“Ciao,” she waved at us with the hand that wasn’t holding Rene’s.
“You’re a witch,” I said before I could stop myself. Nick elbowed me in the arm. “What? She is. Aren’t you?”
“Sὶ,” she said with a heavy Italian accent. “I am a witch.”
“Where did you come from and how did you get in tonight?” Nat asked as she stepped out of the booth.
“I came from Italy to visit Rosetta,” Gia answered.
“Why? That’s Ky’s aunt, how do you know her?” Nat asked with wide eyes.
“She is my aunt as well. I came to visit,” she smiled a contagious smile. She was so beautiful that it would be easy to hate her, but there was also something warm about her.
“How is she your aunt too?” Nat continued to grill her.
“My uncle was married to her before he died,” she smiled sweetly.
“Did you know she was a witch?” I asked Rene.
“Now I do,” he looked at Gia. “Why didn’t you tell me? You know what I am, right?”
“I thought I could sense it, but in Italy we don’t associate with weres.”
“Haven’t you heard that we have united once again with the weres? My nonna has talked to most of the coven I thought. Our feud here has ended.” She looked at my hand holding Nick’s tightly. I couldn’t tell for sure, but it looked like a flicker of jealousy flashed in her eyes.
“I have heard, but not everyone accepts that. We really have no reason to. But, I am glad to be here,” she smiled.
“You still didn’t tell us what you are doing here,” Nat waved around us.
“Oh, Zia Rosetta told me the witches my age would all be here. I thought it would be fun to meet some of you.”
“And they just let you in?” Nat looked a little peeved.
“Sὶ,” she smiled.
“But, you don’t look our age,” I said.
“Oh, well, I’m twenty.”
“What? Well, then why are you here? Rosetta should’ve told you about the guys your age. There are several older brothers that are witches. Why would you want to hang out with high school kids?” Nat was getting more annoyed. I could tell she felt a little threatened by Gia.
“Well, someone called Luca is working. And two brothers are technically my cousins.”
“Luca is my brother,” I smiled. “You would have fun with him.”
“Well, I am having fun here tonight. With mon cher, Rene.” Gia turned to look at Rene and he practically melted under her gaze.
“Uh, well, we were gonna take a picture of our group if you can bear to let go of Rene for thirty seconds,” Nat snipped.
“Of course,” Gia smiled.
“There’s no way we’re all gonna fit in here,” Jack complained.
“Sure we will,” Dash said.
The six of us crammed inside the booth. We opted for lap sitting. I sat on Nick, Nat sat on Jack, and grinning widely, Dash sat on Rene’s lap. Nat and I looked at Dash and nodded. For the first photo, those of us that were lap sitting kissed our partner on the cheek, while draping our arms around their necks.
“What the hell?” Rene pushed Dash after the flash. So for the second flash, Dash was falling on the floor of the booth. For our third pose, we decided to pretend like we were all strangling one another, and lastly, we put our arms all around each other and smiled.
When we were done, we set the machine to print out four sets of the photos so Dash and Rene could each have their own copies.
“This is definitely my favorite,” Gia laughed at the one of Dash kissing Rene.
Rene punched Dash in the arm. “Yeah, thanks for the warning on that one, bro.”
“This is so surreal,” I said as I looked at our group photos. “Two months ago we were ready to kill each other.” I eyed Jack who was the only witch in our group that had been there the night Ky and his brothers tried to kill Nick. I shuddered at the memory of it. “And now… we have this.” I pointed to the picture of all of us smiling together. As if he were reading my thoughts, Nick squeezed my hand a little harder.
“Seriously,” Nick agreed out loud. “Actually, for a while, I thought you really would kill Dash.”
I laughed. “Mademoiselle Sofia?” Dash asked with mock surprise. “Nah, she loves me.”
We went back to the dance floor for the remainder of the night. At one point, I spotted Ky watching me from across the way. And not just watching, but staring. He wouldn’t look away. It was really making me uncomfortable.
“If that douchebag doesn’t stop staring at my wife, I’m seriously gonna kick his—” Nick started.
“Dude, I’ll help,” Dash added.
“Calm down, Nick,” I put my hand on his chest to quiet the rumble that had started. “You’re rumbling,” I whispered in his ear. That pulled his gaze away from Ky and he looked in my eyes.
“Sofia, I’m serious. He can’t keep this up. I’ve had to deal with him watching you for over a month now. It’s really pissing me off.”
“Then kiss me,” I smiled playfully. He raised his eyebrow at me. “It will get him to stop looking.”
He leaned in and our lips met. It was meant to be an innocent kiss, but quickly deepened. I could hear voices around us, but the world disappeared. I could feel Nick’s chest rumble against me and he pulled away from the kiss.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, my hands on his chest.
He turned to glare at Ky. “He called me a dirty name.”
“How on earth could you hear anything above this music?” I wondered.
“Werewolf hearing,” he reminded me, still glaring at Ky.
