Page 32 of Untouchable

“It was all they had,” he snaps, clearly reading the judgement on my face.

Deciding that ugly cheap running shoes are much better than going barefoot for another day, I pull them on, being careful around the bandaged parts of my feet. Once I am up, he ushers us out of the room. When I step, I hear a light crunch under my foot. I look down to see fragments of plastic all over the floor.

“What happened here?” I ask.

He looks at me but doesn’t say a word as he holds the front door open for me. I realize he isn’t going to respond and decide it is best to just leave. We walk down the stairs and get in the car, only driving for 30 seconds before we are pulling into a large parking lot.

Alessandro gets out without a word, rounding the front of the car. I roll my eyes before quickly following. He walks over to a couple of cars, casually trying the door handles but with no luck until a Mercedes finally unlocks. Alessandro gestures for me to get in and after a quick glance around us, I slide into the passenger seat.

“Why are we stealing another car?”

He pops the panel underneath the steering wheel as his hands go to work like they have done this a million times. I wonder how many times he has done this apart from the last 24 hours?

“Those guys saw us in the last one. Not that they lived to tell anyone what we were driving, but it doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”

I nod in agreement, slightly glad that he is calling the shots, because I honestly would not have thought about that. After a few more seconds the car quickly starts and Alessandro faces me, staring in irritation.

“What?” I ask.

“Seatbelt,” he grits, like using any amount of breath towards me is a waste.

I reach over and grab the seatbelt, clicking it into place.

“Better?” I ask with a sicky sweet smile.

He looks away and grunts before pulling out of the parking spot. As we go down the road, I see a couple signs indicating that we are going down I-95 South.

“Are we going to the lake house?” I ask.

Alessandro nods but doesn’t say anything. The lake house, wow. It feels like it has been forever since I have been there when in reality it has only been a year or so.

Me and my family used to join the Cordova’s regularly, especially in the summer. It was at one point, one of my favorite places in the world. So many memories come rushing to me as I think about all of the days spent there.

“Can’t catch me!” I taunt as I run full speed through the trees.

“Better run, Bella!” Alessandro laughs back as his heavy footsteps come closer and closer.

My heart rate kicks up in my chest the closer he gets. I know it will only be seconds now before he gets me. I don’t know what is more exciting. The idea of out running him or knowing that soon his arms will be around me.

In the next moment, I feel a strong-arm wrap around my stomach before I am spun in the air quickly, falling to the ground with Alessandro underneath me. I begin giggling hysterically as I try to wiggle out of his hold, but it is useless, he is way stronger than me.

Our families are back at the house making dinner, but Alessandro and I decided that it was the perfect opportunity to get away for a little.

He is my best friend and even though we see each other almost every day, it is never enough. As he has gotten older, we seem to spend less and less time together. He hangs out with people that I don’t know, and I even heard Aunt Tasha talking about a girl who asked him to a dance.

I locked myself in my room that day and cried for hours until Alessandro came and checked on me. He always checks on me. Turned out the dance was that night and he decided to stay and comfort me instead of going with that girl. Of course, he didn’t know why he was comforting me at the time, but he was more than happy to stay until I felt better regardless. One of the many reasons why I love him so much.

I don’t blame the girl for wanting him. Alessandro is hot and he is the sweetest. I have loved him ever since I can remember so I guess I can’t hate a girl for trying, but he is mine. So, she needs to go find her own guy.

As much as I wish that him being mine was the truth, it unfortunately isn’t… not yet at least. I know that right now he probably sees me as more of a little sister than girlfriend material since I am only 13 and he is 17, but that will all change one day. I know in my heart that I am going to love Alessandro forever and ever.

I continue to wiggle against Alessandro in my attempt to get free so he will let me go, but let’s be honest, that is the last thing that I want to happen. I hear Alessandro’s rich chuckle in my ear before he flips me over and pins me to the ground.

“No fairrr,” I whine in between giggles.

“Yes fair, Bella” he says with a cocky smile as his eyes sparkle in the late afternoon sun.

Wow, those eyes. I wish I could just look at them all day. My smile stays in place as I look up at him, wishing it could always be like this. I am terrified of us drifting apart. He promises that it could never happen, and he has never broken a promise to me yet, so who I am to argue?

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