Trigger Warning: Cussing, self-deprecating thoughts, ED stuff (please be careful), abuse

I could breathe.

My hands trailed from the hands holding mine up to the hazel eyes that mimicked mine.

My head jerked in surprise.

"Alessandro?"

***

*Emma POV*

Alessandro gazed at me with a small, sad smile on his face, almost as if he was calculating my next words.

I tilted my head, wondering what was going on in his mind.

*Alessandro POV*

Jesus Christ, what the actual fuckity duckity did I just witness.

I've seen worse but seeing this happen to my sister jarred me for some reason.

Okay, calm down, Alessandro, chill.

I guess I should stay with her, right?

Who knows. I've never had to deal with this before.

With the guys, it was a light slap to the back, and they were good. Oh god.

Damn, I lead a fucking mafia but don't know how to handle whatever just happened.

I really need to listen to Giovanni when he tells me all those medical terms

*Emma POV*

Uh, was Alessandro okay? Side note, I am now going to call Alessandro "Ali" in my mind because my mind is tired. And I don't know why but it feels familiar.

Wait, I'm getting distracted, back on track, Emma.

"Alessandro, you good?"

He snapped out of thought before nodding his head, "Yeah."

He made to leave before turning around again, opening and closing his mouth like a fish.

I would have laughed under different circumstances, but I needed to see if he would say anything about my panic attack.

I haven't had one since that happened, and I had forgotten how hungry they made me.

Eh, who am I kidding? I'm always hungry.

Alessandro and I stared at each other, neither wanting to break the silence.

*Alessandro POV*

Okay, chill, dude. You lead a fucking mafia; you can ask your sister a simple question.

I took a deep breath before asking,

"Do you wanna go eat something?"

*Emma POV*

He wanted me to eat...with him?

Why would he want that?

Still, I felt the words tumble out of my mouth,

"Sure."

"May I pick you up? I imagine you're a bit drained," he asked.

Oh god.

He couldn't pick me up.

I was too fat.

I was too heavy.

Atleast that's what Gabriel told me.

...but Gabriel could be wrong, right?

Ali didn't hit me during my panic attack like Gabriel did; he didn't threaten me; he helped me.

I could trust him.

Hesitantly, I nodded my head.

I closed my eyes and braced myself for the inevitable "oomph" that would follow him, picking me up, but I heard nothing. Still, I kept my eyes closed, plagued by the thought that if I opened them, I would see him straining to pick me up, and i couldn't live with that.

*Alessandro POV*

Why was Emma so light?

I've seen her eat, and she doesn't look deathly skinny.

Well, she has been wearing baggy clothes since she got here.

Oh god, I forget to get her a checkup. I've been drowning in work.

Mental note - schedule one for Emma.

*Emma POV*

We reached the kitchen, and Ali gently let me down.

"Would you like to eat something?"

I nodded my head, not expecting him to throw an apron on and head over to the fridge.

"Uh, what are you doing?" I asked.

"Cooking up the best omelet you'll ever eat." He answered, a playful glint in his eyes.

It seemed like his cold demeanor had dissipated over the past few minutes, not that I was complaining.

I wondered what to think about my brothers. On the one hand, I had Enzo, Giovanni, and occasionally Alessandro, but on the other hand, I had Antonio and Marco.

My thoughts were interrupted as Ali placed down a steaming, delicious-looking omelet in front of me.

Taking a bite, I nearly let out a moan of satisfaction. This was so good.

I slowly continued to eat as Alessandro left the kitchen to go do something.

Oh, how glad I was that he didn't bring my panic attack up. Is it weird that I was looking forward to school tomorrow?

*The next morning*

I woke up with a slightly sore throat and puffy eyes but nothing else. Nothing too telling of the events that had transpired last night.

After I had gotten dressed, I made my way downstairs to grab some toast. It was weird, but it was almost like my body knew I was safe, causing my appetite to come back. I was hungry all the time now.



(um i am in love with this outfit sorryyyy)

I almost walked out the door but decided against it after remembering yesterday's antics.

After waiting for 10 minutes Antonio and Enzo came down, both looking horrible.

How was I even related to these people? Who knows.

We reached school a few minutes later, and I was so glad to be here, weirdly enough. School had always been an escape for me, and it wasn't like I was bullied or anything. It was a safe space more often than not.

