1. MATTEO

"Hmm" I moaned as her lipstick stained my lips.

The basement was lit only by the small lamp in the corner that cast shadows against the stone walls while my girl was in my arms and her lips tangled with mine and our laughter barely restrained between stolen kisses. My hands pressed against the small of her back as she leaned into me, her soft moans echoing faintly in the room.

Both of us could even hear the faint hum of Taylor Swift's song "Red".

We’d been sneaking around the celebration like two teenagers again just to find a quiet moment away from the crowd. It was her birthday afterall and she deserved something more than just another extravagant party. She deserved the world. And tonight, I am going to give it to her even if her parent's are not the biggest fan of family.

As we pulled away both breathless, she bit her lower lip, cheeks flushed. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face and tucked it in her ears, “I have a surprise for you.”

Her smile widened, eyes twinkling. “I have one too.”

I chuckled. “Mine’s better.”

“We’ll see about that.”

As we left the basement hand in hand we ran quietly to go back inside, like kids caught doing something forbidden. The sound of muffled music and clinking glasses grew louder as we approached the grand hall of her mansion. Our fingers were still interlocked as we slipped through the kitchen entrance, stifling our laughter as we tried to blend back into the celebration.

But then everything stopped. "What the fuck?" the DJ cursed probably confused too. The guests were booing him and me and Giuli were just laughing while eating macaroons.

The music cut off abruptly. A low buzz filled the air as people turned toward the massive LED screen near the stage.

And there it was. An image was flashed at the screen. It was Giuli... with some guy. His hands around her waist. She was laughing as the guy feasted on her neck. 

I slowly swallowed the macaroons and licked my bottom lip. I looked at Giuli. “What the fuck is this?” I muttered, my voice low and dangerous.

Giuli stood beside me, stunned. “I don’t know what that is. That’s not—”

Whispers from the crowd turned into judgment. All eyes were on her and so am I.

"Birthday fucking slut." I heard as some guests commented. I looked at her and all I could feel was heat boiling in my chest. Betrayal. Humiliation. and Rage. It didn’t make sense. My head was in lost.

“You lied to me,” I spat, stepping back. “You fucking lied to me.” 

“No, Matteo. Listen to me I don’t even know who that is—”

I didn’t hear her. I didn’t want to hear any more of her lies.

“You cheated and kissed me like nothing happened?” I growled. My hand moved before I could stop it. A slap. It rang out louder than anything else in that moment.

She staggered, holding her cheek, eyes wide with shock. “W-what are you doing?” Her voice cracked.

I turned my back to her and walked. My hands trembled as I pushed past the stunned guests. I could hear her heels clicking behind me, could hear her begging me to stop. But I didn’t.

She grabbed my arm near the car, sobbing. “Matteo—please listen to me, this isn’t—”

I shoved her away, harder than I meant to. She fell against the side of the car. 

“Here's your fucking ring.” I snapped at her and threw the small box at her. “And don’t touch me.”

I got in and slammed the door, my knuckles white against the wheel. I drove off without looking back.

I wanted to get her out of my head so bad that I barely noticed it was past midnight. I heard the door creak open. I was still awake, but I didn’t expect her to come back at this hour. How dare she? Where does she even get the nerve to even come back after everything what happened?

Giuli stood at the doorway of my room.

She looked like she hadn’t stopped crying since the party. Her eyes were red, her makeup smudged, her dress wrinkled. Her voice was small when she called my name. “Matteo…”

And then her eyes dropped. To my chest. To the girl on my bed who's curled under my sheets. Valentine. Wearing my shirt. My hickey staining her neck.

“W-What is this…” Giuli whispered, stepping back like she’d been punched.

Valentine is an old lover. She's been trying to get to me for a couple of years. But I ignored her because my loyalty only lies to Giuli. But that woman betrayed me.

I didn’t even flinch. My voice came out cold, numb. “I told you I’m done.”

Her lips parted. “How could you do this to me? Matteo, that picture wasn’t real! I swear, someone’s trying to destroy us! I would never—”

“You think I care anymore?” I barked. “You let some guy touch you and laugh in his arms like a fucking slut. On your birthday. With all our friends watching.”

“It wasn’t real! why won’t you listen to me?!”

I got up and walked toward her, stopping only inches away. “I'm not blind! You think the whole fucking world didn’t see it? You embarrassed me, Giuli. I can’t even look at you without feeling sick.”

She looked up at me, her tears falling fast now. “I loved you…”

“Leave.” I muttered, looking at Valentine still asleep behind me. “You’re nothing to me.”

Giuli’s entire body trembled when she heard me. “You don’t mean that…”

“I do.”

She stared at me like she didn’t recognize the man in front of her. Then she ran down the stairs. I still see how she wiped her tears as she ran through the hallway until she leaves out the door and was gone.

And that… That was the last time I ever saw her.