Viktoriya P.O.V

"Aww that was cute," he told me as he fed me a chocolate-covered strawberry.

I blushed as he leaned in for a kiss. At the last second, I moved my head to the side so he kissed my cheek instead.

"Aw come on don't be like that Tori," he said with a cute smile that made his dimples show. He was enjoying seeing me be shy.

"It's not like that it's just that I'm not ready to take that next step just yet," I said shyly still blushing. This wasn't supposed to be like this anyway. I'm only 17 and he is 27. I'm supposed to graduate this year and I turn 18 in a few months but it's still taboo.

"The next step? It's just a kiss" he said jokingly while laughing at me.

"Stop laughing at me. I'm serious. I don't wanna get in too deep ya know." I said completely serious.

"You don't wanna get in too deep?" he repeated laughing. Then I got what he meant and started laughing too.

"Come on you know I didn't mean it like that," I said pushing him away, getting ready to stand up. I was almost there when he pulled me back down and held me in between his legs so that my back was to his chest. His heart was beating fast.

"There is nothing to worry about babe. Plus you turn 18 in August, that is only 2 months from now" he said excitedly.

"I know but 2 months is a long time. A lot can happen in 2 months. And I still don't know what college I'm going to yet." I said with a sigh leaning into his embrace more.

I loved when he held me like this.

"You graduated a few days ago, Tori. I'm sure you will hear back from many of the colleges you applied to any day now. You have to be patient and not try to rush things" he told me hugging me tighter.

" You know what?" I said turning to face him. "You should take your advice. I have to go to work tomorrow so I'm calling it a night" I said getting up and grabbing my things.

"At least let me walk you to the car. What kind of man do you think I am?" he said smiling at me. Putting his arm around me he walked me from the beach to the parking lot, then opening the driver's side door helped me get into the car.

"Good night babe. See you later. Text me when you make it home." he said waving at me as I pulled out of the parking lot.

I had told my mom I was meeting a friend at the beach and that I would be home by 11. What she didn't know wouldn't hurt her. She and dad are always working anyways.

I pulled in the driveway and saw neither mom nor dad was home and I had the house to myself. I texted Gio that I was home. Washing up and going to sleep I was set for work in the morning.

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I woke up before my alarm and immediately got up and showered getting my red hair nice and ready in a high ponytail. Putting on my black pants, brown café shirt that has a beige coffee cup in the upper right, and my all-black converses I grabbed my apron and ran out the door.

On the way out I wrote a note to my parents. I drove to the closest McDonald's and got a 2 for 4 and an apple juice.

Then I drove to work eating as I drove. It was my day to open up shop so I made sure to be there extra early.

Setting up shop I saw Molly walk into the store and start working on the dough for the various items on the menu.

"You seem quite upbeat today to be so up early. You teenagers love your sleep so what's up? Who is the mystery boy?" she asked as I was drinking my apple juice.

I choked slightly and that apparently was enough to confirm her suspicions.

I saw her eyes light up and I swear even though she is 40 she has the personality of a teenager.

"Oh no don't look at me like that Molly there is no one. It's nothing to be so excited about." I said turning around so she wouldn't see my face. Way to sell it Vikky. Way to sell it.

Molly knew me better than that. After all, I had always loved coming to this coffee and bake shop just to talk to Molly. I shared more with her than I did with my own mother. In a way, it was like she was my mother.

" Turn around child. Tell me to my face that there is nobody and I will believe that bullshit ass lie you just told me," she said knowing I couldn't and wouldn't do that.

I refused to turn around while blushing profusely.

" I knew it! Tell me all about him," Molly said happily as if she was in the relationship.

At the same time, an older man walked into the shop, and instantly I felt glad that I could get away from Molly.

I took his order and went to work making him his favorite donut and coffee mix.

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I was at Gio's house waiting for him to get off work. I knew he was a college professor even though it would seem he was too young to be one being only 27 and all.

He had multiple laptops so I was using one of his to do my work for one of my own high school classes. I had cooked him dinner and bought his favorite soda. Having everything ready I went back to studying when an email popped up onto the screen.

It wasn't for me and it was none of my business so I didn't open it.

I instead went to text him that he had gotten an email. But I had stopped myself. Something told me to open the email and I shouldn't have given that it wasn't mine to see but curiosity got the best of me.

