I crumbled into nothingness, down on my knees, sobbing my life out. I deserved this. I know I would have left too, just like Mariano did. He had every right to be angry. But God, did it hurt. It hurt so, so much. Every part of me ached. My heart, my head, down to my knees. I heard the door to my room creak open."Hey - " Aiden started, then took in my state, "Oh God, Izzy!" He exclaimed. He rushed to my side, grabbing me and leading me to the bed, making me sit down. Then he wrapped his arms around me. "It's okay." He hushed, "It's all going to be okay. I'm here for you." His soft voice, those words he whispered in my ear made me cry even harder. How pathetic. Crying like this over a man. Crying like this over a man I had only met a few months ago. I let myself melt into Aiden's arms, sighing in his warm embrace. Safe. Protected. That is what Aiden made me feel. Like everything was indeed, going to be okay. This

Things were undeniably awkward between Landon and I. He'd only passed me a small smile in the hallway, and I'd returned it with equally negligible vigour. I wanted to talk to him, but it wouldn't be a wise decision. Besides, he didn't seem like he wanted to talk. It was for the good, I guess. That chapter was done and dusted. I hadn't told him that I was back with Mariano, again, and Aiden and Landon didn't talk too much. So well, he'd probably seen Mariano kiss me with everything he had when he'd dropped me off at the university.Or maybe he hadn't seen anything and had just realised that he didn't want me. Maybe I wasn't good enough in bed?But Mariano didn't seem too displeased with me.I shook my head hard, trying to get rid

For Christmas, Mariano got a star christened Bella. And he also got me a super beautiful charm bracelet. I'd only gotten him a cute T shirt and made him a cutesy card. My gift, was well, pretty rudimentary. But also because I'm poor, unlike him.But he'd put on the T shirt the next day, and smiled like a giggly teenager for hours after reading the card. Then he'd kissed me in front of my whole family, and Dad had turned away, rolling his eyes.It had been the best Christmas I had ever had.Before flying to Italy, Mariano and I decided to take a stroll through town so that I could show him my school and the places I used to hang out at with my friends.We met a lot of acquantainces, and I introduced him to everyone. But I mistook the s

Back in our room, Mariano began undressing, but I went straight to the bathroom with my night clothes in hand and changed. In the room, he was just in his sweats, and looked at me strangely, as I got into bed. "Good night!" I told him cheerfully. He tipped his head to the side and stared. "Get out of bed."I shook my head, elaborately yawning. "I'm sleepy."He raised his eyebrows. "Now."With a smug look on my face, I went and stood in front of him. He wordlessly began unbuttoning my shirt, shrugging it off of me. I wasn't wearing a bra, and he smiled. "We're going to have some fun with you, today." With that, he gave me a little shove so I fell on the bed, and him on top of me. He always kissed me with so much passion it took my entire breath away. I had been kissed by him so many times now, but it always took my breath away. It made me fall onto the floor at his feet and worship him. It made me want to write

"Landon?"My heart sank. What the hell? What was sweet, sweet Landon who brought me pizza and brownies and made me laugh and watch Harry Potter with me doing here? The truth was hard to take in.I clenched my eyes shut, crying a lot more. Out of all the scenarios I had expected to play out, this had not been one of them. Of all the people in the world, it had to be him? I don't know what hurt more, my broken nose, or his betrayal."Hi, Izzy." He said.I shook my head hard. This was a dream. This had to be a dream. Landon wouldn't...But no matter how much I tried to lead myself astray from the truth, Landon had betrayed me. Landon was part of the Russian Mob.