Work Text:
Light streams through the window, casting a warm tone over everything. Dust floats through the air, falling softly on the shelves of books. Tables and chairs are scattered throughout the store for people to sit down and read. The only people here right now, though, are me and the the thousands of words on these pages.
I sit behind the register reading, lost in my own world of planets and stars. The words turn into images and stories in my mind. I adjust my glasses, the round frames circle my eyes.
"Ahem," someone says from behind me. I jump, scrambling to put in my bookmark and close the book. A boy stands in front of me. No, not a boy, a man.
His curly hair sit atop his head, messy, but somehow beautiful at the same time. His jaw is cut like Greek God and his grin could be on a magazine. The only thing about him that isn't extraordinary are his clothes. He wears a black compression shirt, showing shadows of muscle barely hidden by the tight shirt.
I only realize how long I've been staring at certain parts of his body, when he clears his throat again. I look back up at his eyes.
"Hi," I squeak out, sitting up straight in my chair, suddenly aware that I was not sitting normally at all before. Curse my stereotypical gay ass.
"Hi." His voice is smooth and melancholic and I almost sigh at how beautiful it is. But I catch myself.
"Um, what can I do for you?" I put my hand under my chin in a position that feels comfortable, but most definitely doesn't look it from the way the man reacts.
"I was looking for a textbook for my economics class. I couldn't find it online, so I thought you might have it here," he says, scratching the back of his neck shyly. Economics, I think, he must be a business major.
Northern Illinois University is the giant campus about four blocks down from Sunset Used Bookstore. Most of the customers I get are from the college and most of the donations are used textbooks from graduates. Most of the people that come in here looking for textbooks are the nerdy type of girl who got straight a's in high-school and need this textbook to get through college.
I don't usually get guys in here, especially not hot ones like this.
"You know you can get textbooks online for free right?" I ask. Not the best for business, but people deserve to know that they don't have to spend 20 bucks on a book they don't actually need for the class.
"I know," he says, heat rising in his tanned cheeks. "I can't really read online. It hurts my head and I get distracted easily, I dunno." I can tell this is a touchy subject for him, so instead of commenting more, I stand up from my desk.
"This," I point out the giant bookshelf full of college books. "Is where you'll wanna look." I step over to the right side of the shelf where business and economics books usually are.
"Do you know the author or the title," I ask, happy to have something to do while running my fingers over the spines of all the books. The man pulls out his phone and shows me a picture of the book's cover.
I find it and hand it to him. He meets my eyes as I walk back to the counter, and I have to admit that the deep green of his irises is intoxicating. I clear my throat and start to check out the book.
"So... what's your name?" He asks, and I keep my eyes locked on the monitor in front of me.
"Luca, what's yours?" I ask, making the mistake of looking straight into his eyes. They seem to pierce me straight through my heart.
He says his name, "Alberto." I gulp and pry my eyes away from his to type in the name of his textbook.
"Do work here everyday?" He asks, and I tell myself he's just making conversation, but the raging gay voice in the back of my head is telling me he's asking because he wants to see me again.
"Yeah." I nod, "Pretty much every day. I have a few classes on Fridays, but otherwise, I'm always here." He nods back, pursing his lips as if deep in thought. "Cash or card?" I ask mindlessly.
He pulls his card out of his wallet and taps it to the pinpad I hold out to him, "I was just wondering if you would be here if I wanted another book. You know, for econ." My face burns red with heat and I pluck the receipt from the dispenser and hand it to him.
"Anyways, I'll see you around, Luca." Then he winks at me and leaves. He actually winks, like, who does that!? I stand there, my mouth wide open and my cheeks burning.
I hear the door to the back room open. I remember Giulia, who had been taking her lunch break back there.
"Damn, what's got you so smitten, Lu?" She nudges my shoulder and I shoo her away.
We always have two people working the store, one for the register and one for restocking or reorganizing the books, but most of the time, neither of us are doing anything.
