Poor Little Rich Boy
Chapter Three: Accidentally in Love
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"So… why Florence?"
"Is better atmosphere, and-a il mio padre wished that I would-a find a job."
"Well, what did you do?"
"I had-a no job that-a I could keep, so I would spend-a time in city."
"Oh, I bet that was fun."
"Cie, cie. I have-a many good times there, and-a something other…"
"What? What else?"
"Those days… they would-a be the best in-a my life…"
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Florence at noon was probably one of the busiest cities in Italy (next to Rome and the Vatican, of course). The atmosphere was simply divine- the whole city was dotted with magnificent cathedrals, beautiful statues, and a fresh lively spirit that enlightened all those who walked the streets.
Among the inhabitants and visitors of Florence, a tall dark crow sped along the side-roads and down the alleyways on a wiry red bicycle. A small wicker basket was affixed to the bar-handles, with a bag of unusual trinkets inside.
The crow approached a street corner, where an elderly lady waited for the crosswalk sign to change. She leaned on her cane and kept her attention on the lights; she didn't seem to notice him at all.
A mischievous smirk crossed the crow's beak. He slowly reached into his bag and pulled out a rat- a large, black, fuzzy, flea-ridden rat. He carefully opened the lady's purse and slipped the rat inside. He could care less about her money; he had enough to mooch off his parents.
Quickly, the crow turned the corner and rode off down the street. He paused around the next corner, got off his bike, and held a feathered hand to his ear. This was something he needed to hear…
"Ai!!" the old woman screamed. "A rat! A rat! A rat!!"
Smiling in satisfaction, the crow hopped back on his bike and continued on his way. This was Nasaccio Cornetto, age 21- still a trouble-maker, but now more tame. Serious crimes could wager a lawsuit, and he didn't wanna get chewed out by his father, or have the press start calling him a rich punk that relied on his father to get him out of scrapes. He was just in it for fun.
Once back on the streets of Florence, Nasaccio started looking for his next victim. Tourists? Too easy- he scammed five already. Kids? Not worth it- there's no fun in torturing them. Dogs? After his last run-in with a pooch, he wasn't gonna even attempt it!
Regardless, Nasaccio went on his way. Slow days like this one were fairly common, but he could usually get a laugh out of at least one poor sap. If he had any virtue, it was patience- he knew that something would eventually come to him, even if it took some waiting.
However, the crow wasn't looking where he was going. On that same street, a young mouse wandered aimlessly; she was too busy glancing at her books and papers to see him either.
It was then that Nasaccio and the mouse collided, knocking each other to the ground. The bike and the books went flying, dented and stained with mud. Yeah, things could have gone better.
Before Nasaccio had a chance to complain, the mouse propped herself up. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she cried. "I didn't see you- I should have been looking…" She noticed her books and papers lying on the ground, ruined. "Oh no!"
While the mouse stood and went around, quickly gathering up her books, Nasaccio still sat there on the ground. He got a good look at her- she had silky white fur, bright blue eyes, short blonde hair, and big round glasses. She was dressed casually, with a pink sweater and a pair of nice blue jeans. She seemed like a "nice girl"- the kind of girl you could take home to meet your parents without worry. She also seemed pretty neurotic, judging by how fervently she apologized and the worried look on her face as she picked up her books.
Without a second thought, Nasaccio stood and grabbed the last of her books. "Here," he said. "Is yours, cie?"
A bit startled, the mouse looked up at the crow. "Oh, yes," she answered, taking her books. "Grazi."
Impressed, Nasaccio smiled a little. "Lei parla l'italiano?"
Chuckling lightly, the mouse held her books closer. "A little, yes," she replied. "I'm taking several language courses- I wanna go into the touring business." She paused and looked over Nasaccio. "You're a native, right?"
Though unsure of what she was asking, Nasaccio nodded anyway. "Cie," he responded.
A bright grin crossed the mouse's face. "Great!" she chimed, handing him a clipboard. "Would you do me a favor and fill this out? It's for a study I have in class tomorrow."
Nasaccio nodded again, taking the clipboard. "Cie, cie, okay," he said. "You have-a pen?"
The mouse shuffled through her papers and found a pencil. "Here, use this," she murmured, refilling her papers. "I'm so sorry, everything's a mess…"
For a moment, Nasaccio paused. He glanced at the mouse again- she seemed quiet, gentle, nice, and kind. Most of the people he had met in his life were hardened, cold, or bitter; her disposition had an effect on him that no other had.
Noticing Nasaccio, the mouse blushed a little. "Um… are you okay?" she inquired.
The crow chuckled a little. "Cie," he answered as he started filling out the questionnaire. "I am-a curious to know-a your name."
A tiny smile graced the mouse's face. "Emily," she told him. "My name is Emily…"
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"Emily? Wait, who's Emily?"
"Is what-a I try to say to you."
"Well… it's just… you never mentioned her before."
"You never ask."
"… But, but I…"
"Cie. To continue…"
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Some time later, Nasaccio and Emily had moved off to the side. They walked over to a nearby café and sat down at one of the outside tables. While he finished filling out the survey, she had a few phone calls to make.
