The story of my life (wattys2019)

Chapter 11

After our dinner, we went to the store and got some clothes and stuff for me and Rosa was there too. After our crazy outing, we dropped Rosa and went home. 

That night I brushed and tripped on my new PJs, and climbed in the bed beside Carlos. I didn't have a room yet so I was sleeping with Carlos. 

"Carl?" I whispered in the darkness. 

"Yeah?" He responded.

"D-do you w-want me?" I asked. 

"Yeah, of course not just because of my father but I really want you, when you smiled this afternoon I was full of joy, Just like you were my own son," he said, his voice dropping at the last part. 

"Y-you have s-son b-before?" I asked in a whisper. 

"Yeah, but he died with his mum when he was three In a car accident, I was just 18 then." His voice cracked. I hesitated before hugging him. 

"T-thank you," I whispered before drifting into my nightmare. I ended up screaming and crying, after a while of being asleep. Carlos held me close, shushing me.

"He'll hurt me!" I sobbed, "he won't stop!" I cried in his chest.

"No one will hurt you, I'm here, I'll fight for you. No bastard touches my boy." He said while wrapping his arms around me. I felt safe, I felt warm and loved. I snuggled into the warmth of his chest and drifted to a peaceful sleep.

*********

Carlos and I got along, he taught me lots of things during the past years. Most of them weren't good, don't blame him, what are you expecting from a mafia guy? 

Carlos taught me how to defend myself, he also taught me how to swear and curse. We became best of friends, Rosa taught me something too, how to make some of her spaghetti and red sauce. We were often seen around and people called us a family. Carlos, Rosa and I. I was happy with them, though I was not as happy as when my mum was alive but still I was a little happy. 

Carlos taught me how to shoot a gun, I told him that I'll never use it when he asked why I didn't reply. I was enrolled in another school. My grades were excellent but I had a little issue. I couldn't stop fighting in school. I only throw my fist on those that bullied me, I rarely do that. Each time I was expelled, Carlos would always support me. He would say

"Nah... Leave them they're jerks, you are pretty cool, not like the puppet they are. That's why they don't value you, you're a smart ass." I always smile at his words. They were reassuring. Carlos was not just my best friend, he was a father figure in my life, he was also my mentor and advisor. I wanted to be like him so much that I almost had a tattoo. But he said I was too young for that. I was just 10 then. I promised to have a tattoo when I'll be 15, his tattoo was a heart sailed with a  padlock and chains. While mine would be a broken heart. 

Carlos Frederick was not that bad, he prevented me from drinking alcoholic drinks, smoking, or taking drugs. Even if I was surrounded by alcoholic people, drug addicts, smokers..etc

I held onto Carlos's word, I was never gonna disobey him.

My nightmares ceased, just some little tossing at night but I was okay, I became more outspoken and Strong. I learned martial arts and many other self-defenses. I even braid my hair like the karate kid (Jaden Smith). 

I thought everything was over, I thought finally I'd be happy, but everything just had to take a different turn. First, it started with the gunshot at the restaurant. 

I returned from school and Carlos proposed we go to Rosa's restaurant and I gladly accepted. It was always a pleasure to see Rosa. 

We helped her with some customers before the restaurant closed. Billy and Jimmy were on their way to the restaurant, we were having a feast just for the little family we've become.