Simone Valentino

~~~11~~~

I stood on the porch, looking up at the grand door, Val smoking next to me.

"It's a shame about Marco." I said, not looking at him

"Oh, a tragedy indeed." I heard the smile in his deep voice. He pulled out a cigarette

"How can you stand Marlboro gold?" I say, laughing at his choice in brands.

"It's not mine. Giovanni loves them." He looked at me from the side of his eyes, smiling a little. At this moment I realise just how much he loves his brother.

"You got a little something there." He then said, Pointing to my bag, that it was kind of open so the gun handle was in clear view. I clicked it close and smiled.

"So you like guns?" I asked.

"Well obviously. And this is one fine piece of work."

"Why thank you. Do you have one on you?"

"You think I come to family gatherings unarmed," he said, a mock offence written on his face, "What kind of fool do you take me for?" He says and we both laugh. I stand up and look at him, suddenly inclined to be serious.

"What?" I asked, worried again.

"Nothing. You really made tonight better. Thank you for coming."

I glanced at him, my lips turning up at the corners. He turned to look at me and his eyes lingered on my collarbone. I felt my ears burn and then he reached his hand out. My heart stopped but then I felt my necklace moving and realised he was fixing it. I felt a warm finger on my collar and looked up at his face. He took a step back and looked away, but not before I caught his face red. I walked over to him and wordlessly stood in front of him. I could tell he looked down at me without looking up at him. I reached up and untied his tie. I glanced up and caught him looking down at me with an eyebrow raised in confusion. I then fixed it and began to retie it. I freeze when my hand glazes at his tux. I then looked up. Right in his grey eyes. He didn't look away. I don't know how long we stood there but it felt like years. The sound of tires on gravel pulls me back to reality and I spin around. John pulls up in his little green beetle and I realise how close I was standing to Val. His breath on the top of my head and my hand touching his chest, his tie half done. I finished it and walked up to the car.

"Good night Va- Simone."

I gave him a wave and he winked at me.