Lucio and I raced out of the Solstice Theatre, the doors slamming shut behind us. Couples and other dance attendees that were outside watched us with worry, likely spotting my tear-stained face and Lucio's angry eyes. The cold breeze hit us hard as soon as stepped out onto the pavement. Once we were away from the crowds, we stopped to catch our breath. I turned away from Lucio, trying to wipe away the stray tears still streaming down my cheeks. I didn't want him to see me crying, even though just minutes earlier I had run into his arms, a sniffling mess. Lucio looked at me and held me by the shoulders, turning me around to face him. He frowned, raising a hand to gently and comfortingly stroke my cheek. "Cara mia, are you alright?" I sniffled, reaching up to hold the hand he had on my cheek. "I'm okay, Lucio. I just..." I sighed, looking down as my voice tapered off. As I recalled the events of the night, I shuddered a little. "I never thought they could be like that. It was frightening." I looked back at up, tears in my eyes. "I was really scared, Lucio." I admitted, my voice breaking. Amedeo and Cosimo's angry faces came to mind, the haunting melody they were singing entering my head once more. I could never listen to that song without being reminded of the dance ever again. 

Lucio continued to look at me with worry. He sighed, furrowing his brows. "I'm so sorry, Daniela." I frowned. "Why are you sorry?" I asked him. He sighed again, louder and more depressed this time. "Because this was supposed to be our night. It was supposed to be our perfect first date, and I was supposed to make you feel safe and happy." He looked to the side, closing his eyes. "Instead, I brought you to places that reminded you of those two, not to mention what happened tonight. I couldn't even protect you. I'm so sorry, Daniela." He looked so remorseful, it hurt my heart. I squeezed his hand. "No, Lucio, don't say that. You have nothing to feel sorry about. We both knew they would be there, but neither one of us could anticipate what they would do." He nodded, looking back at me with a firm look in his eyes.

"I know we can't continue to be friends with them. They wouldn't want us to. It's just..." Lucio sighed. "I've been friends with them for years. They were the first friends I made after my paents passed. I thought we were going to be friends forever. I never thought it would end like this." I frowned, clutching at my heart. I felt terrible. Because of me, Lucio, Amedeo, and Cosimo couldn't be friends. I was breaking up a friendship. I didn't know if I could live with that. "Lucio, are you sure this is what you want?" I asked him. Surprised, he looked down at me. "What do you mean?" I couldn't look at him as I said my next words. "Are you sure about ending your friendship with Cosimo and Amedeo just because of me? I don't know if I could live with myself if I was the reason you guys were no longer friends. You seemed so close before I came along." I said what I felt, trying my best to avoid making eye contact with him. "I would understand if you didn't want to do that, I promise." Lucio didn't say anything. After a while of this silence, I mustered up enough courage to look him in the eyes. 

He was wearing an expression I had never seen before. He looked offended, but also like he was pitying me. He continued to look at me before he scooped me up in his arms, hugging me tightly. I closed my eyes tightly and hugged him back. Had he made his decision? Was this goodbye? I felt tears stinging at my eyes. As I was preparing to walk home by myself, he spoke again. "Daniela, I have never felt the way I do when I am with you. You are the most important thing to me. I wouldn't give you up for anything or anyone." I gasped in surprise. He pulled me out of the hug and only now did I notice the tears in his eyes. "So please, don't hurt me like that again. I won't leave you, Daniela, and please never think that I will. If this is the way it has to be, this is how it's going to be." I could hear the certainty in his voice. I felt that same certainty about him in my heart. We embraced in another tight hug, and I was no longer able to contain the stream of tears running down my cheeks. "You'll be in my hear forever, Lucio." I spoke from my heart. I could feel him smiling. "And you're in mine, Daniela." We broke apart and sighed. 

