"That's that shit I don't like!" I screamed along to the lyrics, my body having a mind of its own as it desperately wiggled itself to the music. "I don't like!"

"That's that shit I don't like!" My best friend and classmate Erin screamed along with me, her toothy smile as wide as mine.

Luca and Erin's on-again off-again boyfriend Matt came up to us at that point, hands filled with drinks to keep the night going. I had to place my eyes anywhere but on Luca for fear he would catch me staring at him.

How long had we been roommates now? I had lost count of the months. All that occupied my mind, even over school, was how I somehow seemed to gravitate towards him; how all I ever wanted was to be next to him.

The fuck was wrong with me?

I furiously scrubbed my makeup off, my skin burning from the rough material of the washcloth. For some reason, that made me mad. Honestly, though, everything made me mad.

Throwing the washcloth on the ground, I slumped out of the bathroom and did a belly flop on the bed. My bed. Luca's guest room bed. "Ughhhhhhh."

I pulled my phone out of my sweatpants pocket, my fingers clicking on Instagram before I could even realize what they were doing. Happy pictures of old classmates doing Christmas-y things, old friends going to clubs, distant cousins going to family outings. I hated all of it.

When was the last time I saw Jackie? Erin, Orlando, or even Matt? When was the last time I saw any of my 'friends', when was the last time any of them reached out to me? Did my mafia boss roommate scare them away? Did they realize what he was before I did?

Still angry, I pulled up Erin's name and began writing.

hey my girl! miss you a lot. maybeeee we can hang out soon? i have a lot of free time from work lol

With a sigh I hit 'send', promptly turning my volume off so I wouldn't be heart broken if she didn't text me back, but be surprised if she did. What a fucking loser I was becoming.

Drunk out of my mind, Luca and I sat in a secluded corner outside while I finished smoking. "I'm, like, realllllly drunk."

Luca laughed, making my heart pound even harder. "It's like you don't even taste the shit. You just swallow it, dance, and inhale more drinks."

I nodded, swaying my body back and forth into his. "You're drunk too, so, like, shut up."

He turned his torso to face me, his hands going on my shoulders to stop me from swaying and to turn my body to face his. "Chaya."

"Chaya..." Luca called as he knocked on my door, yanking me out of my thoughts.

"It's your house. You can come in whenever you please."

He entered the room shaking his head. Sitting towards the edge of the bed, he placed his head in his hands. "What's your favorite color these days?"

I raised an eyebrow, propping myself up with my elbows. "Are you smoking crack? What kind of question is that?"

Not moving his head, he let out a muffled laugh. "I just want to know everything about you these days. I just wonder if the things Giuseppe told me were true. Do you still love the beach? Is that one chicken encrusted parm dish he makes truly your favorite?"

I let my head fall back down on the bed. "I love the beach. It's my happy place. I like pink more than red these days."

The seriousness in Luca's voice made my heart stop. "Hm?"

He shook his head. "Your cheeks are just about your favorite shade of red."

"Wahhhh," I cried out, exaggerating a frown. "Terrible!"

He grinned, making my breath catch in my throat. "Cute. So impossibly cute."

"Why are you saying that?"

Luca shook his head again, his mouth opening and closing a few times before finally speaking. "I...I wonder if I would ruin everything..."

I didn't have time to process what he said before his lips crashed into mine.

"And Brand New? Are they still your favorite?"

I smiled. "I mean, Fuck Jesse Lacey, but yes. What do mob bosses listen to? The Sopranos theme song, trap, maybe even some Sinatra?"

He laughed, full and hearty, and fell on his back so his head was next to mine. Though my body was facing one way and his another, the close proximity of it all was enough to get my nerves going.

Why? I was supposed to hate him. I wanted to hate him. I didn't want us to fall into this...routine again.

"To be fair, I was never into the Sopranos."

"To be fair, you used to like Brand New."

He titled his head, his eyes boring into me. "I did just listen to their Daisy album while on the treadmill. It wasn't really work out music, though."

"What are we doing, Luca?" I sighed, turning over on my back. "I don't understand anything anymore after tonight."

"Are we not having a conversation?" His tone was cocky, confident. It annoyed me. "I might be wrong, though. Please correct me if so."

I yawned, maneuvering the blankets to cover myself. "Don't be an asshole. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

His lips parted from mine, and before I could stop myself my fingers touched my lips. They felt like static; like the feeling before the Novocaine hits your mouth. "Luca..."

His eyes never once left mine. "I'm sorry. You won't have to see me again if I made it awkward."

I didn't give him a chance to continue speaking. Instead I hungrily placed my lips to his, my arms going around his neck in a desperate attempt to bring us closer.

"Go to dinner. With me."

I coughed, choking on my spit. "What?"

He finally moved his body so that he was fully facing me. There was no hesitation in his gaze, just pure ferocity. "Tomorrow night. We only have a few days before everything gets out of control."

"Luca, this is out of control."

"It's not though, Cai. It really isn't. Just one more night of just us before we rescue CJ."

I sighed, chewing on my bottom lip for comfort. "Fine."

"Fine?"

I nodded, trying to meet his gaze with the same ferocity. "Impress me, Luca Blackburn."