chapter 5

I took out my mobile phone to see what time it was.

3.07

5 missed calls

Oh, God, it was so late and I hadn't answered, so I called them back.

"Yes," my mother answered.

"Mum, I'm still here at Lilly's".

"you worried me because you didn't answer"

"the music was loud and I didn't hear"

"are you going home to sleep?" she asked.

I used to sleep over at Lilly's, especially if it was so late, but now?

"Problems?" I hear behind my back ... it was Roberto ...

"No."

"If you want to go home, I'll go with you," he says.

My mother was still on the line.

She said, "If you want to stay, there's no problem."

I remember her words of the afternoon: "Behave as usual, nothing has to change."

If I had to behave like always I should have stayed but by then I had told him I was going home...

so I answered

"No, I'm going home soon."

OK, do you have the keys?"

"Yes, I have them."

"See you later then"

I close the door and see that

Roberto had moved away a little but he heard my answer anyway.

"Then go home!" he exclaims

"yes I didn't tell them I was out tonight I thought it was just a barbecure".

"it was supposed to be but then I changed my plans" he admits

"ah that's it! I hadn't misunderstood then!"

"no" he said smiling and put his hand on my back as if he wanted to draw me to him and kiss me, but at that moment we were called

"Anna, Roberto, come and let's take some photos".

so we went in the evening we had already published the photos of the barbecure on fb and now nino, Sara's brother, was going to publish these too.

"Then send them to me and I'll publish them too", I said.

"Wait, I'll send them to you now" and he sent them to me immediately I felt my mobile phone ringing I looked at it for a moment "they've arrived!"

but with the fact that I asked for the photos, Sara remembered something "but who took the photos of the party the other night?"

"I took some" said Roberto "and if I'm not mistaken, the others were taken by Luca".

"then it's a pity he left" said sara

"OK, I'll send you these now, then tomorrow I'll tell him to send his".

"OK!"

"I have to go home, it's late!"

"yes now I'll go with you" she said without my having asked her, even if no one would come, she often accompanied me, so they were used to it.

"We're going too," Sara said.

"I'm coming right away because they're staying a little longer" she said to Lilly while I took my bag and so she accompanied me home.

"Are you OK?" she asked as she said

"Yes, why do I seem strange?" I asked.

I tried to behave as usual.

"No, but I am a bit embarrassed" he pointed out.

he too was a little embarrassed and something made me say

"No, it's not what you think, it's just that usually Lilly, Sara and I tell each other everything, and now there are moments that I'm afraid of making a mistake, that's all!" as I spoke we had arrived and he had parked the car in the driveway.

"Are you sure it's just that one?"

"Yes, it's just that one."

"Can I be quiet?"

"Very quiet ... good night."

"Good night" he said, kissing me and I went into the house. As soon as I entered my room, the phone rang and I answered it without looking at the person. "Can I have another kiss?" an unmistakable voice said, "Are you better now?"

"Yes, much better."

"Where are you?" I asked him and we were on the phone for over an hour. Finally I said "Forgive me, but it's late.

"Alright! See you this afternoon?"

"Yes," I said without hesitation.

"OK" he sends me another kiss and says only "sleep well" and closes immediately I dial again and he answers on the first ring "" yes! you forgot to tell me something".

"I didn't, but did you hang up before I could send your kiss or don't you want it?"

"Of course I do"

"then I'll send it now and then we'll close"

"alright" so I send him the kiss and we close.

I lay down, very tired after two nights without sleep, I didn't wake up until the afternoon, I picked up the phone and it was dead.

How was that possible?

It was at 50% when I fell asleep anyway I put it on charge and go to take a shower and since it's four o'clock I take a little fruit salad from the fridge and a cup of coffee I was still in my bathrobe when I hear my phone ring, it was Roberto, "What are you doing?

"I just got out of the shower"

"do you want to go for a pizza tonight because we'll be back early and I have to go to work tomorrow".

"Is it a date?" I asked.

"no, since I'll have to taxi you, Sara and I don't know who else, we'll be about seven or eight people".

"Alright"

"I'll pick you up, I have a full load".

"OK see you later"

as soon as I get off the phone with him, Sara calls "did Lilly tell you that we're all going out for pizza tonight?"

"Roberto said so", I say sincerely.

"OK! What's important is that you know? Are you coming?"

"Yes, yes, wait till we make a video call so you tell me what to wear".

"OK."

I call her from my laptop and we make a group video call, me, Sara and Lilly, first we talk about things like that, then we start talking about what we're going to wear tonight, and immediately Sara says "wear that little black dress you wanted to wear the other night".

"No, not for a pizza"

so I start to show him all the clothes but some of them are too demanding, others too casual at the end I opt for a coral red top with gold chain cups and straps and a black mini as shoes I put on some flesh-coloured wedges, very simple, a little make-up and when they arrive I'm ready I get in the back of the car "good evening" I say sitting down we girls say goodbye with a kiss on the cheeks but since he was busy driving he looks at me through the rear-view mirror and just says "hi"

"come on ilenia is still missing ...did you forget her?" lilly said to her brother

"don't worry ... I wonder how I can stand the whole journey with you four" he said making a dramatic expression and she teased him

"come on you'll console yourself with pizza" she replies and we burst out laughing at her dramatic face.

Ilenia arrives and luckily she was ready but when she gets into the car after greeting us she looks at us carefully "but why did you get so worked up over a pizza!" she asks in amazement

"because if I meet the man of my life at the pizzeria I want him to see me at my best, not in jeans!" answers Sara spicy.

she was in jeans, t-shirt and esquadrillas

She had never been vain, in fact she wore very little make-up and nothing at all, and she dressed very simply, not that we were different, but when we went out we dressed better....

let's say that the clothes she had now were the ones we all used more or less to go to school.

With a shrug of her shoulders she replies

"It may be, but I'm fine like this for the moment".