vulnerable

28.

The house was mildly quiet again, with only a few voices sounding from the kitchen. Stella could hear the faint noise of her parents talking with Danielle and Claudio. But, she'd just got back from her date with Gio, and wanted to wind down for the night. They had ended up seeing Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, where she had successfully pointed out John Mulaney's character.

Stella stepped into the adjoined bathroom, peeling off her tight dress. Her skin felt clammy from all her nerves during the date- especially at the movies when her hands kept sweating. She reached for the shower nozzle, turning it all the way to scolding, and hopped in. The hot water cascaded over her shoulders, slowly relaxing her muscles as she lathered up with watermelon mint soap.

Once she shampoo'd, conditioned, and scrubbed all over her body, she was back in the cool air conditioned room. She changed into an oversized tee shirt that ran to her mid-thigh and a pair of cloth shorts that were light teal. A knock erupted on her door, and she wondered if it might've been Gio. She shuffled over and opened the door, but her butterflies died down at the sight of her parents.

"Hey guys." Stella's brows furrowed together. She had talked with them briefly before departing to her bedroom when she got back, but thought she wouldn't see them again until morning. "What's up?"

Kelley, with her dirty blonde hair and soft brown eyes, gestured towards the bed. "Can we come in?"

Stella was even more confused, listening to the way her mom sounded tense. "Sure."

She watched them make their way into the room. Mark had his arms stuck in his pockets, almost relaxed, but the few veins popping out of his neck made it very clear something was wrong. He leaned against the wall, across from where Kelley sat on the edge of the bed. Stella rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.

"Is everything okay?"

Kelley nodded swiftly, crossing her right leg over her left. Her hands clasped together on her tanned knee. "Well, not exactly..."

Stella raised a brow, crossing over to meet her mom. "Is it Chris?"

"No." Mark let out a soft chuckle, though she could hear the undermining tremble. "It's actually not about Chris this time."

"What is it? You're acting, weird." Stella sat down on the warm comforter.

Kelley glanced at Mark, nodding slowly as if asking for approval to continue. She turned to her daughter with concern written all over her weak grin. "Gio mentioned to his parents that you would be going with him to Germany."

Stella lightened, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "Oh yeah! He had mentioned it before but we made concrete plans tonight. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"It's okay." Mark bit into his bottom lip. "It's just- um, we don't think you should go to Germany."

Stella was speechless. She had just told Gio her parents wouldn't care about the trip, and here they were saying the complete opposite. She could see their knitted eyebrows, worrying about the future outcomes. Kelley laid a hand on Stella's thigh- warm and gentle.

"We just think you might be moving too fast."

"But you know Gio. He's not going to hurt me. I trust him. And I don't have to stay long!" Stella was hoping they'd change their minds. She really wanted to visit Germany again and stay with her boyfriend. She didn't think it would be such a big deal.

Mark nodded slowly, taking in her words, but pursed his own lips in distaste. "It's just that we all trusted Collin too."

She felt the tight ball in her throat seize up her words. She hadn't really talked with her parents about her dating life post Collin. There had been nothing to talk about until Gio- and they always seemed to be positive about the idea of them together. Maybe they were just nervous... nervous that he would take her away and they'd have to fight for her life again.