Off and on, Nasaccio would glance up from his survey to take another look at Emily. He wasn't quite sure why he felt this way, but he didn't mind- she seemed like an interesting girl.
Emily sighed, tapping her fingers as she kept the phone close to her ear. "Yeah, I'm finishing my project for World Cultures," she muttered to the person on the other end. "I was supposed to go out and poll a couple of native Italians on stuff… I'm waiting for a guy right now… yeah… tall, dark… a little…" She gasped. "No! No way!"
Puzzled, Nasaccio listened closely to the conversation. Who was she talking to, and what was she talking about?
Quickly, Emily turned away. "No, I won't, Judy," she murmured. "I can't… I'm too embarrassed… no… well, yes, I do… I know… but, but, I can't…"
Nasaccio soon became intrigued. What was Emily so nervous about?
The mouse sighed heavily. "Alright, fine," she responded, turning back to the crow. "Um, hey… I was wondering… you know, if you…" She stopped and turned back around, speaking into the phone. "I can't say it! He's looking right at me!"
The crow chuckled, raising an eyebrow. She liked him, huh? Well, this bird had much more than good plumage, and he intended to show her that.
Once Emily managed to get off the phone, she turned back around. "Sorry about that," she said, blushing a little. "So, how's that survey coming along?"
"Ah, is done," Nasaccio replied, handing the survey back to Emily. "You were-a asking question earlier, cie?"
Embarrassed, Emily flushed. "Oh, yeah," she mumbled. "It was nothing, really."
It became all too clear that Emily was very nervous, and unsure of herself. Too perfect, as far as Nasaccio was concerned. "You sure?" he queried.
A nervous giggle escaped the young mouse. "Well," she sighed, "I was sort of wondering… could, could I get your phone number- I mean, if that's alright with you, of course, because I don't wanna put you off or anything, I'm just-"
There was silence for a moment. Emily stopped when she realized she was blathering, and Nasaccio… well, he just wanted to egg her on for a little while longer.
Finally, Nasaccio broke the silence. "Eh, why don't-a you see your survey?" he suggested.
Nodding, Emily picked up the clipboard and looked through the papers. "So, your name is Nasaccio," she noted, glancing up at him for a moment. "That's a nice name. It sounds exotic."
A sheepish grin crossed the Italian crow's beak. He had never been complimented by a stranger before; it felt great.
As Emily continued going through the survey, she kept finding more interesting tidbits on her subject. "Your father is Juan Cornetto?" she said, surprised. "The 'Just' Juan Cornetto? Well, you must be pretty famous around here."
Without a word, Nasaccio merely chuckled and nodded lightly. Oh, he was famous alright… though more along the lines of infamous, in this particular case…
Emily flipped through a few more pages. "No brothers or sisters?" she mumbled. "So, you're an only child… your parents must have spoiled you, huh?"
Rolling his eyes, Nasaccio leaned back in his seat. Spoiled wasn't exactly the term he'd use to describe his family life; sure, his parents gave him a lot more than most kids got, but it wasn't like he asked them for anything. He was content with the things he had, something most considered unusual for a rich kid.
Coming to the last page, Emily smiled a little. Nasaccio was a fascinating individual. It was too bad she'd never get to see him again… or, so she thought.
On the last page, below the last question, Nasaccio had handwritten something. It was a set of digits, which looked strangely like a phone number…
The mouse gasped, blushing again. "Oh… wow," she murmured, glancing up at the crow. "Um… thanks. Maybe I should-"
Suddenly, a pigeon waiter approached the two young adults. "Ai, you gonna sit there all-a day?" he snapped. "You order, or you leave."
Unnerved, Emily stood. "Oh, that's fine," she replied. "I was just-"
"Avrò il caffè, per favore- l'arrosto scuro leggero," Nasaccio said, looking at Emily as the waiter scribbled down the order. "You?"
Though surprised, Emily was quite flattered with the kind gesture. How many chances would she get a chance like this?
Sitting down, Emily looked up at the waiter. "Green tea, if you have it," she asked.
The waiter nodded. "Grazi," he responded. "I shall-a return shortly."
As the waiter trotted over to another table, Nasaccio glanced at Emily. Hey, why not? If nothing else, he was making a good impression on her…
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"So, was Emily your first girlfriend or something?"
"You could-a say so."
"Oh… well, did you get to see her again?"
"Cie, cie… you would-a wish to hear?"
"Sure… but… why don't you just tell me the relevant ones?"
"Ah, cie, okay…"
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Later that evening, Nasaccio lay in bed, deep in thought. There was something about Emily that fascinated him- she dominated his thoughts. He couldn't seem to concentrate on anything.
A soft knock came to the door. "Entrare," he permitted.
The door opened, and an older tabby walked into the room. Alas, Anita was getting up in years- the Cornettos celebrated her 50th birthday a few months ago. Still, now that Nasaccio was all grown up and didn't need as much care, she had the same amount of work to do with less fuss and a slightly higher salary. It wouldn't have mattered to her, though- over the years, she grew quite attached to the Cornettos, ever since Juan first hired her shortly after his honeymoon. She was especially fond of Nasaccio; having no children of her own, she raised him as if he was her son.
