To Love Thy Enemy

Chapter Three

        I stood in front of the mirror and fixed my white top and grey jeans, I smiled at myself in the mirror as I winked at myself and sighed. I was so grateful for my Poppa allowing me to go shopping for new clothes for my birthday a few days ago. I filled up the wardrobe with all new clothes for my new room. 

        I'm sure you guys are wanting me to catch you up on what has happened that night, the night of my Poppa's party welcoming him back home. I enjoyed myself, putting in all my will to ignore Noah. It had been years since I had seen him and honestly I hadn't put in much thought into how much he had changed from the person he use to be or who he would grow into, when I was younger he would come up to the villa and his family would spend their summers there and each time he was an ass. So I haven't heard or seen him in so long...he had changed -His dark hair soft and short, his brown eyes just as I remembered but seemed to hold a little bit of...mystery...pain. He had grown taller and I know if I stood close to him I would have to look up, I wonder where the tattoo on his neck led to, did it travel dow-...Why was I sitting here thinking about him. 

    Anyway, my birthday had also come and gone and was pretty amazing, having a shopping spree and going off to dinner with my Poppa at a upscale restaurant in Austin. Nothing like coming home to gifts and cake, my Poppa always made the point of making sure that my birthday's were amazing, saying that it's what my father would have done if he was able to be here to make sure that it was amazing. I smiled as I looked over at the picture of my father that sat on my dresser, I wish I would have gotten more time with him, more memories with him, chances to know what it was like to be with him. To have him be proud of me graduating from high school, going to college and living a life that he could watch grow. Unfortunately, someone took that ability away from me, cut short...I wish I could have it back...I wish....

        I blinked away the emotion and took a deep breath, now that you guys are caught up with everything going on. I think it best to be on my way into reality, and back into what I need to do for the day. I grabbed my sunglasses and opened the door stepping out of my room and down the stairs. I heard my Poppa in his study and made my way over to it, It was the day that I meet the big bad man who was going to be stuck to my side for my protection. I knocked softly on the door before stepping in and closing the door behind me, when I turned around to see my Poppa standing with Apollo and Noah. I blinked and looked over at my Poppa trying to put 2 and 6 together, but something just didn't seem to want to compute with what was standing in front of me. 

    "Sorry I'm late Poppa, I couldn't decide on what I wanted to wear." I smiled as I spoke to him.

   "It is fine, my dear." My Poppa spoke in Italian.

        Apollo was the first to say something to me "Happy belated birthday to you dear Catalina."

    "Thank you, Mr. Pollo." I spoke.

        I noticed Noah lean back against the bookcase next to the window, and did my best not to turn and looked at him. "Poppa I thought I was meeting with my bodyguard today? Is he not coming?"

    He smiled and I heard Noah chuckle softly, and it dawned on me and I shook my head as he said the words that I was dreading to hear. "That is why we are all in here." He waved his arm around to the two other people in the room and I wanted nothing more but to say absolutely not.

    "Who better to watch over you when your out then someone close to family." My Poppa said to me.

    "Poppa can we please talk about this?" I spoke.

        My Poppa frowned and I knew I upset him by speaking out in front of others as if they aren't in the room. "I'm sorry Poppa." I looked down resting my gaze on the floor as not to see the anger in my Poppa's eyes. 

        "Remember the rules for you to be here." My Poppa spoke in Italian.

    Apollo cleared his throat. "We figure that it would be easier for you to have Noah around then some stranger to be entrusted with your life." He smiled. 

        I looked up and smiled "I'm sorry, I think I was just a little taken aback." 

    I took a look over at Noah "Thank you, I hope this doesn't damper on your life." When I looked at him I realized that he was dressed in a black collard shirt that was buttoned all the way up and suit pants that fit oh so well. I blinked and looked up at the ceiling as I realized his gaze was traveling over me to and I blushed.

    "Poppa if it's ok I would like to finish getting ready and go meet with some friends." I smiled and turned walking out of the room. Poppa you just don't understand how much I hate this man.