you take yourself, that's not a lie
It's true what they say, you can't get away from yourself by moving from one place to another.
Antionette Mazzati knows this better than most. She's drug herself from New York to New Jersey, to San Francisco, to Kokomo, Boston, Gas City, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, Tulsa, Florence, Naples, Milan, and now here she is, admiring the smooth movements of the movers her father has hired as they work in sync like a colony of bees to furnish her new house.
Of course it is only a house, not a home. She never finds a home in any physical place, not even New York. The closest thing she's ever had to a home is Lucca, and once again she finds herself left without him. It's not like she isn't used to it. Lucca has bigger problems than her being bored or lonely, and it's not his fault her dads a dick.
Point Place is just one of those towns that leaves her that way, feeling... distant. It's a small enough town that her father didn't think it warranted her usual security detail. Antionette doesn't do well alone, she's not used to it. At least in the cities when she's alone, there's still the sound of people living their busy lives surrounding her. In towns like Point Place the peaceful quiet of the suburbs is almost unbearable.
She'll have to get used to it though. She can't depend on others for her sanity, she knows that. It's not like she'd feel much better in a full house anyway. The only thing that would change is that the time she spends lying awake at night would be spent wondering if there was a traitor sleeping under her roof rather than wondering if she'd hear an intruder breaking in.
The sun is starting to set by the time the movers have cleared, a warm orange color producing a calming light over the neighborhood.
Antionette ordered take out from the only Chinese restaurant she could find in the phone book. Clad in her shortest shorts, Luccas old Led Zeppelin tee shirt that's three times her size, and her high-top converse that were white when she bought them.
In better cities she'd never leave her house without taking at least an hour to make herself presentable, but she's decided in Point Place she'll be the kind of girl who wears tee shirts to get take out.
She'll be the kind of girl these people see as successful yet humble. These aren't the kind of people who admire a seventeen year old girl for wearing designer every time she steps outside. They'd see her as snobby, probably even say she's dressed like a slut, start reciting Hail Marys under their breath.
She's almost made it into her car that's parked along the side of the street. She's reaching for the handle of her red Pontiac Firebird when something catches her attention.
"Hey, neighbor!"
When she lifts her head her eyes land on a small group that's quickly approaching her. Instinctively she reaches for the gun that is missing from its usual home on her hip, before resting her hands behind her back and offering her very friendly new neighbors a smile.
An older woman reaches her first. She must be in her late forties or early fifties. She's short, almost a full head shorter than Antionette. The woman grins widely at Antoinette, clearly excited for something new to be happening in her quiet little town, even something as small as a new neighbor moving in.
Following behind her is a man, roughly her same age. He's bald, and frowning, but something tells Antionette that the frown is a permanent fixture on his face.
Next to him is another pair around the same age, maybe a little bit younger. The woman looks almost like a lot of the mothers Antionette knew in New York. She's tall, even taller in the high heels that click against the pavement with her every step. Her long, blonde hair is down, sectioned into big curls that look almost like a lion had been cursed to become human. Her top is low cut, and her cleavage nearly spilling over the neckline.
For a moment Antionette considers the possibility that the woman may be originally from New York, but quickly dismisses it at the lack of intimidation she feels when she locks eyes with the tall blonde.
No, New York women simply have something about them that this woman does not.
Walking with an arm wrapped around the blondes waist is a man, shorter than the rest of the group, but still taller than the first woman. His head is filled with dark, tight curls, and thick sideburns line his face.
Frankly, he looks like an idiot.
Trailing farther behind the rest of the group is another pair, around Antoinette's age. The woman is tall, a few inches taller than Antionette. She has long, red hair that Antionette takes a moment to admire. It's beautiful, so healthy and full. The woman must take good care of it. Antionette makes a mental note to take better care of her dark locks.
The last one in the groups is a lanky boy. He's about the same height as the red-head, maybe an inch or two shorter, but very skinny. He looks underwhelmed, most likely embarrassed by the first woman's overly excited attitude, Antionette assumes.
"Hello!" The woman finally reaches Antionette, holding a pie in her outstretched hands. "Welcome to Point Place!"
Antoinette doesn't hesitate to accept the freshly baked welcome gift. "Thank you so much."
Smile, Antionette. Smile, Antionette. Smile, Antionette.
"I'm Kitty Foreman." The woman introduces herself. Antionette thinks that the name Kitty fits her.
She smiles widely, forcing a chuckle back down her throat. "Well it is just lovely to meet you, Kitty." She sets the pie down on the hood of her car, before extending her hand to the woman.
Don't talk with an accent. Don't talk with an accent. Don't talk with an accent.
"My name's Antionette Mazzati."
Kitty is quick to shake her hand. "Oh, dear, we know who you are!" She giggles loudly, stepping back from Antionette. "We are just so excited for your fathers plans for Point Place, isn't that right Red?"
"Oh, we sure are." The bald man agrees through a tight lipped grin.
"This is my husband, Red!" Kitty exclaims as if she'd just remembered he needed an introduction. "and my son, Eric!" She grabs the skinny kids shoulder, pulling him to the front of the group. "You two must be about the same age!"
Oh.
"We must be." Antionette smiles.
"Bob and Midge live next door to us, and that's their daughter, Donna." She gestures towards the other trio.
"Oh, how nice! Well, it's very nice to meet all of you, but I've really got to be going." She gives them one more smile, before climbing into her car.
"Oh, don't forget your pie!" Kitty snatches the pan from the hood of the car, moving quickly to pass it to the teenager through her opened window.
"Oh, gosh, silly me." Antionette shakes her head playfully. "Thank you, Kitty."
She sets the pie in the passenger's seat, hurrying to roll up her window.
Fuck.
The group stares after her Firebird as it speeds down the street.
"I think that went well." Eric says sarcastically.
"Shut up." Red grumbles, stalking back across the street.
Authors Note
I'm set to graduate high school at the end of this month. I'm currently in training to obtain my Pharmacy Tech License. I'm also looking for a second part time job so I can save up to move out of my parents house. My point in telling y'all that is that ya girl is not having fun. So in 2021 we're doing things we enjoy. I enjoyed writing this, and I hope y'all enjoy reading it.
Take care of yourselves, stay safe, and have fun!
- L🧿