14 | red velvet and raspberry

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

- Aesop

________________________

- L I L A -

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Matthew smiled reassuringly and squeezed my hand. "Lila," he laughed softly, taking his glasses off and folding them before placing it in his pocket. "The date will be much more enjoyable if you just relax."

I grinned up at him, my breath hitching in my throat as he linked his arms around my waist, pulling me towards him. He gripped his white cane in his hand, causing it to press into my lower back "So this is a date," I clarified, resting my arms on his shoulders. "What happened to us just hanging out?" My jokey tone was evident in my words as a soft sheen of red covered his cheeks.

"Well, it is just us hanging out, but if I were to kiss you, would that make it a date?" he asked, his grey eyes holding hints of mirth.

I shrugged my shoulders, the pads of my fingers resting at the nape of his neck. "I don't know," I replied, grinning. "Would it?"

Deciding that my response was undeserving of a verbal response, he rested his forehead on mine, leaning in slightly. Looking up at him, I noticed that I never took the time to actually register his eyes. Most of the time, all I saw was a dark grey, but up close I could see the colour was much like Katherine's, like a polished metal shard, with dark rimmed pupils.

Realising he wasn't going to make the first move, I raised my body slightly higher and pressed my lips to his for a short while. "I'm okay with this being a date."

He chuckled and tilted his head back. "A date this is, then," Taking my hand in his, he bit his lip and tilted his head to the side. "Was an amusement park a good idea?"

Angling my body to face him, a smile pulled at my lips. "Have you never been to one before?"

"I-I have—with Isaac, but it's not the same on a date, you know?" he responded, pausing for a moment and flashing me a charming grin. "I like the adrenaline when I'm on rides—."

His phone rang, interrupting him mid-sentence. He released his hold on my hand, pulling his phone from his pocket before answering it. I didn't pay attention to his phone call, but once he hung up, he turned to me with a disappointed expression.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, running a hand through his dark hair. "My family have this thing today, and I completely forgot,"

Masking my disappointment, I whisked a wayward strand of my hair behind my ear, and exhaled lightly. "It's alright, we can just do this another time."

He sighed dejectedly and pulled me into a hug, his hand smoothing down my hair. "I am really sorry, Lila." He breathed.

My cheeks probably warmed to the same colour as my hair, a wide grin plastered on my face once Matthew tilted his head down and kissed the bridge of my nose.

_____

"Do you want to come inside?" he inquired, biting his bottom lip. "But I have to warn you - my grandma is very... uh, forward, so just ignore any comments regarding us,"

A smirk poked at the corner of my lips, my eyebrows raising slightly. "Us?" I teased, turning the engine off. "What are we?"

As usual, his cheeks were painted with a soft red. I presumed he would begin stammering before a knock sounded on the window on Matthew's side. Glancing outside the window, I was met by a wide smile that belonged to a woman who had similar features to Angus. "I'm guessing that's your grandma."

Fumbling for a moment before he winded down the window, his jaw slack. "Nonna?" he spoke, excitement laced in his tone. "I've missed you so much!" He opened the door and stepped out, placing his cane on the floor before hugging his grandma tightly.

Glancing at me with her dark blue eyes, she held Matthew by his shoulders. "Chi è questa bella ragazza, Matthew?" she spoke in Italian, Matthew ducking his head down and grinning to himself.

"Uh, this is Lila, my..."

"Girlfriend?" she offered with a sly grin. "Now, you're going to be my only grandson bringing a date to Lorenzo's opening night, it's a big night for your uncle."

"Oh," Matthew replied, scratching his neck sheepishly. "Is that tonight? Dad said that was next week, we were going to do family night tonight."

She clicked her tongue agitatedly and rolled her eyes. "Leave it to your papá to get details wrong." She retorted, smiling towards me. "Are you free tonight, Lila? Matthew would love if you could accompany him later."

