Chapter 9

Samantha clasped her knees, holding herself against the wall. James, the man who had adopted her, was drinking beer in the other room. He was fat, mean, and an alcoholic that Samantha loathed with a passion, the man that hated her.

Shivering, Samantha crawled over to a rag on the floor. She wrapped it around her, and paused for a moment. She heard a loud snore from the other room, telling her it was time to eat.

Standing up, Samantha approached the other room. The cabinet was visible from the other room, which Samantha could possibly snag a few crumbs from. She knew as a fact that this horrible man would never allow her anymore than school money, and always figured she would fend for herself.

Samantha's thoughts ran to Scipio as she grabbed a slice of moldy bread from the cabinet. He was so handsome, but why would he ever fall for some stupid American beggar? After all, he was in fact a Massimo. And no matter how many times he was beaten, he would never fall for her. As a friend, yes. As a girlfriend, never. Samantha felt tears run down her cheeks. Hornet and Prosper could fall in love; Hornet had no problem getting him to like her. However, they had been together for a long time. Samantha was just some normal looking girl, whom Scipio had just met.

"Gimme' da monee…." groaned James. Probably dreaming about sex, money, and other stupid things he longed for. What a jerk. He always ignored Samantha, watching his television all day long. He scraped a few dollars from his job as a bar tender, which he worked weekdays. Samantha wished she could smack this ugly bastard. He lived for the drinks, quite literally.

"Stupid, ugly, fat ass!" threatened Samantha. She wandered back to the other room, still hungry and pained.

Her dreams led her to a mysterious boy in a mask, who loved her with a passion.

"Those are some hurts, my young friend!" a fat cop mustered in awe, as he stared at Scipio's welted back. "It looks like death warmed over- no death period!" Scipio winced. He was in the back room at the station. Samantha hadn't showed up, which oddly depressed him. His back hurt like hell.

"Yeah… I know," Scipio whispered, putting his striped shirt back on. He walked back to the room everyone was sitting in.

"Would you like to say somethin' to your father?" an older cop questioned. Scipio nodded, slowly.

"Yes, I would, sir," Scipio muttered. The cop went down the hallway, where he had instructed no one to go into. Probably the cells.

"Now, Scipio, please don't abuse this chance…" Ida said quietly. "Please don't yell or anything… my poor heart will give out."

"Scip, please listen to Ida. We don't want any trouble…" Victor muttered darkly. Two cops came out with a greasy haired, dirty, mean looking man that seemed to be Scipio's father.

"Father…" Scipio whispered. The man glared at him. Then it hit Scipio, like a million choruses singing in his ear, what he should say to his father.

"Scipio-?" the cop started to say, but Scipio stopped him.

"You cursed son of a bitch! You bastard! You frigging jerk!" Scipio yelled. He scowled at his father. "You evil man! I can't believe how horrible you-!" Scipio took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling. His father grinned wickedly, which made Scipio's heart feel like a dark, empty hole sucking in all the breath he had.

"Oh, dear Scipio! With that temper of yours…tsk! Tsk! Tsk! When will you learn you cause that pain yourself! If you hadn't run away from me, listened to your father…never mind." He grinned, one more time, before he broke free from the cops. His wicked smile extended. He clenched his fist, and drove it into the side of Scipio's head. The last thing Scipio saw was Samantha running into the station, blurring Scipio's vision.

Everyone surrounded Scipio's bed, as he took in deep breaths. His head ached, as if some woman in high heels had been dancing on it.

"I can't believe the cops let him loose!"

"They said they'd find him soon!"

"Oh, come on, Riccio. They are idiots! They don't know a criminal from a civilian!" Hornet's annoyed voice awoke Scipio from his bed. Scipio opened his eyes, noticing Hornet, Prosper, Riccio, Mosca, and Bo all standing there, arguing. Bo noticed him first off.

"Shh, he's awake!" whispered Bo in a slightly loud voice. Everyone stopped, looking down at Scipio. That's when Scipio realized the loud, annoying, beeping.

"Where…am…I?" Scipio whispered in astonishment. Samantha sat up from the corner, tearstained and sorrow.

"In the hospital," her voice sounded hoarse, quite…scared. How long had Scipio been asleep? Prosper raised his head.

"Guys…let's leave these two alone…" everyone fallowed Prosper out, leaving Scipio with Samantha. Scipio looked around: blue walls, tiled floor, hospital smell…yup. He was in the hospital. Samantha sobbed. Scipio sat up.

"What's wrong, Sam?" Scipio said, almost as hoarse as Samantha.

"You…fainted. For a few days. They fed you with a needle…I thought you…it was just a concussion, but it could have been far worse…" Samantha whimpered.

"I…was dreaming…beautiful dreams!" Scipio looked at Samantha, who had her head down, but was listening very intently..

"You were there…and…" Scipio blushed. Samantha felt her cheeks burn as well.

Scipio continued.

"You were…beautiful." That's all Scipio would say. Samantha smiled.

"I had a dream…about a boy. He had this…black bird mask on. He was on top of the roof of some…castle. He vanished, but I knew he was you." Samantha whispered. She held herself, tears running again.

"Why are you crying?"

"I….." Samantha sobbed. "You…I…can't. You deserve someone rich! Someone…who doesn't have to steal moldy bread from a drunken bastard! Someone who….can love without fear," Scipio looked surprised. What, for heaven's sake, was going on in Samantha's head? She was this graceful, beautiful angel! Yet, she thought he deserved better. No way was there a girl out there who out shined Samantha. In Scipio's mind.

"Samantha, have you any clue how much I like you? The second I saw you in art class, when you left me at Ida's last night…you were beautiful. I don't care that you have to eat moldy bread. I like you for you, not your wealth," Scipio paused. Samantha's flabbergasted face showed all her feelings, like a portrait meant to tell.

Scipio sat up, and walked over to Samantha, like a dream. Only real.

"Samantha, have you any idea how much I love you?"

(a/n Scipio has finally confessed! One more chapter! This one will be lengthy!)