The taxi driver helped us load all our things into the car. Maybe it was because we woke up at six in the morning, but it seemed like the suitcases had somehow gained weight and multiplied overnight. Ella looked remarkably lively, probably because she settled into the front seat, leaving Sara and me to cramped ourselves in the back amid the items that wouldn’t fit in the trunk. It goes without saying that all these things belonged to Ella, and I won’t mention that. We were not late, but I was very irritated that the taxi driver was driving at a snail's pace. At one point, even a cyclist passed us by.
As we approached the airport, Ella received a call from Nick. He and Leo greeted us and helped us get out of the car. I might have been hallucinating, but it seemed to me that the things we could barely carry to the car were just feathers to the guys, for how easily they unloaded them and set them on the wet asphalt. The rain had spoiled my mood for the umpteenth time, and now it threatened our flight.
— How are you, Lilibet? — Ella and Nick began exchanging endearments. I suddenly felt nauseous. I turned away from them, grabbed my suitcase, and headed for the airport entrance.
— Hey! I have the tickets! — Leo shouted after me.
I sadly turned back. I had to wait while everyone else collected their thoughts and made their way toward the glass doors. Raindrops rolled off the tip of my nose, and my hair tangled more and more with every gust of wind. I was irritated by every little thing. Finally, dripping wet, we approached the check-in desk. I freed myself from my suitcase and waited for the others. We had almost an hour until the flight, and since it was delayed, we girls left the guys to watch the bags in the waiting area and rushed off to the shops. Sara picked out some perfume for herself; at first, it didn’t smell bad, but then she sprayed so much liquid that it stank. Ella and I laughed heartily when one of the consultants, holding his nose, recommended Sara take a shower as soon as she arrived at her destination, if the flight crew and passengers didn’t die from the smell first. After that, the girl took off her jacket and stuffed it as far away as possible, forbidding the guys to ask any questions. We laughed like crazy, attracting even more attention.
I had never flown business class before, so I felt a bit embarrassed by the attention I was getting. I ordered some herbal tea and opened my laptop.
— Dell, — Ella tapped me on the shoulder. — I would like to switch to Nick’s seat.
I knew where she was going with this, but I simply couldn’t say no to her. The blond settled beside me and smiled gently. My heart began to beat so fast that I feared it might burst out. But I just turned away from him.
In the last ten days, nothing special had happened between me and Leo. My semester was ending, so I was preparing for exams, and we were both too busy with upcoming shows. He even managed to fly to Rome for some business. Damiano was particularly pleased with this awkwardness, trying every time to make some joke, causing De Ville to gaze dreamily at me, and I would escape so no one would see me blush.
When the stewardess came with my tea, I put on my headphones and continued typing my presentation text. Eventually, I got tired of looking at the screen and fell asleep. It seemed to me that not even a minute passed when someone walked by, and then I heard a voice:
“— Naples, 17 degrees warm, sunny…”
We arrived at the magnificent estate. The Neapolitan Bay was just a stone's throw away, but it's a pity the water temperature was too low to swim comfortably.
Decorated antique vases full of flowers stood on both sides by the door. A slender girl in blue was just bending over one of them as we got out of the taxi. Lily suddenly turned around, smiling sweetly at us.
— I was just about to think you got lost! — she smiled and hugged everyone in turn.
— Sorry, our flight was delayed due to weather conditions, — Sara replied. — The rain is just terrible! I can’t believe it’s so sunny here.
— Léo, can I have you for a second, — Lilia suddenly grabbed Leo and pulled him aside. As I was walking towards the house, I caught a snippet of their conversation:
— …he can’t come, but your mother is here…
Leo didn’t seem surprised by this news at all; I think he knew he would have to run into his parents at his brother’s wedding.
— Nothing surprising. It would be unusual if our father could come to his son’s wedding, — there was a note of aggression and disdain in his voice. I felt ashamed for hearing that.
— But, Leo, please don’t blame your mother, it’s not easy for her either, — Lilia said soothingly.
— Listen, let’s drop this subject; you have a vacation, and I’m still here with my problems. I'm so glad this idiot finally realized that a woman like you should get married as soon as possible, — the future Mrs. De Ville smiled and tried to stroke Leo’s hair, but he turned away. Now they were both laughing.
We were settled into the estate, as there weren’t enough rooms for all the guests; I was assigned a room with Ella and Sara, while Nick shared a room with Leo. While we unpacked all our things (we really packed a lot, it felt like we were moving here), some commotion started in the hallways.
— They’re preparing lunch, — Sara explained.
— Hey, what are you thinking about? — Elizabeth had already stretched out on her bed. — Aren’t you going to have lunch? — I ignored my friend’s question and instead asked Sara, who was sprawling on the windowsill. For me, my growling stomach was obviously the priority right now.
— I’m not hungry, — the girl confessed.
— Really? — sometimes I was frightened by her appetite.
— Yes, I would rather stay here.
— What’s up with her? — I asked Ella as soon as we stepped out.
— Don’t you know? — the girl seemed surprised.
— I have no idea why? — I asked, puzzled. What could I not know about Sara? — She dated Philip a few years ago, — I was ready to jump out of the window from shock. How is she still holding on? — And I’m sure she doesn’t want to see the drama between Leo and his mom, — my friend noted.