As Anita went around the room dusting the furniture and straightening the room, she couldn't help but notice Nasaccio. She never saw him quite like that; he was usually reading or listening to the radio. She learned by now that whenever he was preoccupied like that, it was usually something serious.
Concerned, Anita approached the bed. "Nasaccio?" she addressed. "Is-a something wrong? Per favore, tell-a your dear Anita."
Suddenly aware of Anita's presence, Nasaccio looked over to her. "Ah, is nothing," he lied, flipping over on his side.
Anita shook her head, seating herself on the bed. "Bambino," she cooed, "there is-a something you are not-a telling me. Come now… what-a bothers you?"
"Not a thing bothers me," Nasaccio groaned. "Is very personal."
The feline cocked her eyebrows. "Oh, that has-a never been troubling before," she noted. "You tell-a me everything, you know this."
After a moment of thought, Nasaccio sat up on the bed. "No tell Madre or Padre," he told her.
Nodding, Anita smiled a little. "Cie," she agreed. "Now tell me."
With a heavy sigh, Nasaccio crossed his arms and lowered his head. "Is about a girl I meeted in Florence today," he responded.
Curious, Anita stared intently at Nasaccio. "Cie, cie," she mumbled. "What-a is she like?"
Nasaccio considered the question. "Is nice girl," he explained. "Is shy- very shy- and-a talks much. Speaks English well."
Immediately, Anita knew where this was going. "Is not-a all you think of her, cie?" she guessed.
The crow paused for a moment. "Is pretty, I would-a think," he murmured. "Is skinny white mouse. Has-a blonde hair, blue eyes, and-a glasses." He smiled a little. "Her name is-a Emily. She is going to a college away from-a Florence."
Grinning, Anita could barely contain her joy. "Bambino, you know what-a this is?" she chimed. "You fancy this-a girl!" She hugged Nasaccio. "Come meraviglioso! I am-a so happy for you!"
To say the least, Nasaccio was definitely surprised. Emily wasn't the first girl he ever dated, and she probably wouldn't be the last. Still, he had to admit that something made her special to him. He had to find out what that was…
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"You fell in love with Emily?"
"Is not-a what I say. I say I fancy her."
"I don't get it. Isn't that the same thing?"
"No. Is same as-a 'crush', as-a you call it."
"Oh, okay. So, what happened next?"
"Well, I would-a soon hear from-a Emily again…"
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A few days later, Nasaccio had all but forgotten Emily. He wanted to see her again, but alas- he didn't have her phone number (even though she had his). It seemed as if he'd never hear from her again.
Staring outside the balcony of his room, Nasaccio leaned on the edge listlessly. He would have gone to Florence, but without his bicycle he was stuck at home. He had a car, and he could walk, but there were two unfortunate aspects he couldn't escape. First, his driver's license had been revoked, thanks to a traffic incident a few months back, not to mention his police record included a detailed description of his car and the license plate number. Then there were his own two feet- he wasn't particularly fast, and if rushed he was bound to stumble.
The crow stretched his tired limbs. He glanced at his wristwatch- 12:30 PM. He supposed he should go downstairs and make a sandwich for himself. He'd ask Anita, but more and more he began to realize how weary she was. He didn't want to push her limits by asking her to do things he could easily do on his own.
As Nasaccio turned around and headed for the door, a ring-tone alerted him. It was coming from the phone on his nightstand (he had a separate phone number from the rest of the house). It was strange… only family members and a few estranged acquaintances had the number. He wondered…
Curious, Nasaccio wandered over to the phone and picked up the receiver. "Pronto?" he queried.
A familiar voice answered from the other end of the line. "Hello?" she squeaked. "Is this Nasaccio Cornetto?"
In his shock, Nasaccio froze, his hand clenching the receiver. It couldn't be… "Emily?"
The voice on the other end gasped. "You remember me!" she chimed. "Oh, I'm so glad… I thought I'd never hear from you again."
"As I," Nasaccio answered. "Why you not-a call sooner?"
Emily sighed. "I'm so sorry, I would have," she explained. "I just had this killer term paper to do… but, now that it's out of the way… I was wondering…"
Unusually nervous, Nasaccio loosened his collar. He knew exactly what she was going to say…
"Nasaccio… do you wanna… like, go out or something?"
Though his English wasn't nearly as good as hers, Nasaccio got the meaning. She wanted to see him again; to use a phrase he learned, she was asking him "on a date."
After a long pause, Emily spoke again. "Nasaccio?" she said. "Hello? Are you there?"
Given the moment to consider that thought, Nasaccio decided to go for it. After all, Emily was a great girl… hey, at least she was a girl that his parents would approve of.
Nasaccio smiled. "Cie," he replied. "I would-a be liking that idea."
The mouse breathed a sigh of relief; she was hoping he would say that. "Great," she responded. "I was thinking we could meet at that café where we first met… it seems like a nice place to have dinner. Eros e Psyche, was it called?"
The crow nodded. "Cie, cie," he affirmed. "Tomorrow, we meet?"
Pausing, Emily giggled. "Oh, I'm sorry- I should have been more clear," she commented. "I was hoping on going tonight… unless, you'd rather go tomorrow?"