He flashed me a cautious grin, pushing his glasses through his hair. "Sure," I answered, sending a smile in his grandma's direction. "Mrs..."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Call me Nicola," she smiled warmly, picking up Matthew's white cane and passing it to him. "Any dress is fine as long as it's black. Could I have your number so I could call you later to tell you the times?"

Matthew placed a hand on his grandma's shoulder. "I-I can call Lila, it's no problem,"

A sly spark ignited in her eyes, the grin having no trouble in making an appearance on her face. "I'm sure you can, but I'd still like Lila's number, for futher events, of course," she ducked her head and met my gaze. "Could you come out so I can hug you? If that's okay with you."

Pressing the back of my hands to my warm cheeks, I pulled my keys out from the ignition and stepped out of my car, biting my bottom lip before I approached Nicola. She grinned wider, and opened her arms out, pulling me into a warm embrace. "You're so much better than Vanessa," she whispered. "And prettier, too."

The hue of red that tinged my cheeks darkened and spread to the tips of my ears. "T-thank you," I stuttered, pulling back and allowing the curve of my lips to lift slowly.

Nicola sent one last grin Matthew's way before heading straight into the house. There was a silence that drifted upon us, Matthew's eyes focusing on nothing in particular before he opened his mouth, a breathy laugh falling from his lips. "I told you my nonna was forward,"

I laughed along with him, my green eyes filled with curiosity. "I never knew you spoke Italian," I offered him a small smile, glancing up at him as he reached out for me.

He grinned lazily and shrugged his shoulders in a dismissive manner. "I can understand it quite well, but I don't speak it often." He took a deep breath and intertwined our fingers. "My grandma spoke to me in Italian when I was younger, so I picked it up."

There was a short silence before he leaned down, brushing his lips against mine softly and pressing his free hand to my cheek, cradling my jaw. "I'll see you later."

---

Grasping my hands together, I chewed on the corner of my bottom lip, glancing out of the window for a moment before I grabbed my phone from the passenger seat.

'I'm here.'

Moments afterwards, Isaac's door opened as he shrugged on a jacket, slinging a towel around his shoulders. "Hey," he greeted once he reached my car, a small smile pulling at his lips. "I appreciate you doing this for me, you didn't have to,"

Sliding my phone to the dashboard, I turned around and got hold of my makeup bag before taking out what I needed. Isaac leaned in slowly, silently holding my gaze. "Don't try anything," I whispered with a matching smile, skimming the brush over his cheekbone.

He laughed humourlessly, rolling his eyes. "I know my place well enough by now, Lila," he informed me, directing his gaze to his dress shirt. "I'm not going to kiss you."

He winced once I dabbed my finger on his bruise, his azure eyes meeting mine once again. "Where are you going anyway?"

"Dinner with my parents and their boss," he replied, a bored undercurrent to his words. "They're going to start asking questions if I come to dinner with a bruise on my face," he shrugged his shoulders and frowned slightly. "I can't really tell them Matthew has a decent right hook."

Packing away my makeup, the corner of my lip lifted. "Thank the power of makeup, I'm done."

Isaac touched a strand of my curled hair, rolling his lips into his mouth silently. "Where are you going dressed all pretty?" He leaned back in his seat, and brought the towel up to dry his hair.

"Uh, Matthew's grandma invited me to this opening night thing."

Isaac's eyebrows raised in surprise, his lips parting. "You've met Nicola?" he exclaimed, exhaling lightly. "Well, have fun. I've got to go figure out how to put a tie on."

Just as he reached for the door handle, I opened my mouth to speak. "You don't know how to put a tie on?"

In lieu of a spoken response, Isaac offered me a sheepish grin, a soft blush covering his cheeks. I stared at him in amusement, turning off the engine before I stepped out of my car with him. "I'll help you, then."

He smiled gratefully and lead me into his house, shutting the door behind him. "My dad said he would teach me tonight, but he and my mom are running late." Throwing the towel off his shoulders, he slung the tie in its place, folding up his collar.

