Loving His Demons

Classes

**Phoebe's POV**

one week later

I woke up to my phone alarm going off. It was five in the morning. I mentally scolded myself for telling myself that I would not get lazy, and continue some type of work out routine while in college. I rolled out of bed, careful not to wake up Sofia. She is NOT an early riser, and becomes a tyrant for the rest of the day if she is woken up before she is ready. Which is why she signed up for late morning and afternoon classes. I quickly dressed in my athletic shorts and a  tee shirt. I tied my hair into a high messy bun then went to the bathroom down the hall to wash my face, and brush my teeth. 

"Your a morning person, I see." I jumped at a deep voice that called after me when I was walking back to my room. I turned to see the same guy that helped Nathan pick Darry and I up from the airport. 

"Giovanni." I gasped, placing my hand over my heart. "You scared me."

A smile played at the corner of his lips as he took a few steps closer. "You remembered me." He licked his lips and looked to the floor before his dark eyes found mine again.

"You're hard to forget." I whispered, not meaning to say my thoughts out loud. His smile went from hiding to presenting itself across his glorious face. "I-I- mean, I'm good with names and faces." I tried to clarify, but his smile never left. "What are you doing on the all girl's floor?" 

He stuffed his hands into his pockets and continued to stare into my eyes. The more I look into his eyes, the more I feel myself growing nervous. Goosebumps on the back of my neck, dryness in my mouth, and suddenly feeling like air is harder to find. 

"Is Sofia awake yet?" He asked. I didn't know he knew my roommate, maybe they're dating? But she didn't mention having a boyfriend. "I work with her family. Her mother would like to talk to her."

"Oh, I thought maybe you two were-"

"We're not." He c****d his head to the side. "What about you?" He smiled. I didn't know he could smile. From the short time I spent with him he was so brooding and intense. This was so different. 

"What about me?" I responded so quietly I doubt he heard me. 

Giovanni stepped a few steps closer until I could see that his eyes were not that dark, but a deep grey that was so beautiful. "Are you... unattached? Single?" Not being able to find my voice I nodded 'yes'. His smile seemed to beam with happiness. "Good." 

Then suddenly his smile left and he looked at me with an intensity I never seen before. I felt trapped in my spot. His eyes traveling from my eyes to my lips, then back to my eyes. As if seeking for permission. I looked at his lips and wondered if they were as soft as they looked. He leaned down a few inches, we were just breaths away. Surprisingly his smile stretched across his face once more as he whispered to me. 

"Please have Sofia meet me downstairs in fifteen minutes." He then turned and walked back down the hallway towards the stairs. "Have a great morning, tesoro." 

It took me a few moments before I was able to move, but soon I was closing my door, and leaning against it for support. Why was he so captivating? I need to get out and clear my head. It was nothing. I just lost my senses because I never really been close to anyone like that before. Especially a boy. Man. He was all man. When I finally gathered my thoughts I dropped my toiletry bag on my bed, and rushed over to Sofia. I tried to shake her awake, but she groaned and turned her back to me. 

"Sofia!" I whisper yelled. These walls are so thin, I didn't want to piss of my neighbors. "Sofia, Giovanni is waiting for you downstairs. 

She groaned as she stuffed her head under her pillow and shouted. "Digli di bruciare all'inferno per avermi disturbato." (Tell him to burn in hell for disturbing me.) She mumbled. 

"Okaaaaaay." I said confused. Italian was a beautiful language, but I didn't understand it at all. "Come on he said you had fifteen minutes. Your mom wants to see you."

Sofia quickly popped her head up, and then quickly jumped out of bed and started to throw some clean clothes on. "s**t, my mom is here. She never leaves home unless it's important." 

I giggled as I watched her hop around while trying to put on her shoes. Then something came to mind. "Hey, Sofia. What does tesoro mean?" 

She continued to move around the room as I sat on my bed and watched her frantic state. "In English it means 'treasure' but it is a term of endearment. Like 'darling'." She stopped in the middle of the room and then turned to face me. "Did Giovanni call you that?" 

As a friend I thought maybe she would give me a look of approval, but instead her face seemed disappointed. Did she have feelings for him? "No. I overheard someone say it the other day, and I just remembered now when you were speaking Italian." I smiled at her reassuringly. 

Sofia nodded her head as she tide up her long wavy locks in a pony tail. "Okay, good. He just isn't... a good guy for you. You're innocent and good. He is just.. not." She grabbed her purse and ran for the door. "See you later!" And she was gone. 