Giving the thought consideration, Nasaccio shrugged. "Is okay with me," he admitted. "We meet tonight? 7:00?"
A brief laugh escaped Emily. "Sure, but I might be a little late- the campus bus doesn't leave for the city until 6:45," she informed. "I'll see you there, Nasaccio." She paused, then added playfully, "Arrivederci!"
As Nasaccio gently hung up the phone, he suddenly felt a warm, comforting sensation flow through his body. Perhaps it was just stress from the tension worked up in the previous conversation… perhaps it was a side-effect from his consistent daydreaming… he didn't know what this feeling was… but man, did it feel good…
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"She asked you out?"
"Is problem?"
"Well, no, I guess not… how'd that go, anyway?"
"Ah, was coming to that-a point…"
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Nasaccio planned out the evening. After lunch, he spent the entire afternoon bathing, preening, and picking out a nice outfit. Leaving the house at 5:30, he figured he could walk to the nearest town and catch the 6:00 bus to Florence, and if traffic was fair he could make it to Eros e Psyche around 7:00.
Of course, the crow did not take into account the possibility of a road-block in the form of a herd of cows. Apparently, they escaped from the pasture of a local farmer, and it took him a while to get them out of the way, not to mention how hard it was for the bus to maneuver alongside traffic.
As a result, Nasaccio arrived in Florence at 7:20. He hurried through the streets, blatantly disregarding pedestrians, bicyclers, and even traffic- the only thing on his mind was getting to the restaurant!
When he finally reached Eros e Psyche, Nasaccio looked around frantically for Emily. He hoped she hadn't given up waiting…
A few moments later, Nasaccio noticed a young white mouse enter the restaurant. She wore a cream-colored silky blouse, the thick folds of the straps resting loosely over her shoulders, and an off-white skirt that fell to her knees. In addition, she also had a simple gold necklace, a pair of faux jewel earrings, and a white headband. It wasn't very elegant, but in that atmosphere she was stunning.
A lump formed in Nasaccio's throat as he approached the mouse. "Emily?"
The mouse turned around, smiling. "Oh, hi, Nasaccio!" she chimed. "Sorry I'm late; the bus was having a few mechanical difficulties. I hope you weren't waiting long."
Shaking his head, Nasaccio shuffled his feet a little. "No, no, no," he assured.
Pausing, Emily looked over Nasaccio. "You look so handsome," she remarked, if very shyly. "You must have thrown that on before leaving the house; a guy like you doesn't need long to clean up."
The crow nodded sheepishly. She didn't know the half of it.
Before Nasaccio could speak, a waiter approached them. "Signore, Signorina," he said, "your table is-a ready." He gestured forth. "Follow me."
As they followed the waiter to their table, Nasaccio took Emily's hand and held it firmly. "Lei guarda bella," he whispered to her.
Understanding what he meant, Emily blushed brightly. She didn't seem embarrassed; this time, she appeared to be flattered with his compliment. "Grazi," she replied. "That means a lot to me."
Without a word- just a warm smile- Nasaccio let go of her hand and instead let his arm rest on her shoulder, playfully pulling her closer slightly. This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship…
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"Your first date?"
"Cie- it go well."
"I bet… so, you got to know her better?"
"Molto."
"Okay… well, did you ever plan on telling your folks?"
"No plan; they finded out themselves…"
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A few hours later, Nasaccio arrived home from Florence. His date went quite well- he got to know more about Emily, and she got to know more about him. He found out that she was an upper-classman in her 3rd year of college, and she was studying different cultures to work in the touring business with her father. Thanks to him, she'd already been to 10 different countries besides her own, and decided to spend a year or two in Italy because that was her favorite country to visit.
Approaching the gate of the Cornetto property, Nasaccio finally considered a troubling thought. His parents only knew that he'd gone out; they were bound to ask him where he went. He couldn't quite tell them the truth… after his last few choices in girlfriends, they were wary of any relationship he had outside the family. His mother in particular had become very protective of him; she was determined to keep her "baby bird" in the nest for as long as possible.
With a heavy sigh, Nasaccio knocked gently. Anita answered the door, leaning outside. "How was it?" she asked in anticipation.
Nasaccio smiled warmly. "Molto bene," he responded. "We see each-a other again, next-a weekend."
Anita squealed with delight. "Oh, Nasaccio!" she cried, hugging him. "I am-a so proud of you!"
The crow blushed a little. He never thought he would hear that from a family member; embarrassed as he was, it still felt good to hear.
As Nasaccio walked in, he heard a familiar voice coming from the parlor. "Nasaccio!" she called out. "Come and-a speak with-a us, now."
Rolling his eyes, Nasaccio entered the parlor of the house. There sat his parents- his father in his favorite leather chair, reading the newspaper while smoking a Cuban cigar; and his mother, in a nice yet casual dress (as she always had), seated on a finely furnished sofa-couch. "Sit," his mother said.
Without a word, Nasaccio complied with his mother and sat down next to her on the sofa-couch. He waited for a response from his father; he always spoke first when something was wrong. In this case, he would have preferred to be in trouble than have them know…
Maria spoke suddenly. "Nasaccio," she addressed, "your padre and I know of what-a you have-a been doing." She turned to her son and smiled proudly. "We could-a not be happier for-a you."
