I spent the night with Arthur talking about all of the old memories we had of when we were younger.
"Remember when I first met you?" I laughed,
"How could I forget? I could barely speak English."
I had just arrived at my new high school from Bologna Italy. A city between Florence and Venice. My family moved here when my father got transferred to America. I knew little English and was already enrolled as a freshman in a local high school in Los Angeles California. I was trying to find my way around the school and ran into some big kid in the hall way.
"Hey! Watch where ya-" When he saw me he smiled. It wasn't a good smile either. "A new kid. Pretty little thing." He got closer and I stood my ground. I didn't understand a word he said. I caught vey little of it. Kid. I knew that word! His little group surrounded me and instantly I became stiff. It felt like I was back on the streets of Italy during a fight with my older brother Mauro. He took hold of me and I tried to push away.
"Aw come on gorgeous don't be that way."
"Scendere a me voi maiale!" Basically I called him a pig and told him to get off. Slowly I felt my hand drift towards the knife in my back pocket. Hey when you grow up in Italy with and older brother like Mauro it's always best to be prepared. But I felt a hand gab my arm. It wasn't rough like the pig in front of me but softer.
"John, leave her alone." I turned around to see who intervened. It was a boy about my age with short brown hair slicked back. He was taller than me and was lean but had some muscle on him. He didn't look like a jock but he wasn't a nerd either.
"You're defending this girl Arthur? Why? We're just having a little fun." He moved closer to me and lashed out at him with my fist. But the kid moved quicker and held on to me so I didn't hit him. "Feisty isn't she?"
"Avresti dovuto lasciarmi lo ha colpito." He really should've let me hit him. But his grip was tight and I wouldn't be going anywhere any time soon.
"She doesn't know a bit of English. Come on Arthur it'd be fun."
"Making fun of the girl because she doesn't know the language isn't funny John." This John guy approached us and ripped me away from the Arthur kid. Arthur brought his arm back and punched John in the nose. He let go and I punched him in the face before kneeing him in the gut. Arthur grabbed my hand and we made a mad dash down the hall. We stopped once we were outside and in what I assumed to be his car.
"Grazi."
"You're welcome. I'm Arthur by the way."
"Carmen Gemma De Luca." He held out his hand but I don't why. What was I supposed to do? Normally in Italy we just kissed one another on the cheek in greeting.
"You're supposed to shake it." I gave him a questioning look. "Shake." He took my hand and shook it up and down.
"S-h-a-k-e." He smiled,
"Yeah shake." I smiled seeing that I understood what he was saying.
"Shake." He smiled at me and from there on we were inseparable.
"You kept saying "shake" every time you saw me and I would shake your hand." I turned red at remembering just how bad my English was. His lips were by my ear, "But it was cute." I smiled and leaned up and kissed him.
"I have you to thank for my English now." He smiled. I remember all those days I'd spend at his house with him teaching me how to speak English. It was a long slow process but I learned none the less. I even taught him a little Italian.
We were currently sitting on his couch and he was helping me with my homework and teaching me how to speak English.
"Ok, Carmen, repeat after me. Hello my name is Carmen Gemma De Luca." I giggled at him.
"Mi Carmen, you Arthur." He laughed and clarified that I was supposed to repeat what he said. "Hello m-my name i-is Carmen Gemma De Luca."
"Good. You're getting better." I smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek. He turned bright red and I giggled,
"Grazi. F-for h-helping me?" He nodded seeing that I said the right words.
"You're welcome."
It was nice just lying here in his arms remembering old memories. Because tomorrow would not be an easy day. But for now I had Arthur. And that was just fine with me.
