Two Ways to Love

Chapter 22

My eyes meet Angelo's dark ones straight away, and let me say he doesn't look very happy.

Maybe it's because he wasn't invited... or the fact that Luca and his friends are sitting so close to me.

Either way he looked like he was about to flip his shit.

I jump up, well as fast as I can with these heels on and that tequila clouding my head, and rush over to Angelo.

"What are you doing here?" I question, more confused than mad or anything.

He stares me down and answers with a rough voice, "No. What the fuck are you doing here? And with that piece of pasta looking ass niqqa!"

"Woah, I don't even know who your are. Calm down." Luca says, standing behind me now, in a protective stance.

Angelo fumes and tries to push past me, but I push him back with my hands.

"Angelo stop starting shit. I just came here for a good time, why you tryna ruin it."

"It's not really a good time without me here, now is it?" He says smugly and I really want to slap him again.

"Hijo de-" I'm pulled away and I quickly lose Angelo's face in the crowd.

"Valentina, is that the guy you were telling me about?" Luca asks, eyeing the trouble stirring up around the house.

My mind goes blank for a second and I spot Eve yelling at Jackson.

"Yea- um, stay here please."

I take quick strides over to Eve and see Jackson is getting a little too close to Eve.

"Eve, it's not even what it looks like. Stop making assumptions." Jackson slurs, taking a swig from his drink.

Eve waves her hands around in disbelief, "I just saw you kissing that girl over there! And you think I'm assuming things!?"

I step back a little to watch the scene unfold and I cant help but get a little giddy inside. Finally Eve is putting this dipshit in place.

Someone from the crowd yells out, "5 minutes till the New Year bitches!"

I shake my head and focus on Eve and Jackson again.

An arm is slung around me and I snap my head quickly to see who it is. I relax when it's just Matteo, knowing he's harmless to me.

"Woah, I sense a fight about to go down." Matteo says excited, his dimples poking out.

I just shrug and watch as Eve's face flushes with color. "Did I mean nothing to you? Was this all just a whole big lie?"

Jackson crumples his cup in his hand, throwing it at her feet. "You really annoying, you know that?"

I raise an eyebrow and try to keep up with their conversation, which is getting harder by the second because everyone is counting down every single minute and second until the New Year.

I spot Luca coming over to me and Matteo leaves my side to get closer to Eve.

Chismoso. I swear.

"Hey, you left me hanging over there." Luca speaks with a light smile.

I rub my hands together and give a sheepish smile, "Sorry, I got distracted."

"55-54-53..."

I watch everyone gather their loved ones in their arms, ready to make out into the new year.

Luca places his hands on my waist and pulls me closer. He leans in closer to my ear so I can hear him better over all the chaos.

"You know, no one should be standing alone going into the new year."

I gaze into his mesmerizing eyes and just for a second, think of how easy my life would be if I just chose Luca over Angelo.

I'm snapped out of my little daydream when I hear a yell, "We are over Jackson! Don't ever speak to me again, you hear me!"

"10!"

Jackson looks furious and I can practically see veins popping out of his forehead. "You dont get to decide when we're over Eve!"

"9!"

Matteo steps in and pushes Jackson back a little. "Dude, she saying she dont want your small dick no more. Let her be."

"8!"

I see Angelo out of the corner of my eye, marching my way.

"7!"

"Valentina? Did you hear me?" Luca questions, taking my face to look at him and away from Angelo.

"6!"

I feel dizzy with all the shouting and everything happening at once.

"5!"

Jackson pushes past Luca and I, not before giving me a deadly glare.

"4!"

Matteo grabs Eve and at the same time Luca pulls me closer, if that's even possible.

"3!"

"I think I'm going to kiss you." Luca states gently to me.

"2!"

I close my eyes, the world spinning around me.

"And I think I'm going to throw up."

"1!"

Luca pulls me in for a kiss and I shut my eyes, being in the moment.

"0- HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Before my lips can even touch Luca's, I'm pulled back roughly and hear a loud pounding sound.

"Oh my fuck!" I yell out, trying to interfere.

Angelo and Luca are straight up punching each other like some professional boxers.

I dont say any words now, knowing they probably wont listen. Instead I try to pull Angelo away from Luca, which is definitely hard because he was built like a God.

I fall backwards when Luca accidentally pushed me, seeming to make Angelo hit him harder.

Suddenly, as quick as they got in the fight, both Angelo's friends and Luca's friends get into their own brawl.

I stand and the world seems to go in slow motion as I watch everyone throwing punches at each other and cursing.

The sound of police sirens pulling up are loud and clear, signalling everyone to break up and run out the house.

Everyone is scrambling out and I feel I'm being trampled on.

"Valentina, we have to get out!" Eve pulls my arm, not waiting for an answer.

I plant my feet firmly on the ground, "Wait! Where did Angelo go?!"

Eve looks at me with disbelief, "Are you seriously thinking about Angelo right now? Think of yourself for once!"

She continues to hold my arm and together we run out of the house.

I watch as police are chasing people and cuffing who ever they can catch.

Amidst all the chaos, I still seemed to spot Angelo's bloody and battered face.

He gives me a final look, before being pushed into the car by Matteo.

'Happy' New Year...