It's now 3:00 PM on Saturday. I've been planning out the tour I'm going to give Lorenzo all day, and now I have to find my outfit. I don't want to overdress, and I also don't want to under dress, so the only option is to dress like myself. Deciding on that option, I take out a pair of skinny jeans that hug my curves in all the right places while putting on a long sleeve sweater that looks great but also feels comfortable. I brush out my hair and leave it natural because that's how I am every day of my life. I want to be myself on this date or tour or whatever this thing is because I want Lorenzo to know the real me.

As I walk downstairs to leave for Buckley's, I contemplate going into my mom's room and telling her about the date I may or may not be having today with a boy I don't even know. Yeah, that wouldn't go over well. Plus, I'm 90% positive Ash is here for the 4th day in a row and I don't want another pretend dad lesson from him, so I'll just be on my way.

As I'm one second from stepping outside the door, of course someone has to stop me.

"Bailee," I hear called from upstairs "where do you think you're going?" My mother asks strictly.

I roll my eyes to myself before turning around to look up at her from the staircase.

"I was just going to hang out with Josh. Is that alright?" I make a complete lie on the spot, hoping for her to buy it.

"You know you're supposed to tell me before you go anywhere." She begins to come down the stairs with a stern look but before she can continue I quickly reply

"I thought you were busy with Ash, so I was just going to call you later."

At the mention of Ash, she immediately stops walking down the stairs.

With a regretful look she says, "Honey, if you are going somewhere I want to know, even if Ash is here. I want to always keep you safe and knowing where you are going is as best as I can get."

I smile at her because that's the nicest things she's said to me in a long time.

"Okay mom, I'll tell you even if you're with Ash." I say sincerely.

"Alright good. I don't want to keep Josh waiting. Remember, be home by 10. I love you."

At the mention of Josh, I remember the lie I told moments before. I don't like lying to her, but I know I would get in trouble If I told her the truth. She wouldn't let me give Lorenzo the tour he wants and I'm really looking forward to it.

Therefore, I just reply with, "I will mom, I love you too." And I head out for Buckley's with only 15 minutes to spare.

Ding!

I enter the café and as usual for the weekends, it pretty empty. I look around seeing if I can spot Lorenzo, but there's no sign of him. Am I too early? He did say around four, but it's exactly four o'clock so maybe I'm too early.

Suddenly I hear two Italian laughs coming from the back and I recognize one instantly. Marco. The laughs begin to get closer until Marco and Lorenzo enter the café area with big smiles on their faces, laughing about something hilarious apparently. Marcos hand around Lorenzo's shoulder as a sign on family.

"Mia Figlia!" Marco exclaims happily.

I laugh, "Hi Marco, how are you?"

We hug, and he gives a slight nudge to Lorenzo.

"I'm doing great! Thank you for showing Lorenzo around today. You two behave yourselves."

With a slight smirk and what seems like an innuendo directed towards Lorenzo, Marco slyly walked over to the counter to serve a customer that just walked up.

I laugh quietly to break the ice a little.

"So, where do you wanna go first?" Lorenzo asks with a smile, thankfully dressed in casual clothing with a jacket easing my worrying.

"Well... I've got a few ideas." I respond secretively.

It's now 8:00 at night, and everything's going pretty well. I've been showing Lorenzo around the city and so far, everything has been straight forward, informational, and friendly. I've showed him the most popular grocery stores, the movies theater, a couple great restaurants, a close gas station to Buckley's, my school (since we passed it along the way), the police station, and even the hospital if anything were to happen. We decided to walk the whole way since it would be easier to remember the route that way, and luckily both Lorenzo and I love walking because it sure was long.

Now, since its getting dark out, I decide that the last place I want to show Lorenzo is the park. It's beautiful at night and I think it would be the best place to end on.

"And finally, we're here." I say happily.

"Wow." Lorenzo says, looking at the beautiful scenery.

Wow indeed. The cool breeze hit our faces as we began to enter the park. The first thing you notice is the crisp of nature. There were no swing sets or slides in this park, only trees, grass, a path, and some lights along the path to illuminate our walking. The beautiful leaves on the trees were changing colors and some were even starting to fall off.

