Simone Valentino

~~~ 3~~~

I layed on the floor, my papers and novels fanned across the library carpet, shoelaces untied. I raised my tired head and met eyes with everyone who chose to surround me. I sighed and plopped my head back on the floor.

You gotta get up some time. I told myself and quickly got on my knees and started picking up the loose papers spread across the floor.
Everyone watched me crawl around like a dog, no one choosing to help me but instead giggling amongst themselves like schoolgirls in a hallway. I hopped on my feet with all my papers in hand and turned my head to view the crowd. They fell silent when faced with my deep brown eyes.
"Shows over." I said and strutted out of the library with my head held high.

I plopped my books on a nearby bench and attempted to fix my hair which became frizzy with static from the carpet. When my arms became too tired to hold up much longer, I took out all of the black and brown bobby pins and stuck my hair up in a messy bun near the top of my head, bits and pieces of my auburn curls fell in front of my face as I played with the ball of hair. I left the wisps of curls, unbothered by my view being obscured. I picked up my books and hurried across the bustling streets of New York.

It was a sunny day, but you couldn't tell with the massive buildings casting large shadows across the city streets. I squeezed between two gentlemen who stood right in front of the subway station and swiftly ran down the stairway into the train stop, the thick smell of cigarette smoke hit me like a bird on a window. I held tightly to my papers and books and took a look at the bundle of people all squished beside one another like sardines in a can. I sighed, and slowly walked down to the chaos.
"Excuse me, Excuse me, Excuse me..." I shuffled through strangers who paid no mind to me.

I staggered through the crowd until I found a space just big enough for me to stand not flattened between two unfamiliar faces. I stood shoulder to shoulder with the subway wall and a man wearing a wool, black topcoat with the collar flipped up, obstructing my view of his face. The loud sounds of the subway coming down the dark tunnel crescendo as it came closer to the platform, alerting the impatient herd of people to get ready to board.

When the train arrived, we competitively pushed our way through the subway's open doors, being sure to get a spot. I held onto my books tightly as the train's doors slowly closed. I looked out the window to find the next group of sardines who were a little too late for their train. I watched them mouth cuss words and throw their hands in the air in frustration as the train jolted to move. I was unprepared for the sudden shake and fell into the side of the black coat gentlemen who stood beside me on the platform.

"I'm sorry!" I quickly said and hurriedly picked myself back up, embarrassed.

"It's alright doll, no need to apologize." I looked up, surprised, I didn't expect him to respond.

His hair was dark and nicely cut. Skin an olive tone. His deep grey eyes did not stare into mine, but rather at my papers and books, I was carrying.
"Whatcha got there?" He said, myself hearing a strong Brooklyn accent I didn't seem to catch when first heard.

"Books."

"Clearly." He commented, still choosing not to look at me.

There was an awkward silence as I thought about how to respond, then again, he seemed more interested in my luggage than myself.
I looked out the window, but there wasn't much to see. I could only make out a dark wall and some faint cracks as the train quickly passed by.

"The Principles of Psychology, 2 volumes in 1,"
"What?"

"That's what you're readin', isn't it?" I looked at the gentlemen again, this time, his eyes were on me.

"Oh. Yes." I said awkwardly.

"You a Psych student?"

"No."

"Then why the book?"

I sighed impatiently, he must've heard it as he snickered.

"Shouldn't have said anything if you didn't want to talk," he laughed.

I looked at him with a face of annoyance, his smile grew.

"I'm trying to figure out how the mind of a criminal might be different from our own,"
"How'd y'know they're different? For all you know they could be normal people with nothin' to do." He said, smiling at his own snarky comment

"Because normal people choose to hunt for ducks instead of humans when bored." I countered.

We sat in silence for a minute, my body leaning with the train as it turned.

"What's with the papers?"
God, can't he see I'm not in the mood to talk?

"They are documented police reports." I replied.

I looked up at the man, his facial expression completely different from before.

I felt uncomfortable and tried my best to shuffle away without seeming rude.

"What are they on?" He asked.

"The Valentino family," I said.

He didn't respond.

"You know, the famous Mafia who supposedly committed the giant train bombing back in 41?"

"Yea, I heard of em'." His grey eyes looked down at his shoes.

The train started to slow as we finally came to the next subway stop.

"What's your name?" The gentlemen asked.

"Eleanor." I said, hesitant on whether I should give my real name to the stranger.

"Well Nora, the name's Simone."

The train came to a stop and the doors opened

Simone started to walk away.

"Simone Valentino." My eyes widened.

I stood in the subway car, swaying from the movement in the train along with the stopping and starting of the train. I made a mental list in my head of how likely it was that he was a real Valentino. In all eyewitness reports no one had mentioned any of his striking features. The grey eyes and his strong jawline, or his deep voice. But then again they could have all been tipped off. All the reports were vague and never really matched with each other. Most people just assumed they mean different people but that wouldn't line up with what we know about them regardless. I took deep breaths and knew my stop was next. I walked out the door of the subway, noticing that about the same time, and all made eye contact.

He was definitely the real Valentino and those men were definitely helping him find me. kill me. Kill John. I got out of the subway and began running.