Bella remembered the first time they met. On the streets, wasn't it? He was trying to get home since it was pouring so hard and he wanted a taxi. She was on her way home too since it was already getting dark and wanted a taxi too. Oddly enough, they had ended up wanting the same taxi and argued over it, telling one another that they should get on; they were getting soaked as it was. Turned out they had to walk home, the taxi driver getting impatient with their indecisiveness. He was gorgeous of course; honey colored eyes and brown hair with a curl coming out of the side of his hair. Bella didn't catch his name, but they walked together, both getting soaked and singing the tune, "Singing in the Rain." And all the fun ended when she had to part from him and Bella had forgotten to ask his name, and he didn't ask her either.

She went and closed up her shop. She was a chocolatier and made different types of confections for everyone, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, anything that was sweet and she could make. It was family owned with her two brothers, but her youngest brother left them to look over the shop without a second glance. So, she and her older brother had taken care of everything. Bella lived right next to the shop so she could go between the two places with ease.

As she went to her house, she sighed, going upstairs to the balcony. Bella sat down at the edge since there was no fence or anything to hold someone safe on the ledge, but she didn't mind, she liked it like that. Her eyes went directly to the sky like it always did and she saw the different hues of purple, orange, and red paint the skies.

Bella was suddenly broken out of her reverie when she noticed a voice was yelling below and awfully loud too. She looked down and noticed a young man was looking up at her, waving his hands frantically. She tuned her ears in.

"Hey, you should get down from there! It's dangerous you know!"

Bella's heart stopped. That voice was so familiar.

She lost her balance and went tumbling from the two-story building. She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the impact but instead felt arms cradling her.

"Mio di Dios, you almost scared me to death," The man said relieved.

Bella simply stared at him. Up close, he looked like an angel. She blinked and blushed furiously, aware of how close he was. "I-I know you, don't I?"

He looked at her and smiled. "Yes, the one I sung in the rain with."

Bella wrung her hands. "Do you think you could put me down? I'm pretty sure I'm fine."

The man quickly complied and set her down. She brushed off her clothes and glanced at him. They both stood across each other, both of them not saying a word. Bella decided to start off.

"I don't think we've formally introduced ourselves," She flustered, the only thought to pop into her head.

The man simply laughed and took Bella's hand. "Lovino. Lovino Vargas. At your service." He kissed her hand.

Bella flushed and slipped her hand from his grasp. "My name is Bella Janssens," She murmured.

"Well, Bella. Now that we know each other's names, it'd only be polite to invite you for coffee, right?" Lovino studied her carefully.

The girl nodded slowly; the shop was closed and she really needed a coffee. "Sure, why not?" She responded, following the young man through the plaza.

The plaza had been there for centuries, rock and stone making u surrounding buildings like the cathedral and it was also surrounded by more modern buildings of business and dainty, family-owned gift shops and the latter. But what made the whole plaza look like a dream was the intricate water fountain that was the center of the whole place. In the middle of the fountain was a woman wrapped in a wave-like material, and there was a serene look on her face, almost as if she were a goddess of the water fountain which was named Liefde en geluk; Love and Luck. She had been there for centuries, age not doing well on the woman.

The couple entered a small coffee shop and sat down at a table across from each other. After a man came and asked for their orders, they quietly looked at each other. Lovino this time decided to break the silence.

"I'm sorry I didn't ask your name the last time we met." He smiled apologetically and cocked his head to the side.

Bella held out her hands as if to block the apology. "No, not at all! I should be saying that. I was so distracted," She laughed.

Lovino's eyes searched hers. "I see . . . I haven't seen you around here yet I've been living here for years. How come?"

Bella was wondering the same thing. "Well, I suppose I've lived my whole life in that chocolate shop that I've haven't gotten out often." She twirled a strand of her short blonde hair.

"Really? But I'm sure you must've had a boyfriend before, no?" Lovino seemed at ease.