As we walk along the long path, I begin the enjoy the sereneness of it all. It's quiet between Lorenzo and I, but it's not an awkward quiet more like a comfortable enjoyment of our surroundings.

However, for some reason a question is coming out of my mouth before I even realize it.

"So, how long are you staying?"

Crap. Why did I ask that? Well... because you want to know, duh.

Lorenzo looks at me while continuing to walk side by side.

"I'm not sure. I came here to get some answers to questions I had, but I'm not sure I want to know them now." He answers questioningly.

I look at him curiously, "Well if you don't mind me asking, what are the questions?"

I'm not sure if I should have asked him that or not, but he doesn't look angry. Hopefully I didn't offend him or anything by getting in his business...

"No, it's okay Bailee, I would want to know about a new person coming to town too." He smiles, "Well, basically what I've been told all my life is Marco skipped out on my Grandma to be with Jan. According to Grandma Marie, Marco left her alone to raise their baby just, so he could be with Jan. Of course, this made Marco a villain to me all of my childhood but as I grew up I realized that there were two sides to every story. I've come here to hear Marcos side."

That shocked me beyond belief. I've known Marco my whole life and he's not one to abandon his own child. He loves Jan, but I know he wouldn't choose her over his own child.

"Where's your mom? If she's Marcos daughter, then who are you here and not her?" I ask, trying to put all the pieces together.

Lorenzo sighs, "Well, she doesn't want to hear Marcos side. She believes her mother and that's that. She knows what it's like to be raised without a father, that one missing piece in her life, and she can't forgive him for that."

I look down sadly.

"Yeah, I know how she feels. My father was never in my life. I've never even met the guy, so I totally understand why she doesn't want to give Marco a chance." I reply sadly.

As we walk, I feel our hands brushing every few seconds causing my heart to race in anticipation.

Lorenzo stops and looks at me directly in the eyes, turning so we are face to face.

"Bailee, your dad is a deadbeat. He doesn't know what he's missing out on. You seem like an amazing girl and it's his lose that he doesn't get to see such a beautiful person grow up. He doesn't deserve you." Lorenzo says sincerely yet slightly angrily, surprising me immensely.

I'm speechless. I wasn't expecting that.

I look up to him and say, "Thank you." Because I just don't know what else to say.

We stare at each other for a few seconds too long before Lorenzo breaks it and says with a small smile, "Maybe we should get back to the car. It's getting pretty late."

I don't reply, still stuck in my thoughts from what he just said. I just follow him to the car and drive back to Buckley's without saying a word.

"Thank you for today." Lorenzo says appreciatively.

I smile.

"It was really no problem. I had fun. Thank you for saying that stuff about my dad and opening up to me about your family."

He smiles.

"I had fun too, and you don't need to thank me. I was glad to get that stuff off my chest finally. At least I have someone to talk to now."

"Anytime you need to talk, I'm here."

Oh no, what now?! Do I hug him goodbye? Shake his hand? KISS?! I've never had my first kiss. Fuck! What if I suck!!!

Oh my god he's leaning in. Okay, be calm, close your eyes, lean in, and just-

"Bailee" I hear gently called.

I open my eyes to see Lorenzo has pulled away, causing me to look horrified and my face to turn beet red.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry Lorenzo, I just assumed since you were leaning in and we were like brushing hands in the park and-"

I'm waving my hands around like a crazy person trying to explain why I was about to kiss him, when he suddenly interrupts me.

"Bailee, I want to kiss you."

Those six words cause me to stop my movements and stare at him with wide eyes.

Hesitantly I asked, "Uh, okay then why did you pull away?"

Does my breath stink?!

"Believe, I definitely want to kiss you," Lorenzo laughs, "Its just that I cant."

I look at him suspiciously, "Why not?"

He looks at me with regret, "I'm nineteen Bailee. You're still in high school. This could get me in a lot of trouble."

That's it? Really?

"But its consensual. Kissing isn't illegal."

He sighs, "No but if we begin a relationship, do you really think it wont get to that level?"

This causes my blush to reappear. I guess he's right...

"I'm sorry. You seem like a really great girl. I'm only going to be here for a week or so anyway so there's no way this would have worked out."

And with that Lorenzo gets out of my car, goes into Buckley's, and leaves me to wonder what that kiss would have been like it it were to happen.