I met Giulia when I first applied at Sunset two years ago. It was my first year of college and I just needed a part time job to get me enough money to stay in my dorm. The sweet old lady who ran the store had hired me on spot when I told her about my multitude of books back at home. Giulia told me she was hired the same way.
When the old lady passed, her son took over, and basically let's us run the place since he's never here.
"Nothing," I lie, clearing my throat and cleaning my glasses on the bottom of my shirt, "We got a donation that needs unpacked." I sit back down at the desk and open my book to resume where I left off.
Giulia groans, "Why do donations always come when you're on reception?" She asks dramatically, making her way to the back of the store. When she comes back, she's lugging a medium sized wooden box filled to the brim with very heavy looking books.
"One of these days I'm gonna start throwing books at your head while you're not looking," she heaves when she puts the box down. I flip a page.
"As long as you're the one putting them back." I smirk as she rolls her eyes and starts organizing the books on the shelves.
☆◇☆◇☆
When I walk into work the next morning, I see Giulia talking to none other than Alberto. His hair is still perfectly messy and his eyes still too green. After thinking about him all last night, you'd think I'd be used to his striking appearance, but it's exactly the opposite.
"Oh! Hey, Lu," Giulia says, giving me a meaningful glance and then looking at Alberto's strong frame. I try tell her with my eyes anything that will make her not say anything embarrassing.
"I met your new... friend this morning," she says, leaving a meaningful pause before "friend".
"Well, Alberto. I wasn't expecting to see you so soon." I purposely ignore her and take my spot in front of the counter where Giulia has made a list of everything that needs done today. I stere at it so I don't have to stare at the muscular chest barely hidden under a black tank top.
I've never been the kind of guy who goes for muscles. I've always gone for guys with more class. Ones that don't wear a tank top and Grey sweatpants every day. Oh, God, I don't even know if he's gay. Maybe he's just a really nice and flirtatious straight man.
"Luca?" I snap my head up to find myself almost nose to nose with Alberto. I look at his lips and gulp, suddenly really warm.
"What did you say?" I ask.
"I was just wondering if you need any help around the store? My class doesn't start for another hour or two, so you can put me to work." And lord knows I want to. I tell my mind to fuck off and nod, stepping back. I pick up the sticky note with the to do list and put it in his hand.
"This is everything that I was gonna do today. You can help if you want," I say. I don't want to look too eager, so I look at the book shelves around me.
He scans the list and stops at the bottom. I wonder why he stopped because I wasn't really paying attention when i first read it.
"'Get a fucking date, Luca'?" He says, questioning. I snatched the paper out of his hand and look at it, seeing Giulia's messy script next to check boxes.
And at the very end,
[_] Get a FUCKING DATE, Luca!!!
"Don't worry about that," I tell him, glaring at Giulia who is conveniently looking at the monitor, a sly grin on her lips.
"How about we..." I scan the list and say the first thing I see, "Clean the bathrooms.” I blanch, “Giulia, what the hell!?" I spin on my heel to throw a freshly crumpled list at her.
Alberto snickers next to me, and his smooth laugh makes my growing blush even redder.
"We have a deal with the thrift store down the road, do you want to come with me to go get books from them?" I ask. He nods, picking up his iced coffee from the counter and taking a sip before following me out the door.
The whole time in the car and walking around I'm watching his every move, trying to see whether or not he's queer. So far there are only a few things on my mental list.
Alberto gay?
___
He opened my door for me
Iced coffee
Said "girl" as slang
Alberto straight?
___
Works out for fun
Mentioned someone named Marcella
Fav food is steak
Doesn't like to read too much
Business major
And that's the list so far. The chances of him being straight far outweigh the chances of him being gay, but then again, he's definitely showing signs of queer.
***
When we walk into the thrift store, Alberto trails behind me as I walk up to the reception desk.
"Oh, Luca! Great to see you," Carrie says, her country twang making her even more endearing. She's wearing light blue overalls and a navy shirt underneath.
