#mywrittenworks

They fought so hard for their relationship. So many highs and lows and arguments, makeups and breakups, laughter, kisses, silly banters, duets. Everything they did together every part of their journey every step of their way, this was their peak. They finally made it to a happily ever after, everything now in their relationship full of love and cherishment. They loved each other so profoundly, so wholeheartedly, like neither one of them had ever felt or experienced before.

That whole summer of her being 18, endless date nights at the park, the movies, the beach, in the sheets of her bed, carefree and fun. There were no worries to be had, no stress of school neither had worked. Just the two of them, the whole summer, in each other's arms for as long as time let them. That was their happiest and simplest of times. And the moments that they would look back on most when they reminisced on their better times. - Luna comes home as quietly as possible but also struggles to maintain her noise level from how exhausted she is. She quietly takes off her shoes and kicks them to the side in the shoe basket by the front door, before stumbling to the couch, face forward plopping her body down. She had gone into work at 9 am and it was now almost 11 pm. Normally her days aren't this but when the national skating competition is weeks away, being one of the coaches, as well as being in the midst of planning the launch of her own skate collection in a few months, free time just doesn't seem to be a thing for her anymore. And she loves all her work, she wouldn't throw herself this much into it if she didn't. She felt she had the energy to take on a lot of projects at this time in her life, however, it takes away time from her little family, who she misses every chance she thinks about them during work or in her day in general.

She hears creaking footsteps coming from upstairs making their way down. "Luna?", she hears a woman's voice calling. However, Luna doesn't say anything or move to get up, but just groans loud to indicate that she was there. Soon the footsteps get louder and the somewhat softer when the woman is standing right in front of her. Monica. With her arms crossed in front of her. Looking a bit stern at her daughter. "You said you'd be home by 9," Monica stated in a hushed voice. Luna rolled over onto her back and rubbed her eyes, not caring is she smears her hours' old makeup all over her face. "I'm sorry, I tried. But I kept getting pulled back with last-minute things," she tried to explain. Monica winced. "Well, the girls missed you tucking them in tonight. You need to make it up to them."

Her daughters. 11 and 6. She would never in a million years forget about them under any circumstances. They're her whole world. But on days like these, when she misses being with them most, yet can't come home, it pains her deeply.

Luna covers her eyes with her forearm trying to steady her breath. It's been quite tough on all of them. It had been a few months since she separated from her ex-husband, Thiago, an ex-world renown skater from Uruguay, whom she had met in her early professional competition days when she was younger. Perhaps they had rushed their relationship too fast, she had thought over and over during the process of their separation. That they had married too young, she had gotten pregnant right away. So much had happened all at once, she had thought her life had been completed and fulfilled. A winning world skating champion, married with a family, living comfortably in the mansion that was passed down to her from her Abuelo. She could absolutely never complain. She believed she had practically won at life.

But then she stopped believing in those fairy tales endings. She did still have a lot going for her with her career, and she still has her family. But now being divorced at 36, ending her marriage barely over a decade later. That was a huge hole in her heart that could never be easily mended. Not with all of the heartbreak that ensued, the crying, anxiety, what seemed to be like endless counseling meetings. She can't bring herself to think of anything else without crying.

Just like she is now, blinking away tears as rapidly as she could, concentrating on her breathing steadily. There's a part of her that wishes she had never met Thiago. That the root of all her problems, the stem in which this part of her life began. But then her children wouldn't exist. And for that, the other part of her still believes that she wouldn't change a thing. Her being still young, she has so much life to live and experience. But to have to drag this ache in her heart for the long haul, day after day, dreads her in every possible way.

Luna wipes her eyes once more sitting up and nodding her head, feeling a bit more steady. "Don't worry, of course, I will. I'm taking tomorrow off and we'll do something together," she attempts as smile as she tells her mother. Monica nods, her lips curling up a tiny bit as she kisses the top of her daughter's head. "Ok, I'm going to bed. Are you coming up?" she asks. Luna looks around the living room, not quite ready to get up yet. There's something pulling at her to make her stay. And she can't quite tell what it is.

"I'll go up in a bit," she whispers. "I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, mom," Monica nods and turns towards the staircase. "Goodnight, Luna." and her footsteps begin to grow softer again, creaking as she walks up until Luna can't hear her anymore.

She looks around the nearly dark and open living room, exhaustion continuing to weigh down on her. She wants to go to bed, her body is telling her to. But her mind is telling her something else. She notices some weird angling of a painting on the wall across the room. It was straight but somehow open? She walks over to it, and it appears it was indeed open. A painting on a hinge, like a door, with a secret compartment.

Now Luna had definitely known about this, she had just forgotten it had existed for a moment there. She opens it a bit wider, very slowly and carefully in the case that it caused a loud creaking sound. But once it's opened, she notices a small stack of journals and photo albums, on top of a shoebox. Curious, she pulls them out, grabbing the first thing on top of the stack and studying it closely. Her eyes adust and immediately pop open when she realizes that they're a collection of photo albums and skating items from when she was a teenager. Excited, she takes the stack with her to the couch, pulling her legs under her as she sits, ready to be hit with a wave of nostalgia.

The first little album was all pictures of the competitions she had competed in at Jam and Roller. All the sparkly outfits she wore, the routines with Simón, the songs she sang during Open Music. Another rush of tears had quickly begun, blinking away at them once again. It's been years since she had seen most of her old friends there. She talked to Simón pretty frequently when she could and he would sometimes come to visit. But the girls like Nina, Jim, Yam, Delfi, and Jaz, it had been years since she had seen them. She had them on Facebook and would be able to keep up with their lives somewhat, but never on a personal level like she used to.

There was one person that hit her heart in an instant when she laid her eyes on him. Matteo.

