That's Amore

I watched as Athena drove away with my car and sighed. She drove away and I headed into the restaurant. I tugged at the dress, trying to get it to be lower and less revealing. I argued with it constantly as the maitre d’ took my name down. He told me it would be a few minutes and I nodded while tugging at the sweater I wore. It was a nice dress, I admit, but I couldn’t handle the fact I was wearing it. I sighed and cracked my knuckles a few times. I knew they wouldn’t crack but I still did the motions none the less.

“Well,” said a familiar voice that made my heart race. “You look simply breathtaking.” I looked at Emmitt and smiled. The heat had crept into my cheeks as I played with the hem of my pale white sweater. He wore a pale grey suit and a black vest underneath that. His grey tie went well with the whole suit. His hair was pulled back, the dark color of his new hair seeming to pop off his head. I smiled at the thought of him being a redhead and he raised an eyebrow. “What’s so funny?” I shrugged and he walked over to me, staring down at me as he stopped. The man was smooth as silk. He was charming and elegant. He looked like a royal king standing in front of his subjects. It was funny to think of him as a king because just two days before, he was dressed like an average guy, offering to help his nephew with lunch.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly.

“Hm?” he asked, his dark eyebrows pulling together.

“When we first met,” I said, “I wasn’t as nice as I could have been.” He laughed a little, a small giggle-like thing.

“You were teaching. It’s not that wrong to be mean to a person who disrupts you. I was disrupting you.” I shrugged a little and stared down at my feet.

“You were just helping Emery with his lunch.” Emmitt smiled at me before looking at the man who called my name.

“Your table is ready,” said the attendant.

“You know,” Emery said as he looked back at me. “I think we were set up.” I smiled and nodded at him.

“I think so too.”

“How about we go somewhere else?” I smiled at him and looked at the man.

“I’m so very sorry but we’ve decided to go somewhere else. Please don’t take it personally. You are a very nice restaurant but I just don’t think we’re cut out for a place like this.” The man nodded a little and I smiled more. “Thank you for your time.” I said. Emmitt laughed a little and I pouted. “What?”

“You’re so polite to people. Your voice changes when you’re talking to someone too. I think it’s cute.”

“You think I’m cute and the most uncute person in the world.”

“Now you know that’s not true,” he said smiling.

“Why are you all smiles tonight?” I asked as I walked out of the restaurant.

“Let’s see. Why am I smiling? You mean besides the fact that I get to see a beautiful woman and spend the night with her? Hm, I don’t know.” I smiled at him and rolled my eyes.

“I don’t have a car,” I said shrugging.

“Really? How’d you get here?”

“Athena drove my car and dropped me off.”

“Ah, Archer did the same thing for me.” I smiled and swept my hand across the open parking lot.

“Mr. Rausia, would you like to go on a stroll with me on this beautiful night?” He smiled brightly and held out his arm for me.

“Why Ms. Anderson, it would be my honor.” I smiled and wrapped my arm around his as we walked through the parking lot and down the street. The Avant was beautiful mainly because of the waterfront view it had. The small harbor wasn’t much to look to tourists but it was beautiful to someone like me. The grass was well kept and a lush green, even under the pale light of the street lamps. “Why are they doing this to us?” Emmitt asked.

“Hm,” I said softly. “Because you bother Emery, I believe was the reason.” He snorted.

“That can’t be the reason.” I laughed a little and shook my head.

“Oh no, there must be another reason.” I said. The silence fell between us and it was nice. “I’m glad we’re such good friends that this silence isn’t awkward.” I said softly.

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” I said. “Whenever there are two people and a silence falls between them, there’s at least one of them that wants to start a conversation to fill the silence. I don’t feel like that. I like being with you, even in the silence.” I told him. His cheeks turned pink as a smile graced his handsome face. “I like your black hair,” I said suddenly. “You look more dashing with it.”

“Dashing? No one has ever called me dashing.” I smiled and shrugged.

“My dear Emmitt,” I said. “You are very dashing.”

“Tell me more about this ‘Emmitt’. He sounds dreamy.” He teased.

“Oh he is!” I teased back. “He’s very handsome and muscular! He’s got a very handsome smile and elegant taste in humor.” He smiled and as we walked, I heard a familiar song.

“An enchanted moment and it sees me through. It’s enough for this restless warrior just to be with you.”

“Elton John?” I asked Emmitt. He was looking around the park and when we found the source of the music, he pulled me over to them. They were a small band. One was playing the piano and the others were adding base and such. One stood singing with a smile to Emmitt in the way that told me they had a secret.

“And can you feel the love tonight? It is where we are…”

“Dance with me?” Emmitt asked.

