Chapter 1: POV Andrea

The alarm rings. I crack my eyes open and notice a thin line of sunlight slipping through the curtain in my room. The smell of coffee drifts in from the kitchen, strong and familiar.

I sit up: today is the first day of my senior year in high school. I set my feet on the floor, and just as I’m about to get up, I hear my mother’s voice yelling down the hallway:

“Andrea! Andrea, wake up!”

Why does she have to shout like that? She knows I set my phone alarm.

I sigh, already tired before the day even begins.

Waking up to my family’s chaos is worse than hearing my phone ringtone.

I take a moment to gather my patience and energy, then head to the bathroom.

As I pass by the mirror, I catch my own reflection: the same face I’ve known all my life, yet it always feels a little different.

It’s been a few years since I realized I like both girls and boys. At first, it was confusing, but over time I understood—it’s just part of who I am.

I run a hand through my messy, stiff red hair. I’ve always loved my emerald-green eyes. Thanks to basketball, my body’s gotten more toned, and I’ve grown a few more centimeters—now almost one seventy-eight.

Not bad at all. Maybe… I’m starting to risk getting a big head?

After a shower, I turn to grab my T-shirt from the shelf by the shower, but it’s not there.

“Where’s my shirt?” I mutter.

Footsteps echo softly in the hallway. Maybe it’s my dad forgetting his work briefcase again. He’s as absentminded as I am.

Like father, like son, they say—and it’s true.

I probably left the shirt in my room.

I’d better hurry before he shows up…

I’m only a few steps from my bedroom when I hear my parents talking—maybe arguing, or just teasing each other playfully.

It makes me smile: whatever they say, I know they love each other, and they show it even in the smallest ways.

But then I stop, frowning.

If Dad’s in the kitchen with Mom… whose footsteps did I just hear in the hallway?

Don’t tell me he’s already here.

I swallow hard, a drop of water running down my face from my damp hair.

I knew today would be a long day, but I didn’t think it would start like this.

Slowly, I open my bedroom door. On my bed lies a white backpack.

No doubt about it… Lucas.

I grip the doorknob tighter, take a deep breath, and walk in.

The first thing I see is him, sitting on the edge of my desk, smiling while he pets Perla.

His blue curls catch the morning light, and every gesture of his is so naturally graceful. He touches her like she’s a feather, and the tenderness in his eyes convinces me he’s someone special.

Lost in thought, I don’t notice right away when he turns toward me. Only when our eyes meet do I freeze.

For a second, the room feels smaller.

“Why are you standing there staring at me like an idiot? I’ve been waiting,” he says with a half-smile.

I stiffen.

Me, an idiot? You’re the one looking like a lovesick puppy when you’re with Perla!

“I didn’t hear you knock,” I say, forcing a fake smile.

He shrugs casually.

“I knocked. Your mom let me in. You were probably too busy admiring yourself in the mirror, thinking how hot you look, to notice.”

Ugh. He knows exactly how to push my buttons.

I move toward my closet.

“I was just looking for my favorite Adidas shirt. Give me a sec, then we’ll go.”

I swing open the door—nothing.

Perfect. Standing half-naked in front of Lucas is just brilliant.

My palms start sweating as I search frantically, but the shirt is nowhere.

Maybe Mom threw it in the wash. I’ll have to ask her—I can’t stay like this with Lucas staring.

I turn, only to meet his gaze. Those deep blue eyes, fixed on me with a mysterious look.

I take a step back as his scent reaches me, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

He moves closer, as if he knows exactly what’s going on inside me.

The closer he gets, the more I try to retreat… and the tension in me builds.

Then he reaches out and grabs something—the missing shirt. He plops it onto my head with a smug grin.

“You should get your eyes checked,” he laughs. “It was right in front of you.”

I snatch the shirt off my head and pull it on, trying to look annoyed, but a smile slips out anyway.

He’s irritating… but kind of fun too.

“Come on, let’s go.”

As I head for the door, I hear him rummaging through his bag. He pulls out a white paper bag with Cornetteria da BigMama printed on it.

His eyes meet mine—no longer teasing, but unexpectedly gentle.

“Let’s have breakfast on the way.”

He tosses me the bag. I catch it just as he swings his backpack over his shoulder and heads toward the door.

We go downstairs and, between bites of cornetto and our usual banter, make our way to the station.

The street is lined with trees and little shops, apartments with tiny balconies overhead. Around us, kids our age are walking toward school while cars rush past in the morning traffic. In Bolzano, life has already returned to its normal rhythm.

Lucas walks a few steps ahead, hands in his pockets. Suddenly he stops, half-turns, and looks back at me.

Has he gotten taller since the last time?

Lost in thought, I’ve fallen behind without noticing. I quicken my pace to catch up—only to see him grinning.

But his smile isn’t aimed at me.

I follow his gaze down… and realize I’ve stepped straight into a puddle.

Lucas bursts out laughing, nearly doubled over. “Am I that handsome you lose focus?”

I turn my eyes away, cheeks burning hot. I want to be mad, really—but I can’t. Not when he keeps laughing like that, so light and carefree.

I stare down at my soaked shoes, trying to hide my face. Then a soft cough breaks the moment.

When I look up, he’s already heading back in the direction of my house.

“Let’s go change your shoes. I’ll walk with you.”

He strides ahead while I stay rooted for a second, watching him.

And I realize—despite the crowd passing by, it feels like there’s only the two of us.

I don’t know why I feel this way… and deep down, I don’t want to find out.

My eyes fall on the bracelet around my wrist: thin, with a charm shaped like infinity. The same one I gave Sole a few months ago.

I can’t keep going like this… I need to get back on track.

I take a deep breath and catch up to him, my heart pounding.

I had no idea I was already changing—nor how much my life, and the lives of the people I loved, were about to change forever.