Fair Verona

My pencil taps in rhythm with the clock hands that count the seconds that seem to draw on forever. My English teacher pulls out the script from the play we'd unfortunately be studying for this term. He licks his finger and turns the page. Clearing his throat, he begins. "Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean." A sharp knock raps at the door and the teachers words are cut short. He sighs dramatically and folds his arms across his chest, his eyes drifting to the doorway where the principal stands, her smile soft and apologetic. "Sorry, Mr Murray for interrupting." She pulls her fallen hair out of her makeup covered eyes and nervously juggles the folders in her arms. She moved her last month and this was her first time being a principal and it was clear that she was still adjusting. "Mr Martinez here is transferring to this class." The name washes over the class and anxious murmurs make their rounds. A guy with a smug smile steps into the classroom, his auburn eyes moving along each student who visually sinks further into their seats. He enjoyed this. The fear he brings. His eyes gaze over mine and I roll my eyes, looking away to focus back on my work. I couldn't bother entertaining him. His family didn't scare me.  "Well, I hope this class will be more challenging for you Mateo, but please, let me know if there is anything else I can do for you." She was graveling with panic. You could hear it in her voice that was one octave too high.  "I think I'll be fine, Miss." He says with a smile that makes the principle swallow nervously. I could almost see the sweat beginning to bead along her forehead at his intense gaze. "I'm sure my dad can just call if there are any issues." I bite my tongue at his words. How stuck up is this guy? Using his dad's reputation to make people treat him like royalty through fear. "Of course. Well, I'll let you be. Sorry again Mr Murray, enjoy the rest of class." The principal scurries off, leaving Mateo standing in the doorway. "Right, well take a seat. Don't have all day." Growls Mr Murray with annoyance. I visibly hide the laughter that bubbles in my throat with a cough. I look to Mateo, his eyes narrowing slightly before turning back to the sea of students, their eyes trying not to meet his. He sees me snicker at Mr Murray's introduction. I shake my head with a smile and turn back to my script. "While we're still in the 21st Century, Mateo." Says Murray as he taps his foot impatiently. "Careful now. Say something you shouldn't and I might have to call my father." Threatens Mateo, taking a menacingly step forward. "I'm sure you know what happens when you show a Martinez disrespect." A hush falls over the class as we all wait with anticipation. "Mr Martinez, call you're father, I really don't care. I don't have much to live to for. My wife divorced me last year and I have a s**t salary and getting your father involved might actually give me a thrill to not end it all. Now," Mr Murray nods to a chair. "Take a seat." Mateo clicks his tongue and turns on his heel as he walks down the rows of chairs, students with free seats next to them visibly sweating. "Where was I?" Huff's Mr Murray with annoyance. As he begins to read, I go back to analyzing the script. "From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; whose misadventured piteous overthrows, do with their death bury their parents' strife." "This seat taken?" A voice sounds beside me and I jump, looking up to be met with a pair of golden eyes that belong to Mateo. He c***s an eyebrow and I knew it wasn't up for discussion. "Go ahead." I say with disinterest, listening back into the lesson as I sigh heavily, highlighting a passage I thought was important. "You have a pen?" I bite my lip and turn to look at him once more as he takes his seat, the legs of the chair scraping along the floor loudly, though it was clear he didn't care if he was disruptive.  "Don't you have one?" I ask, my tone clipped.  "Just a question." He says with a snark. He leans back in his chair and licks his lips as he winks at a girl who had snuck a look at him. I roll my eyes again and turn back to my work. Resting my chin in the palm of my hand, the lesson drags on and I grow more and more exhausted at attempting to make sense of Shakespearean language. Stifling a yawn behind my hand, the bell rings overhead. "Alright. Tomorrow will we continue with the play. Now get out of my sight." It was hard to hear Mr Murray's words as students hurry to leave in their midst of desperation. Slowly, I begin packing up my things, taking notice of Mateo who doesn't move, but simply watches me from where he sits beside me, his head tilted slightly as his tongue runs along his teeth in deep thought. "Yes?" I question as I stuff my books into my bag. "You don't seem to like me very much." He says, leaning forward with a smile. "Why?" His eyes glisten with mischief and I look away, zipping up my bag and standing up. "Because you're full of yourself." I reply, strapping on my bag. "You enjoy people fearing you. You use your dad as a shield because you're not capable of doing things yourself. You're selfish. You're a horrible friend. Don't forget that we all remember what happened last year with Ryan. Oh, and how about Kelly-" as I turn to face him, he abruptly stands and he takes a step towards me, his face inches from mine as my insults are cut short. "You were saying?" He asks with a condescending tone, his breath dancing along my lips. "I'm not scared of you, Mateo." I say, my eyes never leaving his. "You think you're all that but you're not. Why don't you grow some balls and we can have a proper conversation. And if you'll excuse me, I have biology." Grabbing my binder, I turn on my heel and walk out of the classroom as Mr Murray gives me a subtle nod on the way past. Escaping out into the corridor of bustling students, I finally let out the breath I had been holding, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it would explode at any moment. Never in my life would I have thought I'd have a confrontation with the Mateo Martinez. I transferred to this school two years ago and the moment I walked through those doors, his face was pointed out in the sea of deadbeats as I was warned to never get involved with him. But it was just my luck that I went on a rampage of insults. I'm officially dead. "Wait, hold up. Rewind. You really said all of that stuff?" Rachel shakes her head in disbelief as she glances down at her textbook, her eyebrows reaching her hair line as she attempts to fathom what I had just discussed. "What? So I was just supposed to give him a free pass? I mean, the guy did ask me why I didn't like him and I simply answered." I reply, shrugging my shoulders like I didn't just get out on Mateo's hit-list. "You should've just walked away. Or I don't know, grovel like everyone else. Compliment him, something! Not disrespect him." Sarah looked like she was going to pass out. Her face was flushed red, her eyes darting around frantically as she waves her arms around. "You're going to get yourself killed." I scoff and roll my eyes. "Hes not going to kill me, Sarah." I say, laughing softly. "Maybe not him, but one of the many hit-men that serve his family. His dad is the biggest mob boss out there, and you just disrespected his son. That's not something you take lightly." Explains Sarah, sinking down into her chair with a deep, worried frown. "You can't just do something like that, Juliet." "It's not like I'm going to see him again. The guy barely comes to school. I'm surprised he even showed up today. He even transferred to my English class because apparently his was to easy. He is so full of himself and entitled and someone needs to knock him off that god damn pedestal." Growing frustrated, I grit my teeth and cross my arms over my chest. "I'm sick of him using his family name to just cruise through life. He needs a real wake up call." "Maybe," begins Sarah. "But his family is made of old money and have connections to multiple Italian families of organised crime. Besides, it's not like this town is just going to thrown them out. Mr Martinez is the prime funder around here. Without him, our economy would just collapse." She sighs heavily. "I hate to say it, but if the Martinez family hadn't come here some decades ago, this town wouldn't even be on the map. I know you don't like him, but you have to at least tolerate him, because he isn't going anywhere." Reluctantly, I agree. Exhausted, I rest my head on my arms until the class was over, my mind reeling with the possible consequences that come with disrespecting Mateo Martinez. As the final bell rings, I wave to Sarah who hurries off to soccer practice as I fish for my car keys. Balancing my textbooks in my arms, I navigate my way through the ocean of students and make it to the carpark where my 1961 Aston Martin DB4 sits, the silver glistening in the afternoon sun. My grandfather was a big James Bond fan and a hardcore collector. As a kid, I loved driving around the coast with him. I never thought that one-day this car would be mine, and yet when he passed, I was handed a set of keys and a memorable car I love more than myself. It's had some work since 1960 to ensure it didn't