“I don’t know how to dance….” He took my hands and placed them on his shoulders. He placed his hands on my hips and swayed.

“Neither do I.”

“It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds to believe the very best…” The piano took its solo and I smiled at Emmitt. “There’s a time for everyone, if they only learn that the twisting kaleidoscope moves us all in turn. There’s a rhyme and reason to the wide outdoors when the heart of this star-crossed voyager beats in time with yours.” I smiled and hummed along to the song. When it ended, I smiled and clapped happily for the band.

“You were wonderful!” They all bowed to me and smiled.

“Thank you very much. I hope you have a good evening, ma’am.” I smiled at him and looked at Emmitt, who was staring at me.

“Ready?” he asked, holding out his arm again.

“Can we walk on the grass?” I asked him, looking up at him with a wide, child-like smile. I loved acting like a child and I often don’t realize when I do it. I must have looked silly to him but as I took off my shoes and moved the grass between my toes, I looked up at him again. “Please?” he laughed and nodded.

“Sure.” I smiled brightly and tugged him along, waving back to the band. They waved to me and began to play another song, a soft, smooth jazz number. “That was nice,” he said softly. “Elton John sure knows how to play those notes.” I laughed a little.

“There you see her, sitting there across the way. She don’t got a lot to say but there’s something about her. And you don’t know why but you’re dying to try you want to kiss the girl.” I looked around and frowned.

“Did you hear something?” He shook his head and glanced around. I looked behind us and found no one.

“Yes you want her, look at her you know you do. It’s possible she wants you too; there is one way to ask her. It don’t take word, not a single word, go on and kiss the girl.” I smiled a little and looked at Emmitt.

“Sha la la la la la my, oh, my, look like the boy too shy ain’t gonna kiss the girl.”

“Ain’t that sad, ain’t it a shame, too bad, he gonna miss the girl.” He sang along with me.

“Now’s you’re moment, walking by a blue lagoon. Boy you better do it soon, no time will be better. She don’t say a word and she won’t say a word until you kiss the girl.” I looked at Emmitt and blushed brightly.

“Disney is a popular song today.” He said softly. I smiled at him and nodded. “I guess they know how much you love them.” He smiled a little and looked up at the sky. “You know, there was a song my mother used to sing to me,” Emmitt said as he brought me to the edge of the water. “In Napoli, where love is king,” he sang with his chest puffed out. “Where boy meets girl here’s what they sing;” There was a sudden music around us, playing the tune I recognized. He looked around but shrugged. I started to sing, but he stepped away from me and cleared his throat. “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie,” he sang as he danced around. “That’s amore. When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine, that’s amore. Bells will ring; ting-a-ling-a-ling-ling-ting-a-ling and you’ll sing “Vita bella”.” He smiled at me as he sang and rang imaginary bells. “Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay like a gay tarantella. When they stars make you drool just like pasta fazool, that’s amore.” He gave a small laugh. “When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet,” He danced over to me with a wide, bright smile. “You’re in love.” He took my hands and sang slower, his face calm and soft. “When you are….in a dream, but you know you’re not dreaming Signora,” He leaned close to me and barely touched my lips before pulling back with a teasing laugh. “Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Napoli that’s amore!” I was blushing so brightly, I was sure I was glowing. He laughed at me and I jumped down to walk over to him. He took my hand in his and spun me around and began to lead me around the small patch of grass, helping me dance.

“I thought you said you couldn’t dance,” I muttered. He laughed a little more and shrugged.

“Oh well.”

“Lying isn’t good,” He slowed down his dance and moved his face close to mine

“Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Napoli, sei bella.” I frowned and looked up at him.

“What’s sei bella?” I asked.

“It means you’re beautiful.”

“Wise men say, only fools rush in. But I can’t help falling in love with you. Shall I say; would it be a sin if I can’t help falling in love with you?” He smiled at me and pulled me close to sway with me again.

"My, the Gods are in your favor..."

“Like a river flows, surely to the sea, darling so it goes, some things are meant to be. Take my hand,” I took his hand in mine and smiled. “Take my whole life too for I can’t help falling in love with you.” He kissed my hand gently and leaned his forehead against mine. The music that had followed us the whole night played softly then and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to spend time with someone.

“Say something else in Italian?”

“Hm,” he said. “I tuoi occhi sono come le stelle.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“Your eyes are like stars. Non ho mai incontrato nessuno più bello di voi.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’ve never met anyone more beautiful than you.”

“Aw, you’re going to make me blush,” I said, my cheeks already bright pink. He laughed a little and danced with me a little more. “Where should we go for dinner?”

“You’re thinking of dinner?” he asked.

