Episode 16

"Stay the night, it's too late for you to leave now, my child," said my mother.

My sister and I stood at the entrance to the living room.

"Thank you, ma'am, but I don't think it's necessary; I'll just call a cab and head home," said Daniela, looking rather downcast.

"Alessandro will take you," my father declared.

"No, I have homework," I said, turning to head up the stairs.

"If you don't take her, she'll stay over, and not just that, she'll stay in your room while you bunk with the twins," my father insisted.

"You're joking, right? She's not staying in my room, and if she does, she'll sleep on the floor," I protested.

"Alma and Alexis will be thrilled to sleep with their big brother," my father said, his eyes icy cold.

"Let's go, I'll take you," I said, heading for the exit.

I walked to my car and got in, not even waiting for her.

After a moment, she left the house, entered the car, and sat in silence as I started the engine.

Neither of us spoke a single word until we reached her house.

"Why did you leave the door open?" I asked, noticing the door was ajar.

"No, I didn't leave it like that this morning, Alessandro. I haven't been back home since you picked me up, and you saw that the door was closed," she said, quickly getting out of the car.

"Really?" This woman seems like a child, confronting danger by running towards it.

I walked behind her.

She pushed the door slightly and entered her home to find some things turned over.

She moved around, checking every place.

"Nothing's taken!"

"Just wanted to scare you, I guess. Better that I take you to my place," I said.

"No, I don't want to be a bother, Alessandro. I'll stay, you can leave now," she said, moving towards one of the rooms.

"Aren't you scared to stay here alone?" I called after her, and she replied.

"Of course I am, very much, but I won't go to your house. I know about your sister's hypocrisy and that your girlfriend doesn't like me; I heard when you had her in your room. I went up to the bathroom."

"I don't owe you explanations for what I do or don't do with Stephy," I said as she just stood in the doorway.

"Do you know what really hurts?" she said, lowering her head.

"What?" I inquired.

"That you don't even remember me."

"Remember you? I don't even know you."

"You think you don't remember me, but you do; you just don't remember the girl you swore to protect."

"Daniela, what are you talking about? I told you, I don't know you. Not one bit," I said, irritated.

"Get out of my house," she entered her room and was about to close the door.

"Damn it, Daniela! Tell me once and for all who you are, or I swear I'll haunt you day and night until you do," I said as I caught her hand and backed her against the wall of her bedroom.

"You're an idiot, just go," she pushed me, but I didn't budge, not even for a moment.

"Are you going to talk, or must I make you?" I demanded, pinning her down more firmly.

"No, I won't tell you who I am until you remember me." She then pulled me down by the shirt and kissed me.

My hand relaxed on the wall.

She doesn't even know how to kiss. I'll show her how it's done.

I moved my hand to the nape of her neck and pulled her closer, kissing her until she was breathless.

She gasped for air as I let her go.

"Next time you want to kiss me, try to do it properly," I said and walked away.

"My first kiss was with you a few hours ago in the car and you didn't reciprocate, and now you've kissed me again, so don't boast about being a good kisser, and just leave."

"I'm not leaving."

"What?" she said, confused.

"If my father finds out someone broke into your house and I left you alone, he'll kill me. You don't want to go to my house, so I'm staying."

"Do whatever you want!" she said, pushing me away.

I left her room and started to straighten up the shared living-dining area.

I detest messes; they're quite depressing. I prefer things neat.

"You don't have to clean up," she said, emerging with a towel around her shoulders and clothes in her hands.

"I don't like messes," I said.

"Thanks, but I'm going to take a shower. I can clean up after I'm done. You relax," she said, heading to a door I assumed was the bathroom. This place is so small; where will I sleep? The couch is a single seater; I can't sleep there.

I entered what was her bedroom and saw her picture on a dresser. I wondered where she kept her papers.

I started to search around superficially through her furniture until I found the drawer with her underwear.

"Barbie, really?" I looked at her pink panties dangling in the air.

I heard the door open, shoved the panties back in, closed the drawer, and leaped onto the bed.

She entered, drying her hair.

"What are you doing in my bed?" she asked.

"Settling in; I'm sleepy. Where will you sleep? Your bed's a single; it can't fit both of us."

"You're not sleeping in my bed. Move your horrible backside off my bed."

"My backside is not horrible."

She smiled, then walked to the bed.

"Get down," she said, tugging at my hand.

She couldn't budge me in the slightest.