Mobster's Girl by Amy Rachiele Read Free Book Online Page B

going
to Alessandra’s party. On the way to school, what she’s going to
wear. On the way home, she’s changed her mind and picked a new
outfit. She has gone over and over whom she thinks is going to be
there.
    It’s Friday and she is driving me home.
    “Okay,” she says, “I’m going to pick you up
at seven-be ready. Do you think that guy Louie will be there?”
    I roll my eyes at this question. She has
asked this same question no less than ten times this week. I have
offered to text Alessandra and ask, but Raven yells, ‘No! She might
tell him I was asking.’
    “Yes, I do think he will be there. He is
friends with Alessandra.” I reassure her again.
    I don’t mean to be short with her but I’ve
got my own issues going on. All week I have been waiting to see
Antonio. The anticipation is killing me and every day I am let
down. He doesn’t show up for study hall.
    I have been dwelling on the way Antonio
looked at me when I was with Troy. His face was murderous. I’m not
sure why but it seemed like Vito was laughing at him. What were
they doing anyway? Besides just standing there glowering at us. I
had an ugly fear deep down inside. It wasn’t for me. It was for
Troy. Then they just left. Just like that.
    Troy and I walked home and the atmosphere
between us was not as jovial as before. Troy was uncommonly quiet.
He called me a few times this week but there was something unspoken
between us. He promised to call me tonight because he leaves for
Notre Dame in the morning.
    Later that evening he calls.
    “Hello.”
    “Hi Megan.”
    “You all set to go?” I ask getting excited
for him.
    “Yeah.”
    “Come on, Troy. It will be great. I want you
to call and tell me all about it. I want to know everything from
where the cafeteria is to how annoying your roommate is.”
    Troy’s voice gets quiet. “I wanted to ask you
about that party tomorrow night.”
    “What about it?”
    “Is that guy with a hard-on for you gonna be
there?” he asks softly.
    “What?!” His harsh words shock and confuse
me. “Ummm, what are you talking about?”
    “Don’t act stupid Megan.” He is practically
yelling at me. In all the years I have been friends with Troy, he
has never talked to me this way.
    “What is wrong with you?” I ask heatedly
frustrated.
    “The guy, Megan! The guy leaning against the
car-smoking! The one that looked like he wanted to rip my throat
out then have his way with you.” Hurt filled his words.
    “Troy, I have to go practice.” I force out.
“I’m playing the harp in church on Sunday. I’m sure you’ve got
stuff to do for tomorrow. Give me a call when you get settled
in.”
    “Yeah, whatever, bye Megan.” And he hangs up.
The dead air on the other end of the line made me feel yucky. I’m
not sure why I didn’t want to talk about Antonio to Troy. I’m not
sure about anything.
    “Megan!” My mother calls from downstairs.
“Your father wants to talk to you!”
    I find my father in the living room with his
feet up on the coffee table watching Soccer.
    “Dad?” I say, “Mom said you wanted to see
me.” He turns off the T.V.
    “Your mother tells me that you’re going to a
party in the neighborhood.”
    “Yes, my friend Raven from school is picking
me up.”
    “I’m not sure how I feel about you
going.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask
warily.
    “You know what it means. We live here but we
don’t belong here. I don’t know if I can trust those kids.” He
says.
    “Alessandra has been very nice to me.”
    “Megan, those kids are trouble makers.”
    “Dad, I’m going to be eighteen. This is my
last year of school then I am off to join Troy at college. I don’t
think hanging out with Alessandra and a few other kids from school
is going to make a difference now since I have never done it in all
the years we’ve lived here.”
    Dad seemed to consider this. “Make sure you
make good decisions. If Antonio Delisi is there or any of his
friends stay away from them.