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“What do you think you are doing?!” Hayley exploded. “She is just a misfit, a no-body, why do you pick her over someone with a high status, someone who could actually offer you something?!”

  “What could you possibly offer me?” Antonio demanded.

  “I can offer you a good time and access to some of the other things at our company that you don’t have access to,” Hayley replied. I could see that Antonio was thinking the offer over. I knew that I was very likely to get ditched for Hayley’s very generous offer because I didn’t have anything that I could offer him.

  “That is a very tempting offer to anyone…but me,” Antonio replied. “I don’t go for showgirls, and actually I can get that information, I just choose not to.”

  I could see the shock and fury written on her face, and it was understandable because Hayley has never been turned down by a guy before. My face was probably a mixture between surprise and delight. I really didn’t think he would pick me over Hayley. Antonio turned me around and we went off to class. No one paid us any attention as we entered the classroom. Except for my friend Joey who kept staring at me until I got to my seat, then he returned his attention back to the class. I knew I was going to have to explain a lot to him and any of my other friends that asked about today’s incidents.

  I doubt they would understand what kind of person he really is, they would probably think that he would be like the other gang members. I really think that he is different…and cute…and sensitive…and…hold the phone! No more romantic thoughts! We are friends…just friends, nothing more!

  I glanced to Antonio. He has a hansom profile, prominent cheek bones and those muscles of his, wow! I quickly turn my attention back to class. I need to stop with all this romantic nonsense; I need to focus on my schoolwork. I can’t have him popping into my head every couple minutes. I need to set the record straight, not just in my head but in reality as well.

  I know that I’m no good for a guy of his status. I’m just a girl that has to work three jobs to help feed the family and pay off a debt. I kind of wonder what he sees in me at all. But that’s not what I need to think about right now, I need to focus on my class.

  I glanced the other way and saw the old park. It used to be one of my favourite places to go, but now it just looks like a dump and nobody would like to try to fix it. I sighed, what is the world coming to? It’s like everyone, who is not in a gang, has given up and given in to the pressures of the gangs.

  I might go to the falls this weekend with my brothers just to get away from these pressures and beatings. I never take my mothers, it’s not because I don’t trust them it’s just that it was a special for just my family to visit. We even still have the deed to the place, so no one will be building on it as long as my brothers and I survive.

  The class seemed to go faster than usual today. Maybe it was because of all the excitement that had happened so far today or maybe it was because my mind was somewhere else for most of the class. Whatever the reason was I was glad when class was finally over with. I had had enough of school and of the school drama for one day. I close my locker and find Joey on the other side of the door.

  “What is going on?” Joey asked as he leaned against the locker, angling his body to try to block my escape.

  “What do you mean?” I asked Joey confused. I knew I would have to explain what was going on but I didn’t really think that I would have to do it just yet. I better start thinking of escape routes if I want to get to work on time

  “What is going on between you and the Mobster?” he asked. I swear I could hear an under tone of anger laced with betrayal in his voice.

  “We are just friends, Joey,” I explained exasperated. I’m tired and I’m fed up already with the questioning. I tried to get around him but he shifted to block me.

  “Damn it, Joey,” I replied angrily, “I’m going to be late for work.”

  “Relax I’ll give you a ride to work,” Joey replied tired of my escape attempts already. “How did this ‘friendship’ start?”

  “None of your damn business,” I snapped. I turned and tried to escape that way, but Joey wasn’t finished. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back, and then he grabbed my other arm to keep me from trying to escape.

  “I’m not finished asking questions,” Joey replied angrily. “Besides you haven’t answered any of my questions anyway.”

  “I can answer the questions tomorrow now please just let me go,” I replied gritting my teeth.

  “What will happen if I refuse?” Joey countered, glaring down at me. I carefully nudged him with me knee and he got the message. Joey dropped his hands and stepped back, letting me go about my business. I really didn’t like threatening him like that but he was on my last nerve. Anyway I don’t like kicking or kneeing any guys in the sensitive spot, I think that it is a cheap way of fighting.