Groaning, Nasaccio slapped his forehead. They knew.
Juan folded his newspaper and glanced at his son. "Do not-a take it so harshly," he commented. "If you are in-a love… and-a if we approve of-a this lady friend of-a yours… we have-a no problems with her."
Of course, Nasaccio knew to not completely trust his parents. Each of them had differing opinions about his future; Juan wanted Nasaccio to forge his own path and start his own career, but Maria wanted him to become a lawyer like his father and live at home. As a result, he leaned more towards his father for advice, since he was less "confining".
Being the nosy older blackbird she was, Maria had to know more about Nasaccio's love interest. "What is-a she like?" she inquired. "She must-a be bella… what of-a her family?"
"Have not meeted them yet," Nasaccio replied. How could he? Emily's family was in a different country!
Still, Maria was hopeful. "Oh, you must-a invite her to dinner," she chimed. "It would-a be so wonderful…"
The crow shrugged. "When time is-a right," he responded. He wanted to be sure his family was in good spirits when they met her… more so Maria than Juan or Anita…
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"So, you find a nice girl… and you don't wanna take her home to Mom and Dad?"
"Why? They no trusted me."
"Hm… good point. Well, at least tell me how Emily liked the idea."
"Will tell eventually… but, must-a say a little more."
"Oh, right. You're still casual dating at this point."
"Cie, but will skip to more importante stories…"
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Nasaccio kept dating Emily for a few months. They had a lot of fun together- going to fancy restaurants (especially Eros e Psyche), taking long walks around Florence, visiting local museums and theaters… they even took a day trip to Pisa (partially for a project Emily had for her World Cultures class, though they did manage to have a little fun while there).
One particular night, Nasaccio and Emily decided to have a little camping trip. He knew of a great field to spend the night- beautiful grassy knolls, far away from the city, clear enough to see the night sky. Of course, he didn't tell her that the land belonged to a friend of the his family, but he didn't think she would care. She seemed to like him for who he was, not for the vast Cornetto fortune he had access to.
As the two of them laid flat on their backs, gazing up at the night sky, Emily sighed happily. "Look at all those stars," she remarked. "How each one hangs in the balance on its own... it makes you feel so small, doesn't it?"
Perplexed, Nasaccio did not reply at first. Honestly, he never thought about it that way. Then again, he didn't star-gaze too often.
There was a moment of awkward silence. Emily had more on her mind than usual, and it wasn't about the stars.
Noticing her discomfort, Nasaccio turned to Emily. "Lei è giusto?" he inquired.
Caught off-guard, Emily gasped quietly. "Oh," she answered, biting her lower lip. "Nasaccio… I've been meaning to talk to you."
Suddenly, Nasaccio became very nervous. What could she want to discuss with him?
Emily sighed. "Nasaccio," she began, "we've been seeing each other a lot lately… and these past few months have been the best in my whole life."
The crow nodded worriedly. He didn't like the way this conversation was going. Did she have to go home soon? Did her family disapprove of him? Was she seeing someone else??
For a moment, Emily was silent. She wanted to phrase her words carefully. "Nasaccio," she said, her voice struggling, "I want you to know…"
"Cie?" Nasaccio queried hastily.
At that moment, Emily sat up and took Nasaccio's feathered hands. "I like you," she responded. "I really, really like you."
Surprised, Nasaccio stared at her in confusion. "Dice ancora?" he inquired. He already knew she liked him; why was she telling him again?
Dumbstruck, Emily struggled with a thought in her mind. There was one thing she could say… but, would he take it the right way?
Another awkward silence followed. Nasaccio suspected this wouldn't end well, and became very concerned. "Emily?"
Quickly, Emily turned her head. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight. She gently nudged her nose against his beak, kissing him on the cheek.
Though very surprised with this display of affection, Nasaccio eventually calmed himself down. He'd never been kissed quite like this; there was a type of warmth and gentleness there that he hadn't felt before. It was the same warmth he felt just being around Emily, only magnified.
After a moment or two, Emily gazed at Nasaccio lovingly. "That's how much I like you," she answered.
Chuckling, Nasaccio pulled her closer and nuzzled her fondly. "As-a do I, Emily," he whispered to her. "Lei è il mio amore…"
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"Hold on- just a few minutes ago, you said you didn't love her."
"Not-a then… I had-a more time with her…"
"So… what happened to Emily?"
"…"
"Stiletto?"
"… Sabrina, is why I do not to tell this-a story…"
"… I'm here for you…"
"… Cie, I go on…"
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Another few months passed, and Nasaccio's relationship with Emily progressed. Anita met Emily while on a shopping excursion; she could tell the girl was a perfect match for the boy. Emily's friends eventually found out about Nasaccio; he became so well known that much of the faculty recognized him as a student. In fact, the only people they needed to meet now were each other's parents.
Being a gentleman- and since his home was nearer to the college- Nasaccio volunteered to introduce Emily to his parents first.
