Post by silent.lullaby on Jul 7, 2010 14:27:18 GMT -5
//We Run This Town//Chapter 024// What Happens In Italy (Part One)
I sat back a moment and Kaper helped her brother sit up, “Jesus! Are you okay Ivan?” He nodded yes, but his nose was bloodied and his eyes were already turning black and blue. Kaper continued fussing on Ivan, pushing his messy dark chocolate locks from his face. “Is there any ice in your coolers?” she asked.
Blaire wrapped up a few cubes in a napkin and passed it to her before sending a look my way. One that read clearly as: what the hell?
“What was that?” Gemma asked grabbing my arm, hauling me to my feet and dragging me a few steps away. “Have you lost your god damned mind?”
“No,” I replied sharply wrenching my arm away.
“Really, cause running up, football tackling and punching a guy kind of screams LOST IT!”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” I snapped back since the defence of honesty had to stay quiet. “But I did it for you.”
Gemma shook her head, “really now, thanks so much,” she said sarcastically. “Fuck Lil, you’ve either lost it or you’re a real bitch.”
“Choose one,” I replied walking away from her.
Lucia and Preston ran up, “what the hell happened?” He demanded.
“Nothing, false alarm.” I replied, “Did you find Max?”
Preston sighed, “yup, he had gotten caught in traffic. He’s on the field now,” he pointed him out. “You okay Lil, you look... jumpy.”
“Yeah, it’s nothing.” He studied me a minute longer, he didn’t look like he believed me, but perhaps he knew enough that I wouldn’t tell him so he let it be.
Lucia grabbed my hand as I went to return to watching the game. “What happened?”
“Nothing Lucy.”
“You’re lying.” She called me out. I stared at her. “I’m here for you, you know,” she said shuffling her feet and looking down. “It’s okay if you don’t trust me.”
I sighed, “it’s not that I don’t trust you Luce!”
“Than what?” She wanted to know, “I know what goes on Lili. I’m not dense, or ignorant. I might not like it, but I accept it. I’d do anything for you or those girls,” she pointed to our friends. “I’d do anything for you, my sisters, and for our brothers, even if it went against my moral compass.”
I smiled and put my forehead against hers. “I know Lucy. But I’d like to keep your compass at due north unless absolutely necessary.”
She pursed her lips, “why don’t you tell Preston.”
“Luce, understand, when I say I can’t tell anyone, get any help. Believe that I mean it.”
She nodded, “understood.”
I nodded in return. “Lets watch the game.”
Our team won the game. Cheerleaders danced and Preston was happy. All was well in everyone’s world. Well except for Gemma, she kept shooting me glares. Ivan even looked fairly content for a guy that got tackled and punched, then again if I was a guy and Gemma was hovering over me and taking care of me, I’d be content too. Plus as far as I knew Ivan was one of those shy, quiet computer guys, he was pretty good looking, cute and innocent kind of look. Not Gemma’s normal type, but if she went out with him, I’d be happy. Her usual type looked dangerous and in my opinion, wore too much leather.
Days went by and all I could think of was the texts and the phone call.
“You keep forgetting to...Lilianna, you listening?”
“Huh? Sorry Gavin, I wasn’t. Could you run that by me again?”
Gavin sighed, “for the seventh time? You want to call it a day and try again tomorrow when maybe you’ll be a little more focussed.”
“It’s due tomorrow.” I replied sighing and putting my head against the table.
“What’s up Lil? Is it something you want to talk about? Did you get another call?”
“Texts” I replied after reaching over to lock the door to the tiny room. I showed them to him and he shook his head. “All I can do is wonder and I can’t think of anything. Maybe you could play be the call again?”
He booted up the computer, “you could still go to the police.”
“They’re calling from a disposable phone. Trust me,” I said when he looked like he might argue.
Sighing he logged in and opened the program, “if you say so,” he turned the monitor so I could see before playing it. I told him to stop it and he did.
“Can you slow it down?” I asked.
“Yeah, sure.” He clicked a few things and highlighted a part of it before hitting play.
Slowed the voice spoke, “If I wanted you to know who I am, I wouldn’t use the synthesiser now would I?” Slow motion laugher broke up the speach. “I’ll see you around Lilianna. Oh, and don’t tell your family or your friends about this, wouldn’t want them to know who you’re getting lessons from would you?”
“Play it again,” I demanded leaning forward. And he did, “again.” I demanded and Gavin played it again. “I think I might know who it is.”
“What? How could you recognize the voice? It’s falsified, even if you think you hear similarities they’re product of the synthesizer!”
