After school, I did exactly what Romano ordered me to do. I tossed my backpack over my shoulder and pushed a headphone in my ear, then headed to Lovino.
"Hey Lovi." I said, once I saw him. I just wanted to drown myself in music and run away.
"What're you listening to?!" Lovino shouted. He yanked the headphone out of my ear, dismissing my greeting. It felt like a bullet to my heart.
To be honest, everything he does feels like a bullet to my heart.
Anyways, he popped the two headphones into his ears. Instead of asking what it was, he ripped it out of his ear and shouted, "What is this crap!? It's in Spanish! You still listen to this!?" He looked like he was going to go insane. I tried to grab my iPod from his hands. "There must be something good on here." He said, pushing me away and flipping through the songs. Shit. It started to rain. He muttered something, as the rain poured. He was still flipping through my music.
"Lovino, please, give it back." I pleaded. I reached for my iPod, but he elbowed my rib and whipped the iPod onto the ground.
In a puddle.
My heart sank, as the iPod went black, after a short spark of light. My fingers curled into a fist, the tips getting white. I bend down quickly and grab the iPod. No.
"Lovino." I mumble, trying to hold back the tears. It was one of those times where you break down at random moments, even if it was a dumb conflict. All the sadness, pain, and anger built up, and this is what happens. I had to let it all out.
"Come on, Antonio. I'm starving." Lovino said. He turned around, facing me. He slowly stepped over. I could tell he was hiding a smile. He pulls me into a loose hug. No. I don't need this. I can't have this. I have to go. I-
"Antonio! Fratello!" Shouted a familiar voice. It was Feliciano. He was wearing a grey unzipped hoodie with some design on it. He was holding Ludwig's hand. I guess Feliciano and Ludwig got together at the end of middle school, and they're still together. I'm impressed.
"Hey." I quickly say, wiping my eyes. I had to get out of here. I can't be around people, especially at this state.
"How are you?" Ludwig asked. His hair was perfectly gelled back. How the fuck did he do that?
"Good, I-" I say, but get interrupted by Lovino.
"Ack, get out of here, you filthy German. While you're at it, stay away from my brother." Lovino snapped. I could see the hurt in Ludwig's eyes. I can tell Ludwig is heavily in love with Feliciano.
I wish I was in love.
"Lovi-" Feliciano started to say, but I interrupted him.
"Lovino, I feel sick. Bye babe." I pat him on the shoulder and turn around. Fuck.
"Wait!" Lovino shouted. I hysterically started to cough.
"I'm gonna puke-" I grip onto my stomach and run.
After being with him, I learned one thing, and that was how to lie.
"He what?" Emma said over the phone. There was unwrapping and the sound of eating. I was laying on my bed, my laptop on my chest.
"Yeah. And now I gotta get a new iPod."
"Your family is poor too." Emma said.
"Seriously. I'll probably have to get another job." I say. Last summer, it was my birthday, and the day after I was hired to a small coffee shop in the middle of town.
It was cute, small, and old looking. There were rows of books in the shelves inside of the walls and around the tables. The floors creaked from the age of the shop. The man who owns it is an old man with a heavy mustache, and he only reaches my chest. I usually go there to not only drink coffee, but to read or write.
"I can help you," Emma said. She couldn't do this.
"No, it's totally fine, don't worry about it Emma."
"Well, what're you doing now?"
"Drinking hot cocoa and sitting on my bed." I reply.
There was a pause.
"Want to play in the rain?" Emma asked.
Another pause.
"I'll be over in 15."
