Eliza laid outstretched on her bed, her hair fanning out around her head and her arms held up in the air above her. A small phone was nestled in the palms of her hands and she flicked across the screen with her thumb every few seconds. A series of images flashed on the screen as she did so, but none seemed to catch her fancy, as she barely lingered on any for more than a brief second of contemplation. After a solid ten minutes of this action, she sighed deeply, blowing a huff of hair up into the locks of hair that had floated down into her face and brought her arms down outspread either side of her body.
The blue screen light threw strange shadows across her body and the walls of her bedroom, which was otherwise in pitch blackness. The curtains were drawn over a midnight sky, blocking out any possible traces of moon light.
"This is hopeless," she muttered to herself darkly. "Utterly and totally hopeless." The phone trilled from where it was situated inside her curled fingers. The buzzing made Eliza jump, and she scrambled to sit upright, bashing her head onto the wall behind her in her flailing. "Ow..." When she stilled, she cradled the phone in her lap, eyes wide and staring at the unimposing words on the screen.
Bella I THINK I FOUND HIM ELI I THINK I MANAGED TO FIND HIM
Eliza squealed happily, a wide grin breaking out across her face. She tapped out a lightning fast reply.
Eliza what really?!
Bella YEAH DEFINITELY. BUUUUUUT I THNK HE MIGHT BE DATNG MY COUSIN. HE ACTED SUSPICIOUS AND BLUSH-Y WHEN I MENTIONED HIM. ISSUE? Y/N
Eliza not an issue I repeat not an issue!? still eyecandy nooo? So who is he
Bella Antonio Fernandez Carriedo, Spanish in origin, gorgeous and v gay. In college atm. I have pics courtesy of the cousin
Eliza WOAH they arent dirty though are they
Bella nope sorry. But clear enough to see his face
picture file attached –
The picture file attached showed a young man leaning both elbows on a kitchen counter, all too obviously aware that he was being photographed but clearly trying to act casual. A wistful, if subtly embarrassed smile graced his features as he looked out of the window in front of him, hands wrapped around a decorated mug. Eliza immediately recognised him as person who had camped out in the shop toilet.
Her curiosity had taken over her after the man had left, and she was determined to find out exactly why he had stolen away in the toilet (although his tanned, toned body may have had more than a slight influence in her plans). Eliza wanted to make a whole web of rumours and stories and to know about all the ins and outs of her social circles. She knew about her brother's neighbour's friend's affair with his girlfriend's best friend, and had a skill for matchmaking that her friend's took advantage of more than they would ever admit. With Bella's discovery, it looked as if her latest curious itch was going to find itself being scratched.
This fact in mind, Eliza's smile grew wider as she replied again.
Eliza THATS HIM YES
Bella Knew it :DD
Bella We need to... arrange a visit yes?
Eliza definitely!
Eliza but how? we need a decent excuse, not like last time
Bella Last time wasnt the worst time
Eliza pretty bad tho
Bella True... I have a plan!
Eliza better be good ;)
Bella Well. I happen to know that the cousin Lovino is intending to visit Antonio tomorrow, then bring him back to his. We can ambush them there.
Eliza what if they stay at Antonio's?
Bella I know Lovino, he'll have left a note for his brother saying where he is. We can follow the instructions on the note.
Eliza hella yeah... lets do this
Bella I'll make up an excuse to visit. Meet at mine at 10 yeah
Eliza sure! this is gonna be epic
Bella See you tomorrow!
Eliza yeah, see yyou B!
Eliza flopped back down in the star-fish position she had been laid in before, only this time her expression was smug and satisfied. Scrabbling around under the covers on the bed, she pulled out a set of headphones, plugged herself in and let herself drift off to sleep. The next day was going to be... interesting.
