Fight Club

06| Losing My Religion

After dinner that night, we'd gone to bed like Luca hadn't mentioned the fight that was going to happen the next night. I let him cuddle me as we watched some football movie that was on television at nine-thirty. At least the fight was on a Saturday night, so I didn't have to go to work the entire day.

When I woke up the next morning, Luca wasn't next to me. I stood up and ventured out to the kitchen where he was eating a bowl of cereal. I walked up next to him and leaned my head on his shoulder. He looked down at me and smiled.

"My mom wants to see me today" Luca announced, taking another bite of cereal. I scrunched up my nose and looked at him.

"Did she tell you why?" I asked. Luca shook his head, running a hand through his hair. 

"No, and that's why it's weird" he said, grabbing his bowl and moving it to the sink. I pushed myself up onto the kitchen counter.

"Well, are you going to see her or not?" I asked. Luca rolled his eyes and smiled. He looked at me.

"Will you come with me?" he asked, fitting his body between my legs. I looked at him a grinned.

"Maybe" I said in a whisper. He furrowed his brow.

"What do you mean 'maybe'?" he asked. I laughed and moved his face so he was looking at me.

"I mean, you want me to go, right?" I whispered. Luca nodded, and I let the corner of my mouth raise.

"Of course, Giselle. Of course I want you to go" Luca mumbled. I put my nose against his, then pressed my mouth up against his.

"When does she want to see you?" I asked, running my fingers through his hair. He smirked at me.

"Twelve. For lunch" he announced. I laughed.

"So, a lunch date?" I asked, hopping off the counter and then checking the time. It was eleven ten. I spun around and pointed to the clock.

"Get ready" I ordered. Luca laughed and I scurried to grab something casual before Luca could.

I chose a pair of white jean shorts and a mint green, light-weight button down. I put my hair up in a bun and threw on some mascara and lip gloss. I stepped back into the bedroom, and Luca was buttoning up a polo shirt. 

"You look nice" he said, straightening his shirt and shorts. I laughed.

"You too. Do you know where your mom wants us to meet her?" I asked. Luca nodded and wrapped me into a hug. He smelled nice, like citrus and cologne.

"I'll drive" he announced, walking out to the kitchen with his arm around my back. He grabbed the keys to his car and we walked down. I climbed into his car, and he drove off. 

We arrived at a quaint restaurant about ten minutes later. Luca parked next to his moms car and turned the car off. He took a deep breath and looked over at me.

"She's your mom. Don't be nervous" I whispered, taking his hand. Luca shook his head.

"It's not that I'm nervous to talk to her, I could do that whenever I wanted to. I'm nervous about what was so important that she wanted to meet me somewhere public" Luca sighed. I show my head.

"Let's go in, yeah?" I said, unbuckling my seatbelt. Luca put his hand out, grabbing mine and puling me closer to him. He kissed me, a quick kiss. When he pulled away, he hopped out of the car and walked over to let me out.

The restaurant was nice on the inside, a cute local place. His mom waved us over. She smiled when she saw me.

"Oh, hi, Giselle. I didn't realize you were coming" his mom said. I looked down at the table then back at her.

"If you wanted to talk to Luca, I can go-" I started, but both Luca and his mom shook their heads.

"No, no Giselle. It's fine. Actually, it'll be better if you're here for this too" his mom said. I sucked in my breath.

"Mom, what's this about?" Luca asked, slipping his hand over mine under the table. Luca's mom took a deep breath and looked at both of us. She shook her head.

"It's about your fight club. I'm sorry, but you need to remove yourself from it. You're dangling your life and safety and health. I'm sure Giselle feels the same way" she looked to me for support, but I shook my head.

"Yeah, I hate it, but right now, it's not endangering him" I said. Luca squeezed my hand as a thank you. His mom looked stunned.

"Well, it must be awful when he's gone two nights and doesn't come home until the early morning" his mom argued.

"It doesn't bother me, Ms. Hanover" I told her. She took a deep breath and put her hands in the middle of the table.

"Luca, I am your mother. You know I'm only doing this to help you. You're going to get yourself hurt, and everyone else around you will feel it. I'm not doing this for me, I'm telling you, it's for you. Do you know how much you'll hurt everyone if you lose a fight?" she says, looking Luca in the eyes.

"Mom, it's not something I'm willing to give up right now. Maybe in the future, but not now" Luca said, sipping on the water the waiter had brought us.

"You're twenty now, Luca. It's time to get a real job and find your own place and find a nice girl" his mom stated. Luca froze, as did I.

"Mom. This is my real job. Giselle  has been nice enough to let me stay with her until I can find my own place because you kicked me out" Luca sneered before standing up and stalking out of the restaurant. 

"Giselle, stay away from Luca. You're not helping him" his mom growled at me before I walked out of the restaurant after Luca.