Authors: Amy Rachiele
My body stiffens from his declaration and I’m
forced into surprised silence.
“Ummm.” I didn’t know what to say. Troy and I
always had a gentle understanding-we are friends, best friends. His
words shock me. Upsetting him while he’s drunk is the last thing I
want to do. The silence between us lengthened. I could hear people
laughing in the background over his cell phone. A girl screamed and
snickered in the din.
“Troy?” He didn’t answer right away.
“I gotta go… they are people here.” He slurs
and the phone clicks off. Sitting on my bed, I stare at the wall.
How did my life change so quickly? Troy’s words replay in my mind;
‘
I thought I was going to marry you.’
I’m not sure how long I stared at the wall
because when I opened my eyes the first thing I saw was my ceiling.
I must have fallen asleep. My phone buzzed with a text. A lump
formed in my throat. But it wasn’t from Troy, it was from
Antonio,
Have to do some stuff for a few days so
won’t be at school. Can’t wait for Saturday! I will miss u.
His words about missing me stir feelings I
never felt before. I miss him too. I was giddy and sad at the same
time. I was happy he would miss me but depressed I wouldn’t see him
for a couple of days. Those four little words meant more to me than
Troy’s professing of marriage and a part of me despised myself for
it. I was falling too hard and too fast. The butterfly was back in
my stomach flying in happy circles. I texted him back:
Okday I’ll miss u 2
Raven picked me up for school and Erin caught
a ride with us. For this ride Erin isn’t bouncing in her seat like
she was in Antonio’s car. Thinking his name causes a pang in my
chest.
Walking down the hallways was odd. I have
done it for the past three years. This is different though. The
last few days with Antonio walking with me and being in auto
mechanics class with me changed something. I actually enjoy the
anticipation of seeing him and just being with him. He has been a
perfect gentleman. Even Vito is starting to grow on me. Louie talks
to me in all my classes now. He is really a nice guy.
People I don’t even know say hello as they
pass me in the hall. Maria obviously is not happy about me spending
time with Antonio. She is constantly trying to get his attention.
She’ll stand in front of me to talk to Antonio. Maria will
interrupt conversations to put in her two cents.
It’s
annoying!
Antonio always dismisses her forward advances. I
can’t help but wonder if they have had something going on
before.
“Hey, Red!” Vito says as he sits down next to
me in auto-mechanics class where Antonio usually sits.
“Hi.” I say back. I see Maria coming down the
aisle between the black topped desks. A frown has marred her
features. If my mother saw that face, she would say that she better
watch out or her face might freeze that way. There is something
about Maria, I just don’t like her.
Vito stiffens next to me.
“Who am I gonna sit with?” Maria complains as
she runs her fingers through her long black hair.
Vito regarded her like he wanted to say
something, and I am guessing it wouldn’t be nice. Maria sat at the
vacant table on her stool with a huff. I rolled my eyes at her
grumbling.
“How’s Tony, Vito? I heard last night was
brutal.”
Vito glanced at Maria across the aisle,
giving her a severe warning. Maria didn’t take the hint and I
didn’t want her to.
What happened last night
? Worry and
wonder creep into my chest followed by sharp panic.
“Is it true that the gunfire shot up the
entire restaurant?” My panic shot up to alarm.
Vito’s eyes shone feral anger. A low tone
rumbled out of him, “Shut the fuck up, Maria.” Obviously, Vito was
told not to mention whatever happened.
Finally finding my voice I asked, “What
happened?”
Vito’s expression softened, “Everything is
fine.”
Maria hmmphed, “That’s not what I heard.”
I grabbed my phone and held it under the
table. I quickly texted Antonio:
R U OK? I heard there was shooting last
night!!!
Antonio: Who told U?
Antonio didn’t answer the question. He didn’t
have to.
Megan: Maria
Antonio: Don’t worry. And don’t listen to
Maria. I still miss U.
Megan: Me 2
My scalp prickles as I read his
words-
Don’t worry
. Everyone always worries when someone says
that. I just didn’t know how worried I needed to be.
