Il mio fiore

Chapter 1

𝑅𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑡ℎ

"yo this is unfair, $30? "

A dishevelled looking guy asks for the fifth time. I roll my eyes and sigh.

"look if you're not gonna pay then walk away, you're backing up the fuckin line"

I say, visibly irritated.

"Ben get out of the fuckin like, lunch will soon be over"

A voice from the line of people waiting to buy my sisters' numbers boom. Oh, Ben's his name.

"ugh take it"

He says, pulling out $30 from his pocket and handing it to me.

I take it, handing him a piece of paper with a number scribbled on it.

"great doing business with you and remember the rule"

I say as he walks away. I hear him hum a response.

I turn to look at my new 'client', although this one looks familiar.

"yeah so I lost the last one I bought....again, so I was hoping to maybe get another without paying"

He says, I knew he looked familiar.

"are you serious dude? This is the sixth time time and what do I keep telling you?"

"ugh, here"

He says, pulling out $60 from his pocket. I hand him the numbers.

Just then, the bell rings and in came Eli, my only friend, running.

"that's the bell people, walk away "

I yell as they murmur and curse in frustration.

"you know, I kinda feel sad for them, they must have been here all afternoon"

Eli says, standing beside me and picking up my bag.

"meh, I don't feel it"

I say, glancing towards them.

"cuz you're heartless"

He says and I let out a hearty laugh.

"English right?"

He asks and I nod.

"let's go get our books"

He says, and we leave the cafetería.

___

"you wanna study after school together?"

He asks as we walk into class.

"maybe tomorrow, I wanna go check out that new Italian restaurant down on fifth street after school"

I say as we make our way to our seats at the back of the class whilst we ignore the noise our classmates are making.

"oh I've been meaning to check it out too, I would've come with you but my mum grounded me, that's why I called for the study...so I won't be bored at home"

He says, visibly sad.

"too bad, what'd you do this time cuz I'm pretty sure your mum's not the type to ground an 18 year old"

I ask, settling on my seat.

"well she isn't, I f****d up real bad this time"

He says with an 'eesh' look on his face.

"yeah well tell me later, Mr Rob is here"

I say, gesturing towards our English teacher who just walked into the class room.

He nods and the class choruses a greeting.

___

Finally it's closing time. I live not too far from Eli and so he walks me home everyday.

Walking up to the front lawn of my house, I wave at Eli and make my way down the lawn and into my house.

"muum I'm home! "

I yell, making my way up the stairs to my room.

I throw my bag to the side, taking off my clothes and tossing them into the laundry basket before walking into the bathroom to freshen up.

When done, I pick up my phone and make my way out of my room and down the stairs.

"I don't know why she keeps doing it"

I hear my elder sister say as I walk into the kitchen.

"there she is mom"

Alyssa says, pointing towards me. I roll my eyes having an idea of what she's angry about.

"Rosie, you're back, I made some pudding for you"

My mum says and I smile, ignoring the annoying nickname she keeps calling me.

"thanks mum"

I say, walking into the kitchen to dish a bowl of pudding.

"mum, you're meant to be yelling at her"

Alyssa says in frustration.

"oh honey, maybe they got your number off somewhere else, just block them"

Mum says.

"mum you're taking her side? "

Alyssa says, before I start to hear receding stomping sounds, signalling that she left in anger.

"how much? "

I hear Anais's voice from behind me. If I wasn't used to her constant dissappearing and appearing out of nowhere, I would've had a heart attack.

"600"

I say, turning to face her.

"50-50?"

She asks, walking towards me.

"no, 80-20"

I say, handing her $150.

She squints her eyes but still collects it.

"want some pudding?"

I ask, handing her my bowl of pudding.

"yes please, mum wouldn't let anyone take your share"

She says, collecting the bowl. I let out a laugh.

"why would you? "

I ask, walking out of the kitchen.

"mum, I'm gonna go out, I'll be back by 5"

I say, walking out of the dining room and to the front door.

"before 5 Rosie"

She says and I yell an 'ok' before leaving.

___

Soon I'm at the restaurant, admiring the entrance design. I walk into the restaurant, the bell chiming upon my entry. The indoor dining set is alluringly beautiful but I'd much prefer the outdoor dining set.

I walk to the booth at the other end of the restaurant, taking a seat and picking up the impressively designed menu as I sink into the softness of the cushion.

A waitress walks up to me and I look up from the menu. I'm met with the welcoming gaze of an italian middle aged woman with brown locks, dark brown eyes, a tanned skin, full lips, pointy nose and freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose.

"Buon pomeriggio" /good afternoon/

She greets. Good thing I speak a bit of Italian. Duolingo really does pay off.

"good afternoon to you too"

I say with a wide smile.

"Tu parli italiano?" /You speak Italian?/

She says, an amused smile on her lips.

"un po" /a little bit/

I say and she breaths out a laugh.

"what would you like to have?"

She says in a thick Italian accent and I Inwardly thanked God she switched to English.

I take my gaze back to the menu, scheming through it, quickly.

"the pepperoni pizza please"

I say, looking up from the menu.

"OK, I'll be right back"

She says then leaves.

I take out my phone from my pocket and begin typing away.

The restaurant doorbell chimes but I don't bother to look up, not realizing the fact that the restaurant went dead silent.

A second later, my food arrives and I finally look up and away from my phone. I glance around the restaurant, momentarily locking eyes with a deathly handsome devil.

I stare at him shamelessly, taking in all his features. The the sweet slick of his brown hair, the captivating gaze of his light brown orbs which had me in place, the knife-carved curve of his defined cheekbones and jaw whick looked like it could cut iron and the trimmed stuble that flaunted on his perfect jaw which set my vajayjay alight.

He reeks of danger, nothing good. I finally tear my gaze away, feeling his burning stare all over my body. I just have to eat quick and leave.

Although he sends tingles in forbidden places, he spells danger even if I feel that if he were to approach me, it'd be because he has seen my sis and wants her contact, suddenly he's not so hot anymore.

Fuck me.