Gabriella and I were sitting on the sofa watching Home Alone. I thought to myself that I should ask her what had been bothering her earlier. She had been quieter than usual all evening, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was weighing on her. I straightened up and held her hand, determined to find out what was wrong.

"Gabriella, can you tell me what was bothering you earlier, please?" I asked softly as she turned to face me. Her eyes flickered with a mix of hesitation and sadness. She seemed upset by the question, but after a pause, she nodded.

"Fine, I'll tell you," she said with a sigh.

Gabriella's POV:
I had been talking to my aunt and uncle earlier when I spotted my mum and dad chatting with some of their old friends across the room. They looked happy, laughing and reminiscing, and I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to tell them about Mia. I wanted them to meet her someday soon, and it felt like the right moment to prepare them for that.

I excused myself and walked towards my parents, feeling a little nervous but determined. They noticed me approaching, and their smiles grew even wider. Before I could say a word, my mum started gushing about me to her friends, boasting about my achievements and praising me endlessly. It was sweet but also frustrating because I couldn't get a word in. Finally, when her friends moved on to chat with others, I managed to pull my parents aside.

"Mum, Dad, I need to tell you something, but not here," I said, glancing around the crowded room. I needed privacy for this conversation. They exchanged glances, and I noticed a flicker of unease in their eyes.

"Meet me in that room in ten minutes," I added, pointing to a quiet corner. They nodded, and I walked away, not wanting to interact with anyone else while I waited. My heart was racing, and I rehearsed what I wanted to say in my head. Ten minutes passed, but they still hadn't shown up. Another five minutes went by before I finally heard footsteps outside the door. I stood up from the chair, my stomach churning, as they entered the room and sat down in front of me.

"What is it, my dear?" Dad asked, his brow furrowed with concern. Both of them looked tense, which only added to my anxiety. I took a deep breath and decided to just rip the bandage off.

"I... met someone," I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. As soon as they were out, I felt a huge weight lift off my chest. My dad's face immediately softened into a smile, but my mum's expression turned more curious.

"Oh, my dear! What's her name?" Dad asked, his tone warm and encouraging. His reaction made me feel a little more at ease.

"Her name is Mia," I said, smiling despite my nerves. "We're the same age. I met her four months ago, and she's the sweetest. I really want you to meet her."

"Certo, mia figlia, fissiamo un appuntamento per incontrarla, ok!?" Dad said as he stood up, his enthusiasm evident."Of course, my daughter, let's arrange an appointment to meet her, ok!?"

"Ok, Papà, thank you!" I said, standing up too. But as I turned to my mum, her disapproving expression made my heart sink.

"Is she rich?" Mum asked bluntly, her tone serious.

I blinked in surprise. "Does it matter?" I replied, raising an eyebrow. Mum sighed and walked closer to me, her arms crossed.

"Yes, it does," she said firmly. "Is she upper class? What if she's a gold digger—"

"Mum, don't start," I interrupted, my voice slightly raised. "She's not like that. She would never."

"Look, I'm just looking out for you," Mum said, her tone softening slightly. "I know a girl who's the daughter of a friend of mine, and she's so pretty. Maybe consider meeting her?" she added hopefully.

"No, Mum. You consider meeting the girl who's already my girlfriend," I said firmly, trying to keep my temper in check.

"Don't raise your voice at me, young lady," Mum snapped, her voice growing louder. "I'm just trying to look out for you, and this is how you respond?" She was practically yelling now.

"Calm down, amore mio—" Dad tried to interject, but Mum wasn't listening. Her voice grew louder and more frantic with every word.
End of POV:

"I was getting annoyed and angry, so I just left without saying a word and came straight to you," Gabriella said, her tone serious and her eyes filled with frustration.

"Wait... YOU WANTED ME TO MEET YOUR PARENTS??!!" I yelled, my voice a mixture of confusion, nervousness, excitement, and happiness. But then the realisation hit me: her mum already seemed to dislike me, and we hadn't even met yet.

"Oh, haha, right, sorry," she said, placing her hands behind her neck awkwardly. "I was supposed to tell you at the right time."

I couldn't help myself. Overwhelmed by emotion, I leaned forward and kissed her. She looked shocked at first but then kissed me back, her arms wrapping around me tightly.

"But are you ok?" I asked after we pulled away, my voice filled with concern.

"Yeah, we've had so many arguments, I've got used to it," she said, rolling her eyes as she turned her attention back to the TV. "Mia," Gabriella said suddenly, turning her face towards me with a pleading look, "can I sleep here tonight? I don't want to go back to that house. Please?" She gave me the biggest kitty eyes I'd ever seen.

"You don't have to ask, Gabriella, of course you can stay here," I said with a reassuring smile. "Also, it's 3 a.m., we should definitely go to bed," I added, giggling. Gabriella switched off the TV and got up, reaching for my hands. I held hers tightly as we made our way to the bathroom. After brushing our teeth, we climbed into bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

The next morning, I jolted awake, glancing at the clock on my bedside table. It was 10 a.m. My shift starts in 30 minutes! I scrambled out of bed, rushing to the bathroom to wash my face. Gabriella stirred but didn't wake up as I got ready in record time. I threw on my work clothes, skipped makeup, applied some lip gloss, and dashed out the door.

I started the engine and drove like a maniac to the café. As I pulled into the car park, I checked my phone: 10:28 a.m. I sprinted to the café door, barely making it on time. Bursting through the door, I stood at the back of the counter, breathless. Mei, looked at me with a mix of confusion and amusement.

"Oh my God, Mia, you're one minute early! I can't believe my eyes," they said sarcastically, laughing as they grabbed a rag to wipe down the counter. I glared at them, still trying to catch my breath, then rolled my eyes.

Evelyn had called in sick, leaving just Mei and me to handle the morning rush. Customers began trickling in, and soon enough, the café was bustling with activity. Despite the chaos, I found comfort in the routine. The steady rhythm of brewing coffee, taking orders, and chatting with regulars kept my mind occupied.

When lunch rolled around, Gabriella showed up as usual. Seeing her smile instantly brightened my day, and we spent my break sitting at a small table near the window, talking and laughing like we always did. She seemed more relaxed than she had the night before, which made me happy.

"Thanks for letting me stay over," she said, her voice warm and genuine. "I'm not sure how I would've handled another argument with my mum."

"You're always welcome," I replied, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. "This is your safe space too."

By the time my shift ended, the café had quieted down. Mei and I cleaned up, locked the doors, and parted ways. I drove home, excited to spend the rest of the evening with Gabriella. Life might have its challenges, but moments like these reminded me that we could face them together.

*****

END OF CHAPTER 15!

Q: Favorite series's?

A: My love story - Cherry magic - Business Proposal - heartstopper