Chapter Twenty-nine – Back to School

Chapter Twenty-nine – Back to School
MALIA

Monday morning could not come early enough. 

I woke up before my alarm even had a chance to do its job, because I was excited to get out of this golden cage. The night had been a short one. I hadn’t slept a lot, all the thoughts keeping me awake. 

No idea when the last time was that I was so happy, but also horrified to go to school. I was looking forward to having some feeling of freedom, not constantly being watched by Marcello and having him hang around in my room for no reason. 

What I feared was the confrontation with my friends. It was a significant relief that Val knew the truth, but felt even worse at the same time, because now we both needed to lie to Lia and Mason. Not that Val had an issue about lying to Mason, she couldn’t stand him and just put up with him for my sake.

Lia was a different story, though. The three of us usually told each other everything! Keeping her out of the loop felt wrong, no matter how necessary it was to keep her safe. I would have asked Marcello to also let her sign an NDA, but I didn’t know how well Lia would take it. She wasn’t as tough as Val.
While all those thoughts had been rushing through my mind, I had gotten ready, taken a shower, and slipped into some comfortable clothes: a boyfriend jeans and an oversized hoodie. When I stepped out of my walk-in closet, I jumped a little, finding Isabella standing in my room, waiting for me. 

“WOW! Don’t scare me like that girl.”

She tried to hold back the grin. “Good morning to you, too. I am here to address your wound.”

“You know, I can put on a plaster myself.”

“No doubt there, but I would get in trouble if anything were to happen, so I’d like to make sure it is attended to. Only if you don’t mind, of course.”

I gave her a questioning look, interested in what kind of trouble she would get into, but she didn’t flinch. Sighing, I gave in, walking back into the bathroom, followed by Isabella. 

After a quiet and awkward breakfast, I slid into the fancy black car parked out front, staring at Marcello, annoyed, who held my door open. I didn’t like the princess treatment. Isabella, who had slid in on the other side, chuckled.

The ride was as uncomfortable as I had expected it to be. Marcello kept looking at me through the rearview mirror while Isabella was shifting in her seat, visibly uncomfortable. 
The moment the car pulled up to the side entrance of the school, I rushed to open the door, afraid Marcello would think of opening it for me. I already needed to tell enough lies; I didn’t want to explain that to anyone. 

“Don’t forget the story, mia principessa”, Marcello warned through a lowered window, before driving off. The only answer I had to that was the role of my eyes. I was aware of what I needed to say. Was I happy about it? Heck no, but I would lie to my best friends anyway, because I did not want to find out what would happen if I didn’t.

Following Isabellas gaze, I knew something was off.

Two students were waiting at the entrance, sitting on the stone railing, casually leaning against the wall, laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world. The moment they noticed Isabella and me, their eyes were fixed on us. 

When I stepped closer, they jumped off the wall, walking over to us, looking me up, then looking at each other and talking about me like I wasn’t there, which pissed me off, hard. I kept walking, and they flanked either side, while Isabella walked slightly behind us. 

“You think that’s her?” the girl asked, tilting her head as her platinum hair caught the sun.
The guy shrugged. “If she’s with Isabella, she must be.”

I blinked at them, completely thrown. “Excuse me?”

They both laughed.

“Relax,” the guy said. He looked around, then back at me, whispering, “principessa.”

My eyes widened in surprise, because nobody had informed me that I would have to deal with more Mafia at school. 

The girl grinned as if this were the most normal morning in the world. “We’ve been waiting for you. I’m Sofia. That’s Marco. We’re your new besties.”

“My what now?”

Besties? Who even said that out loud anymore?

Before they could respond, someone was shouting my name. I would recognize the shrill, emotional voice anywhere. 

“Mal! Finally!”

I barely turned when Sofia and Marco stepped back, just as Lias' arms flung around my neck. Mason and Val were right behind her.

With my three best friends in front of me, and my new mafia entourage behind me, I felt like I was stuck between a western standoff. 

“Where the hell have you been?” Lia demanded, equal parts ready to strangle and hug me, completely ignoring the people standing behind me. “We went to your house, and no one was there! We thought you were kidnapped or trafficked or I don’t know!”

Mason folded his arms, his brows lowered in a serious glare. “You just disappeared, and your phone was dead, so we couldn’t even reach you.”

I took a slow breath.

Stay calm, I reminded myself. This was the moment I had practiced in my head for the past twenty-four hours. 

“Sorry,” I said with the most innocent smile I could manage. “I dropped my phone when I followed my dad. And you know how it is, nobody knows any number from memory anymore, right?”

“I know your number by heart?”, Mason shot back instantly. 

Valentina scoffed and gave him a look. “No wonder, cause you’re obsessed with her. I don’t even know my own number, so I understand.”

I gave her a thankful smile, knowing she was trying to pull the attention away from me, even though that was hardly possible. 

“Anyway. You have a bunch of explaining to do, girl,” Lia said and only then noticed the people standing behind me. “And who are those peps?”

I turned my head, looking back. Sofia smiled widely and waved at my friends to say “hi”. Isabella and Marco just smiled awkwardly, also not responding. Very helpful. 

Bong. Bong.

Dio! Saved by the fucking bell.

“Long story,” I said, forcing a small smile. “I’ll explain later.”