I felt guilty after clicking the email icon so I just closed the laptop and went back into the kitchen letting the feeling of curiosity eat at me.

I heard the door open, hearing two voices. I recognized one but not the other one.

" Hey, wait, someone has been here and I don't trust it. But it smells like someone cooked something." I heard Gio say to whoever he was with.

"It smells hella good in here. You sure Rosita didn't stop by?" the other man said. Who the hell is Rosita?

"No, I gave her the day off today. So no one should be here. Come on let's go" Gio said. I was wondering when they would stop standing there and decide to come into the kitchen so I turned my back to the entrance pretending to check on the food that was in the oven even though I knew the food was already done.

I heard their footsteps stop behind me.

"Tori, what the hell are you doing here? Are you cooking?" Gio said upset and embarrassed at the same time.

" Well hello to you to Mr. Grumpy Pants. Hi, I don't think we've met before." I said to Gio then regarding the man next to him. I stuck my hand out, "My name is Viktoriya". He shook my hand

Looking at Gio as if he was asking permission to speak. Gio nodded his head then the guy turned to me.

" Nice to meet you Viktoriya, the name is Alfred," he said with a smile. Which only seemed to make Gio even more upset.

"Fred why don't you go wait for me in the living room," Gio said over his shoulder as he walked up to me.

"But um uh sir we-" Alfred started to say when Gio cut him off

"Leave now!"

I saw the man hurry into the other room and then Gio's features softened.

"Tori what are you doing here babe. I wasn't expecting to use the key I gave you so soon," he said looking at me like he wanted to devour me. I swear this man was bipolar.

" Um, babe I wanted to surprise you. I know you said Mondays were the roughest days for you so I cooked you dinner and bought your favorite soda." I said smiling

" Aww really babe thanks," he said and he leaned in for a kiss. This time I let him and didn't turn away.

The way he kissed me so passionately made me regret turning him down the first time.

He called Alfred back into the kitchen and all three of us ate and laughed together for the rest of the night.

The next morning I woke up and realized that I had fallen asleep against Gio on his couch. I went to get up and he pulled me back down into his lap snuggling into my neck.

Looking around I realized it was just us two and that Fred had left.

The laptop from last night was still on the table except for this time it was open and the email was still on the screen. He must have read whatever the email said.

"Babe don't move, please. Stay a little longer" he said into my neck his breath sending a shiver down my spine.

"I would love to but I have to go home before my parents freak out," I said unwrapping his arms from around my torso. " I have to go Gio. I'll text you when I get home though ok" I said kissing his forehead and grabbing my things. I drove home wondering why that email bothered me so much. I should've read it.

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Ambrogio's P.O.V

I rolled over and saw my computer open realizing what was on the screen. I had been waiting on this email for months now.

Who had read it though because I hadn't? Was it Tori? I swear that girl is nosy.

I read the email and I was shocked and excited. And sad. I would have to leave Tori. I had just got a job opportunity at the college out in California.

I needed this upgrade so bad. I was definitely not getting paid enough in this broke-ass town.

But what about Tori? I really like her and I really can't fuck up another relationship. She is so different from all those other girls.

Thinking about all the decisions I have to make my phone rings and I see it's Fred.

"Speak"

"What the hell are you gonna tell her man? It's clear that you both like each other very much. I'll be damned if I let you fuck up a chance at true happiness this time around!" he started as he was rambling on and on about how I would never be the same if I took this job.

"So it was you who read my shit. What have I told you about that!" I said pissed that he was lecturing me.

"No, it was open when I went to use the computer. It's the same computer that- oh shit bro you've already fucked yourself over. Tori was using that computer to do her work. Her files and email were open on the computer along with the email. You better hope she didn't read it. Because if she did..." he had trailed off but I had gotten what he was hinting at.

She had looked at the computer this morning as if something was bugging her. It was the first thing she looked at this morning which means it was the first thing on her mind. And then the way she rushed out this morning.

"Shit. I'm screwed, man. She probably wants nothing to do with me. She has a few more weeks before she leaves for college and I told her I would be here and I would support her. This job offer won't last forever. They wanna hear from me by the end of the month. Today is the first. I have 30 days to figure this shit out" I said into the phone running my hand through my hair stressfully.

What the hell am I gonna do?

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This is probably the longest prologue I ever made.

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Until next time,

Hatter