A small red convertible pulled into the Cornetto driveway. Fortunately for Nasaccio, he was able to reinstate his driver's license, provided he didn't get in trouble. It was strange- since he met Emily, there was no need for him to cause trouble. Perhaps he didn't want her to know about his own past or previous reputations… in any case, this was a good thing.
Stepping out of the parked car, Nasaccio walked over to the other side. He opened the door for Emily, who was dressed especially nice for the occasion. She went out earlier that week and bought a new outfit- a blue satin blouse and an ankle-length skirt, along with a simple silver necklace and a pair of diamond earrings Nasaccio gave her some time ago for Valentines Day. She even had her hair and makeup done just a few hours ago.
As she and Nasaccio approached the front door, Emily couldn't help but notice his uneasiness. "Nasaccio," she inquired, "what's wrong?"
Nasaccio glanced at Emily out of the corner of his eye. "Am very nervous," he explained. "Mia genitori are-a very peculiar."
Smiling, Emily laughed lightly. "Oh, don't worry," she assured. "Everyone thinks they're parents are strange- even I do."
The crow politely nodded. Sadly, that wasn't the kind of peculiar he was talking about.
The door opened, and Anita stepped outside. She observed Nasaccio and Emily, smiling warmly. "Look at-a you," she cooed, pinching Nasaccio's cheek. "Mio bambino, all grown and-a ready for the world."
Despite his embarrassment, Nasaccio seemed to be comforted with Emily's giggling. Having met Anita before, she knew how affectionate the elder feline could be.
Anita embraced Nasaccio, then Emily. She turned around and opened the door for the two lovebirds. "Come, come in," she said with a gesture.
The mouse gazed in awe at the elegance of the main hall. It wasn't quite bright- Juan always thought too much golden décor was too gaudy for his tastes- but the style of the late 1800s, with all the polished woodwork and statuettes, made the home seem warmer and more welcoming.
Ecstatic, Emily turned to Nasaccio. "This place is wonderful," she commented. "Why haven't you taken me here before?"
"I would-a have my reasons," Nasaccio replied bluntly.
At that moment, an older crow entered the room. He seemed to be getting up in years, well over the 50-year mark and quickly approaching 60. Still, he had the same warm gleam in his eyes that he seemed to nurture very well. "Nasaccio," he addressed, glancing at Emily. "And, who might-a you be?"
Smiling meekly, the mouse approached the elder crow. "I'm Emily," she said. "You must be Juan Cornetto- I have friends who study law. They practically idolize you." She paused. "Nasaccio has told me a lot about you."
Juan chuckled lightly. "Good things, I hope," he answered, shaking Emily's hand. "He speaks of-a you much too. I would-a hope that-a we get to know more about-a each other." He glanced at Nasaccio and nodded, implying his approval.
This did little to calm Nasaccio. He already knew his father would approve of her; he just wanted Nasaccio to start taking responsibility, and this relationship could be the first step in that direction. His mother, however, was another matter entirely.
At that moment, an elderly blackbird stepped into the main hall. She was dressed somewhat proper, expecting a lot from Nasaccio's lady friend. She mumbled something in Italian, about how happy she was. Her eyes fell on Emily… and suddenly Maria was a whole new person…
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"What happened with your mom? Did she freak out?"
"… Some-a-thing like that."
"Was she angry? Screaming? Threatening to throw her out??"
"Not so."
"Well, what did she do?! Give me some details!"
"… Il mio madre was-a very discreet with-a her intentions… was sneaky, you could say…"
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Maria was quiet for a moment. Was this the girl he brought home? She… she wasn't at all what she expected. She wasn't rich, she wasn't proper… she wasn't even Italian!
Unnerved, Emily leaned towards Nasaccio. "Is your mom feeling okay?" she asked. "She looks like she's about to faint."
Quickly, Anita rushed over to the blackbird's side. As the feline propped her up, Maria tried to gather her thoughts. This wasn't what she wanted for her son! This girl was poor (well, practically), and foreign too! If Juan agreed to this union (and she knew he did), who knows what could happen??
As Nasaccio and Emily left for the dining hall, Juan stayed behind with Maria. "Try-a to be open-minded, dear," he pressed, following Anita after them.
Of course, Maria wasn't about to agree with Juan- she was too blinded by her own worries and anxiety. What if they got married? What if that wench ran off with his money for another man? Or worse… what if she filed for divorce, or sued him for every penny in his inheritance??
Her anger building, Maria huffed into the dining room. She couldn't let that happen. She loved her son too much to even consider it… even if it meant breaking his heart…
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"So, how'd the dinner go?"
"As-a good as-a could be- il mio padre talked much with Emily."
"And your mom?"
"Not a word."
"That's not good…"
"Gets worse… much worse…"
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Another month or so passed, and Emily had to leave. They spent a few more days together, enjoying what time they had together. He even drove her to the airport on her last day.
Once they arrived at the terminal gate, Emily felt her heart sink deeper. She already knew she was going to miss Nasaccio; she just couldn't believe the time had already come.
The crow and the mouse stared at each other, not saying anything for a while. They were too upset to say good-bye… it felt so final.
At last, Emily spoke. "I'm really going to miss you, Nasaccio," she gasped.