In almost every photograph in the album, he appeared. Whether in the background as he skated carelessly on the rink, not paying attention to a nearby camera, or a simple photograph of just him and Luna, their arms wrapped around each other, smiling at the camera. He was always present. And now Luna lost control of her tears again.

She picks up the next album, although it hurts a bit more when she realizes it was only pictures of her and Matteo, during the course of their relationship.

Normally when people break up, the first instinct is to get rid of every single trace of their existence from your life. Photographs, gifts, useless junk that at one point used to mean everything to you. But for Luna, she couldn't bring herself to do that.

When they broke up, Luna was shattered. She felt her whole world had crumbled at her feet. It was one of the worst things that happened to her in her life, behind losing her birth parents and Abuelo. She missed didn't come out of her room for days, crying and crying in her bed. She couldn't bring herself to skate for a few weeks. Missing several big trainings, putting her career in jeopardy. She was able to save herself from that and was able to compete that season luckily.

But it hurt her as much as it hurts now with her separation. She had given most of her firsts to Matteo. She loved him in a way that only her teenage self could truly describe. She loved him, she loved him, and in a way, somehow, she still loves him. So that's why she kept her things. Her first love. It's not something you can get over in an instant. No matter how hard it was, she wanted to remember this first in her life. First love in her life, first heartbreak. In a way, she's grateful she stumbled into these things at this time. Because although it resulted in heartbreak, it brings her back to her teen years, where her only worries were skating and school, and in those summers, being in love.

Luna wipes away at her face again and closes the album after flipping through the pages, she opens up the shoebox, mentally prepared as what to expect. A few things lay in the box. Old love letters from Matteo, a few movie tickets and carnival game stubs from a few of their dates, a flash drive of some songs he had written. But one thing that had really caught her eye was the necklace of the strawberry and the sun. The one that he had given to her on her 18th birthday. Not only had she hung onto it because she knew how expensive it was, but because she had worn it every single day of their relationship. It had meant everything to her. It was the most sentimental thing she had of their time together. That, and the blue plastic ring he had bought her before they had gotten back together. Unfortunately, she had tossed that back to the lake once they broke up for good. She had instantly regretted it when she did it. But once the deed was done, there was no hope of getting it back.

But she held the last remaining treasure to lips, somehow hoping that it would bring her back to a more peaceful time. She admired it in her hands, glimmering in the moonlight peering in from the bay window. How beautiful it was, how precious it had been. It made her smile. For the first time tonight, it made her genuinely smile.

-

After she had gotten into bed, she picks up her phone, looking at the time. Past midnight. She should be going to bed. But curiosity got the best of her. And she opened up Facebook, typing a name she hadn't typed in nearly two decades, into the search bar.

She didn't think she'd find him since she hadn't heard anything from him in ages. But low and behold, it only took a few scrolls down the list to find a profile picture with a face she'd recognize anywhere in an instant. Matteo Balsano. Right there in front of her face.

His beard made him appear very adult-like, of course. But she doesn't know why she's surprised. She knew he wouldn't be looking like a clean shave 20-year-old the rest of his life.

She continues to admire his face, his sunglasses, and his hat. It made him look a little bit like Joe Goldberg in You, which makes her giggle for a bit. But overall, pretty decent looking. He's Matteo. Changed, but deeply rooted, the same person she fell in love with all those years ago.

The next thing she notices is his credits. Where he went to school, where he's from, all things she previously knew as she grew up with him. She notices his workplace and job. Producer and Songwriter at Island Records in New York City. She always pictured him more of a rock star, writing and singing his own records, touring around the world. It's one of those conversations she remembers she had with him when they were together. One night on his bed, cuddled into his side. Their plans together. Of how once she was done with school and wasn't in training and/or on a break with competing, she would tour with him, seeing him rock out on stage every night.

Oh, how crazy and different things turn out. For both of them. One minute they're planning their lives together. the next they're on their own, being taken on journeys they had never expected.

She continues to scroll down. She can't access much, as his profile is pretty private and can only see profile pic and header updates. But her eye catches the little grid of public photos he has on display. The first is a wedding photo. Him holding hands with his bride, kissing her very profoundly. a few snaps of a soundboard and a microphone, song sheets, his guitar. And then a photo of a baby in a bassinet. Newborn and so tiny. She smiles sweetly at the adorable little human on her screen. The next photo is of Matteo, woman, and their little boy, who looks to be about 4 years old, sitting on a bench, with his parents' arms wrapped around him. Judging by the date, it was only posted two months ago.

Instead of feeling any envy or jealousy towards him or his wife and little family, she feels a warming sensation in her soul. She smiles at the rest of his photos of his personal life of his family. She feels so happy for him. How he has his dreams accomplished, proudly on display. All she ever wanted for him was to be happy and achieve his dreams.

While no, they weren't able to make it work, they both appear to have lived fulfilling and adventurous lives. They would never be able to make it where they are now without having been at each other's lives at some point. They both learned and grew into prosperous and accomplished human beings, having learned from one another different lessons and exploring their own desires.

Sometimes you fall in love with the wrong people. Or sometimes you fall in love with the right people but at the wrong time. Luna doesn't know which one happened. But that time she was blindsided and addicted in love with him. And she's eternally grateful for that time being. She wouldn't change a thing.

But once they sat down with all of their snacks, all cozied in front of the screen, Matteo through his attention away from the movie and onto something else. While Luna was immersed in the film, Matteo simply could not resist her in the least bit. Even with his arm around her shoulders, a simply classic move, he had his face turned toward her, licking his lips as he looked at her profile. Entirely beautiful, he thought. He couldn't believe it.

Luna was enjoying her favorite princess on the screen when suddenly she felt warm lips on her ear sending an electric shock through her spine. She peered over at him with a warning look and went back to watching the film, but Matteo had better ideas of his own. He moved his mouth to behind her ears, down her neck, leaving light kisses on her bare shoulders. Watching her breath hitch all of the sudden, goosebumps spreading upon her skin, the hair on her neck rasing. He liked this effect he had on her. And she didn't want it to stop either.

