06
FRANCESCA
I wake up excited, before the alarm clock even rings. I stretch out sitting on the bed as I look at my friend who sleeps peacefully.
I look at the clock and it's still not even six in the morning.
Damn, I woke up too soon!
I rub my eyes and head to the bathroom to do my morning hygiene.
As I brush my teeth, I look in the mirror and remember the kiss Fernando and I exchanged yesterday at our daily meeting.
"It felt so good..."
I can't wait to repeat what we did.
As soon as I finish getting ready, I go back to the room and as it is still early, I decide to write in my daily friend, telling how was yesterday's meeting with my dear, Fernando.
I close my diary after writing about my boldness in having had the initiative to kiss Fernando and he responded so warmly. The alarm clock goes off and my friend starts to give signs that she is waking up.
I get up from the chair in front of my study table and go to the wardrobe to get my uniform to get ready.
I can't wait to find Fernando out of here.
Will I be able to take a break with him?
Gio starts to get up and when he observes better, he says:
“Are you ready yet? You're always the last one to get ready.
"That's a normal day, but today is a special day.
“Got it, Fran. Today I will finally know if this Fernando is worthy of my dear friend, after all I have only heard wonders from him and I want to know if this is all real or he is just winding you up. I don't want to see my deluded friend crying in the corners over some asshole. If that happens I'm going to have to go after him and give him a nice lesson that he won't soon forget.
"I love you so much, my friend. I don't know what would become of me without you,”I say hugging her.
"I love you too, Fran. Now let's get ready or we'll be left behind.
“True. So let's go soon, because I want to see my Fernando soon.
“Um, now it's my Fernando? What a breakthrough. I hope you take it easy so you don't get hurt, I don't want to see you suffer, I've already said that.
“You can leave, Gio, Fernando is different and he will not make me suffer.
“I hope so.
We started to get ready quickly and in half an hour we were ready and coffee taken.
Now just go to the bus that is waiting for us in front of the school.
I am so eager to see my beloved that the butterflies in my stomach do not stop flying, my hands are sweaty and I feel my body tremble.
We descended in front of the cathedral and went inside. First we will have a mass in honor of Sant'Anna, then there will be the procession and finally the festivities. That's when I can take a break with Fernando and maybe exchange a few more kisses.
We sit in our seats and all the time I look sideways to see if I find my beloved, but nothing of him.
My God, where's Fernando?
I feel a nudge in my arm.
"Fran, if you continue like this in a little while the headmistress will come talk to you. I noticed she's keeping an eye on us. Not to mention your mother who is looking at you with a very ugly face.
“I don't even care, I'm trying to find Fernando, but nothing from him yet. I'm really worried.
“Shiii, girls. Mass will begin, please, now it's silence — Gio's mother scolds us.
I look at my mother who has a straight face and a finger in her mouth, asking for silence, I give a dull smile and lower my head.
Soon the music begins and the bishop enters the cathedral along with the altar boys and ministers holding the cross, candles and the censer.
I confess that I hate this smell of myrrh, it irritates my eyes and still suffocates me, but I have to disguise the discomfort. I know my mom is keeping an eye on my every move, as a fear that I'll do something that might cause a suspension or even expulsion and I don't want to give her that heartbreak.
The Mass follows its normal course and I can't concentrate at all. Disguised I still look sideways and nothing from Fernando, despite seeing the boys from the school he attends on the other side of the church.
I notice among the boys that one in particular who does not take his eyes off me and I confess that it bothers me.
He is a very handsome boy, unlike Fernando has black hair, green eyes and seems to be a little taller than my beloved. He's very handsome, I can't deny that, but the way he looks at me makes me uncomfortable.
It must be in my head, yes.
I try to pay attention to the Mass again, but I can only think of hypotheses of what might have happened to my beloved so he didn't come.
Soon the Mass is over and we proceed to the procession. I see Rafaella ahead along with her inseparable friends and she seems to be somewhat disappointed.
Did she take one out of such a Lorenzo?
Speaking of him, which of the boys will he be?
“Gio, who is Lorenzo? I need to know to stay well away from him.
“You know I haven't seen it anywhere. I only saw Giuseppe, his best friend. I don't think he came, which is weird. And Fenando, did you find him out there?