Antonio:
I am rip shit mad. Maria is going to fuck
this up with Megan. This guy I’m waiting for is going to find his
day much more unlucky than he thought. Red clouds my vision as I
sit in my car waiting. I am still pissed about last night. Donny
getting shot, the whole freakin’ frittata at the restaurant irks
me. Who knows how long I’ll have to fill in for Donny. My mind is
off. I just want to spend time with Megan. And this loser asshole
is keeping me from her.
My phone buzzes. It’s Pop.
“Yeah.” I say into the phone.
“Tonio, forgetta abou’ this guy. The
cleaner’s comin’. I changed my mind. His three large ain’t worth
the jerk off he’s been givin’ me. Get out of there.”
“Kay, Pop.” I say. Part of me wishes I was
the cleaner because I really feel like killing someone right now. I
crush the gas pedal to the floor of my car and speed away.
I head home glad I don’t have to spend
another night in a hotel. Randy’s Liquors is right down the street
from my house. I grab a six pack. Randy never cards me and never
refuses to sell to me-one of the perks of being me.
I punch the tab on my beer can and lay down
on the couch in our living room trying to calm the fuck down.
“Eh,” my mother says standing behind the
couch, “what are you doing here?”
“Dad called the cleaner in so I’m done for
the day.”
“Johnny Nero’s funeral is tomorrow. You
goin’?”
“Yeah, then I have some stuff to do for
Dad.”
Mom doesn’t say anything else, she just walks
away. If I sit and really think about things-it’s fucked up. I am
going to a funeral of a guy who I beat up then my father had
killed. I need do what my Dad always says, ‘don’t think, just
do.’
Megan gets out of school in a half an hour. I
find myself off the couch and sitting in front of the school
waiting for her. Finally, I am calming down. I spot her walking out
the door with Raven and Erin. Louie is next to Raven talking to
her. Erin sees me first because she points to my car and shakes
Megan’s arm. A smile forms and Megan’s entire face lights up when
she sees me. My chest stirs with contentment.
She is walking towards me as I lean against
my car. It’s like my vision is a tunnel. All the shapes around her
are blurred; her face is the only thing I see clearly. As soon as
she is within arms distance, I reach out and pull her to me. I wrap
my arms around her then lean down and kiss her. She eagerly wraps
her hands around me too. My anger fades as I hold her. She is so
calming. All I need in life is this girl.
“What are you doing here?” she says when I
loosen my hold but don’t let go.
“I finished early. I thought I could take you
home.”
Megan turns to her sister. “You coming with
us?”
“No, I’m going to Connor’s tonight.” Megan’s
face had a hard-to-read expression, a little sad maybe. I didn’t
know what to think. I could take her sister too. Raven and Louie
were in their own world. They said their goodbyes and walked
towards Louie’s car.
A mini-van rolled to stop in front of my car.
A kid got out.
“Connor!” Erin squealed and walked right up
to him.
The window of the van opened and a woman,
definitely not Italian, called Megan over. Possessiveness overtook
me, and I walked to the van with her never letting go of her hand.
The lady in the van just looked me up and down like she was sizing
me up.
“Hi Mrs. O’Connell,” Megan said.
“Hi Megan,” the lady said with a curt tone.
“Tell your Mom that I’ll be dropping Erin back at your house about
seven.”
“Okay.” Megan replied a little too
brightly.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your
friend?” Mrs. O’Connell dragged the question out like it was
hurting her to say it. My eyes automatically narrowed.
I gently reached my hand through the open
window and said with a polite smile, “Hi, I’m Antonio… her
boyfriend.”
Mrs. O’Connell sucked her teeth and plastered
on a fake sharp smile, “Nice to meet you.” Only an idiot would
believe she meant it. Medigans all look at me the same way- with
disgust.
I saw Vito out of the corner of my eye taking
in the whole scene. Megan and I backed away from the van as Erin
and the kid got in. Vito was still staring but he wasn’t looking at
me or Megan, he was watching the van door close.
Megan and I decided to go to the dock and
hang out. Well, I convinced her that’s what we should do since we
didn’t have to take her sister home and it’s a gorgeous day. We
haven’t been there since the night of Alessandra’s party. The
sunlight on Megan’s hair made it glow different shades of red. I
brushed my hands on the back of her neck having the best of both
worlds feeling her soft curls and tender skin. I wanted to stand
there kissing her for the rest of the day and night.
