Luca felt like he should’ve done the rational thing and left after the music club, like any normal person would do. But there he was, walking through the now empty hallways with his guitar and backpack in his hands, heading towards the open-air court that was at the back of the school grounds. Wasn't he the perfect cliché? The new kid going to meet the handsome, popular guy after school just because that same handsome guy had asked him to? It was too late now, Luca had already crossed the entire school grounds and sat on the bleachers, placing his guitar on his lap while strumming a few loose notes. He was an idiot, Luca had avoided this kind of gesture for so long only to fall into his own trap without even realizing it.

What could Luca do other than let things happen and see where they would lead? He shrugged, took a pen and notebook out of his bag, and wrote down possible melodies and musical scales that he maybe could fit together. It wasn't long before he heard the sound of a ball hitting the floor and footsteps running closer to where he was sitting. Luca looked up and there was Elijah, bouncing the ball on the floor and looking at him, his smile almost reaching his ears, as if the most wonderful thing was happening just because Luca was there. 

That’s why Luca couldn't say no to Elijah. How could he when someone smiled at him like that? 

"Luca," Elijah said, like he’s savoring the name on his lips, like the tastiest candy. "Ten more minutes? It'll be quick." 

Luca shrugged and tried not to look at Elijah's eyes, knowing that his face must be hotter than a pepper. He preferred to appreciate Elijah's shoulders and arms, defined and exposed by the basketball uniform, a shirt of thin, light fabric. 

"It's okay, I'm not in a hurry." 

"I can see that." 

Luca felt like groaning in anticipation, forced to look at Elijah. There was something in his voice that made Luca want to pay more careful attention. 

"Hm?" 

"Are you writing a song?" 

"I think so." Without realizing it, he’d even written a few words to accompany the melody.

“Is it about me?”

“It could be.” 

Everything I do is about you.

Luckily, Luca held his tongue, settling for something less humiliating. In any case, it had been very sincere of him. This could only be a habit, it’s so normal for Luca to say whatever came to mind without needing to police himself around Elijah that these truths came out without permission, even after all this time.

“Beautiful.”

Now, Luca was confused. What’s beautiful? The music or… something else?

Elijah smiled once more and the doubt soon disappeared. Luca wondered since when Elijah’s smiles expressed so many things and how each of them was so clear to him, like a perfect, complete and error-free language.

“So… later?”

“I know a little place you’ll love.”

“Do you know me that well?” Another smile and a tilt of the head, as if Elijah were saying ‘It’s obvious, silly’.

Luca rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to his guitar. It was safer that way.

"Don't you have to practice?"

"Nothing is more important than you."

Luca would have liked to say that those were friendly words and that Elijah was joking, but he had spoken with such sureness and confidence that Luca believed him. You see, Elijah was a great communicator when he wanted to be. Sometimes, the smiles disappeared, like Elijah wanted there to be no misunderstandings and at other times, those same smiles made everything harder, but made everything clearer. It’s in those moments that Luca preferred to pretend he hadn't heard, that he hadn't understood or that nothing had happened. It was easier when Elijah smiled at him through a cell phone screen, through calls that were thousands of miles apart, but here, less than fifteen feets away? It made his heart race and his hands sweat.

"Go on," Luca murmured back, trying to ignore Elijah's words. "It's getting late."

"Wait for me." 

So, Luca waited. He heard Elijah's footsteps retreating across the court and heard the other boys shouting words that his endorphin-flooded brain couldn't decipher at the moment.

What else was there for him? Besides waiting and behaving, waiting for the moment when Elijah would have some time to dedicate to him? Luca continued to strum the strings of his guitar and didn't look up again for several minutes. That is, until someone sat down next to him, remaining silent until he gave up and looked at her. It was Daylla, of course, with her intense blue-gray eyes and long golden hair, slender and tall, looking down at him, just as Luca remembered her doing in the past, making him feel like he was an insect that Daylla wouldn't kill out of pity.

"Luca, it's nice to see you again. How's Aura?"

“Fine.” Was all Luca said. Maybe she still intimidated him, maybe she still had the power to make him cry like a helpless little baby, but Luca refused to stoop to her level.

“What brings you here?”

And again, it was as if nothing had changed. Luca was still the same lonely, outcast boy, the helpless boy who anyone could abuse, abandoned and not having any clue about what he’s doing. Luca was so tired of that. He wouldn’t give that power to Daylla or to this kind of person who, when they didn’t have something, took it by force.

“None of your business. Is that jealousy? Did it hurt a lot when he kicked you?”

Daylla merely smiled, studying him, pretending to be on top when they both knew that’s far from the truth.

“Oh, looks like some things have changed, then.”

“Yeah.”

“You know you’re not going to win, right?”

“This isn’t a game.”

“Look, I wasn't very nice to you. So I'm going to give you a chance. If you walk away, I promise I won't stand in your way. That's the way it is…”

How kind of her, huh? Did Daylla know what had happened all those years he'd been abroad? How had Elijah been the first to get back in touch less than a few minutes after he'd run to Italy? And that in the end, there was nothing to be gained or lost? It was for that exact reason that Luca chose to remain silent, watching Daylla toss her platinum hair back as she continued to speak.

"...you'll do very well around here if you follow this advice."

"Day?" Someone behind them called her. It was Helena and Oliver, they were both dressed in cheerleader outfits. Oliver in spandex pants and Helena in a skirt, mini-shirt and pompoms in her hand. "Kim is calling you."

"She always is." It was Daylla's turn to roll her eyes and stand up. "I guess that's it. Do us both a favor. It'll be better this way." 

That way, fixing her skirts and climbing the steps of the bleachers, Luca, Oliver and Helena watched Daylla parade away, taking with her the tension that Luca hadn't even realized had built up between them.

Well, now Luca remembered one of the main reasons he had gone far away from there.

"We're sorry." Oliver was the first to break the silence, sitting down next to him.

"She doesn't do it on purpose." Helena sat down next to him. "It's nothing personal."

"Never is with her." Luca mumbled back, suddenly feeling exhausted.

Luca didn't even know why he tried. Now, looking at things really closely... maybe he should’ve stayed in Italy. The situation there was chaotic, but at least it was manageable. Having to go back and face the same traumatic things might not have been the best idea.

"Don't worry about her." Oliver said once more, the three of them watching the basketball team practice just as Elijah hit the hoop and looked towards him, smiling victoriously.

Maybe, in the end, all this drama would be worth it if the reward was the smile lighting up Elijah Roberts face.