Mobster's Girl (9 page)

Antonio smiles at me and winks. I am standing
just behind my mother. Embarrassed and not sure what to do, I take
the plate from my mother and head to the kitchen. As I am just
shutting the door to the refrigerator my mother and Erin walk
in.

“The gentlemen would like to speak
privately.” My mother says through pursed lips. Excitement dances
through me. Antonio in my living room talking to my dad, I never
thought I would see the day.

Erin stands in the door way to the kitchen
off to the side. I see her.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Shhhh… I’m listening.”

“Erin.” My mother scolds quietly.

But Erin’s eyes go wide at what she is
hearing. Her hand flies up to cover her mouth. “They’re talking
about you.” She whispers, “Holy Crap. Antonio wants to date you.”
Her face is incredulous. I approach to listen too. My mother is
standing rooted to the kitchen floor with a scowl.

I lean and take the same position as
Erin.

“We had an agreement.” My father says. I’m
surprised at the tone my father is taking with Mr. Delisi.

“Well, things change, Patrick.” He says. “My
son is asking respectfully if he can spend time with Megan. I did
what you asked. Tonio knew very well to stay away from her.”

“I understand your concerns, Mr. O’Neill.”
Antonio says.

“No, I don’t think you do, Antonio.” My
father says with an angry tone, “I didn’t want her involved.”

Involved in what?
My cell phone rings
on the kitchen table startling Erin, my mother, and me. I dive for
it. It’s Troy.

“Hello.” I say softly.

“Hi Megan.” Troy says quietly. “I just wanted
to…”

I cut him off. “Troy, I gotta call you back.”
I hit end and stand with Erin again. My mother must have turned on
the coffee pot because I can smell it brewing. Erin whispers what I
missed. “Antonio’s father said that he will be very polite and
treat you cordially while you’re out. And he personally vouches for
his son.”

“I need to talk to my daughter.” My father
says breaking Erin and I out of our quiet conversation.

My father enters the kitchen. He looks to my
mother. “Will you and Erin please see to our guests? I need to
speak with Megan.”

My mother passes us with a “hmmmph” carrying
coffee and Tiramisu. As soon as Erin and my mother are gone, my
father stands in front of me. I have no clue what he is going to
say.

“When were you going to tell me?” my father
asks.

“What?”

“That you have a
thing
with Antonio
Delisi.” He says aggravated and pointing to the living room.

“Dad, I just spent time with him last
night.”

“I told you not to Megan!” My father’s almost
yelling. He never yells. He notices his tone and takes it down to a
lower level.

“It was unavoidable.” I say looking at the
floor.

My father paces a little. “I knew he was
interested in you.”

“Huh?”

“I knew Megan. Anytime we ran into him or saw
him he always watched you.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’m a father, Megan, it’s my job to know.” I
felt that my father was leaving something out of that
statement.

“What about Troy?” my father asks.

“He’s a friend, Dad.”

“Well, I hoped he was something more.”

“He’s not.” I respond.

“Do you like Antonio?”

“Yes.” I say staring at the floor again.
Very much!

I’m guessing those weren’t the answers my Dad
was looking for.

“Well. I am going to give you permission to
see each other. Hopefully, it will be over before it starts. You’re
both off to college next September. Please, Megan, be careful. I
don’t want you to get hurt.” It seems as though hurt has a double
meaning in his tone.

My father and I join everyone in the living
room. Antonio beams at me as I walk in the room. We sit down and
take the plates my mother offers to us. It is uncomfortably quiet.
My mother makes small talk with everyone. Erin clears the plates
and goes with my mother into the kitchen.

“So.” Mr. Delisi says.

“I am going to give my permission to
Antonio.” Antonio’s smile brightens and I think how eighteenth
century this seems and formal. “Please keep her away from…
trouble.” My father says.

Mr. Delisi stands and Antonio follows. “I
have some business to tend to. Patrick, don’t forget to take care
of that matter.”

“Yes.” We all stand and I wonder what Mr.
Delisi is talking about.

“I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” Antonio
says, “Thank you.” He says to my Dad.

“Bye.” They walk out to Antonio’s car. I
watch from the front window. I see them talking in the car as Tonio
lights up a cigarette then pulls away. The excitement of having
Antonio here in my home is paralyzing. I’m in a daze. No one has
ever made me feel this way.