"Great to see you too, Carrie. Do you have the books?" I ask, and she looks at me like I'm insane.
"Straight to the point today, huh?" She asks, her hands on her hips.
"Sorry, auntie. I just have a lot to do, and Alberto here only has a few hours to help me out, so I'm tryna put him to use," I say and she laughs that hearty laugh that would make anyone let their guard down.
"Alrighty. The books are in the back, you know the way." I smile and nod, then walk to the back, Alberto trailing behind me.
We make it to the back room and I start sorting through the books. Alberto stands to the side leaning against the wall, his arms crossed.
"Is she your aunt?" He asks. I shake my head and smile, placing a children's book on a pile of similar sized ones.
"No. She and my mom are best friends, so we're practically family."
"Oh," he says, and I wonder what was so surprising to him
"What about your family? Do any of then live around here?" I ask, and a shadow seems to cover his eyes as he turns away.
"No, I haven't seen them I'm a while. They weren't the best, so I left home for a few years and then I came here." He walks over and starts helping me sort the pile of books.i can tell he doesn't like talking about this, so I stay quiet.
I've always appreciated silence. Most people get uncomfortable when there's no music or people talking, but I really like it. If I'm reading or if I am surrounded by books, I can just... be.
Alberto and I load the books into the car and I say goodbye to Carrie before we leave.
***
Giulia greets us at the door, a smirk on her face.
"How was it?" She asks. I glare at her.
"Are you gonna help is bring this in or just stand there?" I ask, nodding at the piles of books in our arms. And after much groaning from her, we get the stories inside.
☆◇☆◇☆
"This was fun," Alberto says, throwing his hoodie on over his tank top. In only a few hours, I've stumbled through talking to him, and I've added tons to my "Alberto gay?" List, and not much to my "Alberto straight?" List. Not to mention I also got his phone number.
"Thanks for helping," I say, holding the door open as he walks out.
"Anytime. I'll text you, and maybe we can hang out sometime?" I nod, not able to get any words out. I close the door and only let out my breath when he's out of sight.
"Soooo..." Giulia says. I glare at her playfully.
"Shut up."
"Oh please, you were basically drooling over him," she says. She lowers her voice to imitate mine, "Oh, Alberto. You're so strong carrying all those books~~ I just want to fu–"
"GIULIA!" I screech, pushing her away from where she had been melodramatically swooning.
"What? Am I wrong? You think he's hot and you want to fuck his ass." My cheeks are red with heat and I put my hands up and walk into the back room.
"I can't deal with you right now."
"You know I'm right," she says, following me into the room. I sit down at the table in the small kitchen.
"Okay, maybe. But I don't even know if he's into guys." She laughs as if I just made the funniest joke ever.
"Honey, if this lesbian's gaydar is correct," she says pointing to herself, "Which it always is, that man is deeper in the closet than the sweater I got you two years ago."
I shudder at the thought of the ugliest sweater I've ever seen. I don't think I could describe it if I tried.
"So if he is gay—"
"He is. Continue," she says. I glare at her before starting.
"How do I know if he likes me?"
"TEXT HIM, YOU IDIOT!" She shouts, grabbing my phone from my hands and entering the PIN that I regret telling her.
Her fingers flick across the screen faster than I can stand up to snatch it away from her. The text reads: Alberto, I know we just met, but I wanted you to know that I am extremely sexually attracted to y
"Giulia, we're you actually going to send this?" I ask, pressing the backspace button. She smirks and nods and I roll my eyes, going into the main store. Instead of the text Giulia wrote, I type my own: Hey, it's Luca. I really liked hanging out today, would you wanna do it again?
I'm debating whether or not to send it when Giulia's hand covers my eyes and the other taps the send button. I spin on her.
"Are you fucking insane!?" I ask, somewhat grateful for her mindless actions. I know I would never have sent that text on my own.
"You wrote it, I just made up your mind for you." I want to make a comeback, but I see a new message from Alberto on my phone's screen.
