The booth doors slid open, and Luca's group stepped into the bar, where things were quickly unraveling. High school students blocked the exits, holding people back as arguments flared. It was clear from the tense atmosphere that this was more than just usual fights. It was too organized.
At the center of it all stood a tall, muscular figure with fiery red hair, yanking someone out of a booth. "Get the fuck out. Now!"
One of the high schoolers caught sight of Luca and sneered. "What are a bunch of middle schoolers doing here?"
Luca didn't flinch. His hands stayed deep in his pockets, shoulders relaxed, but his gaze locked onto the red-haired boy, cold and unwavering. Dante, Elio, Rocco, and Josh spread out behind him in a loose formation—silent, ready, but waiting on Luca's cue.
Luca tilted his head slightly, voice smooth. "Didn't know there was an age restriction." He didn't bother looking directly at the high schooler, his focus stayed on they were doing.
Josh leaned in to whisper. "That's Tomaso Bianche—second year at Valleria High. Runs with the Hounds."
Tomaso's grin spread slowly as he rested the baseball bat on Luca's shoulder. "Well, well. Luca Varalli." He leaned closer, letting the bat linger. "So, you're the one who took care of Marco and Enzo."
Across the room, Maya's breath hitched. Her eyes widened as the bat pressed against Luca's shoulder. Without thinking, she took a step toward him, panic flashing in her expression.
"Maya, stop!" Lena whispered harshly, grabbing her wrist.
Maya tugged against Lena's grip, but Nina quickly stepped in, blocking her path. "Are you crazy? Stay out of it!" Nina hissed, casting a nervous glance at Tomaso and his crew.
Helpless, Maya bit her lip, heart pounding as she watched Luca face down the older boy without flinching.
Luca's jaw tightened slightly, but his posture didn't change. He stood perfectly still beneath the bat, his eyes cold and steady. "Yeah. They were easy enough. What about you?"
Tomaso chuckled, "You've got guts, kid." He pressed the bat just a little harder. "But Marco was just a prospect. You mess with the real Hounds, and things won't be so easy next time. Don't step out of line."
Luca stood his ground, unflinching, his silence a quiet dare.
Before Tomaso could finish whatever he was about to say, the door swung open, and the entire bar seemed to hold its breath.
A sleek black car idled just outside, headlights throwing long shadows through the doorway. The students shifted nervously as a man stepped in—Vito, one of the Hounds' lieutenants.
He wore a fitted black suit, and though he wasn't loud or imposing, the quiet authority he radiated was enough to command the room. The high schoolers, Tomaso included, straightened as if by instinct.
Tomaso's smirk vanished. He stepped back, lowering the bat. "Vito—uh, I didn't think you'd—"
Vito raised a hand, and Tomaso shut his mouth immediately. The man's gaze swept over the room, lingering for a second longer on Luca. Something about the boy's steady, unflinching stare intrigued him—like Luca was no stranger to confrontation.
Vito's eyes narrowed slightly, an amused glint flickering in their depths. "What's your name, kid?"
"Luca Varalli," Luca said evenly, meeting Vito's gaze without hesitation.
"Luca like, light." Vito's lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile. "Funny—those eyes of yours look like they've been staring into the dark for a while. I like those eyes. I'll remember you. Let's see how far that light reaches."
He turned back to Tomaso, voice dropping into a sharp tone. "Handle our business without making a mess next time. Don't embarrass me."
Tomaso swallowed hard, his jaw tight. "Yeah. Got it."
Vito gave Luca one last glance—just enough to acknowledge him, a subtle nod of respect—before turning on his heel. He slipped back into the black car, which pulled away with a quiet hum, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.
Tomaso smiled faintly, a slow, bitter smile. "We're done here." He turned to leave, glancing over his shoulder at Tomaso. "It was fun, kiddo. See you around."
The bar remained eerily silent after the black car vanished into the night. Tomaso exhaled sharply, shoving the bat into one of his lackeys' hands. "Get them in the van. Now."
The high schoolers wasted no time, bundling the kids they had dragged from the booth into the four wheeler. Tomaso shot one last look at Luca—part sneer, part reluctant respect—before he slid into the driver's seat. With a screech of tires, they were gone, leaving Luca and his group standing in the aftermath of chaos.
Josh let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "That could've gone way worse."
"Way worse?" Elio muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. " We could've had trouble with Hounds. The fucking Hounds. That motherfucker would've swung his bat at us." Rocco pointing at the van.
Dante smirked, though there was a flicker of relief in his eyes. "Yeah, but it didn't. That's what matters."
Rocco gave Luca a sideways glance. "You good?"
Luca nodded, his expression calm, as if the entire confrontation had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience. "Yeah. It's over."
Josh was the first to break the silence, running a hand through his hair. "Sorry you girls had to see that," he muttered awkwardly.
Lena rolled her eyes with a half-smile. "We've seen worse. Just... didn't expect this tonight."
Nina nodded, glancing between the boys. "Seriously, though. Maybe next time, no gang wars?"
Josh chuckled nervously. "Deal. Different place next time. After the exams."
"Yeah, and somewhere less... dramatic," Lena added, giving a small laugh to ease the tension.
