Omertà, Amore Mio

Chapter 12

Our presentation actually went good. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, even Professor Mathewson. School was now over though and it seems like the days get shorter every school day. I walked out of the classroom with my books in my hand. I'm ready to leave. Students rushed by making their way to the front door. It's Friday and there's some big party tonight in one of the dorm hallways.....or something like that. I was invited but I don't really care to go. Most of the people going are freshmans anyways. I sighed as more and more people came rushing down the hall.

"Ms. Owen, Can I speak to you for a second?"

Standing behind me is another one of my professors, Professor Juniper. He sleeps around with some of the students. Honestly, he is pretty handsome but I wouldn't dare risk getting kicked out of school for having sexual relations with a teacher. Most of the girls basically throw themselves at him. He seduces the ones that don't. Usually the quiet ones. He shut the door behind me as I walked in. Smiling, he walked closer to me. He's gotta be out of his mind if he thinks I'm going to sleep with him. "How are you today?" I leaned my back against the wall. "I'm fine but I'd be better if I was in my car driving home" He chuckled. "Well, I just wanted to talk about your actions in class lately. You haven't been paying attention lately, your test scores are dropping. What's going on?"

"Nothing, I've been really preoccupied lately. I promise I'll pay attention more"

I didn't notice how close he was to me until he was directly in my face. "I know something that can occupy you though"He whispered, voice raspier than ever. I pushed him back and he grabbed my hand. "I know what you do with the girls here okay. I don't want to be added to your list, nor do I even wanna have sex with you."

"Oh, you've changed since last year. I remember when you were practically in love with me"He mused. "Yeah but things have changed so" He raised a brow, "What things?"

"Personal things" He sighed. "Sorry for disrespecting you Noelle" I gave him a small smile. A few more things were said before I walked out of the classroom. The halls are empty and a few of the teachers were beginning to leave. The sun filled the sky with a warm glow. I like the sun. I often imagine it to be a cut-out, something from a fairytale movie but I know it isn't. I know that it is a fiery yellow dwarf star. It sometimes lay in the sky like a perfect, unspoiled egg yolk. I noticed a tall familiar figure standing at my car door. A wide smile appeared across my face.

Aufiero.

I stood behind him quietly waiting on him to turn around. The wind was blowing making his hair fly."Merda" He cursed under his breath. A soft giggle esacped my lips. He quickly turned around with his hand on his waist.......or his gun. He smiled revealing a never before seen dimple. He engulfed me in his arms. He smelled of cinnamon and apples. I buried my face in his chest. His arms were wrapped around me and I felt a sense of closure. We stayed like this for a couple seconds before Iet go. His grey eyes were glossy. He looked very vulnerable. My heart did a backflip as he crashed his lips into mine. It was a hungry kiss. The kind of kiss that happens when you miss someone. He pushed me against my car and moved his hands to my face. I arched my body up into his thick broad chest. His hands fell back to my waist as mine locked around his neck. I moaned as he tightened his grip around me. His body was warm. The caress of his lips was soft and it had me wanting more than just a kiss. I pulled on his shirt bringing his body closer to mine. His fingers obliterated every thought as they trailed down to the hem of my dress slightly lifting it up. His hand cupped my ass, squeezing it tight.

I broke the kiss, gasping for air. My eyes trailed up to his and I could see many emotions in them but the main one I could see was lust. His head was turned at an angle. "I missed you"He whispered brushing my hair to the side. "I think I missed you more than you missed me" He shook his head. "I don't think that's possible dolce cuore" I pressed my lips into a thin line to keep from laughing. "What does that mean?"

"Sweetheart". I nodded. "C'mon, let's get you home"He said. He got in the drivers side while I walked around to the passengers side. He didn't speak the whole car ride but he kept glancing at me. We pulled up outside of my house and we got out quickly. Jaylee was sitting on the couch with Mysva. She smirked at me as Aufiero and I walked to my room. He flopped down on my bed as I changed into something more comfortable. "So, are you gonna tell me what happened?"

"Well, I asked the nurse for the discharge papers and I signed them and left. I was sitting outside waiting on Maso to pick me up and I got hit in my head. I woke up chained to a pole. Ya know I was there for a couple days and the day I called you is when they set the room on fire. I thought the room didn't have windows but when I pushed this tall cabinet thing, the window was behind that so I broke it and climbed out but when I hit the ground I became unconscious. I woke up in the hospital the next day"

"Who hit you?"I asked. He shrugged, "I'm guessing one of Biagio's people because I was locked up in his basement"

"And Biagio is?"

"Rivals"

I shivered at the thought of him. He sexually assaulted me. I try to forget it but I can't. I'm just glad that he didn't actually rape me. Some of my bruises are still slightly visible. I sighed and sat next to Aufiero. He pulled me closer to him. "I won't let him hurt you again, you know that right?" I nodded. He softy kissed my lips. "I really like you Aufiero but I don't know if I wanna do this" He sat up straight, "Why not?"

"You're a dangerous person. When you went 'missing' or whatever you wanna call it, I was really worried. I thought I was gonna loose you and to know that anything like that can happen at any moment..I just...I just can't deal." He cupped my face. "But you're not gonna loose me and you got me back. Noelle, don't be like this. You can't just-I need you."

"Aufiero, you don't need me."

"Yes I do. Noelle, you've fixed the hole in my heart. You, you're making me feel what I felt years ago. I need you Noelle."

I pursed my lips and shook my head. "Aufiero, I-

"I'm falling for you Noelle"

I awoke with Aufiero's arms wrapped around me. Last night was weird. He's falling in love with me. How can a person like him even fall in love. He began to stir in his sleep. His stomach was pressed into my back. It felt good. He felt good. I gently rose from the bed. "Noelle?" I turned around. He had sat up and was now staring at me. "Yeah?"

"I want us to be more than friends" I pushed my hair back. "What do you want us to be?"

He laughed, "If I say it, it'll make me sound like a high schooler" I shook my head. "Boyfriend and girlfriend?" He nodded. "Okay, boyfriend."