A: You want me to carry more books for you? Lol
All of the anger I just had at Giulia disappears as I turn the screen for her to read.
"What do I do?" I ask. She puts an arm around my shoulder, which she has to reach up to do.
"My sweet little boy," she starts, "Flirt back."
☆◇☆◇☆
I look down at my phone where the address for Alberto's apartment is entered into Google Maps. I've looked at it so many times, I have it memorized. 102 Main St, Apt. 412.
I open my car door with a heavy breath. It's been two weeks since I first got Alberto's number, and we've been talking nonstop ever since. He invited me over to his apartment, which is in the richest part of town, close to the college but far from the noisier areas. I wonder how much he pays to live in this area. When I enter the building, I start to wonder how he even lives in such a grand area.
The walls are covered in maroon and gold patterns of leaves and flowers that make me feel like I'm in a palace.the elevator is gold and nothing like the elevators at the college dorms. The buttons actually function, something I haven't experienced since I went to London on a family vacation last year.
I press the button for the fourth floor, and wait until the doors open a few seconds later.
The halls on this floor are no less decadent than the reception area. I feel like I can't talk, how you feel in a museum. I can barely believe people actually live here. Now I understand why Alberto was hesitant about inviting me over.
I knock on the door to apartment 412 and hold my breath to steady my heart rate.
After two weeks, I still haven't gotten more hints as to whether Alberto is gay or not. I'm running on vibes and Giulia's gaydar, that, despite what she likes to think, has been wrong many times.
Alberto opens the door wearing khaki pants, a white polo, and a brown sweater vest. Just the sight of him makes me blush. When he sees me, a smile covers his face. He runs a hand through his hair taking me in. I'm wearing light brown overalls with a brown sweater underneath. I give my best and brightest smile and readjust my glasses.
"Hi," he says.
"Hi," I reply, not missing the Heartstopper reference. Then I remember that he probably doesn't even know what Heartstopper is, let alone be able to quote it.
He steps to the side to let me in. My jaw drops when I see his apartment. Windows line the far wall, letting in the fading light of sunset. To my right, there's a full kitchen, bar stools next to the island and two doors leading off of the room. To my left, there is a living room/ TV room with a couch (one of the fancy ones that looks like a right angle) and the TV is larger than I ever had back in my home.
"Woah," I say as Alberto guides me through the last door from the living room into his bedroom which I swear is bigger that my childhood home. The windows in here have the blinds drawn and the bed is made nicely, a mound of pillows on it.
"Yeah. It's pretty..." He trails off.
"Big," I say, finishing his sentence with the only word that sums this place up. "Gargantuan, humongous, extremely giant," I say, supplying him with more words that describe his place.
"Yeah... Big."
I stop staring at his giant bed and face him.
"I don't mean to pry, but how do you pay for this place?" I place a hand on my hip and wait for his response. He looks like he didn't expect me to ask.
He starts walking out to the living room and sits on the couch, tapping the spot next to him. I gulp, but sit down despite my embarrassment.
"My adoptive family runs this company in Italy. My Papà, Massimo, is Italian, so when I was adopted, I was brought into the family business," he explains. "Papà only has one biological kid, his daughter Gigi, and she's only four, so I'll get the company when he retires. That's why I'm studying business."
Alberto leans back against the backrest of the couch and kicks off his shoes, putting his feet up on the coffee table. I mirror him, taking off my shoes more gently than him and putting my feet up on the coffee table.
"Do you want to take over the company?" I ask, hoping he's okay talking about it. He turns his head to look at me. He seems to think about it for a second.
"Yeah, I mean, going from living on the streets to living like royalty makes you willing to do anything to repay the family that took you in. Massimo found me, and now I want to do whatever I can to... prove myself to him." He closes his eyes and faces his head toward the roof, his arms behind his head.
"I've never told anyone that," he says. It surprises me. I just asked a simple question, and he told me something he'd never said before.
"Happy to help," I say. He sits up and takes a deep steadying breath like he's getting ready to say something else. He looks at his hands and then folds his arms, instead looking at the black TV screen.