"I thought that if Amedeo and Cosimo saw this and saw how happy we were, they could be happy for us. But I guess I was wrong." We both frowned, sadness creeping into our hearts. Lucio turned back to look at me. "But we have each other. That's all I need to make it through." I smiled up at him, wiping the last tears away from my face. It was such a bittersweet moment. We were saying goodbye to our friendships with Cosimo and Amedeo, and it felt like a huge loss that wouldn't be easy to get over. But looking up at Lucio, I felt comforted. Together, we could do it. Lucio looked at me, taking my hands in his and squeezing them tightly. "It's me and you against the world, Daniela. I promise that from now on, I will be there for you to protect you and keep you safe." I felt that familiar tugging in my heart. When I saw his face and saw how serious he was, I felt safe and secure. He really chose to be with me against all else. I could've started crying all over again.  

I reached up and stroked his cheek, trying my best to comfort him the same way he always comforted me. I mustered up a smile, my eyes finally remaining dry from tears. "But, amore, the night doesn't have to end here." He looked down at me, finally smiling. I missed his handsome smile. "Where do you want to go?" He asked me. I looked out at the city, smiling. "Somewhere we can make a new memory." Lucio started thinking in his head of a place to go. After a few seconds of thinking, he found it, excitedly reaching out and taking my hand in his. "I know the perfect place." I smiled. "Lead the way." We raced through the city, my heart pounding with the excitement of seeing what special place Lucio had in mind for us. We stood in front of a tall tower and walked into the downstairs lobby of the building. Lucio pressed the elevator button for us and, as soon as we entered, he pressed the top button to go all the way to the roof of the tower. I closed my eyes as I saw the elevator numbers climb, realizing how high we were going. Lucio looked at me, eyes wide. "You're afraid of heights, aren't you?" I nodded, chuckling a bit to mask my fear. He panicked and started apologizing frantically, but I assured him I'd be fine. "I'm with you, right? I've got nothing to fear." This made him smile again. 

When the elevator finally reached its floor, we exited out onto the rooftop of the building. There were some touristy binocular machines that some people were using to spy out onto the city. There were some people that were taking pictures of the view with their cameras, occasionally stopping to take a selfie in front of the view. Others were with their friends and family, pointing out different landmarks they could spot in the city. So many night owls all here to admire the same thing - the San Francisco skyline. Lucio and I walked up to look out at the scenery. My heart was beating rapidly as I struggled not to look down. When I felt myself freaking out, I looked at Lucio, who was still holding onto my hand firmly. I felt my fears ease as I was being held in his strong hand. I stepped even closer to him. He noticed me shifting to move towards him and he put his arm around me, making me feel even safer. "Are you okay?" I nodded, smiling up at him. "I am now." He reciprocated the smile and we both looked out at the city. 

The stars illuminated the night sky, covering San Francisco like a beautiful, shining blanket. The darkness of the pitch-black sky was broken up by the lights in the city. There were bright lights coming from the apartment buildings, the neon lights of small shop signs projecting a rainbow of colors, and the red brake lights coming from the cars that were driving on the highways made everyone down on the ground look like ants. From up here, you could see the whole city. You could see the Ghirardelli Shop sign, Fisherman's Wharf, Little Italy, and even the Solstice Theatre. My breath was taken away as I took in the beauty of the city. "This is beautiful, Lucio." He sighed happily. "I know." He continued looking out at the view as he started to share a story about his past with me. "My aunt and uncle took me here on a sightseeing trip. It was about a year after my parents passed away. I thought that I would never be happy ever again. But when I came up here and looked out at the view, I felt happiness again. My aunt said it was the first time I smiled in a year." He smiled, reminiscing on the past. "This place has always held a special place in my heart since." He smiled, looking back at me. "Now that I've brought you here, it's special for another reason." I blushed, smiling. "Now, it's special to me too." 

Lucio brightened. Then, his eyes lit up as he got an idea. He stepped a bit away from me, bowing outlandishly, and held out his hand to me. "Signorina, you were denied a true and full dance from me tonight at the theatre. Will you be so gracious as to help me rectify that mistake and dance with me here, under the night sky?" I giggled at his sudden princely behavior but decided to answer in kind. I took his hand, curtsying just as outlandishly. "It would be my pleasure, signore." We both came closer together and began to dance like no one was watching. I placed my hand on his shoulder, he placed his hand on my waist, and we held our two free hands together tightly. We started dancing slowly together, despite there being no music. Although soon, Lucio fixed that. 