  I walked outside and looked at my watch, it was 3:15 pm. Shit! My shift starts in about two hours and it takes me about 30-40 minutes to walk home, then another 40 or so minutes to bike to the restaurant. I could make it in time if I run home, have a quick shower, and then bike fast to the restaurant. I groaned can this day get any better?

  I started to jog out of the school property when I heard the motor of a motorcycle come up behind me. I turned and saw Antonio pull up beside me on his motorcycle. He motioned for me to get on. I thought quickly about all the running I would have to do if I didn’t take him up on his offer, then I jumped on the back and we sped off.

  I was about to start giving him directions to where I wanted to go, but it seemed that he knew where he was going. We didn’t talk through the whole drive, but the silence was a comfortable silence. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at my house in about 20 minutes. I jumped off the bike and turned around to say goodbye and to thank him for the ride, in spite of this he was parking the bike and taking off his helmet.

  “You do know I have to go to work right?” I asked, uneasy.

  “Yes I know I just thought I would give you a ride to work,” Antonio replied cocking his head to the side. “Is that a problem?”

  “No, it’s not,” I replied a bit confused. Not the bad kind of confused, the good kind. “Would you like to come inside?”

  Now it was his turn to look uneasy, “I can just stay out here and watch the bike.”

  “No I insist please come in,” I insisted, walking toward the house and motioning for him to follow. “I’m going to be a few minutes anyway.”

  I could tell that my brothers were already home as soon as I walked in the door. The house smelled of Kevin’s cooking and I could hear the sound of the radio and my other two brothers in the other room. After I closed the door behind Antonio I went to the kitchen to see Kevin.

  Kevin had his back turned to the door but I knew that he had heard me come in. I walked up next to him and looked over his shoulder to see what he was cooking. The smells were even better up close, and I could see that he was cooking stir fry on the stove.

  “Mmm, looks good,” I said. “Anything I can do to help.”

  “You can go get ready for work,” Kevin replied not looking up from his work, “and introduce your guest.”

  “My guest’s name is Antonio,” I replied, then turned to Antonio. “Antonio this is one of my brothers, Kevin.”

  “Do you know how to cook?” Kevin asked without turning to look at Antonio.

  “I know a little bit,” Antonio replied, keeping his voice neutral.

  “Alright then, you can help me while Steph takes a shower and gets dressed for work,” Kevin instructed, finally turning around to look at Antonio. I was surprised that his expression didn’t changed, when he saw how tall Antonio was. I was even more surprised when Kevin smiled and didn’t ask any more about him.

  Kevin sent me to the bathroom to have a shower and he put Antonio to work on cutting the vegetables. I had a nice length shower except for the bandage on my arm that I had to be wary of. Then went to my bedroom and got changed into my work clothes. I had to wear a wh
ite blouse with a small black vest, black slacks and black high heels. I tied my hair back into a ponytail, put on some eye shadow and mascara, and then I went out to see how they were doing in the kitchen.

  “Hey is dinner almost ready?” I asked as I entered the kitchen.

  “You know I never get the chance to see you right before you leave for work,” Kevin commented staring at me, “and I don’t see why you don’t want us to see you in your work clothes. You look very beautiful, sister.”

  Andrew and Anthony came into the kitchen and stopped in the doorway. “Wow, sister you look beautiful,” Anthony and Andrew said in unison.

  “Ah, thanks squirts,” I replied ruffling their hair. Both of them started laughing then they spotted something behind me, and stopped laughing and stared up at whatever it was. I turned around and found Antonio standing behind me.

  “Wow your tall,” Anthony remarked.

  “How tall are you?” Andrew questioned as craned his neck to look at Antonio.

  Antonio crouched down so that he was eye to eye with Andrew and Anthony, and he said, “I’m six foot two how tall are you?”

  “I’m five foot two,” Andrew replied confidently.