"Matteo, what are you doing, we're watching a movie," she whispered quite harshly. Although that didn't stop Matteo from continuing to leave kisses all over her. "Luna, that's what the movies are for, don't you know?" he whispers back along her skin, taking her hand and pressing kisses all over the back of her hand, her fingers and knuckles. Luna is completely intoxicated in it herself. There's no way she'd want him to stop now. But now it becomes more apparent to her as to why he picked a row farther in the back.

"I'm pretty sure it's to actually watch a film, babe," However, she has fallen into his trap and closed her eyes at this point. Letting him take control. "It'll come on Netflix in a few months, love." His breath becoming heavier. Lucky for them too it isn't very crowded either. "But for now I just wanna make out with my girlfriend for a while, can I do that?"

Luna wants to protest against it. She very much does. She came with him for a movie and that's what she wants. And she very much intended to protest against him. But as soon as she turns her head to his direction, ready to spew, "You-," she's cut off by the feeling of his lips on hers, softly and gently. His hands cupping her face and her mind floating away into above and beyond. It truly is perfect. Damn the movie and all. As long as she has 'A Whole New World' scene plays in the background, an empty theater row, and kissing his salty and sweet lips, she can never resist him or his lips.

They walk out of the theater, hand in hand. Swollen lips, messy hair, and no memory of what the movie was about. But why should they need to know? As he said, it'll come on Netflix in a few months anyway.

-

She is trying to do her study guides for her last exams of high school, ever. As crazy it is to believe she only has a few finals left before graduating, she's more thrilled about not having to do them again after this. Well, that is until uni, but she can worry about that later. She is just more looking forward to graduating and having a nice last free summer break.

And while she is doing her study guides, Matteo is next to her on her bed, writing a new song. She doesn't mind the sound of the occasional chords strumming when he's trying to input some new notes on paper. She doesn't mind the tapping of his pencil from time to time when debating a new lyric. She doesn't mind it at all when he occasionally runs his hand through her soft long hair from time to time in a sense of comfort for both of them. She doesn't really mind any of these things.

That is of course when she finally moves on to her dreaded pre-calculus study guide, trying her hardest to concentrate on the solutions, she feels his body shift on her bed, mouth lowering to her arm, running soft, sultry kisses down her arm, making her heartbeat stop. Now this, she may or may not mind.

She lets herself close her eyes for a brief moment, letting him roam her body with his lips. Biting her lips to suppress any moans from escaping her mouth. It isn't until she feels him leaving love bites on her inner wrist where her thoughts uncloud a bit.

"Matteo......" she says slowly. She has to concentrate on her work here, she has to pass this. But with Matteo doing this to her, all hope is lost for her. "Yes?" he asks pretending to have no clue. "I have to study." she breathes slowly. She is very much enjoying this way more than she should be at the moment. While her papers are subtly calling their name out to her, Matteo is only drowning them out with his addicting mouth roaming around her body.

He lets go for a moment. "You've been at it for more than two hours already, don't you want a break?"  he asks. And he does have a point. She could use a break to clear her mind, and there's no better way to recuperate than what's right in front of her. But there's still something that tugs on her insides. "But it's precalc, I don't know if I'll be able to get through it," she whines as she sheepishly straddles his lap and slings her arms around his neck. His arms go around her waist as he does a little eyeroll, before attacking her neck. "You know I'm still good at math," he comments, lowering his kisses to her collarbone. "I'll help you out," "And your song?" she asks, keeping a grip on his hair. His nose slides his way up her neck to her jawline. "I can always finish it later," He looks back in her eyes. "Can we continue with this now?" He seems impatient, like a puppy waiting for its treat. Luna can't help but giggle. Yet, of course, she kisses him back, harder than before.

The next hour consists of them making out on her bed. Some buttons undoing loosely. A few bites on the neck that will be a serious challenge to solve. But all that consumes them is their hands never leaving their skin. Her hands always cupping his jaw, his hand crawling up and down her spine from underneath her shirt.

By the time they get to studying, her mind is just filled with pictures of him and only him. And she has no regrets.

-

Matteo is constantly filling her life with spontaneous moments. Adventures, struggles, comforts, and risks, all around. And she absolutely loves all of it. Yet, those quite peculiar, wrong timing moments that just seem to happen, she puts all the blame on him for that. Because if there's one thing to know about Matteo Balsano, it's that when he feels that desire to be near her, touch her, hold her, all the things, he wastes no time nor gives a care about anything around him to stop him.

Luna flew out with Matteo to Italy for the first time for his cousin's wedding. Also to meet all of his family at the same time. To say she was nervous is a total understatement. She had pre-meeting jitters the whole morning in their hotel room before going over to his parents' house. Luckily, he was able to calm her down a bit.

So far the trip was going nice. His parents were pleasantly warm with her, his grandparents were delighted to meet her as well, giving her the Balsano blessing as well in the case that he were to marry her someday (of course Matteo burned red at this), touring around all of Rome with his other cousins was amazing as well. Overall, she was having a nice time and everything was turning out better than she anticipated.

That is until the wedding rehearsal brunch. And in typical Balsano family fashion, semi-formal attire was worn by everyone, no less. It was a nice event already, to be honest. Chatting with everyone so kindly and what not.

Luna was gabbing with the bride-to-be cousin, both looking marveling when Matteo looked longingly over at Luna.

He leaned against the doorframe entrance of the ballroom with his drink in his hand and his other in his pocket. He glazed over her figure, wearing a particularly short navy blue dress, eyes floating up and down her legs. He admired her more comfortable presence. Her stance and energy were much more lively and relaxed. Laughing and talking so naturally. To him, she was just too irresistible. Which is we he starts to make his way over to them full of confidence and character.