I smiled and shook my head, “the synthesizer sure masks voice, but it can’t mask an accent.”
Gavin played it over again, I seen his forehead wrinkle in concentration. “I hear it too...” he looked at me, “Italian?”
I nodded, “how I recognized it, my Grandparents have it and even my Father and Uncle still have it. It’s definitely and Italian accent.”
“And you’ve only ever pissed off one Italian?”
I glared at him, “I’m sure I’ve pissed off a few... but...” I shook my head, “I can’t tell you.”
“What? You have to! I’m the only one who knows about this and you can’t go vigilantly and... you can’t deal with this on your own Lili.”
“You can’t help me, your idea of help is going to the police, and letting them do their job. That won’t work!”
“Yes it will.”
“My dad got out.”
He stared at me for a long minute. “And your saying this guy can too.”
“I guarantee it.”
“What are you planning to do Lil?”
I looked down. I wanted Gavin to like me. More than that I wanted him to respect me. I should have walked away the second he was given to me as a tutor. I looked up at him with determination in my eyes and surely a little bit of sadness because soon enough he’d know my words were true. “Whatever I have too.” Which means killing this bastard.
“Alone?”
“Yeah... alone.” I grabbed my things stuffing them in my backpack and swinging it into place. “Take care Gavin.” I walked over to his side of the table and touched his shoulders and thought, hey what the hell, I probably won’t make it through the next twenty-four hours with what I’m going to have to do.
I grabbed either side of his face and kissed him hard square on the lips, finally giving into the butterflies. He grabbed the back of my head, I half expected him to pull me off him but instead he pulled me close. He grabbed behind my knee forcing me onto his lap as his tongue ran against my bottom lip. We moved back slowly our foreheads touching. I felt his hand slide in my pocket and pulled out my phone he did something to it before handing it to me, “I programmed your speed dial for me, I took over the first slot. If you need me... for anything,” he stared at me hard and I knew in a shaky second he meant it. “Call me.”
I nodded breathing hard. “I’ll remember that.” I got off him and walked backwards to the door, his eyes were hypnotising. I unlocked the door and nearly ran from the school. I walked a block before I started checking doors of cars till I found one unlocked and I knew from the make, it was one easily hotwired. I did just that and drove off. I thought of Gavin, the kiss, I touched my lips. My thoughts went to Kaper, Gavin’s girlfriend and I felt like a home wrecking slut. “They’ve only been going out for a few weeks... not even a month yet.” Still I felt guilty. Kaper was my friend, a good, loving, honest kind of girl, and I just jumped her boyfriend.
I shook my head clear, more important, more pressing matters. Ones that had roots to my time in Italy....
“Lilianna! You’re going to be late!” Marcella called from the bottom of the stairs.
“Coming Gran!” I shouted back, I checked my reflection in the mirror first, hair was swept up, make-up was fresh and natural, and clothing was old, and tattered, perfect for an art class where I was probably going to be getting messy with all kinds of mediums. I was so excited for the classes, they were going to be amazing, I’d learn so much! I ran down the stairs and right past Marcella, I twirled on my toes and smiled at her, “come on!”
Marcella laughed but followed me out to the car, she had drivers and limos, but only used them on occasions in which making an entrance was necessary. For community college art classes the tiny, shiny car would do just fine, best not to flaunt.
I waved goodbye to her from the doors as she drove back home and I went in. I found my way around the school fairly easily. The classes were given in Italian, but since there were so many English speaking students there that summer they’d hired a translator so I’d be just fine. Stepping in I could smell clay, the room was white, bare like the canvas’s that were set up. I took one on the English speaking side, there were two males, I’d come to know as Westly Smith and Jack Valentio.
Westly was born in America, but his mother is Italian and he came with her during that summer to meet her side of the family he’d never really known. Friendly and fun, Westly wanted to get out and meet some people on his own, apparently his grandmother wanted to hook him up with ‘a nice Italian girl.’ I didn’t think he’d have any trouble with the ladies, he had those sleepy eyes, but his eyes were always a clear blue and he was lively. Sun streaked dirty blond hair that kept getting into his eyes.
Then there was Jack, we really hit it off. He was Italian born, but he had family in New York, Rochester of all places. He spoke both fluently, but his English was tweaked with his strong accent. He was freakishly tall, six-five and eighteen years old he dwarfed me. His black hair was cut and well groomed, his eyes were a blue-grey that could be cold when angered, but bright when happy. His lips, smooth and warm. I’d know too. I’d kissed them a lot back then.
“Hey,” I had said stepping up to them. “Excited?” I’d asked.
“It’s going to be pretty sweet,” Westly had responded before looking to Jack.
