Lina smiled and nodded. "Alright then. Well, did you want to try anything else on or can we just buy what we have?" "No, I don't need to particularly try on anything else. We can just get what we have." "Alright then." Frenchie got up from the floor, going to collect her things.
Lina turned to Adone. "So? What'd you think? Didn't she look adorable? I mean, I didn't see her but I'm sure you did. Did she look as cute as I thought she would?"
His knees are still wobbly. What is he going to do if he falls in front of Mrs Russo? Adone had his hand against the wall as he slowly, but not steadily, got up. And once he was up, his hand stayed on the wall. The plan was to remove it, although he is not sure if he is ready to do so yet. Will he ever admit why? No, not right now at the least.
"Uhhh…." What is he supposed to say? Anytime he tries to think about the dress, he just ends up thinking about being in the dressing stall with Frenchie. He just gave a simple nod. "Yeah, she looked……pretty in it."
Lina beamed and clapped. "Lovely. I'm glad she likes it, I was so worried she'd see it and instantly reject it." Just then, Frenchie came out with the rest of her soon to be purchases. "What are you bothering him about now?" Lina scoffed dramatically. "Nothing, la mia bambina. Just asking him about something."
Frenchie rolled her eyes before shaking her head. "You're a mess." She hoped that her aunt couldn't see how distracted she was. Every time she thought about what just happened, her mind blanked out and she just wanted to melt.
Adone just smiled and nodded. In the corner of his eye, he watched Frenchie then dashed over to her. "Here, I can take those," He said while taking all the clothes into his arms. The wobbling must have evaporated, yet he didn't make any note of it. What if he jinxs himself? He doesn't want to really be clumsy in front of Mrs Russo and Frenchie.
He just laughed a little at her words. "I know….I am sorry, Far- Francesca…I can't help it," He whispered. Really he cannot. He just gets jittery everytime he has a thought or his mind wanders back to those moments that just happened.
"Not you, silly." She whispered back with a soft laugh. She stepped forward and grabbed her aunt's arm. "Come on, the hour's almost up and we need to get out of here. Don't you have that salon appointment this afternoon?" Lina cursed in Italian when Frenchie reminded her. "I forgot about that. And your uncle needs to get some things for around the house. I'm sorry my dear, I forgot we'd be out of the house today."
Frenchie smiled sweetly. "It's not trouble, I'm sure I'll find something to do while you're gone." Or possibly someone if I have things my way.
His head titled back with a sigh. Guess the wobbling is still there. Adone stayed a step or few back from the two. His eyes stayed on Frenchie, but he forced himself to look around in case Mrs Russo would catch him. For once his chest felt fine. Everything in him felt normal again. He keep taking deep breaths.
Adone glanced back at Frenchie. Captivated by her smile, he wondered if it was just innocent or if she was hiding something, or someone. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He kept on walking.
Lina sighed softly and patted her niece's head. "How can be so good yet get into so much trouble." "Magic, zia. It's what makes me such an enigma." Frenchie giggled as they checked out. She collected all of her bags and followed her aunt out of the store. Lina turned to the two children with a smile. "Well, Adone, I'd hate to keep you here longer than this since you've already been longer than we intended. Do you want me to drop you off while we're on our way home?"
That realization hit Frenchie like a ton of bricks. Her family wasn't the only one they had to hide things from. Adone had a family that could also find out about things, he couldn't always stay with her. Which was unfortunate but she understood. Now she had to spend her afternoon alone.
Right….He forgotten about home. His mind had been occupied by Frenchie and….just everything that is giving him heart palpitations. Is it funny to forget such a thing? He doesn't have babysitting duty or anything today. Besides, the nerves and jitters are still in him. They probably won't go away.
Adone stopped. Is anyone home? His mom is at work; well she's probably going to lunch with her friends. His oldest sister and niece are at the beach with Nonno. And he does not have much to do eith his study. No one is home and he has nothing to do. He shrugged, "I guess I can go home. Nobody's there though. I am just going to be reading for hours straight….." His finger rested on his bottom lip. "Could Frenchie come with me? I can make lunch too!"
Lina brightened and clapped. "Oh that'd be lovely! She could see somewhere that isn't our own house, now nice." "Still here." Frenchie reminded sarcastically, smiling a little. Lina ruffled her hair with a scoff. "Yes, monello, I know that. Shush."
Frenchie giggled and started putting her bags in the trunk so she could still fit in the backseat. "You can't blame me for saying something when you talk about me like I'm not here."
At first he gave another shrug, but then ended up throwing his head back in laughter. "Yes, well….uhh…it's just my house. Not like it's the Museo Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi or anything; definitely less exciting than the museo," He beamed. "It would be fun if everyone wasn't busy, but oh well."
Adone did his best to fit in the back. He may or may not have accidentally bumped the top of his head. Nevertheless he sat in the car seat and decided to put the seat belt on. "Yeah, I suppose so." His fingers running through his hair before he let his hand fall onto his lap.
Frenchie easily slid into the backseat, settling in and resting her hand back in the middle seat like she had when they'd left the house earlier. She didn't say anything, just casually left it there.
Lina laughed as she climbed in the driver's seat and started them on their way home. "Maybe it isn't that exciting to you but this is my death Francesca's first time, you have to imagine things from her perspective."
In corner of his eye, he noticed how her hand was on the middle car seat. Adone bit the inside of his cheek as his hand accidentally fell on top of hers. He said nothing about it, keeping his gaze forward until he decided to look out the window beside him.
Adone had his index finger on his lip. He hummed in deep thought then smiled. "Oh, I did not think about that," He said. "I always forget that different things can be exciting for people. I don't know. Are you excited, Frenchie?"