"Hello," he greets to the two girls suavely, as he wraps one arm around Luna's waist in an embrace, while kissing her hair. Matteo feels her tense the slightest bit from the heated introduction but ignores it as he joins their conversation.

She can't tell if he's doing this by habit or on purpose, but the way he starts to rub circles on her back and shoulders starts to warm up her body, sending shivers and goosebumps all over by his touch. Or maybe the way he kisses her cheek and temple when the other girl is interrupted by someone, too busy to notice. These things seem so natural to both of them. But by some slight mood and tone, Luna can tell the difference.

But his intentions don't become clear until they are sitting at the bar, chatting with the bartender, who happens to be an old family friend of his. It's all normal catchup and all, until she feels his hand on her knee. It's simple, and again something she's gotten used to in the past few months that she started dating him. Yet, the way it starts to raise its way slowly, just slow enough for her to notice makes her turn her head. She lays her hand on top of his as a pause reminder to where they are. He continues to talk and his hand stays in place. But after a few seconds, he's already gotten underneath the hem of the dress and suddenly Luna doesn't know how to act upon this anymore.

When his sneaky fingers reach all the way to the waistband of her underwear, is where she draws the line. Coughing loud and clear sending a dirty look to Matteo. That is it, she's had enough. Luna tugs at the cuff of his shirt where he looks down on her so innocently, pretending to have no clue whatsoever. She motions for him to follow her with her eyes, and they both suddenly excuse themselves away from the bar. The bartender giving curious eyes after them as they leave with her hand pulling his.

She finds herself pulling him into a bathroom, locking the door behind them, Matteo's eyebrows hitting the ceiling practically. "That was so-" she begins to say, before being cut off by his dangerous lips. He kisses her slow and full of all his sense, knocking all of her air and thoughts out of her. By the top she pulls away, she can't even remember the words she was going to say.

"What are we doing?" she manages to whisper dazed and confused. His smirk reveals it all. "I think you're fully aware of what we're doing. Unless you've had too much to drink, love," she slowly shakes her head. She's definitely spellbound now. "Not, at all," she murmurs softly. He pulls her into another kiss instead of replying, boxing her between his arms against the sink.

This time the kiss is more rough, hungrier than before, more desperate and full of desire. Her hands have gone up to his hair now, ruffling it up and letting it run through her fingers. And his naughty hands rest on her hips, gripping so tightly. That in one swift he lifts her ontop of the sink for her to be at level with him.

Kisses down her neck, biting softly at the base. He knows her consequences if he were to have anything visible left behind, yet he couldn't give a single damn at this moment. Hearing her small moans trying to be kept down was pleasant enough for him. She starts undoing buttons of his shirt with shaking hands. One after another, slowly and torturously. But the way his hands wander back under her dress playing with her underwear is too distracting to keep her actions clear.

They hear the rapping of the door loudly, making them both jump apart. The voice behind the door notices it's occupied and he zips away excusing himself in a rather embarrassing voice. They both look frazzled, trying to catch up on breathing from their heated moment.

"We should get back out there," Luna suggests immediately, hopping off the sink and admiring herself in the mirror, straightening out her dishelved mess. Matteo doesn't answer, only heavily nods, going to fix the buttons on his half-buttoned shirt.

Before Luna can even touch the doorknob, he grabs her wrist and turns her back towards him. "Wait, Luna-" he says before swiftly pulling her into one long more kiss and letting her go. She's red, very red. And rolls her eyes playfully at him before leaving him in the bathroom and exiting back out.

Feeling her swollen lips, with her fingers, she can't help but smirk. He was definitely going to be the end of her someday.

-

"It's gonna be great, I promise," Luna reassured Matteo. Who was a mess in fact.

They were both sitting in the car in front of the record label building. Luna had driven Matteo to a huge audition for some television thing that would be filmed in Los Angeles, aka only the biggest opportunity in Matteo's career. And although Matteo isn't one to usually get nervous, the tensions were running high, that Luna could feel through his muscles.

"Matteo, you were born for this, you're totally prepared, and if they don't pick you then damn them all, okay? Don't stress yourself too much on this, alright?" He turns his head towards, her taking big deep breaths, re-energizing himself again. "I got this," he whispers to himself. Luna shakes her head agreeing. "You got this,"

Luna kisses his cheek once before unlocking the door. "I'll pick you up in an hour ok?" Matteo nods his head, hand on the handle before pulling her into, one, two, five short kisses before leaving the car. She waves him off as he enters the building, praying with all of his might he makes this.

-

They told him they'd e-mail results in one hour. And so he waited in the car staring at his phone, waiting for the magic letter to appear in his inbox. But of course, this bored Luna to no end. She leaned over and began leaving small kisses all across his cheeks and temple.

"Matteo," she presses more kisses onto his face, "Come on, there's 45 minutes left," She turns his head towards him to make their lips meet. "Relax a bit, won't you?"

Here in this moment, even though his feelings are high and on the edge, fully anxious and nervous. He never misses an opportunity to kiss his girl. And he was going to let today stop him. He mutters a 'fine' before pulling her in his lap making her straddle him indulging himself in a slow deep kiss.

They aren't in front of the record label building for this. Now in the mansion's car park facility, far any people to catch them, and hopefully avoiding some certain parents among this.

Luna pulls at his hair roughly, while he kisses behind her ear, loud moans escaping her mouth. Her top comes off, along with his own, as the windows become more fogged and their pace becomes more desperate. Lips more demanding. Hungry and lustful. His thoughts far away from the audition, when his mind is only screaming her name.

-

They ended up in the back seat, lying together squished tightly all across. Her lying on top of him tracing patterns on his bare chest. He combs through hair with his fingers, kissing the top of her head lightly, rubbing her bare back with the other hand softly, feeling like a massage.