Embracing her, Nasaccio pulled Emily close. "Cie, cie," he murmured.
As she let go, Emily glanced up at him. "You have my address, right?" she asked.
Nasaccio smiled, holding up his address book. "Cie," he replied, "and-a you have mine?"
Nodding, Emily gestured to her purse. "I'll write as soon as possible," she told him.
The flight attendant at the gate announced Emily's flight. She had to go now.
The young mouse fought back her stray tears. "Goodbye, Nasaccio," she responded, leaning over and kissing his beak softly. "I'll miss you." With that, she turned and boarded her flight.
Saddened by the scene, Nasaccio remained behind for a while. He waited for the last passengers to board, and once the flight attendant closed the gate, he turned and left. That was the last he ever saw of Emily…
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"Wait, that's it? You never saw her again??"
"Cie."
"What the- holy- how did-"
"Is more to story, Sabrina… you are-a too impatiente, cie?"
"I blame television… anyway, continue…"
-------------------------------------------------
Some time later, the whole Cornetto family sat peacefully at home. Juan was taking a day-off; he was getting more used to them as he slowly eased into retirement. Maria was quietly reading a novel, while also keeping a close eye on Nasaccio- he was staring out the large parlor window, daydreaming listlessly. Anita often came in to check on everyone, whether bringing tea or simply dusting the antiques.
Maria finally broke the silence. "So, Nasaccio," she addressed, "I notice that-a Emily has-a not called lately."
Nasaccio glared at his mother. She knew very well that overseas calls were very expensive, and that Emily couldn't pay for that. He knew how much she disapproved of her… and every other girl he dated. True, some of them were delinquents themselves, but his mother's standards were very high- they had to be pretty, rich, proper, and willing to live with the in-laws. Emily didn't even come close to that (although Nasaccio happened to think she was very pretty).
Angered, Nasaccio stood from his chair. "I am-a going to upstairs," he hissed, leaving his parents alone in the parlor.
With a heavy sigh, Juan folded his newspaper. "Maria, the boy is-a heartbroken enough," he snapped. "Leave him be." He glared at her. "You never even-a gave the girl a chance."
"She was-a not good enough for-a him," Maria told her husband. "What-a would he have-a to gain?"
Juan groaned. "The boy is-a in love," he growled. "Per favore, Maria, respect that!"
At that moment, Anita burst into the room, carrying a handful of mail. "Nasaccio!" she cried, looking around. "Where is-a Nasaccio?"
Curious, Maria stood from her seat. "Upstairs, in-a his room," she answered. "Why?"
Anita smiled brightly. "Is a letter from Emily!" she chimed. "He will-a be so happy!"
To say the least, Maria was shocked. Emily had their home address??
Juan chuckled. "Bouno, bouno," he remarked, standing and walking over to Maria. "You should-a admire the girl's persistence." He smirked smugly. "Who would-a know? Forse, she become-a our daughter-in-law."
As Juan left the room, Maria was struck with an idea. "Anita," she noted with concern, "you have-a been working so hard. Perhaps we cut more from-a your work schedule; I will be getting the mail from-a now on."
Not knowing Maria's ulterior motives, Anita was curious. "How so?" she queried.
In an attempt to seem caring and thoughtful, Maria patted Anita's back. "You should-a do more with-a dusting," she pressed. "This-a home is-a awfully musty."
Though Anita was unsure of what Maria really wanted, she complied nonetheless. She was the Cornetto family servant- she was obliged to obey them without question. "Cie," she mumbled, slowly turning around and wandering off.
Once Anita was gone, Maria inspected the mail. She sifted through the bills and magazines, searching for that accursed note. At last she found it- Emily's letter!
Then, Maria took out a small gold key. It was old and worn, but still very important; it was the key to her desk drawer, where she kept all her valuables.
Approaching the small wooden desk, Maria pushed the key through the hole and turned it sharply. She opened the drawer and slipped Emily's letter inside; Nasaccio would never think to look there.
Maria closed the desk drawer and locked it again, proud of her deed. In time, her plans would fall together perfectly; for now, she had to let her son's frustration brew a little longer…
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"She hid Emily's letters??"
"Cie."
"That evil, conniving old witch!"
"I know, I know…"
"How'd you find that out?!"
"Will tell in time; is-a one more importante detail to discuss…"
-------------------------------------------------
The months dragged on, slowly turning into years, and still Nasaccio had not received a single letter from Emily. He wasn't impatient- he just missed her. He wanted to see, or at least hear from her again…
Of course, this was due to Maria's constant interference. Every time she found a letter from Emily, she slipped it into her desk drawer. There were times when Nasaccio wrote letters to Emily, so Maria offered to mail them… and slipped them into her desk drawer, too.
Fortunately, there were a few flaws in Maria's plans. On one such morning, Maria stayed in bed with a terrible sinus headache (a painful ailment for any bird), and she decided to put off her 'duties' for the day. At this point in time, she rarely wrote to them anymore.
Anita hummed a quiet tune to herself as she retrieved the mail, as she often did when Maria wasn't feeling well. Though outwardly she seemed to be aging gracefully, certain things about her weren't quite what they used to be- her sight, hearing, and short-term memory.