  “And I’m five foot two and a half,” Anthony said proudly.

  “Big Sis is five foot six and a half, right Sis?” Andrew pointed out. I smiled and nodded.

  “But how tall is Big Brother?” I asked.

  “Hmm, Big Brother is…five foot six and three quarters?” Anthony replied unsure.

  “Yep, now come on before dinner gets cold,” Kevin said as he put the food out on the table. “I’ll save you and your friend some food for when you get back.”

  “Alright thanks,” I said as I put on my coat. “I’ll see you guys in a little while.”

  Anthony and Andrew gave me quick hugs and Kevin gave me a big hug. Then Antonio and I went out the door and to his motorcycle. I looked at my watch it was 4:50 pm my shift started in about 25 minutes.

  “You have a very nice family,” Antonio commented. “You all seem very close.”

  “Thanks we’ve gotten pretty close because of certain incidents,” I replied looking up at him. Antonio walked up to me, put an arm around my waist and pulled me close. Too close for two people who are supposed to be just friends. But I couldn’t find the strength to push him away or to tell him that we should just be friends.

  I did put my head down which gave me some breathing room. It also gave me some room to think, without my feelings interfering with my thoughts. I put my hands on Antonio’s chest and gave him a gentle push to get him to take a step back.

  “I…I don’t know if I’m ready to…” I stumbled trying desperately to explain my situation to him, but coming up short. I kept my head down so I would not have to look at the expression on his face.

  “Yeah sorry, I guess I jumped the gun a little on that one,” Antonio replied as if he had known what I was going to say, but I think he got the wrong impression. “Now let’s get you to work.”

  I didn’t get a chance to look at his face because he had gone to go get his helmet. As soon as he let me out of his embrace I felt the bone chilling cold hit me like a snowball to the face. Even though snow is a very rare thing to find anywhere anymore, I felt the intense bite of winter not giving up the fight yet.

  Maybe I could do that to, maybe I should keep on fighting. Perhaps I could risk having someone close to me again. But would it really be worth it in the end? Could I really trust him to stand with me and not turn his back on me when I needed him?

  I followed him over to his bike and got on the back. He passed me his helmet and I put it on. I held on tight as we sped to the restaurant where I worked as a waitress, occasionally. It was a nice place not too fancy but not too crummy either. I hopped off his bike and passed him his helmet back.

  “You know you really do look beautiful,” Antonio commented before he threw on his helmet and sped off. I didn’t get a chance to react or time to process what he had just said, because my boss called to me from the restaurant doorway.

  I smiled to myself as I hurried to the restaurant. It’s time to take a risk!

  Chapter 12

  Antonio Caine

  Boston 5:05 pm Thursday February 15th 2029

  I can’t believe I had just acted without thinking. First I went and hugged her, even though we barely know each other. Then I went and commented on something that I had found out was a touchy subject for her. Seriously what kind of an idiot am I? I had pushed her comfort zone just by hugging her; I hope I didn’t ruin my chances to be with her by commenting on the way she looked.

  I tried to focus on my driving, but Stephanie kept jumping back into my thoughts. Then a scary thought hit me that made me head straight for home, just to be sure that it didn’t happen. My father had mentioned something earlier today about going out for dinner as a family later in the evening. Darcy had put in that she had found a very nice and small restaurant to eat at. With my luck it would probably be at the restaurant that Stephanie worked, but I hoped it wouldn’t be.

  I put my bike in the garage and ran to the front door. I pulled it open and slammed it in my rush to find my father. I walked briskly to his office and found him looking over some pages and books of numbers. He looked up when he heard me enter the room.

  “Father, do you know where we are going to eat tonight?” I asked, keeping my voice and expression neutral.

  “Yes, but I promised Darcy that I wouldn’t tell you where it was,” my father replied. He shrugged, then smiled and went back to his work. I hated it when my father sided with Darcy. It was like my opinion didn’t count anymore, it was just the opinion of Darcy that counted.

