Authentia

Chapter 7: Luca, who?

An unfamiliar ringtone starts playing from my room.

Reminder: 13 April

Don’t forget to practice Waltz and Rumba…will be judged upon it when top 2 is chosen.

I drop myself on the bed, head on the pillow with my eyes closed and immediately my phone buzzes.

Ciara: I miss you. It’s so boring here without

you.

I sit up before typing.

Me: I miss you too.

Ciara: This morning Auntie Agnes came

knocking on my door while I was still sleeping, I shouted at her to come in thinking it was you.

Me: What? No way.

Ciara: You should have seen the embarrassment as she stood at the door asking if I needed my floor vacuumed.

Me: I can imagine. 😭😭😭

: I can’t to wait to come back you have no idea.

Ciara: come back already.

: Has Valerio still not texted?

I let the phone rest on my thigh for a second, and fall back into the bed to rest my back again.

[Flashback]

"I’ll text you." I said.

I remember my hands still damp from the water, my shoes in one hand, and my heart still beating way too fast.

"But—" He started to say something just as the music swelled again and Ciara pulling my hand to the backroom exit.

I didn’t stop. I waved at him instead, hoping that would do. Later that night I scrolled through my phone and I found his number from the text he had sent me earlier.

Him: Can’t wait to see you tonight.

I wrote him telling him I’d gotten home safe, just like he’d asked.

Maybe I shouldn't have… how foolish of me. What was I even thinking? Maybe he was just… enjoying the night.and I was too into it. He used me… I helped him use me. I thought there was something there, that it meant something. Clearly I was wrong, it was nothing.

Or something happened, there must be an

explanation. I let out a deep sigh.

I got ghosted and here I am still trying to spin it into a misunderstanding just so I don’t have to face it. How pathetic.

I exhale through my nose and press the back of my thumbs into my eyes until the after-image burns.

The vibration jolts me against my thigh. I jump slightly, blinking, I’d just zoned out.

Ciara: June!!!

I respond to the previous text.

Me: Nope.

Ciara: Huh, weird.

I don’t say anything. With no reason at all I turn the phone’s volume up, then down, then up again.

Ciara: I really thought he would’ve by now.

Me: I didn’t.

I lie. I did. I really did.

A few seconds pass.

Ciara: listen I’m going out, I’ll text you when I’m back. Don’t think too much into this, he’s a fool and he doesn’t even realize it.

Me: Okay. Bye.

I scroll through my phone and come across the reminder again. I haven’t practiced in a week and I still have a lot to catch up to.

I hear small feet pounding down the hallway.

"June!" Cherri bursts into my room, waving her tablet. "Look! Wonderland is in town this week." She shouts holding it up.

I look at the screen with a Ferris wheel, different rides and flashing lights... "And?"

"And," she drags out the word dramatically. "You have to take me please, please, please."

I look at my phone it’s now 08:30am.

"Please June please. They have games and candy floss." She bounces on my bed. "And… and you could win something for me."

I give in. "Fine. But only for a few hours."

She squeals and runs off yelling. "I’m telling gogo."

We get ready together. Cherri keeps changing her top every minute. I pull on my jacket, fix the white clip in my hair and glance at my reflection.

"Noo. You’re too young for mascara." Amaya yanks the mascara from Cherri's hand and her face falls into a frown.

"Here take the gloss." I hand it to her. Her expression doesn't really change but she doesn't cry so that's something.

We squeeze into the taxi giggling as the driver complains about our slow pace. Cherri hums the whole way, her legs swinging too fast for the small seat. Amaya scrolls on her phone trying to act all matured and cool but I catch her smiling when Cherri makes a joke.

In no time we walk out and wonderland

stretches in front of us.

Amaya spots a group of her friends near a popcorn stand. "I’m gonna go hang out with them." She says already walking away.

"Text me when you’re done." I say to her but she doesn’t hear a thing I say. "That leaves me and you.‛"

I look down at Cherri and she gives me a wide giddy smile.

She grabs my hand. "I want to start there." She points to a booth with towers of stuffed toys.

I hand over a few coins and grab the first ball. It flies completely off target. The second one barely grazes a bottle.

"Okay I’m just warming up." I adjust my stance.

Cherri groans. "Oh my gosh, you’re so bad at this."

"Gee thanks." I mutter.

"Let me show you how it’s done." A voice from behind us says.

We both turn it’s a very tall guy, maybe my age with messy hair and an annoying grin.

I narrow my eyes. "You think you can do better?"

He shrugs. "Obviously." Then to Cherri, he says. "I’ll win this for you, little one."

She lights up. "Really?"

He takes the balls, tosses the first one… it misses completely. The second one hits the rim and bounces back. He looks at Cherri and frowns.The third one is too low and I can’t help but laugh.

He turns to me trying not to smile. "Okay, maybe they’re rigged."

Cherri drags her hand down her face. "So

embarrassing."

She grabs the last three balls, aims without hesitation, and knocks all three bottles

down clean.

The man at the booth whistles. "Well, there’s your winner."

She grins and hugs the koala tight. "See? Easy."

The man laughs, shaking off his head.

We walk through the crowd and this boy follows us.

Cherri drags us from ride to ride, first the carousel, her favorite. She picks the biggest horse with a golden mane, waving like a princess every time she circles past us. I cheer her on, taking pictures.