Chapter 8:I hope u fall
1008 Words
Monday Morning
Aria Bennett had spent the entire weekend thinking about Luca Moretti.
And she hated it.
Every smile.
Every conversation.
Every look they shared seemed to replay in her head like a movie she couldn't pause.
The worst part?
She wasn't sure she wanted to.
By the time she arrived at Blackthorn Academy on Monday morning, she had made a decision.
She needed distance.
Just a little.
Enough to clear her head.
Enough to remember who she was before Luca walked into her life.
Unfortunately, Luca had other plans.
---
"Good morning, Bennett."
Aria froze.
Of course he was waiting by her locker.
Of course.
"Do you sleep here now?" she asked.
Luca smirked.
"Only on weekdays."
She rolled her eyes and opened her locker.
"That's not creepy at all."
"I prefer dedicated."
Aria fought a smile.
But Failed.
Luca noticed immediately.
"You smiled."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I absolutely did not."
His grin widened.
And somehow that annoyed her even more.
---
Later that day, during lunch, Aria sat with Emma beneath their usual tree.
Across the courtyard, Luca was surrounded by friends.
And girls.
Lots of girls.
One in particular seemed very interested.
A tall blonde girl laughed at something he said and touched his arm.
Aria looked away instantly.
A strange feeling twisted in her stomach.
Emma noticed.
"Oh."
"Oh what?"
Emma smiled.
"You like him."
"No."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You looked jealous."
Aria nearly choked on her drink.
"I was not jealous."
Emma's smile widened.
"Sure."
---
Meanwhile, across the courtyard, Luca was staring in Aria's direction.
Not that anyone else noticed.
Except Matteo.
Who noticed everything.
"She's looking over here."
Luca glanced up.
Aria quickly looked away.
A slow smile spread across his face.
Matteo groaned.
"There it is."
"There what is?"
"That stupid smile you only get around her."
Luca ignored him.
But deep down, he couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
Aria looked jealous.
And for some reason...
That made him ridiculously happy.
---
School ended an hour later.
Aria was halfway to the bus stop when she heard footsteps behind her.
She didn't need to turn around.
She already knew.
"Luca."
"Aria."
"Why are you following me?"
"I'm walking."
"You're walking behind me."
"Coincidence."
"Liar."
He laughed.
The sound made her heart betray her again.
For a moment, they walked in comfortable silence.
Then Luca spoke.
"You've been avoiding me."
Aria's steps slowed.
"No, I haven't."
"You have."
She looked away.
Maybe she had.
A little.
"Why?"
His voice was softer and now serious.
Aria swallowed.
Because being around you is becoming dangerous.
Because every time you smile at me, I forget how to think.
Because I'm starting to fall for you.
But she couldn't say any of that.
So instead, she shrugged.
"I don't know."
Luca stopped walking.
Aria turned back.
He was looking at her with an expression she'd never seen before.
Hope and fear all together And something deeper.
Something that made her heart race.
A slow smile touched his lips.
"I do."
Her breath caught.
"What?"
Luca took a step closer.
Not enough to crowd her.
Just enough that she could hear every word.
"I think you're scared."
Aria's pulse quickened.
"Scared of what?"
His eyes met hers.
"Of falling."
The world seemed to go silent.
Neither of them moved or looked away.
And for the first time...
Aria wondered if maybe Luca Moretti was falling too.
Aria's heart hammered against her ribs.
The space between them suddenly felt too small.
Too dangerous and real all at the same time.
"You're wrong," she said quietly.
Luca raised an eyebrow.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
The corner of his mouth lifted.
"Then look me in the eye and tell me you feel nothing."
Aria immediately looked away.
Luca's smile widened.
"That's what I thought."
"You're impossible."
"And you're avoiding the question."
She groaned.
Why did he always do this?
Why did he always seem to know exactly what she was thinking?
Before she could answer, a loud horn sounded from the road.
Her bus.
Saved her from this.
"I have to go."
Luca stepped aside.
But he didn't stop looking at her.
"See you tomorrow, Bennett."
Aria hesitated.
Then she smiled despite herself.
"See you tomorrow, Moretti."
For a brief second, Luca looked victorious.
And that irritated her far more than it should have.
---
That night, Aria couldn't sleep.
Again.
She stared at the ceiling while Luca's words replayed endlessly in her mind.
I think you're scared.
Scared of falling.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe she was scared.
Not of Luca.
But of what he was becoming to her.
Because once you let someone into your heart...
They gained the power to break it.
And Aria wasn't sure she was ready for that.
---
Across town, Luca sat on the roof of the Moretti mansion.
The city lights stretched endlessly before him.
Usually, being up here helped him think.
Tonight it wasn't helping.
Every thought led back to Aria.
The way she blushed.
The way she argued with him.
The way she pretended not to care.
A laugh escaped him.
He was completely finished.
Matteo had been right all along.
For the first time in years, Luca Moretti genuinely cared about someone.
And that should have made him happy.
Instead, it worried him.
Because caring about someone meant they could become a target.
And Luca had more enemies than Aria could ever imagine.
---
The next morning, Blackthorn Academy buzzed with gossip.
Aria noticed it immediately.
Students were whispering.
Staring and Watching her.
Something was different
Emma rushed toward her locker.
"You need to see this."
"What happened?"
Emma handed over her phone.
Aria's stomach dropped.
A photograph filled the screen.
A picture of her and Luca standing together at the bus stop.
The caption underneath read:
Blackthorn's Golden Boy Finally Falls For The New Girl.
Aria's eyes widened.
"Oh no."
Across the hallway, Luca had just seen it too.
And judging by the dangerous look in his eyes...
Someone was about to regret posting it.
- Writer
