Page 24 of Little Sparrow

The fascination of what she can do stayed in my mind all night, I barely slept. As little as our past had been, I kept thinking about the power of dream walking, how I thought she might be a witch. A feeling in my gut tells me it’s more, but I couldn’t think of anything.

“You’re still doing yoga?” I ask, leaning against the door frame. She moves her body into another position that I’d never be able to do. I hear the inhaling and exhaling of her lungs while she ignores me. The cool early autumn breeze flows over me. I step closer and she sighs,that's right, I’m not going away. Finally pulling herself into a sitting position with her legs crossed. “Yes, I still like to relax from time to time.” Her eyes close as she lifts her face towards the sun, the corner of her lip tilts up too. I wonder how much of the real Rose is still inside of her, the one who wore cute little pyjamas and was the highlight of my escape. Not this evil that my father wanted to make her.

I narrow my gaze, she even looks different. One of her eyes pops open, “why are you staring at me?” Her cheeks turn pink at my attention. She still blushes for me. That's cute.

I shrug at her question, “Just trying to figure you out.” Both her eyes open now.

“There’s nothing to figure out.” She lifts one shoulder in a half-shrug and stands in one swift movement before rolling up the yoga mat, bent over in front of me. I hold in my groan. She has perfect curves.

“Yes, there is. The way you act, the way you dress. You said you didn’t want to see me anymore because you hate yourself. Explain that to me?” Her eyes burn into me as she storms over and pokes me in the chest. “I’m a monster. That girl you knew died two years ago. She can’t ever come back, understand?” Her eyes shutter, and she clenches her jaw as though she’s in pain. I want to say more but hold back, even though I already know why she’s in pain.

“My father has the tendency to do that. Bring out the inner monster, believe it or not. I don’t care what you are.” I confess, feeling the weight of truth in my words, I never thought I would truly mean it. Her eyes shine when she opens them, and I yearn to make her feel better, to hold and comfort her, but I don’t.

Her nose wrinkles as though she’s thinking of something to say, but instead she walks past me, the rolled-up yoga mat tucked under her arm as she holds her head up high.

“What are you scared of, Rose?” I ask before she passes through the doors, she freezes and turns to me, I slide my hands into my pockets to stop me from reaching out. Her innocent hazel eyes stare back at me, unlike the ones I met yesterday.These are the ones I remember.

“Nothing matters anymore, my secrets are my own.” She turns to walk through the doors but halts when I blurt, “I missed you.” Rose doesn’t turn back to me, doesn’t say anything. She just storms back inside, faster steps than before.

I step back into the kitchen where Rose had gone through, Maria is staring in the direction Rose ran. When she turns back to me she jumps and raises her hand to her chest.

“Mister Barelli, what are you doing in here?” I stalk in her direction and reach for the bottle of water I had left on the side while watching Rose in her element. “I was just grabbing one of these, then thought I’d introduce myself to Rose. Her eyes narrow at me, but I walk straight past her without another word.

As far as I’m aware, no one knows of our past, I’m determined to keep it that way.

Chapter twenty-four

Rose

Myheartbeatshardin my chest as I race up the stairs to my shower, feeling the gaze of each guard I pass burning into my body. He missed me, what am I supposed to do with that? I never thought I’d see him again, but here he is, inside this house, with me; In person. Every touch, every look is real. I couldn’t stay down there, his eyes kept searching mine, but I have nothing to give him anymore.

He had been watching me, I felt it; I had been aware of him every second I had been outside, my body reacted. Goosebumps had scattered across my body, everywhere his eyes had travelled, I felt every single inch as though it was his hand brushing against my skin instead.

I missed him too, but he can’t know that. Leo would never allow us near each other if he knew our history, our dreams together or even at all. I need to keep Dante safe from him, from both of us. At first, I thought he could save his mother and me, but now I realise it’s a mistake. Seeing him in person has bought up all my old feelings. I’m flustered and confused.

Gabriele raises his eyebrow at me, but I slam the door in his face in the hope he won’t ask questions. I need to get myself together.

With the back of my hand, I wipe away the strands of hair sticking to my face. I walk into the large bathroom and lock the door, and my head drops to the wood with an audible thunk. I need a moment to think before flicking the shower lever on. I strip out of my loose shorts and tank top while the water heats. When the steam fills the room, I step inside.

The droplets cascade over me, the heated water burning into my skin, but I don’t notice it too much. I’ve always loved the scorching water.

My first ever kiss is repeating in my mind, how perfect it was, but then the memories of what happened after tainting everything.

I don’t cry much, but I do today. I slide down the tiles and sit on the floor. Pulling my knees to my chest, I let it out. The silent sobs burst from the deepest depths of my heart.

Almost two years' worth of pain pour down my cheeks and swirl down the drain. No sound comes from me. Crying is for the weak. Leo wouldn’t tolerate it, so I hold in all the noise. I grieve for my dad, my friends, Dante and myself. The old me. The one I so desperately want to revive sometimes, but it’s impossible.

I’m not sure how long I've been sitting on the shower floor, but I managed to calm my tears a little while ago. Someone knocks on the door, I reach up and turn the shower off. Maria’s voice flows through the door. “Capo would like to speak with you in his office, get dressed.”

I’m glad she can’t see my face or my tears. No one can know. My eyes feel puffy, I’ll need some make-up. The concealer masks some of the redness but not all. Hopefully, my red lip gloss will pull attention to my mouth instead of my eyes.

I leave the bathroom, no one is in my bedroom anymore. I dry my hair and pull on clothes as quickly as possible, I’m already late. I sprint to the bottom of the stairs, taking two at a time and then gracefully walk to the office, Franco opens the door for me and I nod my thanks. Dante is waiting in here too. My eyes dart back to Leo, where I will keep them.

Chapter twenty-five

Dante

“Isn’tthisnice,afamily meeting?” my father comments, but I shake my head. “We are not family. Rose is not my family.” I take a quick glance at her, no reaction. She just stands in a daze in the middle of my fathers office, her little bare feet on the ugly rug,always hated that thing.

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