L'Arte dell'Amore (Not Edited)

IV

Vincent shuffled through the many assignments he had yet to grade. He was helping to plan the dinner event happening in a couple of days.

A knock to his wooden office door interrupted his thoughts. His cousin walked brightly into the room.

"Victoria, why are you here?" His voice came out colder than he meant.

"Don't get all like that. Anyway, you must promise you won't get mad." Victoria voiced as she shot a hopeful smile, to which he did not return.

"What?" He asked slowly.

"Well I kinda invited someone to the dinner. I know we weren't doing plus ones, but I just was thinking and I wanted." She couldn't finish her explanation as Vincent cut her off.

"Who did you invite. A little boyfriend of yours." He said with a sly smile.

"I invited Lavender." She said completely seriously.

That name.

His body shouldn't have reacted like it did when hearing her name. The sight of her in his grandfathers bookstore a couple of days ago rang through his mind.

"No, she's a first year student, she can't go." He said, sternly.

"Come on, Vincent you should have heard her when I told her about it. She is so excited, and it's not just for graduate students." She pleaded.

Vincent sat up. "It is for selected students. I didn't select her, you did." He argued back.

"Please. You don't understand she was so happy when I asked her. If I tell her she can't come, her little heart would be crushed." Victoria explained.

It was true Lavender was looking forward to the night, since Victoria had told her about it.

"Fine. Tell her to dress formal." He said dismissively.

Though he didn't mind her coming at all. It was quite obvious, she didn't have many friends, and Victoria canceling could be heartbreaking in a sense.

He thought of the first time he'd seen her walking alone on that street. Vincent shook the thoughts out of his head as he continued with the work he had.

————

A bit later, Vincent made his was to go talk to his grandfather.

Opening the door to the small bookstore, a loud shush came through the air, directed at him. Vincent saw Victoria again.

He rolled his eyes at her, but stopped when his line of vision landed on the girl.

Lavender.

Her head in her arms settled on top a textbook. Her soft snores and breathing filled the silence in the room. He tried not to stare at her, but found it extremely hard.

He watched as his grandfather came from the back room, holding a blanket. Mr. Ripley handed it to his grandson before turning back around and heading to his small office. Vincent stood still for a second before turning towards Lavenders sleeping form.

With slow steps, Vincent walked towards the sleepy beauty. He wondered if she was studying too much.

His large hand unfolded the blanket and placed it gently on her. Tucking it a bit, he didn't want any heat to escape.

He turned back around and watched as Victoria was scrolling on her phone. Vincent walked back to the small office of his grandfather. Mr. Ripley was looking through his endless pile of books. When he saw his grandson enter.