Gods and Monsters (Mafia Romance)

N I N E

Author's note

So, before we get into this chapter, I would like to let you guys know that it's ethically not right for me to shop from any of the brands that I mention further on the story, supporting their crimes by giving them my money. And let me tell you that it's very challenging not to do so, when you're a fashion student, and consider as artists all those great designers -whose work you don't want to buy just because it's expensive (as most people do nowadays) but because you seriously admire it, like you admire a beautiful  painting. It's just wrong to shop from brands that kill animals for a purse or coat (as pretty as it might be), have zero respect towards the environment, and treat their workers like shiit. So yeah, I don't shop from designers or fast fashion, cause it's not ethically okay for me (basically I either thrift-shop or buy from small stores-designers) (from big, well-known designers, Chanel and possibly Valentino are the only ones that don't kill animals anymore, but since Chanel's cosmetics aren't cruelty-free, I don't shop from there either). 

I just wanted you to know that for me, before you read this chapter, where I mention so many designer brands. So let's just pretend that in my book's ideal world, all those big brands are vegan, eco-friendly and treat their workers good, making it ethical for my heroes to shop from there, and letting me dream of things that I'll never have (unless I find in thrift stores, which is possible btw; I found an authentic Prada purse in one, a few days back).  

❦❦❦

Alicia’s P.O.V.

I had just gotten out of the shower, when my phone rang. It was a video call in my groupchat with Cheryl, Amanda and Sabina. I wrapped a towel around my body and picked it up, while starting putting a hair-oil on the edges of my wet hair.

“Sup?” Sabina joined right after me, while eating something.

“Hey bitches, so I called mama and guess what?” Cheryl started, excited. “We’ve got four VIP invitations for the Island!” She sang, making me giggle in excitement as well.

“Wait, oh my god I asked daddy and he got me four as well!” Amanda spoke.

We all stopped whatever we were doing and looked at each other, before we started laughing.

“Isabella; It’s so hard to find invitations!” Sabina repeated Isabella’s words from earlier that day, in a mocking voice.

“So we now have eight invitations?” I snorted, and we all laughed again.

“Well, yeah basically…” Cheryl replied.

“Okay, so we have two options; one, we find four more people to join us, so Cheryl could tell Eric and Sabina could tell Pablo or something, or two, we go just girls, and sell the remaining four invitations.” Amanda suggested.

“I’m fine with Eric joining us, I guess Sabi won’t have a problem telling Pablo either, so it’s up to you guys.” Cheryl told Amanda and I.

“Cher, you could ask Eric to bring Liam as well! If Stacy is there, Draven’s gonna be there as well, so this will definitely piss them off… We all know Liam has like a crush on Ali!” Sabina giggled.

“Oh my god, yes! Okay, I’ll totally tell him!” Cheryl agreed.

“Guys I just wanna party, I don’t need the drama or to make a scene. Who cares about Draven and Stacy?”  I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, yeah whatever, Liam’s coming.” Cheryl decided and I scoffed.

“I mean, come on Ali, we all know you would love to piss them off just a little bit. It’s just a bonus.” Amanda shrugged. She wasn’t wrong, a small revenge is never a bad idea…

“Fine… And what about the last invitation? Amanda, don’t you want a guy?” I asked.

“Depends… Are you gonna make out with Liam and leave me third-wheeling all of you?” 

“Nah, I don’t think so… I just want free drinks, and well, I’ll dance with him and stuff, but like you guys said, he has a crush on me and I don’t like him like that, so why give him hope?” I answered, finally getting out of the bathroom and heading to my bedroom. 

“Then I don’t need a guy. Cher, what about Kylie?” Amanda asked again.

“She has Maria’s party, remember?” Cheryl said.

“No, who’s Maria?” 

“The chick, who made out with Damien on Miguel’s party last year. She was blond then, but now she dyed her hair black…” Sabina replied.

“She’s a junior, in Kylie’s class.” Cheryl added.

“Oh, I think she has me on i********:… So Kylie isn’t coming?” Amanda spoke again.

“Nope, and Cindy isn’t either, she’s going to Maria’s as well.” I answered to her, while dressing up in a nightgown. 

“We could sell it then…” Sabina said.

“Alright, I’ll make an Insta-story.” Amanda decided.

“What are you guys going to wear? I literally have nothing!” I announced, sitting on my vanity and starting my night skin-care routine.

“My mom brought me a black La Perla party dress from L.A., so I’m wearing this.” Sabina said, getting up from her bed and heading to her walk-in closet to show us her new dress. It was very pretty.

