Chapter 1 – Noticed
GABRIELLA
I was almost free.
It was the first week of my senior year, and I was already excited for it to be over. Nine more months, and then I could get the hell out of my house, or more importantly, away from my parents. They drove me nuts. Not with their nagging of me, but with their nagging of each other. It was bad…really bad.
I didn't think they had realized it, but I had figured out a long time ago that they had only married because of me. They felt it was important to appear to be good Catholics, so they had stayed together. It was obvious to me they really hated each other. I didn't know if they fought with me around on purpose, but I avoided the house most days. They always grimaced at me, silently letting me know they would have rather not had me there, reminding them of why they’d had to get married in the first place.
That made three of us.
I guess I shouldn't complain. I never went without the material things. I went to a private Catholic school, instead of a public one, and since I was in Marcello Valente's class, we had no problems with bullies and jerks. I knew it seemed like it should have worked differently, but he had been quick to establish that he was the king of the school during our freshman year when he had moved in. He made it very clear that no one was to start shit but him. He didn't know it, but he was a lifesaver to a lot of us in the lower social rankings. He didn't threaten chicks, but he definitely had them all distracted. He was very hot, and he carried an air of power around him, which caused panties to drop as he walked past.
I wasn't as presumptuous as those other girls. I knew to keep my head down and out of his way. It wasn't that I wasn't experienced with boys, it was just that the experience I'd had was really bad. Of course, it was most likely because we were both inexperienced, and he was an ass. Chris and I had gone steady for three months, before our first time, which was on campus in the AV closet. It made him even more of an asshole. He just had to brag to his friends, which made them all want to take a crack at me. They made very crude comments as they passed, and Chris would just smile like a proud bastard. I slapped that smile right off his face.
That was the second time Marcello had stepped in. Chris didn't like getting slapped in front of his friends. He roughly grabbed my shoulders, slamming me against the wall and drew back to hit me. Marcello, in turn, grabbed his neck and told him to let me go. Of course, Chris did, and I shouted that I didn't ever want to have anything to do with Chris again. I ran down the hall, before I could be a witness to what happened next.
There was no question that Marcello had "family ties" to back him up, as in, it was his family who made the ties. I didn't know how that worked, but he was the oldest son of his family, and the way his buddies followed after him, you would have though he shit gold, so I guessed he was heading up in the family business.
Marcello wasn't a bad guy, really, and the way he eagle-eyed his baby sister two classes under us made him seem like a softy. I saw them fighting behind the school on my way to the office during class one day. That girl had him backing up towards the wall, until he finally shouted, "I'm telling dad!" That had stopped her in her tracks, and I couldn't help but smirk. It was such a sibling "I'm telling on you" moment. If my parents weren't so messed up, I would've liked to have had someone to look out for, or to look out for me. Instead, I thanked God they hadn't inflicted themselves on another poor kid.
Of course, when he sat down next to me in history, I did my best to keep my eyes focused on my desk and ignore the draw I and every other girl in the school had to him. Like I said, I tried to stay out of his way. Our teacher had other ideas about that, though, and I was assigned to do a history project with the person next to me, Marcello Valente.
He looked over and smiled. "You look familiar…you a book nerd?" he asked, turning the full charm on me. He didn't sound like he was trying to be offensive.
"If you mean, do I do my schoolwork, then yes. As for looking familiar, we've gone to school together for the past three years and have been in several classes together."
That didn't seem to help him remember me, his eyes focused on my thighs and then breasts. "I still can't place you."
"We haven't fucked," I said blushing. Did he really consider me someone who he would want to be with like that?
His eyes widened. "Oh." His patented smirk spread across his face. "And why haven't we become thusly acquainted?"
I shifted in my seat nervously. "Really, you're asking why you haven't fucked me, a 'book nerd’ as you say?"
"Hey, I like girls with brains, too." He reached over and squeezed my knee with his hot hand and made me jump. He noticed how uncomfortable I was and pulled his hand back. "You alright, Mary?"
"I'm not a Mary, just…" I let out a sigh. "Can we maybe work on our project?" I begged.
He actually looked concerned for a minute, but once I opened my book, it became abundantly clear that I would be doing the majority of this project on my own.
My next class was biology, and my partner was a new kid, or new…something. I wasn't usually a judgmental person, but this guy was weird. I was considered a bit of a geek on campus, but this guy was just wrong. He was large and well-built, but he had a pocket protector. He had his sleeves rolled up to his mid forearms, like an old guy doing a desk job, and he had on some glasses that he kept looking around, instead of through. His face was clean-shaven, but there was something about it that didn't look right. I couldn't put my finger on it. On top of that, his hair was insane. Now, I liked the bed-head look, but that wasn't what he was sporting. I think he had tried for it, but ended up with the cowlicks-from-hell look.
I decided to watch him more closely. I was surprised, when he seemed to move around the campus with ease, as if he knew the place like the back of his hand. In fact, a freshman stopped him and asked for directions, and he gave them without even a second thought. It would have been one thing if he knew where all his classes were, but it didn't make sense for him to know where the other classes were, especially if he was really a new student to our school.
