Woooaaahh. So I thought I was done with Chapter 9, but when I went to re-check it (after I had uploaded it on fanfic) I realized it wasn't done. At all. My apologieeesss. Only three people viewed it before I could change it, so it isn't that epic but I still feel stupid. WELL. This is the completed Chapter 9. Enjoy :)
It was the end of my shift and I was by my locker, rummaging inside to try and find the contents that had fallen out of my bag. I was almost late for work today, so I had accidentally thrown my bag inside without realizing the zipper wasn't closed and out spilled all my items. I didn't think I was going to ride home with Nick today, as he didn't call or text me previously as he normally would, so I took my time.
When I found the lipstick I rarely used, I smiled in satisfaction as it was the last thing that was supposed to be in my bag. You see, it would have been a lot easier and quicker if I was more organized, but I was never was, and my locker showed that. I had my lab coat blended in there with jackets that I had forgotten to take home, comfortable shoes that I wore just in case it was a long shift, and, oh God, was that an moldy sandwich? I should really clean this out.
"Hey Mae," said Catherine as she walked in and started to open her locker. She peeked inside my locker and smiled. "Don't get lost in there."
I chuckled, pulled out my jacket too fast, and a shoe flew out and connected with the floor. "I'm pretty sure I found the portal to other side of the world in here."
She laughed and grabbed her purse. "We're going dancing at Mile Lounge if you want to join," she invited as she flung on her jacket.
"I noticed you guys tend to celebrate short shifts," I told her and began to wonder where Nick was. If they finished early, where was he?
"You know it," she said. "So you coming?"
I was about to answer when Nick's head popped in the doorway. Catherine turned around when she saw my attention and gaze change. Then she turned back to me as Nick walked inside.
"Hope you come," she said and walked out, leaving Nick and I alone.
"Hey," he said and stood by my side. "I was looking for you."
I closed my locker and put my bag over my shoulder. I smiled at him and he put his hand on the small of my back. "Really now?"
"Of course," he said and a smile crept on his lips as well. "Catherine invited you out tonight?" When I nodded, he continued. "Want to go?"
"Yeah," I said and cocked my head to the side. I had to admit, I was a little sleepy, but I still wanted to go out, especially with other people that I knew I would have a good time with.
He noticed my drooping eyelids and brought his hand to rub my cheek. "You sure?"
"Positive."
Nick and I showed up at the Mile Lounge thirty minutes later, as it was located near the strip and it being this late, it was almost impossible to find a parking space. We walked, hand and hand, inside and found Warrick, Catherine, and Greg in their own large booth laughing and sipping on various alcoholic drinks. When we walked over, they all threw on wider smiles and made room for us.
I ordered a margarita while Nick got a beer and found myself soon deep in a conversation with Catherine. I was pretty sure that the guys were too developed in their own conversations and might have even forgotten Catherine and I were there. It was vice versa really.
After I got Catherine to talk about her dancing, of which I was fascinated with, she began to ask me questions about Italy. I didn't mind really and it was only fair as I had gotten to talk about some of her past that was questionable, but still intriguing.
"You know, Rico told us that your parents passed away when you were at a young age," she told me and when she noticed that she hadn't hit a touchy subject she continued. "If you don't mind me asking, how?"
"It's going to sound awful," I told her. "but it was a car explosion."
Her eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yeah," I told her and took a sip of my drink. "Now the thing is, I learned more about my parents after they had died. When I was about sixteen, I was in my attic when I found all sorts of things, pictures and whatnot, about them. Now I'm not sure, but I'm pretty sure that their death was mob related."
She was on the edge of her seat in excitement and curiosity. "How?"
"My parents said that they worked as salesman for some traveling agency but when I found records of our bills, the money we received came in so sporadically. One month, we got ten thousand dollars, then the next month, only two thousand. And it gets better," I said. "I found a picture of them with Antonio Grantini."
Her mouth opened and she leaned in closer. "You have got to be kidding me," she said.
Antonio Grantini was a notorious Italian mobster, known for his brutal and widespread killings and destruction of anything that got in his path. He had run a muck in Italy during the 1970s and his gang only consisted of the highly wealthy and powerful. When a bomb had exploded in a bank in 1975 and about thirty people were killed, Grantini was known to be the mastermind behind the whole thing, but nobody could prove it. The only thing they could pin on him was tax fraud and was out in three years. Nobody had heard from him since.
I shrugged and continued on with my story. "But I guess I was wrong. I mean, they found no foul play in my parents death. They said the engine had just gotten overheated and overused from years of no maintenance."
"That's strange though," she said. "You never looked into it further?"
"I think about it occasionally. But I'm fine with what I know now. Sometimes it's just not better to not know the whole truth."
"That my dear," she said and lifted her glass, ready to take a sip, "is so true."
Just then a strum of a bass from the band performing made Catherine's ears perk up. She smiled and closed her eyes. "I love it when they play this song," she said.
"We should dance then," I said and she nodded. She got out of the booth and so did I. This got the guy's attention and they all looked up to see what we were doing.
I grabbed Nick's arms and pulled him from the booth as Catherine said, "Let's dance you guys!"
Nick's arm slipped around my waist as we approached the dance floor, then I threw my arms around his neck. It was a slow, jazzy song that I found myself getting absorbed into, with it's catchy beat and the soulful voice of the singer filling my ears. I swayed to the melodic sounds and rested my head on Nick's shoulder.
His head lowered and turned to the side so I could see. He was smiled at me before giving me a kiss on my forehead.
"You having a good time?" he asked in my ear, as the music was too loud to hear anything too far away.
"Yeah!" I said in his ear and picked up my head. He moved his head close to mine and our foreheads touched as we just stared at each and danced.
We danced to a couple of more songs before Nick noticed the yawns I was trying to hide and talked me into leaving. We said goodbye to everyone and got back into his car, ending a night that was sure as hell better then spending it alone.