Jack had looked directly into my eyes when he responded, “I think so too.”
I sat back a moment and Kaper helped her brother sit up, “Jesus! Are you okay Ivan?” He nodded yes, but his nose was bloodied and his eyes were already turning black and blue. Kaper continued fussing on Ivan, pushing his messy dark chocolate locks from his face. “Is there any ice in your coolers?” she asked.
Blaire wrapped up a few cubes in a napkin and passed it to her before sending a look my way. One that read clearly as: what the hell?
“What was that?” Gemma asked grabbing my arm, hauling me to my feet and dragging me a few steps away. “Have you lost your god damned mind?”
“No,” I replied sharply wrenching my arm away.
“Really, cause running up, football tackling and punching a guy kind of screams LOST IT!”
“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” I snapped back since the defence of honesty had to stay quiet. “But I did it for you.”
Gemma shook her head, “really now, thanks so much,” she said sarcastically. “Fuck Lil, you’ve either lost it or you’re a real bitch.”
“Choose one,” I replied walking away from her.
Lucia and Preston ran up, “what the hell happened?” He demanded.
“Nothing, false alarm.” I replied, “Did you find Max?”
Preston sighed, “yup, he had gotten caught in traffic. He’s on the field now,” he pointed him out. “You okay Lil, you look... jumpy.”
“Yeah, it’s nothing.” He studied me a minute longer, he didn’t look like he believed me, but perhaps he knew enough that I wouldn’t tell him so he let it be.
Lucia grabbed my hand as I went to return to watching the game. “What happened?”
“Nothing Lucy.”
“You’re lying.” She called me out. I stared at her. “I’m here for you, you know,” she said shuffling her feet and looking down. “It’s okay if you don’t trust me.”
I sighed, “it’s not that I don’t trust you Luce!”
“Than what?” She wanted to know, “I know what goes on Lili. I’m not dense, or ignorant. I might not like it, but I accept it. I’d do anything for you or those girls,” she pointed to our friends. “I’d do anything for you, my sisters, and for our brothers, even if it went against my moral compass.”
I smiled and put my forehead against hers. “I know Lucy. But I’d like to keep your compass at due north unless absolutely necessary.”
She pursed her lips, “why don’t you tell Preston.”
“Luce, understand, when I say I can’t tell anyone, get any help. Believe that I mean it.”
She nodded, “understood.”
I nodded in return. “Lets watch the game.”
Our team won the game. Cheerleaders danced and Preston was happy. All was well in everyone’s world. Well except for Gemma, she kept shooting me glares. Ivan even looked fairly content for a guy that got tackled and punched, then again if I was a guy and Gemma was hovering over me and taking care of me, I’d be content too. Plus as far as I knew Ivan was one of those shy, quiet computer guys, he was pretty good looking, cute and innocent kind of look. Not Gemma’s normal type, but if she went out with him, I’d be happy. Her usual type looked dangerous and in my opinion, wore too much leather.
Days went by and all I could think of was the texts and the phone call.
“You keep forgetting to...Lilianna, you listening?”
“Huh? Sorry Gavin, I wasn’t. Could you run that by me again?”
Gavin sighed, “for the seventh time? You want to call it a day and try again tomorrow when maybe you’ll be a little more focussed.”
“It’s due tomorrow.” I replied sighing and putting my head against the table.
“What’s up Lil? Is it something you want to talk about? Did you get another call?”
“Texts” I replied after reaching over to lock the door to the tiny room. I showed them to him and he shook his head. “All I can do is wonder and I can’t think of anything. Maybe you could play be the call again?”
He booted up the computer, “you could still go to the police.”
“They’re calling from a disposable phone. Trust me,” I said when he looked like he might argue.
Sighing he logged in and opened the program, “if you say so,” he turned the monitor so I could see before playing it. I told him to stop it and he did.
“Can you slow it down?” I asked.
“Yeah, sure.” He clicked a few things and highlighted a part of it before hitting play.
Slowed the voice spoke, “If I wanted you to know who I am, I wouldn’t use the synthesiser now would I?” Slow motion laugher broke up the speach. “I’ll see you around Lilianna. Oh, and don’t tell your family or your friends about this, wouldn’t want them to know who you’re getting lessons from would you?”
“Play it again,” I demanded leaning forward. And he did, “again.” I demanded and Gavin played it again. “I think I might know who it is.”
“What? How could you recognize the voice? It’s falsified, even if you think you hear similarities they’re product of the synthesizer!”
I smiled and shook my head, “the synthesizer sure masks voice, but it can’t mask an accent.”
