The Loner and Her

Chapter Fifteen : The Moretti's

It didn't take long for Rosa to get ahold of Gia that early morning. Within a few hours after their phone call, one where they were both suspicious of the other, Gia and Griffin suddenly find themselves in the middle of the living room at The Moretti Penthouse.

The moment they stepped out of the elevator, Griffin was in awe. He knew Gia's family has money, considering they're the Moretti's, but he had no idea Gia had grown up in big places like this. A chandelier hangs over living room, with expensive looking sofas and chairs surrounding the large space. A seventy-five inch flat-screen t.v. is off to the side of them. His eyes got huge at how big the screen is.

To the left of them, is a large glass wall, which is the entrance to the giant balcony that looks over beautiful city skyscrapers and you can see the green tops of trees from Central Park in the distance.

Griffin's father, Mr. Prescott, is sitting down on the white sofa, with piles of paper laid out in front of him on the glass coffee table, and he is chatting on the phone, discussing what sounds like a business ordeal.

Filomina enters from the kitchen. She seems more exhausted than usual, Gia notices.

"Oh, dear, thank God you're here. I was worried sick about you," Filomina drawls out, rushing over to squeeze Gia into a hug. Griffin just stands there, feeling very awkward.

Gia tries to laugh it off, even though she is being squeezed to death, "I was fine, Nonna. I stayed at my Grandma Carol's."

Filomina sighs, "I know, darling. It's just- oh, nothing." She bends her head down as she pats Gia's hands. "Come on. You two must be starving."

"We ate, Nonna- "

"But, Giuliana, I cooked your favorite! It's tortellini and I have calamari."

Gia sighs as she follows her grandmother into the kitchen.

Griffin asks from behind both Italian women, "What and what?"

Gia's eyebrows furrow, "You don't know what calamari is? That's at, like, every Italian restaurant." Griffin began to look uncomfortable, so Gia saves him from the awkwardness by answering his question, "Calamari is squid."

Griffin narrows his eyes, "You're lying."

Gia giggles, "I swear! It really is squid. And tortellini is kind of like ravioli, but the shape is different. In my opinion, it's better."

As they enter through the white doubled-doors, Griffin's face morphs into one of disgust, "So, what? We're just gonna eat some squid- "

"Well, it's fried- "

"Like that helps," he mutters sarcastically.

Gia laughs in response, "You'll barely taste it when it's like that...it's good. Trust me."

"I guess," Griffin whispers to her, standing directly behind her now as the two of them watch her grandmother frantic around the kitchen, getting lunch ready for them.

Gia asks her, "Nonna, do you need any help?"

Filomina brushes the question off, "No! No! Sit down. Both of you." Reluctantly, Griffin and Gia follow the older woman's orders.

Sitting side-by-side one another, Gia can't help but notice how close Griffin is sitting next to her. Especially, considering how long the kitchen table is. She notices how much extra room he really has. A blush appears on her cheeks, like always.

Stupid crush.

Leaning closer, Griffin whispers to her, "Where is the rest of your family? And you still haven't explained to me what's going on."

Gia opens her mouth, hesitating as she does so, about to kind-of explain, but she gets interrupted by the loud voice of her mother entering the kitchen.

"Gigi!" Rosa shouts, rushing over to greet her daughter. Then she sees Griffin from the corner of her eye, "Griffin, how are you? Thank you so much for taking care of Gia yesterday."

Gia's blush deepens. Her mother makes it sound like he was babysitting her.

Griffin notices Gia is uncomfortable, "Uh, it's okay, Mis- Rosa."

Rosa frowns, realizing her mistake, but doesn't say another word. She turns to Gia with a mock scowl on her features, "Thanks a lot for ditching me, by the way."

Gia rolls her eyes, "Sorry, Mom. I'll explain everything later, but there's more important things to discuss right now," she gives her mother a pointed stare.

Taking a seat across from the teenagers, Rosa can't help but let out a deep sigh. It really isn't her place to discuss such things, but who else will tell them? It's not like they're children, they're practically adults.

"Gigi, they think they found Michael's shooter."

With a sigh, Gia simply blinks. She knows that much from the news this morning. "I saw the news, Mom. I just need explanations. Why do they think it's Vitto? He wouldn't do that to Michael. He wouldn't betray Nonno like that."

Griffin sits there, completely confused. He decides to remain quiet, to wait till they're done talking before asking what the hell is going on.

"We know. That's the problem. Now we're not sure if we should trust Vitto or not."

"I didn't even realize he was at the party," Gia says.

Rosa gives her daughter a look, "He works with the Mayor, Gigi. A lot of Nonno's men do."

Griffin notices Gia gulp as she remains quiet for a second, looking as if she's lost in her own thoughts.

