For as long as they'd known, it'd been Bell and Alessandro. Alessandro and Bell.
Much time had passed since that encounter as little kids in the garden. They were thirteen now.
And though they were best friends, though they had always been together and everyone else was used to it, something had changed. Somewhere along the lines it had gone from friendship to something…. more.
And today it was further confirmed. They were in her backyard. Laying on an old blanket under a huge oak tree.
They talked about mindless things. Plans for the summer. Foods they wanted to eat. But then Bell noticed it had been her doing all the talking, so she glanced over at Alessandro and felt a shock run through her body when she found him already staring at her.
She smiled nervously. "Why are you staring at me." Alessandro didn't respond. He just looked away with a smile. He carried on the conversation like nothing happened, and Bell couldn't help but steal glances at him, wondering if he would do it again.
Eventually they sat up. Her mother, Sofia brought out a plate of freshly cut fruit, smiling at the two.
"Thank you Mrs. Casanova." Alessandro said with a smile.
"Thank you, Mama." Bell said softly.
Sofia smiled at them again, "Oh you two, don't worry about it, just keep enjoying this weather."
Really, their families were hoping they were watching a love story unfold. Bell was blossoming into a beautiful young lady, and Alessandro growing into a handsome young man. Massimo liked Alessandro, but he wasn't fond of his daughter having a boyfriend. Sofia however absolutely loved Alessandro and she knew they were meant for one another. Alessandro's mother Liliana, who had become close with Sofia, did as well.
....
They chatted more until it got quiet again. And there it was. That stare again.
Bell felt self conscious, like maybe there was something on her face from how intently he was watching her. Her hand touched her cheek. "What? Is there something there? Alessandro tell me!?"
He shook his head with a soft smile. "No, there's nothing."
Bell narrowed her eyes at him. "Then why do you keep looking at me like that?"
Alessandro's smile grew wider. "Because Bella, you're pretty."
Bell was surprised at that. And at 13 she couldn't handle it, didn't know what to do with it. Her face turned red and she looked away from him quickly, abruptly standing up from the blanket. Alessandro's eyes never left her.
"I don't feel well anymore Alessandro, you should go on back home, I'll see you tomorrow okay?"
He got up, brushing the grass off his pants. "Well, okay then, I'll see you tomorrow Bella."
Bell turned around. "Why are you calling me that?"
He stopped, a confused look in his eye. "What?"
"Bella.. when do you ever call me that, you call me Bell, or you tease me and you call me Bellybear." She humphed.
Alessandro rubbed the back on his kneel, not sure how to respond. "Well… I don't know, your name is Isabella, so it just came out."
Bell didn't believe him but she didn't fight him on it. "Just call me Bell like normal… Bye Alessandro."
"Bye Bell, I'll see you tomorrow!" He called out as he slid out of her gate, it automatically locking behind him.
She stood on the steps of her backyard patio as she watched him run across the gravel road to his house. She stood there with a feeling blooming in her chest that she couldn't ignore, that she couldn't put into words yet.