Bella blushed and shook her head. "No, my brother is really overprotective." She laughed softly.

"Hm." Lovino leaned back into his chair, seeming bothered. Bella was an interesting creature. She seemed to radiate innocence and virtue; none of the things that were in the other women he had dated. Her short, wavy blond hair formed like a halo, and her green eyes always darted around, wanting to take in details of the world. A very interesting woman.

"So I'm assuming you have family around here?" The waiter had already brought the drinks and Bella sipped hers carefully.

Lovino looked at his drink and stirred it. "I do actually. A younger brother and my foster father."

"Have I met them before?"

"I'm sure you have; my brother is Feliciano and my father is—"

"Antonio?" Her eyes looked at his questioningly.

Lovino blinked rapidly, taken aback. "Yes. How did you know?"

Bella gave him a reassuring smile as she drank some more. "Well, he and my brother are always at each other's necks, I can't say I'm proud of it, but what can you do?" she shrugged.

Lovino gazed at her thoughtfully. This seemed to be getting very interesting. He glanced at his watch. "It seems to be getting late, shouldn't you be going home?"

Bella turned to the clock in the shop and set down her drink. "You're right; I should be going," She stood up. "I really appreciate you saving me back there. "She pointed in the general direction of the shop.

Lovino left some money on the table and stood up. Bella seemed to be taken aback.

"You really don't need to take me home." She blushed and her hands fluttered to his chest. He grabbed her hands and held them.

"No, I insist. I wouldn't want anything happening to you on the way."

Bella looked down and tried to clear her head; he was just a—a demanding presence! It was like the whole room was directed to his attention. "Alright," She simply replied.

They left the shop and began to walk home, stars already adorning the sky. Bella wanted to look at them like she always did, but she didn't want to make a fool out of herself if she crashed into something. The pair filled the warm air with idle chitchat, talking about things of no consequence. When they reached Bella's house, the talking abruptly ended.

"I'd really like to see you again," Lovino told her, smiling.

Bella contemplated this for a moment; she'd danced and sung in the rain with this man, had coffee with him and talked like there was no tomorrow. But what if this was all a dream? It seemed too perfect that this man was standing in front of her, asking to see her again.

Even if it was a dream, she was going to dive in headfirst, not caring about what would happen after.

She gave Lovino a peck on the cheek and smiled brightly at him. "Yes, I'd like that very much." And she went into her house. When she shut the door, she sunk to the ground and covered her mouth, blushing. She really liked him, and she secretly hoped he felt the same way. It would make her heart swell if that was true.

Lovino stood at the door in shock. Not many women made that quick of an advance, but that was what made Bella different from the others. He was incredibly happy on the inside and he really liked this girl. He just hoped that this brother and father wouldn't be so taken with her as he was. Lovino made his way home and whistled while he walked.

Bella got up from the floor and made her way to the kitchen; she really needed a glass of water. Just as she was about to drink her water, a voice came out of nowhere.

"So, who was that Bella?"

Bella turned around towards the sound of the voice and put a hand on her chest, feeling as if her heart was about to burst.

"Neddy, you scared me!" She chastised him.

Ned simply rolled his eyes and sat at the table in the kitchen. "You didn't answer my question."

Bella stuck her tongue out at him and sat down at the table. "He's just a friend."

Neddy laughed. "Then what was up with that peck on the cheek? Didn't seem very 'friend-like' to me."

Bella looked down at her glass and blushed. "That's none of your business," She muttered.

Neddy spread his hands out on the table. "Hey, don't blame me if you get your heart broken."

She stared at her older brother. What was he saying? Lovino's a gentleman; he'd never do that. "What do you mean?"

Her brother's eyes glanced at something on the wall, not wanting to meet her eyes. "Well, I've seen the likes of him, always changes girls like he changes clothes."

The blonde girl shook her head, refusing to believe her brother's words. She got up and put her cup in the sink. Her back was to him. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."