As soon as these words were out of his mouth, he immediately regretted it when he turned to see her even more defeated expression.

"Sorry, Short Legs, I didn't mean it..."


Fanny shook her head.

"It's okay. Anyway, love is far from what's happening between us." She mumbled a little in the end, not really annoyed with Andy.

She knows he doesn't mean any harm by not communicating every detail of Michel's life to her, and honestly, she can understand why he thinks so about his mafia brother.


The two said nothing for a minute before Andy pulled out a pack of cigarettes, holding one out to her as a peace offer.

Fanny shook her head again, this time politely refusing.


"So what's really going on between you two?" He asked while sticking a cigarette between his lips, and lighting it up.

She sighed deeply before answering.

"Honestly, I have no clue..." She imitated him and picked up a few pebbles and threw them into the pond.

"I have a feeling for him but it's all so messy, you know?"

Andy nodded as he smoked his cigarette quickly, dropping it to the ground and stepping on it with his foot.

"Uh, I get you. But if that's any consolation to you... I don't think Michel has ever behaved so oddly."

Frowning, she threw the last pebble into the water and shoved her cold hand into her coat pocket.

"What do you mean?"

Andy shrugged.

"Can't really say. Just, there's definitely something going on, but I don't think anyone in the house really understands what it is."

And Fanny understood exactly what he meant by that.

Turning to look at him, she suddenly noticed a strange expression on his face that she had never seen before.

Somehow, he looks hurt, and distracted.

"Are you Okay?" She hesitantly asked.

"Huh?" He glanced at her, taking out another cigarette.

"You look like... I don't know..."

He seemed surprised to hear this from her.

As if he didn't expect anyone to notice his mood, his eyes searched her face for answers.

After a while, it was like he gave up trying to put up a front and let out a deep breath.

"Guess you're not the only one in a bad relationship." Then he admitted.

"If you can call it that," Fanny mumbled, receiving a chuckle from her friend next to her.

Fanny smiled at him but then nudged him on the shoulder.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"I can not tell you."

"You do not trust me?"

Andy shook his head, slowly smoking his cigarette.

"No, it's not like that... it's just complicated. If you knew, you'd be in an odd position."

"In a more exotic location than I was there?"

Turning his head, he let out another laugh, this time louder and more genuine.

"Moving."

Fanny smiled and waited for him to continue, picking up more pebbles from the ground, checking their shape in his palm before continuing to toss them into the pond one by one.

"I've seen this girl, I'm not sure if I can call it that but... yes, I have feelings for her. But we can't be together."

Brushing off the dust from her hands, she frowned.

"Why not? Because you need an alliance?"

Andy finished his cigarette and got up from the bench, paced back and forth a few steps, kicking a few rocks into the water.

"That too, but it's more complicated than that. She..."

"Oh my god, is she from the Phoenix gang?"

"Are you crazy? No. But, now that you're mentioning it, she can be too." He turned his back to her, facing the pond as he seemed to be deeply troubled by the thoughts in his head.

"Why?"

"She crossed the line, Short Legs..."

"She's not part of the mafia? Why is she off-limits?"

He turned to face her and took a few steps toward her to sit back on the bench.

"Because she's with someone else."

"Oh..."

"Uhh."

"Does she have feelings for you too?"

Andy nodded, locking eyes with her as he continued.

"Yes, she told me. But it doesn't depend on her and me. You can't mess with a mafia man's woman. Unless you want to die."

Fanny thought about this for a moment before she continued with another question.

"So she's part of the mafia, but she's with someone."

"That's right. To make an alliance. And the worst part is the man she's with - he doesn't even like her." He added.

"Then why."

"Because it's something to be proud of, Short Legs. She's his. There's nothing I can do about it."

"Even though she loves you? So how did you see her?"

Andy frowned at her as he couldn't help but smirk at her.

"No offense, but I don't really want to break my cover."

Smiling at her friend, Fanny nodded in understanding.

Instead, she just reached out and patted his arm.

"I'm sorry."

She let Andy lead her back to her room, which she immediately hid under the covers, eventually losing the battle in tears.

Fanny feels torn between hating Michel and her true feelings for him.

Why is he doing this to her when he has all these problems with someone or what she is?

Aside from being a virgin, she doesn't think she's that innocent, does she?

Not when she feels like this for him.

God, the way he touched her in her room first and then what happened last time in his room before Carlos walked in.

She couldn't forget how he felt.

Fanny never knew that one human being could make another react like that.

God, what happened to her?

Why can't she help but wish that he kept touching her? Continue to let her touch him?

She always thinks she's one of those girls who just can't get it when people walk into a physical relationship without ever defining something.

And now?

Now that she simply doesn't understand what or how she feels, exploring each other's bodies is part of discovering what she's looking for, right?

She was so confused.

Fanny wishes she could call Rosabella and tell all this to her.