“Oh, yeah. Sometimes I forget about your superpowers. Just ignore him,” I started, but before I realized what was happening, Nick was across the floor in Ky’s face. Marco was standing with Ky.
“Oh snap,” I heard Nat say as I ran to where Nick was growling in Ky’s face.
“You need to keep your dog on a leash,” Ky said to me while still staring Nick in the eye. I grabbed Nick’s arm as hard as I could so he wouldn’t shift in front of the entire senior class.
“You,” Nick spat in Ky’s face. “Need to keep your eyes to yourself. If I catch you watching my wife again, I’ll tear your throat out.”
“I’d like to see you try,” Ky sneered. Nick’s face was mere inches from his. “She was mine long before you stole her from me, and she’ll be mine again someday.”
Nick pulled his arm back and swung hard at Ky’s face. Ky wasn’t expecting the blow and it hit him square in the nose. Blood instantly began to pour down the front of his shirt. Ky grabbed his nose and looked to me—like I was supposed to do something about it.
Nick was done and walked away. I stopped and got in Ky’s face. “You are completely delusional, Ky. I was never yours. And I never will be. Nick and I are bound. If you so much as look at me again, he will tear your throat out. And I will let him. And don’t even think of retaliating or I’ll destroy you.”
~Chapter Six~
I glared at Ky hard and he backed away. As I walked away from him back to my friends, I felt only anger. Once upon a time we were best friends, but he had ruined that forever.
It was time to go. “I think I’ve had all the fun I can stand for one night,” Jack said as we all gathered back together.
“Are you trying to avoid talking about what just happened?” Nat asked.
“Did it work?” he smiled.
“No,” Dash answered. “What was that all about, Nick?”
“He won’t stop staring at my wife like he’s undressing her with his eyes. And then he called me a name. I’m sick of it. I’ve held myself back for over a month. I had to make sure he knew I won’t take his crap anymore,” Nick answered. Dash nodded in understanding.
Gia was the only one confused and couldn’t resist asking, “What is going on here? I thought you were all friends now, no?” I was a little surprised she hadn’t heard what happened from Rosetta yet.
“Long story,” Nat mumbl
ed.
We started toward the parking lot and I gave Gia the shortened version of our story. “Ky and I used to be close. He wanted a relationship. I tried, but Nick and I were drawn together and started seeing each other secretly.”
“And then Ky found them one night. That’s when the crap hit the fan,” Nat added.
“After that, Ky and that other tool over there tried to kill Nick and hurt Sofia before their binding ceremony,” Dash added.
“You are bound?” Gia looked shocked. “To a werewolf?”
“Yes, just the first week of April,” I answered.
“I see,” she said simply. She looked like she wanted to say something more, but didn’t. I almost asked her what she was thinking, but we were already at the cars. Dash and Rene drove together, and Jack, Nat, Nick and I had taken Nick’s car.
“Well, tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives,” Dash said. “So, what are we gonna do?”
“I’m sure you can figure it out. You’re a big boy now,” Nat grinned. We said our goodbyes for the night and Nick dropped Jack and Nat off at her house.
“Good luck,” I whispered to Nat as she climbed out of the car. Her parents left for the weekend again right after our graduation lunch, and she had somehow convinced Jack to stay with her. She told him she was afraid to be alone, but even he knew that was a lie.
“Yeah, it will be hard, but you and Nick stayed overnight together without doing the deed. Neither one of us will let it happen after last time,” she said.
“Hey, after what I saw on the dance floor tonight…” I teased. She blushed and grinned. As they walked to her door, I yelled, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
“That leaves it wide open,” she quoted me.
At home I asked Nick what he thought about Gia. “That’s a trick question isn’t it?” he asked.
“No, I do not want to know that you think she’s gorgeous. I just wanted to know what you thought about her showing up out of nowhere and latching onto Rene.”
“First of all, I do not think she’s gorgeous.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious. No one can begin to compare to my Bella Sofia.” He kissed me softly on the mouth. “It was a little strange, though. That she would happen to be a witch. What are you thinking? It’s like us?”
“No, not that. I don’t know. She just acted funny when she found out we were bound. And I swear she was gonna say something else, but she didn’t.”
“Well, she just came from Europe. Things are still the same over there. She was probably just surprised to hear it. And as far as Rene goes, it’s about time he found someone to date or whatever.”
“I couldn’t believe Ky tonight,” I said, climbing into bed.
“When is that guy going to learn not to mess with us? Either one of us could take him out,” Nick said.
“I know. I’m sorry, my love. At least we won’t have to see him at school every day now.”
“Alright, let’s be done talking about him. Vieni qui,” he reached out to me. I snuggled in close to him and quickly fell asleep in his arms.
My phone rang at nine the next morning. “Nat, why are you calling so early? It’s Saturday,” I whined as I answered the phone.
“When are we getting tattoos?” she asked excitedly. “What do you mean ‘we’? You’re not getting one.” “Well, I still want to come,” she complained. “Oh, sure. Uh, lemme ask Nick,” I said. “When are we
going this morning?” I asked him.
