‘Ha! You think?’
‘Definitely. A few people DM’d after I shared the San Marco piece, all saying “about time!”.’
I brush a few pastry flakes from the table. ‘I kind of notice when people go quiet. Do you think they’d pick up on it if we both posted the same thing?’
‘What do you mean?’
I pull up two photos – one of his final float and one of mine. I make a simple collage with the two shots side by side and send it to Leo.
‘Share at the same time?’ I ask.
He grins, then counts us in. ‘One, two, three.’
We tap.
I pick up my cappuccino, the hiss of the coffee machine filling the gaps as we watch the hearts and comments trickle in.
‘Look.’ Leo shows me a comment.
@NeonInk: Anyone else seeing double?
@PixelQueen: Guys. It’s a Sketchy & Rebel collab!
@artbyjorge: Did you meet on here? If yes, how?
Leo wiggles his brows. ‘Someone else must be having the same blanks we did.’
I laugh, then sober when I get a text from Grace.
You should probably come back, everyone’s up. Silvia’s just arrived.
I show Leo the message. ‘Silvia’s there and it’s barely 7 a.m. That can’t be good, can it?’
We drag ourselves back, reluctantly, stopping every now and then to share a last kiss … then a few more, until we’re at the palazzo and our private bubble bursts.
‘See,’ Grace says as we walk in. ‘Told you they’d just popped out for breakfast.’
Everyone’s here.
Mum and Dad are swooning over their espressos like they’ve never tasted proper coffee before. Leo’s parents are at the kitchen island with Silvia, heads bent over a spread of papers.
‘We’ve had time to talk about things,’ Silvia says, sifting through the pile as she speaks. ‘And to think carefully about what happens next.’
She lifts a thick, cream-coloured sheet and holds it up.
My breath catches.
The certificate.
The real thing – the InterSTEAM logo stamped across the bottom and everything.
‘We want to give you this,’ Silvia continues. ‘Butyour … let’s say, less than honest choices … will have consequences.’
For a horrible second I think this is as far as it goes.
‘It just so happens that one of the committee members runs a media arts centre here in Venice. After watching the parade, he thought you could be of use. You are to intern there this summer – assisting with their children’s programme.’
I stare at her. ‘That’s … the consequence?’