Gavin played it over again, I seen his forehead wrinkle in concentration. “I hear it too...” he looked at me, “Italian?”
I nodded, “how I recognized it, my Grandparents have it and even my Father and Uncle still have it. It’s definitely and Italian accent.”
“And you’ve only ever pissed off one Italian?”
I glared at him, “I’m sure I’ve pissed off a few... but...” I shook my head, “I can’t tell you.”
“What? You have to! I’m the only one who knows about this and you can’t go vigilantly and... you can’t deal with this on your own Lili.”
“You can’t help me, your idea of help is going to the police, and letting them do their job. That won’t work!”
“Yes it will.”
“My dad got out.”
He stared at me for a long minute. “And your saying this guy can too.”
“I guarantee it.”
“What are you planning to do Lil?”
I looked down. I wanted Gavin to like me. More than that I wanted him to respect me. I should have walked away the second he was given to me as a tutor. I looked up at him with determination in my eyes and surely a little bit of sadness because soon enough he’d know my words were true. “Whatever I have too.” Which means killing this bastard.
“Alone?”
“Yeah... alone.” I grabbed my things stuffing them in my backpack and swinging it into place. “Take care Gavin.” I walked over to his side of the table and touched his shoulders and thought, hey what the hell, I probably won’t make it through the next twenty-four hours with what I’m going to have to do.
I grabbed either side of his face and kissed him hard square on the lips, finally giving into the butterflies. He grabbed the back of my head, I half expected him to pull me off him but instead he pulled me close. He grabbed behind my knee forcing me onto his lap as his tongue ran against my bottom lip. We moved back slowly our foreheads touching. I felt his hand slide in my pocket and pulled out my phone he did something to it before handing it to me, “I programmed your speed dial for me, I took over the first slot. If you need me... for anything,” he stared at me hard and I knew in a shaky second he meant it. “Call me.”
I nodded breathing hard. “I’ll remember that.” I got off him and walked backwards to the door, his eyes were hypnotising. I unlocked the door and nearly ran from the school. I walked a block before I started checking doors of cars till I found one unlocked and I knew from the make, it was one easily hotwired. I did just that and drove off. I thought of Gavin, the kiss, I touched my lips. My thoughts went to Kaper, Gavin’s girlfriend and I felt like a home wrecking slut. “They’ve only been going out for a few weeks... not even a month yet.” Still I felt guilty. Kaper was my friend, a good, loving, honest kind of girl, and I just jumped her boyfriend.
I shook my head clear, more important, more pressing matters. Ones that had roots to my time in Italy....
“Lilianna! You’re going to be late!” Marcella called from the bottom of the stairs.
“Coming Gran!” I shouted back, I checked my reflection in the mirror first, hair was swept up, make-up was fresh and natural, and clothing was old, and tattered, perfect for an art class where I was probably going to be getting messy with all kinds of mediums. I was so excited for the classes, they were going to be amazing, I’d learn so much! I ran down the stairs and right past Marcella, I twirled on my toes and smiled at her, “come on!”
Marcella laughed but followed me out to the car, she had drivers and limos, but only used them on occasions in which making an entrance was necessary. For community college art classes the tiny, shiny car would do just fine, best not to flaunt.
I waved goodbye to her from the doors as she drove back home and I went in. I found my way around the school fairly easily. The classes were given in Italian, but since there were so many English speaking students there that summer they’d hired a translator so I’d be just fine. Stepping in I could smell clay, the room was white, bare like the canvas’s that were set up. I took one on the English speaking side, there were two males, I’d come to know as Westly Smith and Jack Valentio.
Westly was born in America, but his mother is Italian and he came with her during that summer to meet her side of the family he’d never really known. Friendly and fun, Westly wanted to get out and meet some people on his own, apparently his grandmother wanted to hook him up with ‘a nice Italian girl.’ I didn’t think he’d have any trouble with the ladies, he had those sleepy eyes, but his eyes were always a clear blue and he was lively. Sun streaked dirty blond hair that kept getting into his eyes.
Then there was Jack, we really hit it off. He was Italian born, but he had family in New York, Rochester of all places. He spoke both fluently, but his English was tweaked with his strong accent. He was freakishly tall, six-five and eighteen years old he dwarfed me. His black hair was cut and well groomed, his eyes were a blue-grey that could be cold when angered, but bright when happy. His lips, smooth and warm. I’d know too. I’d kissed them a lot back then.
“Hey,” I had said stepping up to them. “Excited?” I’d asked.
“It’s going to be pretty sweet,” Westly had responded before looking to Jack.
Jack had looked directly into my eyes when he responded, “I think so too.”