"Are you sure you're ok? Ya look like crap," Tony said to Natalia as she was placing an order.
"I'm fine. And thanks for the compliment" she said sarcastically.
"Oh you know what I mean. You look like ya lost some weight. And you look like you hadn't had a good night's sleep in a while. Wasn't the whole point of that vacation thing to get you some rest?" he poked her teasingly and she rolled her eyes at him.
"Well, I don't know. I can never really get a good sleep anymore" she lied. "Just get me two beers." As Natalia walked away Antonio couldn't help but shake the feeling that something was off about her.
"Here ya are" Natalia smiled as she placed the two men's beers on their table. They were eyeing her chest when she spoke.
"Your meals should be done in a couple of minutes," she said as they were smiling cravingly at her. Just as she was about to walk away she just stood there dumbfounded. She listened closely to the song that was playing on the radio.
'Some people call me the space cowboy'
She knew that song. The Joker by the Steve Miller Band. She just stood there, staring into space. Picturing him.
"Uh, You ok babe?" the man had asked her. She didn't respond.
"Babe?" this time he lightly shook her arm and she jumped very startled, forgetting where she was for a moment. She then happened to look over to the TV that was on and saw a picture of his face on the news. She looked over to an older man sitting at the bar reading a newspaper and saw his face on the front page. She looked back at the two men that she was serving and began to feel a little light headed.
"Um I- S-sorry about that. Excuse Me," she said as she ran. She ran past Antonio who had called her name, almost knocking down a barstool. She ran right into the woman's bathroom, into a stall and slammed it shut. She kicked her heel against the wall of the stall and began to cry. So many thoughts were running through her head.
Why? He's everywhere. How can I forget and pretend anything never happened if he's everywhere? Why can't I just forget? Why won't he get out of my head?
She heard a knock on the door outside.
"Nat you ok? Please answer me," Tony pleaded through the door.
Natalia wanted to be alone. She didn't want Tony or anyone to see her like this.
"Don't make me come in there," he said after she hadn't answered him.
She knew he wasn't going to let up. She reluctantly opened the stall and slowly came out. She looked in the mirror and saw her nose was red from crying. She had mascara running down her cheeks and her ponytail was very loose. She turned on the water and quickly washed her face and dried it. She blew her nose and took her hair out and left it down. She slowly made her way to the door and opened it looking blankly ay Tony who was standing there awkwardly.
"Nat, what's wrong? This isn't like you. Tell me what's wrong" he said to her, putting his arm around her sympathetically.
"I'm fine. Nothing's wrong" she said quietly.
"You're a good actress Nat, but ya can't fool me when you're really hurting. I- I care about you. Tell you what, why don't we take our breaks now and you tell me what's bothering you ok?"
"But I still have-"
"I'm sure Sonny won't mind. That new guy could cover for us until we're done. Now no more excuses" he said as he motioned her back to the front.
"You go get you coat ok? I'm gonna tell Sonny. I'll be right back."
Johnny was sitting in the back corner sipping on his beer. He was watching everything that was happening. He saw Antonio go to talk to the manager and Natalia putting on her coat.
Natalia felt as though there were a pair of eyes on her. She looked around and sure enough, men were staring. But it felt as though there were a different pair of eyes on her. Like she was being watched. She just thought that maybe she was being paranoid.
"Hey, where ya going hot stuff? Where's our food at?" said one of the men from the table she was serving earlier.
"I-Um-" as she was struggling for words Tony came back just in time.
"She's going to be going home for tonight. She isn't really feeling well. Don't worry, Sam will take care of you both" he pointed over at the bar to the new guy who waved at them.
"Aw what a shame. He sure ain't as cute as this lil thing right here," the man said as he eyed Natalia up like she was something to eat.
"C'mon let's go. I'm taking you home" he said to Natalia.
"But-"
"No 'buts' it's fine. I talked to Sonny" and he led her out the door.
Johnny watched as they left and stood up. He placed some cash on the table and left to follow were they went.
"Tony, there really is no need for this you know. I said I'm fine" Natalia said as she was looking to the ground.
"Something is bothering ya. If you don't wanna talk about it just yet it's fine. But you would feel better. I dunno, maybe I could help," he said as he pulled her closer and put his arm around her waist. She leaned into him and put her arm around him also.
"Boss, I think that they are going back to her apartment," said Johnny on his cell phone.
"They?"
"Her and that Tony guy."
There was a load noise on the other end of the line. The Joker threw a lamp against the wall.
"I know who they are," the Joker said menacingly into the phone. His fists were balled up. He licked his scars as he was thinking what to do.
