Bella Notte (14 page)

Monday brought
nothing new. Mike still was out of sorts as well. My mind was filled
with possible answers to all these questions, and I began to start
seeing Dominic. The first few times it was only glimpses, like he was
trying to make me second guess myself. By the end of the day he was
sitting in my passenger seat.

I was alone as I
approached the car that I loved- Mike was staying after to finish his
project in shop.
What,
is he like stalking me now?

“
You know you
are trespassing in my property,” I said to him as I threw my
book bag into the back.

“
I know I've
been naughty, my Little Emma Bird, but I have never been known to
play fair when there's something I want.” He gazed at me.

I sighed. “What
is it that you
want
,
Dom?” I felt exasperated.

“
Surely, Emma,
you know what I truly want.” His gaze was burning into the
depths of my soul and his voice was buttery smooth.

“
Nope. Sorry.
Now get out of my car.” I nodded my head for extra emphasis.

“
Okay, but I
thought you could give me a ride since we're all leaving tomorrow for
Italy.” He smiled at me with a look that implied he'd won some
sort of game.

“
What the Hell
do you mean,
Italy
?
Everyone is coming here. Hell, I don't even have a passport.” I
flushed in anger.
Where
is Mike when I need him?

“
It was
decided that, since your family hasn't been to visit as a whole, that
the entire families would come together instead.” He tried to
look innocent.

“
You! You
little
monster
!
I so know this is your doing. Why are you intent on ruining my life?
It so won't change how I feel about you!” I felt my rage
leaping out of me. I was losing control and fast. “Get the
Hell
out of my car ... NOW!
”

“
Temper,
temper, Emma. Being angry won't change tomorrow. And it only shows
that the change is coming soon.” He jumped out of my beast and
walked away.

I climbed into my
black beauty and held the steering wheel. I watched my knuckles turn
white and felt the sweat drip off of me from my own internal heat.
What
is going on? I've never been so angry.
I sighed and prayed that he wouldn't come back. I calmed down and
drove home.

All the lights were
on when I got there and Dominic was sitting on the front steps.
What
have I done to deserve this?
I
was tempted to circle around the driveway and leave. I had absolutely
no desire to go anywhere- especially to another country. I didn't
want to be away from Mike that long.
How
can I leave the country without a passport?
Surely I can't. I found the glimpse of hope and held on tight to it.
I parked my Jeep and climbed out- leaving all my school books in the
back seat.

“
Grandpa!
Grandpa, I need to talk to you!” I called into the house as I
walked through the kitchen door.

“
I'm right
here, Emma darling. What is the matter?” He smiled at me.

“
Are we going
to Italy for Thanksgiving?” I tried not to sound as though I
would kill people depending on the answer.

“
Why, yes we
are. It was decided that you should get to see some of the places
that your parents travel to often and get to spend this holiday with
more of your family.” His tone told me it wasn't his idea but
there wasn't anything I could do to change it.

“
Okay, thanks
Grandpa.” I felt my fire burn itself out in defeat.

“
I'd suggest
that you pack your bag, Emma. We'll be there until December first.”
He seemed to know what his words meant to me-
probably
why he told me instead of someone else.

I merely nodded my
head and went up to my room. I called Mike to tell him the news but I
got his voice-mail. I left him the longest message I have ever left
in my lifetime and explained the evil of the universe was out to get
me- or something to that effect.
I
should be happy that I finally get to see some of the world- but
somehow I only feel gypped
.

I packed my bags and
stayed in my room- hoping Mike would call- he didn't. The feelings
inside deflated me and I eventually fell asleep- fully dressed, on my
made bed.

The dream I was
having was absolutely wonderful. I was in a beautiful green dress and
there was a spotlight shining directly on me. I couldn't see where I
was, but it didn't matter because I was singing a song. The language
of the song was one I had never heard before. The words made perfect
sense to me and seemed to weave a spell around me.

Come to me my one
true love,

You are the one
that I've been sent from above.

If there is
Heaven and Hell,

Then you are my
darkness and light as well.

A silhouette
appeared in my spotlight. He walked toward me as I sang.

Our dark sweet
love sends me shivers.

My soul seems to
be covered in trimmers.

My blood flows
thick and sweet through my veins,

Awaiting a kiss
that will set it ablaze.

Come to me and
share our immortal kiss,

Let's give in to
our destined eternal bliss.

“
Emma.”
The word was just my name but it was so sensual. The voice came from
the silhouette as it approached me; the face was still a mystery-
What
does it matter as long as my song called him? He must be my true
love.

As he reached me, we
embraced, even though I still couldn't see his face. I wrapped my
arms around him. His scent filled my nostrils sweetness swirled in a
spicy orange. A memory stirred as I leaned into our true love's kiss.

“
Emma.”
His voice was more breathed than spoken as he leaned into me.

I kissed him, a kiss
that seemed to shoot sparklers off in front of my eyes. My body,
soul, and mind, seemed to melt under the warmth of his lips. I pulled
him close to me and felt a new weight bearing down on me- my world
seemed to shift out from under me.

