Chapter 76: Making up

My eyes were fixed on her as she fixed the plates before me.

She was dressed in a pair of pink shorts and a white tank top. Her beautiful brown hair was styled in a bun.

She was forcing herself to ignore my gaze. I could see her hands tremble as she placed the plates in front of me, not a word.

“Lyra…,”

“....please,” she cut in, “I don't want to talk right now.” She set the plates down now.

My jaw clenched. I hated this.

My eyes followed her. I immediately noticed that my mother's necklace was no longer wrapped around her neck. The bracelet I had given her had been taken off too.

Was she breaking up with me?

I wanted to ask, but she asked for space and I had to respect it.

I bowed my head and wiped my eyes with my fingers.

“Mr. Salvatore,” her mother yelled as she strolled down from the stairs, “We are out of detergent. I'll go out to get it now.” She tossed her apron on the stair rail and headed out instantly.

I looked at Lyra. As I stood from the seat, she took a quick step back, her eyes bowed to the floor. It felt as if a needle had pierced through my heart.

“Are we….over?” The words stuck on my tongue.

She finally looked up at me. She shook her head, but her expression clearly showed that she was unsure.

I gripped the edges of the table as if I would break it. “Lyra…please let me know what's going on. It's tearing me apart not to know.”

She fidgeted with her fingers. I moved away from my seat and walked to her, stopping at a reasonable distance. “I promise no more sex from now on. I won't touch you if you don't want me to, I swear.”

She quickly shook her head. “That's not it,” she finally spoke.

“Then what?” I asked, slowly reaching for her hands.

Tears clouded her eyes. “Your parents have been trying to set you up with Mia. What if…we get too deep into it and we have to break up later?”

“I would rather die,” she said.

Her eyes narrowed. “You are just eighteen, Sal. What can you do?”

“Anything to keep you by my side,” I said instantly.

Her lips folded as she sobbed. “I don't want to lose you.”

I sighed and wrapped my arms around her. “Pushing me away won't do that,” I said, patting her back. “Just stay with me. Everything will be okay.” I pulled away and looked into her eyes. “I love you.”

I waited for a response.

Three seconds was what it took for her to respond. Those three seconds felt like an eternity.

“I love you too.”

Later that night, Lyra's mother came into my bedroom to place my school uniform in position. Seconds later, I got out of bed to let her get the wrinkles out of my bed when Dad called through the intercom.

When I got into his bedroom, I met him seated on a couch with Becky on his bed.

“Dad?” I said.

He gestured to a seat. “Sit down, son.”

I obeyed.

“How's school?”

Why was he acting as if he cared all of a sudden?

“It's okay, I guess.”

“Lyra is still tutoring you?” he asked.

I paused, my eyes narrowing. “Yes.”

He nodded and leaned forward. “Are you and Mia close at school?”

“No. Why would we be?”

He hissed in annoyance. “She's your friend.”

“She is your friend's daughter. There's a difference,” I said in a final tone.

He shook his head. “It will be best for you if you try to become close to her from now on. She's going to be a huge member of our family soon.”

My eyes narrowed. “Huge member?” My throat moved as I spoke. “What is that supposed to mean?”

They both exchanged glances. “You will find out soon. Just don't make enemies with her.”

I let out a defeated sigh. I didn't bother to ask more questions. I stood from my seat and walked to the door.

“You can at least say hi to your mother,” Becky said.

I rolled my eyes. Without saying a word, I stepped out and slammed the door behind me.

The next day, as I stepped out of my bedroom, Lyra and her mother stood at the door as her mother fixed her uniform with a smile on her face.

A smile curled at my lips. My fingers instinctively adjusted my collar. If Mom was alive, would she do that for me every morning?

“Good morning, ma'am,” I said as I approached.

Lyra turned in my direction. “Good morning,” she greeted.

Her mother bowed her head. “Good morning, Mr. Salvatore,” she responded.

I nodded and walked past them. I wanted Lyra to come with me to school, but obviously she wouldn't be able to say yes. Her mother wouldn't allow it.

I sat in the front seat of my car for a few minutes, scrolling through my phone until I saw Lyra step out of the building. I watched her walk towards me, her fingers pressed against the glass of my car as she walked past.

This left a print.

I smiled at it and started the car's engine. I sped into the road and drove slowly after her. “Wanna get in?” I shouted, driving side by side with her.

She shook her head. “No, I want to walk.” Her hips swayed as she walked.

“If you keep insisting, I'll get out of the car and walk with you!” I shouted.

She halted and turned to face me. “Fine,” she muttered and walked towards me.

I soon sped off into the road. Her eyes were fixed on a textbook she had brought out of her bag. “Really? I'm here and you are looking at a book?”

She chuckled. “There's so much we have to cover. I haven't been tutoring you as much as I should.”

“Yes, you have,” I disagreed.

She looked at me. “Define chemistry.”

I pressed my lips together. “It's chemical and stuff.”

She burst into loud laughter. “I hope you didn't mean that,” she cackled even harder.

Soon I parked in the school's driveway. We both got out of the car. My eyes were fixed on the students as they walked into school.

Lyra waved at me and walked off. We couldn't walk into school together. The students might suspect something.

I adjusted my backpack on my shoulder. My smile fell as Mia's car pulled in.

Her eyes met mine through the dark tinted glass. She quickly waved at me.

I turned away and began to walk towards the school building.

“Salvatore! Wait up!” she shouted.