He hears the ping of his phone go off, telling him an e-mail came in. "Don't you wanna get that? Luna whispers to him, resting her chin on his chest. He softly laughs shaking his head, resting back on his arm. "It can wait," he says. Luna raises an eyebrow at him. "I'd rather just stay like this with you," and Luna can't help but agree. There really can't be anything more perfect than this.

Getting home from a long day of classes at the university, Luna was still in the warm and cheery mood to dive right into her cookie bonanza. She planned to make at the very least 6 dozen batches of cookies for her best friends to give the next day, and it was going to take her all afternoon to do so.

Not even an hour after getting home, already elbows deep into making her first batch of cookies that were already in the oven, she suddenly remembers the bag of frostings she had bought from the grocery store before returning that she had left in the car. Luna looked over at the timer, seeing that she had about six minutes left on her cookies. It would take her about four minutes if she sprinted all the way downstairs, to her car, and back up, so she figures she would be able to make it in time if she hurried quickly.

Yet alas, when she makes it back up to her apartment, with two minutes to spare like predicted, she realizes that her front door was locked and closed and that she didn't bring her key with her. Leaving her totally screwed.

Of course, pulling on the handle and kicking the door repeatedly, and so hard that it made her toes throb, did nothing to help. Especially when her new next-door neighbor approached her looking rather wary as she basically attacked her front door about to rob herself. She stops while looking between him and the door rather sheepishly. While he looked pretty terrified, to say the least.

"Is there a reason why you're trying to knock down your door like that?" he asks of her. Luna sighs while grumpily whines at her failed attempts of entry, as well as greeting impression. "I accidentally locked myself out, and now I have cookies that in the oven that are about to burn any moment now, so I am just praying no one has to evacuate from a burning building right about now," she hastily explains herself.

The guy nods more understandingly as she frantically looks at her door for some answer to just spew out right in front of her eyes magically. He taps her shoulder as she does so. "Uh, you don't happen to have a spare like under your welcome mat or anything like that? Luna shook her head. She did actually, but two weeks ago when she had Simon drop off her skates in her apartment while she went to take a test, he had left it inside and she forgot to put it back under the mat, leaving her back up, backfired.

"No, I forgot to replace it. I need to get in there fast though, I seriously think something can end up burning soon,"

Thinking extremely quickly he points toward the window right next to the door. Sure it's not a huge one, but with Luna being tiny and all, she could definitely be able to fit through there easily.

He points it out to her and together they try to find a way to open it up. Luckily Luna hadn't set the lock in place from the inside, yet it was still hard to slide it open. But somehow with a little bit of patience and nimble fingers, they got it open. However, with the screen still on there, they needed tools. So he went back inside to grab a screwdriver and such. Meanwhile, the timer of the oven went off repeatedly, and the scent of burnt cookies becoming stronger making Luna slightly more tense than before.

But he comes back quickly and is able to unscrew the corners of the screen, gently removing it, and putting it to the side. While giving Luna a boost into the window as she hurriedly scrambles to the front door to turn off the oven in time.

Luna comes back to the front, where he's still waiting for her shyly. "Thanks for helping me Matteo," he shrugs a bit murmuring you're welcome as he peers inside shyly at the smoking pan of burnt cookies. Luna notices and decides an offer. "Do you want to maybe come in? You saved my apartment and all. It's the least I can do. And I'll even make you cookies, not burnt ones of course," Matteo chuckles at her remark as he nods his head yes as he follows her into her kitchen.

She leads him through to the kitchen and motions for him to sit down on a bar stool and pours him a glass of lemonade from the fridge. As he lifts the glass to his lips, Matteo peers over at Luna taking her oven mitts and blowing away the huge cloud of smoke that emerges from the burning oven, trying to air it away as fast as possible to get to the pan. "Is everything okay?" he questions her warily at the smoky cloud. He hears Luna cough a few times and is finally able to see her when the air clears. "Yeah, all good," she chokes out as she sets the burnt to a crisp pan of cookies on the stove rack. Luna, looking completely disheveled and disappointed. Matteo can't help but chuckle at the charred mess.

"Is burning your food a common occurrence around here?" he can't help but cheekily ask. But Luna can't be amused. "For your information, I bake pretty often," she states before pausing. "However, unfortunately, I forget and lose things a lot so this social experiment of combining my best and worst habits was not my finest moment, but we all make mistakes, right?"

She dumps all of the remaining crisps into the trash while scrubbing the remaining char with a spatula. Matteo still looking very amused. "Well, not all of our mistakes have the potential to burn down a building but, whatever helps you sleep at night," he points out before taking another sip. Luna rolls her eyes but can't help but agree with a smile.

"Anyway," she takes the opportunity to change the subject while scrubbing the baking sheet in the sink. "You go to the same university as me right? What are you studying?" Luna hardly knows anything about Matteo besides that he's a year older than her and comes from a rich family in Italy. She'd at least like to get to know the guy she impulsively invited into her home.

"Music Composition," he simply puts. "I'm trying to become a big-shot producer one day. But I also write and sing my own songs. And have helped out a few people writing some of their songs too," Luna nods her head interestingly. "That's really cool. Have you ever worked or interned with a record label yet?" she asks him intrigued.

But he only shakes his head. "Nah, I've applied so many times to the local ones. And even some in Italy. But none of them have gotten back to me," she smiles sympathetically at him and reaches out with the damp, wrinkled fingers from the water and places them on his, looking up at him. "The opportunity will come soon I'm sure of it."

Those few seconds a flame shot up his skin. The warmth of her fingers electrifying to the touch. He only noticed how strong he felt it when she pulled away. The feeling still tingly on the back of his hand. A smirk twitched upon his lips, quickly wiped away once she laid his eyes on his for a brief moment before going back to her baking. What an intense moment for two practically strangers, it boggles Matteo's mind.

