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Matteo kissed her, he finally kissed her and it was in front of the whole world to see.
She's been imagining how their first kiss will be like- if it would be in the park, perhaps where they acted out the Romeo and Juliet scene; or maybe it would've been late at night in the ring at Roller after everyone else has gone home.
She thought their first kiss will be something sacred for only them to know about, but know she's pretty sure even her old manager knows about the kiss
They really suck at this whole secret dating thing. They both agreed at the start of their relationship this was the best choice of action. Ambar already hated Luna enough and she really didn't want to be in any drama and on top of that Matteo was worried she'll be the victim in one of Ambars schemes once again.
So they kept their relationship hidden. And even though Nina constantly makes coments about Luna’s "crush" on Matteo; she'd like to think that they have done a good job at keeping things on the down low.
Well until now at least...
------
After they're done with all their interview and Tamara's congratulations; Luna grabs Matteo's arm and she pulls him into the nearest room she can find.
Which happens to be a storage room- a bit small for two people, but still spacious enough.
"Matteo what the hell!?" she whisper-shouts as she pushes him against the wall.
"Was the kiss that bad? Not to brag, but I've been told I'm an amazing kisser." he says with his usual cocky smile.
"Well whoever told you that was lying to you" she says unable to resist entering in their usual banter, she would never admit it out loud but she loves it, the way they dance around each other- poking the other person someplace only they know about, it's exhilarating. "But that's not what I'm taking about. Why?" she asks again.
"I just thought the choreography needed a bit more flare"
"Matteo" she looks him dead in the eyes, staring at him- pleading with her eyes to his own.
"I'm sorry, I know we decided to keep our relationship a secret, but I got to caught up in the moment. When we were skating it felt like we were the only people in the room. At the end it was too much- I didn’t even get to think about my actions and my lips were already on yours" he says not meeting Luna’s eyes.
"Maybe I messed things up." he
said suddenly. "I wasn't thinking. I
just... couldn't help it." There was
something rare in his voice
uncertainty. Vulnerability. "Are you mad at me?"
She sighs and gently cups his face as to make him look at her and caresses his cheekbones in hopes of calming him down.
"I'm not mad, I'll admit i was taken by surprised and it wasn't the way I've envisioned our first kiss, but I'm not mad, ok?"
Matteo looks at her with an intensity that makes her heart skip a beat; he rests his head on her shoulders and envelopes her into a hug.
"I really am sorry"
"Matteo it's ok, really I promise- I wouldn't lie to you. Now stop overthinkig about it, what's done is done." she hugs him tighter as to make sure he understands her words.
"That wasn't the way I've envisioned our first kiss either"
----
After a few more minutes of simply holding each other and enjoying the other's presence Luna’s phone begins ringing.
"It's Tamara" she shows him the screen as she answers.
"Where are you kids? We need to meet at the lobby to go back to our hotel."
"Oh Tamara we're so sorry, we lost track of time- we'll go there right now"
"Ok, we'll wait for you there. And Luna, one more thing, good job- you two were incredible and even though you didn’t win first place you did amazing and you should be proud of yourself!"
"Thank you Tamara!" she says any worries about not winning leaving her body.
"Ok chico fresa let's go! Our presence is needed!" she hold her hand out waiting him to take it.
They go hand in hand and Luna can't stop herself from smiling, she is just really happy. She's enjoying the warmth that comes from Matteo's hand. It's not like they haven't held hands before or that she's touched starved.
The only place where they haven't held hands is at Blake, but other than that they aren't nearly as careful when it comes to guarding their secret. They try to not flirt with each other, but every time their talks and up in banter. And their banter is just another way of flirting.
But in their defence the only people who suspect them are Nina- who reads way too many romance novels for her own good; and Gaston- who Luna isn't sure if he figured something is going on or if he just ships his best friend with her.
"Luna! You were amazing out there" Nina shouts as she runs to her best friend and hugs her.
"Oh thank you Nina so much, I was so nervous"
"Ok chica delivery, I'm goi g to go to Tamara, see you there" says Matteo quickly making his exit.
"And that kiss at the end? What was that about?" whispers Nina raising her eyebrows.
"Oh Nina, don't start right now." she's really not in the mood to explain anything right now, but at the same time she feels bad not telling her best friend about it "I promise I'll tell you later, now I just need a nap, after all that adrenaline from today- I'm exhausted!"
"Ok but I'll hold you to it" she says as she interlocks their hands togheter.
When they finally meet with the rest of the group Luna’s smile drops as she sees Simon's face- he looks like he'd been crying.