I opened my eyes and
the room was dark, and I was lying down. My clothes clung to me as a
result of the twisted sheet tunic I fashioned during my sleep. I
gasped for breath as I pushed a weight off my chest and that's when I
saw him. Dominic.
But
it was a dream
.
I realized I must have grabbed him in my sleep. I blushed fiercely.

“
What do you
want?” I said as I shoved him off of me.

“
Emma, I,
eh...” His words failed him. I could see the faint blushing on
his cheeks from the blazing hall light.

“
Well?”
I couldn't believe what happened.

“
It's, eh,
time to get up,
mia
bella
.
I came to wake you but you called out to me in a language you
shouldn't know. The words wrapped around me, Emma.” His eyes
shone with an emotion I had not seen since we were children. I
desperately wanted to reach out and hold him- that alone frightened
me.
Don't
let him fool you.

“
Why do I need
to get up? It's still dark.” I tried to put venom in my words,
but I knew it wasn't there because I was deeply affected by what had
happened. I so didn't want to be.

“
We are
leaving for the airport in two hours. If you want to shower, or
perhaps change, you need to get up now.” His eyes still showed
me something I couldn't understand, but his voice had leveled out.

I straightened out
my shirt. “Well, then I guess you better leave then, huh?”
I knew I failed at looking grumpy, but he left nonetheless.

I quickly grabbed
some comfy yoga pants and a well worn t-shirt and headed for the
shower. For some reason I couldn't get the adjustment of the shower
to right. Instead, I managed to shock myself awake with freezing
water and then scald myself alert with burning water.
All
I want to do is go back to bed and pretend this didn't happen. How
could he hear the song? Did he understand it? Or did it simply just
call out to him ... maybe it's some weird spell
?
All the questions in the universe filled my now aching head, not one
of them was “why had I kissed him?” though.

By the time I got
out of the shower, my two hours were gone. My bags had been taken
downstairs-
probably
by Dominic
.
I blushed.

My brain was
shouting at me about such reactions but something inside encouraged
it. I closed my bedroom door and walked downstairs to find both Mike
and Dominic waiting for me to come out.
I
really have pissed someone off in the ethereal state.

“
Eh. Hey guys.
Did I miss something? Mike are you coming with?” I felt guilty
all of a sudden.

“
Emma, we are
the only ones here. They told me to bring you after you say your
goodbyes to him.” Dominic was different.
What
am I going to do about him?

“
No, Em, I'm
not coming but I wanted to say bye. Call me if you can. We'll hang
out when you get back, okay?” Mike suddenly didn't sound as
sure as he usually did.

“
Awe. You got
up crazy early just to say bye! That's so sweet. Of course we'll do
something awesome when I get back. I'm really sorry about this.”
I rushed into his arms and kissed him on the cheek. “God, I'm
gonna miss you!”

“
No worries,
I'll miss you more. Anyways, have fun. Go on, you're gonna be late.”
He hugged me tight and then backed away.

“
Okay. See ya
soon.” My mind was confused.
What
am I going to do about this mess?

I walked with the
two boys to the car outside. Mike climbed onto his bike and waved
goodbye. I got into the black sports car waiting to take me on a new
adventure with the guy who'd suddenly transformed in my eyes. This is
going to be an awesome trip. Even my mind was cracking jokes at my
expense.

Being inside the
sleek black car felt odd and slightly frightening. The world flew by
and I was assaulted with the now sickeningly sweet scent of spicy
orange. Guilt flowed through every ounce of my being, and I knew that
all of this would be a problem for me in the end. It was Dominic's
voice that finally broke my revere.

“
You know he
was out there all night? Just waiting for you.” His tone
suggested he wasn't lying.

“
You mean Mike
waited outside, all night long?” I felt shocked and my guilt
level kicked up a few more notches.
I
suck. He was out there waiting to say bye all night … and I
made out with Dominic. I know there is a corner of Hell reserved for
people like me.

“
Yup. He
showed up around eleven. I tried to tell him you were asleep, but he
wanted to wait. I even offered him to come inside. The look on his
face was priceless; he still said he wanted to stay outside. I made
him a hot chocolate and left him to bay at the moon.” He stared
forward at the road; perhaps he was shocked at his own behavior,
because I sure was.

“
I can't
believe it. Why didn't someone wake me up?” I stared at the
grayish blurs as they rushed by the car.

“
We tried at
first, but you wouldn't wake. At some point, the rest of the family
had to go to sleep.” He smiled at the road.

“
Wait.
The
rest
?
You didn't go to sleep either?” I felt my world coming unglued.
Why
would he stay up?

“
Sì
,
mia
bella
.
I stayed up too. I wanted to make sure you got to shower and say bye
to Michael. I knew everyone else would let you sleep. I get the next
weeks with you- which I hope you enjoy, but I know you were hoping to
spend time with him.”