Hated (8 page)

Chapter 11

Stephanie Wilson

Boston 2:34 pm
Thursday February 15
th
2029

              I convinced Isabella that I was able to go to my fourth period class. So I went with Antonio to our last class of the day. But I had to grab some things from my locker so I told him I would meet him there.

I had liked talking to him in the nurse’s office, even Isabella approved of him which is very surprising. I didn’t think that he would come to visit in the first place, so it was a pleasant surprise when he showed up.
I guess he could be different then other gang member guys. At least he didn’t try to pull anything on me while we were alone.

I got to my locker and grabbed my stuff for my fourth period class. As I locked up my locker I saw something come at me out of the corner of my eye. I ducked just in time to avoid being punched in the face. But I wasn’t quick enough to avoid getting kicked in the stomach. I tried not to show how much that kick had actually hurt but it was difficult. I tried to get to my feet but I was too sore to move. I turned my head to look at my attacker, and saw that it was none other than Hayley.

But when I turned my head a bit more I saw a group of guys with suits and sunglasses, surrounding me. I was in really over my head this time. Hayley snapped her fingers and one of the guys came forward and tried to grab me. I may be down but I was not out, not yet. I kicked the guy in the face and that should’ve sent him flying back, but he only went back a step.

The guy’s sunglasses went flying though and when he turned to look at me I saw that he was enjoying this. Then he lunged at me and tackled me to the ground. He picked me up and held me in his iron grip.

“You should’ve stayed away from him,” Hayley said her voice was full of venom and hatred. “Now you will pay the price for your insolence.”

She snapped her fingers again and another guy walked in front of me.
But instead of punching me like I thought he was going to, he came forward and kissed me. I was so stunned that I didn’t do anything to stop him. It wasn’t like it was my first kiss or anything but it was still gross. When he pulled away I tried to kick him but he grabbed my leg. Then he punched me in the stomach and I started coughing, I was trying to catch my breath and to keep myself from throwing up.

“What are you talking about?” I ask Hayley as I gasp for air. “I told him to get lost!”

“Don’t lie to me,” Hayley snapped. “I saw you guys in the nurse’s office being all touchy.”

I felt another blow to my stomach and I started coughing again. This time I may have spit up some blood, but I was very dizzy so I wasn’t for sure.

“Hey it’s not like I asked him to come,” I replied dizzily. “He came on his own.”

“All the more reason for you to have sent him out,” Hayley commented. “Then none of this would be happening.”

I heard the bell ring for class to start and I knew I was on my own on this one. The guy in front of me raised his arm to punch me again. I closed my eyes waiting for the blow, but it never came. I opened my eyes and saw that Antonio had a hold on the guys arm. When did he get here?

“What are you doing?” Antonio asked Hayley. His voice cut like ice, I was really glad he wasn’t talking to me.

“Um…I…um…” Hayley stumbled, as she tried to figure out an excuse. But it seems she couldn’t find one. Antonio looked to guy who still had a hold on me. Again I was glad he wasn’t doing that to me, seeing as his eyes were murderously cold. I felt the guy let go of me and I barely had enough strength to keep standing, but I managed to stay put.

Antonio let go of the guy’s arm
and came over to me. He did a quick check to make sure that I was okay, and wiped something off the side of my mouth. I’m guessing that was what was left of the blood that I’d spit out. I hadn’t realized that I had been avoiding looking at him until he lifted my head up to look him in the face.

His face was full of worry and concern.
I tried to show him that I was alright but I think he saw the pain behind my shielded expression. I didn’t think that he would think less of me, but I just hated feeling pathetic and useless. Antonio put an arm around my shoulders and turned to face Hayley. By him putting his arm around my shoulders he was risking his entire reputation and status. Hayley’s mouth dropped open at the sight of this.

“What do you think you are doing
?!” Hayley exploded. “She is just a misfit, a no-body, why do you pick her over someone with a high status, someone who could actually offer you something?!”

“What could you
possibly offer me?” Antonio demanded.

“I can offer you a good time and access to some of the other things at our company that you don’t have access to,” Hayley replied. I could see that Antonio was thinking the offer over.
I knew that I was very likely to get ditched for Hayley’s very generous offer because I didn’t have anything that I could offer him.

“That is a very tempting offer to anyone…but me,” Antonio replied. “I don’t go for showgirls, and actually I can get that information, I just choose not to.”

I could see the shock and fury written on her face, and it was understandable because Hayley has never been turned down by a guy before. My face was probably a mixture between surprise and delight. I really didn’t think he would pick me over Hayley. Antonio turned me around and we went off to class. No one paid us any attention as we entered the classroom. Except for my friend Joey who kept staring at me until I got to my seat, then he returned his attention back to the class. I knew I was going to have to explain a lot to him and any of my other friends that asked about today’s incidents.

I doubt they would understand
what kind of person he really is, they would probably think that he would be like the other gang members. I really think that he is different…and cute…and sensitive…and…hold the phone! No more romantic thoughts! We are friends…just friends, nothing more!

I glanced to Antonio. He has a hansom profile, prominent
cheek bones and those muscles of his, wow! I quickly turn my attention back to class. I need to stop with all this romantic nonsense; I need to focus on my schoolwork. I can’t have him popping into my head every couple minutes. I need to set the record straight, not just in my head but in reality as well.

I know that
I’m no good for a guy of his status. I’m just a girl that has to work three jobs to help feed the family and pay off a debt. I kind of wonder what he sees in me at all. But that’s not what I need to think about right now, I need to focus on my class.

