Annabel stared sullenly at the pizza in her hand, watching the cheese-covered crust droop sadly towards the plate. She barely even noticed it when a warm hand slid into hers from across the table, her fingers absentmindedly running circles against the smooth tan skin. It wasn't until she heard the melodic pitch of her boyfriend's voice calling her name that she snapped out of the daze that she was in.

“Ah, mi corazon, what trouble has put such a sad look on such a beautiful face?”

Annabel glanced up at Antonio, lips stretching into a thin smile. She had hoped her worry hadn't been noticeable, but whether it was or not, she knew that Antonio would've picked up on it anyways. Setting the pizza down, she wiped her fingers off on the napkin before taking his hand and twining their fingers together.

“I don't know. I don't know what's going on. Willem keeps acting weird and distant and he's hiding something from me about Mathias and Lukas and the stuff that's happening between them. There's something about the entire situation that's causing my brother to be hurting, and the few things that I could pick up on that I managed to pry out of him earlier don't make much sense…” Annabel sighed, bringing Antonio's hand up to her cheek and leaning into the warm skin. “It worries me. It worries me that Willem might end up getting hurt… He said that I might end up getting hurt if I don't keep my nose out of it, because Lukas can't be trusted…”

That comment made Antonio's gentle smile fade away, replaced by a neutral expression that he used to conceal his anger. “Go on.” His voice was too soft.

She turned her head briefly to press a kiss against the palm of his hand before speaking. “When I tried to ask if Lukas had ended up hurting Mathias, Willem just told me to stop worrying and to mind my own business, because it wasn't my place to interfere, just like it wasn't his place to interfere with their relationship…” Her eyes slipped closed as she felt his fingers gently stroke her cheek soothingly. “I know that Mathias has been hurt by Lukas, emotionally at least, with all of the back and forth head games that he keeps pulling on Matt. But I think…” she trailed off, biting her lip and turning her head away. Annabel glanced around the restaurant before leaning closer to Antonio and lowering her voice so that the other patrons wouldn't be able to hear. “I think Lukas may have ended up physically hurting him. I think that's why Willem's been adamant about the fact that Lukas can't be trusted and that I need to stay away from him. I think that's why Will's so torn up and hurt, because I think he knows something since he and Mathias have been roommates ever since they started college together, and they've been friends since before that…”

“Shh, shh, shh… It'll be okay.” Antonio's hands cupped her face, tilting her head up so that their eyes met. His voice was soothing as he cooed quiet words of reassurance to her. “Everything will be okay. I promise that I won't let anything happen to you, mi amor. I swear that I'll do everything that I can to help. I'll keep an eye on your brother during all of our soccer practices to make sure he doesn't get worse, and I'll keep an eye on Mathias too, to help make sure that nothing serious ends up happening. You have my word on it.”

A shaky breath passed through Annabel's lips as a heavy weight seemed to fall off of her shoulders. It was a lot of stress to deal with, especially with how Willem had been acting since she arrived and the difference in his behavior from when he had left home. It had been like some sort of terrible revelation or event had happened which had ended up breaking him. He didn't seem to notice or care. He just kept trying to hide it from her and everyone else. At least Annabel knew that she could always rely on Antonio, and it made her happy to know that if there was anything troubling her then she could always openly speak with him without any sort of criticism or being told that she was overreacting. He made her feel special and important and loved.

Nodding her head, a fond smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “You know you really are the most amazing man I've ever met.” She reached up her hands and gently rested them on top of Antonio's. “You always seem to know just the right words to say to make me feel better.”

He chuckled softly before leaning over and pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. “Before you say anything about it, it's not because of my psychology courses. I just want to make sure that you're happy and safe, and I'm always going to keep my word and do everything that that requires. You're my heart and soul, and if it were required of me, I would gladly lay down my life to protect you if it meant that I knew you would live to see another day.”

It was a bold statement, but it was also one that was completely sincere and chivalrous. Chivalry wasn't a trait that many men possessed these days, and that's one of the reasons that Annabel had fallen in love with Antonio. He was different in so many ways compared to the rest of the male populace, particularly the boys that had been in her high school or that would come into her work.

Annabel could still remember the day that they had met like it was yesterday. She was working at the cafe just as she did every morning, making and serving breakfast to the customers, many of whom would come in for the sole purpose of ordering the Belgian waffles that she made. It was her own recipe and it hadn't been too difficult to convince the owner of the cafe to add it to the menu after she tried them.

The aromas of fresh coffee, sizzling bacon, warm butter, sugary syrup, and waffle batter permeated the air. The quiet murmur of voices and the clinking of silverware, and the sounds of the cooktop filled the cafe as the waitresses greeted customers and took their orders. An autumn breeze was blowing against windows that gleamed with reflected sunlight. Despite the warm and sunny atmosphere outside the cafe, she knew that a storm was supposed to make its way into the area that afternoon.

It was half past seven whenever a rowdy group of college boys had filed into the cafe, making her cringe. She always hated it whenever senseless meatheads like them ended up coming in, because they always seemed to make it a point to try to make all of the women uncomfortable or to flirt with them, and Annabel certainly wasn't in the mood to tolerate any lewd comments that were directed towards her.

That small bubble of anxiety remained in her chest the entire time that she was cooking the orders. It only grew as she picked up the serving tray that had the table's food stacked on it and she reluctantly plastered on a professional smile and trudged her way over to the table with the boys. Just as she was about to reach the table, a cackle rose up from one of the boys sitting on the end. Suddenly, a foot caught her ankle, throwing her off-balance and sending the entire tray of food crashing onto the table and floor. It was followed by howls of laughter from the entire group.

“How about you watch where you're going next time, you fucking klutz? You could've stained my shirt, and I just bought it!” There was another chorus of laughter.