Frenchie glanced up from where she'd been staring out the window and shrugged. "I suppose, sure. It'll be different than the house I'm staying so yeah. I'd say I'm a little excited." She intertwined their fingers together, giving his hand a squeeze.
Lina hummed in approval. "See? You just need to think of it from a different perspective. It's how people get along, isn't it? Seeing things from others perspectives?"
Looking down at their hands is powerful enough to make him feel like jello all over again. He wonders if it is normal for someone like him to feel this way. Oh well, he loves it. If only he could lean over and kiss Frenchie on the cheek right now.
"I guess you are right Mrs Russo," He lightly laughed. "Sounds like something my Nonno would say to me. I bet he probably will at dinner." Adone laughed again, shaking his head. "I guess I like seeing things from another's perspective."
Frenchie returned to staring out the window, infatuated with the countryside she could see. Her heart kept fluttering every time her body reminded her that she was holding hands with Adone. But she needed to keep herself together.
Lina laughed softly. "I'm glad you agree with me. Most say that I'm just a crazy old lady. Glad to know at least one person I my life doesn't."
Adone gave Frenchie's hand a gentle squeeze. Strands of his hair fell in front of his face as he rested his head on the head rest. Something about Frenchie going home with him makes his shoulders stiff, in a good way though. It's like when she teases him or laughs, if that makes sense to anyone. If only he had time to clean up all the books scattered around his room.
"It is alright. You aren't crazy, Mrs Russo; you are right," Adone assured. "I am the one that's crazy. At least my mom and sisters say so. All the neighbors would say the same."
Lina just shook her head with a smile. "You're not crazy, Adone. All of us are crazy, if anything. Which shouldn't be much of a surprise to anyone." It didn't take too much longer for Lina to pull up to Adone's house. "You're really okay with keeping her here?"
Frenchie reluctantly withdrew her hand from Adone's, glaring at her aunt in the rear view mirror. "Last I checked, I'm not some misbehaved dog that you just dump on people." "I know honey but I'm just asking."
"Yeah, I suppose so," He chuckled. Sitting up, he looked out the window beside Frenchie. There it is, his home. Energy flowed through him as he started to tap his leg with his other hand. He was about answer Mrs Russo's, but stopped after realizing their hands aren't together.
Looking down at his hand, he glimpsed over at Frenchie with pouting lips. He wanted to hold hands longer, even for just a second really. Adone ran his hands through his hair then gave Mrs Russo a thumbs-up. He talked as he pulled his lanyard out. "It will okay, Mrs Russo. If anything, I will call you. We're going out for gelato later because I lost a bet; I'm not good at betting or football."
"No, you forfeited. Which is insulting." Frenchie corrected, climbing out of the car and playfully glaring at him over the roof. Lina simply laughed. "Well that'll be fun. Be careful, you two. I don't need her father coming to kill me because Iet her go and she got hurt."
Frenchie waved her aunt's worries away. "We'll be fine. It's gelato, not a drug deal." She snorted as she wandered over to Adone's side, grabbing onto his arm and smiling sweetly up at him. "Besides, he'll keep me safe, right?"
Getting out of the car, he turned around to carefully close the door. He went over to Frenchie and Mrs Russo's side. The keys on his lanyard made a clinking sound as he held it in his left hand. "Ah no worries Mrs Russo, she is safe with me," He assured. "If anything, I will be the one who gets hurt. We'll be okay!"
Adone looked down at the arm she was grabbing. In that second, he became a bit shy. His lips pressed together in a goofy grin. Lifting his chin up, he looked at Frenchie and then over at Mrs Russo. He nodded, "Right! I will! I will keep her safe and I will make us lunch too. You know I am good at cooking."
Lina relaxed in her seat, smiling softly. "Alright then. If you're sure. Have fun you two." And with that, she pulled away and drove out of view. Frenchie continued to cling to Adone's arm, now sliding one hand down to intertwine it with his. Her heart kept thumping in her chest in nervous excitement. She'd never thought she'd ever actually be in his house.
She looked up at him and leaned her head against his shoulder. "So, now what. I mean, we're already here so might as well do something but I don't think either of us really thought that far ahead."
He waved at the car until it was down the road. Letting his hand drop to his side, he looked over at Frenchie and down at their hands. The fact they are holding hands made his shoulders tense up until he happily let out a deep breath. He could show her the flowers in their gardens or all the books he has or his Walkman. And there’s lemonade in the fridge too!
"Hm?" Adone grinned and kissed the top of her head. "I can still make lunch if you want. We have lemonade, and I can show my room. I don't know, what do you want to do?" He asked while leading her to the door. He unlocked the door and opened it. "I am sure there is plenty for us to do. We can come up with a plan on the spot."
"Lunch sounds nice." Just then, her stomach growled and she went bright pink. "I didn't realize how hungry I was." She giggled shyly before tugging him by the hand up to the house. "Well, we can't achieve much just standing around out here."
Frenchie officially had the afternoon to spend with someone she really liked. She never thought she'd see the day where the idea of hanging out with someone would make her heart start beating out of her chest but here she was.
Adone a bit occupied with trying to put his lanyard back into his pocket with one hand. "What?" He looked up, seeing her flushed face. Smiling, he followed along. "It's okay. I am a great cook. You will like what I will make for us," He said.
Leading them into his home, he stopped to take off his sandals. While he could have let go of Frenchie's hand, he decided not to at that moment. Setting his shoes aside, he gazed down at her. "What should I make, my Farfallina? Do you have a favorite Italian dish in mind?"
Frenchie followed his lead with the shoes, only stumbling a little as she took them off and put them aside. "Mm, surprise me. I want to see what you have in store." She grinned, only slightly challenging. She wanted to see what he could do.
She couldn't help looking around, taking in the space. So this was where he lived, how quaint. It was the first house she'd seen outside of her own, it was refreshing.