On the second day, I watched him closely, as he took his glasses off and turned them at an odd angle. He did this the rest of the week as well. Seeing this, I knew for damn sure those glasses weren't on his face to help his sight. He did this at lunch every day, sitting two tables down from Marcello and his crew. That was probably the closest anyone ever considered sitting to them, unless you were a girl who sat on their lap.
Something was up with this guy, and I didn't know if I should tell Marcello or not. We hadn't actually spoken again, since that first day he had been assigned as my partner. I guess he figured I wasn't interested in having sex with him and lost interest in helping me with anything concerning history.
I was making my way to the office again, when I passed the familiar rear side of the school the kids thought was so private. That was bullshit, by the way.
Robert, the weirdo who sat next to me in biology, was there and talking on his phone, as he paced back and forth. He had his glasses in his hand and started pointing them at and over some bushes as he spoke. Something was definitely up.
I was proven correct, right after the last bell rang. I thought about going to that "private spot" and seeing if Robert had left anything behind. I got my answer immediately. The bushes he had pointed toward earlier that day were suddenly dark. You should've been able to see the afternoon sun through them, but that wasn't the case.
I watched worriedly, as Marcello and his cronies went to their spot for a smoke. I hoped it was just a plan old cigarette. Robert was hot on their heels and acting like an idiot. They leaned back against the school building, not saying anything. I was considering leaving, when somet
hing Robert said made Marcello's hand flinch. He and both his buddies flexed their fists. I knew I had to do something fast, before whoever Robert had hiding behind the bushes jumped out and hurt them.
"Marcello!" I shouted and interrupted the would-be fight. He didn't look away from Robert, but that didn't stop me from running up in front of him.
When I placed my hands on his chest, he looked down at me surprised. "We have history together. You remember…that report?" I tried to be seductive. I think it worked, because I got his attention. "I've been doing some research." I slipped my hand up into his hair, pulled his face down, and whispered in his ear, "Consensus says your dick is just as good as your tongue." His buddies overheard and fist bumped each other, like I had just said that about them.
"Really?" Marcello didn't even notice the smirking idiots. "Where did you do this research?"
"Boys aren't the only ones who talk in the locker room. So, you mind coming with me to make some history?" I palmed his dick for good measure. I would get him out of there, even if I had to lead him out by his cock. He had been good to us lower on the social ladder, so it was the least I could do to repay him.
He looked up at his guys and said with a nod, "It's time to disburse." They all left without another word.
"Hey, you…you…your mother was a goomah!" Robert tried to goad him.
Marcello turned, but I used the force of his movement to push him back against the school, then I jumped on him and clamped my knees on his hips, so I could reach his ear. "There's someone in the bushes. You have to get out of here."
He wrapped his arms around me tightly, holding me in place against him, as his eyes darted to the bushes. He turned and walked away, squeezing me a little more with each taunt Robert threw at him. We finally made it out of earshot to his car. He set me on the hood and looked down at me hard.
"Why'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Straight-up interfering like that. You know that was most likely the Feds. You deliberately messing with whatever they're up to will probably piss them off."
I tipped my head to the side. "That Robert guy is an asshole."
My response caused him to laugh. "So, history report. We've really got one of those to do, don't we?"
"Yes, any chance you'll give me a hand?"
His hands that were on either side of me moved to my thighs. "I can definitely give you a hand." I pulled back a little, and his eyes snapped up to mine. "You change your mind?" he looked at me confused. "You were all over me a minute ago."
"I had to do something to get you out of there." I felt my face turn red hot, and I couldn't read his expression. He stepped back, taking my hand, and helped me down then opened his car door.
"I live just…" I pointed to my parents’ brownstone across the street, but he shook his head.
"You're not going home." He waited for me to get in and smiled when I finally gave in. I was a nervous ball of energy and twisted the shit out of my backpack strap. "You can relax. I won't do anything you don't want me to."
"I know." I wondered if he had heard it, but the huge smile on his face made me believe he had.
"So, why don't you like Robert? You seem to be open-minded."
"Open-eyed is more like it. He isn't a student," I answered, as he pulled up to a huge house.
"Really?"
I looked down at my lap and wondered if he would think I was insane. He opened my door and helped me out of the car, then he nodded to some guy who was sitting in a vehicle across the street. He didn't let go of my hand, as he pulled me to his front door, and once it was opened, I heard his mother shout for him.
"Marky, what the hell have you been doing? You're late. You know your dad doesn't like Vanessa to drive home unattended."
"We got company, Ma," he answered back, and his mother flew into the room like her ass was on fire.
Her worried look changed to a smile, when her wide eyes landed on me. "Who do we have here?" she reached her hand out to me.
"I’m Gabby…Gabriella, I'm his history project partner."
"Gabriella, that's a nice Italian name. You are Italian, right?"
I nodded, and she smiled widely at Marcello, as if implying something. He smiled back, and I would swear he blushed. I didn't think that was possible.