Before my thoughts could run wild, and I give myself a headache, I slipped on my running shoes and went outside. Even though cardio is the absolute worse, I didn't want to go to the gym here on campus. Having a home gym back in New York was awesome because I never had to worry about anyone watching me. I went to Darry's favorite gym where he liked to flirt with girls, and I had a lot of unwanted male attention. So I stuck with my home gym after that. As I step out into the early morning I took a deep breath, and walked to a tree nearby the start of a trail. I did a few stretches and then started my jog. 

There was only a few other students awake and on the trail. Not a lot of morning people here I guess, or maybe most are at the gym. Maybe if I can figure out what time the gym is mostly deserted, I can have an hour in there to myself. Images of Giovanni came to mind. How his playful smile played at the corner of his lips. The way his eyes studied my mouth, and how he leaned closer. Taunting me. I shook my head. I came out here to clear my mind, not get it worked up. Just ahead of me, I saw Nathan stop running and step aside to do some push ups. I tried to keep my head down and run passed him, but as soon as I was about to pass, he jumped up and saw me. I continued to run, but of course he caught up to me. 

"Good morning." He gleefully greeted me. "I didn't take you for a morning person." I just nodded, wanting to get back to my silent work out, but of course Nathan is chatty in the mornings. "Oh, come on. You're going to give me the silent treatment?"

I took a deep breath and stopped. I turned to him, and placed my hands on my hips. "Nathan, I like to work out alone. I like quiet."

"Are you saying that just because of our talk last week-"

"I already told you I'm not a vir-"

"I'm sorry." He interrupted me. "It's far too personal, and absolutely none of my business. I would just like to forget about it, because I know you have been avoiding me and I don't want you to. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable around me, and would actually like us to be friends."

Nathan smiled down at me, his hazel green eyes staring into mine. I have seen him look at other girls, but he didn't look at me with lust. He was being genuine. "Friends." I nodded as I smiled back. "And silent runs." 

He did the gesture of zipping his mouth and throwing away the key. I giggled at his playfulness, and we continued down the trail. The trail was almost five miles long and it went through various parts of campus. I preferred nature trails, but this one will do for now, until I can explore around California some more. When we finished, I had just about an hour for my first class. Nathan and I said our goodbyes when he dropped me off in front of my building. I quickly ran upstairs, and into my dorm room, which was still empty and a mess. So Sofia isn't back yet. I grabbed some clean clothes, changed into my shower sandals, and grabbed my toiletry bag and a towel. I headed for the bathroom at the end of the hall, with a smile on my face, ready to take on my first day of classes. 

Walking into my first class felt surreal. The tables were arranged in four different levels into a horseshoe shape. In high school I sat in the front, but I saw there were name tags in front of the chairs. I didn't think there would be a seating chart, but maybe it just made it easier on the professor to get to know our names and faces. I took my place in the second row, the farthest chair on the left, farthest from the door which actually made me uncomfortable. I don't know why, but I always liked being near the door. 

I was among the first few entering the class, thankfully no one sat next to me yet. I was never good with the awkward first greetings. I placed my laptop in front of me, along with a note pad and a pencil. Suddenly the air changed, and I felt those same goosebumps on the back of my neck. The chair next to me was pulled out, and I saw in my peripheral vision those tattoos peeking out of his tee shirt. I took a deep breath and turned to face him. 

"Giovanni." I smiled. "You have intro to business? I thought you were an upperclassman with Nathan?"

"No. I'm an undergrad." He crossed his arms on top of the table, and leaned a little closer. "I didn't take you for the business route. Maybe medicine, or design." A smile played at the corned of his lips like this morning. "You sure you can handle it?"

Before I could tell him that I have been working with my dad, learning everything I could, a girl came to stand in front of us. She had short black hair, blue eyes, and glasses. The clothes she wore were a little too big, and she looked like she was extremely shy. 

"Sorry, but that is my chair." She whispered. 

Giovanni picked up her name tag, and looked at her with an amused look. "Melony, is it? How about I just switch our name tags?" His voice was deep and demanding, and it was uncomfortable. 

"Giovanni!" I whisper yelled. "Leave her alone! Just go sit in your seat."

Just then the professor walked in along with the rest of the students. "Professor Gregory." Giovanni called. The professor turned and his face paled in fear. "I like this seat better. Has more-" He looked to me and smiled. "Appeal."

"V-v-very w-well." He stuttered. 

"Bye Melony." He shooed her away. This was going to be a very interesting semester.