Stella's POV
"You have five minutes left." The teacher announces increasing the tension in the classroom. It floods with the sound of shuffling papers and clicking of pens.
Putting my pen down, I arrange all my answer papers and staple it securely. I recheck all my answers thoroughly for the fourth time and make my last correction. I must've missed it. Mrs. Brown collects our papers and once the bell rings, the chaos starts. Everyone starts asking questions to each other and gets out of the classroom forming a huge crowd.
"Hey Stella!" Grace shouts as I distract myself from putting all my belongings into my bag. I look at her and arch my lips to a forced smile.
"Hey." I greet her half- heartedly and shrug the bag over my shoulders.
What the hell is she doing here? I curse my best friend, Bree, for not coming to school today. She always saves me from Grace. Trust me, Grace is the last person I wanted to see today.
"So, how was your test?" She chirps, scaring me.
"Good. It was good." I nod, forcing myself even to keep the fake smile on my face. I walk out of the classroom and enter the cafeteria with Grace running after me.
"So, I wanted to ask whether you could join us to a party at my place next week." She suddenly pops from behind, panting.
I take a look back at her as she puts a strand of her blonde hair behind a ear. "I'll see." I mutter and examine the cafeteria to find an empty seat by the window. Satisfied, I walk hastily towards the table, ignoring Grace. Sitting on the chair, I glance out of the window. It's raining. I open my jacket as it feels hot in a crowded place and keep it on my lap.
Grace again follows and sits on front of me, smiling like an idiot. "So, what are you going to do?" She keeps her hands folded on the table, smiling at me. From the corner of my eye, I can see her staring at me for some moments when I don't reply her. "Stella?" She calls.
I sigh and draw my attention towards her, licking my dried up lips. Her face glows up with happiness. "What are you going to do?" She asks again.
"I think I'm just going to revise my lessons." I mutter and open the chain of my bag. I fish in and take out my notes along with a pen.
"Oh, okay." Grace says disappointedly and leans back.
Finally!
"So what did you do during the weekend?" She jumps up, earning a death glare from me. She closes her mouth timidly and sits back without uttering another word. "You don't talk much." She mutters and takes out her belongings.
"Let me study with you." She chirps and opens her book.
Can't she just stop?
I try to calm myself down by taking some deep breaths. "Are you okay?" Grace asks.
I smile of course it's fake, "Yes." I mumble and look down at my book, trying very hard to concentrate.
After almost half an hour, the pitter patter of the rain has stopped. I look out of the window to be sure, yes the rain has stopped. I pack my stuffs and stand up to exit the cafeteria.
"Hey where are you going?" Grace squeals looking up at me with a wierd face.
Away from you.
"Home." I answer and walk out of the cafeteria. Putting my jacket on, I walk briskly across the campus ground to the gate. I walk out cautiously, remembering to avoid the puddles formed, to make sure my shoes don't get dirty. Giovanni always offered to call our driver whenever I needed, he is always free. But I just don't like it. Who takes a car when your school is just fifteen minutes of walking distance?
After walking for a few minutes, the rain again pours down, completely drenching me. I groan out of frustration and start jogging towards my house. On reaching home, I am completely devastated- panting, soaked and muddy. With my anger going on nuts, I harshly bang the door open.
"Mom, I'm home."I wheeze keeping my bag in one corner and look up. I feel my cheeks heating up as I see all the eyes on me.
Oh, the guests have arrived!
I lick my lips and stare at mom who is trying to suppress her smile.
"You could've called me." Giovanni suggests. "I would've sent Jace to pick you up. You're drenched!"
"I would die, but I would never get in the car with a driver like him." I roll my eyes.
Mr. Romano chuckles softly along with Mrs. Romano.
"Why would you say that?" Giovanni frowns.
"He is a sleepy goose. He always sleeps in the car. What if he crashes while driving? I really don't have a death wish right now." I shake my head.
"Your daughter is sweet." Mrs. Romano giggles looking at me.
Step- daughter, correction!
"Rose, you're soaked!" Leo squeals. He's the only one who calls me by my middle name. He says he likes it. Leo gets up and comes towards me. "Open your shoes." He furrows his brows. I do as he says and stand aside. "You're gonna catch a cold." He says and pulls my by my hand into the house.
"I'm so sorry." I apologize to the guests and follow Leo upstairs.
We enter my room and Leo hurries inside. "Go and take a shower." He orders and gets in the closet. I sigh and open the bathroom door. "Remember, with warm water!" Leo reminds making me smile.
"I know." I reply and get into the bathroom.
"Wait!" Leo stops me from closing the door. "Take your clothes. You're not wondering around with just your towel on. You'll catch cold." He says firmly and hands me my clothes. "These are warm." He smiles and closes the door for me.
Quickly, I take a hot shower and put on my 'warm' clothes. I dry my hair and brush it to make it look neat and put my eyebrows in shape with my fingers as they looked like a bird nest.
Satisfied with my final look, I make my way out of the bathroom. Seeing Leo waiting patiently for me makes me chuckle softly. "What are you still doing here?"
"Making sure you don't do anything stupid." He replies and takes out a blanket from the cupboard.
"What are you doing?" I ask tugging my hands into my pant pockets. Well, damn. I'm shivering.
"I'm taking a blanket for you since our step dad doesn't want you to stay in the room." Leo says turning towards me. "You okay? Your eyes are red." He glowers at me.
"I'm fine." I smile in the cutest way possible to melt his heart.
"Okay, but to be safe, you're going to have this." He fishes for something in my drawer and takes out a strip of paracetamol tablets. "Here." He takes out a tablet and hands it to me.
"Leo-"
"No, your eyes are red which means you have caught cold." He stops me.
Really?
"Here." After pouring a glass of water, he hands it over to me.
"Done. Happy now?" I keep the glass on the table after taking the medicine. Leo gives me a nod and asks me to follow him downstairs.
Is he really going to do that?
"Sit here. I'll turn on the heater for you." Leo throws the blanket on my lap as I sit on the sofa, keeping my phone beside me.
"Leo! There's no need, I'm fine." I hold his hand, feeling embarrassed in front of the guests. He pauses to look at me as then suddenly touches my forehead. "You're temperature is high." He rolls his eyes and gets in Mom's room.
"You could've called any one of us." And now Lucian starts.
He gets up and moves across the dining table towards me. Taking the blanket from my lap, he wraps it around me.
"Lucian.... I'm sorry." I whisper to him in his ears. He gives me a little nod with a small smile.
"Your sons... They're so protective of her." Mr. Romano stares at us.
"Of course they are. She is their only little sister." Mom chuckles and looks at Lucian proudly.
"I wish my son was like this too." Mr. Romano says regretfully. How does he even expect his son to be nice? He's a complete douchebag. I hate him. Last time when we met at the ball, I tried to talk to him, asked something about himself but I just got some death glares from him as answers.
"He'll understand one day Marcello." Giovanni assures him.
______
Leo has already set up the heater and is currently eating his food with the rest. I am, however, eating on the sofa itself with the plate. Leo is too much, he didn't even allow me to get up.
I take a spoonful of my mother's delicious food and stuff it in my mouth and chew.
"Rose, do you need something?" Leo keeps his spoon and peeks at me. I shake my head, sipping into my wine.
All of a sudden, there's a loud knock on the door which startles me. "I'll get that." I keep the plate on the center table and place my blanket beside me. Getting up, I hurriedly get to the door and open it.
******