The feline walked over to the letter-box and picked up the mail, sifting through the mail as she headed inside. She couldn't quite remember some of the names and addresses, and one peculiar name seemed to strike her for one reason or another…
Nasaccio entered the room. "Buon giorno, Anita," he greeted, noticing the mail. "Anything?"
Sighing, Anita put down everything but one letter. "Is hard to remember these-a things some-a days," she commented, handing the letter to Nasaccio. "Here, you might-a know who this-a is. My memory is-a escaping me."
Curious, Nasaccio took the letter from Anita and glanced at the address. He gasped- were his eyes deceiving him?? Could it be…?!
"Emily!" Nasaccio cried, embracing Anita (who was still somewhat puzzled). "Is-a from Emily! Ringraziare Dio! Come meraviglioso!"
Juan staggered in from the other room, having been awoken from a nap from 'reading his newspaper'. "Ai," he snapped, "what is-a going on here?"
Quickly, Nasaccio turned about, holding up the letter. "Is from-a Emily!" he shouted.
The old crow recognized the name; he chuckled heartily. "Well, do not-a just stand-a there and-a jump about," he remarked. "Open it!"
Ecstatic, Nasaccio ripped the envelope open. There was an elegant white card inside, and a separate sheet of paper with assorted numbers, times, and dates. Tossing this aside, Nasaccio flipped open the card:
- - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -- - - -
To Mr. Nasaccio Cornetto:
You are cordially invited to attend a wedding at St. John's Chapel, to celebrate the blessed union of Nathaniel Harrison and Emily Davidson, on July 16th at 10:00 AM.
A schedule and directions have been included with your invitation. Please RSVP ASAP.
Most gratefully yours,
Nathan and Emily
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To say the least, Nasaccio was in shock. Was this some kind of sick, twisted joke? And who in Heaven's name was Nathan??
It was then that Nasaccio found an additional, hand-written note at the bottom:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nasaccio,
I don't know what happened between us… you never answered any of my letters, and I'm beginning to wonder if you're alright. Was something going on, or were you just too busy to reply?
In any case, Nasaccio… I really think Nathan is better for me. He's been my friend since junior high, he's a successful businessman, and he's closer…
Long ago, I did have my heart set on being yours… but it seems that your plans have changed. Well, so have mine, and I hope we can see each other again someday. Please come to our wedding- it would mean the world to me.
Your old amore, Emily
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crushed, Nasaccio dropped the letter. He turned around and sauntered upstairs to his bedroom, not saying a word.
Anita picked up the letter. "Now I remember Emily," she mumbled to herself. "She was-a that young girl Nasaccio fancied…" She glanced at the card. "Oh, mio Dio…"
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"That little… she got married??"
"Cie… I would-a wish I knew this-a sooner…"
"That's right… your mom hid those letters…"
"…"
"Stiletto?"
"Hm?"
"Tell me there's an up-side to this story!"
"… Fortunatamente, there is…"
-------------------------------------------------
Nasaccio stood out on the balcony of his room, staring into empty space. Somehow Emily had slipped away from him… he couldn't understand how that could be! He wrote to her every day, and she never returned any of his letters! It just didn't make sense…
Suddenly, a shrill hoarse voice interrupted Nasaccio's thoughts. He glanced at one of the trees in the courtyard; a noisy wild crow sat perched on a branch, cawing loudly.
Angered, Nasaccio picked up a nearby object and threw it at the noisy bird. The wild crow managed to dodge the object, and instead flew up to the balcony. It perched on the rail and cawed; it seemed to want something from the rich boy.
Needless to say, Nasaccio was not interested in this strange bird. He retreated to his room and laid back on the bed, hoping he could have some quieter time to himself.
Not a minute too soon, the wild crow followed Nasaccio inside, perching on the dresser. It cawed again, intent on getting something from him.
This only provoked Nasaccio's anger. He took off his shoe and threw it at the bird, which again dodged the flying object. This bird was too clever for its own good!
His anger peaking, Nasaccio reached for the small knife in his back pocket. He switched out the blade and threw it at the annoying wild crow, assured that he would hit his target this time.
Yet again, the crow dodged the knife and let the blade get stuck in the wall. This time, the crow went back and pulled out the blade; it fluttered over to Nasaccio and dropped the knife on the bed, glancing up at him and cawing again.
Impressed, Nasaccio let the bird perch on his outstretched arm. "You are clever, cie?" he noted, gently rubbing the wild crow's head. "I would-a think you could-a be useful." He looked at the knife, then back at the bird. "I call you… Stiletto, for retrieving my own."
The bird, now called Stiletto, cawed approvingly. It seemed as if this was the beginning of a new and beautiful relationship…
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"Hold it, I'm confused… then how did you get your name?"
"Is-a very complicato…"
"… But, you'll explain that, right?"
"Cie, cie."
"Wait- before you go on, I'm curious… when did the Baron enter the picture?"
"Heh… am getting to that-a point…"
(any questions you have here should be explained in the next chapter, so keep your trousers on! In the meantime, tell me what you think so far- I'm always open for constructive criticism…)