De Luca

𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞

In the morning I found myself woken up from lightly shaking. Opening my eyes I found Andre standing over me. I groaned from on the garden bench chair and rubbed my face.

"Morning sleepyhead," Andre said with a smile.

"Morning," I said as I sat up.

"Breakfast is ready."

I looked up at him and studied him before nodding and standing up. I noticed he was in the same clothes from yesterday and bags hung under his eyes.

"You look tired," I said as to prob at what happened after I left.

He nodded, "I was looking for you all night, Vanessa helped but I could tell she was tired so I sent her to bed."

I bit my lip as I thought about Elias, I guess you could see it on my face because Andre spoke the answer to my unsaid question.

"Elias stayed in his room all night, he trashed the place."

I nodded and bit my lip harder, "is he really that mad with me."

"It's not really you he's mad with, just some other things. But it's not my place to tell you."

I nodded in understanding before standing up and stretching. Andre led the way to the kitchen where Vanessa and the kids were waiting when I walked inside Vanessa wrapped me in her arms and gave me a tight hug.

"You had me worried."

"I'm sorry," I apologised and awkwardly hugged her back, not used to the gesture.

"I tried looking for you! Where were you!?"

"I fell asleep on one of the garden benches."

She pulled away from me with a frown. "He's just in a tough situation right now." immediately I knew  she was talking about Elias, "just give him some time he'll come around."

I nodded.

I noticed her staring at me quietly which made me frown before I could ask her what she was looking at she pulled me out of sight from the kids who were smiling at me and Andre who had sat beside them. She lightly touched my neck with a concerned look in her face.

"How did these bruisings happen?"

I froze. I had bruises on my neck!

"Please don't tell me Elias did this to you," she whispered with tears welling in her eyes.

"No, no, no, no.," I rushed before she could start crying. "It wasn't him."

She let out a deep exhale, "thank God."

I bit my lip before speaking seeing that she still expected me to answer her, lying to her crossed my mind but something told me she wasn't one for bullshit.

"It was Mateo."

She frowned before pulling me into a hug, "I'm so sorry Grace, I truly am."

"Don't worry, it wasn't your fault."

"But if I looked harder maybe I could've found you before it happened."

I shook my head, "he followed me."

I hugged her, this time it wasn't as awkward. "Don't worry I won't let myself be caught off guard again."

She pulled back, "you have to tell Elias."

I shook my head, "he's mad at me, and he'll just get even angrier if I tell him what happened."

She frowned, "does Andre know?"