Chapter 13 — Date x2

Jane's POV:

Before I mount onto Luca's motorcycle, he made me turn around and blindfold me. I protested with whatever I had in me but in the end, list of course.

Luca reassured me that I would be surprised and where we're going will make me happy and after a lot of persuasion from his side, I trusted his words and let him take me to wherever he had in mind.

"Are we there yet?" I yelled above the wind.

"This is the zillionth time you ask Jane." Luca yelled back. It was so hard to hear our voices from the wind but we still tried.

"Well maybe if u had my sight I wouldn't be so bored and sleepy." I retorted with sarcasm. I felt Luca shake his head.

"We'll be there soon." Was all he said as we continued on our way.

After counting to 568, and yes, I occupied myself with counting the numbers, the motorcycle stopped and I heard the engine die. I felt Luca untangle himself from my arms and get off. I attempted to get off too when I felt Luca hold my arms to steady me.

"Will I be able to take the blindfold off now?" I asked hopefully.

"Not yet." Came Luca's reply, making me groan in frustration.

Luca, still holding my hand, started leading me somewhere. A moist, salty smell hit my senses and I started feeling the soft ground under my feet.

No way. We weren't— It can't be— No way!

Luca stopped and my feet stopped with him. I felt him come behind me and he slowly unfolded my eyes. I squinted them as I tried to get them adjusted to the sun's bright light but when I was able to fully open them, a loud gasp escaped my lips.

My suspicions were right. The beach! Luca took us to the beach!!

I squealed loudly and ran towards the water. I stood right in front of it so the water wasn't reaching my feet. Luca came and stood by my side as I started rolling up the bottom of my pants and taking off my boots and socks.

Slowly, and with a foolish grin on my face, I started making my way towards the sparkly, blue water.

It was still early morning. The sun wasn't fully up in the sky, there weren't a lot of people, only about two or three individuals besides Luca and me, the cool breeze blew past us and the beautiful, quiet colors of the sky made this the best time I've ever spent since I came here to Boston. Add to that, that I was actually on my second date with Luca. What more could I possibly wish for?

I giggled childishly when the cold water touched my feet. I started splashing water everywhere as I enjoyed myself, water droplets flying all around me. My clothes were damping and I knew that I'd most definitely catch a cold but I didn't care. I was too happy to care.

I turned around towards the sand to find Luca standing there with his sketchbook in hand. His face was buried into it as his hands moved delicately with the pencil.

Seconds later, he looked up only to be met with my grinning face. I was awarded with a smile of his own in return. I started making my way out of the water and into the sand.

"Is that me you're drawing?" I asked knowingly.

"Wanna see?" Came Luca's reply to which I, of course, nodded in agreement.

He held the top of his sketchbook and flipped it around for me to see. I gasped at the sight in front of me. Even though I've seen Luca's sketches before, I was still amazed by how skillful he is and for the second time, I was proud to be in one of his drawings.

He drew me standing there in the water as it reached my ankles. A huge smile was spread across my face as I looked down at my feet, water droplets surrounding me. I never felt more beautiful than when I see myself in Luca's drawings.

"I know it's selfish of me to ask and you might not like the idea," I started then looked up at Luca, "but....can I have it? Please?" I asked as I tried to come up with the best puppy dog eyes that I could muster.

"That's the second time you ask for my drawings Janey." Luca said with a sigh.

"B-but, I didn't even take the first one!" I defended.

Luca offered me a small smile then said, "Okay, how about this, we take a picture together and I'll draw it and give it to you, good?"

I was instantly grinning at the idea. I'd get to keep a drawing Luca drew with both him and me in it. Well, have to take the best picture. I should probably put on some more makeup. I can even wear more fitting and nice clothes, a dress maybe, or a skirt and a button-down shirt. The outfit should have red in it since red looked go—

Click

I was snapped out of my thoughts with the feeling of warm lips on my cheeks and the sound of a click.

My head immediately jerked towards Luca who was grinning down at his phone.

"Y-you....what did you do?" I stuttered.

