nine

episode six ~ beyond the aquarium

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The trial has been held. Neither Gianna nor Nicco were present in the court. Gianna due to not being allowed by her parents, but she waited in front of the court to be informed how it went immediately. How Natalia showed up after all. How Fiore has been locked up. Yet it didn't end in the fairytale, perfect way where everyone would end up happy.

Simonetta, Ludo's mother has gone to jail, for letting Ludo doing prostitution even after finding out about it. And Chiara...

"It's not right you're being sent to the group home," Ludovica said. The three girls sat on the ground, at the place where Ludo and Gianna had first met. Gia couldn't help, but smile slightly at the thought.

"Hey, it's better than juvie," Chiara said, shrugging slightly.

"Yeah.." Gia trailed off, biting the inside of her cheek at the thought of not being able to see Chiara every day like she used to. Of not being able to finish school with her, and without Ludo.

"I'll call you every single day," Ludo said, looking at Chiara and then Gia, "you too," she told her.

"And I'll visit you as much as I can," Gia told Chiara, giving her a smile.

"I don't think that's allowed," Chiara said with a sad smile on her face. "Honestly, maybe it's better for all of us."

"Yeah, maybe."

Gia let out a sigh, not knowing what to say. She just stared at the ground, trying not to cry.

"When do you leave?" Chiara asked.

"I'm going to take off next week," Ludo told her friends.

"That's so soon."

"I'll miss you," Gia said, looking at Ludo.

"I've got a place to stay," Ludovica told them, looking at both of them.

"That's great. I wish I could get to see it."

"Maybe someday," Ludo gave her a sad smile, which Gia returned. "So will you come visit me when this is all over?" She asked. "Just imagine all the trouble we'll cause together in Paris," Ludo let out a chuckle.

Chuckling, Gia said, "not too much trouble, though."

Seeing the sour mood Chiara was in, Ludo shook her head, "we're not through, me and you guys."

"I promise I won't forget you. Either of you," Chiara said, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"We won't either, Chia," Gia said.

Chiara put a hand around Gia and Ludo's shoulders, pulling them closer to her into a hug.

Gia tightly squeezed both of them, trying to be strong and hold back her tears, but failing miserably.

—————

Gianna stood in the door way of her front door, looking around at all the boxes laying around, ready to be sent off to the new house.

Making eye contact with Marco, she took a deep breath and willed herself to not cry.

"You're sure you're not coming with us?" He asked her.

Gia stared at him, before shaking her head. "No, I told you. I have to stay here."

"Alright," her father sighed. Looking away from her, he started finishing closing the boxes.

Gianna stood there and watched him and as much as she tried the tears have started to pool out of her eyes.

Gia sniffed and Marco's head turned to her immedietly. Noticing the tears in her eyes, he let the boxes be and walked over to his daughter.

"Come here, Anna," he said, pulling her into his chest. He let out a sigh, "I'm so sorry for everything."

Wrapping her arms around his waist, she burried her face into his shoulder, nodding her head. "I'm sorry too," she sobbed.

"Shh," he carresed the back of her head, trying to be strong for her, but failing. "It'll be okay."

"I don't want you guys to leave," Gia sobbed, tightly holding onto him. "I don't--" she couldn't even finish the sentence before a sob broke out of her.

Marco pulled her away from his chest and looked at her, holding her head in his hands. "You don't want us to leave?" He asked, his eyes teary and his eyebrows furrowed.

Gia only shook her head with a frown on her face.

"Okay," that's all Marco said before pulling her back into his chest.

"Okay? You won't leave?"

Marco shook his head, placing a kiss into her hair, "no."

This time it was Gia who pulled away from him, looking into his eyes. "But what about the boxes?" She asked, gesturing around them, looking at the packed boxes. "And the house in Morroco? Is it not too late?"

"We'll just pack it out. Break off the deal," Marco explained, shrugging. "Or just keep the house as a holiday house."

"I.." Gia trailed off, looking at her father in confusion.

"You want us to stay, we're staying. Okay?"

