Highschool

THIRD PERSON

Domenico opened his eyes. As he stared at the ceiling of his bedroom, he waited for another sound. He didn't have to wait long. Footsteps appeared—quiet, yet noticeable—followed by the unmistakable sound of paws. Josephine was awake. Nothing unusual for her, and at first, he thought he would let it pass. But then he heard a sniffle. Now fully awake, he sat up, pushed the blanket aside, and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The floor was cool against his bare feet as he stood and made his way toward the door.

The hallway was dimly lit by the faint glow of the moon outside. He could just make out Josephine's small figure standing with her back to him. At her side, Zeus sat still, ears perked, as if waiting for her next move. "Tiny?" Domenico's voice was soft but firm. She sniffed and wiped her face with her sleeve, refusing to look at him. "What's wrong?" He crouched beside her, searching her face for answers.

For a moment, she said nothing. Then, in a barely audible voice, she whispered, "Nothing."

"How about we skip the lying?"

Josephine flinched at his words, the slight tremor in her shoulders betraying the calm she tried to project. She shook her head, as if trying to push the emotions back down, but they were already spilling out, too heavy to hold in. "I'm fine," she repeated, her voice cracking slightly at the end.

Domenico didn't move. He took a step toward her, unwavering. Zeus gave a low whine and nudged her hand with his nose, as though encouraging her to talk. "You're not fine," Domenico said gently, but there was no softness in his tone. "And you're not fooling anyone here."

Josephine finally turned her head toward him, eyes red and tired. Her lips trembled as she fought to speak. "I—Luke, he—"

She didn't continue, but Domenico could already feel his blood boiling. "What did he do?" he asked in a cold voice, his mind already two steps ahead.

"Nothing! Really, he did nothing," she answered quickly, taking a deep breath. "He asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend."

What a suprise. "And that's a reason to cry? Why? I thought you liked him too." Josephine looked away, her fingers tightening around Zeus's fur, as if the weight of the moment was too much to bear. Her silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Domenico raised an eyebrow, his expression hardening as the seconds passed. "So, what's the problem?" he pressed, his voice laced with disbelief. "He asked if you wanted to be his girlfriend. That's... a good thing, isn't it?"

But Josephine shook her head, tears starting to gather again, though this time she didn't hide them. "I can't be his girlfriend." Her voice quivered, raw and vulnerable. "Because if I were, I'd have to tell him everything, and then he'll leave me, and I— I—"

Domenico's anger simmered beneath the surface, but it wasn't directed at her. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, realizing how tangled the situation had become. "Come on, let's go outside for a bit. Maybe some fresh air will help."

She nodded, and they walked down in silence. God, Vito is so much better at these things. Domenico briefly considered waking him up but decided against it.

The night air was cool against Domenico's skin as they stepped outside. The soft rustling of the trees in the distance and the occasional hoot of an owl created an eerie calm. Zeus trotted beside them, his tail low, sensing the tension in the air. Domenico's thoughts churned, but he said nothing, allowing Josephine the space to gather herself. She didn't look up, her gaze fixed on the ground as they moved toward the old wooden bench by the garden. The scent of damp earth and moss filled the air, mingling with the faint fragrance of night-blooming jasmine.

Once they reached the bench, Domenico sat first, motioning for Josephine to join him. She hesitated but eventually sat beside him, the bench creaking under their combined weight. The cool breeze ruffled her hair, and for a moment, everything felt suspended—like the world was holding its breath, waiting for her to speak. She wrapped her arms around herself, her fingers still clutching Zeus's fur. Her lips parted, but it took a long moment before she could find the right words.

"I really liked him," she whispered, barely audible over the whisper of the wind. Domenico shifted slightly, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The pale moonlight bathed the garden in a soft, almost ethereal glow, casting long shadows across the ground. Josephine looked down at her hands, her breath shaky. "But if I tell him everything—about what happened, what's inside me... he'll never stay. No one would ever stay when they know the truth."

Domenico's heart clenched at the raw vulnerability in her voice, but his expression remained calm, even though the anger he'd felt earlier had shifted into something more complex. "We stayed, didn't we?" he began, his voice soft yet resolute. "So, there are people who will stay. And I know you're scared, but you can't keep carrying all this on your own." He paused, considering his next words carefully. "You're not broken. A bit fractured, maybe, and sometimes a bit complicated, but if he can't handle that, he isn't worthy of you. But you won't find out if you don't give it a chance."

She didn't respond immediately, her tears silent now as she looked at the ground. Domenico let the stillness linger, knowing that sometimes, words weren't the answer. After a long moment, she nodded, her chin trembling. "But what if he can't understand? What if... it's too much for him?"

Domenico turned toward her, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Josephine, if he can't understand, then he's not the right one. You deserve someone who will see all of you—the broken parts, the whole parts, the ugly parts—and still choose to stay." His voice was firm, the conviction in his words like a quiet promise.

