Before I Fall (ON HOLD)

VIII

"Love, this isn't really my fault. Neither of us asked that question and besides I don't think it makes a difference, we actually click really well together."

Ambra couldn't deny the warmth in her heart when Luca said they clicked, nor could she deny that she agreed with him. The stubborn part of her, however, didn't want it to be true. Her parents always told her to find someone in her age range. Someone smart. Someone financially stable. She was at a war with herself. Maybe she should listen to her parents; she did go against their wishes of going to university. She owed them this much.

Luca panicked as he began to see Ambra walking away from him. "No! Please Ambra, I'm sorry," he ran to catch up with her. For a small woman, she was incredibly fast.

He stopped in front of her and grabbed her hands, "at least let me drive you, home love, come on. I'm not letting you walk around at this time in the evening, let's go."

Ambra's stubbornness seemed to have taken her over fully as she brushed past him and kept walking with a pout on her lips and her arms crossed over her chest. Luca silently seethed at the disrespect he'd received, but they weren't at the stage in their relationship where Luca could teach Ambra a lesson.

"Ambra, I will not tell you again. Do I make myself clear? Get the fuck over here before you make me regret being nice to you two seconds ago."

She paused in her spot as she turned around. The sheer dominance in his voice made her legs clench as a weird feeling overtook her. She couldn't figure out whether she enjoyed or hated the way he talked to her. Maintaining a frown, Ambra walked towards a now satisfied Luca and got into the passenger seat. The driver's door shut and the car rumbled to life.

"What's your address?"

"1087 Lambervale End, "Luca nodded his head before driving off.

The drive was long and painful as Ambra kept her gaze outside of the window. Luca could tell they were getting close as the richer side of town began to appear. Three-story houses with perfectly mowed lawns and white-picket fences.

"Right here," a quiet mumble broke the deafening silence.

"Why are we stopping by a lamp post?" Luca couldn't hide the confusion in his voice.

"I can't let my parents see I'm with a guy, they'd kill me Luca."

"Give me your phone," Luca's outstretched hand waited.

"What? No, I'm not giving you my—"

"Now Ambra"

The phone smacked into Luca's hand and before she knew, it was placed back into her lap.

"What did you do?" she eyed it suspiciously.

"I put my number in. Call me if you ever need me," Luca stared into her eyes as he spoke. His eyes were pleading her to not give up on him before anything had even started.

"I'll delete it once I get in my room anyway so—"

Luca grabbed her chin roughly between his fingers as a whimper left Ambra. "Don't make me tell you again, am I understood? Call me if you need me."

Shakily nodding, Ambra opened her door and ran down the street towards her house. She slammed open the door and shut it behind her and ran up the stairs to her room. She gently closed the door to her bedroom and opened the curtains to look outside. Luca was staring straight at her and gave her a flirty smirk and wink before driving off.

Ambra closed the curtains before placing a hand on her heart and breathing out slowly. Maybe she'd been too harsh on Luca. It wasn't his fault if she really thought about it. Her thoughts were interrupted as a knock sounded on her door. "C-come in!" She hoped the person on the other side couldn't tell she was out of breath.

"Hey honey, dinner's ready," her father came in with a suspicious look in his eyes. "You're out of breath, is everything okay?"

"Just peachy, I'll be down in a few."

Her father nodded and gave her room one last glance before walking down the stairs.

-------------------------

Dinner was silent. Dead silent. Not even the clinks of the forks and knives on the plates could be heard. Her mother was the first one to break the silence.

"Where did you go today?" her voice was higher than a canary's as she wiped the corners of her mouth with the handkerchief on her lap.

Ambra straightened up and pushed away the plate of untouched food. She hadn't expected her mother to ask; quite frankly her mind had been on Luca. She had been unfair to him. Neither had asked about the other's age and her reaction was uncalled for and quite frankly, dumb. A heavy weight settled in Ambra's chest as she looked up at her mother who was waiting expectantly for her answer.

"Well, I went to the bookstore again and then went for a walk in the park," she purposefully left out the parts about Luca and the drugstore. Her mother did not need to know about that.

Her mother hummed seemingly not caring about what her daughter had to say. "That's all very well, but I want you to get an interview at the diner before the next week starts. It's Friday today otherwise you can kiss that bookstore of yours goodbye."

Ambra's heart twisted in discomfort as she thought of never getting to see Luca again. With a nod, she pushed her chair back and stood up. "I'm going to bed," with a tight-lipped smile towards both her parents, she walked up to her room with only one person on her mind.

She made sure to lock the door before picking her phone up from its place in between the wrinkled bed sheets.

She was scared. The fear coursed through her veins as she pondered over the decision in her head. Her parents' reaction was one she did not want to imagine in her mind, but something about Luca kept her coming back. Today's display of dominance was the icing on the cake. She felt powerful when she was with him and that adrenaline is what encouraged her to send the text.

"Text me your address, I'm coming over."

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OOOOOH Ambra the rebel! I'm honestly getting excited for the next chapters. It's about time we had some Luca and Ambra time🔥(if you get what I'm saying) ;) 

Longer (unedited) chapter today!!!

Thank you to everyone who's reading this. Seeing you guys add it to your reading list and reading it keeps me motivated to keep posting. 

How's everyone doing? Hope you're all staying safe!

We'll be getting some smut in the next 2-3 chapters don't worry!!

What would you guys like to see next?

ALSO, I made an Instagram account for my Wattpad and Inkitt. Give it a follow: @angeliclyoptimistic81. It'll mostly be chapter update announcements and excerpts for a chapter; update schedules; character quotes; new book announcements; and anything else you guys request :D Let me know what you think.

QOTD: What's your star sign?

Scorpio all the way  👁👅👁

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- S.I.