Chapter 5 Change

He wasn't smug or triumphant or pleased. He wasn't angry or mad or furious. He was hurt.

After his dance with Rosetta, he had endured another thirty minutes of nonsense conversations with prowling women and pride filled disdainful comments from jealous high school mates. After the thirty minutes, he had gotten fed up and he sent a quick text to Marino with the new phone he acquired earlier that day,

'I'm heading home. Find another ride or die trying." And he left for his car.

He was still sitted in his car, gripping the steering wheel tightly with white knuckles.

He was hurt. All his swagger and act and pride didn't chase away the vulnerable boy in him seeking acceptance. He was accepted alright but for all the wrong reasons. The women were only after him for looks and for money and the men either didn't even spare him a second look or spat pride all over him

What was he expecting anyway? Warm hugs and friendly kisses? Friendly conversations and people actually concerned about his welfare?

What was he expecting after riding a Ferrari and dressing to kill?

His bullies hadn't even come up to him, like they knew his weakness. They had not even spared him a glance. Leonardo and Arman.

He had quite a good number of bullies, intentional and unintentional but he knew only those two attended Colland.

Rosetta.

He wouldn't deny, at least to himself, that he had felt a little attraction to her. Tall elegant Rosetta, beautiful Rosetta with the sea blue eyes that had you enchanted at one glance. Apart from her eyes, it wasn't her heart shaped lips that caught his fancy or her slender nose or her smooth spotless baby skin though he had noticed those too; it was her hair. Her long very dark hair that framed her face and tumbled down her back. It swayed when she danced, bounced when she walked, he had made sure to feel it when they danced. Silky, soft, smooth, full black hair.

But that was it, her eyes and her hair. The main emotion he had felt after meeting her was irritation. He could read her very well. He had read the look her eyes. She just wanted him for the looks, another pretty boy to add to the collection of ones she had dumped. Asking him about his disapearance was just for show.

Also the women that came after.

He released his grip on the steering wheel and leaned back in his seat.

She would come again.

He hadn't cared much for her in highschool nor did he now. She had been with her upper class group and he in his lower class group.

She would come again, he could tell. She was a persistent one. When she came, he would keep her hooked. He would make her long for him but never get him, he would bring her close but keep her far. He would make sure he was the center of her life, make himself her daily food and water, make her forget all but him. He would make her chase him, hunger for him until it destroyed her. After all, what else did lust bring?

That series of emotions that corrupted one's mind and mode of thinking and made one act like a crazed being, that curse that made one a murderer, a murderer of human emotions, a murderer of relationships.

Her lust would be her downfall.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Rosetta watched the black Ferrari drive away through the window. He had a Ferrari.

"I saw what happened."

She glanced at Aryanna but kept mute. She still hadn't recovered from that blow to her pride. Who was he anyway? Just because he managed to look so good, he thought he was better than all the men she had charmed.

The Ferrari had disappeared from sight but she still stared out the window. There was that tightening in her chest, the burning feeling, the restlessness. She knew what it meant. She would not rest until she had him, wrapped around her thumb, doing her every will.

"You can still get him, you know?" Aryanna remarked.

"What did you see?"

"You flirting with him and he refusing you. Don't worry, it was very subtle, not many people would guess what was going on. I know you so I know how you act."

She kept mute.

"Really Rosetta? Are you letting dumb Domenico get to you? Even if he has brushed up on his looks, he can't change his personality totally. He is still that same Leonardo's toy."

"I know." Was her reply.

"Then what is wrong? Why are you worried?"

She thought about it. Why was she worried? Perhaps it was because she knew what Aryanna said wasn't entirely true. The Domenico she had met and talked to an hour ago was entirely different from the one that got bullied back in high school, very different in every way. His aura alone intimidated her and made her weak at the knees, something only one other man was capable of, his rejection had eaten deep into her pride and into her mind, and despite her anger, she recognized deep within her that it wasn't all of it. A small, very little part of her was afraid. Afraid that this was going to be somehow different, afraid that she might fall too deep, afraid that he might win.

She was afraid of failing. Her chase for him wasn't shallow, it burned within her and intoxicated her... it was all she could think of.

"Rosetta?"

She straightened, turning to Aryanna and schooling her features.

"I'm pretty, right?" She asked.

Aryanna have a sarcastic laugh.

"Are you kidding me?" Aryanna asked in a disbelieving tone, "mamma mia, Rosetta, you are beauty itself. What is all this for?"

"That is good?"

"Perfect."

She blew out a breath, looking out the window again as if expecting to see the Ferrari. She looked back to Aryanna who had a smirk on her face.

Aryanna exhibited the whore character. She exposed body parts, wore the skimpiest dress available and slept with any man that blinked an eye at her.

"You'll go shopping with me." She ordered.

"Why? You just went sho..."

"I know. I need to get more sophisticated, the best then I need to get a haircut, like yours, my hair's too long and then dye it. Red, pink, purple, blonde, which?"

"Red or purple, bold is the key."

"Pick one."

"Red." Aryanna answered.

She caught Leonardo coming towards them through the corner of her eye, "Okay. I need to do my nails and from today, you do my makeup. Do I need contacts?"

Aryanna nodded quickly.

"Yeah. Your blue eyes are lovely but I think black would be much more beautiful. Grey, grey, it is."

"We'll get contacts. We are leaving." She started walking away, ignoring Leonardo who just reached them.

"Che cosa! Now!?"

"Aryanna, do not waste my time."

She smirked to herself. When she was done with her makeover, Domenico would fall at her feet.