JESSICA'S POV
When I arrived at the orphanage, the first thing I do is go to the office where the director of the centre was and I told her I wanted to adopt Madison, to which she gave me some papers to read me, which were conditions I had to meet. And if I had any questions, I should call her or go see her, and along the way I asked her if I could take me to Madison for a ride, I would bring her back early in the morning.
As I leave the director's office, I see how Madison is accompanied by a man, apparently, she had gotten into trouble again. The man entered the office to talk to the director while we waited outside.
"I thought I wouldn't see you until next week." Madison said with a big smile on her face "Well you're wrong. Now, are you going to tell me what trouble you got yourself into this time?" I asked, sitting next to her. "None of them, except one of the girls wanted to mess with me, and you can be sure I wasn't going to let that happen, which is why I might have pulled her hair out."
"That girl is the worst." I said, denying. Madison always had problems with the same girl and I still can't understand why the people who ran all this didn't do anything. "I told the vice principal the same thing, but he doesn't believe me because I'm too confrontational and she's a good girl." Madison said, snorting, "Well, don't worry, soon someone will love you and you'll leave this place."
"I've been waiting my whole life and I really have no hope anyone will adopt me; everyone wants little children." She responded, shrugging her shoulders. "You'll see it's not like that and you'll soon have a family." I assured "I wish I had your optimism, Jessica."
"You know I'm the least optimistic person in the world." I responded, laughing, "But when you say something you don't usually fail." She murmured, "That's a big lie, but I have a gift for you." I said, with a big smile on my face. "It's not my birthday to have a gift." She said, frowning. "And who says it has to be your birthday to get a gift?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I don't know, everyone?"
"Well, the world is wrong. Do you want to see it?" I asked and she nodded. I took the ticket out of my pocket and passed it to her. Madison looked at it for a few minutes and then went on to hug me so hard it could almost take my breath away. "This is true?" Madison asks, turning to look at me "If you mean you're going to go to a Carla concert, yeah, that's true." I responded "THANK YOU JESSICA!!!!" She exclaimed "There's still one more surprise."
"Other?" She asked, surprised. "Yes, but that will have to wait until we can leave." I informed with the smile still on my face "Madison, come in." Before she came in, I told her not to get into any more trouble, to which she replied she didn't promise me anything, but I know she isn't going to do anything. I'm waiting for ten minutes or so, and when she left the office, we started walking to the apartment to meet the others.
On the way, everything was laughter until I got to the apartment and I half-argued with them because they said I knew how to speak Italian, and I don't have the slightest idea of Italian, but how wrong I was. Apparently, I did know and I didn't even realize it. After that, everything was laughing again and I helped Santi finish making the food, mostly because I couldn't convince him to let me do it, since he had already done enough.
I also found Madison's reaction quite funny when she realized Carla herself is in the apartment, the singer she and Miky admired so much, and she's quite friendly, so I ended up focusing on helping Santi with the food.
"Do you want me to make you some juice?" Santi asked not far from me "I can do it myself if I want, thank you. Besides, I don't want to bother you anymore." I answered honestly, "I have no problem, really. I like making juices." He said with a big smile on his face "Is this some weird hobby you have that I have no idea about?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "You just caught me, I'm embarrassed to have a hobby like that.""
"Well, you don't have to be ashamed, it's a hobby like any other. For example, I like to draw, and I don't like anyone to see them." I admitted "Well it's a shame, because you really draw well." He said, "Don't tell me Miky took my drawings again." I asked, "No, I only say that because you used to do the same thing, and I also remember how hard it was for you to show them at first, but that changed over time."
"Can I ask you a question?" I questioned without looking at him. "I allow you to ask me another question." He joked and I couldn't help the smile that appeared on my face, he's funny when he wants it, I'm sure that would attract a lot of people, it appealed to me! "The question must be complicated if you have to think about it so much." He said with a smile planted on his face. "No, I was just thinking."
"Sometimes I'd like to know what's going on in your head." He murmured, closer than he had been a few seconds ago. "Nothing interesting, really, the question is, why did you call me love before?" I asked curiously "Because as I told you before, it's the way we Italians speak." He replied, "Carla doesn't, and she's Italian too."
"Usually, Carla calls people dear." He admitted "Then I must assume you go around calling everyone love." I said "Not exactly." he quickly responded "Then I don't understand." I said a little confused. "I'll explain it to you when we go to Italy." He said, "You're going to Italy and you weren't going to tell me anything?"
Just then I turn towards the kitchen door and see Madison standing in the doorway with tears rolling down her eyes. "I don't know why I trust you if you're just like everyone else, Jessica." Madison said, completely angry. "Madison, listen to me…" I started.