“Seeing as how I didn’t eat, yeah…” I said laughing. He smiled and kissed my forehead.

“Let’s get you some food then, my dear Princess.” I punched his arm and frowned.

“I’m not a princess.” He laughed and held up his hands in defeat.

“My apologies,” he said, the light mood making me narrow my eyes. “La mia principessa.”

“What’s that?” I asked him.

“My princess in Italian.” He muttered with a wide grin.

“So you can’t call me dragon in your tongue so you call me in another’s.” I said, making my best Sean Connery impression. He began to laugh hysterically, almost falling on the ground laughing.

“What was that?” he shouted.

“Dragonheart! It’s a great movie! 1996, Sean Connery, Dennis Quaid, David Thewlis, Pete Postlethwaite. Uh, it was terrific!”

“You have to be kidding me…”

“No! It was such a great movie! We’ll watch it sometime.” I promised. He smiled at me and nodded.

“Alright, we’ll watch it after we go to dinner. Is that okay?” I smiled and nodded.

“Mr. Rausia, shall we go to dinner then?” I asked, holding out my arm for his. He took it and I led him across the green towards the restaurant. “You know,” I said. “Throughout the whole night, I could have sworn I heard a few voices muttering things. I wasn’t really sure what they were saying, but I knew they were saying something.” He laughed and nodded.

“Sounded like Emery at one point,” Emmitt said with a bright smile. I laughed and nodded.

“My feet hurt,” I muttered suddenly, looking down at them.

“Want me to carry you?” I snorted.

“You can’t do that. I’m a lady.”

“And? Guys can carry ladies!”

“I have a short dress on.”

“It looks beautiful by the way.” He said. I smiled at him as my cheeks turned a bright red. He stopped and pulled me to a stop. He smiled down at me, his voice growing soft. “My god you are beautiful…” He placed behind my head, his fingers tangling with my hair while his thumb brushed my warm cheek. He smiled at me. “I’ve always wanted to do that,” he said.

“You’ve always wanted to put your hand in a girl’s hair?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he replied. “I don’t know why, but I did.” I smiled at him and stood on my toes to kiss his cheek.

“You’re so adorable, Emmitt.” I whispered. He stared at me and I gave him a timid and tender smile. He smiled at me, his cheeks growing red. “I’m sorry if you don’t like being called adorable. I know how guys don’t like that.”

“I like it if you say it,” he said. I smiled at him and the smile he gave me was so handsome I nearly fell onto my knees. Everything he did was so amazing. I didn’t understand why just looking at him made me smile. Just being around him made me smile. “Leah,” he whispered his face close to mine. “May I kiss you?” I licked my lips and nodded. He pressed his lips to mine gently and took my face in his hands. I placed my hand on his and smiled against his lips.

“AW!” shouted someone from the darkness. “IT’S SO CUTE!” I laughed a little, pulling away from him to look at the darkness.

“Oh no,” he muttered, his eyes still closed. “Come back. My lips are cold come warm them up for me.” He pulled me back to him, his lips finding mine once more. I laughed against his lips, a smothered sort of laugh and pulled away from him.

“We have to go to dinner,” I whispered. He stole another kiss and I couldn’t help but kiss him back. Again and again, he stole kisses as I walked backward. The man in front of me murmured things to me, trying to get me to stay with him. I finally managed to pull away and started to run. He came after me, his laugh making me run faster. His arms finally wrapped around my stomach and pulled me close to him. “What about dinner?” I asked through giggles. He began to tickle me and I couldn’t help but collapse on the grass, trying to crawl away.

“I’m not hungry anymore.”

“I am! Come on, Emmitt,” he stopped and stared down at me. “I wanna eat.” He sighed and kissed my lips again, a deep, longing kiss.

“Alright, principessa, I’ll bring you to dinner.” He helped me up from the ground and lifted me up bridal style. “I hope I am worthy enough to carry a principessa such as you.” I blushed and kissed his cheek.

“My knight in shining armor,” I said. He tried to kiss my lips but I moved away. “Nope. You can’t kiss me.” He laughed again and when we reached the parking lot, he smirked and let me down.

“I found my car,” he said as he pointed to a sleek black 2009 BMW M6. I grinned at him.

“It’s a beauty.”

“It excites me.”

“Ooh, so you’re a freak?” He nodded and opened the passenger’s door for me. I thanked him and sat on the comfortable seats, amazed at how wonderful the seats felt. He got in the front and I looked at him. “You’re like Bruce Wayne.”

“Christian Bale was amazing as Batman.”

“Oh my God yes he was!” I said quickly. “Christian Bale is amazing. It’s impossible to hate that man.”

“You like him?”

“I wanna lock him in my closet and rape him…” I muttered.