Reaching for his tie, I stepped closer and smiled up at him. "I had to do for my brother when he broke his hand," I proceeded to act on the urge to roll my eyes at the memory. "It took me, like, ten minutes to figure out."

Isaac was silent before wet his lips. "Does this mean things are better between us?" he murmured, registering my questioning look. "I mean, are we at least acquaintances now?"

Pushing his tie up, he folded his collar. "What you did to Matthew was bad," I directed my gaze to my hands once the hope in his eyes dimmed. "And as his friend and possibly more, I need to be understanding. He's already insecure that he's going to lose me to you because of what happened with Vanessa, and I don't want him to feel like that; I don't want to hurt him."

"So, no," he mumbled, breathing out shakily.

"No," I shook my head to make him feel better. "I'm not saying we can never be friends, but Matthew has to be okay with it, so you've got to give him some time. He has amazing qualities, and I think that you've taken advantage of that in certain occasions."

"Lila, I know I screwed up," he muttered, an expression of distraught plastered on his face. "But, I respect your decision. Believe it or not, I do want Matthew to be happy."

I left him with a small smile before I exited his house, proceeding to my car with a dampened mood.

'Thank you for everything :)'

My eyes scanned Isaac's text as I sat in my car outside Lorenzo's restaurant, which was actually called Lorenzo's. "Clever." I muttered sarcastically under my breath, fiddling with my fingers once the nerves hit me.

Stepping out of my car, I straightened out the folds in my dress, spotting Matthew near the entrance with his free hand stuffed in his pocket, and Toby alongside him.

Exhaling out a deep breath, I rolled my neck around my shoulders, walking towards him. Tentatively, I stepped on my tiptoes, gingerly kissing the side of his mouth.

He chuckled and dipped his head with a blush. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that." He breathed, grinning brightly.

Giggling in response, I crouched down, smiling at Toby. "Can I stroke him?" I asked, petting him between the shoulders once Matthew nodded.

"Wow, Matthew," a male voice chuckled, his impish tone getting my attention. "You're brave doing it out in the open."

Catching onto what he was insinuating, I immediately bolted up, my cheeks flaming in embarrassment. "N-no, I-I was stroking-."

"Shut up, Marco." Matthew interrupted, coming to my defence.

"Chill, cuz," Marco slapped a hand on his shoulder, speaking in a teasing manner. "I was just playing. Nonna kept on telling us about Lila, and since you were waiting out here for her, I thought I'd join you." He glanced at me and smiled. "I'm Marco - nice to meet you."

Smiling in return, Matthew reached for my hand, sighing towards his cousin as he pulled out a cigarette. "Come on, man. Our table is near a newborn, don't start smelling like tobacco."

Examining his cousin in silence, he returned his unlit cigarette to his pocket, creasing his eyebrows. "You have a nose like a sniffer dog, I didn't even light it,"

He wordlessly patted his cousin's shoulder as Marco walked in front of us, Matthew tilting his head to face me. "You're so nervous," he chuckled lightly. "You're making my hand shake." Squeezing my hand, my eyes scanned the filled restaurant, Matthew's family soon coming into view.

"It's nerve wracking," I smiled up at him anxiously, attempting to control my hand.

He brought my arm up, kissing the back of my hand. "It's going to be fine, don't worry."

At the sight of affection, Katherine and Angus slapped similar grins on their face, staring in my direction as the two of them exchanged a glance. I smiled politely at them, hugging Katherine once she stood up.

"You look beautiful, Katherine." I complimented, momentarily withdrawing my hand from Matthew's grasp. She returned the compliment, gesturing to the two empty seats beside her.

"I saved you and Matthew chairs, I'm glad you could come tonight."

Once we both sat down, I felt multiple eyes on me, everyone sporting wide grins, and causing me to squirm uncomfortably in my seat. Matthew was naturally unaware, but noted their silence, his fingers locking with mine under the table with his thumb rubbing my hand in an assuring manner.

"Okay," Nicola interrupted the silence. "We're making Lila uncomfortable."

Marco chuckled under his breath, and smiled at me. "Hello, Lila, again."

