Mafia Princess: Secrets

Chapter 11 MALL MAGNET

JACE POV 

This week was a bit hectic trying to juggle school, soccer practice, Heather, Emma and avoiding Summer. I'm driving back home after staying back for soccer practice. James picked up the girls and Heather got a ride with one of her friends. I think she said something about going shopping to get an outfit for a party tomorrow at Brad's house. 

Brad is probably the only kid in school who gets along with everyone and he throws the wildest  parties. He said its 'We survived the first week of school party'. 

Anyway Heather seems to be warming up to Emma and I glad for that because I don't how we could work if she didn't like her. Emma is still in her shell. Nicole is trying but Ems is not ready to come out. I'm a little thankful for that but she needs to toughen up a little so people don't walk all over her. Especially because this is my last year and I won't always be there to protect her. 

Santiago's son, the twin with the diamond studs, who Heather told me was Ethen has a girlfriend. I don't give a f**k but she seems to keep him busy enough and he stays away from Emma. 

Summer saw me on day two of school on the soccer field while she was running laps and with Heather that afternoon leaving school and every day after and hasn't make any attempt to talk to me or mess with my life. So I think I deserve a party and yes an 'I survived the week party'.

ETHEN POV

The week is finally over. Ed is always with Olivia so that leaves me to keep Sophia busy. It like we started dating well everyone at school thinks so. I don't correct them when I hear them talking. I guess I'm doing it just to keep myself busy. She serves her purpose but I wonder how long I would put up with her.

I'm like an accessory to her. A shinny one she has to show off. 

I honestly don't know how I feel. 

The first day of school within the first hour I was so excited when I saw those baby blues only to get the wind knocked out of me.  Emma why? What's wrong with me? If I wasn't a Santiago or you a Russo would it have happened?

These are the questions that I keep asking myself every time I see her. This is some Romeo and Juliet kinder s**t. But sorry I'm not killing myself for anyone. I love myself to much and I would never encourage anyone to do that. I want to be a doctor to save lives. I don't believe in suicide. I believe time heals all wounds and not matter how bad it may seem, there is always light at the end of every tunnel.  

What gets me pissed was the fact I knew who she was and didn't care but she just heard Santiago and now its like a warning sign is stuck on my forehead. So what we couldn't even be friends and break the cycle.

I kept my distance. If I walk into class and saw her sitting I wouldn't sit near her but there were a few instances where I had no choice. 

Everyone at school is always talking about her, which make me want to protect her. I think apart from Monday she wore a hoodie everyday. I guess to hid form me or the glares. 

She's even in my Bio class. That shocked me, she looks more like a English Lit kinder girl. She keeps to herself. The only two she interacts with is Jace and Nicole. 

A girl with that kinder money and power would be running the school, yet she's simple which makes me want her even more.  

I can't ... I just can't. I need to get out of this house.

Emma POV

Nicole decided to get a head start on dress hunting for my birthday party which is three weeks away. It not even here yet and I'm over it. 

After walking around for a hour we got hungry and went to the food court to grab a bite to eat. 

"How bout pizza" I asked Nicole.

"Yes definitely pizza but we each pick a topping" she replied with a smile.

We decided on bacon (James choice) saying, "you can never go wrong with bacon" mushroom my personal favorite and barbecue chicken, Nicole's choice. She said "It will be a barbecue chicken bacon mushroom melt"

James got us a table and he went to order. Nicole went the restroom and I'm sitting alone lost in thought. I was looking aimlessly at random people when I spot them from a distance. I put my earbuds in my ear and quickly pulled my hoodie over my head so they won't notice me. 

Ethen, Edwin, Olivia and Sophia. Olivia and Sophia to me seem to be a bit materialistic, I guess that's why they cling to the boys, they have the money to spend. They tend to be territorial when it comes to Ethen and Edwin so I notice most girls stay clear from their path.

The boys despite the fact they are identical twins are so different from each other. Edwin is wild, outspoken and a bit of a goof ball with a tiny hoop earring on his left ear, while his brother tends to be a bit stoic, with both his ears pierced with small square diamond studs. 

Ethen is in all my classes except Photography, don't ask why I decided to choose that I just did. He doesn't steer at me as much as before but when our eyes do meet it has a questioning look, one I have no answers for. Sometimes I feel drawn to him, like there is a magnet in both of us that seem to pull us towards each other. What am I even thinking he's with Sophia.

I feel like an i***t sitting here with my hoodie down. Hiding, yes I'm hiding praying they don't come this way. Nope no such luck, they sit at the table next to us. I can hear them, hell i can practically smell Ethen which means he's sitting next to me.

Edwin gets up, "I'll be back in a bit, gonna take a leak, order any thing for me." ew this guy is to much. 