“It will suit you very well, you should wear it!” Amanda told her. “I found this nude strapless dress in my closet the other day and realized that I’ve never worn it before. I’ll bring it tomorrow in school so that you can see it up close and tell me.” 

“Sounds great. Cher, what about you?” I asked my best friend, who was looking through her clothes in her walk-in closet. 

“I’ve literally worn everything in here… Ali, let’s go shopping on Friday after school.” She said.

“Can’t. I have laser hair removal. How about Saturday morning?” 

“Okay, and we all are getting ready together, right?” Cheryl suggested and everyone agreed. 

❦❦❦

“This will be 635€.” The cashier lady smiled, handing Cheryl two shopping bags, one with her tiny, red night-purse and one with her shiny, black, strapped high-heels. 

Cheryl took her matt, black credit card out of her YSL wallet and put it on the credit card thing, which the cashier placed right in front of her on the counter. She typed her pin and a minute later, we were leaving the Valentino store.

“You really should have bought those high-heels…” She said, as we walked towards a Swarovski store.

“You mean that I should let you, buy them for me! No thanks, you bought me a brand new pair of Louboutin stilettos last week. You’re not my sugar-daddy, Cher!” I sighed.

“No, I’m your rich best friend, who loves you very much, and who wanted to get you those Loboutins to make you feel better after the thing with your nudes…” She gave me a big, sympathetic smile.

“Okay, and thank you for that, but I can’t just let you get me Valentinos only a week after that… I feel bad, like I’m taking advantage of you.” 

Cheryl rolled her eyes, as we made it into Swarovski. “You say that like I’m stupid and just let people take advantage of me.” 

“I didn’t mean it that way-”

I was interrupted by a loud squealing sound that erupted from my best friend’s mouth.  “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!” 

My eyes immediately fell on the beautiful rhinestone choker that had caught Cheryl’s attention.

“It’s beautiful!” I exclaimed, to which she nodded. 

“Are those rock crystals or actual diamonds?” Cheryl questioned the saleslady, who had just approached us.

“Diamonds, but we have a very similar piece made of rock crystals, in case you’re interested in something a little more affordable.” The saleslady informed us.

“How much does this one cost?” I asked, as Cheryl continued to admire the choker.

“It’s around 5.000€. It’s one of our most expensive pieces.”

“Oh wow… Cheryl I think that you should take a look on the stone crystal one as well. And definitely ask your parents before buying this! You’ve spent a grand today already, and we haven’t even gotten our dresses for tonight yet.” I murmured in Cheryl’s ear.

“The rock crystal one is at 199€ if you’re interested.” The saleslady said politely.

“We would like to see it if you don’t mind.” I told her.

“Off course!” She said, showing us the way.

“Cher, I think it would be better if you bought this one. They look the same and this is way cheaper, you don’t have to buy something so expensive yourself, that’s what birthdays are for.” I suggested, while Cheryl was inspecting the rock crystal necklace.

“Okay, fine… I’ll get this one.” She turned to the saleslady after a while. “But do you have any matching bracelets too?” 

I groaned in frustration. She’s unbelievable when it comes to shopping.

A few minutes later Cheryl was paying for her new jewelry pieces, as I was just waiting for her. She ended up buying the stone crystal necklace, a matching bracelet and an also-matching  pair of earrings. 

“Are you hungry?” She asked me, when we were out of the Swarovski store.

“Nah, I’m fine.” I answered.

“Ali, what did you eat today?” A concerned look took over her face.

I sighed, knowing very well, where this was heading. “Cheryl, there’s no need to worry, I’m keeping up on my diet, okay? I even had pizza and a milkshake and frozen yogurt last week with you, remember?” I reassured her.

“Yeah but how do I know that you didn’t just throw up right after?” She insisted.

“You don’t, but I swear, I didn’t! I’m fine, Cher, you’ve got to trust me, I haven’t relapsed!”

She looked at me as we walked, and then breathed in relief. “Okay, you’re right, I do trust you. I was just scared, because so many things happened in such a small amount of time… First Draven selling your nudes, then the blackmailing, the rapists, Salvatore, and to top it all off, Stacy and Daria being petty as f**k… I’m worried.”

I gave her a knowing smile, trying to calm her. “I’m sorry…” 

“For what?” Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“For what all of you had to go through back then, because of me.” 

“You went through all that too, and it was way worse for you.” She answered.

She was right. That time, when I refused to eat, thinking that I was fat, was one of the worst periods of my life. Thankfully I was lucky enough to be surrounded by people who loved me and cared for me deeply enough to realize that something was wrong with me, even when I refused to acknowledge that. 

