told me what happened", she says giving Adalyia a look of concern. Charlotte quickly glances at me, then her eyes flick back to Adalyia. "Yeah, I was just having a bad morning, that's all", Adalyia responds quietly.
Charlotte gives her a sympathetic smile, then turns and walks away. Adalyia looks up at me and says, "On second thought, I think I'm just gonna head to the studio". "Can I come with you?", I ask her worriedly. "Shouldn't you be with your friend Mateo?", she asks looking around. I look around as well and smirk when I see him talking to Isla. I point in his direction and say, "He looks a little busy. I'm sure he won't miss me. Unless, you don't want to spend time with me, which is fine. I don't want you to feel as if I'm forcing my presence and company on you", I say getting slightly nervous.
She looks like she is contemplating letting me come along. "I guess you can. We can share my chips", she says and immediately grabs my wrist pulling me through the groups of people in the cafeteria. We make it to the studio, put our stuff down, and take our shoes off. Adalyia takes out her big bag of chips and hands them to me. She then walks over to the speaker and connects her phone to it and starts playing some music.
I sit down in the middle of the floor, open the bag of chips, and start eating them. She walks over to where I am and sits in front of me. We sit there looking at each other for a few minutes. I start to wonder if she thinks and feels the same things as me. I know nothing about her, but she draws me in more and more each time I'm with her. I start to move a little closer to her when I see her eyes start to water. She reaches her hands out to me and I immediately put the chips aside and wrap my arms around her.
"What's wrong Adalyia? What has you breaking down like this?", I ask her while rubbing her back. "It's a lot of shit going on in my life. I want to tell you, but this is so random. Why are you being so nice to me and why am I trusting you so easily?", she responds. "You feel it too then. I'm glad I'm not the only one. There's something about you and I'm not sure what it is, but I like it, I really fucking like it ...". I pause and pull away from her a little to cup her face in my hands and wipe her tears with my thumbs, she rests her hands on my forearms. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. If you want me to work for your trust, I'll do just that. I want to be here for you. I want to to be the shoulder for you to cry on at anytime", I look into her eyes. I slowly start to lean in, and I lean my forehead against hers.
Adalyia DuBois POV:
There's a connection between Elio and I. It's terrifying because I've never felt it before and it all came so fast. Just yesterday I called his song cheesy and now I'm being vulnerable in front of him. He makes me feel safe and comforted, he gives me a sense of peace. I look into his eyes as our foreheads connect. I've never felt the urge to kiss someone be so strong. Right now, it feels like I need it. That would be moving way too fast. Before yesterday, Elio and I only knew of each other's existence. He didn't even know my name. Now he wants to know all my secrets. How does this even make sense?
I see his eyes flicker down to my lips and back up to my eyes. I still don't know if we should. So I shut it down quickly, "I want to, I really do, but it's too soon. We don't know each other, it would be stupid to rush this", I say slowly pulling away from him. He nods, but keeps his hands on my cheeks. He kisses my forehead and pulls away completely, picking up the bag of chips and eating some. He holds the bad out to me, and I take some.
I want to get to know him more so I ask, "Do you write all of the band's songs?". He looks surprised and smiles at me. "For the most part I do. Either I write a song and they play a tune or melody, or we collaborate a little on the lyrics", he responds nodding his head. "Have you been choreographing all the dances for half-time?", he asks me. "Yeah, for the most part", I say to him. "Did you choreograph that solo you performed at the showcase?", he asks with curiosity. "Yeah I did and before you ask, because I can already tell you will, James and I choreographed that duo together", I say smiling at him.
We chat for the rest of lunch getting to know little things about each other. From what I gathered, Elio is a very open, understanding, kind, and caring person. He loves the colors white, black, red, and neon yellow, which I found very random. He hates spinach and asparagus, which I found adorable because of how he scrunched up his face when he told me. He told me his dreams of the band making it big and touring the world. I asked him what he would do if the band didn't work out. He told me he'd go to college, study music, and probably give lessons to kids or when in doubt he'll coach football.
Soon, the bell rings signalling us to move to class. Elio stands up first then reaches a hand out to me. I gladly take it and he pulls me up. We quickly get our things, Elio looks at me then gives me a big hug. "I really enjoyed spending time with you today. We should do it more often", he pulls away from the hug, gives me a smile and walks out of the studio. Not long afterwards I come out as well and head off to class.
Mateo Kimathi's POV:
I spent the entirety of lunch with Isla Mendez. I literally couldn't be happier. We spent most of the time joking around and talking about her music. She asked me about sports, but I kept my answers short so I could hear her talk about herself more. She got flustered a couple times because she thought she was being selfish, she really wasn't, I just really wanted to hear her talk about things she's passionate about. Unfortunately, lunch ended and so did our conversation. She had asked me where Elio, and to be honest, I didn't even know. He disappeared with Adalyia and I kind of just forgot about them, oops.
