Once I had finally calmed down, I helped Nico clean up and we saved some leftovers in a Tupperware box in case anyone was still hungry when they got back.

We were about to go upstairs until everyone had trailed in through the front door. "Heidi, we're going to have a movie night if you're interested. Nico is more than welcome to join," my mother says, and I am sure I am staring at a different woman. They must have left my mother at the restaurant and a look-alike followed them home.

Looking towards Nico, I give him a questioning look but he just shrugs. "Okay?" I say, making my confusion evident in my voice. Nico's hand moves to my back as we trail into the living room. Everyone else goes to change into some comfier clothes and I grab a blanket from the corner.

We settle down on the sofa, waiting for everyone to pile in. "Don't force yourself to do anything you don't want to do," Nico says and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

Giving him a soft smile, I shake my head. "No, it's okay... I was just surprised," I admit and Nico nods in understanding.

Nestling into the blanket, I place my feet in Nico's lap. With us being in close quarters, I hope that my family doesn't make it awkward. Nico's hand delves beneath the blanket, placing it on my thigh.

Placing my hand over his, I try not to laugh as I move it away. The last thing I need is my mother thinking that we're doing something we shouldn't beneath the blanket. She hates me enough already.

"I need to touch you," he groans, and I roll my eyes.

"I'm sure you can go an hour and a half without. How do you cope when you're at work?" I laugh and Nico shakes his head.

"I can't cope. Every second I'm thinking about touching you. My father is on the verge of firing me because of the number of times I've messed up a table order or forgotten to do things he's asked me. All because I'm too busy thinking about you."

His hand wraps around my ankle and I regret putting my feet in his lap. The fact that he is constantly thinking about me makes a blush rise in my cheeks.

"Sounds like you should focus on your work," I goad him on, and he laughs, shaking his head once more.

"I would be able to if this incessant woman was not constantly creeping into my mind," he says before leaning down and kissing me on the lips. He knows exactly what he's doing as he places a small kiss on my throat before pulling away.

My mother then enters the room, everyone else trailing behind her. Nancy cradles a large bowl of popcorn to her, away from reaching hands. Everyone settles on the floor in front of us, Nico and I the only ones on the sofas.

"We're watching The Notebook, end of story," Vienna says and everyone groans in protest. "I'm the pregnant one here... you'll do as I say," she crosses her arms and I laugh.

"I can't say that I've ever watched a film about a notebook," Nico says, furrowing his brows as everyone gets comfy and chatters.

"It's the most heart-wrenching story ever. I cry every time and I'm sure this is just a way of them getting back at me," I say, and Nico rubs his thumb in small circles on my ankle.

"I'm sure I've memorised every line of this movie," my father says, and I give him a small smile. "Michelle and Heidi would watch this non-stop. I'd always have to hold them both as they cried. Good luck, Niccolo," he chuckles.

"I have a feeling I'm going to need luck," Nico says before looking towards me and I roll my eyes, nudging his thigh with my foot.

"Who knows? Maybe Nico will be the blubbering mess tonight," I shrug before laughing and everyone smiles at my comment. "Nico is a softy at heart."

Nico smiles my way, his eyes burning with affection. "Only for you," he says, hushed so that only I can hear. My heart swarms with butterflies and I suppress the urge to kiss him.

We begin the film and I, sneakily, move closer to Nico. Resting my head on his shoulder, I focus my eyes on the screen and the love story that pans out before us.

Halfway through the film, Nico's arm snakes around my waist - pulling me to his chest. My eyes threaten to close as I'm surrounded by his warmth and the cosiness of the blanket. Nico kisses my temple and I'm glad that everyone is focused on the TV as I turn to press a kiss against his lips.

Nico nudges his nose against my jaw, and I smile. "You are so beautiful," he whispers, his other hand meeting my hip, squeezing.

"Hands to yourself," I say, and he lets out a low groan of protest. I thank the loud volume of the movie as Nico tickles my waist and I attempt to stifle a laugh. "Stop," I whisper-shout and Nico chuckles.

When the credits eventually roll around, I'm a mess. My cheeks are stained with tears, my eyes sore and my nose blocked. Everyone else had fallen asleep except for Nico and me.

"Come on, let's go to sleep," Nico says, wrapping the blanket around me and taking my hand. We creep upstairs and I grab some tissue out of the bathroom before trailing into my bedroom, Nico following closely behind.

"I hate that film. It has no right being that sad," I sniffle, using the tissues to dry my tears.

Nico drags back the covers before getting in and pulling me close to him. The blanket is still wrapped around me as I fold my arms around Nico, attempting to get closer - as if we are not already pressed against each other.

