Emily's POV
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For the rest of the day, I tried to focus more in class, despite my sleepy eyes. I also ignored the annoying sniggers from the people behind me. Especially Guinevere. That girl was a witch in humans skin.
The algebra teacher was rounding up his lesson, and we had about five minutes before lunch break. I packed up my books into my bags and sat still on my seat, tapping my feet and fingers nervously on the floor and desk.
I was thinking of ways to thank Lorenzo for his help yesterday. Even if it was a kind of a proud act on his part, he rescued me from dying of hunger.
I've never spoken to him before, because I didn't talk to anyone. That was how I was, but ever since I moved in with the Bushs, they made it a law. Mind your business, no friends. They didn't want me having somebody to whom I could spill their secret to.
OK, I could say, 'Hi, I want to thank you for lunch yesterday...' No, I'll just go straight to the point by saying th--
"Stop that."
"Huh?"
"The tapping thing. It's driving me crazy."
I looked at my fingers spread out on the desk. Oh, noise. I forgot that he hated noise.
"Sorry, I'm just... nervous."
This was the longest conversation I've had so far with him since we became seatmates in eleventh grade.
And I think it had gone long enough. Talking meant making friends, and making friends was something I couldn't do.
I turned back to picking my books up, when he asked,
"Have you had breakfast today?"
I paused and contemplated answering that. Saying no would get him suspicious, although I didn't know him enough to know if he would bother.
"How's that your business?"
His eyebrows raised a notch, as if he didn't expect me to answer that way.
"Just answer the damned question," he said in a low tone, and coupled with a trace of his Italian accent sounded really dreamy....hmm.
"I--yes."
Just then, my stomach growled, as if it was telling him that I was lying.
Aww come on tummy, can't you cover up for me for once in my life!?
He shook his head, and curls of his dark hair scattered and went to his forehead. I tried not to stare. With a sigh, he got up and picked up his bag.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Must you always be so defiant and stubborn?"
"Sometimes that's the only way to survive."
When he didn't say anymore, I looked up to find him staring at me.
Oh no, I said that loud.
I offered him a small smile. "It's a quote. From Macbeth."
He scoffed and rolled his eyes, an action that seemed to make him look more....stop it girl, you can't go about noticing looks.
"There's no quote in Macbeth about stubbornness. Pick another lie."
I laughed nervously, and my stomach rumbled again.
"Come on," he said again, ''And don't even try resisting."
"Yeah, and he called me stubborn," I said.
.
"Hey, I assumed we were going to have lunch."
"We are," he replied simply.
"So, what are you doing in the garage?" I asked. "Shouldn't we be in the cafeteria?"
The corner of his lips curled up into the hottest smirk I've ever seen, such that when he said, "Cafeteria's for losers," I didn't hear. My eyes were just on his lips.
I've said he had the face of a god. But I didn't say exactly what made him qualify as such.
He had dark hair that shone in the sun, and was long enough to curl at the nape of his neck, and it was always combed back every time, except for now that some locks of it were on his face.
His dark eyes, hooded by long dark lashes, were so mesmerizing.
A pointed nose, and lips that I'll swear were sculptured by the finest sculptor.
He, as a whole, was a non abstract evidence of beauty.
And yet, he was super quiet, and he was most times alone.
I didn't even notice that he'd gotten into the backseat of a jeep with tinted windows until he called out, "Coming or what?"
I swallowed as I climbed in beside him.
Get your act together girl.
***
The Ray.
I've heard of this restaurant, so popular and expensive.
I turned to look at him.
Was he really serious about eating here? During school's lunchtime? Rich people can be so dramatic.
The driver who drove us here opened Emilio's door, and he got down.
I followed.
"Hey, Are we seriously having lunch here?" I asked, more like whispered.
He nodded. But then he was staring at me again, like he did this morning in school.
"What?"
"What happened to your cheeks
Emily's POVDamn...I must have been so awed by the beautiful surrounding that I forgot to adjust my hair.Lorenzo looked like he wasn't ready to let me go without an answer."I uh...nothing. It's nothing," I replied and turned away, pretending to look at the building in front of me.He cupped my chin in his hand and turned me to face him, so that he could get a clearer view of my cheeks."This isn't nothing, Emily. Tell me what happened."OK, I really didn't like the fuss he was making over the issue. It's not like I owe him an explanation, neither does he have any business in my life.I pulled his hand down from my face."Excuse me, but what does this have to do with you? It's not like my life is something you can ask about at will. And beside, because you're rich doesn't mean you can barge into somebody's affair and boss around. I value my privacy, Lorenzo, and so should you."I stormed off, forgetting that we were planning to have lunch."Oh, and thanks for the mockery in the form
Lorenzo's POVI tucked my hand in my pockets as I watched her go after her pointless tirade.Emily...The girl always fascinated me.And that was something, considering that I didn't let any girl get under my skin.Padrè (Father) always said, 'Women are distractions when taken seriously. But great pleasure when taken lightly. Use your head'.And I've always done so.My father wasn't your average father. He wasn't caring, or loving, although he tried to show me that he loved me in his own way. His major concern was the Mafia, where he was the Don. Always busy. Recording kills. Collecting debts. And it was inevitable; papà made it clear that he expected me to follow in his footsteps. And personally, I looked forward to that day.My mother, on the other hand was the opposite of loving. All she cared for was money and titles and fashion. And over the years, I merely see her as a presence in the house, and she seems to like it that way. My mother figure was my nanny back at home, Prudence.
