Blue is a 21 year old car thief. His life was going as normal. He'd drink a small slushy from the gas station and wait. Wait to see the perfect car roll into the parking lot. The fateful day in November was like no other. Well, that was until Blue e...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
✧
The moment the doors opened the noise of people socializing and laughing spilled into the courtyard. Music was playing loudly, reminiscent of the swing jazz of the 1920s. Santiago walked in without hesitation, bringing me with him. I fought the urge to pick at my hands, ignoring my nerves.
"Santi!" A loud voice cooed from across the foyer. A pretty older woman appeared in front of us, a large man behind her. Her hair was big and curled, falling over her slimly framed shoulders.
Santiago smiled smugly, letting the woman look him up and down. "Nonna, it's nice to see you, you look as good as ever."
"Oh, you flatter me. You look... older. That's about all I can say." The woman smiled at him in amusement. "But your friend here is a different story, it's nice to meet you Blue."
A smile pulled at my lips against my will. "Nice to meet you as well."
She stepped forward, grabbing my hand to give it a firm shake.
"Andolina Vicario, Santi's grandmother." The woman's voice had an attractive rasp that matched her rather fashionable outfit. "There's a table waiting for you two, you can sit with me."
The woman quickly spun around, continuing towards a giant ballroom with the two of us on her tail. The room was lite a pale yellow with grandiose crystal chandeliers. At each of the dining tables were different sets of people dressed in fancy outfits. Compared to them Santiago and I were understated. Silks and furs draped around their necks. Hands adorned with large jeweled rings.
The sight was intimidating but oddly attractive. It was like stepping into a movie.
As we approached the table a few familiar faces came into view, the familiar faces being Santiago's father and the men from the night before. They looked much better today, less scraggly. Armando was dressed nicely as usual. He was wearing a clean-cut light blue suit with gold jewelry draped around his neck.
"Blue! I'm so happy you got my son to come down here." Armando smiled widely, from the giddiness in his voice and the sloshing cup of red wine in his hand I could tell he was a little tipsy. "Sit! Sit!"
Santiago took the open seat next to his father leaving the only other seat next to his grandmother. I took the seat with only a small smidge of hesitance. I was grateful they put me at a table with people I was at least a little familiar with. Everyone else in the room looked intimidating and it was filling by the second. It didn't take long for all the chairs to be filled. A few people were leaning against their chairs and standing in groups.
Almost on a timed cue waiters filled in with plates of food, starting at our table and then moving to wait the others. I stared at the food with a hungered gaze and waited for someone else to pick up their fork before I did. To my relief, it didn't take long.
