Welp, here we are with a brand new chapter for 9AM In Italy! Not much to say here, so hope you enjoy and here's chapter 3 for you all!
Chapter 3: Risky Business
As Arianna brushed her dark locks vivaciously like she was in a hurry, her younger sister Aaliyah looked on in slight concern. She had never seen her sister rush through something and try to look great for anyone, so the fact that she was doing this now was definitely interesting enough to peak an eyebrow or two.
"I just don't get the big idea Ari. I mean, Alberto has taken you on horse rides before and I didn't see you so excited, so what's the difference now?" Aaliyah asked.
"Maybe he got me the right horse that I wanted this time," Ari retorted, checking behind her ears and checking the gleam of her teeth to make sure that they were shining.
"Are you sure that's all there is to this? You may be the harbinger, but that doesn't excuse you from lying to your family," Aaliyah said, narrowing her eyebrows at her sister, while Ari smirked.
"I'm not lying," she said with a straight face, before turning back to her mirror and grinning to herself. It was getting close to that time and her family needed to leave. Right now.
"Hey sis, don't you hear mom calling you? You guys are going fishing with dad today," she said sticking out her tongue as Aaliyah's face grimaced. "Plus Amanda is on a date with some random Italian guy named Santino and both Aaron and Alonzo are at the downtown museum so it looks like we'll all be apart today, I'm afraid," Ari said with a smile as Aaliyah huffed.
"You'd like that wouldn't you? Anyways, I'm off to go fishing with the 'rents, don't leave a candle light on for me," she said, sighing as she left the room. Ari checked through the window to make sure that her family was in the carriage, and once they had taken off, she immediately sprinted into action. Taking a black belt and bonding it to her corset and red dress, she slipped on some sandals, grabbed her picnic basket with the fresh apple pie, and skipped out the door.
Checking to make sure that no one was looking, she began to skip down the sidewalk with a huge smile on her face. Nothing was going to stop her on this day, because she was spending it with her Brahma Bull. Turning corners, and sending low dark beams of telekinetic energy, she broke the wheels of the carriages, skipping past them like it was nothing.
Amidst the broken wheels, up ahead at that same spot, she saw the Rock smirking from afar at her, and dashing like the speed of light, she suddenly found herself right in the shadow of the man of electricity. "The Rock sees you came right on time, just as he expected. He also sees you caused a lot of mischief and mishaps for those jabronis down there," he commented.
Ari smirked at what seemed to be a compliment. "Is that your way of saying you're impressed? I did it all for you," she said, leaning up and pressing her lips to the Rock's cheek for a short kiss. The Rock smirked a cocky grin and clapped his hands a couple of times. "The Rock is definitely impressed Ari, now let the Rock show you his greeting to you Ari," he said.
Ari yelped out in loud surprise as she felt a hand filled with static collide with her rear end as the Rock laughed. "That wasn't funny!" she glared. "My butt feels like it's on fire now," she said, rubbing her backside in pain.
"The Rock does what he wants, when he wants jabroni, you got that?" the Rock said cockily as he stared down at the young Italian through his shaded glasses. As the Rock began to walk away, Ari suddenly concocted an idea.
"Well, I guess you don't want this nice hot pie that I brought along today," she said, smirking as the Rock immediately froze at a standstill and whipped his head around dramatically in quick fashion. "Come on now Ari, you know the Rock loves some apple pie," he said, licking his lips and rubbing his hands together.
As he got closer, Ari's hand grew dark and with telekinetic force, drew the Rock forward and kicked him in the People's Jewels.
"We're gonna do things Ari's way if you want this pie, you understand that?" she asked, and the Rock could only groan in response. Taking advantage of her downed 'friend', Ari swiped the shades off of his face and put them on along with a nice straw hat she picked up nearby on her way there.
"I'm so electrifying!" she said with a grin, before using her powers to help the Rock back to his feet. "Now then, let's go have fun shall we?" she said, as the Rock glared at her, but behind his glare, Ari could have sworn that she saw a smirk.
Milano Outskirts of Town
The Rock had managed to cool down the pain that he was feeling earlier as he leaned against a shaded tree watching Ari rapidly set up a picnic with sandwiches of different lunch meats, some salads, fruits, and even a couple of delicious crescants as well. The meal the Rock kept his eyes on the most though was that delicious apple pie that she kept telling him she would make, and did.
"Are you done icing your jewels yet?" Ari called out, laughing at the Rock. In part, maybe she shouldn't have kicked him, but hey, he liked to be funny, so why not turn a joke on him for once. The Rock made his over, looking over the food, before sitting down.
Staring at all the sandwiches Ari made, he quickly began throwing down on all of the sandwiches, even popping her hand away from a couple of them with a quick static jolt. "Jeez, do you like to lay the snackdown on your food much?" she asked, and the Rock snorted as he crammed more food into his mouth.
"That's smackdown to you, ya candy ass jabroni, and hell yes the Rock loves this feast that you have prepared for the Great One!" he shouted out, as he began to feel stuffed, and laid back, flat on the soft grass.
