four,

episode two ~ puppet

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"Chiara is a bitch," Ludo cursed instead of greeting Gia.

Gia turned to look at her, confusion on her face. "What happened?"

"She pretended like we didn't hang out last night in front of her friends. Your friends," Ludo rolled her eyes, annoyed. "She made me look like crazy."

"I'll talk to her," Gia said.

Ludo shook her head, "don't bother," she scoffed and walked away from her.

Gia sighed, standing in the middle of the hallway, before taking a deep breath prepared to go to her class.

Before she could do that, though, a hand on her forearm pulled her back, into a more discrete corridor of the hallway.

"Is this going to be a daily thing? You pulling me to a secluded spot while we're supposed to be going to class?" She rolled her eyes, heart racing.

"If you want," he grinned at her.

"What do you want?" She grunted.

"You're not answering my texts," Nicco complained, desperate to talk to her.

Gia shrugged and narrowed her eyes at him, "I don't feel like talking to you."

"Are you mad about that prank to pudding bowl?" He asked, annoyed that a 'little' prank in his eyes would make her this pissed off.

"I told you to not call her that," she said, anger evident in her voice and glared at him.

"You know it turns me on when you're mad," he said with a smirk.

"What do you want?" she asked again, glaring at him.

"What are you doing tonight?" He asked, smug look on his face and smirk on his lips.

She looked between his eyes, thinking about her answer, "no," she shook her head.

"Why not?" Nicco asked looking at her with furrowed eyebrows. "What are you doing? I miss you Gia."

Gia's gaze switched between his eyes, seeing the desperate look in his eyes, "I'll text you," she gave in, gritting her teeth together hating him for the control he had over her, not even knowing about it.

Nicco smiled and leaned in, to give Gia a quick peck on her forehead, "great."

———

"Chiara! wait up!" Gia called out to the blonde before her, jogging after her.

Chiara turned around and smiled at Gia, "what's up?"

"I talked to Ludo," Gia taking a deep breath, little nervous and not really sure what to say. "You didn't enjoy hanging out last night?"

Chiara blinked, not expecting this question. "It's not that.." she paused, "I just can't," she said with a slight grimace.

Gia nodded, "is it because of Cami and Fabio and other people? About what they think?" Gia asked, frown on her face.

Chiara shook her head, "no Gia," she started. "I just can't go out and get drunk and party," she looked at her hoping she would understand. "Actually you couldn't either, what happened?" Chiara asked with furrowed eyebrows and shook her head. "You didn't use to get drunk and party in a club where you're not allowed."

"My father got arrested and I got stuck with my stepmother, that's what happened," she shrugged, acting as if it didn't affect her.

"Look, I would love for us to hang out. Like the old times," Chiara said, looking at her with a hopeful look.

Gia nodded, and then stayed quiet for a moment.

"I have to go, I've got a practice and I'm already running late," Chiara said before Gia could make up her mind.

———

"I talked to Chiara, asked her if she's gonna come with us to Saverio's club. She won't," Ludo said, rolling her eyes acting as if it didn't bother her.

Ludo looked next to her to find her friend few feet behind her, "you're coming, right?" She asked, noticing the apologetic look in Gia's eyes. "Gia," Ludo said firmly.

"I'm sorry," Gia whined, apologetic look even more evident in her eyes.

"What? You're not rotten like me either?" Ludo said, anger lacing her voice.

Gia furrowed her eyebrows, "what? Who said you're rotten? Chiara?" She asked with wide eyes.

"No. She didn't have to say it for me to realize what she meant when she blew me off, like you're doing right now," Ludo said rolling her eyes, turning around she started walking away from Gianna.

"Ludo!" Gia called after her, catching up to her. "I already have plans, I'm sorry. We can go some other time," she offered, hoping Ludovica wouldn't go to a foreign club all by herself.

"It's cool. I'm fine by myself," Ludo shrugged pretending to be unbothered as she kept her gaze in front of her.

"You're not going to the club by yourself!" Gia exclaimed, catching Ludo's arm turning her to look at her. "Don't be crazy."

Ludo shrugged her hand off, "then come with me," she said, narrowing her eyes at her.

"I can't," Gia said.

"Why not?" Ludo threw her hands into air.

"I have plans," Gia told her again, feeling bad for Ludo. She didn't really feel like going there, but she would just for her friend, just any other night than tonight, she really wanted to spend time with Nicco, maybe it did make her a bad friend, but she couldn't find it in herself to care at the moment. She will hate herself later probably.

"With who?" Ludo asked, growing annoyed with Gianna in front of her.

Gia opened her mouth, but nothing came out of her.

"Fine. keep it to yourself," Ludo said and turned around, leaving apologetic Gianna standing behind her.

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