“Patrick!” my mother yells, “What is going
on?”

Erin runs up to me. “Meg, I can’t believe it.
He is so gorgeous!”

I turn to my sister, “When did you become so
boy crazy?”

My parents are talking loudly in the kitchen.
“I heard Antonio tell Dad why he punched Dino.” She is practically
jumping up and down.

“Why?” Now this was something I wanted to
hear.

“He said that Dino made a rude remark about
you! So that’s why Antonio decked him!”

“Wow…” I said stunned.

“Megan, can I see you please?” my mother
called.

I find my mother at the kitchen table with
her hands folded.

“Sit please.” She says.

I reach for the back of the chair and pull it
out to sit.

“Your father tells me that he has agreed to
let Antonio come around, to call on you, if you will.”
This is
the eighteenth century!

“You realize that Troy would be better for
you.” My mother draws out his name and gives me a knowing look. “He
has the same background as you.”

“Troy is my friend.”

“Let me make myself clear. I don’t trust
Antonio Delisi. His family is corrupt and dangerous. We have worked
at keeping you and Erin at a distance from them over the years. You
need to be wary and careful. Do you understand me?” My mother’s
tone is harsh and angry. With her hands folded, she’s trying to
stay in control.

“I understand. I need to call Troy back.”

“Fine.”

I swipe my cell phone off the table, and I go
to my room in bewilderment. My fingers itch to call Antonio. I
wanted to head out the door with him this afternoon. The
bittersweet taste of having him in my house but yet at an arm’s
length-it was so formal and awkward.

Troy answers on the first ring.

“Hello.”

“Hey college guy. How’s it going?”

“He was there wasn’t he?” I am shocked at his
question.

“What? Who?”

“That guy.”

“Troy what is going on with you?” Now talking
to Troy felt awkward. We have always been so close. Where is this
coming from?

“Just answer me, Megan. That fuckin’ guy was
there.” I suck in a breath through my teeth.

“Yeah…” I am angry. I try to switch subjects
back, “How is the dorm? Are you close to the cafeteria?”

“What’s his name?” Troy’s tone gets
louder.

“Uh… Antonio.”

“Holy shit! Megan! That was Delisi wasn’t it?
The guy watching us.”

“How do you know the Delisi’s?” I ask.

“I’m not stupid Megan. I may not live in the
same town as you but I live in the same state. Don’t you think our
parents talk too? I’m not living under a rock.”

I’m not sure where this conversation is
going. I am still trying to process the past 8 hours and I get this
crap from Troy, my friend.

“Are you going to tell me about school or are
you going to keep this up? I’m getting mad.

“I gotta go.” He says softly. This whole
thing is so unlike him. “I’m going out with a bunch of guys from
the dorm. See ya.”

He hangs up. Again!

Stai zitto: (sta te zeet): SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

Antonio:

I’ve always hated school. I have to put up
with the phony kids who try to be my friend, the made-up bleach
blondes that hang on me and the teachers who can barely look me in
the eye. Don’t get me wrong; years ago I took some Barbies up on
their offers and used my position to influence some grades. I
didn’t do it for long. It just didn’t feel right. I stay pretty low
key at school. Most people stay away from me anyway.

I park next to Vito’s Caddy. I scan the
parking lot and benches looking for Megan. Raven’s little blue car
is a few cars down.

I slam my door and in front of me is
Vito.

“What happened yesterday?” he asks, smirking.
“You talk to her Dad?”

“Yup.”

“What did he say?”

“He said yes.”

“You are
shitting me
! Even after you
kicked Dino’s ass in church?”

“Yup.”

“Dude, that’s awesome!”

My mind is racing about what I’m going to say
to Megan today. Today is the first day of auto mechanics and Megan
is in my class. We’re assigned lockers our freshman year and keep
them until we graduate. I always tried to make it a point to walk
by Megan’s locker in the morning. Now I’m headed there with a
purpose. I have this insane urge to let everyone know that she’s
mine. My stalker is back because we have barely been together.

Megan is just slamming her locker as she
hikes her bag over her shoulder. She smiles when she sees me
coming. I take that as a good sign.