As I made my way to 6th period, I see Elio and catch up with him. When I do, I notice he has the biggest smile on his face. "Dude what's got you all happy?", I ask him with a smirk. He looks at me and says, "I just spent time with Adalyia. It was really great", he says kind of in a trance. He must of really been on cloud 9 afterwards because soon enough, Roxanne bumps into us and drops all her shit. I roll my eyes, classic Roxanne trying to get Elio's attention. Elio being Elio, helped her pick up her stuff.
"I am so sorry you guys. I'm such a klutz. Thanks for helping me Elio", she says biting her chapped lip. "Yeah, sure no problem", he says shrugging his shoulders and handing her, her things. "What's you guys' 6th, maybe we all have it together?", she asks batting her eyelashes. "We both have chemistry", I answer for Elio while crossing my arms. "Oh really I have that too maybe we should-", she gets cut off by Isla. Thank God. "Hey, I heard something about chemistry, I'm heading that way. Wanna walk together guys?", she says only looking at Elio and I. "Yes!", we both scream with no hesitation and immediately start walking past the girls and into the direction of the science atrium.
We make it to chemistry just before the bell and walk in laughing about what just happened. I see that each table only seats two. That means I have to choose between Isla and Elio. I turn to him and say, "Dude where are we gonna sit?". He responds pointing to a specific area, "I'm sitting over there, you're on your own". I look to where he is pointing and see Adalyia sitting by herself. When he approaches her, she looks up and smiles at him while moving her stuff out of the seat next to her. I feel a light tap on my shoulder. "I guess that leaves us two huh?", Isla jokes nudging my arm with her elbow. "Yeah I guess it does", I say biting my lip and sitting down at a table. Right before the late bell rings, Roxanne walks in, sees Elio and Adalyia and marches over there.
Roxanne Anthony's POV:
I see Adalyia and Elio chatting away happily. I have been trying to get with Elio since like the 7th grade. Adalyia, no matter how much she has been through, is not getting in the way of Elio and I being together. I march up to them and place my hand on their table. They both look my way.
"Hey Adalyia, this is my seat", I say giving her a bitter smile. "How is it your seat? I was literally the first one in here", she says. "Listen Adalyia, I don't give a flying fuck if you were here first, okay. I'm sitting next to Elio because you got to sit next to him during first period. Are we clear?", I say through gritted teeth.
Elio looks at me with a shocked expression. He then says, "Roxanne I think it would be a great idea for you to walk away now". "Why Elio? She performs what, three good dances at a showcase and suddenly you're in love. News flash, she's not even the best dancer here. I've seen better", I say crossing my arms. He gives me a frustrated look, "I strongly suggest you move Roxanne". "Elio darling as much as I love seeing you all frustrated, I refuse to go anywhere. As a matter a fact Adalyia if you don't get the hell up I'll tell Elio all your little secrets", I threaten.
Adalyia looks up in a state of panic and shock. "W-What secrets?", she asks in a shaky voice and glances quickly towards Elio. I smirk and bend down to be eye level with her since they're sitting down. "Oh you know exactly what I'm talking about Adalyia DuBois. Want me to tell him all about your family and how fucked up it is? Then he'd think you're a freak and that nice little persona he's giving you right now would be long gone", I say to her in a calm, but menacing tone.
She doesn't say a word, but her face says it all. Her eyes start to water and she picks up her things, running out of the class. I smile to myself celebrating a slight victory. Adalyia didn't deserve that, but I refuse to let anyone get with Elio. I sit down next to him, and he immediately gets up. He shouts, "What is wrong with you? She didn't deserve that!". I look at him confused, "She was getting in the way of us happening Elio! What else was I supposed to do?". He rolls his eyes and says, "Roxanne for the last and final time, there is no us. There will never be an us. Us isn't happening, EVER. Get over it". He quickly leaves the classroom after that, and our teacher walks in. "What happened in here?", our teacher asks looking around. Everyone looks at me , and I shrink in my seat embarrassed by my encounter with Elio.
Elio Bianchi's POV:
I've been searching the hallways for Adalyia. I can't find her anywhere. I stop and get grab my phone out of my pocket. I text Mateo, "Tell Mr.Scott that Adalyia and I are here and that I'm looking for her". He quickly responds, "already done bro go get your girl". I put my phone away, and continue my search. As I was walking down the hallway, I remember what Adalyia said about where she goes to be alone at lunch. Only one of those places would be empty right now, the football field.
I run as fast as I can to the football field to see if she's there. As I approach the stands, I see her sitting there. I quickly make my way over to her. As I stand beside her, I don't see any tears coming out of her eyes. I know she wants to cry though. I sit down next to her and look out on the field.
"I feel like I have to tell you now. I feel like I have to tell you everything", she suddenly says. "I've already told you to take your time", I look at her. "Yeah you did and honestly..", she pauses for a second to look at me, "If we want to be in each others' lives then you have to. There are gonna be moments that I shut down or shut everyone out because of my home life. I don't want you to think I'm just being a bitch", she says.
I think for a second to myself. What do I say to her? "If this is what you want..", I pause and grab her hand; intertwining our fingers, "I'm all ears".