More Than a Pretty Face (Vincitore Academy 1)

Obsessed

Mauro had been waiting for Margherita outside the bathroom.

When she exited, somewhat cleaned up, he was too overwhelmed to speak. How come the P2 were preying on his crush, too? They were monsters, and somehow, he had the duty to remind Margherita of that, but now did not seem like the right time. He'd sensed the crackling intensity between her and Vincitore, and could not erase the image of Tristante holding her in his arms, like a fucking prince, the way she'd blushed—

"See you later," Margherita was a step behind him, in front of the pool's entrance.

He nodded. "Hopefully they'll let us be, now?"

Margherita shrugged. She had no idea if what had happened at the cafeteria would counter the red card, if Luca would finally back off, and if Lorenzo...what?

She changed into her swimsuit and entered the pool, where Lorenzo was now sprawled on a lounge chair. Hope warmed Margherita from the inside out. For the first time, she felt exposed in her athletic speedo, and dove into the water without a word.

She didn't want to talk to Lorenzo.

The hope blooming inside her right now beat whatever was at the end of the inevitable conversation they needed to have. In no parallel universe Lorenzo Tristante ditched Ludovica Zampieri for Margherita Pescatore, the runt.

After ten laps she stopped. Lorenzo had come to a sitting position at the edge of the chaise, hands loosely clasped between his legs, head hung low. "I'm amazed at how hard you train, by yourself, everyday."

Margherita caught her breath. "It helps me think. Listen...thank you for today. I'm sorry that Re got upset."

Lorenzo glanced at her. "Luca is volatile at best, and it's not your fault. I was on edge."

"Why?"

He hesitated. She was still waiting for an answer when he stood up, waved, and left.

***

Pescatore had not gone to school on the next day, nor the day after.

Re was restless. Had she quit? Why was he bothering to come to the academy, if she wasn't here? He went to the school office, terrified that he might never see her again.

A few minutes later, he entered the P2 lounge, where Sam had been sketching pottery ideas on a notepad. Giuliano napped on a bean chair.

Re declared, "The laundry angel is sick. And there I was, thinking I'd finally broke her, and she'd quit."

Sam stopped drawing. "Dude, you like her."

"No way! I'm close now. If she quits, I win." Luca knew darn well that he liked her, but he could not admit it to his friends, because the king could never lose, let alone be rejected.

Sam frowned. "Luca, win what? What's with you and this gal? You're obsessed! Plus, it looks like she's got something going on with Lorenzo."

Luca darkened. "No way. He can't be serious about her. Right?"

Sam did not answer.

***

On the third day, Margherita's fever finally broke. When the doorbell rang, she was reading a manga in bed.

Mom knocked at her door and peeked in, squinting. "Why is a boy calling on you?"

Marghe jumped off the bed. "Mauro? He's a friend from school!"

She trotted to the door. "You left him outside?"

Mom followed her, suspicious and unhappy. "I didn't know him!"