Rampage - Patrick Hockstetter

Chapter 13

"How did art go?" Jay asked as Matteo as he stepped onto the concrete. His hair beamed and his eyes squinted as the sun came in contact with his skin.

Teo shrugged, "It was okay I guess." Jay frowned as she watched Teo adjust his backpack and stare down at the sidewalk.  "Well, my friends should be here any minute and we're going to have an amazing time." Jay smile placing a hand on his shoulder.

Teo eyes wandered across the sidewalk. "Okay." He nodded smiling. Jay nodded and smiled as Bill and his gang approached. "H-Hey." Bill squinted. "Hey, we were going to head into town maybe grab a bite to eat. You guys in?"

The group exchanged whispers before turned back to Jay. "Yeah, sounds fun."

"Great. I'm going to drive him home to check in with his mom and we'll meet you at the diner in ten." Jay nodded fishing her keys out of her pocket. "We'll save you a spot!" Richie shouted. Jay smiled, giving a thumbs up.

"I didn't know you have a car." Teo examined the keys in her fist. "You bet I do. You can tell your mom I can drive you home if you want."

"No it's okay she said she needs the walking. She has blood clots in her legs that hurt so she has to move to relieve the pain."

Jay frowned as Teo gazed at the sidewalk. "Well.... last one to the car is a rotten egg!" Jay shouted before running into the parking lot towards her car. "Oh no way!" Teo laughed, running after her. Jay unlocked the truck and hopped into the driver's seat as Teo jumped into the passenger's seat.

"I beat you!" Jay teased, her breathing hitching in her throat. "No- I'm smaller than you and it was a false start!" Teo argued.

"Whatever." Jay rolled her eyes before sticking the keys into the ignition.

"Where's your casa boy!" Jay laughed. Teo giggled, "I live in the apartment above the bakery in town." "Panetteria Della Mamma? You live above there?" Jay asked. Teo nodded setting his bag below his feet. "That's my mom's bakery."

"Damn Teo, I learn more and more about you everyday." Jay grinned, throwing the gear into reverse and exiting the parking lot.

"So your dad works as a tech and your mom is baker with a genius kid."

"Yup." Teo replied, smiling. "You fucking smartie pants." Jay laughed, tussling his hair. Teo chuckled as Jay rolled through the stop light and turned down the street with the bakery. "It's that one, just park in the alley, we can go through the back."

"Yes sir." Jay muttered as she parked the truck in the alley in front of the dumpster. The two unbuckled their seatbelts and hopped out of the truck.

"Mama!" Teo shouted as he swung open the door and entered the kitchen. Jay followed as they made their way to the front of the bakery. "Mama!" Teo shouted again as they walked in front of the counter. A display case lit with golden lights as breads and muffins were presented behind the glass.

"Teo! Oh mio figlio è a casa! (Oh my son is at home!)"

Jay watched as a short woman with poofy brown hair wearing a black apron and blue blouse approached Teo. "Hi Mama." Teo smiled as the woman cupped his face in her hands and kissed his cheeks.

"E hai portato una ragazza a casa! (And you brought a girl home!)" The woman exclaimed. "No mama, we talked about this, this is Jay." Jay grinned and waved, "Hi nice to meet you—"

The woman jumped up and down as she pulled Jay into a hug. "Jay! Oh so nice to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you too!" Jay forced a smile as the woman's height rested at Jay's mid arm. "Mahteo has told me so much about you!"