The Price of Blood

Chapter 13

Piccolo Cucina is located on 184 Prince Street.  It is, as the name Piccolo Cucina suggests, a small, intimate restaurant where young couples can go and enjoy fine cuisine and laugh among themselves.  The menu is full of delicious food ideas and recipes which could leave any man or woman so full they could feel like they were about to explode.  After walking around in the mall for a while, Jake, Jess, Brad and I decided to go to the restaurant early, as our tum and smiles. Our tummies were rumbling.  The short drive was blissful, I read Scientific American, Jess platted her hair and Brad made crude jokes with Jake.  I have never been more happy than I am now.  But we are now standing in front of this restaurant, which is pretty amazing.  Prince Street is quite upmarket, but not snobbishly so, unlike the area where the Deans live.  However, it is only about 5 minutes away from here, so you know it is posh if it is near where they live.

Jess is wearing a black Dior dress and a pair of white Jimmy Choo stilettos. She looks gorgeous and attracts much male attention as we walk into the restaurant.  However, most people's eyes are on Jake and me, holding hands as we walk in.  Jake and me look perfect, posh and prim, but we are not.  We are full of love for one another.  The waitress on hand looks slightly flustered as we entered, as if this was not what she had signed up for when she took the job.  She looks at Jake and me and raises her eyebrows.  She then notices what I am wearing and cries out in sheer joy.                                                       "A Chanel dress!" she breathes excitedly, "Wow, from Vivaldi Boutique, I'm sure.  My name is Eloise Mitchell and I will be your waitress for this evening.  Please do follow me."                                                          "Please do not comment on my dress," I reply crisply, "It is no concern of yours.  Thank you."                     Eloise looks slightly taken aback, gives me a quick, respectful nod and leads us towards a crowded table.  Jake shakes his head at her and whispers something in Jess' ear.  She nods in agreement.             "I believe you have a VIP suite," Jess says sternly, "We are not used to this kind of terrible service and would appreciate it if we could go there.  Otherwise, we'll be out of this door before you can say lasagna."                                                                                                                                                                                        "I'm afraid Madame," Eloise says, a little ticked off, "That the VIP section is for members of the elite society.  You must book the VIP section before you arrive.  That is the rules of our restaurant."                  "Well, I can assure you I will be calling your manager," Jess says huffily, "Unless you let us off."                

The woman sighs and leads us away from the crowded table to the VIP suite.  Its a smaller section leading off from the main restaurant section.  If you thought the main eating area was romantic, this place is off the scale.  Red, plush, velvet sofas fill the entire space and in the corner there is a private table with a vase of red roses on.  It is lit by candle-looking lights and there was a small candle on each table.  There is a powerful smell of incense in the room and it makes me feel slightly queasy inside.  It sure is romantic.  The waitress, still looking pissed off, hands us menus.  All kinds of incredible and unimaginable things are on the menu, a wide range of pasta, pizza and everything in between.  I end up deciding to order prawn and smoked salmon linguine, which is one of the specials.  Jake orders a Meat Feast calzone, Brad a chicken and mushroom pizza and Jess a pesto and tomato penne dish.  The waitress, trying to be polite, asks about sides, drinks etc, but Jake just orders a bottle of champagne.  We eventually get her to go away and I begin to relax a little.                                       "Thank goodness she's gone," Brad says, and then, in a high pitched voice"You must book the VIP section before you arrive. That is the rules of our restaurant. What a cow!"                                                          "Quite right," Jess agrees, "Anyway, I hope the food will be better than the service.  You look absolutely stunning Lauren, I can see why she would want to talk to you."                                                           I blush, embarrassed.  I mutter my thanks and get out my magazine on Scientific American.  Jake shakes his head and grabs it out of my hands.  I throw him a protesting look again.                                        "Let's play never have I ever?" Jess suggests.  Brad and Jake snort with  laughter at her.                             "That game is a load of shite!" Brad says, still guffawing, "You should play a proper game, like dirty consequences or truth or dare.  Never have I ever is a load of shite."                                                                       "Truth or Dare,"  I agree, "That's a good game.  OK Brad, truth or dare?"                                                               "Dare!" Brad says, "Truths are just embarrassing.  So, nerd face, what is it to be?"                                            "Kiss the waitress when she comes back!" I say, feeling pissed off as he called me a nerd face.       

The waitress returns with plates of exquisite Italian cuisine. and sure enough, when Eloise has put everything down on the table, Brad kisses her on the lips.  She look s at him in unspeakable disgust.       "Call me!" Brad laughs, after her retreating, horrified figure disappears from the room.                                Everyone is laughing so much as we all tuck into our food.  Oh my god!  The meal is sublime.  The salmon and the prawns just make my mouth water more than any food every made.  The linguine is beautifully soft and chewy.  I am diving into bliss when Jess taps my shoulder.  I turn round.                     "Truth or dare?" she asks me.  I consider this for a moment.  Dares are embarrassing.  Truths are probably even more embarrassing, so I know that I have to pick Dare.  But I don't seem to be able to.  My body seems to be leaning towards the truth side of things.  I shake my head in embarrassment.       "Truth." I answer finally, "But from Jake, no-one else."  Jake grins at me.  He was probably wishing I was going to say that.  He carefully moves a piece of my hair behind my ear and whispers it in my ear.  My whole body goes numb.  I look into his eyes, they look into mine.  We are interlocked, interlinked.    "No." I reply, "Never."

We drive to his house in his car.  The meal almost seems like a dream away.  Jess and brad are fighting in the back seats.  I hold Jake's hand against my flesh.  His hand is warm and loving and everything I have ever wanted.  The day seems so sublime and beautiful, and yet, as the sun sets down on Manhattan, everything seems to be going for the better.  We arrive at his house, silhouetted against the glowing sky.  We get out and Jake's mum, Catherine, opens the door for us.  To be honest, those little details don't seems to matter any more.  Still in a little bit of a daydream, Jake leads me steadily up the staircase to his bedroom.  And we're kissing.  Passionately.  I feel slightly befuddled, like I'm not quite sure what is going on.  I look a little alarmed when he beings to unzip my dress.  He puts a finger to my lips and kisses my mouth.  I kiss him back. Passion flows through our bodies.  His dark, tanned skin and my pale, vulnerability seem to make us perfect for each other.

Two becoming one.