With that, everyone began to drift apart, the group splitting off. The evening felt like a strange blur, and nobody seemed eager to hang around.
"See you guys later," Dante said, giving Luca a nod before he and Elio headed off down the opposite street. Rocco followed, raising his hand in a lazy wave.
Luca stayed put, slipping his hands into his pockets. Maya lingered nearby, her arms folded, chewing on her lower lip. Their houses were on the same route, and without a word, Luca turned to her.
"C'mon. I'll walk you home."
Maya hesitated for a second, then gave a small nod. She fell in step beside him as they left the bar behind, the night wrapping around them in a quiet stillness.
"You're insane, you know that?" she whispered fiercely, her voice just loud enough for him to hear. "He had a bat on your shoulder! What were you thinking?"
Luca met her gaze, his expression unreadable, though there was the faintest trace of amusement in his gray eyes. "You shouldn't have done that."
"What?" she snapped, taken aback. "I didn't do anything!"
"Yes, you did." Luca's voice was low, controlled. "You moved. I saw it. You're lucky that your friends stopped you."
Maya's jaw clenched, guilt flickering across her face. "I wasn't going to let them—"
"And what exactly were you going to do, Maya?" Luca interrupted, his tone sharp but not unkind. "Get yourself hurt? Make things worse? Tomaso would've loved an excuse to swing that bat."
Her face flushed with frustration, but she couldn't find the words to argue. "I wasn't just going to stand there and watch."
Luca's gaze softened, though only slightly. "Yes. You don't get involved in things like that." He looked straight ahead, his voice quieter but firm.
"Don't," Maya replied her voice sharp. "Don't make this about protecting me like I'm some liability. I can handle myself, Luca."
Luca's lips curved slightly, though the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "You're not built for this world, Maya. And that's a good thing."
Maya, standing close to Luca, let out a slow breath. "You're impossible," she muttered, shaking her head but with the hint of a reluctant smile.
Luca's lips twitched—barely noticeable, but there. "People around me get used to it."
They stopped in front of her house, the porch light casting a soft glow over them. For a moment, neither of them moved, as if lingering just a little longer in the quiet of the night.
Maya gave him one last look, her expression unreadable. "Thanks for walking me home."
Luca nodded once, his gray eyes glinting under the streetlight. "See you around, Maya."
With that, she slipped through the gate and up the steps to her door. Luca stood there for a moment, watching her until she disappeared inside. Then, without another word, he turned and walked off into the night, his hands deep in his pockets, his mind already moving ahead to whatever came next, which were exams.
The next days few days passed in a blink of an eye due to exams. Everyone was caught in study sessions and stress. Even Elio was trying his best. Nobody wanted to repeat this year especially getting stuck in middle school. They all tried their best because of that.
But, the incident at the karaoke bar bought all of them closer. They made a plan to meet at a restaurant, with everyone joining, after the final exam.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the last exam, and the entire class erupted in a collective sigh of relief. Chairs scraped back as students bolted out of the classroom.
Dante swung his bag over his shoulder and turned to Luca with a grin. "We earned this. Well no point asking now how you all did."
Elio stretched dramatically, groaning. "If I even look at another piece of paper, I might lose it."
Rocco chuckled, patting him on the back. "Relax. We survived. Now it's time to celebrate."
The restaurant they picked wasn't fancy, but it had a warm, inviting atmosphere. Fairy lights draped along the windows cast a soft glow, and the scent of grilled food wafted through the air as they stepped inside. A waitress greeted them with a smile, and they were led to a large booth tucked into a corner, giving them some privacy.
Everyone slid into the booth, filling the seats comfortably. Luca sat toward the middle, with Maya slipping into the seat directly across from him. Dante and Elio took one end, while Lena and Nina claimed the other, keeping Josh sandwiched between them with teasing grins. Rocco leaned back casually, arms draped over the top of the booth, looking more relaxed than usual.
After placing their orders, the conversation began to flow naturally. Their food arrived extremely quickly as well.
"So, what's the first thing everyone's doing now that exams are over?" Elio asked, propping his elbows on the table.
"Sleep," Rocco replied without hesitation, earning a round of chuckles from the group.
"I second that," Maya added with a grin, leaning back in her seat.
"Same," Lena chimed in. "I'm not moving from my bed for at least two days."
"I'm hitting the bench," Dante said. "Need to clear my head."
"That sounds good," Nina agreed.
Eventually, the check arrived, and they paid without fuss, everyone throwing in their share. They stepped outside into the cool night air, their breath visible in the chill.
"Next time, same spot?" Rocco asked, stretching with a satisfied groan.
"Maybe somewhere warmer," Nina joked, rubbing her arms.
"Yeah," Elio added, grinning. "And let's not make it right after exams next time."
Everyone agreed with easy laughter. One by one, the group started to break off—Rocco and Elio heading in one direction, Lena and Nina in another. Josh gave a lazy wave before trailing off down the street, whistling under his breath. Dante, Maya and Luca went to take the subway, and just like that their middle school was over.
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This one took a long time for vito. Hope u enjoy the chapter and have a great day..