Palermo, Sicily – July 7th 2020
He wakes up before noon on Saturday. It's not until he stretches, the sun warm on his face, that he realizes it's his 21st birthday today.
Isabella had planned something after he asked for her help – he wanted to have fun again, and the lockdown restrictions had been loosened at the beginning of the month.
ValentinaMoscow, Russia - June 23rd 2020The weeks after I came back from Sicily went by in a haze. I spent them mostly watching movies and eating snacks, which led me wondering whether I was bordering on being depressed. Every day seemed to be exactly like the one before and sharing the same space with my family for days on end turned very toxic very quick.By the middle of June, Russia came back to pre-lockdown levels, which also meant that my social life took a dramatic increase. Not only did I have Raisa calling me almost daily to go out and do something ‘fun’, as well as Isaac asking me when I was free ‘to hang’, but I also had my parents drag Adrik and I to business meetings and formal lunches.My mother had commented that I had gained a little weight at some point during one of those lunches, which triggered my memories of being an insecure teenager with an undiagnosed eating disorder.Every time I come back to my hometown and spend some time with my parents, I come to the rea
Moscow, Russia - June 26th 2020“I think I might be going insane.”The rustling in the background lets me know that Isabella is turning around on the other side of her bed for the hundredth time. The video call has been going on for over two hours now, and for the past half hour neither of us has said anything.I’m sitting cross-legged on my bed, doodling in a blank notebook that I bought ages ago just because it looked nice but never used.“Why?”“I’m bored out of my mind.”“How could you be bored? You’re next to a beach.”“Ugh, but it’s not like that, really. Everyone lives outside of town and the boys have their own thing going on anyway. Who am I supposed to go out with? Pia? We’re not even allowed to go out, there’s police going up and down the street.”“Why don’t you
Palermo, Sicily - July 7th 2020I woke up at seven in the morning so we could arrive at Matteo’s house in Palermo before he woke up. Isabella arranged a private driver to take us from my house to his, but that didn’t help my mood. The fact that I didn’t even get the chance to have a coffee and smoke a cigarette before we left made me irritable.We arrive in front of his house a little past eleven, and I’m glad I know the place because I know exactly where to find the coffee machine.The Barone kids and Ariana are already in the kitchen. We greet each other and I ask whether anyone would like some coffee. Isabella and Ariana nod, and then Vinnie comes over and asks me if I want a drink.“After I have my coffee and cigarette.” I mumble, feeling bad that my mood doesn’t match his.“Do you like Aperol?”“Sure.” I say and manage to give him a smile.
Taormina, Sicily – July 7th 2020We arrive at Matteo’s house a little before midnight. Their dock is small and dimly lit, made from a stone that looks ancient.The boat is slowly reversing as we emerge down the stairs, waiting to disembark. I’m way past tipsy now, and I’m not sure whether I’m more drunk or stoned.“Let’s continue this in my room!” Vinnie suggests and everyone cheers.On my way to the lower deck, I realize I forgot my phone charger, so I leave Isabella to go along with the group.I let Matteo and Marco slip past me on the stairs before I quickly climb the last steps.The table and the bar are no luck, but when I see the couch, I smile. It’s between some cushions, and I sigh relived.I realize how eerie the place is as I slowly walk down the stairs, trying not to trip. Even though it’s dark and I can barely see, t
MatteoTaormina, Sicily – July 8th 2020Matteo doesn’t know what came over him when he first kissed her. All he knows is that the moment he saw her coming down the stairs, and the way her eyes sparkled when she made the cigarette comment did something to himHe’s never thought about kissing her until the moment Isabella pushed their heads together and their lips touched. The sound she made in that moment rang through his entire body and made him want to do it again.Now, as they enter the room where the rest of their friends are sitting and drinking, it’s all he can think about.“Speaking of the devil.” Isabella says and looks between the two of them.Matteo wonders if she can tell what they did.Valentina sits down next to her and takes the drink out of her hand. She seems to be in her own world somewhere inside her head, so Matteo tears his eyes away from
Taormina, Sicily – July 18th 2020Vinnie, Pia, and Eddie ended up leaving five days after his birthday to go to their home in Capo d’Orlando with their parents, which left Matteo and Marco alone in Taormina for a few days.They got bored three days in and decided to go back to Palermo, but their father called Matteo just as they were about to leave, instructing him to stay in Taormina because he was on his way.As usual, he didn’t give any details as to why Matteo had to stay behind and Marco was free to leave, but Matteo suspected it had something to do with the Organization.For the first couple of days his father just had meetings in his office without paying attention to him. This annoyed him even more, because he was just supposed to wait around with no explanation whatsoever.He tried passing the time by playing video games and texting Ariana occasionally, but at some point, he got bored of
Taormina, Sicily – July 20th 2020His father leaves the next day, saying that he has some business to take care of in New York with Paulo, but not without telling him to be in Taormina at the beginning of August.Matteo finds himself alone in the house when he wakes up, so he gets some coffee from the kitchen and goes to sit on the upper terrace overlooking the sea.His mind takes him back to what Valentina said about never being sad if she were to live at sea. He isn’t sad, but he’s definitely bored, so he texts Vinnie, Ariana, and Isabella, asking each of them what they’re doing.Vinnie’s text comes first.Vinnie: going to Sofia’s todayMatteo rolls his eyes and doesn’t even bother replying. He’s over the whole thing already.His phone vibrates again just as he lights his second cigarette.Ariana: bored in Milan
The way she kisses is incredible; it’s deep and dirty, like she’s enjoying it, and it’s exactly what Matteo likes. It’s turning him on so much it’s almost ridiculous, and his brain suddenly thinks of her saying she’s never had sex in the sea. The thought excites him even more, so he tangles one of his hands in the back of her head, softly pulling at her roots. She moans, and unlike before, it’s an outright moan that points to pleasure. “Fuck, don’t do that.” She says into his mouth. He smiles then. “Why?” “It turns me on.” Her blunt answer makes the inside of his brain collapse, but she continues kissing him, grinding herself against him. Matteo could swear his knees just went weak, so he tries to compose himself. Suddenly, she pulls her face away and untangles her legs from his waist. “Shit.” Matteo turns his head to where she’s looking, and they see Isabella appearing from behind the bushes, focused on carrying three