Chapter 9: I'm Gonna Hurt You So Badly
859 Words
The hallway buzzed with whispers.
Everyone had seen the post.
Everyone had an opinion.
And Aria Bennett wanted the floor to swallow her whole.
"This is a nightmare," she muttered.
Emma squeezed her shoulder.
"It'll blow over."
Aria wasn't convinced.
Across the hallway, students were openly staring now.
Some looked curious.
Others looked jealous.
A few looked downright hostile.
Then the crowd suddenly parted.
Luca Moretti was walking toward her.
And judging by the expression on his face...
Someone was in trouble.
A lot of trouble.
"Who posted it?" he demanded.
Emma blinked.
"Good morning to you too."
Luca ignored her.
His attention remained fixed on Aria.
"Are you okay?"
The question caught her off guard.
She had expected anger.
Not concern.
"I'm fine."
His jaw tightened.
"No, you're not."
Before Aria could answer, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Oh, relax. It's just a picture."
The hallway went silent.
Luca slowly turned around.
A senior named Tyler Grant stood nearby, smirking.
The same guy who ran one of the school's gossip pages.
And apparently the genius who had posted the photo.
Matteo immediately stepped forward.
"Oh, you're dead."
"Matteo," Luca warned.
Tyler laughed.
"What? Everyone already knew."
Luca's eyes hardened.
The smile vanished from his face.
The entire hallway seemed to hold its breath.
For a moment, Aria thought Luca might actually hit him.
Instead, he took a slow step forward.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"If you drag her into your nonsense again..."
Tyler's smirk faded.
"...you're going to regret it."
The threat wasn't loud.
It didn't need to be.
Everyone heard it.
Because Luca Moretti never made empty promises.
Tyler swallowed.
For the first time, he looked nervous.
Good.
---
After school, Aria found Luca sitting alone on the football bleachers.
She climbed the steps and sat beside him.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then Aria broke the silence.
"You didn't have to do that."
"Yes, I did."
"Luca."
"I mean it."
He looked at her.
His eyes were serious.
"If someone wants a problem with me, fine."
His voice lowered.
"But they don't get to make you one too."
Aria's heart skipped.
She wasn't used to someone standing up for her.
Not like this.
Not without wanting something in return.
"You scare people, you know."
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"So I've heard."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
The teasing was gone.
Only honesty remained.
And somehow that was far more dangerous.
Because Aria was starting to realize something.
The person everyone feared wasn't the same person she knew.
The Luca she knew laughed with her.
Protected her.
Looked at her like she mattered.
And that realization was becoming harder and harder to ignore.
Much harder than falling.
The following morning, the gossip had somehow gotten worse.
Aria didn't think that was possible.
Yet everywhere she went, people whispered.
Some smiled and laughed.
Some acted as if she had suddenly become the most interesting person in school.
She hated it.
"Stop looking so nervous."
Emma closed her locker.
"I'm not nervous."
"You've checked over your shoulder six times in two minutes."
Aria frowned.
Had she?
Maybe.
A little.
Before Emma could tease her further, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Morning, Bennett."
Aria turned.
And instantly regretted it.
Luca looked annoyingly good.
His blazer was slung over one shoulder, his dark hair slightly messy.
Several girls nearby visibly sighed.
Aria rolled her eyes.
Luca smirked.
"There she is."
"There who is?"
"The girl pretending she isn't happy to see me."
"I'm not happy to see you."
"That's not what your face says."
Aria groaned.
Emma immediately abandoned her.
"Good luck."
Traitor.
---
By lunchtime, Luca and Aria had somehow ended up sitting together again.
Not that either of them admitted it was intentional.
"So," Luca said.
"So?"
"Have you forgiven me?"
Aria blinked.
"For what?"
"For being incredibly handsome."
She nearly choked on her drink.
Luca laughed.
The sound drew several curious glances from nearby tables.
"You are unbelievable."
"I've been told."
"Mostly by me."
"Exactly."
His grin widened.
Aria hated how much she enjoyed these conversations.
She hated how easy he made everything feel.
And most of all...
She hated how her heart always seemed lighter around him.
---
After school, dark clouds gathered overhead.
A storm was coming.
Students hurried toward buses and cars.
Aria pulled her jacket tighter and headed toward the bus stop.
The first drop of rain landed on her cheek.
Then another.
Within seconds, rain was pouring from the sky.
"Great."
A black umbrella appeared over her head.
She didn't even need to look.
"You know," Aria said, "one day I'm going to buy my own umbrella."
"Please don't."
She looked up.
"Why?"
Luca's eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Then I'd lose my excuse."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The rain drummed softly around them.
The city blurred beneath the gray sky.
And somehow, standing under that umbrella with Luca felt like the safest place in the world.
A dangerous thought.
Because Aria was beginning to realize something.
She wasn't just falling.
She had already started.
And judging by the way Luca looked at her...
He wasn't far behind.
- Writer