Zeus, sensing the shift, moved closer, his body pressed against Josephine's side, offering silent comfort. She let out a shaky breath, her hands finally loosening their grip on the dog's fur. "I can't do this," she admitted. "And I know it's cowardly, but it's for the best. He will understand, and he will find someone else. Someone who's better."

Domenico remained silent, his thoughts spinning. He could see the depth of her pain, the fear that clung to her words like a shadow, suffocating any hope she might still have. She was so sure, so certain of the outcome, and it twisted something inside of him. "I can't make you do anything," Domenico said, his voice steady but touched with an emotion he hadn't planned to show. "But don't confuse fear with wisdom. It's not cowardice to be scared, Josephine. It's human. You're afraid of being vulnerable, of showing the parts of you that you think are too broken for anyone to handle. But if you keep hiding them, how can anyone ever see you? The real you?"

Josephine's lips trembled, and she swallowed hard, a silent tear slipping down her cheek as she turned her head slightly away from him. She wiped it away quickly. "It's too late anyway. I wrote him to delete my number."

"You did what?" Domenico turned his head. "You wrote him? Well, that is cowardly."

"Hey, you're supposed to be on my side!"

Domenico didn't flinch at her words, his gaze didn't waver, and he couldn't stop the frustration from seeping into his tone. "I am on your side. That's why I'm telling you the truth: that's not courage, that's fear talking."

Josephine's chest tightened at his words, and she clenched her fists, frustration building in her eyes. "You don't understand! I've already messed everything up! I— What on earth?" Both watched as headlights appeared in the driveway. "No. No. No. That can't be true."

"I'll take care of him, but this isn't over, Tiny. We will talk about it." Tomorrow, with Vito. Domenico stood up and walked to the end of the driveway, where Luke had parked the car.

Domenico reached the car just as Luke was stepping out, his expression tight with a mix of anger and concern. Zeus was right at his heels.

"Mr. Marini," Luke said, his voice sharp yet respectful as he addressed Domenico. "Sorry for bothering you this late, but I need to talk to Josie. Can I go inside without being bitten to death?"

Domenico stood his ground, arms crossed. "She's not ready to talk to you yet, Luke. You don't get to just barge in here like that."

Luke's jaw clenched, but there was no anger in his gaze. "I'm not here to fight with you, Mr. Marini. I'm here for her. I know she's scared, I know she's pushing me away, but I won't give up on her until she convinces me that she only did it because she doesn't like me the way I like her."

Domenico studied Luke for a moment. "I'm not saying you don't care," he said, his voice softer now. "But she's got her own battles, and right now, she's fighting them. She doesn't need more pressure; she needs space."

Luke shook his head, his frustration visible, but there was something softer beneath it. "With all due respect, Mr. Marini, we both know you're trying to protect her, but you're letting her hide. If you keep doing that, you'll let her self-doubt win and as I said before and again at our lastest meeting, I'm not afraid of her insecurities. So tell me where she is." He blinked, realising whom he was speaking with. "Sir," he quickly added.

Domenico studied Luke a moment longer. The flicker of a smile almost broke through his serious demeanor. There was something undeniably genuine about the way Luke spoke, something that resonated with him. Fuck. "She's over there," he said, stepping aside.

"Thank you, Mr. Marini." Luke stopped in his tracks as Domenico's hand gripped his sleeve, holding him in place for a moment. Luke turned slowly to face Domenico, their eyes locking for a brief but intense moment.

"Domenico."

"Domenico," Luke echoed.

Domenico's grip loosened, but he didn't let go right away. His gaze hardened, flickering with a mix of concern and frustration. "You better not hurt her, Luke," he warned, his voice low but fierce, the protector in him raw and visible.

Luke nodded, his jaw tightening slightly as he met Domenico's gaze. "I won't," he promised, his voice steady despite the rawness in his chest. "I swear, I just want her to see that she's not alone in this."

Domenico's eyes softened for a moment before his cold exterior returned. He released Luke's sleeve and stepped back. "Alright, then," he muttered. "But if you mess this, I'll make sure you regret it."

Luke gave him a small nod, a slight but genuine smile tugging at his lips despite the tension. "Understood."

Domenico watched as Luke made his way down the garden toward the bench, his eyes tracking every step with a simmering mix of protectiveness and wariness. The sounds of quiet conversation, of arguing, of a bit of fighting and the rustling of footsteps reached his ears. Domenico crossed his arms again, his gaze fixed on the pair. It wasn't long before he saw them—Luke standing close to Josephine, his hand gently brushing against hers. The air between them charged with something unspoken. Then, while Josephine where in the mids of arguing, without warning, Luke cupped her face, and their lips met—just for a moment, but long enough to make Domenico's jaw tighten. That bloody Bastard.

Annoyed, Domenico pinched the bridge of his nose and, glancing at Zeus—who had been sitting quietly beside him—motioned toward the couple. "Go on." Domenico said, his voice low but firm. The dog perked up immediately, sensing his master's tone. "Get him."