Nightly Confusion

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I tried to take a nap when I reached home but I realized I was nervous about helping Joey. But I couldn’t back out of it because I did really want to help him because he just lost his father and he was in a tight spot, plus he was a friend. A friend I knew nothing about and rarely saw but still a friend.

I took another shower to wash away Sam Martiz the tomboy and started to become Sam Martiz the slut. I changed into a matching black bra and panty set with a robe then started with my hair. It was long down to the middle of my back and it was dark brown, I had no idea what to do with it.

I groaned and reached for the phone. “I need help badly.”

Ten minutes later Nikki showed up. “Help!” I yelled as I pulled her into my room. “I need hair and make up to go with the outfit.” I explained as I looked down at the outfit on the bed, I still can’t believe I bought it or worse I was actually going out in public with it.

“I can do that, I used to work at a salon before working for Alissa when I was still in school. But I wanna know what this is all for.” Nikki said as she placed her hands on her hips, she meant business.

“I’m helping out a friend and I need this look.” I said with a shrug, I didn’t want to lie completely to Nikki but I couldn’t tell her everything either.

“Do I know this friend?” she asked as she began look through my make-up.

“No it’s just this girl I knew from high school; she wants to impress this guy that invited her to a party and I said I’d go with her.” I explained, not the best lie but not the worst hopefully.

“Ok sit down.” I sat in the desk stool and she began to mess with my hair. “Ok I’m thinking some waves and big hair.”

“Whatever you think is best.” I was beyond clueless so I sat quiet and let her do her thing. I had rollers in my head when Nikki moved on to make up. When she was done I had on dark maroon lipstick, black eyeliner and eye shadow to complete the smoky effect around the eyes. Wow Nikki was really good. She took the rollers out and my hair was wavy and big, the look was perfect, as I looked in the mirror I saw someone completely different.

“Man I’m good.” Nikki said as she looked at me through the mirror as well. “Now put the outfit on so I can see the complete look before I have to get back home for my date.”

I disappeared into the bathroom and put on the tight skirt first. It wasn’t as short as I thought, my ass didn’t hang out. I put the top on and the transformation was complete. Except for some shoes. “Well?” I asked Nikki.

“Do you have any knee or thigh high boots?”

“Yeah.” I reached in the closet and pulled out a leather pair of knee high boots with a 3 inch heel, I bought them but never wore them, much like everything else in my closet. I think insanity struck when I was in the mall buying these outfits and when I got home the insanity was gone and I was reminded I had nowhere to wear such things

“Perfect.” Nikki said with a nod and I slipped on the boots, now I was taller with big hair and big boobs. “Oh I feel so proud.” She said as she put her hand to her mouth. “I work magic.”

I laughed and we said our goodbyes. Once Nikki was gone I looked at myself in the full length mirror behind the door. Holy cow I was hot! The image was great but inside I was a mess, I was nervous and completely out of my element. There was a knock on the door, I glanced at the clock 10:54PM. “Since when do you knock?” I asked Joey and tried not to appear like an embarrassed mess.

He looked at me, head to toe; I felt my heart jump when his eyes met mine. He had an amazing ability to make it seem like he was staring past my skin and into my soul. “Great outfit.”

“Is this what you wanted?” I asked since he didn’t tell me how slutty to be.

“Better than I thought. I didn’t know you owned anything so…” he took another head to toe look.

“Revealing?” My legs were out, my stomach, my arms, some of my chest.

“Yeah.”

We looked at each other for a moment, I finally check him out, he was wearing all black, a pair of black pants, black wife beater and a black dress shirt that was on one arm and draped around the damaged one.  “Ready to go?” I asked.

“Not yet there’s something we have to work on.” Joey said as he moved me aside and walked into my apartment, shutting the door behind him.

“What do we have to work on?” I asked and as soon as I did he pulled me toward him until our chests were flat against each other.

“This.” Joey said. “I need you to relax and not almost jump out the window when I touch you. We have to make this look real.” He explained as he kept looking into my eyes.

I could feel his heart beat against mine, this was too close. “Ok.” I agreed but truth be told I did want to jump out the window to get away but he still had his arm around my waist.

“Ok?” Joey questioned.

“Uh,” I finally gave up and looked into his eyes. “I’m not good at this.”

“I can tell.”

“You’re not helping either with your sarcastic comments and looking at me like that.” I pointed out.

“Is this about Myers?” Joey asked.

“Maybe.” I said but I was never good around men, never. Right now I couldn’t understand Joey, was he looking at me like this for part of the act or was it real? And if it was real, holy cow.

“Stop worrying and relax.” Joey said as he grabbed my hand and led me to his black SUV truck. We got in the car and began to drive in silence.

Silence drove me crazy when I was nervous. “I have a question for you. Do you know the name Linda Santi?” I asked I was still wondering about my mother’s sudden change when she heard the name Art De Luca.

Joey didn’t look shocked but rather curious. “Why?”

“Is that a yes?”

“Maybe.”

Damn, my mom knew Art? That was confusing. I wondered about it now, whatever happened between them happened before she became Linda Martiz. “Tell me what you know.” I told Joey as I turned in the seat and looked at him to gage his reactions.

“Why?” Joey asked, I think I could see signs of annoyance in his features.

“Because Linda Santi is my mother.”

Now Joey looked shocked, he pulled over on the curb and looked at me without the risk of causing an accident on the rode. “Are you serious?”

A sense of dread filled my heart and I didn’t know why.  “Yes it’s her maiden name.” He didn’t say anything with the silence surrounded us again. “I haven’t begged you for answers and I agreed to help you without knowing anything about what the hell is going on. I think you owe me this. Tell me how they know each other.” I said serious now as I considered getting out of the car and walking back to my apartment in these evil heels.

Joey seemed to be thinking that over. “Damn you’re such a pain in the ass, my ass.”

“That’s because you’re making a big deal out of everything, which makes it stressful. Joey I think you’re the one who has to relax.” I pointed out.

Joey smiled. “Maybe you’re right but maybe you’re not. Either way I’ll tell you want you want to know this time. My dad and I were close.” He began and I could see the pain of losing him. “He told me about the woman he loved all his life, they met in school but when he got into the business their love became too much of a fight and she left. He always missed her and wished it could’ve been different but he didn’t regret all that happened because he met my mother and they had a great life until she died” He looked at me now. “Her name, the woman he said he let get away was Linda Santi.”

I was shocked and at a loss for words. My mother was Art’s first love, true love. No wonder she fainted when she head he had been killed. “She never said anything or ever let on.” But mom never talked about her life before dad. “I guess the world is a small place.”