I had fallen asleep long before I had wanted to. I'd wanted to stay awake and bask in Nico's embrace until my eyes could no longer withstand being open.

Intense nausea wakes me from my deep slumber and I sit up, holding my hand to my mouth. Taking deep breathes, I wait for it to pass. I could really do without being ill. Especially when there is not much time left until I have to return home.

Laying back down, I nestle back into Nico. Resting my face in the crook of his neck, I continue to control my breathing. "Hey, you okay?" he murmurs, smoothing my hair. I nod, fearing that if I speak I may just throw up.

Eventually, I fall back to sleep and I relish in the feeling of Nico's hard body pressed against mine.

It's not until I'm woken up once more with heat flashes and nausea. My stomach soon cramps afterwards, and I grab my phone before getting out of bed. A hand soon stops me and I look back towards, Nico.

"Where are you going?" he asks, and I press a kiss atop his head.

"Just to get some water," I say, and he lets go of me. Quickly exiting the room, I move towards the bathroom, sickness quickly rising in my throat.

Going against my better judgement, I FaceTime Calli. She answers just before the call rings out.

"Hello?" she groans, the brightness of her screen causing her to squint. Calli lets out a yawn and looks at me expectantly.

"I think I'm sick and I thought what better time to catch up with you. Whilst I sit on the bathroom floor in front of the toilet," I laugh, wrapping my arm around my stomach as another wave of cramps hit me.

"What's wrong?" she asks the question I have been asking myself this entire night.

"I don't know... I've got really bad nausea, cramps, and I'm really hot," I say and Calli flicks her light on, sitting up in her bed.

"Period?" she asks, and I shake my head. "Maybe you're pregnant," she laughs and my heart contracts in my chest. "You're not... right? I mean that was a joke," Calli says, following with a nervous laugh.

"I mean... I don't think I am." I press my hand against my forehead and close my eyes. I can't be. "I've taken my birth control, I haven't forgotten once," I profess.

"Girl, you know the pill is only like ninety-nine percent effective? You could be the one percent," Calli doesn't help the situation.

"There isn't a chance. If I follow in my mother's footsteps, for the rest of my life she'll always be able to say how she told me so. I can't be..." I can't even finish my sentence. My heart is racing in my chest, and I fear I may faint.

"You need to get a test. Are there any twenty-four-hour pharmacies?" she asks, and I shrug before pulling up maps.

I find one just down the road and I take a deep breath. "There's one around ten minutes away. I'll just go there... but I'm not pregnant," I say, and she rolls her eyes.

"Yes, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Um, where's your hottie?" she asks and it's my turn to roll my eyes.

"He's in bed," I say as I creep down the stairs. Holding my finger to my lips, I gesture for her to be quiet. No one has to know about this. I'll take the test; it'll be negative and I can just go back to bed and forget about this.

Once I've slipped on my shoes and thrown on a hoodie, I grab some keys and leave the house. As soon as I'm outside, Calli speaks up. "Please tell me you are not going out at what... two in the morning, by yourself," she says.

"There isn't a chance I'm even letting my mother get a whiff of this. The moment she thinks that I may even have a slight hint of being pregnant... she'll have won. She'll have won the war that has been going on ever since she gave me the birds and the bees talk," I say and Calli nods her head.

"You've just got to be safe and I mean that in more ways than just walking the streets by yourself. You've got a university degree ahead of you, a future. After this holiday, you'll never see Nico again and I'm sure you don't want to be carrying his child," she shrugs.

"About never seeing him again..." I cringe and Calli gives me a look as if to say what the hell did you do? "I may have promised him that after finishing University, I'll come back to Vernazza," I admit.

Still following maps, I try not to focus on the way Calli is staring at me with her mouth agape. "Do you even understand the terms of a summer fling?" she shrieks.

"I do but he's more than a summer fling, Calli. I genuinely love him," I bite my lip, my eyes wide in shock as I voice my feelings out into the world for the first time.

Calli smacks her hand against her face. "You have fallen for a guy you don't even know? Do you have any sense? You are going to spend three years without him, and you really think that you're still going to love him once that time is up? You really think that when you leave he's not going to find some other tourist and fuck her until her times up, confessing his love for her just as he's done to you?" Calli says and I know she doesn't mean to hurt me, but I can't help the burning in my chest.

"Wow... thank you for your honesty," I nod, and she huffs.

"I'm sorry but... it's just the truth. That's why you can't get attached. He'll just use you and then discard you, it's just how it works," Calli softens her voice and I nod my head.

Feeling a tear fall down my cheek, I quickly brush it away. "Um... it was really great catching up with you. I'm about to go into the pharmacy, I'll update you later," I say and before she can get another word out, I end the call.