Nearing my locker, I almost jumped out of my skin when a hand was placed on my shoulder.

"Oops, sorry for startling you." The person who I had identified as Diya said.

"Oh, you're good."

"Where'd you go yesterday?"

"My brothers were idiots again." I curtly said. I honestly had no idea either.

"Oh yeah, since when did your brothers have a sister?"

"...What?" I cocked my head at Diya. This girl makes no sense sometimes.

"Oh, sorry, I meant, like when did ya come here or like were you always here. But you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." She said, her hands raised.

"Uh, I just lived in Texas for a bit."

"Cool!" She chirped, "Now, are you ready to get to class?"

My first two periods weren't bad because I had Diya, then Hollis in my class, and now it was finally lunchtime.

Who knew school would make me so hungry.

Diya dragged me to the same spot as yesterday before plopping down and pulling out her phone.

"Emma, what's your number?"

"My number?" I questioned. Why would anyone want my number?

"Well ya??" She said, confused,

"Don't you want to text us? And I was scared out of my mind when you just disappeared from school. This way, you can text us."

I relented, pulling out my cracked iPhone 6 and giving her my number. After getting both Hollis's number and Diya's, we continued to eat in silence.

That was until I heard my name being called down the empty corridor.

"EMMA"

I choked on my sandwich in surprise. People have got to stop yelling my name out.

I turned to see Alejandro waiting for me at the end of the hallway.

"I'll be right back," I informed Diya and Hollis before trudging over to him.

"Hey, Ali." I weakly smiled. I had an inkling of what this was about, and I was not looking forward to it.

"Em," he started his voice dangerously low, "Where the hell did you go yesterday?"

"Uh," I started.

"Besides, I just got you got back; I can't lose you again." He whispered to himself.

"What was that?" I questioned.

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Anyways where did ya go, Em?"

"My brothers were being idiots and overreacted," I said, pointing to my nose, "they saw a little bit of blood and freaked out."

"Uh, your nose looks fine, though?" He grabbed my face gently and tilted it, his head turning in confusion.

"Oh yeah, Giovanni helped patch it up before I left the house this morning."

"Cool. I still can't believe that all the happened from you walking into a row of lockers. Clumsy ass", he chuckled, "wait, what's your number?"

I exchanged numbers with him and made my way to walk back to my new friend group.

*Diya POV* (New character POV: Unlocked)

I was having a huge internal debate for myself. And no, it wasn't anything important.

I was currently debating on what nickname to give Emma.

Em was too basic.

I could do Doc cause Hollis told me that she was on the medicine path, but that might not work out.

Maybe something like Lopez?

Ugh, my idiotic brain and its basic ass nicknames.

Oh shoot, Emma was coming over.

Bookmark this conversation for later brain!

*Emma POV*

I walked back to my friends and plopped down to hopefully eat the rest of my lunch in peace.

We sat in silence for another 5 minutes before Hollis asked,

"So Emma... how do ya feel?"

"Just peachy," I mumbled out.

Just then, Diya choked on thin air, requiring a few pats on the back from Hollis.

"Um, you okay, Diya?"

"Er yes, well no technically considering I just choked, but onto more important things. YES. I have just figured out what to call you!"

"Call me?"

"Yeah, like a nickname?" She paused, giving me a bewildered expression, "I have been thinking about this for all of two days, and I've finally come up with something. Em was too basic-"

Dang, she didn't need to do my man Alejandro like that.

"Lopez would just be idiotic, and Doc just didn't fit my vibe, you know," she continued, "I've finally decided that until further notice, I shall call you Peach!"

I shared a confused glance with Hollis, who just shook their head before whispering,

"Let her be. Last year she called me orange for an entire year because I drank orange juice in front of her one time. Besides, you'll get used to it."

I shrugged my shoulders and went back to eating. I had been in Chicago for 2 weeks by now, it was the middle of September, and this was the least weird thing that I've witnessed in this wack city.

And so my two friends and I continued eating in peaceful silence, each pondering on their own thoughts.



hey y'all!

okay so real talk this is filler but i kinda like.

also how the fuckity duckity are we almost at 100k reads?? that's crazy!!

if there's anything specific yall want to see, please comment it :)

wear your masks, drink your water, and stay safe!