#eclipsesl

She hasn’t had any chance to have a long chat with Sol since the one they had on the swing, they have talked, of course, but her twin was kind of uncommunicative, always focused on her drawings, and with her headphones on. Luna really tried to start conversations with her, she couldn’t help herself, she needed to talk, but even if the other girl wasn’t rude to stop her from doing it, wasn’t very enthusiastic either.

They were in the same classroom, but Sol seemed to prefer sitting on the back of the classroom, next to the guy who introduced himself to her as Lucas ‘the coolest guy you will ever meet on earth’ while shaking her hand and saying again and again how much she looks like Sol. “Except for the bubbly optimistic aura you have, of course” he had added, deserving a frown from his friend. The guy was really nice, she can easily see why he and her twin were such good friends, and she even felt kind of jealousy as she didn’t have her best friend there.

“Planet earth calling Luna” a female voice sounded besides her, and she jumped a little before looking at her classmate with an apologetic smirk.

“I’m sorry, I’ve no idea where is my head lately” she excused herself, with a soft smile.

“Don’t worry, I understand” answered Nina, who looked more comfortable talking with her than when they first met. “It must be hard for you, I mean… all this changes”. She added, biting her lower lip.

“Yeah, it’s too much to process in such a short time” she answered, looking at the back of the classroom, where her sister was reading a book, while Lucas was having a short nap.

“I know” the other girl followed her sight, and smiled. “Anyway, is good to know Sol has a sister like you now, I can’t imagine how it was for her to grow up having Ambar Smith in her home.” She put her hands over her mouth, as if she had said something really bad. “Please don’t tell Ambar I said that”.

“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t.” It looked like everyone was afraid of the self-titled queen of the ring. Well, everyone except Sol, who looked more tired of her than scared.

During the latest weeks she saw the blondie and her friend walking thru the school’s corridor as if they were in one of the most prestigious catwalks of Paris fashion week. They were royalty, the rest of the students turn away from their path without hesitating, and looked at them as if they were some kind of divine entity. And, most of the time, they weren’t alone. The preppy boy was also there most of the time, her arm over his girlfriend’s shoulder, with that cocky smile drawn on his lips.

She wanted to punch his stupid face.

She didn’t know where these violent impulses come from, she had never felt something like that before, but she can’t help it.

“So, what were you telling me?” she asked Nina, and the shy girl smiled.

“I was asking you if you were going to compete at the skating competition. You’re really good… I mean, you have improved so much in so little time.”

Luna shrugged.

“I want to, but-” she looked around, to make sure no one heard her. “I don’t think I’m in the level to compete. Besides, the competition is in pairs, and I don’t think I could find a partner so fast. Are you going to compete?”

“Me?” Nina looked surprised. “Oh no- no, I don’t skate” she answered looking down to her hands on the table.

“Why?” She asked, with sincere curiosity.

“Because skating is not my thing… I mean, sports are not my thing, in general” Nina answered, right before the teacher arrived, and the class started.

She was hurrying to get outside the school to get home as soon as possible, she had to go to the Jam & Roller to work that afternoon, but she forgot her wrist guards on her bedroom, so she had to go all the way to the mansion, and then go back to be on time at the ring.

That’s so her.

But she wasn’t looking forward, so she couldn’t avoid running into someone.

“Are we going to meet this way all the time, delivery girl?” a familiar voice asked, and she internally sighed. Why him? Of all the students in that school, why did it have to be him?

“It’s not my fault that you keep getting on my way” she answered, putting her hands on her hips, frowning at the thug smile on his face.

“Well, you should look where you’re walking, piccola.” He replied, amused.

Luna rolled her eyes.

“Can we continue this conversation in another moment? I really have to go.” She said, passing by him, trying to put an end point to that conversation.

He followed her.

“So, you want to meet later and talk about it?” he teased.

“As much as I want to go see the dentist” she continued walking. “Seriously, preppy boy. Don’t you have something better to do than following me around?”

“I’m not following you” he answered, and she raised her eyebrows. “It happens that I too must go in this direction, delivery girl. Not everything is about you.”

“You were going the other way a minute ago, remember? That’s why we crashed.” She reminded him.

“And then I remembered I had to do something on this way.” He smiled, and she felt her heart beating faster. Why on earth his stupid smile had to be so perfect? Serious question.

She didn’t believe him for a second.

“So… are you going to join the roller-skating competition?” He asked after a few minutes, and she frowned at him.

“I don’t think I have the necessary expertise, and… anyway, I don’t have a skating partner.” she answered, not looking at him.

“Oh, excuses. Are you afraid, delivery girl?” He mocked, with an amused smirk, and she stopped walking to stand in front of him.

“Can you stop following me?” she asked, putting her hand between them. “I don’t have time to have this conversation, I have to get home, and then to Jam & Roller, before my work schedule starts. And, anyway, don’t you have to meet your girlfriend or something? I’m pretty sure she won’t like to know you’re talking with me.”

“I can do as I please, and you didn’t answer my question.”

“Because there’s nothing to answer, I gave you my reasons to not compete already, I’m not afraid” She crossed her arms.

“Whatever you say” he answered sarcastically, with that stupid cocky smile of him. “It’s ok, Luna. There’s nothing wrong with being afraid, especially when you are going to compete against the king of the ring.”

She growled.

“Seriously, Matteo. Go bother someone else, I don’t have time for this.” She said, before turning around and walking away.

And this time he did as she asked.

“You look annoyed.” her friend pointed out, before taking a bite of his hamburger.

“No, I’m not.” She answered, with a grimace.

“Yes, you are.” There was something she could never do, and that’s successfully lying to her best friend. “Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” he asked, and she sighed.

“Ok… you win” she sighed. “Did you see what that guy did? He wasn’t even going that way, and when he saw Luna, he just ran to crash into her. What does he intend?”

“And that bothers you because…”

“Because she is my sister, and he is a player.” She growled. “Even worst, he is Ambar’s boyfriend, so he should stick to his own business, away from my sister.”

“Awe, who would have guessed you were the kind of overprotective sister?” Lucas mocked. “Luna will be fine, she’s a smart girl, and I’m pretty sure she can handle Matteo Balsano’s inflated ego.” He took a sip of his coke. “Are you going to finish your fries?”

Sol put them in front of him, and he thanked her with a bright smile.

“It’s just, I don’t want her to get hurt. Keeping her safe from my aunt and Ambar is enough, to sum another person to the list, I don’t want her to stop being the sunflower she is, and becoming like me.”

“And, what’s wrong with being like you?” he asked, with a potato on his mouth.

“You know what I mean” she complained.

“Yes, I know.” Lucas stopped eating to stare at her. “But also that you’re underestimating yourself, and I can’t stand it. You can’t protect her from everything that happens around her, you have enough with protecting yourself, and she is grown enough to know what’s good. And, anyway, I don’t think Balsano is as bad guy as he wants others to think.”

“He is.” She said, stubborn.

“Well, if so, it’s on Luna to keep him away. That’s not your responsibility” He took another potato to his mouth, and she sighed.

Maybe he was right, maybe the preppy boy (as she listened her sister calling him) wasn’t as bad as she thinks, but she needed to keep an eye on her sister, just to make sure no one breaks her spirit.

“I was thinking…” she started saying, thoughtful. “Milkshakes at Jam & Roller are pretty good, right? And happens that I’m craving one right now.”

Her friend smiled widely.