Chapter 34: You found me

SOFIA'S POV

My phone rings in the middle of my lecture and judging by the eyes suddenly on me, the timing couldn’t be worse.

"Miss Vescovi, please don't interrupt my class now or in the near future," he says simply before going back to his theory lecture.

I check the caller ID and it's from Mila. A text adds in to sit in for her because she won't be coming.

My mind goes back to Castiello. She must feel so alone right now. It's one thing to be publicly sold off but it's something else to be ignored by someone you want. I'm that someone. I keep replaying the moment in the restroom and maybe if I hadn't left so easily then she'd be here right now with her terrible teasing. It has actually improved since the first time.

When my class is over I head to the Business lecture. The lecturer has seen me in Mila’s place so many times he barely questions it anymore.

"Is Castiello coming for practice? The season finals are next week," a girl from the basketball team says behind me as I take my seat.

"It's so odd thoug. She obsessed with basketball. Even I don't like it that much,"another one says before the Professor walks in.

I look over the hoodie I have on. She gave it to me. Almost like she knew I'd need it for a time like this. Two hours in and the class ends. I pack my ipad along with my notebook, feeling a tap on my shoulder, making me turn abruptly.  Only one person does that.

I turn abruptly to an unfamiliar face. "You've got our captains hoodie. Know where she is?" The girl asks towering over my small frame. I shake my head no because words feel embarrassing to use and I'm not sure if my voice will be firm. She knows me and I don't.

I'm almost at my jeep when it hits me. She said it once in passing that she likes going to places no one can find her. The only places we've been to alone  have been open except the hotel.

"Are you getting a vision right now?" He jokes and I smile. He's just lightening the mood.

"I know where Nova is....could be...I should check," I say and he furrows his eyebrows.

"I'm coming with you. I have another class in two hours," his eyes roll automatically like he didn't choose his major himself.

My bag finds its place in the back with Paolo settling in the passenger seat.

"Soo where is she?"

"I need to confirm first before you tell Mila," I say seriously and he nods. Part of me just wants to be alone with her before her family gets to her.

His face scrunches up when I drive and park outside the Four Seasons Hotel. Okay maybe a distance from it to avoid towing. He stays behind and I go in, the receptionist already plastering a familiar smile.

"Miss Vescovi, good to see again," she says sweetly.

"My dad is expecting me...he thinks he can convince me to fly to Yokyo with him," I lie trying to make her feel included.

"Ofcourse..I'll just let him know, "

She picks up the hotel phone but it know where he is. "I'm sorry, just go right ahead," she says nervously.

I get in the elevator along with other guests and luckily there's a press on the floor I'm going to. The one I stayed at when I was here.

My steps are softer as I close in on the door, inhaling the outside air one more time before knocking.

No answer.

I knock again and still no answer.

A room service attendant passes by with his eyes eyeing me suspiciously. I press my lips into a thin smile knocking one more time and it opens.

"Tinkerbell?"

I walk past her into the room.

"How....how did you find me?"

"You're easy to find when someone pays attention, " I say simply now looking at her. Like really looking at her.

Her eyes are puffy and her hair messier than it usually is. The room service table looks untouched from the array of items on it.

I walk over to her and she just stands there with a raised brow. My arms wrap around her, gently.

"When was the last time you showered?" I ask and she chuckles softly.

I pull away so I can look at her again.

"Do they know?"

"Only Paolo. He's outside," I say genuinely.

"Do you hate me?"

"No. Because I didn't ask you when everyone tried to tell me. I'm sorry I turned you away when you trusted me,"

"No....don't apologise when I'm still hurt that you didn't tell me who you really are, "

"It's just a name Nova, "

"Then why does it feel like a huge wall between us?"

"Because you're the daughter of a man who treats it like a weapon,"

She pauses. Then falls onto the bed.

"Why did you come here then?"

"Because I like you. And that night in this room felt so genuine to not believe that you don't feel the same way,"

"I'm engaged, Tinkerbell,"

"Not married...so i still have a shot," she chuckles again, sitting up.

"My parents....they're not-"

"I know."

"Noo you... don't. They'll do everything to make you miserable and I can't let that happen to you,"

“I survived losing my family and waking up with someone else's lungs inside me. I think I can survive your father.” I say assuring her. I'm not scared or ashamed to like her. She makes me feel like pain is temporary.

I take the empty space next to her. Her hand feels warm in mine.

"I don't know what you've been through but I'd like to understand it. I want..you. And I'll fight for you but I need to know if you will too,"

She takes her hand back.

"You'd be happier with someone less complicated,"

"I'm complicated myself, Castiello. So I pick you. The scar.....the scar that you saw...it's from a lung transplant. My life was ending before it even began but I got a donor. And the night my family died was the same night I had the surgery. I kept asking myself why I'd get a chance to live if my mom and sister couldn't. They were healthier, happy and accomplished. I came to Milan to start over because I never left the house. It felt hard. But Mila didn't give up on me or my dad. So in return I stopped playing it safe and sidelining myself. I don't think wanting you is easy. Because I risk loosing yet another person. But I'd rather do that than pretend I don't," I say wiping stray tears from my face.

She lifts my chin with her index finger, locking her eyes with mine.

I told her to ask me when I hate her a little less. But she never did so I thought she didn't believe that I genuinely liked her.

“You make me want things I stopped believing in.” she says finally.

“Then believe in me a little longer.”

"You know I had a crush on you when I first saw you,"

"Took you long enough," I joke and wealth laugh.