4. THE PROMISE

Her laugh is music to my ears and I would prefer the sweet melody over my favourite band and songs, any time of the day.

She is beautiful in a way poetry is on a rainy night. Those doe grey eyes, I would trade the whole world to see them light up, in a heartbeat.

I can't believe she's Eliza. My Eliza. It hurts to see her avoiding me but I have her where I want her.

"You didn't wish to talk to me anymore, what made you change your mind?" she asks snapping my attention back to her.

I have dragged her out to a nearby park where we used to play often when we were kids.

"I didn't mean that, Eliza. You disappeared for three whole months and one day decided to pop back, out of the blue. I was shitless scared for you. Nobody told me anything, they said you're fine. I knew something was wrong but then you come back and tell me that you moved to Moscow to live with Natasha for a while. I was scared, okay? And I said the first thing that came to my mind." I explain.

She swallows twice before looking away from my face.

"Look at me, bambi." I plea.

"You stopped facetiming." she whispers sadly.

"I-I was busy and I am sorry. I wasn't avoiding you, bambi, I never would." I say becoming frustrated at myself for making her feel like that.

"I needed you." she looks at me and the look on her face does little to ease my nerves.

I feel as if somebody is pricking my entire body with needles.

"I'm so sorry, baby. Come here." I say and open my arms.

She looks at me skeptically for a moment before giving in and accepting my embrace. I pull her in my lap and hug the life out of her.

"I missed you, bambi." I whisper in her hair.

She doesn't reply but the wetness on my neck is enough to tell me that she missed me too.

It isn't until an hour later that her breathing evens out and I move the hair out of her face to see her sound asleep.

A strong emotions blooms in my heart like flowers bloom in spring season and my heart rate increases. I gulp as I take in her fragile state. Nose turned red and cheeks tear stained.

I place a lingering kiss on her forehead, one on her nose and two on her either cheeks. My eyes zero on her lips that looks extremely inviting.

Nah. She's mine anyways.

With that thought, I pick her up and she stirs a little, mumbling incoherent words under her breath before nuzzling her face in my neck once again.

I proceed to walk with her in my arms like a toddler until I reach her house. Adam, her father, opens the door for me and he takes in our position with a raised eyebrow.

"She fell asleep." I whisper and he steps to the side to let me pass.

After I lay her down on her bed and cover her with a comforter, I make my way downstairs.

"Nick." Savannah greets me coming out of the kitchen.

I hug her and kiss her cheek, "how have you been?"  I ask.

"Been great but you mister, have a lot of explaining to do." she scolds reminding me of my own mother.

"I know and I am terribly sorry, Savannah." I pout showing her my best puppy dog eyes.

As expected, she falls for it while Adam shakes his head.

"Don't hurt my daughter, Nick." he warns in a fatherly manner.

I look up at him, shocked by his comment and begin to speak, 'I-I don't understand."

"I do. And you will, too." he smiles and walks up the stairs probably to change out of his office attire.

"Nick, she hasn't forgotten about you even for a split second. The girl practically lives her life by your rules." Savannah says after a solid minute of silence.

My heart swells with pride and joy at the revelation and I smile at her. After that, I drive to my home.

***

It has been a week since Liza agreed to talk to me but the little vixen has seized every chance to avoid me in school and at home.

Right now, she's walking with Lillian in the almost empty hallway since the school is over. She looked angelic wearing a blue sundress and white ballet flats with her hair packed in a messy bun.

Lillian is the only female we associate with. She's pretty and decent unlike every girl in Redwood High. She was a friend, a good one.

As Liza comes near to where I am leaning against the lockers with my friends, I grab her wrist and pull her flush against me.

She gasps looking up at me and my breath hitches as I gaze in her beautiful grey eyes. Her hands rest on my chest and there's a small pout resting on her lips.

"Lizaaaa." I drawl out.

"Leave me, Nicholas." she whispers looking around frantically.

"Nicholas, huh?" I ask giving her wrist another tug to make her look at me.

"Nick, please." she pleads.

"Why are you so afraid, bambi?" I question narrowing my eyes at her.

Her lips part but no sound comes out. I swallow harshly as my eyes move to her pink, plump lips.

"Nick." she whispers breathlessly.

"They're looking at us." she points innocently.

"Let them." I reply.

A pink tint colors her cheeks and she moves her face closer to the crook of my neck.

Something she always does when she feels shy. She did that a lot when we were kids.

A chuckle pushes past my lips as I grab the back of her head with one hand and wrap another around her waist. I feel her lips brush against my neck and I swear it takes everything in me to not shiver.

"Aww." Lillian coos.

"You guys are already so damn adorable." she gushes looking at us.

I roll my eyes at her dreamy state and look down to see Eliza's face completely buried in my neck.

"Bambi." I call.

"Please lets just get out." her voice comes out muffled.

I chuckle and say, "Yeah, let me go then."

She releases the collar of my shirt and moves away a little. Anwyll looks at her and a small smile dances on his lips.

"Hi, little one. I'm Anwyll." he introduces extending his hand towards her.

She takes it shyly and mumbles her name with a small 'nice to meet you.'

"Hi shortcake, I'm Finn and this is Isaac." Finn speaks taking a step in her direction.

"It's nice to meet you all." she replies finally looking up at them.

I go to stand next to her and instantly she stops fidgeting her fingers.

"We've heard a lot about you, princess." Isaac says with a small smile.

She smiles bashfully and looks up at me with her bottom lip rolled in her mouth.

"I-um want to go home." she whispers.

"I'll walk with you." I say and we bid goodbye to everyone before walking together with her.

"Lillian is coming with me, today." she tells as we come at a safe distance from the group.

I hum in response as we reach her Audi R8. I sit on the bonnet and and pull her between my legs.

"You promised you'd talk to me." I say looking at her small hands in my big ones.

"I didn't promise when." she replies with a small smirk.

"Really?" I tease pulling her impossibly closer to my chest.

She sighs looking away and asks, "What do you want to talk about?"

"You." I say bringing her hands closer to my heart.

"There's nothing to talk about then." she says and tries to pull away.

A frown etches on my forehead and she, instantly, draws one hand back to smooth the lines on my forehead.

I smile and kiss her wrist exactly where her pulse is. My eyes dart over her shoulder to see Lilly walking towards us.

"I kept my promise, bambi. It's your turn." I whisper standing up.

"What promise?" she asks in confusion.

"That I'd come back when you have grown up."

I hope you guys are enjoying the book so far. It has just begun and there's so much to come.

And thank you for hundred above reads. I wish we grow with time.

Have a great day. 💕

Oh and wait... Here are a few aesthetics I made for our protagonists.

PS. I suck at them.

Nicholas Isaiah De Luca

Eliza Renee Avenetti