"I have nothing to hear from you. I'm going out of here." She said, "Don't even think about it…" But I didn't have time to say anything else, because she ran out of the apartment and I didn't hesitate for a second to follow her. Once we got to the street, Madison was going to cross the street without even looking around, and luckily for me, I managed to catch her before she crossed the street.
"LET ME GO JESSICA!!!!" She shouted, "Not until you let me talk to you." I responded firmly "You have nothing to talk to me about, after all, you're going to leave and not come back." She said, letting go, but not leaving. "That won't happen Madison!!!!" I said exasperated "That's what everyone says, but then they disappear out of nowhere... I thought you would be the one who would be there whenever I needed you."
"And I will be, because you will come with us!!!!" She stares at me with a surprised and confused face, but I can't understand why she thinks I'm going to leave her here. I guess this isn't the first time someone approaches her and she disappears out of nowhere, but I promised to take care of her, and I don't break my promises.
"What did you just say?" She whispered, "What you heard, I wanted it to be a surprise, but I'll tell you right now. We won't leave without you because you will come with us…" I repeated "But at the orphanage won't let me go." She murmured, "They wouldn't allow it if you were still living there." I responded with a small smile on my face. "Are you telling me to run away from the orphanage?"
"What? No, you will leave there because I plan to adopt you, obviously I won't be your mother, but I can be your sister as I have been with Miky." I responded "Do you want to adopt me?" Madison whispered, tears beginning to gather in her eyes. "It's the only way to get you out of there and take you to Italy. Besides, you deserve more than anyone to get out of there. You're a great girl and that girl who messes with you won't do it anymore, and you'll stop getting into as much trouble as you're going at the orphanage."
Madison ended up hugging me with tears streaming down her face and I hugged her back, because everything I told her is true, I'm not going to leave her there alone, I loved her as if she is my sister and she, along with Miky, were the only people who were with me at all times and I'm not going to leave them behind, no matter how much I had a family, because they were also part of my family for four years, and they would stay that way.
"Thank you, Jess." She thanked "Why?" I asked even though I had an idea of why she's thanking me. "For everything and forgive me for what happened a little while ago." She apologized "It's nothing, I can understand why you reacted like that. Now let's go home before Miky shows up here."
We were hugging for a couple of seconds and then going to go to the apartment when I turned around and saw Santi is standing in the doorway of the building with a big smile, which automatically made a big smile appear on mine.
"That man is hot." she said with the smile still in place "Madison!!!!" I exclaimed, "It's the truth Jessica, but don't worry, I'm not going to leave you without a boyfriend." She assured and now I frowned "What are you talking about? Do you know something I don't know?" I asked curiously, "No, I don't know anything, but you seem to have a crush on that man. Since I have known you, I haven't seen you like this with anyone."
"That's not…" I started, but she denied "Yes, yes, it is, but don't worry, I won't take him away from you, it's time for you to focus on yourself before us. Now, with your permission, I'm going to the apartment to see Carla. I still can't believe you know Carla." She said excitedly. "I don't really know her."
"At some point you did, but I'm leaving." Before I could say anything, she ran towards the building while I stood looking at it. I had a crush on Santi? I think it's not that big of a deal. Okay, it maybe he's hotter than any guy I've met at this time, funny and I'm attracted to him, but that doesn't mean I have a crush on him, or that's at least what I think.
"You look thoughtful. Is everything okay with the girl?" Santi asked "Yes, I already fixed it." I said "I'm sorry I said you were coming to Italy; I shouldn't have said it." He apologized and I denied, "Don't worry about it, it's all taken care of." I responded "And what are you going to do with the girl?" He asked curiously "Do what?" I returned the question "Well, knowing you, you're not going to leave her here…"
"Obviously I'm not going to leave her here, I'm going to take her with me to Italy." I responded "But as far as I understand she's in an orphanage." He said confused "And she is, but that will be for a short time." I responded with a big smile on my face. "I don't think right now I have the slightest idea what you might be talking about."
"I'm talking about adopting Madison." I revealed "Really?" He asked, "Yes, I don't want to leave her here alone, I love her very much and, besides, I don't want her to get into any more trouble at the orphanage." I said, "She looks like a girl with a lot of character." He said, "And she has it, that's why I don't want her to get into any more trouble."
"You are a great person, Jessica." He responded with a smile on his face. "I'm not, I just do what everyone else would do." I said, shrugging my shoulders. "That's not true and you know it." He answered, raising an eyebrow. "As you wish, but you should know you don't convince me." I said, "That's because you're too stubborn."
"I don't deny it, I am, and that's not going to change." I responded laughing and at that moment a girl passes by who stares at him and makes me get in a bad mood, so I take him by the arm and stare at the girl who had stopped.
