Ten minutes later, my ‘fuck it’ gene activated, and my mind became clear; my thoughts were finally in order. I left the steam room and headed upstairs to start getting ready for the day. She hadn’t sought me out in the night, so I’m guessing she passed it without issue. Or knowing her, she probably spent it awake all night worrying about what comes next.
I took my shower and got dressed before knocking on her door. Unbeknownst to me, the twins had already enlisted Sheila’s help to mess with Gianna’s hair because apparently, the style would only last but so long before needing to be taken care of again. All of them were in there running around in robes with shit thrown all over the place.
“I need her for a quick minute.” I took her hand and carried her across the room out of earshot, ignoring the moans and groans of the room’s other occupants and reminded myself that they were doing this for me so I couldn’t tell them all to go jump, but it was close.
She looked like she had no idea what was going on but was just going with the flow. I can’t wait for her to have the confidence she deserves. That’s where the Russo twins come in. One week with those two, and she’ll be ordering me around.
“Did you sleep well?” I studied her eyes and was happy to see there were no shadows in them.
“The bed felt like a cloud.” It’s also double the size of the twin bed in her room at home, but I didn’t mention it.
“Here, this is what you’re wearing, and this is your new backpack. All your stuff should fit in there. I’m outta here. Don’t put any of that gook on her face.” I warned the twins before they shooed me out of the room with orders to mind my own business.
“She is…” Never mind.” I keep walking into these traps.
Ma was in the kitchen making breakfast while Pop sat drinking coffee and giving her sappy looks. “You look good in that apron. Why don’t we go back upstairs when the kids are gone?” She laughed and swatted him with a kitchen towel, and I turned to leave without being seen.
I’m not under the delusion that Pop would behave because of my presence, and I’m at that age that my parents’ interactions are downright embarrassing. “Oh, hi Gabe, when did you get here?” Ma called out, and I had no choice but to take my place at the table. The way Pop grinned, I was sure he realized that I’d overheard him. Nasty!
I didn’t say anything, just rolled my eyes and took a sip of the orange juice Ma put in front of me. “Are your sisters almost done upstairs? They dragged poor Sheila up there almost an hour ago.”
“I have no idea. They were still wearing robes when I left.”
“What all are they planning to do? They seemed very excited, something I know has nothing to do with going to school.”
“We’re about to pluck a bird in its own cage.”
“What kind of revenge have you kids cooked up? Am I going to need bail money?” Pop said it like a joke, but I’m almost sure he was serious.
“Nope, we’re going with Twain. Weak people seek revenge, strong people forgive, intelligent people, ignore. But there’s a twist, of course.”
Yeah, a little side of making the enemy crazy. I’d decided on that route because I knew nothing would hurt her enemies as much as not giving a damn. Their reactions will dictate my next move, and I’m hoping they walk into my trap so I can bury them. I don’t see this taking too long; those two are not exactly brainiacs; after all, a few weeks at most, and I’ll have decimated them.
The girls came down about half an hour later and not a moment too soon because I was about to go after her. “Well, don’t you three look pretty? Gia, I didn’t know what you like for breakfast, but Gabe said to make you the same as the girls; I hope that’s okay.”
“That’s fine; thank you so much.” She was nervous, and it showed but was to be expected, I guess.
Without having to be told, my parents included her in the morning conversation along with the rest of us, and she took it all in with something approaching awe. Every once in a while, someone would say something directly to her, and she had no choice but to come out of her shell.
I sat there thinking that I might’ve outsmarted myself with my wardrobe choice. Those comments on her looks last time I checked were still coming in hard and fast, and though there were some from the twins’ friends, most of them were from guys who claimed to be dying to see her in person today.