I smiled at my best friend, trying to lighten back her mood. “Where are we going now?”

She looked around for a moment, and then a smile crept on her beautiful face, as she dragged me to the Dolce & Gabbana store that she had spotted. 

“So how do I look?” She finally got out of the fitting room, wearing the gorgeous white corset-dress that she had found.  

Her wavy, ginger hair fell down her back, reaching her lower waist, creating a perfect contrast with her pale skin and the white dress, which hugged her body in all the right places, like it was made only for her. I wish I would look this good...

"Oh my God, marry me! Girl, this dress was made for you only!" I sincerely told her, making her face lit up even more than it was a few seconds ago.

"Really? Thanks hoe!" She said, smiling happily. "Did you find anything?" She asked me, while staring at her butt in the mirror.

"No, and stop checking out your ass all the time! It looks perfect as always!" 

"Whatever, let me go change, and then we're gonna go find you  the perfect outfit.” She disappeared back into the fitting room, leaving me checking my i********:, seated on a black velvet sofa, right outside.

A couple minutes later, Cheryl had bought the white corset dress, and we were both heading to the Dior store on the opposite side of the mall, when I kinda zoned off and Salvatore creeped into my thoughts, something that he had been doing a lot recently. 

“Cherry… You think I stand a chance?” I murmured suddenly.

“Huh?” 

“With… Salvatore. I think I might like him… like, a lot. Which is kinda weird, to be honest.”

Her eyes widened in realization. “Off course you stand a chance! If a man rejects you, honestly I don’t know what the rest of us can do, really…” 

My face lit up and I did feel a small confidence boost. “Yeah, but he’s not just any man, girl. You haven’t seen him but trust me when I tell you that he looks like a young Jared Leto, Johny Depp and Ian Somerhalder, all combined in one person…So why would he be interested in me of all people?” I whined, as we kept walking across the mall.

“Okay first of all, don’t do that or I’m gonna have a crush on him too! And second of all, have you seen you? So many women do plastic surgeries to get looks that are even a little close to yours! So stop whining and finally recognize that God was on his most creative mood when he was making you, got it?” She scolded me.

I laughed and rolled my eyes as we made our way into Dior. 

Cheryl immediately got to work, checking out every piece of clothing that caught her attention, but I didn’t fail to notice a saleslady staring at us from head to top, before making her way to where we were standing.

“Hello, welcome to Dior. I should let you know that we do not have very affordable pieces in this kind of brands first. Now how may I help you?” She gave us the most obviously-fake smile she could manage.

Cheryl’s blue eyes met my honey-green ones, and we had another one of our ‘privet conversations’ before she looked back at the rude lady.

“You could start by doing your job without being rude. You might work here, but we shop here, so trust me, we know!” Cheryl whipped that smile right off her face. 

“I-I’m sorry, I just thought…” The lady started, but Cheryl cut her off.

“It’s fine. We were looking for a party dress for my friend here… Short preferably.” 

“Off course!” She gave us a tight smile this time, before signaling us to follow her.

The saleslady had shown us a couple of party dressed, none of which was what I was looking for and Cheryl was practically dragging me to the fitting rooms, so that I would try on a short black dress, when my eyes fell on a silky red one. I broke free from my best friend’s hold and walked –almost hypnotized- towards that piece of art. 

“It’s gorgeous!” Cheryl exclaimed from besides me.

“Would you like to try it on?” The saleslady asked, to which I nodded.  

A few minutes later I stepped out of the fitting room, wearing the amazing dress that I had found. It was made of silk in a deep red color, and had a flattering V-line and spaghetti straps. It gave the impression of wrap-dress on the waist, and was quite asymmetrical at the bottom, with the one side reaching my mid-thigh and the other one, just beneath my hip. 

“Wow!” My best friend stared at me. “You definitely have a thing for silk.” 

“Well duh, it’s silk!” I laughed, looking at myself in the mirror.

“It’s incredible! It was made for you.” She repeated my words from before.

I smiled widely. “I love it too, but does it not look a bit like a night-gown?” I asked her after a while.

“So what? It reminds me of one that Selena Gomez had worn… I think.”  

“Right, that one was Dior as well, that’s why they look similar. But I think I prefer this one…” I agreed with her.

“Me too. And don’t you dare tell me not to buy it for you!” She warned me.

I sighed. “Cherry… I really want it too, but it’s too much. I feel so bad!” 