“Dunno. When do they even open? Why, does Nat want
to come?” he asked with his eyes still closed.
“Yeah.”
“That doesn’t answer my questions, but let’s go out to
breakfast together and then go,” he answered.
“Did you hear him, Nat?” I asked.
“Yep. K. Let’s all meet at the Denny’s by the mall and
then head downtown,” she decided.
“So, are you gonna tell me how it went last night?” I
asked.
“Uh, can’t talk right now. Maybe later,” she said. I
could hear the smile in her voice. We hung up and I got up
to shower.
Nick was shaking his head at me. “You girls are awful.
You’re as bad as a guy.”
“What are you talking about? I just wanna know if
anything happened. They’ve never spent the night
together,” I said.
“Yeah, but we spent a whole week alone in Mexico and
nothing happened. And with Jack, I have a feeling they’d
be bound for like a month before he would ever try
anything with her,” he laughed. I laughed with him, but
didn’t mention what had happened between Jack and Nat
after prom.
I walked in the bathroom and started to undress. “Are
you going to join me Nico Bartolini?”
“Sὶ, Sofia Bartolini,” he grinned as he came up behind
me in the bathroom.
Forty five minutes later, we were on our way to
breakfast. Nat was practically glowing as we slid into the
booth. I raised my eyebrows at her. She shook her head, but
said, “I need to go to the bathroom really quick. Order me
the Grand Slam.” Jack nodded and let her out.
“I forgot to go before we left, I’ll come with you,” I
lied. Nick shook his head at me.
When we got to the bathroom, I said, “So spill it. I want
details.”
“Nothing happened. We came close again though. Man
this is hard, but it’s almost time for the ceremony,” she said
excitedly.
“Yeah, try spending an entire week in bed alone. Now
that was hard. You can do it. Maybe no more sleepovers
though,” I told her.
“Probably a good idea. After I kissed him at the party,
he was a little wound up. He’s never kissed me like that in
public. Could you believe that?”
“I know! That was insane. My jaw was practically on
the floor. I guess he’s no prude now, huh?” I smiled. “Oh, Sof, I’m so excited! The day is almost here. We’re
going apartment shopping later today.”
“Shopping?”
“It sounds better than ‘hunting’. Hey, do you know if
that one place is still available in your building? How cool
would that be?”
“I’m not sure, but you should definitely go check today.
We could carpool to school together again!” I was excited
at the idea of Nat being so close. Of course we would still
see each other all the time, but it would be fun if she was
just downstairs or in the building next door. “We should probably get back out there.” We left the bathroom and
went to the table. “Did you order for me?” I asked Nick. He nodded, “French toast, bacon, eggs over medium.” “How does he know that? You didn’t even tell him,”
Nat said.
“She always gets the same thing,” Nick smiled. We talked excitedly during breakfast about our plans
now that school was done. Nat and I were going to start
working for my mom at her store for the summer. Nick was
going to work at his family’s restaurant and Jack was going
to work for his dad’s construction company. Nick and I
were taking a week off before going to work. He had
money—I finally discovered he had a trust fund—but I
needed something to do, and he felt a responsibility to help
his dad out.
After breakfast, we left for the tattoo parlor downtown. “Sup?” Etienne asked as we walked in the door. Dash’s
twenty-five year old brother worked at the shop. He was
the one who was going to do our tat
toos.
“Bonjour, Etienne,” I smiled. “Ҫa va bien?”
“Ouais,” he answered. “Good to see you guys. You
ready to do this?”
“Absolutely,” I grinned.
“Do you have an idea of what you want? Are we doing
full names or just initials?” he asked. “Or do you guys want
a band or something?”
“I think—” I started to say when the front door opened
and I heard Dash’s voice.
“You didn’t start without me, did you?”
“What are you doing here?” Nick asked.
“Dude, and miss my boy gettin’ a tat? No way.” “Anyway,” I continued. “We want to do full names.
I’ve got a font here that we want to use. Can you copy it?” “Sure, no prob,” Etienne said. “I’ll trace it onto paper,
put it on your skin, and then ink over it. Just black?” “Yeah,” I answered, handing him the sheet I had printed
earlier.
“Ooh, I like,” Nat said, looking at the print of our
names:
Nico Sofia
“It’s kinda goth,” she said.
“That’s why I picked it. It fits us, no?” I asked. “Totally,” she grinned.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Etienne said. “I’m surprised you don’t have anything yet,” I said to
Dash.
“Oh, check it. I got it last night,” he said as he rolled his
pant leg up. On the outside of his right calf, there was a
giant wolf paw print. “Mom wouldn’t let me get it ‘til I
graduated.”
“Wow, that’s actually really cool,” Jack said. Dash
looked at him in surprise. It wasn’t like Jack to compliment
Dash—ever.
“I know, right?” Dash grinned.
“Okay, I totally want a tattoo now,” Nat said as she
bounced on the balls of her feet. She started to flip through
a book that was on the counter.
“Ta mère, will kill you,” Jack pointed out.
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