break down on me, but it's served me well so far. Unlocking the car, a low whistle fills my ears as a figure blocks the sun from behind. I didn't need to turn around to know who had approached me. "Nice car." They say, clicking their tongue. "1959? No, 1960. Decent condition. Could go for a good price, you know that right, Ottoman?" "What do you want Mateo?" I ask, turning around to face him, with my eyebrows arched with impatience. "I have a shift at the store that I can't be late for. So please, whatever you're here for, make it quick." "You're missing out on the big game tonight?" He says cooly. "Shame." He says with a smirk, his eyes looking over the car with a deep precision that made me shiver. "That's all." He winks and turns on his heel. "I'll see you in English." "Great." I mutter, getting into the car and starting the exhaust. Looking into the rear-view mirror, I see him walking towards his motorbike, his fingers running through his thick black hair as the girls around him swoon and cower in his presence. Scoffing, I shake my head and drive out of the parking lot, headed home before another late night dealing with customers. "I'm home!" I call out as I shake off my coat in the doorway. Kicking off my shoes, I throw my backpack to the ground and look towards the living room, the television on low volume. "Mum?" I call out again, padding my way into the living room to find it empty. Pursing my lips with thought, I pass by the kitchen to grab an apple when I hear it; quiet sobbing. The sliding door to the backyard was open and a figure sits on the porch steps, their shoulders shaking with tears. "Mum?" I whisper. "Mum." I say firmer now as I shoulder my way outside next to her. "Hey, what's wrong?" I ask gently as I wrap my arms around her shaking shoulders. She rests her head on my chest as she cries, her tears aching my heart. "What happened?" She shakes her head and pulls out of my embrace to wipe her eyes, her mascara smudged beneath as a steady stream of tears continue falling down her face.  "I don't know." She says, her voice weak. "I got home from work and soon after I got a call saying I was let off."  "What?" My eyes widen as I shake my head in confusion. "Why? You've been there for years. They can't just do that!" I argue, anger flaring in my chest with the rage seeping through my veins. "They can, Jules." She says softly, wiping her nose on her long sleeve. "I just have to find a new job. We'll be okay." Wrapping her back in my arms, I rack my brain for an answer as to why her position was revoked. "Did they say why?" I ask. "Jo said a customer called and filed a complaint. Clearly they made a good case against me." She sobs again, her breathing shaking heavily as she attempts to steady her composure. "A customer?" I echo, my eyebrows hunched.  "I hadn't even had a bad customer. It's just so...." She shakes her head again as her tears regain their fullness. Suddenly, it hits me. Mateo. Cursing under my breath, I ball my hands into fists.  "I'm going to fix this, I promise. It's my fault." I plead. "How is it your fault? You've done nothing wrong." She places her cold hands to my face, her sunken eyes glistening into mine, the wrinkles appearing more than usual. "Don't stress alright, we'll get it sorted." "And I know how." I say carefully. Getting up off the porch, I blow out a deep breath. "Don't worry mum, I'll fix everything. But I gotta go to work. I'll talk to you after, okay?" She nods weakly and my heart continues to break at the distraught frown on her face. "How do you know it was even Mateo?" Sarah questions through the phone as I navigate my way through town, headed to the local store. "How can it not be!" I exclaim. "I was rude to him earlier and we all know it comes with a price. Besides, he spoke to me before I left school. Made a comment about the price of my car if I ever needed to sell it." I frown slightly. "And I might have to. If mum doesn't get another job soon, we can't afford what we have now. And I can exactly pull in the cash. I get a maximum of three or so shifts a week." "Maybe you could ask for more. It wouldn't hurt." I shrug at her response, my hands tightening on the steering wheel. "What are you going to do about Mateo?" "Knock him off his pedestal. And I know how." I say, my jaw tightening as I continue my drive to work, my plan set for later tonight. "Meet me at the game later, yeah?" "Okay." Says Sarah quietly. "And you're sure it's going to fix things?" She questions. I frown and bite my lip gently as my eyes sting with tears. My voice dips low, the words barely audible at the weight they hold. "It has to."