  I ground my teeth, and I was about to head up to my room to hide when Darcy said we were leaving to go to the restaurant. I was about to refuse when I caught a look from my father that said you are going whether you like it or not. So I clamped my mouth shut and followed them out to the waiting limo.

  “Is this really necessary?” I questioned my father. But he just shrugged and hopped into the limo. I reluctantly followed and stared out the window at the cars passing by us as we went on our way. I started to see familiar buildings and street signs, but I didn’t think anything of it. Then I saw the sign and I knew I was screwed. We were outside of the restaurant that I had wished we wouldn’t go to. I heaved a sigh and got out as soon as the limo stopped; I swear I was starting to feel claustrophobic in there. I breathed in a big gulp of the cold night air. It felt so nice having the air come into my lungs, that I almost did it a second time…almost.

  Darcy and my father stepped out of the limo behind me, and I had to take a couple steps forward in order to let them get out. Darcy looked beautiful, but it was more like a scary, look-at-me-or-else beautiful. My father looked rather hansom in his suit and tie, also. As for myself, well, I was forced into wearing a suit and tie. And I did not like it one bit.

  We entered the restaurant in silence. I didn’t know what to expect when I walked in the door of the restaurant, but whatever it was this place went way beyond it. The restaurant was beautiful and elegant. It was probably one of the nicest places I’ve been to in a long time. But I dared not show it on my face. We walked up to the podium a little further into the restaurant and waited. A couple seconds later a young lady walked up and smiled at us.

  “For how many?” the young lady asked politely.

  “For three,” Darcy stated matter-of-factly.

  “Very well then, follow me,” the young lady said and started to walk away. We followed her to a nice table in the center of the room. She set down our menus and told us that our server would be with us shortly. As I looked through the menu I could hear Darcy muttering about how there was nothing good on the menu, and about how we should’ve gone somewhere else. I was about to say that it was her fault because she picked the place, when our server appeared at our table.

  “Hello, my name is Stephanie and I will be your server tonight,” Stephanie said smil
ing. “Can I get you anything to start off with?”

  She didn’t recognize me? Or was she just playing that she didn’t know me? Women can be so confusing at times. It’s like trying to read a French dictionary when all you can read is English. Not impossible but not easy either.

  “I’ll have a bottle of your nicest red wine,” Darcy replied.

  “Alright,” Stephanie said scribbling something down on her pad of paper, “and how about you sir?”

  “I’ll share the wine,” replied my father without looking up at Stephanie. Stephanie nodded then turned her attention to me.

  “I’ll just have some water,” I said to Stephanie in a quiet voice, so that my parents didn’t hear. She smiled and turned to go get our drinks. Once she was gone Darcy started muttering again, but this time it was about Stephanie and how she was an ugly waitress, and about how she wasn’t doing her job right.

  I glared at my father and he got the message. He whispered something to Darcy and she stopped the muttering. But she was smiling, and her creepy smile was worse than the muttering, much worse. I looked at the menu and tried to decide what I wanted to eat. A couple seconds later Stephanie reappeared with our drinks in hand.

  She placed the wine bottle in between my father and Darcy, and gave each a glass. Then she popped open the wine and poured a bit into each glass. She put the wine back down and handed me my water in a rum glass. I smiled; I guess she knew what I was talking about when I whispered about the water.

  “Are you guys ready to order or shall I come back in a couple minutes?” Stephanie enquired, looking around at all of us.

  “No, we are ready now,” Darcy replied with disdain. Why does her voice sound so…hate filled? Stephanie has done nothing wrong.

  “Alright,” Stephanie said her smile returning, but it seemed a bit strained. “So what will it be?”

  “I’ll have the Roman Garden Salad, but with no onions, garlic or olives,” Darcy stated. Stephanie started to write something down, but Darcy wasn’t done yet. “I would like the Parmesan Vinaigrette instead of the usual dressing. Also I want the dressing on the side so that I may pour it myself.”