"What the hell is going on?" A large man who looked like an older copy of Marcello walked into the room. "What company?" he asked, holding a gun in his hand. If I hadn't expected it to be there, I probably would have been nervous. His mother slapped the man's shoulder and stepped in front of the hand with the gun. He just shrugged. "What's the matter? It's registered."
"Marcello, our Marky has brought home a nice Italian girl."
His eyes snapped to me, and I quickly looked over at Marcello, or Marky, as his mother called him, and squeezed his hand.
"Who's this girl? Huh, Italian, eh? What's your name, honey?"
"Gabriella Sabrina Salvecchio," I answered timidly. Marky seemed to be finding this whole thing hilarious, and it pissed me off. I would show him hilarious…his nuts getting kicked by my foot, now that would be hilarious.
"You watch her, Marky. She's steaming, this one. I recognize the look from your mother. I suggest you cup 'em or you ain't having kids," he snickered. "It's very nice to meet you and your fiery Italian streak," he winked at me.
"Hey, Dad, can I have a word with you in private?"
I ended up sitting at their kitchen table with milk and cookies. "So, is my Marky treating you good?"
I didn't know how to answer his mother. "Uh, yeah, I suppose."
"You suppose?"
"He's just my partner for our history project."
She sat down and looked at me carefully. "Honey, I know my son, and I know he doesn't do history."
Well, she was right on that one. "He felt like he should help out this time."
Her eyes narrowed at me. I really didn't want to get on this woman's bad side. "He felt like he needed to help. What do you have on my boy?"
"Nothing, Mom, chill." Thank god Marky came back and settled her down. "She got me out of a mess today, and I thought I'd repay her."
His mother let out a huff, staring at him for a moment, and then she nodded her head. "Fine, door open."
"You really want to hear that, Ma?"
"History, you're supposed to be doing history!" she shouted, as he dragged me down the hall.
"Or making it," he snickered into my ear, making me shiver.
This boy was trouble, in more ways than I realized.
Chapter 2 - Sense
I was really starting to worry. I had never been in a guy's room. Not even Chris's. I suspected Marky's room would look like a bachelor pad or something. I was surprised that it didn't. There weren't even naked women posters.
"Disappointed?" he asked.
"Uh, no, just surprised."
"My mother puts my laundry away, but I clean. We don't upset her, or my father will have something to say about it, and that's the last thing you want to happen." He sank back on his bed. "So, you got a history book or something? I didn't bother picking up mine."
"You didn't pick it up? How do you plan on passing?"
"Class projects are sixty percent of the grade. I know when they're assigning them and sit next to the smartest-looking person in class. I figured you'd be pissed, but wouldn't want to fail, so…" he shrugged, "Easy 'A' for you, equals passing grade for me."
His words hurt me, but I wasn't sure why. I turned away and grabbed my history book from my bag, then set it on the very unused-looking desk in the corner. I pulled out the folder of facts I had collected and the outline of the project, then started to work quietly. I was afraid if I spoke or made a sound, I had burst into tears. It was so silly how upset I was that Marcello Valente had only noticed me because he wanted me to do his history project.
I heard movement behind me and felt him lean on the side of my chair. "So, don't I need to look at something or whatever?"
I took a deep br
eath and hid my silly hurt feelings. "You know, this would probably go a lot faster if I did do it by myself." I started putting my stuff away, and he grabbed my hand.
"Hold up. You don't sound right."
I paused for a moment and tried to gather myself. "Could you give me a ride home? I guess if you can't, I can walk."
"No, I'll take you." He looked at me closely, like he was trying to figure something out. I couldn't handle it. I turned my back, so I wouldn't have to face him.
"You fix that, Marky." I nearly jumped out of my skin, when I heard his father's voice behind us. I looked up just in time to see him pull the door closed.
Marky started to pace the room. "Damn him and his…thing!" he flailed an arm around, apparently upset by his father's “thing,” whatever that was. He turned to me, upset. "Sit," he said in such a way that it left no room to disobey. "I knew I was right. You're upset about something. My dad has a sixth sense about this shit. He said something about having it to keep his balls."
I focused on the book bag in my lap and watched his shoes pace back and forth from the corner of my eye.
"Just say it already!" he snapped and made me jump. I had seen him at the beginning stages of anger, but I always knew to get the hell out of there before he really blew up. I was worried I wouldn't get a chance to escape this time.
"It's nothing."
"Don't you fucking lie to me!" he stormed closer. I didn't think he would ever hit me, but it was very unnerving, and it kind of pissed me off that he put me on edge.
"I'm not lying!" I nearly shouted in his face. "My problem would register as nothing on your scale, so as I said, it's nothing!" I shoved him back and stood up, then slung my bag over my shoulder.
I turned to the door, only to see him standing there blocking it with a smile. "My father was right. A girl with fire is so much hotter than the ones who fall at your feet." I looked down, unable to hold his stare. "Don't be like that. Who would've thought quiet little Gabriella Salvecchio would be like this." I felt his hand cup my cheek, and he turned my face up to his. I was surprised to see want in his eyes, want for me. I hadn't even talked dirty to him. Then he went and ruined it all. "So, you gonna tell me what pissed you off?"
Straight Up Interfererence Page 1