"Okay," she nodded, before burrying herself into her father's chest again, holding him tightly.

TWO MONTHS LATER

"I'm so nervous," Gianna said, her legs bouncing up and down as she looked at the boy next to her.

"What are you nervous about, Gia?" Her boyfriend asked her with a soft smile, putting a hair behind her ear.

Shaking her head, Gia said, "It's been two months since I've seen her. What if she doesn't want to see me?" Looking at her wrist, where the matching tattoo she's gotten done with Chiara and Ludovica.

"What if she forgot about me? I didn't let her know or anyone that I was going to visit her. God this was such a bad idea," Gia stressed. Shaking her head, she leaned onto her knees, putting her head into her hands.

Nicco let out a chuckle. "Does this seem funny to you?" Gia jokingly glared at him.

"You're adorable. She didn't forget about you, you guys have a matching tattoo for crying out loud," he gestured to her wrist, smiling. "She will be so excited to see you, trust me. There's no need to worry," he leaned closer to her, pressing a kiss to her lips.

Gia sighed into the kiss, a relaxed smile now on her face.

"I hope you're right," she said once they pulled away.

Taking her hand in his, he placed a kiss onto her palm, placing it onto his lap after.

Finally, after what seemed like hours for Gia, Chiara appeared in the hallway, looking at the duo sitting on the chairs.

Getting up, Gia ran up to Chiara, Niccolo walking right behind her.

"Chia!" She exclaimed, engulfing the girl into a hug. "I missed you so so much. You have no idea," she said, squeezing her tightly. "Ludo missed you too."

"I missed you too, Gia," Chiara said, pulling away from her and looked at her with tears in her eyes. "How is Ludovica?"

"She's doing great. I haven't visited her yet, but from what I heard it's really dark academia there," Gia laughed while Chiara smiled, missing her best friend.

"That's good. I'm glad," Chiara nodded. "Tell her I miss her too if you talk to her."

"Yeah, of course."

"I didn't know you were coming," she said, looking at Niccolo behind her friend, giving him a smile. "Hey."

"Hey," Nicco greeted her, returning her smile as he came to a stop behind his girlfriend.

"It was a surprise," Gia gave her a grin.

"She was stressing the whole way here and then while we were waiting for you," Niccolo snitched.

Gia turned at him, slapping him onto his chest, "snitches get stitches, remember that," she jokingly warned him, receiving a laugh from him.

"I'm glad you're here," Chiara told her.

Giving her a quick hug, Gia grinned at her, "you're gonna give us a tour or what?"

Walking through the hallway, Chiara showed them some rooms they passed, explaining what they were for. Going out, they walked through the garden.

"And this is where we garden," she said, gesturing with her hands.

"What else do you do?" Niccolo asked from beside Gia.

"A bit of everything," Chiara said, looking at them. "The other day I made pizza," Chiara said with a proud grin.

"You made pizza?" Gia laughed.

"I swear," Chiara chuckled.

"Was it edible?" Gianna joked, receiving a shove from the girl.

"Yes, it was very tasty," Chiara rolled her eyes.

"So do you like it here?" Gia asked her.

Chiara thought about her answer for a second. "It's not so bad here," she shrugged. "Thanks for coming to visit," she looked at both of them, appreaciating that they were both here.

————

"So how is your posh French school?" Gia asked Ludo on the phone, smiling.

Ludo let out a chuckle, "it's really cool here. You should come visit sometime."

"Yeah, just wait till I finish school," Gia chuckled. "I went to see Chiara today," she admitted.

"Really? How is she? I miss her. Did you tell her that?"

"Of course I told her that, how could I not. She misses you too. She's doing as well as you can in a group home without your family and friends," Gia sighed. "I just wish she could go home already."

"Me too. I wish I could get to see you both. Like old times, everyday."

"It will happen. One day, we'll go back to how it was. I promise," Gia said and looked down on her wrist, smiling at the tattoo.

THE END

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omg we've reached the end!

so thankful for everyone who'veread this fic and stayedtill the end

thank you so much for readingand i hope you enjoyed!

<3