Chapter 2: She's a virgin
832 Words
Aria Bennett hated attention.
Unfortunately, helping Luca Moretti pick up her books had earned her exactly that.
The moment she walked into her first class, whispers followed her.
"That's the girl Luca was talking to."
"I saw it too."
"Do you think they're together?"
Aria groaned and dropped into her seat.
She had only transferred to Blackthorn Academy two weeks ago. The last thing she wanted was to become the center of gossip.
Especially because of Luca Moretti.
The classroom door opened.
And in walked the reason everyone was whispering.
Luca.
His dark eyes scanned the room before landing on her.
Only a second.
But it was enough to make her stomach flip.
He took a seat near the back while girls immediately tried to get his attention.
Aria turned toward the front of the class.
Not interested.
At least that's what she told herself.
---
Lunch arrived faster than expected.
Aria sat beneath a large oak tree with her best friend, Emma.
"You keep looking over there," Emma teased.
"I am not."
"You are."
Aria sighed.
Across the courtyard, Luca sat with his friends.
Even from a distance, people seemed drawn to him.
"He's trouble," Aria said.
Emma laughed.
"That's exactly why every girl in school wants him."
"Well, not me."
"Because you're different."
Aria rolled her eyes.
She wasn't trying to be different.
Truthfully, she'd never even had a boyfriend.
Not a real one.
While her friends spent years dating, Aria focused on school, books, and helping her mother.
Romance always seemed complicated.
Messy.
And maybe a little terrifying.
"What?" Emma asked.
"Nothing."
Emma smiled knowingly.
"You've never even kissed anyone, have you?"
Aria nearly choked on her drink.
"Emma!"
"What? It's true."
Heat rushed to Aria's cheeks.
No.
She hadn't.
And she definitely wasn't planning to discuss it in the middle of school.
---
As the final bell rang, Aria hurried toward the parking lot.
Rain clouds had gathered overhead.
A storm was coming.
Just her luck.
Halfway to the bus stop, the sky opened.
Rain poured down.
"Great."
A black umbrella suddenly appeared above her head.
Aria froze.
Luca stood beside her.
Calm and Annoyingly handsome.
"You'll get sick standing out here," he said.
Aria stared.
"What are you doing?"
"Trying to stop you from drowning."
A laugh escaped before she could stop it.
His lips curved slightly.
Victory.
For the first time all day, Aria relaxed.
Maybe Luca Moretti wasn't exactly what everyone said he was.
And maybe...
That was what scared her the most.
The rain continued to fall as Luca walked beside Aria toward the bus stop.
Neither of them spoke for a moment.
The silence wasn't awkward.
Just unfamiliar.
"So," Luca said finally, "you're the mysterious new girl."
Aria laughed softly.
"Mysterious?"
"No one knows anything about you."
"Maybe I like it that way."
Luca glanced at her.
"Keeping secrets?"
"Keeping my peace."
That answer surprised him.
Most people wanted attention.
Aria seemed determined to avoid it.
When they reached the bus shelter, she stepped out from beneath the umbrella.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The bus wasn't due for another ten minutes.
The rain hammered against the roof above them.
Luca leaned against a nearby pole.
"You really take the bus every day?"
Aria nodded.
"What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing."
The truth was that he'd never taken a bus in his life.
Aria smiled.
"You sound like someone who's never been on one."
Luca smirked.
"Maybe."
"Definitely."
For the first time all day, he laughed.
A real laugh.
The sound caught Aria off guard.
She had never seen him smile before.
The famous Luca Moretti suddenly seemed less intimidating.
Less untouchable.
More human.
A black luxury car pulled up beside the curb.
The driver stepped out immediately.
"Mr. Moretti."
Luca sighed.
"There goes my freedom."
Aria giggled.
"You say that while standing next to a car that probably costs more than my house."
"Fair point."
The driver opened the back door.
Luca looked at Aria.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
The words sounded simple.
Yet they made her heart beat faster.
"Yeah."
She watched him get into the car.
As it disappeared down the road, she found herself smiling.
---
Across town, Luca sat in the back seat staring out the window.
He should have been thinking about school.
About family business.
About the meeting waiting for him at home.
Instead, he kept thinking about Aria Bennett.
The way she laughed.
The way she treated him like a normal person.
The way she didn't seem impressed by his name.
That was rare.
Very rare.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Matteo.
You like her.
Luca rolled his eyes.
Shut up.
A second message appeared.
Too late. I can already tell.
Luca ignored it and slipped the phone into his pocket.
But deep down, he knew Matteo wasn't entirely wrong.
For the first time in years, someone had managed to get past his walls.
And something told him that meeting Aria Bennett was only the beginning.
- Writer