There is something about her-something that I
can’t explain. Being with her is like a blanket of sweetness and
warmth.
Megan broke away from our kiss. “I have to
ask you something but I don’t think you’ll tell me.”
“What?” I ask concerned.
“What happened last night? Why weren’t you in
school?...” she pauses, “Where did you go?”
I sigh long and hard. This girl makes me want
to spill my soul and loyalty onto the ground. I don’t want to keep
anything from her.
“Ugh... Megan there’s just stuff that happens
that I can’t tell you. And you probably really don’t want to know
anyway.” I pause collecting myself. “What I can tell you is that
last night the restaurant I was at was shot up.” Her face morphs
into fear and I caress her cheeks in my hands, “Look at me, I’m
fine… And when I’m not in school I’m doing stuff for my Dad.”
I see her breathe to say something so I jump
in with, “No, I can’t tell you what.” I say as I smile at her then
give her a peck on the lips.
My brain registers that
it’s
back-fear. She’s afraid of me again.
Fucking Maria!
Megan
wouldn’t even have known about last night if it wasn’t for her.
“Maria...” Megan starts.
“Stop right there. Don’t listen to Maria.
She’s a slut who can’t keep her mouth shut.” My voice came out
harsh and mean. Megan takes a step away from me. I see her eyes
fill with tears and I immediately feel sick to my stomach.
“Whoa, come ‘ere.” I say softly reaching for
her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get upset.”
Reluctantly, she comes back to me and I hug
her. I take a deep breath relishing her scent and closeness. It’s
like a dream. After all these years; I am holding her in my
arms.
Agita (ah gi ta): upset stomach
Megan:
I knew Antonio was intense but I didn’t
imagine I would be on this quiet rollercoaster. I am getting my
shoes on the sunny Saturday morning of my surprise. Antonio said
he’d be here early. I hear my mother on the phone.
“I know, I know... He’s got the devil in him
that one.” (pause) “Yeah, unbelievable.” (pause) “Well, I just hope
he can keep our Megan safe while this lasts.” I creep closer to
where she is. I’m hanging on every word. “It’s not going to last.
Her father and I are counting on that. Give it a couple of weeks
and he’ll move on to the next girl.” (pause) “If that happens then
we’ll just send her to visit Troy. She needs a little
perspective.”
I didn’t have time to seethe with the anger
growing in me from listening to my mother talk about Antonio
dumping me because there was a knock on the door.
My whole family turns up by the front door in
a matter of seconds. Erin is grinning from ear to ear. I swing open
the door to see a smiling Antonio in all his dark and smoldering
beauty. He is just gorgeous. Light musky cologne wafts my way and I
close my eyes a second.
I open them when I hear Erin ooooing and
ahhhing. I follow her gaze to the street and there is a limousine.
A long black stretch limousine with a driver waiting patiently with
his hands folded.
“You ready?” Antonio asks me.
My parent’s expressions are of disapproval.
“Where are you off to?” My father asks Antonio.
“New York for the day. We’ll be back this
evening.”
Erin did her trade mark squeal, “New York!” I
am beaming. New York in a limo-
Holy Shit!
I snatch my
pocketbook off the couch. My mother stops my steps towards the
door.
“Do you have your cell phone?”
“Yes.” I tell her.
“Have a nice day.” My mom says but after her
conversation with whomever she was gossiping with, I don’t believe
her. I kiss my father good-bye and he looks down at me wary.
I slip into the limo first as the driver
holds the door open for us. I am giddy as Antonio buckles in beside
me.
“I can’t believe you did this.”
“So, you’re surprised?”
“I’ll say.”
“There is another surprise. I’ve had it for a
while. I was waiting for the right time to give it to you. But I
can’t wait anymore.”
Antonio retrieves a small box from a
compartment in his door. He hands it to me. My hands are
shaking.
I tug the bow off and stick it on his head
and he laughs as he pulls it off.
“I hope you like it,” he says.
With my hands shaking, I open the box to find
a striking Claddaugh necklace. I am in awe.