“Nothing, I don't think he came either. What's worse is that I don't even know who to ask him.
“Look not to draw attention it is better not to ask anyone anything and then you meet him at night in the usual place. But I say this is very strange. Does this Fernando really study at the school next door?
“Yes, he studies, he's always in uniform.
“That doesn't mean anything, Fran. It's smart that this story from the beginning I said was weird. Listen to me at least once.
“You can let me get smart, Gio. Fernando will have to explain to me who he is right.
“I just want to see, know that I'm watching and if he's a smart guy wanting to take advantage of you, he'll see me.
We follow the procession and I still try to look around hoping to see Fernando somewhere, but nothing. Not to mention that the square is crowded and it is difficult to observe every face.
Until I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn quickly to see who the person is.
“Hi, my name is Guiseppe. What's your bella dama I've never seen before around here?
“I'm Francesca, much pleasure. “I turn forward again and Gio nudges me.
“He is very friendly with Lorenzo, be careful not to have problems with Rafaella and her friends. It even seems that Melissa has a big crush on him.
I feel a hand on my shoulder again.
“Francesca, I'm sorry, but I really like to make new friends and apparently you're new around here. Are you enjoying school?
“Oh yes, I'm really enjoying it. “I turn back to the front and see Rafaella and her friends coming towards us.
"Peppe, my dear, where's my lovely Lorenzo?”“Rafaella asks walking past me and bumping into my shoulder on purpose.
I pull Gio away from the little group, after all the less contact the better and this approach of this such Guiseppe I'm not liking at all.
The party is very lively, with lots of music and delicious food.
After delighting myself with a delicious Bolognese lasagna, accompanied by a glass of grape juice, I follow with Gio to the front of the chapel, even early it is better to stay here so as not to miss the bus.
As we approach the chapel, I see the same young man from the procession standing with his hands in his pockets. When he sees me, he cracks a smile and walks towards us.
“Fran, here he comes again. Be careful,”Gio says.
“Hi, Francesca, isn't that it? Remember me from earlier?
“Hi, sure. OK?
"You disappeared during the procession. But I wonder if we can talk more to get to know each other.
“Sorry, Giuseppe, but we need to go. Come on, Gio.
“Calm down, no need to run away, I didn't express myself right. In fact, I wanted to meet you because I have a friend who doesn't stop talking about you and I was curious. Do you know Fernando?
When he says that, I stop in place and turn to him.
“Do you know Fernando? Why didn't he come?
“Fernando was sick at night and can't come, but he asked me to give it to you. “Shows a folded paper in his hand. “See, you don't have to run away from me. I just want to know if you are worthy of my dear friend.
"Fran, I'm not liking this, Guiseppe and this Fernando being friends only indicates that the guy is from the class and some friend of Rafaella may be keeping an eye on him,”Gio whispers in my ear.
“He has a message from my Fernando and I need to know what it is. See, Fernando did not lie, he studies even in the school next to ours and only can not come because he is sick, poor thing.
“Fran, then don't say I didn't warn you.
Guiseppe comes over, gives me a kiss on the cheek and then on Gio's.
"Well, Bella Francesca, here's my friend's note and I hope I'm not playing with his poor heart,”she says pouting.
This boy doesn't inspire me with confidence, something tells me that, but I ignore that feeling and thank him by smiling.
I see Rafaella and her troupe approaching and quickly find a way to get away from Giuseppe. I say goodbye quickly and pull Gio towards the bathroom.
I don't want to give Rafaella any more reason to mess with me.
As soon as we enter the bathroom and see that it is empty, I open the note and smile as I read what my beloved has written for me. Even though he was sick, he thought of a way to warn me of his absence and not leave me thinking that he didn't want to meet me outside of our hiding place.
"Dear Fran, my bella, I'm sorry I didn't go to meet you as we had agreed, but I was sick all night. I believe I ate something that didn't do me any good, but don't worry that in the same place as always I'll be waiting for you when you get home from the festivities.
I hope you had fun and remembered me.
I can't wait to meet you again and fill you with kisses.
Yours, Fernando."
PS: I'll be thinking about you all day, counting down the minutes until you arrive.
I read and reread the note sighing, while Gio just shakes his head in the negative, realizing that it won't do to say anything.