"What's wrong?" I ask, also sitting up.
"It's just... Being with you makes me want to, um, say things. And you make me feel things, but I can't—" He stops. "I just—"
His breaths come out heavy and quick. I put a hand on his shoulder and he looks back at me.
"There's something about me. Something that I never tell anyone unless I know they truly love me. So I need to know, Luca. Can I tell you?" He asks, his eyes glimmer with so many emotions.
Without hesitation, I nod. "Yes. You can tell me."
"I'm," he takes a deep breath in, closing his eyes, "I'm transgender." He peeks an eye open to see my shocked expression. I try to connect the dots in my head, but I can't put my finger on it.
"Wait, so you're going from male to female or you've already transitioned?" I ask, genuinely confused. His expression lightens. I guess he thought I would look at him like he was a monster, but I'm just genuinely confused.
"I already transitioned. I'm a guy. He/him," he says, as if he has to clarify, but I don't think there's ever been an ounce of "girl" in him.
"Nice...?" I say, not really sure how to make it not awkward. He laughs, his chuckle still as rich as ever.
"Oh, is it? And, um, it doesn't change how you feel about me?" He asks, his tone suggesting it's a joke, but his eyes tell me something else.
"Yes, it's very nice. And no, it doesn't change how I feel about you." He smiles sweetly. "Yep, I still only need you for your muscles."
"Oh, fuck you," he says, playfully punching me in the shoulder. We break into a bout of playfighting. I try to tackle him, but he proves to be that I wasn't lying about his muscles by lifting me up with way too much ease. I squirming his grip, but he stands and throws me onto the couch. He jumps onto me, his legs straddling mine and his hands pinning me down.
Suddenly, it's not play fighting anymore. Our faces are inches apart, and I can't help but stare at his soft lips and sharp jawline. He studies me carefully, his grip loosens on my arms and I can feel the tension between us.
"You know," he says softly. His hand brushes my cheek, just below where my glasses rest. Gently, he takes the light frames off my face and fold them neatly. He studies me, and his face is the only thing in front of me that’s not blurry, "I've always loved your eyes." He leans in, and I prepare myself for this moment, but before our lips meet, a sharp ring cuts through the air. I recognize my phone's ring tone and curse myself for not putting it on silent.
Alberto sits back, his face red and his hair messy. I put up a finger and pull my phone out of my back pocket. I see Giulia's profile picture, blurry without my glasses, and my eyebrows furrow. Instead of putting it on silent, I pick up.
"Hello?" I ask.
"Luca," she says, her voice hoarse from tears. I immediately sit up, deciding the mood is ruined.
"Giulia, what happened? What's wrong?" I look up at Alberto who offers me my glasses. Thank you, I mouth.
"The bookstore," she starts, a sob choking her up, "They robbed the bookstore."
☆◇☆◇☆
Glass from the broken windows covers the floors that I swept this morning. Books are toppled off shelves and the cash register is completely empty. I regret not making the bank deposit today. Instead, I put it off for tomorrow since I wanted to go see Alberto sooner.
Red and blue lights filter into the store, casting shadows of figures across the back wall. Giulia is inconsolable as I try to comfort her under the harsh street lights. Alberto is talking to a police officer, trying to get a story about what happened, but so far he's had no luck.
All I know is that five of the small businesses on this street were robbed in the span of ten minutes.
When I can finally get words out of the sobbing girl in front of me, I learn that she had been in the back room listening to music before closing for the night. It was about 6:50, she said. She didn't hear the crash because they had come in through the door. The only reason they broke the window is because she had walked out and scared them. But by then it was too late.
I hold her close to me as she bursts into tears again. She keeps saying that it was her fault, her fault that they took everything.
"Shh, it's okay," I say, rocking her back and forth and running my hand through her deep red curls. Alberto sits down next to me on the curb, our shoulders brushing, a whisper of what could've happened if we weren't interrupted.