"Can you stop looking at MY boyfriend?" With those words, the girl leaves and Santi's face is shocked, but the smile that formed on his face couldn't be hidden. "What was that about Jessica?" he asked trying to contain a smile "She was staring at you shamelessly, is that really what you wanted? Because if that's the case, I'm going to call her." I assured even though I wouldn't like doing it. "No, of course not, but that happens sometimes."
"Oh wow, how modest you came out." I said, rolling my eyes. "It may sound like I think I'm the most handsome in the whole world, but I can tell you I don't care about the others, I'm only interested in one girl." He said and I frowned. "She's not the one who stood you up, is she?" I asked, "She didn't stand me up, she had to leave for work and she had problems."
"And she didn't contact you to even tell you how she is." I protested "Because she couldn't." He repeated the same thing he told me yesterday, "Oh, come on, I don't believe that." I said, "You may not realize it now, I just hope you don't say the same thing later." He responded "Do I know that girl?" I asked curiously. "Partly."
"Partly? I know her or not, there's no other option." I replied, a little confused by his response, "It's complicated to explain." He assured "My life at this moment is also complicated, I think I'll be able to understand that." I informed "I can't tell you now…"
"It's okay, you don't know me at all to tell me your things, but know I'll listen to you in case you need to talk." I said even though I'm more than sure I wasn't going to like what he told me too much. "Thank you, I appreciate it, but I do know you." He said with a smile on his face "Not this Jessica, you know the one from years ago, and from my point of view, I have changed."
"Now I have to ask you a question." He said "Which one?" You know more about my life than I do." I responded, laughing, "At this moment it may be, but I can't know what's going through your head a moment ago." He said "Nothing, it just seemed annoying she was staring so blatantly at someone, a very normal reaction."
"A very normal reaction from a jealous person. Are you jealous they stop to see me, Jess?" He asked with a smile starting to grow on his face "Me? Ha. You wish." I said even though it was true "So what's the point of stop looking at my boyfriend like that?" I asked. "It's the only way I could think of that she would stop looking at you like that."
"I'm almost convinced she did it because of your grumpy face. It looked like you would lunge at her and tear her hair out." He said laughing "That's not true, you're exaggerating." I responded, rolling my eyes. "Oh, come on, you know what I'm telling you is true." responded "No, it's not."
I started walking towards the interior of the building because at this moment Santi is starting to get on my nerves a little. Was I jealous because some random girl stopped to shamelessly stare at him in the middle of the street? No, I wasn't... or well, maybe I was a little jealous, but Santi didn't have to know that.
"Oh, come on, don't be angry Jessica, I'm joking." He said, following my step. "What's happening to you, Santi, is you're one of those guys who get all the girls they want, you're too conceited and you think you're the greatest thing in the world, but I'll take care of myself to make you see it's not like that."
I tried to tell him as seriously as I could, but I couldn't, because I wasn't really serious. I loved Santi's way of being, it's one of the things that attracts me to him apart from h, obviously. I couldn't miss that body for anything in the world, but what I liked most about him is his character and way of being.
"Ouch, you know that hurt me deep down in my poor, arrogant heart, Jess." He said, putting his hand on his chest and pretending it really hurt him. "Someone had to do a little damage to get you off that popular boy cloud of yours."
We laughed and it didn't take long for him to catch up to me. We went to the apartment together laughing and talking about everything and nothing at the same time, and as soon as we enter the door, three heads turn in our direction. Carla and Madison's looks clearly said what they weren't saying with their words, but I decided to ignore it and went to the kitchen to drink the juice Santi had made for me earlier. I must admit it's good, but out of nowhere images appear that flash through my mind and I have no idea what it means.
In them I can see Santi and I were together in a room and he gave me a kiss that, apparently, I accepted with delight. I had never been in that room and I don't know what's happening, but I leave them the moment I notice hands on either side of my face and they allow me to see up close green eyes I didn't have the opportunity to see as close as right now.
"Are you ok? Did you get hurt?" Santi asked in a worried tone "What?" I questioned, a little confused. "If you're okay, you're a little paler and you dropped the glass on the floor." He said and I shook my head to clear away all the things that had appeared out of nowhere in my mind. "Yeah... I just need to cool off my face... I'll be right back."
"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked still with a worried tone. "Yes, don't worry." I assured and left the kitchen and headed towards the bathroom. As I walked out of the kitchen I could see Miky, Madison and Carla at the door looking in our direction, and I'm pretty sure they asked me something, but right now I needed a moment alone to understand what the fuck had happened in my mind and especially if it's true, because I didn't want to hurt Santi, he's a special man who didn't deserve to be hurt and I felt like I had to protect him against everything that could hurt him.