“For tonight,” he said grinning. “My name is Christian Bale.” I laughed at him and he drove off, taking me to some restaurant I’d never seen before. The people all knew him by name; he smiled at them with familiarity.

“Mr. Emmitt!” said a small woman. “Oh how nice it is to see you! I haven’t had the pleasure of bringing you dinner in a while. Oh! A lady friend!” the woman shook my hand, her long blond hair tied up in a braid behind her back. “My, my! She’s is beautiful, isn’t she Emmitt? Oh, I’m so happy for you.”

“Mio caro,” said Emmitt. “I think my guest would like to eat.” The woman nodded enthusiastically.

“Of course! Come sit!” Emmitt smiled at me and led me to the table. Only a few minutes later, our food came out and we began to eat.

"I know this is really awkward but you look Russian and I've always wanted to meet a Russian man named Sasha." His dark hair was messy now and his deep blue eyes were shadowed by the dark waves.

"I hope you're not too disappointed," he said "but my name isn't Sasha.”

"Ugh," I winced as I sipped my water. "Any name that isn’t Sasha sucks." He laughed at me and twirled his spaghetti.

"You know," he said leaning back in the booth a little "but I'm going by Sasha from now on."

"Hm,” I said thoughtfully. “The name of a big brutish vampire that sparkles or the girly name…which do I like more?" I asked with a small smile.

"Hopefully you'll like the man behind the name." He said with a charming grin. I smiled at him and the way the candles danced off his stubble, I nodded.

"I already do." He had a handsome smile, one that lit up his face like that first time you light a match in the cool darkness of a winter's night. We talked about how awful his suit looked on him. Though, he didn't look bad at all. He was well shaped under the fabric and I could only blush when thinking of it. He and I ate dinner and I not so gracefully dropped chicken all over my shirt and of course since I will never mature, pouted and tried to lick it off.

"You are really doing that?" I looked up, my tongue already poised to lick up the Alfredo sauce. I moved my tongue back and grabbed my napkin, staring at him.

"No…" I muttered through the corner of my mouth, gently dabbing at the sauce.

"Here," he said as he held out his hand for the napkin, laughing at me ever so slightly. I handed it to him and he got up to sit in my booth. He quickly got the sauce off of my shirt and my cheeks were a bright red. "It's alright," he said as he stared at me. "It's nothing that embarrassing." I shook my head a little and looked up at him.

"You're just…" I bit my lip and shrugged with a smile. "You're just really handsome and I was trying to think back to how we met because I know that luck is not my friend."

"You're Leah Anderson right? Wrote five books, has millions, is my nephew’s algebra teacher?" I nodded a little, still embarrassed. "I met you in my nephew’s math class, trying to bring him his lunch. You yelled at me and I realized then how sexy you looked, standing there all demanding and such. You know, I recognized you from the back of your book. You aren't as pretty there of course."

"You know," I said holding up my finger. "Flattery gets you nowhere."

"Why would I want to go anywhere when I'm already with you?" I started to grin and eventually chuckled.

"Get back to your side before you start saying more stupid clichés." He did make more, though, and I got a good laugh. He did too, his laugh a rich sound that flowed like caramel. “Emmitt,” I said softly. “We’re not going to be able to do this again.” His face fell and his dropped the spaghetti that was on his fork.

“W-why not?”

“I’m your nephew’s teacher. I can’t be dating you. It’ll bad for my academic career.”

“No one will have to know,” he said desperately.

“Look,” I said sighing. “If I dated you, people would think I’m giving Emery the grades he gets because I’m dating you. Not because Emery is a smart and clever kid and he is. He’s a wonderful student and he is terrific at math. He may not get everything but he understands it and does well.”

“What about Tiffany? She’s your cousin. Don’t they think you’ll give her a better grade than--” I sighed.

“You don’t know how much I had to go through. I have to constantly give Tiffany’s grades to my superior and have her check my math. I can’t possibly give Tiffany a better grade.”

“Then let them do that for Emery. I don’t want to lose you because of some dumb thing.” I nodded.

“I’ll see, Emmitt.”

“That means you won’t,” he said stiffly. I offered him a small, sad smile and finished my dinner in silence.

“When the moon hits your eye--” The woman began but when she looked at Emmitt, she stopped and walked away slowly. “Scuzza me,” she said softly. Emmitt brought me home and I stared at my hands.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. He nodded and leaned over to kiss my cheek.

“I had a good time tonight,” he said in my ear. I nodded and said the same while returning his small gesture. He watched me leave and the moment I was out of the car, he drove away with dangerous speed. I lowered my head, sighed and walked up into my apartment where I sat and cried.