"Aww, no room for apple pie?" Ari teased, but the Rock smirked. "The Rock says he'll get some pie in a bit. He thought we could just talk for a bit, get to know each other, and find out why you're so interested in the Rock."
Ari took a swig of her drink before nodding in agreement. She did want to get to know the man who had her interested from the very start and in the palm of his hand.
"So the Rock has heard a lot about you, but he also knows you belong to the Mendillo family, right?" the Rock asked.
Ari was surprised at the Rock's calm nature; she hadn't quite seen this side of him before. Then again, he probably didn't want to get kicked in the jewels again. "Yes, that's me. Arianna Mendillo," she answered, waving sheepishly.
"The Rock says he has heard a lot about you. He knows that you're the middle child out of five, knows that your dad is in charge of importing and exporting goods out of the country. He also knows…that you're engaged to Alberto Del Rio."
Ari's eyes widened as the Rock stared at her, and the awkwardness in the moment caused the Rock's shades to slide off of Ari's face and into the Rock's hands.
"How did you know that?" she asked, still stumbling to find words to say. The Rock only laughed at her facial expressions. "The Rock knows everything! You didn't think he would see the ring on your finger the other day? Or hear Eve mention it constantly to you, yet you defy what your parents want?" the Rock said, sitting back up.
"Look, I know I'm not the perfect person…but I have my reasons," she said rather defensively. Ari wasn't used to letting her guard down for anybody, and yet here this stranger was, drilling into her insecurities like a fresh oil well, as if he knew everything.
"What reasons are those exactly?" the Rock said, crossing his arms and awaiting an answer.
"Alberto is boring!" she yelled out suddenly. "He's boring, uncreative, and worst of all, my parents set me up with him!" she said, getting in the Rock's face. "How would you like it if your parents set you up with somebody you had never known a day in your life?!"
The Rock raised his pre-infamous eyebrow as Ari continued raining down like a house of fire. "Have you seen the way he looks at me? It's like he thinks he owns me and wants to ride me like I'm his fucking horse! I'm not breeding with that jackass!" she shouted with a furious flurry. Her hands were now burning dark, and her palms were on the Rock's chest, burning his shirt.
"I just…don't want to be with my family anymore," she said. The Rock looked down at her as she buried her face into his chest. "I just don't…"
The Great One shook his head. "You don't mean that," the Rock said, but Ari shook her head profusely. "I really do Rocky, I really do. I just want some freedom in my life. Away from everybody else who tries to make me miserable," she finished, sighing against his chest.
As the Rock brought his arms around her to embrace the young Italian, he sighed. "You know that freedom has a price don't you? Nothing in this world is free, and you should know that from the special gifts that you bear."
The Rock continued on. "I know that you're the harbinger Ari. That's no easy feat, being someone in your position with that range of power. Look at the Rock, he's got the power of electricity, but there's so much he doesn't know about himself that he wants to find out. The Rock's looking for the reason they say he's destined for greatness," he answered. "Who is they?" Ari questioned.
"That's not important," the Rock quickly responded. "What is important, is that you be willing to find that freedom, no matter the cost, you understand that?" he asked.
"Only if you promise me to keep looking for your future greatness," Ari countered back. "As a matter of fact, we can help each other out. We'll tag team it and search for our greatness AND freedom, sound good?" she said, with finality in her voice.
The Rock nodded. "The Rock says it sounds great. Freedom and greatness go together like…two chocolate chips in the Rock's cookies," the Rock said.
"Or like two peas in a pod," Ari quipped.
"Or like boots and candy asses," Rock retorted.
"Or like candy asses and jabronis," Ari grinned.
"Or like Rock to your Bottom," Rock grinned back.
The Rock's grin was now so wide that it made Ari's cheeks lightly flush, as she glanced over toward the pie which was now warm.. "What about pie?" Ari asked, reaching over and grasping the pie while still in the Rock's grasp. The Rock cocked his eyebrow in chagrin and smiled.
"That one's easy. The Rock's strudel to your pie," he said, and just like that, he pulled the young Italian in for a flustered, but resounding kiss that sent chills up Arianna's backside.
As the Rock pulled back and started to eat some pie, Ari stabbed the Rock's hand with a fork and the Brahma Bull yelped in pain. "Oww! What in the blue hell are you doing?!" he yelled, to which Ari cocked her head to the side.
The Rock couldn't help but notice a far away look in Ari's eyes. There was one word that he had for it: and it was a simple word at that.
CRAZY.
Ari immediately grabbed the leftover foods, and using her dark telekinetic powers, hurled them into the distance so far that it ended up hitting Mick Foley.
"I'm okay!" he yelled to no one in particular.
Ari rushed towards the Rock and pounced on him, pressing him down to the ground, locking his lips with her in hungry intent. The Rock tried to shoot electricity from his hands, but he was only successful in roasting a couple of birds and squirrels. The Rock was good, but he had never met a crazy person before.