I glanced the other way and saw the old park. It used to be one of my favourite places to go, but now it just looks like a dump and nobody
would like to try to fix it. I sighed, what is the world coming to? It’s like everyone, who is not in a gang, has given up and given in to the pressures of the gangs.

I might go to the falls this weekend with my brothers just to get away from these pressures and beatings. I never take my mothers, it’s not because I don’t trust them it’s just that it was a special for just my family to visit. We even still have the deed to the place, so no one will be building on it as long as
my brothers and I survive.

The class seemed to go faster than usual today. Maybe it was because of all the excitement that had happened so far today or maybe it was because my mind was somewhere else for most of the class.
Whatever the reason was I was glad when class was finally over with. I had had enough of school and of the school drama for one day. I close my locker and find Joey on the other side of the door.

“What is going on?” Joey asked as he leaned against the locker, angling his body to try to block my escape.

“What do you mean?” I asked Joey confused. I knew I would have to explain what was going on but I didn’t really think that I would have to do it just yet. I better start thinking of escape routes if I want to get to work on time

“What is going on between you and the Mobster?” he asked. I swear I could hear an under tone of anger laced with betrayal in his voice.

“We are just friends, Joey,” I explained exasperated. I’m tired and I’m fed up already with the questioning. I tried to get around him but he shifted to block me.

“Damn it, Joey,” I replied angrily, “I’m going to be late for work.”

“Relax I’ll give you a ride to work,” Joey replied tired of my escape attempts already. “How did this ‘friendship’ start?”

“None of your damn business,” I snapped.
I turned and tried to escape that way, but Joey wasn’t finished. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back, and then he grabbed my other arm to keep me from trying to escape.

“I’m not finished asking questions,” Joey
replied angrily. “Besides you haven’t answered any of my questions anyway.”

“
I can answer the questions tomorrow now please just let me go,” I replied gritting my teeth.

“What will happen if I
refuse?” Joey countered, glaring down at me. I carefully nudged him with me knee and he got the message. Joey dropped his hands and stepped back, letting me go about my business. I really didn’t like threatening him like that but he was on my last nerve. Anyway I don’t like kicking or kneeing any guys in the sensitive spot, I think that it is a cheap way of fighting.

I walked outside and
looked at my watch, it was 3:15 pm. Shit! My shift starts in about two hours and it takes me about 30-40 minutes to walk home, then another 40 or so minutes to bike to the restaurant. I could make it in time if I run home, have a quick shower, and then bike fast to the restaurant. I groaned can this day get any better?

I started to jog out of the school property when I heard the motor of a motorcycle come up behind me.
I turned and saw Antonio pull up beside me on his motorcycle. He motioned for me to get on. I thought quickly about all the running I would have to do if I didn’t take him up on his offer, then I jumped on the back and we sped off.

I was about to start giving him directions to where I wanted to go, but it seemed that he knew where he was going.
We didn’t talk through the whole drive, but the silence was a comfortable silence. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at my house in about 20 minutes. I jumped off the bike and turned around to say goodbye and to thank him for the ride, in spite of this he was parking the bike and taking off his helmet.

“You do know I have to go to work right?” I asked, uneasy.

“Yes I know I just thought I would give you a ride to work,” Antonio replied cocking his head to the side. “Is that a problem?”

“No, it’s not,” I replied a bit confused. Not the bad kind of confused, the good kind. “Would you like to come inside?”

Now it was his turn to look uneasy, “I can just stay out here and watch the bike.”

“No I insist please come in,” I insisted, walking toward the house and motioning for him to follow. “I’m going to be a few minutes anyway.”

I could tell that my brothers were already home as soon as I walked in the door. The house smelled of Kevin’s cooking and I could hear the sound of the radio and my other two brothers in the other room. After I closed the door behind Antonio I went to the kitchen to see Kevin.

Kevin had his back turned to the door but I knew that he had heard me come in. I walked up next to him and looked over his shoulder to see what he was cooking. The smells were even better up close, and I could see that he was cooking
stir fry on the stove.

“Mmm, looks good,” I said. “Anything I can do to help.”

“You can go get ready for work,” Kevin replied not looking up from his work, “and introduce your guest.”

“My guest’s name is Antonio,” I replied,
then turned to Antonio. “Antonio this is one of my brothers, Kevin.”

“Do you know how to cook?” Kevin asked without turning to look at Antonio.

“I know a little bit,” Antonio replied, keeping his voice neutral.

“Alright then, you can help me while Steph takes a shower and gets dressed for work,” Kevin instructed, finally turning around to look at Antonio.
I was surprised that his expression didn’t changed, when he saw how tall Antonio was. I was even more surprised when Kevin smiled and didn’t ask any more about him.

Kevin sent me to the bathroom to have a shower and he put Antonio to work on cutting the vegetables. I
had a nice length shower except for the bandage on my arm that I had to be wary of. Then went to my bedroom and got changed into my work clothes. I had to wear a white blouse with a small black vest, black slacks and black high heels. I tied my hair back into a ponytail, put on some eye shadow and mascara, and then I went out to see how they were doing in the kitchen.

“Hey is dinner almost ready?” I asked as I entered the kitchen
.

“You know I never get the chance to see you right before you leave for work,” Kevin commented staring at me, “and I don’t see why you don’t want us to see you in your work clothes. You look very beautiful, sister.”

Andrew and Anthony came into the kitchen and stopped in the doorway. “Wow, sister you look beautiful,” Anthony and Andrew said in unison.