"I'm HOMME," Mia called as sauntered through the front hall. Glowering slightly at the complete lack of response, she glanced about as she made her way to her father's office—which was closed. Damn, she swore mentally, she was bursting to tell someone about her perfect first day. She stared at the closed mahogany door for a moment longer, willing it to open, before sighing deeply in resignation. God knows how long whatever he's doing's going to take. I wonder if any of my brothers are here…
With renewed vigor, she wandered about the house looking for her erstwhile brothers. Mike was home from Dartmouth, taking after her father not only in name but alma mater as well, but there was a definite possibility he was in his father's office. Which isn't fair AT ALL, she thought mutinously to herself. She took a deep breath, and stopped her train of thought. There was no use getting all worked up over this. Her father had already proven he wasn't going to budge on the issue, despite her best pouts, arguments, and temper tantrums.
Mia looked into the living room, and gave a quick wave to the couple of men scattered about the room. She smiled brightly at her father's men, and nodded respectfully to the few others she knew were from the Vitalia Family.
Hmm, so Mike's out. Tony? He's back from Northwestern, so he's probably here somewhere. Sonny…doubtful, probably out on a date or something. That leaves Vince who's…she checked her cell for the time at tennis or basketball or whatever…and that leaves no one, she groaned. No one at her house, but outside…she grinned at the thought.
Her best friends were still carless, but she could definitely go to them. Mia had only turned sixteen last week and on that bright, June 2nd morning her father had taken her out first thing to pick out her birthday car. Having a car, while an amazing freedom, was a freedom she was still getting used to and she tended to forget that she now had the option of driving out.
Cady's in China for the summer, Sam's on vacation for the week, and Emma's working, she realized slowly, Oh! But Tom! Tom's here. Pulling out her cell, she clicked 8-6 (T-o) and tapped her foot impatiently as the phone rang.
"Hello?" his deep voice muttered drowsily, still scratchy with sleep.
"Tommy!" she cheered. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"Oh, hey whats up?" he yawned here, "And no, I just fell asleep reading."
"You know that counts as waking you up, right?"
She smiled to herself, she could almost hear him shrug in response, "It doesn't count when I'm not supposed to be sleeping."
"Did you not sleep last night or something? It's only five, a little early for even a grandpa like you to need a nap," she teased.
"It was just a boring book." Mia pouted to herself when he ignored her little barb
"What were you reading? And why?"
"Nothing interesting."
She blinked, and said accusingly, "You were reading a textbook!"
"Maybe."
"HA. I knew it. You're such a nerd. School's over buddy."
"I was just looking at some of my summer work," he protested defensively.
"Nerd."
"Said the pot."
"Are you calling me round?"
"If the dress doesn't fit…"
She gasped, "Jerk."
He laughed, "I'm just kidding. So what's up?"
"You're lucky I'm in such a good mood today, or I'd kick your butt."
"Psh, what's new?"
"Oh, nice, make me sound like a violent crazy woman."
"You said it, not me."
"TOM!"
"Relax. You know I don't mean it. 'Sides, if you don't want to be crazy violent lady, you could just stop being so violent, though you really can't fix the crazy part…" he mused.
"TOM!"
"Okay. Okay. So, seriously, what's up?"
"I don't wanna tell you over the phone. It's too exciting and needs hand gestures and facial expressions and everything to be appropriately interesting!"
"Okay…" he said slowly.
"So, wanna go for a ride in my pretty new car? His name is Marc, and he's very very pretty. Oo, and we can go get gelato. I'm in the mood for some gelato," she finished cheerfully.
"Can't. I swore I'd never get in a car when you're driving," he jibbed. "Wait, did you name your car?" he asked incredulously.
"Hey, I resent that. I'm not a bad driver!"
"Tell that to the people on the sidewalk," he muttered.
"TOM! That's a lie! I drive on the street. Street," she stressed. "And of course I named my car. What else am I supposed to call it?"
"Um. Car?"
"But that's boring," she said petulantly.
"Well, sure, it's much more interesting to say 'Let's go for a ride on Marc,'" he snickered, "but far less appropriate."
"HEY! Stop making my car dirty. And it'd be "in"…" she trailed off. "Um, I rescind that last comment."
Tom cracked up hysterically.
"TOM!"
"Sorry," he said before cracking up again.
She pouted as she waited for him to finish laughing, unsuccessfully trying to squash a smile.
"Come on, you gotta admit that was funny. I bet you smiled."
"Did not."
"Liar."
"I didn't!"
"Sure."
"Fine, I did. Happy?"
"Ecstatic."
"So? We gonna go or not?"
"Oh, right. Sorry, I would but my family's going out for dinner in a couple of minutes."
"Tom," she wailed.
"Sorry!"
"No, it's okay," she said reluctantly. "I'll just tell you later. Have fun at dinner."
"Thanks. We'll hang out tomorrow or something."
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye," he said before hanging up.
Mia sighed, and plopped herself onto the sofa in the library. She jumped at a knock a moment later. Whirling about, she relaxed a bit upon seeing Danny Vitalia standing hesitantly in the doorway.
Danny was the oldest son of the Vitalia Family. Tall and darkly handsome, he fit the term "silent and brooding" to a T. Twenty years old, he was the same age as Michael, and they had all grown up together although not quite in the conventional sense. They had certainly never had play dates, because neither family would have trusted the other with their treasured children, but they had spent their childhoods around each other. Attending similar functions and playing with each other, they had formed tenuous friendships as their fathers conducted business behind closed doors.
"God Danny, you scared me," she said with relieved sigh and turned back around.
"Hi Mia," he greeted softly.
"Hi Danny," she replied, settling herself more comfortably on the beige, suede sofa. A moment later, after hearing no movement, she threw back at him, "Well? Are you just going to stand there or come sit here with me?"
"Wasn't sure if you wanted me to," he responded, still not budging from his spot.
She rolled her eyes and patted the spot next to her, "Just sit down, will ya?"
Moving so quietly she probably wouldn't have heard if she hadn't been listening for him, he slipped over and sat down beside her. "You sound sad," he remarked.
She turned to face him, "I'm not sad."
"Okay."
"Just a little disappointed," she clarified, not really sure why she felt the need.
"Why?" he asked, staring intently at her.
She fidgeted and broke his gaze. God, his eyes are so blue. Drawing absently in the soft suede, she shrugged, "I had my first day of work today."
"Oh."
"No, it was a good day," she hastily explained. "A really good first day, and I was so excited when I came home but everyone's busy and all my friends are gone or doing stuff and," she paused and embarrassedly swiped at her doodle, "wow, I sound like a baby. Sor-"
He interrupted her, placing a finger against her lips. "Shh. Tell me."
Blinking, she looked up and into his eyes, a smile slowly spreading across her face. "Okay. You sure you want to hear this?"
Danny nodded.
"Well, I got this amazing internship at the Chicago Tribune and…"
A/N: Read and review? PLEASE? :D :D