"I think it's time for plan b. Get over there now."
"Sure thing boss." Johnny hung up the phone and began to make his way over to where he was told.
As the Joker slammed the phone down he threw it against the wall. After hearing what Johnny had told him really pissed him off. Things were going very smoothly. She was breaking down. Her mind was fragile. Then that damn Tony had to go and interfere.
He will get what he deserves. He will get it soon enough.
"You want me to get you something to drink?" Tony asked Natalia as he shut her apartment door.
"I can get it, I'm not helpless you know" she said playfully but he could still hear a hint of sadness.
"No. You sit down" he dragged her over to her couch and sat her down. "Let me. Now what would you like?"
"Fine. Can you get the bottle of wine? It's in the fridge."
"Coming right up" he said as he went to find two wine glasses.
Natalia took off her heels and laid back into her comfy sofa. She was so exhausted and just wanted to drift off into a long sleep. But at the same time she was so restless and her mind would not let her.
He's right. That's what it is. He knew I would be messed up after this. No, he can't win. I won't let him. I'm going to forget about him.
She looked over at Antonio who was pouring the wine into the glasses. "You know, just bring the bottle" she called out to him.
"Why did I know that you were going to say that?" he said as he was walking to the couch with the drinks. He collapsed right next to her and he reached over for the two glasses. He handed her glass to her and she gave a weak smile.
"Here's to a beautiful girl named Natalia. She means a lot to me and I don't like to see her sad. May she stop worrying about whatever is bothering her and be happy." He raised his glass to hers and they clicked. "Salute" she said as she took a sip.
"Salute!" he said back to her. They both laughed and he motioned for her to come sit closer to him. She looked down at her glass, and then back up at him. He gave her a puppy dog look and she giggled and moved closer.
Natalia couldn't stop laughing. She didn't even remember why she was laughing in the first place. Neither did she care. She looked down at the second empty bottle of wine and thought that maybe she had enough. But on second thought…
"Haha Tony could you go see if I have anymore wine?"
"Nat, maybe you should calm down a bit. You know, you are a light weight," he laughed at that remark. Natalia didn't think it was funny.
"Oh yeah? Wanna bet?"
"No, because look at you now. You're already drunk off wine."
"I'm not drunk. Not yet anyway." She got up off the couch and had to catch her balance. She stumbled her way to the kitchen and looked in her cabinet for the good stuff.
"Now we're talking," she said as she found some rum and vodka. She found her shot glasses and stumbled her way back to the couch with an amused Tony watching her.
"Okay, so I thought that we could have a drink-off" she said as she poured two shots of rum.
"A drink-off?" Tony asked entertained.
"Yeah. I'll show you I can take it."
"Well, if you insist. But I'm warning you that I'm gonna beat you. You're not gonna make it past two."
"Why don't we make it more fun?"
"Yeah? How so?"
"Well…if I can take the most then you have to do one thing I say. If you win then I have to do one thing you say."
Tony liked where this was going. He knew that she wouldn't be able to take it.
She smiled at him, and handed him his shot. They both drank it down and Natalia could feel the hard liquor burn her throat. She never really did shots that often, especially when she had already drank. But tonight she needed something to take her mind off of things.
As they both were on their fifth shot, Natalia put her glass down and surrendered in defeat.
"I knew it! I knew you wouldn't be able to take it," he said to her in satisfaction.
"Oh yeah. Well I can. Usually." She broke into a fit of laughter once again and Tony couldn't help but laugh also. He loved her laugh. He thought it was very cute.
After they both stopped laughing they just stared at each other. He moved a strand of hair out of her face, and she tilted her head to the side from the tickly sensation. She went to get up to put some music on. As she went towards the stereo she fell right on her butt. She started cracking up again and so did Tony as he went to pick her up.
"My you weigh nothing. You know, you really should be more careful," he said to her as he guided her there.
"Hahaha I tripped on my foot. I forgot it was in front of the other one," she said in between giggles. She put her stereo on which had her ipod hooked up to it. It was on shuffle so a random song came on.
"Oooo C'mon Tony dance with me!" she said as Me n U came on by Cassie. He just stood there unsure as a drunk Natalia was grinding up all against him. She then pushed him back towards the sofa and pushed him down. He sat there looking up at her as she slowly backed away and began to dance to the beat. She was shaking her ass and hips and she slowly touched her breast while looking into his eyes.
Tony didn't know what to do. He really liked Natalia. But he knew that she was drunk. He wasn't the type of guy who could take advantage of a girl just because of that. Especially not her. He could never hurt her. He was getting really hard and just started at her nervously.