Lucio started to serenade me with A Mano a Mano, one of my favorite songs. His voice was beautiful and romantic as he looked into my eyes, singing this love song. "Può crescere un fiore da questo, mio amore per te." I can grow a flower from this, my love for you. He sang these poetic words of love quietly, smiling down at me. I couldn't help but blush. This was the most romantic thing that had ever happened to me. It was like a scene right out of a movie. Lucio continued to sing to me as we danced around on the rooftop, the moonlit sky illuminating our path like a spotlight. We stopped after a while, giggling to each other as we did one last spin around. Lucio laughed, his laugh pure and childlike. "I always thought that dancing to no music looked cheesy in the movies, but it's actually pretty fun." Lucio admitted. I nodded. "I guess we're just like protagonists in a romance movie." 

Lucio's face turned serious, but he still wore a smile. "I am so glad I met you, Daniela. You are the best thing that ever happened to me." He smiled lovingly. "Ti amo." My heart raced. Those emotional, heart-melting words sounded even better in Italian. I held his hand. "Ti amo, Lucio." He smiled back brightly. We continued to look out into the city, the stars twinkling above us, painting the perfect picture of the perfect night. "So, was this a good date?" Lucio asked me. I nodded. "The best date." This seemed to make him incredibly happy. 

After a while of staring out at the night, we decided it was time to go home. Lucio and I took the cable car back to Little Italy and walked down the street until we reached the door to the restaurant. Lucio stopped me before I went in. "Aspetti." He said, digging around in the pocket of his coat. He brought out the two hazelnut chocolates we received from Mario earlier in the day. "Should we eat them now? To celebrate our first date and the start of our new love?" I smiled, nodding. "It's a day for celebration and for chocolate." We both unwrapped our candies and ate them, mmm-ing in delight. "Che delizioso! This is so good." Lucio cried. I nodded, my mouth too full to talk. I just wanted to savor the creamy, hazelnut flavor bursting in my mouth. 

Once we had finished eating, I turned to go inside my house. I turned back to Lucio, who was looking at me, his eyes filled with adoration. "See you at rehearsal?" He asked. I nodded. "Hopefully before then. We do still have to practice our duet, remember?" Lucio smiled. "It'll be easy to show love on stage, since I'm already in love with you." He was too charming; my heart couldn't take it. I smiled and stepped down to kiss him on the cheek. "Grazie per stasera, Lucio." Thanks for tonight, Lucio. He smiled. "Grazie per l'esistenza, Daniela." Thank you for existing, Daniela. The charm wasn't going to wear off anytime soon. We embraced in a tight hug, and then parted ways. "Ciao, buonanotte Lucio!" I cried out. He waved. "Buonanotte, amore!" I watched as he walked into the night and I shut the door behind me. 

My mom was sitting at an empty table with a cup of coffee and a book. As soon as she heard me come in, she closed the book and rose out of her seat. She turned to look at me, a big grin on her face upon seeing my dazed and lovesick expression. "Did you have a good time?" Choosing to omit what had happened at the dance, saving that story for another time, I nodded. I was still on cloud nine from my time with Lucio. "The best time." She smiled. "I'm glad, but now you should go up and get some rest. It's late." She kissed me on the forehead. "Buonanotte, mia figlia." I smiled. "Buonanotte, mamma." I raced up the stairs and into my bed. 

I was too happy to sleep. I kept thinking about Lucio. But then, I thought of Cosimo and Amedeo. I was sad at how we wouldn't be able to stay friends and couldn't help but wonder what would have been if I had never fallen for Lucio and he would never have fallen for me. But that thought made me feel even sadder. I thought more about Lucio, about what he said about me, and our time dancing under the stars, and I started to feel better. It would be me and him against the world, not caring what anyone thought of us. I rolled over on my bed and looked over at the picture of La Scala. I sighed, thinking of how crushed I would be to leave Lucio here in San Francisco and go to another country forever. But above all, my dream came first. And I knew he understood that. 

I sighed and closed my eyes, my head filled with sweet thoughts of the love I had found with Lucio.