CHAPTER 4

(THE PAST)

CAILY GALILEO

Everyone says Pietro is a monster. Everyone here stays away from him and even my father tells me to stay away from Pietro but I can't because I don't see Pietro as a monster.

Pietro is nice to me and he protects me. I would definitely have been bullied several times by the other children if it wasn't for him.

It was also because of Pietro that I could attend the expensive school I was attending. My father had intended to refuse the favour but Pietro had ensured that we took it and I was more than elated to be able to go to such an expensive school.

It wasn't all rosy there at first but with Pietro, everything had been settled very easily.

But I wouldn't deny the fact that Pietro can be a little violent. This morning, I had been so scared when he stabbed Journie. I don't like it when Pietro gets violent but I know he would change.

I believe everyone in the world can change and this negative part of Pietro can definitely change.

"Here. What are you thinking about?" Pietro handed a chocolate bar over to me.

"I am thinking about you." I replied, taking the chocolate bar. I popped it into my mouth.

"And what is it about me that you are thinking of?" He asked and my gaze fell to his wrist where the bracelet I had given him was.

Alicia, the daughter of one of the butlers had been convinced that Pietro would not like such a cheap gift but he had been wearing it everyday for months now.

"How sweet it would be if you were like this to everyone else. If you were this nice to everyone, they would all love you."

"I don't need their love." His voice deepened.

"You do. Everyone needs love." I countered him.

"I already have all the love I need." he said, leaning back against the tree and shutting his eyes.

I leaned close to him and looked at his eyelashes. Dark, full and long. I pressed my lips into a thin line. Pietro was really handsome.

"And where did you get all that love from? Do you have a girlfriend you are keeping hidden away from me?" I faked a small gasp but there was no response from him.

I knelt on the grass by his side, admiring his facial features more.

"You definitely have none. With your looks, you will get a girlfriend the very moment you choose to stop being scary to others." My gaze dropped to his lips.

"I don't need a girlfriend. I already have someone." He replied, his eyes still closed.

"Really? Who is she? Or is it a he?" I reached for his arm and tugged at it.

"Do you really want to know who she is?" His eyes opened.

Light brown eyes that seemed extraordinary whenever the sun hit it and the setting sun was doing wonders to them right now.

"Your eyes are beautiful." I whispered and Pietro stared back in my eyes before letting out a small groan.

"You should go eat dinner, it's getting late." He gathered himself up to his feet and I quickly did the same.

"The sun is just setting, it's not that late yet. And we were talking about the girl you like, who is she?" I reached for his arm and held onto it.

"You will get to know her in the future." was his response.

"C'mon, tell me about it." I grumbled.

"In the future."

"That's what you say whenever I ask you about the deal too. What exactly is my end of the deal?"

Since the first day we met when Pietro had told me he would be taking something in return for helping me, he had not told me what it would be that he would be taking from me. But he reminded me regularly that the deal was still valid.

Every birthday I had celebrated here was always with him telling me I was closer to finding out what my end of the deal was.

"You will find out in the future."

"If you say anything about the future one more time, I am going to go crazy."

He chuckled and took my hand off his arm.

"Not planning on walking barefooted, are you?" He picked my sandals and went down on a knee.

He put the sandals on for me and I couldn't hold back a smile as I looked down at him. I tucked my hair behind my ears, unable to resist the sweet feeling in my stomach that always happened whenever Pietro did something like this.

His, finger tips and knuckles brushed gently against my skin.

"Done" he raised his gaze up and got up on his feet, his height towering above me. How much taller had he gotten over the past few years? Not just taller, he had also grown...

"What's up with you?" He tapped my forehead gently, shaking me out of my reverie.

"Nothing." I frowned at him and he took my hand, returning it to his arm. The walk back home started but I really didn't want to return home yet.

"Can't we stay back a little bit more?" I asked after about a minute of walking.

Pietro stopped and faced me.

"Is there anything going on?" He asked and I masked up with a laugh.

"There is nothing. I just wanted to stay back a little bit more. It's such a beautiful sunset." I pointed to the sunset with my free hand.

"We will see the next sunset together. I have something to deal with for now, alright?" He asked and I nodded in understanding.

I shouldn't bother him and I couldn't tell him about this. Pietro would get too angry and he would never accept that people could change. Just like he stabbed Journie in the eye this morning, he would make harsh moves and I didn't want that.

It only took about a minute more for us to get to to my home but the closer we got to the front porch, the harder my heart thumped.

'Act normal. Don't let it show. It would never happen again.' I repeated the words in my head.

Pietro stopped by the front porch and I stepped away from his side, a big smile plastered on my face. His hand reached for my wrist and he moved a step closer to me.

"Have a beautiful night, Peaches." he kissed my forehead like he did every single time he walked me home.

"You too" I said to him and quickly turned on my heel. I pushed the door open and stepped into my home.

Home. Home.

I waved Pietro goodbye and he did a small wave back to me. I shut the door and turned back to find my father sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

"You are back. Dinner is on the table." He flashed me a warm smile and that calmed me down a little bit.

"Thank you, dad."

"Come watch the TV show with me when you are done eating." He added.

"Sure" I smiled back at him and he looked satisfied. Not just satisfied, he looked like my dad, like the dad I had always known.

I hastened to the dinning room to go check the meal for dinner and a grin parted my lips as I uncovered the meal of pasta and meatballs.

My favourite meal!

Footsteps made me look away from the meal and I saw my dad at the entrance of the dinning room.

"Caily." he sounded sad.

"I am really sorry for what I did to you." he walked over to me.

"Coming into your room and... And touching your thighs is inappropriate and I am promising you that I would not do it again, okay?" He stopped in front of me.

The first time he had done it was two months ago and he had done it again five days ago but I believed everyone could change and my dad would change too.

"You really can't do it again, dad. You are violating me and it makes me feel very uncomfortable around you. I have... I have been going to bed, scared these past few days and I don't like it."

"I know. I know. Thank you for not telling anyone about it, Caily. I will definitely change, I will never ever go into your room at night anymore."

"Promise?" I asked.

"Promise." he affirmed and I smiled at him.

He would change. Everyone could change and my dad too would change and never again make me uncomfortable.