Luca Rossi

You take your time walking to the bathroom as you ponder on what Luca said. - I'll come find you - is on repeat in your mind, you find it weird but you love it. You've been with a few crazies in your life but something in your gut is telling you Luca was serious.

You finally find the bathroom as you walk inside you go about your business, wash your hands and do a little twirl in the mirror as if you needed a reminder of how hot you look tonight. You finish your " freshening up " you give yourself one last glance. Standing at five foot even, bottom heavy yet pretty slim, long curly red hair, and a dark personality you've never really been the it girl. Your preteen up to adult years were full of agony, chaos and trauma, El being your only stability you've ever had.

You shake out your thoughts and make your way to the exit.

You open the door and

Bam

That pretty waitress is right there as if she was waiting for you.

' So, are you with Luca? I mean for the night, cus yknow he's hot shit no way he could be tied down, especially with ... someone like you '

You take her words in trying to be better than you used to be. Another thing El was good at, reminding people to not get me going because she has seen how it ends more than I care to admit. You tell her you are there with friends only as you push past her.

' Oh, and if you're that hot shit, have at him ' you say with a wink. You are back surrounded by loud bass filled music with energetic people on the dance floor. You find the booth to find everyone right where they were when you left, drinking and enjoying each other's company. After that little tif with that waitress your adrenaline is a bit rised, you don't even ask Luca to let you in you just slide across him into your proper seat. You notice the smirk he had on his face as you reach to refill your glass. You gulp down the whole glass in one go.

You grab Ella's hand and drag her onto the dance floor as the beat starts to get heavier. She doesn't object since drunk dancing is a favorite of ours since like 17. When you've got a hot best friend things tend to go in your favor. You two spend the next almost hour just dancing and every single time you look up Luca is just staring at you drinking from his glass, looking quite amused.

You are well past hot and bothered by his magnetic gaze, but at the end of the night it doesn't matter, you have your word to yourself to keep! It's nearing 1am, you and El make your way back to the table as El slides Mark by the hand to the edge of the seating to sit on his lap and love on him before we figure out out uber. Before you can even blink Luca snatches you by the waist to follow suit, you fall into his huge lap.

He grabs you by your chin and pulls your face down to his, you don't fight it.

Your lips collide as he kisses you so hard and passionate you're breathing gets staggered. You lift up as he whispers ' let me take you home! '

You stand up as it's all catching up to you.

' I'm sorry I've gotta go now, El I gotta get out of here you coming home or going home with Mark? '

'Natty, what's wrong are you okay? '

You respond to her you're fine but just wanna go home.

' Well Mark finally has a night free, I'm going to go with him, if you're okay but if you need me tonight you know I'm always there for you '

Just another reason to love her, the only true love you've ever had, she's willing to give up her fun night to go home with you to make sure you're good. God I love her, what would life be without someone so pure and genuine she was a Godsend just for you. And after all the bullshit you've been through you've always been thankful for her.

'No Ella I'm good, you're good' you say with a laugh.

Luca stands up and says ' Fine but I'm taking you home so I know you'll be safe! ' You smirk at him but don't object. You kiss El on the cheek and tell her to have fun with a wink, as you do the same with Mark. Luca tells him he'll get ahold of him later and he grabs your hand and leads you back through the crowd to the exit. Your heart is in your throat as your lost for words. As your walking to the parking lot he asks you if you have any plans for your birthday, you get a confused look on your face.

' How do you think El got the tickets ' he says laughing. ' She told Mark your birthday is on Christmas eve, that's not too far away '

You smile but that's one day of the year you dread, you hate that day. A yearly reminder that you were born. Not something find worth celebrating.

' Oh, no I usually stay in bed and cry '

He laughed the hardest you've heard him laugh yet. Maybe he thought you were kidding, but to be honest that's exactly what you do.

' Oh come on Natalia, I know you see what I'm getting at! '

You know exactly what he's getting at and that is absolutely not happening. You're damaged goods, and he's Luca Rossi, a rising star, with more ass being thrown at him than he even knows what to do with. You can't slip back to your old ways. Not that you've changed all that much but men are one aspect you've done a 180 with. It's been twenty-three months and some days since you been with anyone. You're 21st birthday, worst birthday ever.

' Let me take you for a nice dinner, I promise I'll behave ' he says with a devilish grin.

' Look Luca '

And before you can finish anymore, you're parked in front of your home, and he cuts you off.

' Natalia, I don't know why you're so hellbent on this whole trying to act like you're too good for me bullshit, Look you're gorgeous but maybe put humble in that mind of yours. '

Little does he know you're probably one of the most humbled humans walking on this earth.

You try to fight it but your eyes start to sting, he takes notice and his face immediately softens. He grabs your hand and apologizes.

' Luca I have to go, thanks for the interview and a fun night. '

You shake his hand off of yours and with tears filling your eyes you open the car door as you dig in your bag for your keys. You get to the door and unlock it quickly shutting and locking it behind you. You slide down the door with tears just falling off your cheeks. After a few moments you force yourself up and head to your room.

You'll never understand what was robbed of you so many years ago and now you can barely function most of the time. You've made many bad choices in your life and karma has never missed her shot with you.

You slide your heels and dress off and you climb into your bed with swollen eyes, you grab your phone as you notice a few notifications. A text from El?

' Hey, do I need to come home? Luca came to Mark's all worried, I gave him your number please don't be mad, I love you Natty. '

'No El I'm good, just my past eating me up tonight, enjoy your night I love you too EllBell.'

A nickname you haven't called her in ages, she replies with some heart emojis as you notice an unsaved number text come through.

' I'm sorry Natalia I didn't mean to be an ass, please forgive me? '

You turn your phone off as you lay back and play your night back to you until you finally drift off into dreamland. The next morning you awake to the loud construction work from down the street. You roll over and turn your phone on as you drag yourself up and grab an old oversized t-shirt from the your drawer and head to the kitchen.

Coffee is the only thing on your mind as you set your machine up and head to the bathroom as it brews. You hurry back to the kitchen and check your notifications as you wait for your mug to fill up.

' You can ignore me but I promise you I keep my word, I'll find you because you are what I want!! '

You roll your eyes knowing he's so full of shit. What's his obsession with me anyways? A beyond fucked up woman, normally when women say ' you can't handle a woman like me ' not too many live up to aside from being shallow bitches who throw tantrums if you're not worshipping the very ground they walk. Not I, I'm certified fucked. He should stick with the plastic bimbos who linger on his every move. That'll never be me again.

You're lost in your thoughts until you noticed your coffee has been ready for a bit now. You grab your coffee and laptop and head back to your bed to do some editing to your interview. After this you'll be glad to never see or hear Luca's voice again. You'll never be good enough for him.