It was only then I noticed the three girls to my right, one of which seemed to be in a bad mood. "I'm Flora," the girl beside me spoke, perking up. "It's nice to meet you." Matthew grumbled incoherent words under his breath as she rolled her eyes in his direction. "This is my twin sister, Fiona. And she," she gestured to the girl seated beside Fiona, creasing her eyebrows at her facial expression, "is Mina."

Mina didn't bother smiling at me, glancing at me rather blankly before grudgingly engaging in a conversation with Marco. "Are you Matthew's girlfriend?" Fiona asked, a small smile adorning her facial features.

She caught me off guard, the breath hitching in the back of my throat. "Never mind that question." Flora intervened, registering my hesitant pause. She then glanced at Matthew. "Matthew?" she spoke, a smile glossing the edge of her lips. "É la tua ragazza?"

"Shut up, Flora," he replied dryly. "I don't need to answer your questions."

Flora raised an eyebrow. "So that's a no?" she asked, clicking her tongue. "Man up, Matthew. Ask her out."

The table immediately went silent, Nicola pausing her conversation with the waiter to look at the both of us. I released a soft sigh from my nose, the warmth flooding my cheeks as Matthew groaned, placing his forehead on the table.

Katherine laughed softly and laid a hand on Matthew's back. "There's no pressure from any of us. You can take it as slow as you want."

All the attention on Matthew and me, thankfully, went away once the food arrived. I was pretty much helpless when most of the adults conversed in Italian, but Flora kept me thoroughly entertained with her love for a subject she was studying.

"We're college students." She announced, throwing her brown hair over her shoulder. "This is, like, our first time home before we go back before Christmas in three weeks."

"I just want high school to end." Matthew joined in, drinking from his glass of coke. "I literally can't wait to go college."

"I want to be done with school, period." I laughed, desperately wishing that the school year would go faster.

Upon hearing my laugh, Mina stopped eating her food, and took that as a chance to analyse me with narrowed eyes. I stared at her oddly, clearing my throat awkwardly.

"What's wrong?" Matthew questioned, tilting his head to face me as he took of his glasses.

"Mina keeps on giving her weird looks." Fiona blurted out, receiving a light shove from Mina.

"I'm just curious, Matthew." She began, directing her blue eyes in Matthew's direction. "What happened to Vanessa?"

Matthew's jaw clenched angrily, and he slipped his hand from mine, wiping his mouth silently before he stood up, grabbing Toby's harness. "Excuse me." He mumbled lowly, chucking his napkin onto the table prior to leaving.

Katherine and Angus watched their son curiously, Fiona staring at Mina with an annoyed expression. "You know what happened," she spat angrily. "You're just angry that she doesn't speak to you anymore."

"What happened between Vanessa and Matthew?" Katherine questioned, glancing at Mina wearily before she diverted her gaze to Flora and Fiona.

An awkward silence drifted upon us, the twins deciding to stay silent after Marco huffed agitatedly. "Vanessa cheated on him with two different guys."

Katherine and Angus gasped, their eyes wide as I pushed Isaac out of my mind in an instant, rising from my chair with a sad smile. "I-I'm going to go after him."

Once I reached the entrance of the restaurant, Matthew was sat on the stairs that lead to an apartment, his tie loosened around his neck, a look of utter turmoil plastered on his face. Sensing my presence, he swiftly wiped his eyes, clearing his throat as I sat next to him.

"Hey," I whispered, positioning my hand at the nape of his neck. "Don't beat yourself up about it."

He draped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer, searching for my hand. "I don't want to talk about it, Lila. Just stay with me, and I'll be okay." I leaned my head on his shoulder, sitting with him in silence before he opened his mouth. "I never want to take my anger out on you."

Crossing my arm over, I pressed my hand to his cheek, softly pecking his cheek. "It's okay to be upset, Matthew. It can get a little too much sometimes."