"Why is Griffin's dad here?" Gia asks.

Rosa sighs, rolling her eyes at the thought. "Nonno needed a lawyer for Luke. He was taken into custody as well. Your grandfather knows for a fact that Luke wasn't involved because he was with him at the time of the shooting, but Luke needs a good lawyer to get out of this mess, and your grandfather's lawyer is currently vacationing in Bahamas."

Gia's eyes widen, "Luke got arrested too?"

Rosa nods her head, "Yeah. They think he has something to do with it, but we have no idea why."

"Do you know why they think it's Vitto?" Gia asks.

Rosa shakes her head, "No, but if it was Vitto...let's just say your grandpa is really, really upset."

"I'm sorry....but I'm lost."

Rosa laughs, very lightly, and awkwardly looks between Griffin and Gia. She notices the embarrassed expression on Gia's face.

"I don't know how to explain this- " Gia starts, but is interrupted by Rosa.

"Michael Caro is a cousin of ours. He passed away last year."

Griffin's expression turns to one of somber. He asks Gia gently, "Are you okay?"

She hasn't been okay for a long time. Griffin is the first bright light in her life since her uncle passed away.

Is she really okay?

I think the mental breakdown yesterday kind of explains itself, Gia thinks.

"I'm fine," she replies simply.

Griffin looks like he's about to say something, but then chooses not to.

Rosa continues, "Vitto is arrested for supposedly killing our cousin. Vitto works for my father, in his...business."

Griffin didn't need to ask what type of "business" that is. He's heard the rumors, even all the way in Oakwood. Whether they're true or not, he knows there's some truth somewhere in between.

"And...my father is taking in that other dude for a case? What was his name again?"

Gia answers this time, "Luke. Luke Morgan. He's my Nonno's godson."

"Did Michael work for your grandfather as well?" Griffin asks Gia.

She nods, "Yeah."

Griffin inhales, "Wow. This is a lot to take in."

Then, someone walks through the main hallway, passing by the kitchen door. Gia recognizes it's her cousin, Tony.

"Tony's here," she says to her mother.

Rosa rolls her eyes, "Great. That usually means good news." She states sarcastically.

The three of them get interrupted by Filomina, who puts two plate fills of food in front of Griffin and Gia. "Mangia."

"Wh- " Griffin starts to ask, not having to have heard the older woman, but Gia giggles, cutting him off.

"It means, eat. Do it or she'll get upset and think we don't like her food," She smiles.

Griffin didn't need anymore explaining as they both began filling their mouth with tortellini and calamari. Which Griffin actually kind of likes now.

•••

Mr. Prescott is in Salvatore's office, along with Tony. Rosa and Filomina are in the dining room with Gia's cousin, Michael's wife, who is a complete wreck.

The two teens find themselves on the overly large balcony, looking beyond the now city lights as the sun disappears and the moon follows closely behind.

They both are sitting close together on a chair swing. Griffin keeps snapping at Gia, because she absentmindedly will start swinging the chair too fast. She only laughs in response.

"I want to tell you something."

Gia suddenly feels scared as the words leave him. Tell her what? A million ideas and scenarios pop into her mind.

"You can tell me anything." Gia turns her head to the right, staring up at him. Her hands begin to shake slightly and and her toes tap rapidly against the cement of the balcony.

"You've told me so much, and, I'm so closed off- "

"I told you not to tel me anything, unless you really, really want to- "

"But this is for me. I realized I need to talk about this. I have no one else anymore and we've just been through so much together now...You've become my best friend, Giules." Griffin's putting his heart out to her and Gia can't help but feel... special. Is that the right word to use? But it's not only feeling special, it's feeling good about herself. She feels good that Griffin can finally confide in her...can she eventually do that as well?

"If you're sure," she warns, giving him a chance to change his mind.

He doesn't, "I trust you."

What happened in the last twenty-four hours that made him decide that he wants to tell her about himself? A lot of things, actually.

Griffin lifts up his left arm, draping it loosely behind Gia's back. Seeming complete oblivious to his own action. Gia tries very hard not to blush and to act as casual as possible.

Running his other hand down his face, Griffin begins to speak in a deep and rough voice, "Sorry, it's just...weird to talk about with another person."

Gia nods slightly, not saying another word to let him figure out how he should choose his words.

Gia lets her eyes wander towards the skyscrapers for a moment. She likes the way they appear as if they come alive at night.

Clearing his throat, Griffin grabs Gia's attention, "Remember how I told you my mom was a receptionist?"

Gia nods her head, and Griffin continues, "Well, she was a receptionist for my dad, Frederick."

Gia tries not to look shocked, but she fails terribly, "Really? Is that how they met?"

So, Griffin is Mr. Prescott's real son? Then why the lie?

