six,

episode three ~ #friendzone

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Walking into school the next morning, with zero hours of sleep Gia couldn't stop thinking about her father being back home.

She didn't have the chance to have a conversation with him about anything. About if he was released(which she guessed), or if he escaped(she hoped he didn't). He told her they'll talk today, with Rosa too and he will explain everything to them and then sent her to go to sleep.

As she walked towards her classroom, she could see a very pissed off looking Camilla making her way towards Gia.

"You fucking slut!" Camilla yelled at her, causing other people to turn their heads and look at what was happening.

Gia widened her eyes, "what-"

"No," Camilla cut her off, putting her finger into Gia's face. "You don't get to fucking talk right now. I'm talking," she said, pissed off.

Gia just let her yell at her, if she's right about the reason why she's pissed off, which she definitely is, it seemed fair to her to let her yell.

"You're fucking shit friend, you know that?" She yelled into her face.

Gia shook her head, "I'm the one who's a shit friend?" She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, starting to get angry. "You're the one who didn't reach out to me while I was gone for a month after my father was arrested!" She quietly hissed at her, not wanting everyone to hear what exactly they were talking about.

A slap echoed through the hallway as everyone quiet down. Gia placed her hand against her cheek, looking at Camilla, her eyes watering.

"You're not going to call me a bad friend when you lied to me about fucking my brother for months!" She yelled at her and left her standing there, in the middle of a hallway.

Looking around the hallway, making eye contact with her classmates, she shook her head softly and turned to walk out of the school.

Before she could do that though, she made eye contact with her teacher Mr. De Nardis.

"Miss Alamanni, come with me," he said in firm tone. Gia groaned a rolled her eyes before following after him.

Walking into the empty classroom, right after her teacher.

"Sit down, please," he said and gestured to the empty chair. She obliged, because what else was there to do. "May I hear an explanation about what the scene was about?"

"It's not fair, why am I the one in trouble?"

"Someone else will talk to Camilla, I assure you. And you are not in trouble Gia, I just want to talk to you about what happened. Make sure you're okay," Mr. De Nardis explained softly.

He now sat in front of Gia, his hands on the table separating the two of them and so close to Gianna's hands that also rested on top of the table. "So what happened?"

Gia shook her head, looking away. "Nothing. Just some high school drama." She didn't feel like explaining the whole situation to her teacher.

His hands moved closer to hers, his fingers grazing hers. "Gia, you can talk to me," he tried to catch her eyes. "I'm here to help you."

Gia pulled her hands back, "yeah, but I don't need any help."

Mr. De Nardis, or Girardo as he wanted to be called noticed her pulling her hands away and leaned back into his chair.

"Alright. If there's nothing you would want to tell me, then we're done here, I guess." His tone has switched from gentle and caring to firm and strictly professional.

Gianna didn't say anything, nor did she look in his direction as she stood up from the chair and made her way out of the classroom.

———

Gia stood on the side of the school building, leaning against the wall with a cigarette in her hand when she heard Niccolo's voice.

"I'm sorry, I messed up."

She didn't turn to look at him, only continued to stare in front of her.

"You could've at least warned me," she told him, gritting her teeth together, replaying her arguement with Camilla, how she yelled at her for everyone to hear.

How humiliated Gia felt when she slapped her. And the worst thing about all of this, Gianna couldn't even defend herself. She was in the wrong here.

"You're smoking this shit," he gestured to the cigarette in her hand. He was a lot more fond of weed.

"Well, it's not like I got anything better," she said and put out the cig out.

"Here," Nicco offered her a joint he's already had rolled up. Gia took it, muttering a quiet 'thanks' because even if she was pissed at him, she still had manners.

Lighting the joint, she inhaled and kept her gaze on the trees in front of her.

"Gia.." Nicco started, looking at the side of her head. "I'm sorry," he tried again.

"You and I are really good together," he told her, raising from the wall. He stood closer to her, trying to catch her eye by placing a hand on her cheek. "You don't want to ruin that, do you?"

She finally raised her gaze up to catch his. She shook her head, taking last puff of her joint, she threw it out before turning around to fully face him.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" She yelled at him, tearing his hand from her cheek, deathly glare in her eyes. "You don't get to call to shots, do you understand?"

Nicco returned her glare, shaking his head, he looked her up and down with anger in his eyes and turned away from her, walking away.

"Fuck you!" She yelled after him, watching him leave.

———

"So, how are you, my girls?" Marco asked, as the Alamanni family sat in their dining room, food in front of them that their cook, Federica prepared for them on Gia's father's command.

