TONY: Book 1 of The De Luca Brothers Series [COMPLETED]

15:

He hasn't texted me in over two weeks. Two weeks filled with anticipation, confusion and strangely, melancholy. After his revelation, I had gone to sleep happily and was somewhat excited to wake up on the Friday. Like I said, he never texted me though. On the Friday, it was understandable- perhaps no work or shady meet-ups or whatever. Saturday, I used to the same excuse, as well as on Sunday and the Monday. On Tuesday, I began to feel worried, worried that he had died or is injured or whatever. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Saturday I began to feel angry, livid in fact. Sunday was also spent doing the same, then finally the Monday came again, Tuesday, Wednesday and of course, Thursday. Today is Friday and I can't help but feel more upset than furious. Sad with him for doing this to me, but also fuming at myself for letting him do this.

"We're going out!" Exclaims Morgan, barging into my dorm with Nate in tow.

I solemnly look at the two of them and sigh, shaking my head, "Nah. I think I'll just stay here for now thanks."

"Shut the fuck up you depresso espresso!" Exclaims Nate, slamming the door shut with his foot before standing on top of his bed with his shoes on. "You need to stop being so darn negative! I don't know what's gone off with you, but at first, I ignored it, thinking it'll last for a couple of days. Here you are two weeks in looking like a sad, fat potato who requires intense emotional support!"

I blink at him then turn to Morgan, "You didn't tell him?"

She shrugs.

He looks at us suspiciously, "Tell me what?"

Morgan raises a brow, asking for permission.

I nod.

Morgan tells him everything, apart from going into detail on our two adventures since I haven't actually told her what occurred. When Nate asks what we did, I tense and shake my head. He takes the hint before changing the subject.

"You got a bad boy kink, huh?"

I flush red and sputter out a response, "N-no! God no! Hell no!"

"Okay Pinocchio, try not to lie too much, wouldn't want your nose to grow any longer," Morgan interjects, turning to my wardrobe. "I trust you've recently had a shower?"

"Yeah."

"Fabulous. We have two hours to kill. Nate, go out and buy a case of beer before we head out. Zac, you sit tight and perhaps brush out that birds nest. I will pick out everybody's outfits since that's what I'm good at!"

Nate huffs, "I can dress myself y'know."

"Yes, but you'll just cosplay as some footballer with all those jerseys you have."

"Hey! They work, I pull chicks all the time!"

"So do I, more than you ever will," she challenges. "How many girls have you had in bed?"

"This semester? Fifteen."

"Twenty-three before Chelsea," she counters. "Now go buy us beer. Shoo, shoo."

Nate leaves and Morgan turns to me, "When will you tell me what happened?"

"One day," I mumble. "But not today."

She nods before rummaging through my wardrobe to pull out a light grey sweatshirt, dark blue ripped jeans and a pair of black converse. For Nate, she picks a white tee, black jeans and a pair of his Adidas sneakers with a denim jacket. She exits to let me get changed, claiming she's going to herself.

I do as she says, brushing my curls out as well as pinching my cheeks to make them plumper and pinker. I look myself up and down and roll my eyes at my reflection, not bothered to actually go to this party.

Nate barrels in with a six pack and instantly chucks me a can. Mechanically, I open it and take a sip, grimacing at the bitterness.

"Drink up buttercup!" He exclaims, chugging his can. He sighs and grins at me, "You're not going to look as I get changed, right?"

Finally, I realise what he means, "Dude, I've seen you get changed a dozen times."

"Yeah, but I mean..."

"No, I won't look if that puts you at ease," I huff, rolling my ease.

He sighs in relief, "Thank god, it'd be proper awkward if you liked me."

"I'd never have a crush on you," I mutter. "You're not my type."

"Oh, sorry, I forgot your type was criminals."

I flip him the bird before chugging my beer, my head feels light and fuzzy, surprisingly numbing my heartache. He gets changed but I do glance at his body. Yes, he's lean and muscly, but not nearly as magnificent as Toro. He's got the wrong hair colour, wrong skin tone and eyes- he's just not everything I look for.

Morgan kicks open the door, wearing high heeled boots, a body-con, black short dress, with her hair straightened and a smokey cat eye complimenting her eyes.

"If you weren't a lesbian, I'd totally bang," Nate comments.

"That's what my aim is," she flips her hair. "We have an hour to spare, let's order pizza and get fat!"

"I'll order it," I mumble. "It'll be on me."

"Damn straight, I'll take it as an apology for you being depressed," Nate claims.

We order pizza and I finish my two cans of beer relatively quickly. Eventually, we get up and begin walking to the party, stumbling into each other and looking like morons to the public eye.

"I'm going to get pissed tonight," Morgan claims.

"So am," I mutter, sighing into the sky. "I needed this, thank you."

"No problemo!" Nate exclaims loudly. "You're going to get a man too. How about Derek?"

"No, not Derek," I groan.

"Why? You got beef with him?" Nate growls.

"Yeah, but it was ages ago, so don't worry about it," I reassure.

"If he bothers you," he says lowly. "Come get me."

"I can handle myself Nate," I laugh awkwardly.

"Seriously Zac, get me if he annoys you. That guy is full of rage."

Nerved by his words, I hesitantly nod before walking to the front door.