Page 14 of Italian Professor

8

A SCHOOLYARD SCUFFLE

ARIA

As expected, my mother is passed out when I get home from my night with Anthony. Between the jet lag and too many cocktails, she was still asleep when I left for school this morning. With any luck, she’ll have contacted the local trendsetters and inserted herself into all of their social functions. By the time I get home, prying into my personal life will be the furthest thing from her mind.

The math professor drones on about quadratic equations, but instead of listening, I just doodle in my notebook while I daydream about seeing Anthony again.

“Pay attention,” I drop my pencil and nearly scream when someone whispers in my ear.

I turn my head and see that it’s the same boy who commented on my unbuttoned shirt that day in the hall.

“Maybe you should mind your own business,” I grit out.

“Maybe I’ve decided to make you my business. Would you like that?”

“Not really, no,” I snarl at him.

He scoffs it off and says, “Oh, you will.”

The boy’s name is Lanz Lazzaro, which, in itself, makes me think of a superhero movie villain. Fitting with this villain persona, he’s charismatic, tall, dark, and attractive but he just can’t seem to bring himself to be a decent person. He’s an average student but an above-average athlete with rich parents, so his antics at school tend to go unpunished.

I suspect his home life is equally void of discipline. Naturally, he’s a self-centered, overbearing bully. If he was ten to fifteen years older, he would be just my mother’s type. He’s eye candy stuffed with razor blades.

The bell rings and I start packing up to go to lunch, but Lanz places his hand on my arm and prevents me from leaving.

“I’ve been by your house a few times. I see a car coming and going at night. It kind of looks like one that I see in the parking lot here every day. That couldn’t be right, though, could it? I mean, if he was hanging out at your house, it could only mean one thing. He’s fucking your mother, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about and you shouldn’t be sneaking around my house. That’s creepy and I could have you arrested.”

“No, you couldn’t. There are no laws against being on a public drive. Don’t be mad, American. I’ve just been hoping to catch a glimpse of your sweet apple pie.”

I pull my arm away and he holds his hands up. His touch disgusts me. I’m gonna scrub myself raw when I get home.

“I’ll see you in the cafeteria, American princess,” he grins and walks out of the classroom door.

I suppose him thinking that Anthony is screwing my mother is better than him knowing the truth, but if he keeps sneaking around my house, he’s bound to see us together at some point.

As I walk to the cafeteria, I ask myself if I should tell Anthony about the conversation. Maybe he should take more precautions when he comes to pick me up. Maybe we should meet somewhere else. By the time I enter the cafeteria, I’ve told myself not to read too much into this. Lanz Lazzaro is a punk, but he isn’t stupid. He wouldn’t dare make an enemy of the soon-to-be official headmaster, would he?

I get a salad from the cafeteria and head outside to my usual bench in the courtyard to eat and clear my head. As soon as I sit down, Lanz approaches me. He sits on the bench beside me and says, “I see you out here by yourself every day. I figured you could use some company.”

“No, I come out here because it’s quiet. I don’t need company.”

I jump as he places his hand on my thigh and squeezes, “You really need to chill the fuck out, okay? I’m trying to be nice to you and you’re being a real bitch.” He slowly moves his hand under the hem of my skirt.

Frantic and astounded by his audacity, I toss my salad into the air and hop to my feet. Lanz jumps up, too, swatting lettuce and tomatoes out of his pristinely quaffed hair. His white shirt is covered in a raspberry vinaigrette, and there’s a big, round stain on his khaki pants.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? Are you crazy?” he shouts.

Our little altercation begins drawing a crowd of students, and it doesn’t take long before the staff comes out to ascertain the situation. In seconds, I hear Anthony shout, “Both of you to the office now!”

It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him raise his voice, and it makes every hair on my body stand on end. He grabs Lanz by the arm and drags him inside as I trail behind them. It feels like every set of eyes in the academy is looking right through me. I’ve never felt more exposed or mortified in my life.

He marches us into the outer office, points at me, and snaps, “Sit.”

I drop my ass in the chair without hesitation, trembling inside because I can’t understand why he would be angry with me. He takes Lanz into his office and closes the door, leaving me to ponder what horrible lies the jock is spinning about me. Why didn’t he talk to me first? It’s just not fair.

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