Gia sat before her father, staring into his eyes, not saying anything. While Rosa sat right next to him, brightly smiling at him while holding his hand in hers.

"It was terrible here, without you," she said, looking into his eyes. Marco brought her hand to his lips, placing a kiss onto her wrist.

Gia's gaze switched to Rosa then back to her dad.

"What about you, Anna?" He asked, using his nickname for her that only he could use.

"I survived," she coldly answered. She wanted answers. "Are you gonna explain? Like you promised?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Of course," he said, pulling his hand away from Rosa and taking a sip from his drink.

"It was all just a big misunderstanding," he explained, looking at both the women in front of him. "They've proved me innocent, I'm a free man now. I can't leave the country for two months, just in case they find something that would link me to their case, but they won't, obviously," he said the last part with a grin.

Rosa next to him took his hand into hers again, smiling at him, "not for once did I think you were actually guilty," she told him, deeply looking into his eyes.

"I'm glad you didn't have any doubt about my innocence," he gave her a smile and squeezed her hand. "I'm glad to be back home."

———-

'our spot, in 20' read the text Gia received from Ludovica. She glanced at her phone, checking the time. Ludo was supposed to be here five minutes ago and Gia received no text about being late.

Finally, she saw Ludo come towards her, without thinking she automatically walked towards her too, the girls meeting in halfway.

Pulling each other in a tight hug, they separated and looked at each other.

"I'm so sorry," Ludo apologized. "I shouldn't have gotten mad at you."

"No, I'm sorry," Gia shook her head. "I was with Nicco. We both promised to never tell anyone and I didn't want to break it," she explained. "Even though I knew you would never tell anyone else."

"It's okay," Ludo looked at her, before wrapping her arms around her in another hug. "I missed you, I have so much to tell you."

Gia returned the hug, "so do I," she gave Ludo a small smile.

"Okay, you start," Ludo said, the girls sitting down.

"My dad is back," she said looking at Ludo who's eyes widened. "He was released. Apparently it was a big misunderstanding," Gia shrugged.

"You believe that?"

"Hell no," Gia let out a sarcastic laugh. "Would you?"

"No," Ludo shook her head.

"He can't leave the country for two months. I don't know what's going to happen," Gia said, looking at the lights in front of them.

Ludo placed her hand on Gia's shoulder, in comforting way.

"And Camilla yelled at me and slapped me in front of the whole school, but you've probably heard of that already," Gia let out a small laugh, looking at the girl next to her.

Ludo also let out a small chuckle, "I did, yeah."

"Your turn," Gia said, turning her head to look at Ludo, who took a deep breath.

"I met a guy," she started, watching Gia for her reaction. "Fiore. He works with Saverio," Ludo admitted.

Gia's eyes widened, "Ludo!" She exclaimed with surprise. "How old is he?"

Ludo shrugged, "I didn't ask. He's nice... I guess. He.." Ludo paused, not knowing how to explain this to Gia.

"What? Did he hurt you?" Gia asked, concern crossing over her features.

Ludo shook her head, "no, no, no. He took me to the club. We met with Saverio and.." she watched as Gianna patiently listened to her. "And he proposed to me that to help my financial situation I could spend the night with guys he would hook me up to for money," Ludo finished, watching Gia's reaction.

Gia stared at her with wide eyes for a second, "you didn't agree, did you?"

"No, not yet," Ludo said.

Gia's eyes widened even more if it was possible. "What do you mean 'not yet'? Ludo, you're not prostituing yourself to people who are like sixty!"

"Gia! Don't judge me. I get that you have money, but I don't okay? I don't have to have sex with them or anything, just go on a date and then go home. Sounds like easy money to me," Ludo shrugged, looking away from Gia's gaze.

"I'm not judging you, Ludo. I understand you need money, but this sounds dangerous, I'm just concerned for you," Gia explained, putting a hand on Ludo's.

Ludo smiled at Gia, grateful that she wasn't judgemental. "I didn't make up my mind yet," she sighed. "I mean, nothing will happen to me. Fiore and Saverio will make sure I'm safe, you know."

"Just think about it really carefully, okay? And let me know when you make your mind up."

"He gave me a contact on the guy," Ludo continued. "He tried to hook you and Chiara up with some guys, but I said no."

"Does Chiara know about this?" Gia asked.

Ludo shook her head, "not yet. We should tell her."

"Yeah, text her," Gia said, watching as Ludo took out her phone, telling Chiara to meet up with them.

"Let's go," Ludo said, getting up and helping Gia up.

————

end of episode three

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