“Hi,” she says blushing. Her hair is hanging
straight down her back.

“Hi.” There is an awkward pause. “What class
do you have first?”

“Home Ec.” I don’t even give myself a chance
to think. I take her hand in mine and lead her down the hall to her
classroom. The hallway is still full. Some people rush out of the
way when they see me coming. Others stare from the outskirts near
their lockers. Their eyes travel to my hand wrapped around Megan’s.
The hallway is unnaturally quiet as we get to her classroom. It’s a
short walk. “What class do you have?” Megan asked.

“English,” I said.

“You’re going to be late. That is the other
side of the school... Thanks for the dessert yesterday.”

“Don’t thank me; thank my Mom.” I don’t have
any patience so I ask her. “Can you go out Saturday?”

“Ummm, yeah, I guess. I don’t have any
plans.” She watches me. “That was pretty brave coming over and
talking to my Dad. It was awkward as a matter of fact.”

I stop short in front Home Ec. “What are you
saying?”
Does she not want to go out?! Shit!

“Nothing. Just that it was weird. Nowadays,
guys don’t usually ask a girl’s parents to take her on a date.”

“My father wasn’t for it at first. He said he
wanted to talk to your Dad.” I was starting to get an eerie
feeling. “Do you not want to go out Saturday?”

“No, it’s not that… I would love to go.”

I try not smirk at her admission. I let her
hand go and brush my fingers across her cheek. She visibly
shudders.

“Good.” I say, “See you next class.” and I
head to English.
Whew!
I have her all to myself
Saturday.

Vito and I slip into two desks all the way at
the back of the classroom. Mr. Treat,
what a fucked up name
,
comes into the classroom carrying English Anthologies.

“So…” Vito says.

“So what?”

“When you takin’ her out?” Vito asks.

“Saturday.”

“What’s your ‘big plan’ with Red?” He air
quotes his words.

I plan to blow her fuckin’ mind with the
plans I have. I don’t want to tell Vito because:

He has a big mouth.

He’s is going to know I have it bad.

“I’ll tell you about it on Sunday.”

“What!?” Vito’s voice raises and Mr. Treat
sends us a warning glance. We could talk all class if we wanted-he
just wants us to be quiet. I’m feeling generous today because I
have a date and a class with Megan; I don’t send the warning glance
back to him.

I show up outside her door at Home Ec to walk
with her to auto Mechanics. Vito is with me. She looks stunned when
she walks out of the classroom.

“Uh, hi,” she says.

“Hey Red,” Vito pipes up. I shoot him a look.
Why the hell is he using a nickname for my girl? Whatever!
He has been referring to her as Red since forever.

“Hi,” she says again.

“Come on.” I grab her hand and the three of
us walk down the hall. Vito makes playful jabs at Dickie, the empty
suit. Dickie loves every minute of it. He wants to hang with me and
my friends so bad. He is such a freakin’ poser. He probably would
have pissed his pants the other night when we got jumped. He
doesn’t have the heart for it.

“Hey, you hear about Johnny Nero?” Dickie
asks Vito. My adrenaline spikes at Johnny’s name. I spin myself
towards him pulling Megan with me. He sends a leery gaze to
Megan-like he doesn’t want to say it in front of her. I get the
message. I continue to lead her to class. Vito will fill me in
later.

We enter the classroom. I lead us to the back
black top tables.

“Is this okay?” I ask her.

“Sure.” She puts her stuff down and sits on
the gray stool. The classroom smells of oil and metal. She seems
nervous.

“I’m gonna pick you up early Saturday.”

“Where are we going?” she asks eagerly.

“It’s a surprise.” As soon as the words are
out of my mouth, Maria comes bouncing in the room headed for the
teachers’ desk. I groan inwardly. I watch her give the teacher an
add slip.
Fanabola
! Maria turns and starts waving to me
frantically. I catch Megan out of the corner of my eye, appraising
me.

“Friend?” she asks.

“Not really,” I answer as she appears
aggravated now.

Vito sits on a stool next to our table. He
gives me a knowing look. Maria bounces down the aisle towards Vito.
My elation of having a class with Megan is squashed as Maria and
her stiletto heels clunk down onto the stool beside him.