Mafioso's Little Raven

Chapter Four

Somehow Zack and Belinda managed to convince me into going out with them, after school, Zack drove us to a restaurant even though I protested, suggesting the café close to the school was better. He mentioned instead that he had already made a reservation there, seeing that he’d put so much so effort into it, I couldn’t refuse, apparently celebrating my birthday was such a big deal for him.

“It’s a once in a lifetime experience girl, you’re eighteen for goodness sake.” Belinda said, that ended the discussion. Which brings to where I was now sitting self-consciously at the restaurant wringing my fingers as Zack ordered for us, since it was my first time here I had no idea what to choose, I let Zack do the choosing, another reason why this was a bad idea.

He wanted to order a full blown birthday cake with the celebratory hat and all that, I shut the idea down quickly, there was no way I was going to be paraded like a clown in front of all these people I barely know, so we’d settle for a small cake instead. Belinda went off giddy with excitement and happiness as if she was the celebrant herself, they sang the happy birthday song and I was told to make a wish, which I did.

And no I will not tell you what it was.

Then the food was brought in and I promptly shoved my face into the food and began gobbling it up, best to stuff myself now, I had no idea when the next meal would come, plus my brothers only cared about themselves, never me, except when maybe I’d committed an offense, they might probably care if I was on the brink of death.

I didn’t think so.

“Slow down.” Zack said laughing he wouldn’t understand, he had no idea the things I go through, he might have suspected something with the bruises I’d spotted her and there, but he didn’t say anything. My brothers loathed him, but I had no idea why, he was considered a bad influence on me, someone who would taint their precious goods. I roll my eyes at the memory.

I was having a swell time bickering with Belinda, averting my eyes any time Zack turned his attention towards me even though I liked it

Yep I was a sucker for attention. But it was all for nothing, I had no feelings toward him plus my brothers would have my hide if I was in relationship with him, our friendship itself was enough to trigger them, imagine if they heard we were more than friends now, not like we would ever be.

Sure, he was good to me bringing me nice things whenever he can, ready to listen to me whenever I was fed up with my brother and needed someone to talk to even though he didn’t know the half of it, he once threatened to report my brothers to the police, but I talked him out of it, they may be brutal to me, but they were still my family, besides I would still have to bail them out myself eventually and if they found out I had a hand in it, I was a goner, I might as well start digging my own grave.

Still in amidst all this happiness and celebrations, I still couldn’t help feeling uneasy like I was doing something I wasn’t supposed to be doing. From the moment I stepped into this restaurant I had a feeling I was being watched, but every time I looked back there was no one there, yet I still couldn’t shake the feeling off, I half expected to find one of my brother here or worse still…. Him. No he wasn’t here… he couldn’t be.

“Is there anything wrong Lily.” Zack said.

I shook my head, “Nothing I just need to use the restroom, I’ll be right back.” I say and excided my self from the table, my eyes roaming around the restaurant furtively.

**************

I had barely stepped out of the toilet cubicle when Belinda bounded into the restroom, I nearly had a heart attack.

“Girl, what’s gotten into you!”

“For goodness sake Lindy, calm down, you nearly gave me a heart attack.” I said with my hands to my chest

“You’ll survive.”

I headed towards the sink to watch my hands and she followed me, standing silently way too close to me for comfort.

“What?” I say.

“You tell me, you hightailed it out of there like something was pursuing you with some kind of look on your face as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I did no such thing.”

“Please, did I imagine “I’m sorry I need to use the bathroom” scenario, out there, you left me and Zack stranded out there, the poor boy’s probably thinking that he’d offended you again.”

“It’s really not like that, I really needed to use the bathroom, that’s all.”

“Tell that to a stranger who doesn’t know you, you and I have been close for many years now, we tell each other things, or at least I do tell you everything, although sometimes I feel you’re keeping things away from me.”

She doesn’t know the half of it, but what can I do, if I tell her things about me, I doubt she’ll want to be my friend any longer.