Luna wants to go to him- to comfort him, but she doesn't know what to say, because she's afraid. Afraid that the reason Simon is so upset isn’t just because he couldn't skate alongside her.
Nina had teased her that Simon feels something more for her, but before this moment she hadn't even entertained the idea. She loves him too much and cares about him too deeply to lose him, because Simon is her best friend and no matter how many times Nina insinuates there is something more going on, her feelings have always been in the realm of friendship.
But looking at his face now, she's terrified that maybe Nina was right. She cal already feel a pit growing in her stomach, because she doesn't want to hurt Simon, but her feelings aren't on the same wavelength as his.
Luna hesitates, her hand still loosely held in Nina's.
"Hey... I’ll catch up in a second, okay?" she whispers, gently squeezing Nina’s hand before letting go.
She makes her way to Simon slowly, unsure of what to say or how to even begin. He’s sitting a little apart from the group, hunched over with his elbows on his knees, gaze fixed on the floor like it holds the answers to questions he’s too scared to ask out loud.
“Simon?” she says softly.
He lifts his head, and the look in his eyes twists something in her chest. He offers her a smile, but it's not the real kind. It’s the type she’s worn herself too many times when trying to seem fine.
“You were great out there,” he says. “Both of you.”
“Thanks.” She sits beside him, close but not too close, watching his face carefully. “You okay?”
Simon hesitates, then shrugs. “Yeah, just tired. Long day, huh?”
“Simon…” she starts, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please don’t lie to me.”
He exhales through his nose, the sound laced with a soft bitterness. “I’m not. Not really. I just…” He trails off and then shakes his head. “You know what, never mind. This is your moment. I’m not going to mess it up.”
“You could never mess it up,” she says, and it’s the truth. Simon is part of her story, part of how she got here.
But he chuckles dryly. “I saw the kiss, Luna. Everyone did.”
She feels her heart twist. “Simon…”
“You don’t have to explain,” he says quickly, standing up. “I should’ve known. I guess I did know, deep down. Just didn’t want to believe it.”
Luna follows him to her feet. “Simon, please, talk to me.”
He turns to her, eyes finally meeting hers. And in them, she sees it — all the unsaid things, all the times he’d looked at her a moment too long, all the feelings she hadn’t wanted to name.
“I’ve always been there, Luna. You know that. And I thought maybe someday... you'd see me differently.” He bites his lip, then looks away. “But I think I always knew your heart was already with someone else.”
A wave of guilt crashes over her, and she wants to reach out, to hug him, to somehow make this easier.
“I care about you so much, Simon. You’re my best friend, you always will be. But...” Her voice catches, but she pushes through. “I don’t feel that way. I’m so sorry."
He nods, slowly, like he's been preparing himself for this moment even if he hadn’t wanted to face it.
“I guess I just needed to hear it out loud.”
“I hate that this hurts you,” she says. “But I’d never want to lie to you or lead you on.”
He offers her a real smile this time — small, a little sad, but real. “You didn’t. I think I just held on to something that was never really there.”
She doesn’t know what to say, so she does the only thing that feels right — she steps forward and wraps her arms around him. For a moment, he doesn’t move, then his arms come around her, holding on just a second longer than usual.
They part quietly, no more words necessary.
“Go,” he says gently, nodding toward the others. “Matteo’s probably looking for you.”
She hesitates again. “Are we okay?”
Simon thinks about it, then gives her a crooked smile. “We will be.”
Luna nods, blinking away the sting in her eyes, and slowly walks back to the group. Matteo’s eyes find her the moment she approaches, and she feels something loosen in her chest.
"Ok kids the bus is here so take whatever seat you want and let's go back to the hotel. And Luna and Matteo I just want to say you two did a great job- so don't be dissapointed in this outcome, ok?"
"Thank you Tamara, really, we couldn't have done this without you" Luna smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes.
And Ambar staring into her soul isn't helping. If looks could kill Luna is sure she would be on the way to the hospital right now.
They begin boarding the bus- Ambar and Jasmine being first, which helps Luna in choosing the farther seat away from them.
She closes her eyes already accepting the fact that she'll spend this ride alone as Matteo can't sit with her as to not raise suspicion and Simon needs some time away from her.
So when she feels a person sitting next to her she can't be judged for being startled and letting a small gasp escape her mouth.
Matteo is sitting next to her and he's giving her that look- the look that contains a milion questions. But she's too tired to answer any of them now so she just stares back at him and without thinking, intertwines her fingers with his.