“Ali, I meant it when I said that it was made for you! That red is definitely your color, this V-line makes it seem like you had a boob job from the world’s best plastic surgeon, that wrap effect makes your waist look tiny and your hips even thicker, and don’t even get me started with how flattering the bottom is for your butt and legs! It would be a shame not to get it.” She decided.

“I know, but it’s too expensive and you also got me the Louboutins last week… It’s too much.”

“Say what you want, I’ll get that dress either way, and if you refuse to take it I’ll just ‘lend’ it to you to wear on Saturday! End of discussion.” She flashed me a bitchy smile.

❦❦❦

After a couple more torturous hours of shopping with Cheryl, we were both getting ready in Cheryl’s house for our night out, along with Amanda and Sabina, as party songs played on the maximum on Cheryl’s speakers, preparing us for the whole ‘partying vibe’ that was to follow. 

Cheryl was already dressed in her new Dolce and Gabbana dress, and had done my hair, so now I was doing the ‘tricky’ parts of her makeup -basically everything but her concealer and foundation. 

“Hey! No, that’s a gloss!” Cheryl grabbed the raspberry colored lip-gloss from my hand and shoved it back into the lip-gloss drawer of her vanity. 

“So what?” I narrowed my eyes at her.

“So Eric is coming. I’m wearing a lipstick. And a nude one!” She slapped my hand away, when I attempted to get the lip-gloss back. 

“Fine!” I gave up and started going through her lipsticks again.  

I picked up a pinkish-nude, creamy lipstick that would match her pink eye-shadow look and started applying it on her pouty lips, before finishing off by tapping her lips with a tissue. 

“Guys, Pablo just texted me, they’re on their way. Oh my god Ali, you’re still not dressed?” Sabina came out of Cheryl’s en-suite bathroom.

Her makeup was done, her brown hair was tied in a high-ponytail and she was dressed up in a gorgeous black party dress, black high-heels with rhinestone straps, holding a rhinestone night-purse. 

“I was doing Cher’s makeup, but I won’t take long. You look gorgeous!” I told her, sending her a kiss, to which she replied by winking at me.

“Oh my god, I got a choker today that would suit your outfit so much!” Cheryl told her, getting up and running to her walk-in closet to get Sabina the choker. 

I followed her in, to get my new dress from the shopping bag and wear it. Cheryl quickly left the closet, leaving me to dress up. I quickly changed into a new, satin and lace red lingerie set, put on the beautiful Dior dress and looked at my reflection in the mirror. Cheryl had straightened my hair at the top and waved it at the bottom, giving me the perfect natural looking, loose beach-waves. I liked the way my makeup had turned out too; an eye-liner and long lashes look, toning my big honey-green eyes, as well as scarlet red glossy lips, matching my new dress. 

“Please tell me it’s gonna fit me!” Amanda whined, as she entered the closet along with Cheryl. “Wow! Imagine looking this good!” She praised, looking at me. 

I smiled widely at her. “What are you looking for?” 

“Please Ali, tell her that she doesn’t need a freaking corset!” Cheryl scoffed, opening her corsets' drawer and starting throwing a bunch of them out on the floor. 

“What do you need the corset for?” I asked Amanda confused.

“I forgot how big my stomach looks in tight, nude dresses…” She murmured, inspecting the corsets Cheryl had thrown on the floor.

“Oh my god Amanda, for f**k’s shake, your stomach is literally tiny! You don’t need a corset!” I rolled my eyes.

Amanda ignored me as she put on a booty-waist corset and stared at herself in the mirror. “I’m so fat!” She cried out.

“No you’re not!” Both Cheryl and I yelled at her. 

She really wasn’t. She looked great and that nude, strapless, ruched dress really suited her.

“At least it's kinda better now…” She murmured to herself as Cheryl left the closet, annoyed.

“Come on, we’re gonna be late.” I pulled her out of the closet and back into Cheryl’s bedroom. 

Sabina was standing by the door, going through her phone and Cheryl was putting on a pair of white sandal high-heels. Amanda sat down on the floor and started putting on a pair of nude Louboutin strappy high-heels with clear straps. I joined them, putting on my loestrin red sandal high-heels, probably my best thrifted purchase.

“Guys, come on! The guys are here already…” Sabina sighed.

“Ready!” Amanda shot up, grabbed her nude Chanel purse and ran to the door, next to Sabina. 

“Ali, got a purse?” Cheryl asked me, getting up too.

“No, can I get one of yours?” I said, putting on my second high-heel.

“No.” She gave me a bitchy smile, as she headed back in her closet. A minute later, she came back out, holding two purses; the new, shiny, red Valentino night-purse that she had just purchased today, and a white Prada. She handed me the red one, and we both joined Amanda and Sabina. 