She got on her knees and slowly crawled over to him. Her skirt was hiked all the way up and he could see her ass clearly. She's perfect he thought. He was shocked when she scrawled onto his lap and started grinding on his dick.
"Oooh someone's a bit turned on" she whispered into his ear. He could feel her hot breath on his neck. It gave him goose bumps.
"Nat, your drunk. You don't really want to be doing this."
"But you want it. I know you do," she said as she pulled off her shirt and threw it across the room. He was breathing hard and he didn't know if he could keep his control any longer.
"Look, I don't thin-" she put her lips on his and slowly kissed him. He traced his tongue along her lips begging to enter and she let him. She fiercely pulled off his shirt and he undid her bra. He always dreamt of one day seeing her perfect tits. He couldn't take his hands off her.
"Natalia you have no idea how bad I've wanted you" he said as she was biting his neck. She didn't answer. Instead she started to undo his belt.
A little voice in the bad of his mind was telling him that he should stop. That it was a bad idea. But he couldn't stop. He wanted her. He knew that he was a descent guy, and would take care of her. He wasn't like the many perverted guys who always hit on her.
I'm different Natalia. I will always be there for you. I wanna take care of you.
As Tony put his hand down Natalia's skirt, she stopped kissing him. She was thinking of the Joker. The way he touched her. It didn't feel the same. She didn't know what was wrong with her. She could feel the effects of the alcohol on her, but she knew that this didn't feel right.
"Nat what's wrong?"
"I..I can't do this," she said as she backed away from him and sat back into the sofa.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"No. I just can't. It's not the same" she grabbed the bottle of vodka and took a sip, but Tony grabbed it away from her.
"I think you had just about enough."
"How do you know how much is enough? You don't know anything about me really Tony!" she yelled at him with tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Look, you're drunk. I know you don't know what you're saying."
"There you go again, thinking I don't know. I don't know? Well I do know you should leave" she threw his shirt at him and he stood up startled.
"Ok. If you want to be alone. Well talk when you sober up."
"What makes you think I need to talk? And why do you think it would be with you? I don't need to talk to anyone," she yelled while crying.
Tony felt hurt. He knew she was drunk, but words could really hurt. He looked back once more before closing the door behind him and Natalia threw the empty wine bottle at the door. She felt bad for saying those things to him. She knew he only wanted to help. But she just really wanted to be left alone.
Johnny arrived at 1489 Wisohokin Ave. around midnight. Another guy was waiting for him in a van and got out when he saw him in front of the house.
He handed Johnny a black ski mask, black gloves and a handgun.
"Boss said to steal some valuable things to make it look like a robbery," the man said to him.
After putting on the gloves and mask they both crept slowly towards the door. The man silently broke the lock and opened the door carefully. After entering the house Johnny closed the door behind him. They looked around the dark house, the moonlight shining through the window. As the man was walking around the living room he stopped in front of some family pictures. He saw Natalia with her family, all of them smiling into the camera. There were other pictures of Natalia in her graduation cap and gown and some others of the family. Johnny approached the man and looked at the photos as well.
"It's a shame we gotta off the girl's family. Looks like they all really love each other. She's even gotta younger brother looks like" the man said as he pointed to the by standing next to her in the family picture.
"Well, let's get it over with" the man said as he walked out of the room and headed towards the stairs.
When they both reached the top they headed towards a room with an open door. As they went inside they figured it must have been Natalia's room. Johnny noticed she had many cheerleading awards and pictures of her and her friends. The man was looking through her drawers and found nothing interesting just a couple articles of clothing. They both left the room and headed towards her younger brother's room.
As they opened the door they saw him sleeping peacefully. He looked as if he were in his early teens. Johnny was looking around in some of his drawers throwing things all around on the floor. He found his wallet and an ipod. As he took them he motioned for the man to shoot him. The man brought his shaky hand up and hesitated but he pictured what the Joker would do to him if he didn't do what he had to. He sighed and as the boy stirred in his sleep he shot him three times.
The men hurried out of the room into the parent's room, because they heard that they awoke startled to the sound. As Johnny kicked open the door both him and the man had their guns aimed at her mother and father. Natalia's mother started to cry and hold onto her husband, realizing that that noise must have been them shooting her son. The father held onto her and was about to speak when Johnny had shot him in the head and the man had shot the mother. They hurried up to mess things around and find more money. When they were finished they dashed out of there, fearing that their neighbors might have heard and called the police.