"And you," he clears his throat. "What are you studying?" Luna looks up from rolling a ball of cookie dough in her hand before placing it in on the sheet. She ponders over it a bit, grabbing another chunk of dough before rolling it in the palms of her hands. "I don't know yet. I haven't decided yet. It's complicated," she tries to explain. But it only makes him appear more confused. "I mean, I have until the end of the year to decide. But truthfully, I haven't found my passion that I want to study yet. My parents have been pushing me to be a teacher, my grandfather wants me to take up business, my best friend says I'd be good as a pastry chef...."

"Here's another question," Approaches Matteo. "What do you want to do?" Luna looks at him dazed. "Me?" she points to herself, somehow waiting for him to slowly nod back. "I guess my one true passion would be to skate for the rest of my life, but that's not exactly realistic." Matteo frowns at her. "And why not?"

Luna looks over at him like he couldn't be serious, "There are many reasons," she explains while rolling the last ball onto the plate and popping it into the oven. "It's not like I've been doing it my whole life. I wouldn't be able to do the Olympics or anything. Plus what would my family think of me for quitting school to pursue skating? I mean what else would I skate for? I just do it for fun." Her justification isn't enough for him.

"Who says you have to quit school?" He shrugs. But Luna is still confused. "Huh?" "I mean, what if you could find a major that lets you revolve around skating in some way?" Luna chews on her bottom lip. "What major involves skating?" Matteo tilts his head back trying to reach into the back of his mind for answers. "Marketing? For sporting events maybe? Management for teams? I mean there are ways, you just have to really think it through."

Maybe his rant wasn't something wastefully inspiration with empty promises. Maybe there was a fulfilling and realistic point he had given. Something she had encountered before.

"It sounds somewhat appealing to me, I'm just not sure..." "Hey," he calls to her attention. "Whatever it is whenever you decide, I'll be great regardless. You have a bright future ahead." When he says those words he looks straight into her eyes so deeply, she feels so flushed and speechless she can't move. Completely entranced by his brown eyes searching for some sort of acknowledgment which words fail her to give. Only when they ding of the oven calls her to attention does she move and break from the spell, does she process everything going through her brain.

As she lays down the cookies on the cooling rack, she finally looks back at him after a few, long silent seconds of none of them saying anything to one another. "Thank you, Matteo. Your words really help," He smiles back smugly yet as much as to not overstep. "Then, I'm glad. You're welcome."

Luna pushes the bowl toward him and offers him an apron. "Do you wanna help me finish the rest of the cookies?" she asks with an excited smirk. His face reflects her as he takes the apron from her hand. And joins at her side, grabbing a piece of dough, rolling it together as one.

Hours later they've made all of the cookies she planned to make for her friends now that she had the help from Matteo, who just so happened to be an excellent decorator as well. To reward their hard work, he went back to his apartment to swap out their lemonade for chardonnay and finish talking through the night.

One conversation to another, one hand placed on an arm to a leg to a hip, one risque comment to another, bouncing lightly yet flowing gracefully throughout. It was clear to both of them that they felt connections so strong it would be hard to resist one another even if they tried. Alcohol consuming, conversations flying, words that sounded like poetry singing a song when came to those quiet stories that they both intently shared with each other. And both of them to themselves over and over thought the same thoughts, flying through their minds.

Maybe she was in love. And maybe he was in love with her too.

And it came to no surprise when he kissed her so gently that it wasn't enough, that he wasn't content with that either. She straddled his hips and suddenly she was taken to another paradise far away, surrounded by him and only him and that's all she ever wanted. But she never realized it until now.

-

He left in the morning before she could wake up, leaving a note by her bedstand and all. Smelling the cologne on her pillow was enough to make her wake up bright and happy for once in her life, she may never want to leave her bed.

He comes back to his apartment after his classes on Valentine's day, the taste of her lips still tingling on his tongue. At his doorstep laid a box of cookies that he recognizes and a card, letters all loopy and messy and no doubt in his mind where it came from.

"I know we just met and all, But I really had a ball, will you be my Valentine, and maybe give me a call?"

Matteo snorts laughing. Poetry is definitely not her strong suit given the terribly cheesy poem. But he'd still take her cookies and number any day.

24 December

Ten months can turn into a whirlwind of chaos and bliss by some miracle. Luna never expected to see herself nearly a year later, changed into not necessarily a whole new person. But changed into a new personality, someone older and wiser and maybe just..... more in love?

She also never expected a random Valentine's Day eve spent with a neighbor she rarely talked to, to turn into the next night, into the next consecutive nights. Into making out on her couch one late evening, into dates, and gifts, and all of the sudden titles and meeting family and going on a trip together, etc. All in all, having a relationship happen so fast and so deep was never on her agenda. But what wonders and happiness did it bring her to life.

And as magical and blissful as that all sounded, to now have a wonderful boyfriend who she loved with all of her heart and got to see every single day, as he lived one door down, today was not as magical as it seemed sadly.

Maybe she was just spoiled rotten that she got to see Matteo almost every single day of this year so far and that she is so in love with him she can't picture anything else. But this one holiday, or a few days really. These few days of Christmas, she just couldn't seem to find a cure to dull the ache in her heart living without him.

They had talked about it for weeks now. Both already have met each other's parents, who quickly adapted and adored to one another. They couldn't come to an agreement on who to spend the holiday with, no matter how hard they tried. Still being a relatively new couple and navigating their relationship, compromises just couldn't find its way in the middle. And with both sets of parents begging their children to come home for Christmas, it was naturally decided that they would go their separate ways for the holiday. Leaving both of them a little heartbroken.

Now with Luna back in Cancun for the holidays, and Matteo back in Buenos Aires with his family, it was the furthest they had been from each other. And they tried to make the distance for the short period work. And they did. However much to the annoyance of their families.