He gives Olivia a peck on the lips and walks away. Sophia who is sitting on the opposite side of her sister get up "Babe, what do you wanna eat?" to which he replies, "Order anything with mushrooms and I'll be good" I smile he like mushrooms too. He hand her some money and the girls walk away.

He sitting so close but yet so far. If the table were joint we would be next to each other. I cant stay under my hoodie to long as soon as Nicole comes my cover will be blown and I might even look stupid. Anyway what could happen. 

My phone vibrates on the table with a picture of Jace on it. I quickly grab it and answer and look to see if he noticed it and our eyes meet. 

"Hello" blue to green, green to blue locked on each other.

"Ems where are you and why aren't you home?" 

I sigh hearing Jace between him and my dad I don't know who's worst. "Hi dad I'm at the mall with Nicole and James" he smile when I respond as we continue to steer.

"Why did you call me dad? Ems if you wanted I would of_" 

I push my hood back and cut him off, "stop worrying Nicole just needs a dress for our party, were grabbing a bite to eat and will be home about eight, James is with us okay" and I hang up on him.

Ethen and I never broke the steer off and now it feels a bit awkward. As he's about to open his mouth to say something both Nicole and Edwin comes back and we both turned away.

Nicole, "Hey Ed, hey Ethen whats up, where's your groupies?" She calls Olivia and Sophia their groupies.

Ethen just nod his head and point in their direction while Edwin replied to her, "you girls wanna to be our groupies instead, I have a thing for redheads and Ethen I'm sure you_" he stops what he was about to say and I look at Ethen who is steering daggers at his brother. Maybe the thought of me is off-putting to him. 

Thankfully James come walking back with out pizza before he could continue followed by the groupies he he.   

Opening the boxes I hear Ethen ask, "What is this, where's the mushrooms?" 

Before I can stop myself I'm offering, "If you want you can have from ours, we cant eat all of this anyways"

He looks kinder stunned. Edwin then suggest while looking at me, "Why don't we join the tables and we'll join you guys" the girls faces turned sour while Ethen is looking kinder anxious. So I just say "sure if you guys don't mind" to that James lets out a sound low sounding like a growl which makes the guys laugh. 

With the tables joint on one side is Olivia, Edwin and Nicole and on the other is Sophia Ethen and I, with James at the head.   

We're so close our arms are touching.

Ed starts making conversation, "Are you guys chilling at mall or on a mission?" Ethen looks at me with a raised eyebrow when Nicole replies," Dress hunting for this ones party at the end of this month" to which I scold "Nicole".

She shrugs and whispers, "whats the big deal?"

 Ethen clear his throat and turns his head and leans down to me and ask "whens your birthday?" His voice sounds gravelly and his lips are so close to my ears it send a shiver down my spin. I think its the first time he's spoken to me directly. I swallow a little to hard and whisper "the twenty sixth" he nods and turns back to his pizza.

A man of few words. My kinder guy. WHAT!!! No no no wipe that out of you head Emma. No boy you're to young.

We all made small talk, even Olivia and Sophia joined in. The four of them when to middle school together Olivia and Ed always had a crush on each other. Sophia said it was the same with her and Ethen but his face said otherwise but I could be wrong. 

When I was finished I got up and went to the washroom, James followed of course. On my way back I was stopped by Ethen and I told James to give me a second so he walked ahead. 

"Are you afraid of me?" before I could think it was out my mouth "No"

"Good, hey there I'm Ethen, I think we go to the same school" with his are out reached for a shake hand. I looked at him and was a bit puzzled but I played along. 

I placed my hand in his and replied "Hi Ethen, I think we do, nice to meet you, I'm Emma" He smiled with my hand still in his he continued, "if its ok with you Emma I would like us to be friends or at least cordial and not let our family feud affect that" I smiled and replied, "I'd like that too"

We smile and steer at each other. Some how from standing arm length apart we're so close he bends to me and I have to tilt my head up to him, I get lost in his emerald green eyes.

We're interrupted by Sophia voice, "Ethen is everything okay" I retract a little to fast. God this looks so fishy. Ethen smile now set in a straight line and when I look at her, if looks could kill I would be dead.

I just walk away without looking back.

The rest of the even we check out a few dress shop, Nicole even got me to try on a few. Sophia and Olivia only criticized my choices. From I'm to skinny, my lack of boobs to my shortness and it made me feel a bit self conscious. Not to mention Sophia constant kissing, touching and rubbing of body parts on Ethen. I couldn't wait to leave. 

On our way home Nicole ask if I could invite them to the party. I don't know how my dad or Jace would take it but I promised to ask.

I couldn't stop thinking about Sophia and Ethen. She's my age, just a few month older but I cant see my self acting like that which made me wonder if she's like that in public what was she doing when no one was around. I sigh maybe Ethen likes that because he seemed okay with it.