The Thoughtful Detective

Chapter 8 - Frederico & Gianna (18+)

WARNING: The following chapter contains coarse language and extreme violence.

GIANNA CALLISTO'S POV

December 24, 2017

8:30pm EST

"I'm telling you, Gia. Just give me a year, and I'll get you out of here, alright? We'll get a proper home somewhere out in the boonies, where we can hear the birds in the morning. Vinnie's gonna lend me the money to open up my pizza shop. You know I make the best pizza pies, right, babe?"

"Yes, you do, Fred," I agreed. I tried my best to give him an encouraging smile. Fred truly did make the best pizza pies, but he wouldn't know how to run a business. He wasn't the brightest bulb in the room, but he was earnest about building a better life for us.

I twisted the key and opened the door to my apartment. It felt strange yet refreshing to be home after eight days. I closed the door behind us and plopped myself on top of the floral-patterned couch in my living room area. The cream-coloured couch had belonged to my parents. It was emblazoned with swirls of pink and violet peonies, as well as several soda stains. The design was antiquated, and the cushions were fairly worn. However, the golden oak frame was as sturdy as ever. The couch reminded me of a happier time, when my parents had been alive, and the three of us would squeeze atop the cushions and watch reruns of sitcoms.

"It's a nice place," said Fred, as he looked around the apartment.

"Yeah, right." I rolled my eyes at him. "You see what I have to deal with?" I pointed my finger towards the ceiling. My neighbour above me was playing his music loudly. He was exceptionally obnoxious.

Fred laughed. "I know it's no penthouse on Miami Beach, but it's got a cozy, homey vibe, you know what I mean?"

His expression was sincere. That was the thing I loved most about Fred. He was always trying to lift my spirits. We had only met three months ago, but he made me feel significant and cherished. Maybe it was the fact that I didn't have anybody left in the city. As if losing my parents to the accident wasn't heart-wrenching enough, my only two friends had to depart Miami shortly afterwards. Tina had a baby and moved to Jacksonville, and Rianne got a job in Chicago. It felt great to have someone special in my life again.

Fred did have some flaws. In addition to his naivety and lack of sense, he had a couple of marijuana-related convictions. His record made it impossible for him to obtain a decent job. Fortunately, he had a gracious older brother who allowed him to stay in his basement, rent-free. Leo had been taking care of Fred since they ran away together from a troubled household situation at the age of sixteen and eleven. 

Leo was kind to me. He never had any objections to my recent overnight stays at his house. The stays served as a nice escape from Abiona Rd. I was grateful for Leo's hospitality, but Fred was getting tired of mooching off his older brother. "I'll be moving out soon, and then I'll give you the life you deserve, Gia," he persistently promised me. His dreams seemed so far-fetched, but that was Fred; a perpetual dreamer.

"I'll grab my things, and then we can head back to your place." I got up and walked to my bedroom. I opened my closet and pulled out a Christmas sweater, a few pairs of shorts, tank tops, several pairs of underwear, and two novels. I shoved them into my backpack and went into the washroom to grab a few other essentials.

When I returned to the living room area, Fred was hunched over my desk, gazing at a framed photograph of my teenaged self. "Aww, you're adorable, G. Look at you, with those same beautiful brown eyes and dark curls. I would've fallen in love with you if we had met back then." He smiled, as he playfully browsed the random knick-knacks on my desk. "You got everything you need, babe?"