Christmas Eve, when they should be sitting with their families and eating together, conversing joyfully all around, exchanging gifts and what not. It wasn't necessarily the case here. With a 3+ hour phone call still ongoing. Cooping with distance was just something not on their agenda apparently.

"How is the food not still ready yet, hasn't been like all morning and afternoon since our grandma and aunts started cooking?", Luna asked Matteo. He was in as much disbelief as she was. "Give them some credit, babe. They bust their ass to make a wonderful dinner here. It'll be ready soon." She hates how much he's right. But patience has never been her strong suit either. "You know how hungry I get, ok?" She hears him chuckle on the other end of the line. "I know, I know. That's why I love you of course." "Mhm," she sounds through content.

Although she can hear voices on the other side of the phone. "I have to go, dinner's ready here. I miss you," Matteo sighs. Luna mimics him. "I miss you too. Call back later, yeah?" "Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course, I will. Bye," "Bye." Luna hangs up feeling defeated. She really misses him. And she missed her family too of course. She loves being with him.  But her soul can't help but feel a little hole missing without him here celebrating this day with her.

Not too long later, she gets called for dinner. Where she gets pulled back into the serenity but also chaos of her family. She definitely missed this. And feels much happier being surrounded b the love of her beloved family, it's like the hole is not replaced but, feels lighter in a way.

A little after midnight, when the stroke of midnight comes, everyone wishes each other a Merry Christmas, and everyone begins opening their gifts, she gets a text from her beloved boyfriend.

Matteo 00:09: Merry Christmas, Luna

Matteo 00:09: Your present is waiting for you outside

At first, Luna smiles at the first text he sent, Even if it's hours past the time he should be sleeping, her heart bursts at the thought of him staying up to text her that. Although when the second one gets delivered to her, she becomes curious and concerned. It just can't be possible.

She hesitantly puts on her shoes and walks outside to the brisk air in the early morning hours of Christmas day. And before she knows it, she's come standing face to face with Matteo, quickly followed with tears in her eyes.

But her only instinct is to scream at the top of her lungs, neighbors be damned, and run straight into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, fully embracing his body.

"I really can't believe you're here," she cries into his shoulder. Once she gains a bit of air, she pulls back and cups his face in her hands. "How is this possible? I thought you were back in Buenos Aires? I mean, what-" He cuts her off by kissing both of her hands. "I changed my mind two days ago. I bought last minute tickets to come here. I couldn't get a direct plane to Cancun so I had to go to a way further airport and take an express bus that took a few hours here. That's why I was able to call you But I made it," he breathes out heavily. But Luna keeps shaking her head in disbelief, unable to quite grasp that he's here, with her right now. On Christmas. Just like in fairy tales. "I really can't believe you," Luna cries. But Matteo is there to wipe the tears away.

"I love you, so, so, so much," Luna whispers against his lips. "I love you too," he mumbles before finally closing the bridge between their lips. He kisses her fiercely and savoringly, finally at the conclusion of his long journey to get there. And it's never felt so good before as it does now.

Going through hundreds of obstacles just to be here by her side, it all makes it worth it to feel her lips on his. To feel her arms around his neck, feel her hands in his hair. The tears falling down their cheeks, the smiles and laughter erupting from their lips in between kisses. Every single thing makes it worth it. And there's nothing he'd trade in the world for it than to be there with her safe and sound, the happiest they've ever been.

Right now she is at this very fancy as fuck restaurant, one of the most expensive places in all of Buenos Aires in a very uncomfortable dress and impossibly high heels she instantly regretted wearing the moment she put them on. This is her only her third date with this guy Michel.

The first date wasn't all that bad; it was enough to go on a second. But her feelings definitely shifted by the second. And now by the third, she realizes she has zero interest in this guy who has no spark with her and just wants this date to end as quickly as possible.

All evening he has been yapping all about his exclusive job and all these business trips he's been on and ones he's going to go on and not once has he asked anything to her this evening and she doesn't know how much wine she'll be able to drown in before she might just burst in his face over his obnoxiousness.

As the guy is telling her about a new business deal he signed onto that she pretends she's listening to, she can't help but look across the room at the guy alone by himself at a table, pacing and looking at his watch every three seconds while nervously bouncing his leg up and down. The waiter comes to his table to probably take an order but sends him away looking unsure and unready. Luna feels bad for him being stood up. But it honestly can't be any worse than her date only talking about himself.

"Luna?" she turns her head to see Michel patiently waiting for her. Even though she has no clue what he asked her. "What?" she asks slightly annoyed but trying to not let it slip into her tone. Luckily he doesn't notice. Maybe he'll finally ask how her day was or something.

He motions behind her. "The food's here," he states. Luna huffs a little trying to not roll her eyes. But at least she won't be starving anymore.

The server puts down their plates and refills their wine before leaving them be. Michel continues to talk while cutting his steak up making Luna even madder than before. She really just wants to end things with this guy. She normally isn't one to cause a scene and burst but in this case, she might have to.

"Michel-", she starts, accidentally clanking her fork a little too loudly against the plate, before getting cut off by the buzzing of his cell phone. She glares at him with an insulted look of disgust on her face as he pulls out his phone from his pocket without hesitation. "I'm sorry I really have to take this," he says to her, with no actual remorse of being sorry. He even answers it at the table, with no decency to take it outside. Seriously, what did Luna even see with this dude?

Luna just sits there, completely bothered with folded arms, looking at the other guy who was stood up. Still sitting patiently with his cocktail a little sullen. Now she really feels for him, being in a somewhat similar situation.

As soon as she notices Michel getting up and putting his coat on, she's at a loss for words. "What are you-" "I am so sorry I have to do this to you, really," He pulls his wallet out and lays a couple of hundreds on the table. "But apparently there's been a new breakthrough on my project and they need me in the office."