The next day arrived with Eliza trying to cram her entire morning ritual into the space of 20 minutes whilst Bella stood in the doorway offering unhelpful commentary, having let herself in with the spare key. Her dirty-blonde bob was immaculate, not a single hair out of place, and her purple dress swung neatly above her knees; unlike Eliza's green one, which was residing where she had flung it the previous night, draped across the top of her ratty sofa. Eliza hopped into the living area from the bathroom with one leg through her tights and the hand not trying to pull the other one up dragged a brush through her mane of dark hair. The only other item of clothing she wore was a pale pink bra.
"Come on, Eli, Lovino'll have left for Antonio's by now, we have to get going!" Bella stalked over to the sofa and picked up the dress, brandishing it at Eliza who bit her lower lip guiltily.
"Sorry B, I know, I overslept... But Rod came online and you know that I never get time to speak to him..." She managed to wrestle her tights all the way on and pulled the dress out of Bella's hands. "Have you seen my flowers? I swear the vase was on the table...!"
Bella sighed with a smile, and gestured silently to where the vase of lilies rested on a small table behind Eliza.
"Ah, thanks!" Eliza pulled the dress over her head, letting the loose material flow around her thighs. She pulled the pinkest lily out and tucked it behind her ear. "Right, let's go find us a story."
She flounced out of the door without a backwards glance, leaving Bella to follow and shut the door behid her.
When the two arrived at Lovino's room, the painted red door was swung wide open, and loud music spilled out into the hallway. Eliza hesitated, but Bella pushed past her and poked her head around the door frame.
"Knock, knock!" she called out, "Feli, that you?"
An answering, "Sì!" came from inside, followed by a yelp of pain and a barrage of muddled Italian and English. The music stopped abruptly. Bella frowned, and made to move inside, but before she had taken a single step, a grinning face appeared in front of them. His hair was neat, but for a few flyaway strands and a smudge of what Eliza assumed to be flour that trailed down from his hairline to his cheekbone. It was dusted all over his apron as well, and some had landed on his bare feet. Bella embraced the young man quickly, then brushed the flour off his face with a wry smile.
"Pizza again, Feli? Sorry if I made you break anything..."
"Nope, pasta! And no again, I'm fine, I just dropped the radio. And... Hello, I'm sorry, I don't think I've met you before, Bella's friend?" Feli held out a thankfully un-floured hand for Eliza to shake.
"Oh, I'm Elizabeta, but please, call me Eliza. You're Feli, right, Lovino's brother?"
"Si, Eliza! Nice to meet you. Now, can I help you at all?"
Eliza and Bella shared an identical look, complete with matching raised eyebrows. Feli peered curiously between the two. Noticing his confusion, Bella turned back to face him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Do you know where Lovino is? I'd hoped to talk to him about the details for Abel's birthday thing tomorrow, and whether he's going to bring someone with him. It's pretty important. Also, I assumed you'll be coming with Monika?"
Feli flushed a little and nodded. "Monika is coming, I hope! She's a bit under the weather... I have a feeling that Lovi will be coming with Antonio though! If you want to go see him about it, he said he's over at Antonio's now. I'll give you the address, hang on..."
He headed back inside, leaving Eliza and Bella by the door. After a minute of paper rustling and a few mysterious thumps, Feli returned with a scrap of paper clutched in his hand. He handed it to Bella, who scanned over the address scrawled across the top in purple ink, with a 'I'll be here if you need me, but don't wait for me to make lunch, idiot!' added at the bottom.
"Thanks!" said Bella, folding the paper up and slipping it into her small shoulder bag. "We best be off then. Do you know how long ago Lovino go?"
Feli thought for a moment, his eyebrows knitting as he frowned slightly. "Um... I think it must have been about twenty minutes ago? Not long. It takes about ten minutes to get over there."
"Right, thanks Feli. See you tomorrow, yeah?"
"Si! Ciao Bella."
When Eliza was sure that Feli had shut the door and that the music had started again, she raised an eyebrow at Bella.
"Really. Abel's important party, that's your excuse?"
"Well, it's not really, I do need to know since I'm sorting out catering..."
AN - Hi... I would have posted this weeks ago but a. the first version I wrote I hated and deleted, and b. I've had mock exams and stuff so this has been ready for days and I just haven't... you know... actually posted it.