Griffin nods, "Yeah...but...um..." He sighs, "My dad was married to Isobel at the time."

Gia's head shoots up. "Wait, are you saying..." She trails off, not exactly wanting to be the one to say the words.

"My dad had an affair with my mom."

It all suddenly began to fall into place. "Oh, Griffin," Says Gia, feeling bad for the position he is in.

He shakes his head, "It's not that big of a deal...well, anymore. I'm just trying to get used to it. Especially, after Mom..." He says, his voice going soft as he speaks of his mother. It's obvious he misses her very much.

"So, Lexie is your half-sister?" Gia asks curiously.

Griffin nods his head, "Yeah."

Gia finally asks him, "Why did Lexie say your mom passed away when you were fifteen?"

"What?" Griffin asks, his voice raising slightly.

"My first day here, she said your mom passed- "

He cuts her off with a roll of his eyes, "It's another one of my father's lies. He told her to tell people that incase it ever comes out in public that were related. So then, he can pull the "orphan" bullshit that he pulled last night."

"That's wrong," Gia says, disgust laced in her voice. The thought of saying someone's parent is dead when they weren't...that's terrible.

Griffin just shook his head with a scoff, "Well, that's Frederick Prescott for you."

"So, what happened when your parents had the affair?" Gia asks him softly.

"My father told her he was leaving Isobel. He said he already packed everything, showed her a suitcase full of clothes as proof, got what he wanted from her, then the next Monday at work he was gone because he had a work trip for the next two weeks. My mom found out when he came back that he never left Isobel and that he never really cared for my mom.

Then, she found out she was pregnant."

"Your mom told you all of that?" Gia asks him.

He shakes his head, laughing bitterly to himself, "Nope. Dear old Dad told me all of that the day I had to move in with him. He said it to spite me, you know. He hated me- still hates me."

"He doesn't- "

"He hates me, Giules. He said it so himself. Let's just- I'm done with the conversation now. It's hard, I'm sorry."

Gia sighs. "Don't apologize, Griffin."

Without thinking, she leans into him, placing her head onto his shoulder. He stiffens up considerably. Completely uncomfortable.

"Um, are you okay?"

Realizing her mistake, Gia sits up suddenly. Her face as red as a tomato, "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, I, oh my God, I'm sorry- "

"It's- It's fine," Stutters Griffin.

Gia remembers how she fell asleep on his the exact same way last night and he didn't mind. But she forgot he was tired, then, and they both were singing to each other. It was different circumstances and she let her stupid little crush get into the way.

She feels so stupid and embarrassed. Her head is bowed down and she can't even look him in the eye.

"Giules, it's okay. I'm not mad." He, hesitantly, used his left arm from behind her to rub her shoulder slowly, "It's just, it was an intimidate kind of moment and I was caught off guard. I don't care if we did that, I was just surprised."

He sighs softly to himself, "I'm not used to the closeness that we keep sharing lately. It's kind of difficult, sometimes."

Gia still doesn't look up at him, but smiles sadly, "I understand. Again, I'm sorry- "

He groans, "Stop apologizing. I should be the one saying sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset," Gia replies, stubbornly.

Griffin scoffs, "Sure. Whatever." His arm goes back to its place behind her.

Luckily, they get interrupted by Rosa opening the glass door to the balcony and sticking her head out. She calls to the two teens, "Griffin, your father is leaving."

Sighing to herself, Gia gets up and Gia follows along with her. She felt sad that he's already leaving, but can't help but be a bit relieved after what just happened.

Entering the living room, they both find Mr. Prescott standing at the elevator, shaking Salvatore's hand, good-bye.

"I'll call you tomorrow, Mr. Moretti," Mr. Prescott says.

Salvatore gives a curt nod in response, like always.

"Griffin," Says Mr. Prescott when noticing his son, "Let's go. We've got a long drive ahead of us and a lot of traffic." He chuckles a bit, then he looks at Gia. "It was nice meeting you, young lady."

Gia mentally scowls at that.

Griffin asks something that hasn't crossed his mind, "Uh, Mr. Prescott," he clears his throat, "Where's Lexie?" He actually remembered his sister was at the party last night.

Mr. Prescott explains, "Lexie is staying with a friend of hers in SoHo, I believe. We'll pick her up before heading home."

Griffin nods his head, then says good-bye politely to Gia's family. Finally, he turns to Gia when Rosa is speaking to Mr. Prescott. "Bye, Giules. See you Monday."

Gia smiles, "Alright."

She holds in a gasp when his strong arms wrap themselves around her, pulling Gia into a hug. "See. It's okay," he whispers to her, before she can even think to hug him back.

Then he was gone and Gia was left with nothing but her thoughts.