Luna is completely dumbfounded at this point. "Dinner's on me. I'm really sorry. I'll call you later, okay?" he says last before leaving her stranded at the table on Valentine's Day, not even waiting to hear a response from her. She continues to sit there accepting reality as it is and just orders more wine. At least he paid for her dinner, she's not gonna waste an opportunity for free food even after a shitty date. Even if he follows through and calls her back later, which she already doubts, he won't be hearing her voice at the other end of a call anytime soon.

Just as she is about to eat, she looks back over at the other guy who now is probably at his fourth server visit. Feeling more hopeful and encouraging, she walks over to his table quietly and casually to not interfere if he didn't wish.

He looks up at her standing beside him with a hard grin and feeling defeated. "Hi," He manages to greet her feeling a bit embarrassed. "Hi," she greets back. "Do you mind if I sit here?" she asks sheepishly. pointing to the empty chair across him. He motions for her to join him, letting her fill the empty spot. "Be my guest.... since mine's not here," he mutters the last part. Luna smiles at him sadly.

"Got stood up?" He nods silently. "I thought she would be different after giving her god knows how many chances. Yet here I am, not having learned anything. I still have Ámbar's location sharing on my phone but she's at her side piece Simón's house now, so yeah. Truly amazing night."

Luna feels pity for him. Cheating girlfriends and broken relationships are always heartbreaking to watch. She can't imagine his feelings. "And you? Where did your Mr. CEO run off to? Seemed like you were having such a grand old time with him." He says dramatically earning a soft laugh out of her.

"He had some business project thing that just had to get done according to him. Being the VP of operations of a fitness app company really has a lot going for him apparently. It was only our third date anyways, I was gonna end things with him sooner or later. "

The guy nods somewhat sympathetically yet understandingly upon hearing her dumped date. "Oh, I'm so sorry I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Luna." she leans across the table offering his hand to him. He takes it and shakes it smiling more apparent at her. "I'm Matteo."

"Well Matteo, since I noticed you seemed to have a very sad solo party over here, I was wondering if you would accompany me to my table and have dinner with me. My date left right before he could take a bite of anything and left enough money to probably make another few rounds of alcohol so I'd love to treat you to a free dinner if that's okay?" she asks hopefully.

Matteo smiles a bit more and picks up his drink. "Well, if my dinner is already being paid for by an asshole rich dude, I guess I can't say no to that," he remarks as they both laugh.

She leads them back to her table, where she feels his eyes burning into her backside making her blush and trying to cover it with her loose hair.

He pulls out her chair for her before sitting right in front of her. He looks down at the plate, a bit frazzled at the sight of a precut steak, which makes Luna giggle a bit. "I promise he didn't touch it. But you could probably ask for a new plate if you want instead," she reassures him. Although he waves off her suggestion. "No, I believe you it's fine. But seriously what kind of guy just cuts up a steak and runs for it?" Luna laughs hardly able to contain herself. "The kind that has 20 Rolex watches and wouldn't care if he lost one somewhere," she bites back. Her refute definitely won him over within the first few minutes of a turned around disaster date.

-

All night they talked and talked and talked. Staying for hours longer than she expected. After more drinks and even dessert (All complimentary of dickface Michel), this date turned out way better than expected, even if they weren't really each other's dates, to begin with.

Neither of them was afraid to get flirty either. Whenever he had his hand on the table she would touch and hold at his wrist very caressingly yet in such a casual way he wouldn't even have noticed if she wasn't looking at it so often. Although he definitely dominated at their immature yet truly entertaining game of footsies under the table. With her every time sitting a little bit straighter and blushing wildly whenever she would feel something. Sparks were definitely flying around here.

Just as she asked for the check and their waitress scrambles away, he gazes at her to have her attention. "You know surprisingly, I'm really happy my date got canceled," he admits. She looks at him with a weird face but holds a hand up. "What I meant was, not only did I realize I needed to move on from her, but I met another really great person out of it. Who just so happens to think the same," Luna holds one side of her cheek in her hand, trying to cover the other blushed side with her hair, smiling brightly back. "I'm very happy about that too. It wasn't that terrible after all. And I'm glad we got free food out of it." Of course not being able to leave that part out of it. "Thank god for that," he agrees. "Thank you, Michel the dickface." Calling upon the new nickname they penned for him.

She pays and the waitress hands her back a bunch of change leftover. Matteo looks at it warily. "Are you gonna give him the rest back?" Luna looks at it for a few moments before putting the cash back into the bill holder. "Nah, he won't notice or care. That woman deserves a good tip anyway," Matteo smiles widely at her gesture and decides to leave a couple more bills over to his old table. "So does mine for having to come back about thirty-seven times,"

-

They walk outside together, greeted by the surprisingly crisp summer breeze air floating through the atmosphere. Luna having her jacket tightly wrapped around her."I had a really good night," Matteo bids as he holds her hand in between his own. Pressing a kiss onto it. The darkness the redness of her cheeks really well thankfully. Suddenly she feels something slip into her hand as he closes it int a fist with hers.

She's more than sure it's his number. That she will definitely text once she's home. "I would love to see you again, only if that's okay with you of course," he asks shyly. Thankfully Luna nods. "I would love to actually,"

"So. uh, how are you getting home?" he asks awkwardly. Luna looks around and then back to her phone. "Oh yeah, I forgot to order an Uber, let me just do that really quick." "You know I can wait with you if you'd like," he adds. "That'd be nice, thanks."

"Or you know, I only live about a three-minute walk away from here. You can come to wait at my place since it's getting cold outside and all, and I'm sure those heels must be hurting a lot..." he keeps rambling on. And the more he does the more Luna is enamored by him. "Yeah, yeah that's cool with me sure," she tries to reply casually. And she can just feel Matteo beaming with excitement from inside him.

"Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool.