“I know. I’m not trying to make things difficult but I was wondering if you would talk to me, Allie,” he asked. “I have a lot of explaining to do and I really need to talk to you.”
I looked at him and shook my head. “No, I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“Please,” he said and took a step forward.
I stepped back. “I promise I won’t try anything.”
“I said no,” I said. My voice was shaking and I felt a lump form in my throat.
“Allie…” he started but I shook my head.
“I don’t want you here,” I told him and I heard Noah take in a sharp breath.
“You don’t have to do this, Allie,” Noah said as he turned to look at me.
“No, she’s right,” Giorgio said. “I’m sorry, Allie. I never meant to hurt you.”
I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. “Please, just go,” I told him. “I can’t do this right now.”
I was trying to be strong but I felt the tears threatening to spill and I didn’t want him to see me cry. I wanted him to go away.
“Alright. I’m sorry. I’ll go,” he said. I opened my eyes and watched as he walked towards the door.
He turned to look at me before he left. “I’ll wait for you, Allie,” he told me. “I know that you’re still hurt and angry but I promise that I will be here when you’re ready to talk to me.”
He walked out the door and closed it behind him. I stood there, my heart was pounding, I was trying not to cry. Noah was watching me.
“Are you okay, Allie?” he asked.
I took in a shaky breath and nodded.
“Please, let me know if you’re not okay. I’m here for you,” he said.
“I know. Thank you,” I told him.
He smiled at me and pulled me into a hug. I leaned into it and wrapped my arms around him.
The days went by and I still hadn’t talked to Giorgio. I had tried not to think about him at all but I hadn’t been able to stop myself from wondering what he was doing.
I wondered if he had moved on. He hadn’t called me or shown up at my house or at Noah’s. I hadn’t seen him at all and I wasn’t sure if he was giving me space or if he had given up.
I was lying in bed at Noah’s house when I heard a noise at the door. I sat up and looked around. It had sounded like someone had tried to open the door and failed.
I got out of bed and walked to the window. I peeked through the curtain and looked outside. I saw Giorgio standing at the front door, trying to open it.
“Noah!” I called out.
He came running out of the bathroom and looked at me. I pointed to the window and he looked at it. He walked over to the window and looked outside.
“Giorgio,” he said. He turned to me. “I will make him leave.”
I nodded. He went downstairs and I walked back to the bed. I lay down and covered my ears with my hands. I didn’t want to hear anything. I wanted him gone.
I felt Noah’s arms around me a while later. “He’s gone, Allie,” he whispered. “I made sure he won’t come back. I promise.”
I looked up at him. “Thank you,” I whispered.
He pulled me closer to him and held me. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t keep him out. I will make sure that he never comes back again,” he said.
“It’s not your fault. He shouldn’t have come here,” I said.
“We will find a way to keep him away,” Noah said. “I promise you that I will protect you and keep you safe.”
I leaned into him and closed my eyes. “I know,” I said.
A couple of days later, I was on the phone with my mom. She was trying to convince me to come home. I wanted to go home but I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do.
I didn’t know what would happen if I went home. I didn’t know if Giorgio would come after me or not.
“Mom… I don’t think…” I said as I looked out the window. It was raining and it was dark outside.
“Allie, please,” my mom said. “We miss you.”
“I miss you too,” I told her.
“I think that it would be good for you to be here. It’s not safe for you there,” she said.
“I know, I know,” I said. “I’ll think about it. I promise.”
“Okay,” she said. “Just think about it, alright?”
“I will,” I told her and hung up the phone.
I was sitting on the couch and thinking about what I should do when I heard someone knocking on the door. I stood up and went to open the door. I was surprised to see Giorgio standing there. I looked at him and he gave me a small smile.
“Hi,” he said and he sounded happy to see me. “How are you?”
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
He looked around and took a deep breath.
“I wanted to see you,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that you were okay.”
“I’m fine,” I told him. I didn’t invite him in.
“I’m glad that you’re okay,” he said. “Can I come in?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I told him.