The Swing Chapter Sixteen

~A Week Later~1

"Ok, so I take it you understand everything." Clark took the notebook out of my hand. For the last week I was reading up on what had happened, the connections, places, and the people, trying to understand them. The mofia werent haters, they were revenge seekers. In movies they seemed like people who would kill people over spilt wine, and even though that might have been the case, they had their reasons. The past. Today though, they were much closer to normal, they didnt have big tempers or anything like that. They were just normal people with grudges. 2

"Yeah, um. Just one question though."3

"Yeah."4

"What are you guys going to do with Tom?"5

Clark pulled up a chair and sat down infront of me. "Look, you chose this side and whatever happens, happens. You read the book, so you know people die. It really depends on how much he knows and cares, how much of a fight he is willing to put up. Or, maybe there can be a settlement. Not likely, but it can be done." Clark took my hand and pulled me up, "Come on downstairs, Mama's cookin some of her good Italian." They all called there moms mama, I guess it was part of the accent. They were really sweet, unlike the fathers and cooked wonderfully all the time as far as I had learned. 6

After dinner, we went to my house. It was weird, I barely spent time at home anymore, being taught the rules and what Im supposed to do and everything really took time. "Hey mom."7

"Oh good, its nice to see you." My mom came in with a smile on her face as usual. I knew she was just smiling this time because Clark was there, underneath she wished I was home more, up in my room with the door locked even. 8

"We're gonna go upstairs, I need to make a phone call."9

"Oh yes, Tom had called earlier." No, not now.10

"Ill make sure Ill call him back." I started heading up the stairs and I could hear Clark following. I knew the conversation that would take place as soon as my mom was out of hearing range. Clark shut my bedroom door behind him. “uh..”11

“So, are you going to call Tom?” I turned around and looked at his face.12

“Yeah.” I never thought I would see a day when I dreaded calling Tom. As I reached for the phone I gave a shudder at my black nails. I didn’t like my new style a hundred percent. I dialed his number with hesitation and prayed he wouldn’t answer and I could hang up at the answering machine. 13

“Hey,” Oh gosh how much I missed his voice, for a second I drifted off to the happy place it took me. Then I jolted back into reality. 14

“Uh, hey.”15

“Oh good its you, spring break is coming you know.” I knew where this was going.16

“Yup.” I could feel something building up in my throat as I paced around my bed. Clark was still standing by the door, his arms crossed like he was waiting for me to make the plans so everything could work out for them.17

“Are you ok?” Great, he could tell something was wrong. I wasn’t doing to well. I had to think of something quick and try to ignore the fact that I was lying.18

“I’m getting something I think, that’s all. I’m fine.” 19

“You sure?” He was making it so hard.20

“Yeah.”21

“Ok,:” I could hear it, he knew I was lying. “Well if your not sick on spring break would you mind if we saw each other.”22

It was like Clark knew what he was saying, but then again my face expressions could have told him everything. “Tell him he can come down here.”23

“Yeah, you can come down here.” I bit my lip and not out of the happiness that usually makes me do that, but out of pure fear and sadness.24

“Cool, man I miss you, I cant wait.” I wished there was some way I could tell him that he could and that I could. This hurt so much.25

“Yeah, I miss you too,” but I knew I had to play along or who knew what would happen, “I love you.”26

“I love you too,” I still meant what I said though. I could hear him breath in that way and he was going to say it, “You sound like an innocent girl in her Sunday school dress.” Now I was biting my lip out of that happiness and I still knew what I hated, but it didn’t matter. Then I heard Clark make the coughing noise as in great, you have the plan now lets go tell the others. 27

“I have to go,” 28

He was thinking about how I had just called him and I knew it, “Ok well, Ill talk to you later, Love you, bye.”29

“Love you too,” I waited a little bit,” Bye.” I hung up the phone before I had second thoughts. 30

Clark grabbed his jacket and threw mine to me, “Tell your mom youll be back in a few.” He opened the door and started heading down the stairs. I looked down at my black jacket, now my mourning jacket. I slowly walked out my door and closed it behind me, “Ill be back in a few, Ace needs help with something.”  I saw my moms concerned face, but didn’t give her the time to ask me what was wrong as I quickly walked outside and shut the door behind me.31