The Boy with Bad Habits

Chapter 3

Virginia. The same place my grandfather ventured for freedom in his golden years. And yet I didn't feel the least bit free.

Looking out of the window of grampa's old van, I just saw stores here and there every so often we 'd come to a red light. No towering buildings or frantic people trying to cross the road in the busy traffic. New York never sleeps. Which is why the people in it rarely ever can, especially me.

Coming down from the longevity of alcohol made me drowsy. Yet sleeping only made It worse. The dreams I'd get were only flashbacks.

Trying to make conversation, I direct my attention towards gramps since I didn't really say much when he picked us up. But he beats me to it.

"So Ace I heard a couple of weeks ago you caught a nice fish on your line that goes by the name Rachel," he says in a knowing tone.

Classic gramps. Classic and raw.

The last thing I needed was to talk
about that inconsiderate minx with the mood I was in.

I looked out of the window that way Nonna could explain everything instead of me.

"Richard, Ace and I have had a long day and I think it's best we have this conversation another time." Her voice was very soothing and soft.

He looked straight ahead after that with his nostrils flated, which meant he took it personally. Great last thing I needed was for him to be pissed at me. I wasn't trying to be a dick by not acknowledging his attempt to get us out of some awkward car ride.

It was always like that. There wasn't much to say really. Aside from the fact that I'm the only reason they tolerate each other. My 'parents' didn't consider the fact that they had left family behind.

Nonna didn't know the father of her child (my mother). She was basically on her own. And gramps kind of went through what I went through. Fell in love unexpectedly with some girl he barely knew. Then leaves him with a child after saying she'd be back soon from some trip. Neither of them went into detail about their love life.

The sound of the van's door slam got me out of my daze.

I looked out of the window only to see an apartment complex. Which was strange because grampa lived on a farm.

Getting out with my two suitcases I heard nonna's voice become firm and confused. "Richard I thought we were staying with you until we get ourselves situated," she questioned.

Gramps gave her a puzzled look. "Now you know good and damn well I didn't tell you that. My farm is no place for city folk to be, I told you I'd give you two months of rent and then you're on your own. There are plenty of jobs around here and a good school system for Ace. You're go-"

Nonna cuts him off completely, "No need to finish your speech richard. Last thing I need is to be talked down to like some dog from the slums."

Her tone was firm and final, and the look she gave him sent chills up my spine. I rarely saw her like that.

Fixing his tone and clearing his throat gramps offered help with our bags.

"No thank you, we'll be just fine and we'll call you if we need anything," Nonna said in a softer tone. Which told me she was back to herself. She grabbed a piece of paper and a key from grampa.

"Alright then I'll leave you two to get settled." He added.

Nonna headed inside and I quickly followed, "And Ace, don't be afraid to call an old man sometime," the geezer joked.

"Will do farmer," I responded.

He smiled and got in his van, turning my head I finally got to take a look at the complex.

The parking spots were filled but the place looked rather large. It looked like it could go on for miles. Each building was painted a dark green with a sidewalk in front of it. There was a small balcony for each floor.

"How in hell am I going to make this work," Nonna said under her breath.

It's so quiet hear, I thought. Ignoring what Nonna said I followed her to our apartment building. As I walked, I noticed there were a lot of welcome mats. And a lot of wind chimes, that I didn't see in New York. Never had I ever come to find myself at a place so friendly and welcoming.

Looking at the paper grampa had given her, Nonna followed the walkway to our apartment. She looked like she had trouble carrying her things while reading the piece of paper.

"Nonna hai bisogno di aiuto con le valigie?" (Do you need help with your bags?)

She smiled and said, "No grazie ragazzo mio," (No thank you my boy).

My grandmother always appreciated it when I used Italian, it showed I knew my roots.

We finally got to our door, it, like the rest of our complex, had a dark green color with the number two on it in gold.

With a hesitant look on her face, Nonna grabbed the keys from her pocket and slowly unlocked and opened the door.

Looking in, you immediately notice the small living room to your right and kitchen to your upper left. The dining room was to your right as soon as you walked in.

It was small you could easily tell, but bigger than our old apartment.

"Welcome home." Nonna let out a deep breath and turned to me.

"You get settled in while I do the same, and make sure to thank your grandfather for giving us the furniture. It'd probably take a month for us to even get a couch in here." She laughed quietly to herself, Nonna always knew how to look on the bright side. Something I didn't do very often.

I was in desperate need of a blunt, but I didn't know anyone in Hanover I could do business with. All I had was a pack of smokes and some left over vodka.

Ignoring the temptation I went down the hallway to my room which was the first door to my right. The bathroom was further down. At the end of the hallway was Nonna's room.

My bedroom was rather small but there wasn't much I could do about it anyway. Nevertheless I dropped my suitcases and got out a cigarette, not without closing the door and opening my one little window. It was vital nonna didn't know I smoked, she hated when people did it around or near her. It was a constant reminder on how she lost her father to lung cancer.

Last thing she needed was to find out her one and only grandson did as well.

Cigarettes helped me with my anxiety. Which is kind of ironic since studies say cigarettes actually make you more anxious. Scientifically proven or not, they helped me with stress and calm my nerves.

Weed did something different for me though. The pain was at ease and at that moment the rest of the world and everyone in it vanished. No worries, no problems, but only for a short period of time.

Therefore I saw that and a nice bottle of vodka as my getaway. I guess I was weak for letting some girl get to me, but she made it seem so real. She kept me wanting more and more from her only to leave me heartbroken and nonna penniless. Anything to do with Rachel immediately made my mind race and heart clench. Like a thousand individual needles plunging into each and every part of my brain with haunting memories.

Leaving just a bitter taste in my mouth.

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Hey Peeps!! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Romance will later be sprinkled in, until then stick around for more. Updates will always be whenever. School :P

XOXO

-Bri