Matteo went to the school field to run some more. He ran so much this time till he couldn't move. He lay on the grass for a while till he slept off.
Matteo squinted his eyes in the hot summer sun. A figure shielded his face and his features softened. After a few minutes, he blinked his eyes open. Looking up, he saw a familiar face, the face that had tortured his mind for days and gave him sleepless nights. It felt like a dream to him, and he rubbed his eyes with a sheepish smile before shutting them close.
"Do you need a hand?" came Rosalie's voice in a whisper.
His eyes snapped open, and there she was.
Rosalie helped him up, and they went under a shade together. She was in a white hoodie with her hair flowing down from the sides.
"You look all sweaty."
"Uhm, I was packing some of my stuff in," she said, rubbing her hand on her other elbow. Since they got under the shade, she avoided eye contact.
"So you'll be coming to school tomorrow?"
"I should," she whispered.
"Our classmates are nice and fun. You'll love it. You could also befriend my twin sister; you guys will have something in common." Matteo looked at the girl whose head was bent throughout the time. She was the polar opposite of Lisa.
"I'll go now. If you need anything, a helping hand, a partner in crime, or a social battery, I'll be your go-to guy," he said, with a cheeky smile before turning away.
"Why are you at school?" she suddenly said.
Matteo turned, grinning like he just won a lottery.
"I was trying to practice for the competition. I shouldn't just rely on my stellar talent. I'm very hardworking when it comes to preparation."
"Then why were you asleep on the grass?"
Matteo scratched his fingers against each other, his ears reddening.
"It's part of the process. I ran 10 laps before I slept. Exercise refreshes your brain."
Matteo bit his lip. This was his chance to get a picture of her.
Without warning, he placed his arm around her shoulder.
"Let's take a selfie to commemorate the beginning of our friendship."
"Friendship?"
"Yes, aren't I your friend?"
"You are, I guess..."
"Smile for the camera," Matteo said. He took a selfie of them both.
"Your eyes are very beautiful."
"Yours are better," she mumbled. Compared to her dead eyes, Matteo's brown eyes radiated warmth and life.
"You stay close to Mr. Roberto? My house is along that lane. Wait for me; I'll go pack up, and we'll go together."
"O-k-ay."
Matteo dashed to the basement to get his stuff, and in three minutes, he was back. The duo walked along the bustling street quietly, their steps falling into sync as they absorbed the scenery around them. A baby gecko tumbled over, and Rosalie chuckled, finding that amusing. He didn't expect that laughter could throw one's heart into turmoil and bliss at the same time.
"We're here," she said.
Matteo wished she lived further away.
"Here, this is my lucky pencil. Best of luck on your first day at school," he said, stuffing the pencil in her hand before skipping away without looking back.
As he walked home, his phone rang. It was Lisa. She was the only one home.
"Matteo," she whispered, her voice shaky.
"Someone's at the door."
"Don't move from where you are. I'm coming right now."
Matteo ran home, occasionally bumping against people in the fairly crowded in-house street. He couldn't let anyone harm any of his sisters again. The last time he held out like a coward, it scarred Alessia irreparably. He was just a little child, he knew, but he couldn't help but feel guilty for it. He too had been beaten black and blue by his father, and that night, he was terrified. He ran away, only to come back to see Mrs. Smith and her late husband dragging his mother's unconscious body out of their house.
By the time he got home, no one was at the door. With a bang, he swung open the door. The duo, Lisa and Sera, gawked at him as he stormed into the living room. Matteo's chest heaved.
"It was Sera knocking," Lisa explained.
"And you couldn't wait for me to come before opening the door?" he boomed.
"She called my name from outside."
"What if the guy threatened her to call you out? Why are you being so careless, Lisa?"
"And why do you always think you're better? Can't I think for myself? Just stop babysitting me, Matteo."
"Then don't make me worry all the time."
The petite girl sandwiched between them, trying to keep them apart, finally spoke.
"Will you guys stop yelling now? My ears hurt already," she complained in her tiny voice. Her clean-cut black bob was now dishevelled.
"I thought it was only Lisa being sensitive these days, but what's with you too, Matteo?"
"What happened here?" Alessia came rushing in, panting heavily. Lisa had called her before calling Matteo.
"Matteo yelled at me."
"I was just worried."
"I came to talk to Lisa. She wasn't picking up my calls since we fought."
"You should apologize to each other," Alessia said.
The twins hugged each other, with Lisa pinching Matteo in the stomach.
"It's sad that you guys can't stay at Via Monte Napoleone with me. A journey to school is very unnecessary. Or would you come still?"
"No," the twins shouted in unison.
"Why? We've always lived together." Alessia pouted.
"I have to be close to school," Matteo said, raising his eyebrow. Alessia nodded, understanding what he meant. Besides Matteo's studio being close to the school, he had found a good use of his evening stroll back home. He couldn't give it up so soon.
"Lisa, why aren't you coming? You'll love it here."
"My friends at the gaming centre and my little pet here," she said, putting her hands around Sera. "I can't leave them."
Alessia scowled at the twins. "Shouldn't you at least come see the place?"
"You told us not to help with packing. We could have seen it then."
"I'm almost done now. You can now come."
They all took a taxi and soon arrived at the duplex.