Golly, I knew the party would be packed but I didn't think it would be THIS packed.
The first thing I do is scan for table 6 where 7 men are seated. But one man seemed to stand out against the other 6. It wasn't much so about the way he looked or dressed but the air about him was dark. He lifted his empty blue eyes and they landed on me. I was one of the few black people in the building so it was a given that I stuck out. He noticed Lucia who was holding my arm besides me and his emotionless face contorted into a confused one. And then curiosity flashed in his eyes. As my heart beat fiercely in my chest and I look away him.
Lucia thankfully pulls me away, "Of course Mama invited all of Italy!"
I laugh at her commentary and scan the area for Giovanni.
I spot him seated at a table of young girls who were clearly flirting with him. I was about to go over but decide to save myself from embarrassment. Besides he knows I'm here so when he's ready he'll come over.
Oh boy was I wrong.
Giovanni doesn't come over to my table and 20 minutes pass before food is served. Then almost an hour passed before the first song starts which he takes Viola's hand leading her to the dance floor. I smile watching Giovanni hold his mother tightly as she cries on his chest.
The song ends and he carries on talking to people at different tables like before.
I stab a piece of Lamb meat, "What a disappointment, but it's whatever, I'm good".
"What".
I look up to the guy at my right, "Oh sorry I'm just talking to myself".
He points to the Lamb on my plate, "You don't like it?"
I shake my head, "Oh no! This is the best Lamb I have ever tasted".
He nods in agreement, "Besides my mother's Of course. What's your name sweetheart?"
"Sophia".
I take his hand and he presses a kiss to my knuckles, "It's a pleasure to meet you gorgeous, I'm James".
The rest of my time I continue to talk to James and soon find out he was actually from England hence his British accent. His father was Italian though and a friend of Giovanni's late father.
James told me that our table was the extra's table. Meaning people who didn't RSVP, people who were only invited just because and people who were not of great importance.
I was a bit hurt to be at the table. Giovanni sat at the head table with his family and Mafia men. My boyfriend had all the power to move me to his table but he didn't. Heck, even the 29 other tables would have been fine to me.
At this moment he was laughing at something a dirty blonde had whispered in his ear. It was like I didn't matter, didn't exist and he didn't care.
Standing up I excuse myself from the table and head to the bathroom. I felt like crying but I force myself to thug this out because it probably isn't even that deep.
Two girls come out of a stall and size me up. The one says something in Italian to the other and they both laugh.
I act unbothered, wash my hands and dry them leaving as smoothly as possible.
Thought you were gonna get a reaction? STOOPID I'm not gonna let you get the CHANCE.
I take a deep breath and fix my face as I walked back to the dining room.
"The nerve you have to come here looking so beautiful".
I turn around to the deep voice and my breath stops as my eyes lock with those stormy grey orbs.
"The nerve you have to invite me as your date but abandon me the whole night", I shoot back.
He holds out his hand but I refuse him mine. He wont get off so easy.
"I apologize Sophia, it was never my intention but there were matters that I had to attend to".
I smile, "Baby why are you bullshiting me?"
Turning back around, I walk to my seat so I could continue my meal.
UNBOTHERED.
Although In the inside, I was very much bothered.
I could feel Gio's stare burning holes at the back of my head but I couldn't care less. It was his turn to taste what I had tasted and I wanted to play with him a bit.
James leans in so close that he is breathing on my food. I slide my plate a bit away from him. He's lucky he didn't catch me in a bad mood. Right now I'm only annoyed.
"So how are you liking Italy Sophia?"
I smile genuinely, "I'm loving it! From the food, the music to the people".
James blushes taking the last part not the way I meant it.
Someone please, anyone, come get this man!
Pushing away from the table he offers me his hand, "Dance with me I beg".
I shake my head, "Oh I'm terrible at danci-"
"I don't care how well you dance, I just want a pretty girl in my arms for a minute".
I sigh and take his hand following him to the dance floor. It was the second song of the night so most people had come out to dance having finished their food.
James manages to make me laugh which I can appreciate but half way dancing with him I see Giovanni dancing with his sister.
It was adorable watching Giovanni dance with his little sister. It showed a bit more of his tender side. But even after the song ended he didn't come over to properly greet me.
James holds me tighter as I push him away.
"This is the last song, please", he begs.
I frown, "Let go of me James. I actually think I'm gonna go home. I'm not feeling well-".
He smirks, "He isn't going to come over to you so forget him Sophia. You look pathetic. Besides, I'm here, so wont you let loose for me darling?"
I slap his face hard, "I don't care and if you touch my ass one more time-"
His grip on my waist tightens and now we are so close his chest crushes my breast and his lips graze my ear.
"I cannot believe that you just fucking slapped me Sophia".
My breath quickens as fear creeps in, "Let me go!"
He grabs my jaw in a hard grip, "I will fuck you up Sophia!"
"I dare you".
We both turn around to see Giovanni with his gun pointed at James's back. Nearby people were staring and men were pulling their dates away from us.
James winces as Gio digs his gun into his back.
He whispers something into James ear making the blonde man go pale and finally leave the guards hot on his heel.
"Are you hurt? Let me see".
I blink away tears as Giovanni examines me for injuries.
Taking my hand he leads me to the empty bathroom.
"I know your angry at me for ignoring you. But I cannot explain to you why I did it. One day I will and you will understand but right now it won't make sense".
I throw his handkerchief back to him and take a piece of paper towel instead.
I'm tired of your excuses!
Giovanni sighs, "You look like an angel. This dress is shining and you have your hair done and everything. The song is almost done, don't end this night crying in a bathroom because of me".
He was right, going home would be a baby move and I would just lay in bed and cry myself to sleep. When will I ever be in Italy dancing in a beautiful dress again?
Taking a deep breath I follow him out but he stops me before we can pass the dance floor.
"The first dance was with the woman I first loved. The second with the woman I learned to love. Mio amore, would you do me the honor of dancing the last song I saved for the woman I fell in love with?"
As my heart does cartwheels and the jealous women burn holes in my head, I take Giovanni's hand and he leads me to the dance floor.
We are Cinderella and Prince Charming.
No.
We are Sophia and Giovanni.
"A riot is the language of the unheard"- MLK
Yes all lives matter, but we cannot say all lives matter UNTIL we start to treat black lives like they matter. When you say, "All lives matter" you are lying because it's evident that black lives don't matter. What you are basically saying is "All lives matter, but black lives". So when black lives start to matter only then we can say ALL say, All lives matter.
Stay safe and be kind, my loves<3