He gives her a questioning look, but doesn’t say anything — just squeezes her hand.
Later, maybe, she’d tell him everything. About Simon. About the guilt. About how even when things were messy and complicated, being with Matteo made her feel like everything made sense.
But for now, she just leans into his shoulder and whispers, “I’m really glad it was you.” Matteo turns his head just slightly, so their foreheads touch. “Always me, Luna.”
The hum of the engine and the low chatter of the team faded into the background. Outside, city lights blurred into streaks through the window, soft and golden. She closes her eyes, slowly falling asleep to the sound of Matteo's breathing.
The bus ride ends in sleepy silence. The city is quieter now, wrapped in the haze of late evening, and the team moves sluggishly into the hotel lobby, dragging their bags behind them.
As soon as they step inside, Tamara claps her hands together. “Okay, everyone. Keys are at the front desk. Same room pairings. Please be in your rooms in the next fifteen minutes — early morning check-out tomorrow.”
Luna nods absently as she retrieves her keycard. Nina’s already waiting beside her, bouncing slightly on her heels, eyes flicking toward Matteo, then to Luna, then back again.
“I’m not going to ask you now,” she whispers with a smirk, “but just so you know, I am absolutely dying for details.”
“I know,” Luna murmurs, forcing a small smile. “Later, I promise.”
As they walk to the elevator, she can feel Ambar’s eyes on her again — cold, calculating. Jasmine says something to her, but Ambar doesn't even blink. She's too busy watching Luna like she's planning her next move.
When the elevator doors close, Luna exhales for what feels like the first time in an hour.
-----
Luna enters the room quietly, still slightly dazed from everything — the kiss, Simon, the look Matteo gave her on the bus. She lets the door close behind her and leans against it for a second longer than necessary, taking a breath.
Ambar is already by the window, scrolling through her phone, her eyes flickering to Luna just briefly. Jasmine is sitting cross-legged on one of the beds, flipping through a magazine, but she glances up with a tight-lipped smile.
“Finally,” Ambar says coolly, not looking away from her screen. “I was starting to think you’d sleep on the bus.”
Luna doesn’t respond right away. She walks to her side of the room and drops her bag beside the bed. “It was a long day.”
“Oh, definitely,” Jasmine says quickly, as if trying to smooth over the tension. “You guys were amazing out there.” she says it a bit too quickly, and giving Ambar an apologetic look, as if she didn't want to say what she just did.
“Thanks,” Luna says, offering her a grateful look.
Ambar sets her phone down with a quiet thud on the windowsill and turns to face them. Her expression is unreadable, which somehow makes it worse. “You know, it’s funny. All that talk about focus and discipline — and then you pull a stunt like that on the rink. Very professional.”
Jasmine opens her mouth, closes it, and sinks a little deeper into her magazine.
Ambar steps forward, arms crossed. “You think this is some fairytale, don’t you? You and Matteo. Like the whole world is supposed to cheer for you.” Her voice isn’t loud, but it cuts.
“I never asked for the world to cheer,” Luna says, keeping her voice calm, even.
"Be careful Luna, I know Matteo longer than you do, and i wouldn't want you getting hurt because of him. Everyone knows he's a player so don't get your hopes up. Plus if there is anyone he'd be together with is me"
Luna looks down, her fists clenched, using all her willpower to not say anything that would expose her.
Ambar turns back to her phone like the conversation is over.
Jasmine clears her throat awkwardly. “So... are we doing lights out soon? I’m beat.”
“Yeah,” Luna says, already pulling out her pajamas and heading toward the bathroom.
“I’ll be quick.”
Inside, she closes the door and leans against it, letting herself breathe again. The air is cooler here, quieter. Safer. But still, that weight sits in her chest.
She brushes her teeth slowly, her thoughts racing. When she returns, the lights are already dimmed. Ambar is in bed, still on her phone. Jasmine is curled up on her side, earbuds in.
Luna slips under her blanket, facing the wall,
----
Matteo sits on the edge of his bed, phone in hand, heart still racing from the day. He hasn’t posted anything. He hasn’t replied to the dozen messages from curious friends. Everyone saw the kiss. Everyone.
He opens a message from Gaston:
Bro... wow. You and Luna? Official? Call me when you're free.
And another, this time from Ambar:
So that’s how it is now? Public stunts to make a statement? You’re reckless. And stupid.
He stares at that last one longer than he wants to.
His fingers hover over the screen, then delete the message. He tosses the phone aside and stares at the ceiling.
He doesn't regret the kiss — not for a second. But something’s coming. He can feel it.