I laid on my uncomfortable bed, staring at the ceiling as I tried not to think about Lorenzo and what happened today.Great, just a few minutes of talking to him, and he's already infiltrated my mind.I turned on the bed to get more comfortable, clutching the pillow tightly to myself.It was still unbelievable that I'd actually followed him to lunch. Was I that stupid, or hungry!? I shook my head.Then I just remembered something.I scurried out of bed and knelt on the floor, reaching my hand under the bed to pull out a box.I sat cross legged on the floor and took off the lid.This box contained every evidence, and things connected to my birth. They weren't much, but still....I won't stop hoping.I slipped on rubber gloves and began to take out the items one by one.The first was a baby blanket, plain white with blue floral designs. One edge was scorched, either by fire of what, and it smelled kind of dusty and smoky.The second was a shaker, still good as. new. The third was one si
That meant 'shut up'.Lilian pushed me into the house while Joseph made sure the door was locked.She threw her purse and jacket on the sofa and caught my hair in her tight grip."So you're a harlot now, eh?" she questioned."Ma'am please, you're hurting me---"I screamed again as this time around, Joseph's belt slashed across my back and legs."Shut up!" he growled, and I choked on the screams."So that's what you've been doing, selling your body for money. I always knew you were cheap!" Lilian yelled and pushed me to the floor with so much force. I hit my head on the table and applied pressure to ease the pain and prevent swelling."Ma'am, Sir, I don't know what you're talking about, I'm not a whore," I yelled back."Oh yeah?" Joseph taunted, edging closer and swirling his belt. "You think we didn't see you?""You misunderstood!" I yelled again."Now you're big to talk back at us, eh?" another slash from the belt, this time on my face, but I was quick enough to block with my hands.
Hi, good afternoon Mrs Crosby, Mrs William. Welcome," Lilian said in a sweet voice.Those were the social workers. I see now."What brings you here today? You didn't tell us you'll be coming. My husband and I just returned home.""We were in the neighborhood," said Jackie Crosby, with a smile, "and decided to stop by and see how Anne's doing.""Aren't you going to let us in?" Iness William asked with a less friendly tone and more suspicions."Of course," Joseph said, and Lilian laughed nervously as they ushered the women inside."Please sit down," Lilian said."So, where's Emily?" Jackie Crosby asked happily."Anne....well you see...Emily is----""Not back from school," Joseph completed."Yeah, exactly. You know how studious she is. Always making good grades and all that. We're proud of her," Lilian said and leaned on Joseph's shoulder, posing a fake picture of a happy family."Okay....," Iness William drawled, still doubting. "Why's your sitting room a shamble?""I left early, I have
The bedside clock beeped for the third time now.I was already awake.I hadn't slept a wink last night. I had tossed and turned, because Emily had been on my mind. What was she hiding?Unable to sleep, I sat up and reached for my laptop on the chest of drawers beside my bed, switched it on, clicked on Google app and the search box.Now this was stupid.What to type?I typed Emily Bush and clicked on search.There were results, but none of her.What did I expect?I drummed my fingers on my thigh and thought of what next.Eleventh grade students of Dellany High, 2016/2017Go.The list appeared, but it's not like they'd give personal information about students.I shook my head and pushed the laptop aside in frustration.I walked downstairs to the kitchen for a glass of water.I lived alone, apart from Festus. I needed a break from the servants underfoot lifestyle, which was the kind of life I lived back in Italy.Although I suspected that the reason papà agreed for me to come and live he
Strange.Lorenzo wasn't in class.Quite odd, because he always was. Whenever I came in late, he was the first person I set my eyes on.Hey, he's my seatmate, nothing romantic about that.Maybe he's running late... or maybe he's angry at me for yesterday?Nope, he's definitely running late.An hour later.No Lorenzo.I'm too concerned, but that's just because I'm guilty.I got out of class and went to the garage, where I saw his car, and the driver. So, where was he?I walked to him."Hi, good morning."He broke into a smile when he recognized me, or was it something more hello miss."Umm...I haven't seen Lorenzo in class today, where's he?""Oh, he's in school. But very busy.""Busy?" Doing what?"Sì, busy. But he asked me to give you this," he reached into the car and brought out a brown paper bag.I peered inside and smiled. Doughnuts. So he wasn't angry with me anymore."Thanks. And please tell him I apologized for yesterday.""Okay."I waved and walked back to class.Damn this old
Did she get it?" I asked Festus as I got out of the office to the car."Sì, and she said to tell you that she's sorry about yesterday.""Oh," I said.It's not like I was even angry at her. But it's still good that she felt guilty enough to apologize."Alright let's go," I said and climbed into the backseat."Wait, aren't you going to---""Festus...."The man might be older, thirty two actually, but he was so nosy."Signor, I was going to ask if you're not going to school today.""Oh....I'm not. Gotta get busy."With that I climbed into the car, and I think I heard him muttering, "If you like the girl just go for it and stop acting all bossy," before he entered the driver seat and turned on the ignition.I sighed, ignored him..Keeping my bag carefully in the wardrobe, I changed into something more casual and ordered pizza for lunch, which I ate at the dining alone. Festus refused to eat what he called American junk foodBut yet, we still ate pizza in Italy. In fact, pizza originated