I had never soaked in the tub for so long, however, the river hadn't exactly been known to be warm in the fall. Taking my time soaking into a giant raisin, there was a knock on the door, of course I was too occupied to hear anything so my mother was the one to let Valentino in.

"Valentino I am surprised to see you here, is everything alright?"

"Yes Mrs Marino, I'm just looking for Naomi, is she here?"

I had just wrapped the towel around me and tiptoed back to my bedroom when there was a knock on the door.

"Yes?" Mama is seen poking her head in. "Are you decant?"

"No."

"Valentino is waiting for you downstairs, once you've gotten dressed." I pause. "What?"

"He said he wants to speak to you?"

"Alright, alright, I'll be down in a minute." Once she shouts at the door I go super sonic. What should i wear? Sweats, that should send him mixed signals. However, knowing Valentino I don't think he will be reading into it that much.

"Where is he?" I said. He was nowhere to be found when I came downstairs. "Out there." Mama nods towards the front door. "What, why?"

She shrugs, "I dunno, said he wanted to wait outside. Maybe he is in a hurry."

Great, I thought, then I won't give him the satisfaction. I head towards the door. Valentino jumped at the door opening, he was seated on the front porch. "Hey." I mumble, closing the door behind me. He gives me a slight wave. "Hey."

I begin with crossing my arms and leaning against the door, but I'm terrible at playing bad cop.

"I know what you did today." He said, once I joined him on the porch. My hair was still seen dripping, from the bath that is. "Who has a lucky turtle?" I hear myself say. Luckily a grin is spread on his face. "My mother gave it to me before my first race."

"How sweet."

Valentino exhales, "Anyway, just wanted to come by and thank you for getting it."

"Cool, no worries."

"Hey!" Valentino shouts, once I'd risen to my feet. "What?" I said, hands on my hips.

"I wasn't finished."

"Well I was." Valentino sighed, "Come on not this again."

"Not what again."

"The pretending no to care, I mean you dove into a river to retrieve a plush toy, obviously you knew how much that would mean to me."

My gaze falls onto the ground, "I'd have done that for anybody."

"No you wouldn't" His shadow is seen taking a step closer. "The fact that you were even at the bridge this morning tells me you weren't originally there to fish for plush toys."

"So what?" His feet emerged before my eyes and suddenly his hands went to tilt my head. "I'm sorry." He whispers. My gaze falls to the albino hair. The color was ridiculous, however I really like it on him. "You're sorry for what?"

"Sorry for last night, sorry for last year."

"I'm sorry too."

"For what?" He chuckles.

"For holding last year against you even though I'm over it. I I guess you were right, I am guarded and you are beginning to invade my space." This is when he leans in to grasp my lips. I smile as we part. "If it helps, I'll let you pay for the snacks next double date, if you want to?"

"Ha ha" I said sarcastically. "And yes, I'd love for another double date."

The End