I brush a tear from Giulia's face and hold her tighter until her breathing evens out.
"Thank you, Luca." She stands up and brushes off the dust from her pants and the tears from her face. I smile at her and she smiles back.
"Anytime," I say. She looks between me and Alberto, and a careful smirk covers her face.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything when I called you." My face goes beet red and I know she's doing better.
"I dunno. Were we interrupted, Luca?" Alberto asks, and I look at him incredulously. I bury my face in my hands when his only reaction is a shrug.
I can't imagine the conversation he and Giulia are silently having right now, and I don't think I want to know.
***
The next morning, Giulia and I go into the store early to clean up. We both chipped in and brought a few hundred dollars to fill up the cash register and fix the broken window. We're one of the only stores that got robbed who is open today, which means it's busier than usual. People come in with their coffee and sit in one of the chairs to read. I recognize some of them from when I people watch out the many windows.
The bell chimes at the front, something I've gotten more than used to at five PM, so I barely look up. Until a familiar voice disrups the world I was creating in my mind.
"Would the cute boy behind the desk happen to know when he's available tonight?" I find Alberto standing in front of me, radiant as the day before. He's wearing a leather jacket today over a light blue shirt and denim jeans.
"Depens on what the handsome customer was thinking of doing," I say as I put the bookmark in my book and adjust my glasses. Alberto grins, and I see a dimple in his right cheek for the first time.
"Maybe we could go out to dinner?" He says in proper boring man fashion. I shake my head and look down at my book, an idea forming in my mind.
"No." His smile drops. "I have a better idea. Meet me here at nine," I say, the plan forming more and more. A sly grin creeps up my face, and Alberto looks the slightest bit scared, if not a bit flustered.
"What are you planning, Paguro?" He asks, leaning over the counter. I'm suddenly aware of all the people in the store, some eyes follow us as Alberto gets closer.
"Just be there, Scorfano," I say, pushing his shoulder back playfully. "Now, are you gonna buy a book, or just stand there?" I bring my leg up to my chest and open my book again, the pictures of stars fill the page. When I look over the edge of the book, Alberto's flustered face and red cheeks give me a thrill.
"I'll be here at nine, then," he says, and leaves the store, the bell ringing as the door closes.
☆◇☆◇☆
I lock the door to Sunset on my way out, only to be shocked out of my wits by Alberto, who's already waiting by my car. I put my hand to my heart and take breath.
"You scared me," I say, heating the picnic basket up on my side, the side Alberto can't see in the dark, but he asks anyway.
"What's that?" He points to the basket and I hide it quickly behind my back, instead pulling out the keys to my car any unlocking it.
"Nothing you need to worry about," I say, and I pull open the passenger side door to let him in. With a performance bow, I gesture for him to enter. "Mr. Scorfano." He grins, and bows back.
"Mr. Paguro." He steps into the car, and in the car's dim light, I can see that he's changed into black jeans and an oversized hoodie. I get into my own side of the car and put on my buckle. Alberto mirrors me, I can always feel his eyes bearing into my head, even when I'm not looking at him.
"Where to?" He asks once I start driving.
"You'll see," I say. I turn up the volume on the stereo and bob my head along to the beat of the uptempo song that now blasts in our ears. When it reaches a chorus, I sing along with the words I know by heart. I'm by no means a good singer, but I love music. Even if my voice cracks every other note, I still enjoy being able to feel the beat in my soul.
Alberto studies me from his seat, and I look at him, questioning. He rolls his eyes and shrugs, then joins me in singing the song.
☆◇☆◇☆
I put the car in park and turn off the lights. I grab the basket from the back, and join Alberto outside. He's looking out over the sharp drop off of the the cliff. Theres a fence that keeps visitors from falling off. I join Alberto where he stands at the fence.
The view I've seen a million times still takes my breath away. The city looks so small from up here, the little lights are barely sparks in the dark night. And at the center of it all, Is the college, with the brightest lights of all.