"Come on Rocky, I thought you loved pie," she said with a dark cocky grin on her face, making the Rock know that she was fully aware of what pie he was talking about.
The Rock took the moment to deliver a vicious Rock Bottom to her while he crawled away, trying to clear his mind and figure out what to do next. The seductive moans of pain coming from the now crazy Ari weren't exactly helping him either.
He watched as she crawled around, trying to collect herself and before he knew it, she was back on her feet and ready for round 2. What would people think if they found out that the Rock was banging the harbinger? All in all, it didn't matter to the Rock because it didn't matter what the people thought.
"Ari! Just bring it bitch!" the Rock yelled out, to which she sardonically smiled and stated, "with pleasure bitch."
Using her dark, telekinetic powers, she binded the Rock to a tree and went straight after him. Hopping onto him, and locking her legs around his waist and the tree, she proceeded to crash her lips upon his once again in crazy fashion. Her left hand rubbed upon his cleanly shaven head, and the facial nudgings were enough to knock his sunglasses to the ground.
The Rock didn't like being binded or being manhandled at that, so rubbing his hands like electric pulsors, he shocked Ari's ass once again, causing her to yelp once again in tremendous pain, and it was enough for the Rock to tackle her to the ground. Hovering above her, Ari simply smiled and let her tongue hang out to the side, as she brought his face in closer to his.
"Was that crazy enough for you?" she grinned, apparently now out of her crazy schtick as the Rock raised an eyebrow, confused as anybody.
"Was that an act? Because the Rock knows acting, and you sure as blue hell have got some acting chops," he said, a grin capturing his features once again.
"Oh whatever," Ari said matter-of-factly, rolling her eyes and pushing him off of her, but not before giving him another kiss, one that Ari herself melted into. Something about this man definitely attracted her to him and drew her in. It was something she enjoyed way more than Alberto.
The Rock checked his shadow. "Judging by the Rock's shadow, it looks like it's almost 6pm," the Rock said, stretching his arms out, and reaching for his shades.
Ari was about to take a drink of the leftover lemonade, but immediately spit it out once she heard what the Rock said. "We've been out here for 9 hours? Shit, my parents are gonna kill me!" Ari said, trying to straighten out her wild messy hair. "I think we went too far Rocky," Ari said hurriedly and in a worried tone. "Maybe another time," she said, but as she turned to leave, the Rock grabbed her arm firmly.
"Remember, we're partners. In more ways than one. You'll be hearing from the Rock soon enough," he said, and turning her around fully, he enveloped her in a slow and passionate kiss that calmed every wild nerve in Ari's body down.
"Partners," she said slowly, trying to make sense of what the Rock said, before it finally dawned on her. Once it did, she smirked and blew him a kiss, taking a few steps back and conjuring up a light disc. Once formed, she hopped aboard and flew her way home as quickly as she could.
The Rock grinned to himself as he savored the taste of Ari's lips against his. Maybe she would be the one to help him change for the better and even learn a little humility. "Mmm, the Rock loves apple pie! But next time, the Rock wants the real stuff," he said.
Milano Heights, the Mendillo Home
Making sure nobody was looking, Ari made her disk disappear, and straightening out her hair as best as she could, entered the door as casually as possible.
Her father immediately met her at the door upon her arrival, and looked at her with a glare. "Where the hell have you been young lady?" he inquired.
"Daddy, I was out riding horses with Alberto," Ari straight up lied without a second thought. Her father Antony shook his head and laughed to himself.
"You know, that's what Aaliyah told me as well. Can you guess who we saw out at the river while we were fishing though? Alberto!" he yelled.
"Oh really now? I wouldn't have guessed," Ari muttered, still not fazed. Her mother entered the room as well. "Please Arianna, you're only making things worse for yourself. Just tell us the truth," her mother softly responded.
"You want the truth? I'll give you the truth. You treat me like a damn child! I know I'm the harbinger! I know I'm the chosen one, like I'm God's special gift or something, I get it! It doesn't mean you get to plan every detail of my life! I'm my own woman! I just want freedom! To be free of your clutches!" she yelled at the top of her lungs so hard, tears were starting to glisten down her face.
Her father didn't seem to care. "We're doing this all for you Ari. We love you, and want to protect you. Can't you understand that? We don't want what happened to your aunt happening to you. Freedom has a price, you know," Antony warned.
Ari glared at her parents. "You don't think I know that? And don't you dare bring Aunt Ashleigh into this. She died for her freedom fighting for what she believed in as the harbinger, and if the same thing happens to me, so be it," she snapped, walking off to her room and closing the door with an emphatic slam.
Choices were going to be made, and everybody would sure as blue hell be affected, if you smell what the Rock is cooking.
3,000 word chapter! Had a blast writing that, so don't forget to read, review, fave, follow, tell a friend and all that! Hope you're all enjoying the chapter so far! Next chapter, Ari turns 21 and the Rock runs into Alberto Del Rio. Plus, what mischief will Layla get into? Only Mick Foley knows! Stay tuned!
-Ronnie