"Taking a photo with you." He replied casually. No. No. No. I probably look like a mess. My clothes having water droplets damping them in random places, I had my boots and socks in my hands, my hair was probably everywhere from the water and the wind. God have mercy.

"Luca." I called calmly but he didn't answer as he kept looking at his phone. He was pressing buttons and scrolling down some stuff.

"Luca please delete that picture." I pleaded.

"No can do." He said, shaking his head.

"Luca please. I probably look horrible. How are you going to draw something like that?" I reasoned out, but Luca's head shaking told me that he won't be budging any time soon.

I let out an audible sigh.

"When I finish sketching, you'll then decide if it's good or not." I heard him tell me reassuringly.

"Come on let's go eat." He grabbed my hand and pulled me back towards his motorcycle.

------

The warm, homey scent of freshly baked pies hit my senses like a tornado, making my stomach yearn for food more than it already was. I took in a deep breath, filling my nose and whole body with the scent of food.

I was snapped out of my own personal haven by a deep chuckle coming from beside me.

I turned my gaze towards a smiling Luca. "I thought you said that you weren't hungry?" He asked teasingly and at that moment exactly, the whale in my stomach decided to make an appearance making red stain my cheeks.

"Luca sweetheart, it's so good to see you." An older woman gushed out as she strode towards us. My eyes lifted to the lady. She seemed to be in her early fifties and had a motherly smile on her face.

"Sophie." Luca grinned at her as she embraced him in a warm hug. "Go have you been lately?" I heard him ask.

"Very good, better now that I saw you." She replied with a grin. Her eyes looked my way and she raised both eyebrows at me in amusement.

"And who's that fine young lady?" She asked Luca, though her eyes were still on me. I didn't feel uncomfortable under her gaze. On the contrary actually, there was something warm and sweet in her eyes that made me instantly warm up inside.

"Sophie. This is Jane. My girlfriend and angel from heaven." He replied as he looked at me sheepishly. He knew how embarrassed and shy I get when he says stuff like that and he still does it.

"Your first and only huh?" Sophie said softly. I looked at her in confusion. I was Luca's first girlfriend? Seriously?

My gaze turned towards Luca to find a pink color tinting his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his head. I smiled inwardly. He was definitely embarrassed. I don't know why people thought he was scary and dangerous. This made me think about Sarah and how she told me and 'advised' me to stay away from him. The memory made my blood boil. She was probably the one that spread those rumors in the first place.

"Penny for your thoughts." Luca's voice and breath in my ear made shivers run down my spine.

"Make that thirteen dollars. I'm craving some blueberry pie right now." I told him as the sweet aroma hit my nose again making me forget whatever tingles and shivers running down my spine at Luca's proximity. I girl just can't say no pie. It's pie!

Luca chuckled beside me and lead us to a table near the window. We could see the beach from our placemaking eating even more delicious and appealing.

"Would you like something to drink first?" Sophie asked when I opened my mouth to tell her that I want my blueberry pie. I instantly snapped my lips shut making both Luca and Sophie chuckle lightly at my actions.

"We'll just have some orange juice." Luca told her.

"Alright then. Will you have your usual Luca?" Sophie asked softly. Luca nodded. Sophie then turned to look at me.

"Blueberry pie. Please." I told her wearily. I was making a fool out of myself no doubt. Sophie noted down what we wanted and left to the kitchen.

"So, what were you thinking about?" Luca asked snapping my gaze back to him.

"Nothing really." I replied casually as I shrugged my shoulders.

I didn't want to ruin our date by thinking about someone that wasn't worth anything.

Luca sighed and was about to comment when a loud gasp of shock escaped my lips, my eyes widening to a very unnatural extent.

"Jane?" Luca asked with confusion. He looked behind him, trailing my eyesight.

"Shit." He muttered under his breath. In an instant he was on his feet, his hand grabbing mine and running towards the kitchen that Sophie headed to.

Panic and shock coursed through my body at what I just witnessed.

What were Luca's mom and his driver doing here?