But the city view isn't what takes my breath away. Alberto stares with awe, his eyes widen and sparkle, and maybe it's just the reflection of the city, but I swear I see a twinkle on those beautiful green eyes.
He rips his eyes away and looks at me. Suddenly, I feel awkward under his gaze. He studies me with awe, the same we he just looked out over the skyline.
"What's in the basket?" He asks after an excruciating silence of not being close to him.
The question catches me off guard and I lift up the basket.
"It seems stupid when I think about it," I say, setting the basket down and opening it. I pull out the red and white checkered picnic blanket and lay it out over a soft patch of grass. Alberto snickers, and swear the look I give him could cut like a knife.
"No, I think it's cute." He hides a laugh behind his hand. I snatch the basket up from the ground.
"Fine, if you're gonna make fun of me, you don't get food." I sit down on the blanket and open the bag of doritos I packed for myself.
"No, no, I want food," he says, taking a seat next to me. I try to keep up my cold act, but Alberto's smile is so wide and that stupid little dimple makes want to just pin him down and—
"Fine," I say, and I hope he can't see my blush in the dark.
He digs in the basket for a second and pulls out a sandwich. He scoots closer to me with his first bite and we look out over the city. I lean back on my arm.
"How did you find this place?" Alberto asks, his voice a welcome reprieve from the awkward silence.
"Well, I used to go on hikes up this mountain. And one day, I stayed up here too long and saw... this." Alberto stares at me, taking in the story.
"How old were you? When you moved here, I mean." He takes another bite out of his sandwich and curls his legs up in front of him.
"I lived about an hour south of here my whole life, but I only moved up here for college about two years ago. You? When did you move here?"
He scratches the back of his neck, "I came here for college about two years ago. I grew up here until my parents kicked me out. Then Massimo adopted me, and I got a scholarship to go in state. He didn't want me to come back here, but I figured I could, I dunno, start new."
"Is it hard?" I ask. "To be back here?"
"Its... different. When I was here as a kid I was miserable. I'm not sure what you know about being trans, but." He sighs. "I couldn't be myself. I was always hiding behind a name that didn't fit and skirts and dresses that made me want to rip off my skin. But now." His smile returns tenfold, his teeth shining brighter that the full moon above us.
"Now, my body fits who I am. I don't have to worry about my parents or money, and I found people who love me for me. I found you," he says. I only realize how close we've gotten when he looks from my eyes to my lips, or food forgotten, just like the world behind us.
He places his hand on my cheek, warm from his closeness. His thumb brushes my cheekbone and his fingertips graze the edge of my hairline. We're so close now that the only thing I can see is him. My heart gives a flutter, and suddenly his lips are on mine, and my buzzes.
The kiss is soft and careful, as if he's waiting for me to assure him that it's okay. I deepen the kiss, my mouth moving against his and all I can think about is him. His green eyes and beautiful light brown curls that compliment his freckled skin.
His hand travels from my cheek to the back of my head, leaving a trail of skin ringing his touch. I pull back a little for a breath of air. I press my forehead to Alberto's, panting in the cold air, so different from the heat we just shared.
"Sorry," he says, also out of breath. I look at him, worried.
"What for?"
"I just kinda... kissed you? I didn't ask. Sorry." He pulls back to run a hand through his tousled hair. I look at him incredulously.
"That's what you're sorry for?" I ask. He nods, ashamed. I bark out a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand.
"What?"
"You didn't have to ask, Beto, I clearly wanted to." I slide my hand into his, holding it in my lap. His gaze flickers down to our interlocked fingers and back to my eyes.
"Papà told me I should never assume," he says, rubbing his arm with his free hand and not meeting my eyes.
"Your papà seems like a very smart man." His eyes light up.
"He is." He still doesn't meet my eyes. I put my hand on his chin and tilt his face toward me. I'm hit with a wave of forest green, the color of moss and trees and ferns.
"May I?" He asks, gesturing to my lips. I smile.
"You may."
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THE END
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