“Wait, guys I forgot perfume!” I suddenly remembered, and ran back in Cheryl’s bedroom, quickly putting on some deodorant and spraying my whole body with my favorite one of her party perfumes. I then quickly grabbed the lip-gloss and mascara that I had used, and put them in my purse, before joining Cheryl, Amanda and Sabina, who had already started taking mirror selfies on the gigantic mirror by the main entrance of Cheryl’s mansion, downstairs.

❦❦❦

“My feet hurt.” Amanda complained, running her hand through her natural, curly, blond hair.

We had been waiting on the line of The Island for at least fifteen minutes now, and we still didn’t seem to be getting any closer. 

Suddenly my eyes fell on a shiny red Lamborghini that was just passing by, and I could have sworn that I saw Salvatore from the lowered window. I followed it with my eyes, until it disappeared into a garage.

Could it be him? Could he be here tonight?

“Ali! Did you see a ghost or what?” Amanda snapped her fingers in front of my face, making me return to reality.

 “Oh f**k this! I’ll be right back.” I groaned, and started walking to the beginning of the line, by the club’s entrance. 

I ignored my friends’ yells for me to get back there, as I prepared myself for the good, old trick of flirting with the doorman to get in. Unfortunately though, this specific mountain of a doorman, wasn’t really fazed, and after getting yelled at by all the people, who had been waiting and saw what I was doing, I was heading back to my group, pouting.

“Girl or gay?” Liam smirked, when he saw me. 

“f**k off!” I scoffed, folding my arms over my chest. 

Cheryl laughed and shook her head, before turning to Amanda, who was now seated down on the pavement, rubbing her feet. “You’re gonna stain your dress!” 

“Leave me alone, I’m hurting!” She whined, making Cheryl, Eric, Liam and I laugh. Sabina and Pablo were too busy making out, to pay any attention. 

The line didn’t seem to be moving, and I was just casually talking with Liam and Amanda as Cheryl was making out with Eric and Sabina with Pablo, when I noticed a young woman with heavy makeup, dressed in a black attire that looked like the one of a waitress, approaching us.

“Hello guys, I was sent by the club’s owner, he informed me that you’re his guests and shouldn’t be waiting in the line for so long. Would you like to follow me inside?” She asked us with a polite smile. 

We all looked at each other startled, before Pablo took matters in his own hands and gladly accepted the waitress’s offer.

We passed by the long queue and followed the waitress to the inside of the club. The entryway was made of black and white mosaic tiles, same as the stairs, where a bunch of drunk people were standing, some of them making out, some others laughing and chatting. On the wall to the right of the entrance, were three black elevator doors, and on the opposite side was a big, white double-door. 

The waitress placed a card on a card machine on the wall by those double-doors, opening them and walking in a huge, elegant space, that reminded me of a café. It was quiet and nobody else was in there. 

“That’s not a club!” Pablo exclaimed in confusion. 

“Yes, this space works as a café in the mornings, the club is upstairs. I just brought you here to give you your VIP cards, it was too noisy outside.” The waitress smiled politely, as she took 7 cards out of the purse that she was holding, and handed one to each of us. 

I thanked her, before observing my card; it was matt black, and had the name of the club and the acronym VIP, written in gold, calligraphic letters.

“Would you like a tour of the club?” 

I looked back at the waitress, before locking eyes with Cheryl.

“No need, thank you, we’ll figure it out. Just let us know how to get to the club please.” My best friend answered for us all.

“Aright.” The waitress smiled. “The last elevator door is for the VIP; you can only use it with the cards that I just gave you. On the first floor is the main club-space; there’s a bar, a few small high-tables and the dance-floor. Then there are two other floors, built like theater-balconies, with a perfect view of the first floor, but unfortunately you can’t go there, unless you’ve booked a table –on the second floor- or a room –on the third floor. And then there’s the roof-garden, where all the celebrities and VIP members are. You can only go to the roof garden by the last elevator, using the VIP cards.” She explained. 

“Oh wow, thank you!” I told her, before we all walked out of the café, back to the spacious entryway. 

Eric put his card on the card entry of the last elevator, as the waitress told us, and a small light appeared, letting us know that the elevator had started moving. 

“So, I suppose we’re going to the roof-garden?” Sabina asked, as we waited.

“I was thinking that we go see the main club first, have a couple of shots, and then we can go to the roof-garden?” I suggested and everyone agreed, as the elevator arrived and all of us got in.