A month has passed since the start of school, and I have become great friends with Giovanni, and his friends. Well, not Matteo so much, as he still likes to make the occasional perverted comment when Gio isn't around. They still strike me as lethal, and that they are hiding something big from me. I have never been to their homes, but they have been to the apartment where I live with dad.
This weekend I have to go to Jersey City to see my mother for the new court ordered monthly day visit with her. Ugh. I hate having to spend time with her, and this will be the first time I have to do this. I cannot wait until my 18th birthday, and I don't have to ever see her again. Tomorrow morning I'm taking the 7 a.m. train to Jersey City where she's supposed to pick me up, spend the day with me, and then drop me back off at the train station. If she doesn't pick me up within an hour, I can come back home.
"Hey Hunter, can we hang tomorrow?" Giovanni asks as he sits down at the lunch table next to me.
"I can't sorry. I have to spend the day in Jersey City with my mother. New court order," I reply, and I notice my Irish accent coming through more since it always does when I'm scared or nervous. "Fingers crossed she doesn't show, so I can come home early."
They frown at me silently for several seconds before Salvatore asks; "How often do you have to do this?"
"I have to spend one day with her a month, and if she doesn't pick me up within the hour, I can come home," I reply, irritated with the whole situation.
"Can I take you there and home?" Gio seriously asks.
Shaking my head at him sadly; "Sorry, but you can't. I have to have the train ticket to prove I was there, and the train staff to confirm I was there for an hour if she doesn't arrive, so I can go home."
"That's understandable," Lorenzo quietly says with a nod of his head.
"I guess," I softly agree eating my lunch.
"How are your college classes?" Salvatore asks, changing the subject much to my relief.
"Good. These classes are challenging me," I grin as I see Mr. Freeland entering the cafe.
Weird. Teachers don't normally come in here unless they have cafe duty. Cafe duty is when teachers take turns making sure we don't cause any trouble or have problems. I see him scanning the cafe before his gaze lands on me, he brightly smiles as he walks over to the table, and stops between Gio and me.
"Hunter, I have great news for you!" he excitedly says. "A friend of mine saw your Celtic Shamrock painting, and want you to enter it into a young adult contest at his gallery. The pieces in the contest are judged, and the first three places win money, and the possibility of being purchased."
My jaw drops in absolute shock, as I had just finished the painting two days ago, so I can take it home today; "But it isn't any good, especially for something like that."
"Yes, it is, Hunter. My friend is the one who owns and runs the gallery," Mr. Freeland replies. "He feels that you have a natural talent. What do you say?"
"When do I have to have an answer by?" I inquire, lost as what to do while I chew on my lower lip.
"Monday, by time your art class begins," Mr. Freeland answers seriously.
"Okay," I agree with a small nod, and when the lunch bell signals, I rush from the cafe to the computer room.
I need to finish my college work so I don't have to worry about it over the weekend. By the end of the day, I'm going to try to avoid my friends since I don't want to be questioned about my plans for after high school, and or what I'm going to do with the painting. Exiting the building, I'm almost to the parking lot where dad is already waiting, when a large, warm hand lands gently on my shoulder.
"Hold up a minute, Hunter," Giovanni says , pulling me to a stop.
"Yeah?" I ask looking up at him with a slight smile.
"Text me when you arrive at the Jersey City station, when you arrive back home, and if you need me while you're with your mom," he firmly tells me.
Nodding at him, I know not to argue; "I will, but I'm sure I won't have a problem while I'm there. She knows if she does anything harmful to me, she will have more charges brought against her."
"What do you mean?" he demands on a growl while searching my face.
"Nothing, don't worry about it, and forget I said anything," I quickly reply.
"Hunter, I don't want you going to see her," Gio responds with a scowl as dad starts walking toward us.
"I have to go, or dad will be in legal trouble," I honestly answer.
"Is the visit supervised?" he whispers as dad comes to stand next to me.
"No, it isn't," I respond. "Dad, this is my friend, Giovanni Rossi. Gio, this is my daidi, Munro Styles."
The few times the guys have been to the apartment, dad wasn't home.
"Nice to meet you, sir," Giovanni says holding his right hand out for him and dad to shake hands.
Dad shakes Giovanni's hand in return; "Nice to meet you, too, Giovanni."
"Hunter, caithfimid imeacht. Táimid ag bualadh le do sheantuismitheoirí ag an ngníomhaireacht samhaltaithe, agus ansin amach chun dinnéir," dad says to me in Irish.
(Hunter, we need to leave. We're meeting your grandparents at the modeling agency, and then out to dinner)
"Ceart go leor, a dhaid. Lig dom slán a fhágáil le Gio, le do thoil?" I reply with a slight nod toward my friend.
(Okay, dad. Let me say goodbye to Gio, please?)
Dad nods, saying; "Ceart go leor. Dhá nóiméad, ceart go leor?"
(Alright. Two minutes, okay?)
"Yes," I reply, switching back to English, and then turn my attention to Gio as dad walks away. "Sorry about that. I have to leave, so I'll see you Monday?"
"Of course, and remember what I said?" he replies, nodding at me.
"I will. See you later, Gio," I reply, waving at him as I walk away.
YOU ARE READING
Mafia Love
أدب المراهقينHunter Styles is a 17-year-old, 12th grader at a new school after his parents divorce. His dad and him move to a new town to be closer to his dad's family, causing Hunter to attend a new school. On his very first day of school, he meets four very se...