He turned his head and leaned into my hand, kissing my palm. "I'm sorry for what she said." He apologised, standing up. "Mina and Vanessa were best friends, but it turned out Vanessa was just using her to get closer to me."

I frowned at the thought of Vanessa, not grasping the fact that she was such a horrible person to other people. "Are you going back inside already?"

He nodded silently. "I know my parents probably know what happened to Vanessa and me, I just want to get it over with."

Toby rested his head on his paws as Matthew stepped closer towards me, hesitantly hovering his lips over mine. I laughed silently, slowly kissing him with a smile on my face. "I'm not going to be able to get used to your kisses." I admitted, pushing his tie up.

Angus was silent as Matthew sat down, his mom pushing a dessert in front of him. "I ordered dessert for you, thought it could cheer you up."

She grabbed his hand and placed it on the plate, glancing at me cautiously. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"I don't." He instantly replied, smiling quickly in the general direction of his parents. "The past is in the past, there's no point dwelling on it."

Angus inhaled sharply and frowned. "I just wish you would've told us, Matt."

"How was I supposed to tell you that my ex-girlfriend cheated on me?" he sighed angrily. "It's not exactly something I want to admit, Dad."

I laced our fingers together, squeezing it in an assuring manner to calm him down, which he eventually did, finishing his dessert without so much as a word to anyone.

Deciding that it would be best if I didn't eat any more, I watched as people began to leave, a man in chef clothes - who I guessed was Lorenzo - emerging from the double doors with a huge grin.

"It was a nice turn out, huh?" he spoke, biting on his bottom lip, his dark eyebrows raising. "I'm glad I decided to reopen."

Nicola stood and hugged her son tightly, patting him on the back. "The food was delicious, grazie."

It was then Angus who stood up, hugging Lorenzo too. "It's nice to see you again."

Lorenzo's gaze fell onto our table, his eyes lingering on Matthew, who still sported a blank facial expression. He remained quiet, smiling at Angus distractedly. "It's closing time for the restaurant, but you guys are more than welcome to hang out in my apartment upstairs whilst my employees and I clean up."

Everyone filtered up to his apartment, Matthew remaining in his seat for a little while longer. "Lila? If I'm correct, to the right, there's an open space; could you lead me to it?"

I slowly stood up, my eyebrows pulled together as he hooked his elbow in mine, leaving Toby behind. I noted that Toby watched his every move, which lead me to the conclusion that he was told to stay there.

Once I halted in my movements, Matthew smiled to himself, angling his body to face me whilst he rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up, hooking his arms around my waist.

"Dance with me."

I took in the gentleness in his tone, unable to keep the smile off my face once music started playing. "My uncle's doing me a solid." He mumbled, slowly swaying once I linked my hands behind his neck.

I stepped closer and rested my forehead on his shoulder, trailing one hand down his arm to intertwine our hands. Smiling at the sound of the soft music, Matthew placed a delicate kiss on my forehead when I lifted my head.

"You make my heart race." He breathily chuckled, eliciting a shuddering breath from me when he grabbed my hand, placing my palm flat against his shirt-clad chest. "And you send this tingly feeling through me, and it never stops."

I ran my hand through his dark brown strands, feeling butterflies swarm my stomach. "You're making it really hard for me not to kiss you, Matthew." I confessed, leaning in slightly.

He grinned lazily and bit his lower lip. "I never stop thinking about you; you're always on my mind."

I leaned in a bit more, a huge smile on my face.

"And I'm falling for you more and more every day, and I know I'm not going to stop any time soon."

And a bit more.

"Be my girlfriend."

His stormy grey eyes held seriousness, his breath fanning my lips softly since they were a hair's breadth apart. As I closed the distance, he laughed mid-kiss and wound both arms around my waist, lifting me into the air and hoisting me up with firm arms. I looped my arms around his neck, kissing him happily.

It wasn't until we pulled apart that I realised his family were watching through the doors, clapping and cheering. Pulling him into a hug, I nuzzled my nose into the crook of his neck, smiling against his skin.

I was his girlfriend