"Fuck Jem slow down! I'm gonna puke!", Jay yells over the music from beside me.

"You're going at a speed of over 100... ",

"Shut your mouths sissy!", Anita cuts in enjoying the speed and the music.

"Didn't I ask if you have disposable ziploc bags in the car?", I ask still going at a very high speed.

"Yea why?", Jay and Dimitri chorused.

I roll my eyes and face palm.

"So you can puke in them dum dum", I say getting agitated.

After much consideration, I slow down the car a bit. Emphasis on the 'a bit'.

"You guys should be considerate and keep it PG 13!", Jay demands Anita and Dimitri obviously pissed. I only chuckle. Anita and Dimitri have been grinding themselves ever since they entered the car.

"Quid suus iniuriam mi?", I ask in Latin
(What's wrong my dear?)

"Nihil", (nothing) Jay responds back in Latin not surprised I spoke his native dialect.

"Yea right! That's why your face looks like you've got the problems of the world", I sarcastically say while doing a right turn.

The rest of the drive was silent except for the noise of Anita and Dimitri smooching at the back seat.

I pull up in front of the mall. Jay was the first to jump out, followed by me, followed by the couple. We walk into the mall chattering like chatter boxes.

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

After a very long hour later, I came out with five  bags of new clothes courtesy Jay. He wouldn't let me pay but that isn't my problem. My problem is that I bought skirt. And not just one, three! Three fucking skirts. No thanks to Anita!

"Anita, this is just a waste of my strength and Jay's money, I'm not going to wear any of them!", I say defiantly.

"You better not!", Jay says with a lightened mood.

"But.. "

"Oh come on Jem, you bought twenty new black, fifteen leather Armani pants and camisole, twelve leather jackets each design of Alexander McQueen, Ralph Lauren, some regular Chloe Jeans, Coco Chanel, Gucci, might I add the Prada boots! And yet you complain of three pairs of skirt and three pairs of heels", Anita says in a bored tone as Dimitri strokes her head.

"But... "

"So Dimitri who are you inviting for the party?",Jay asks not only interrupting me, but also completely changing the topic.

Smooth Jay! Smooth! I'm not going to interrupt them, I'll just drive towards the salon minding my own business and not talking to any of them.

"Aunt Emilia and Nina",  Dimitri answers playing with Anita in the back.

"Not Aunt Em!"

"It's just for one day!"

"Fine! Who are you inviting for the party Anita?", Jay asks diverting his attention to Anita who is now drawing circles on Dimitri's chest.

I grit my teeth and focus on the road.

"Zayn, Zara and Zora", she replies pinching Dimitri's nose.

"Isn't Zora meant to be in school?", Dimitri asks pinching her cheek.

"You and I know that Zora won't hesitate to miss school for a party", Anita says checking her fingernails.

"Don't invite her", Dimitri orders.

"Don't go ordering me around, she's my sister!", Anita states becoming angry.

"I agree with Dimitri. It's a party to celebrate death and kids are not allowed", Jay says lightly.

Such irony! Most people mourn after the death of their loved ones but here we are about to 'celebrate' the 'death' of our biggest rival, Dennis Saunders. Then again, a death of any kind is celebrated in the Mafia world.

Anita looks at Dimitri and cursed under her breath. Removing his hand from her hair and looking out the window.

Good! Now I'm not the only one angry.

"Who are you inviting to the party Jem?", Jay asks.

"Anita what hairstyle are you going to make?", I ask completely ignoring Jay as I pull the car in front of the salon.

"Anita Bakers", she says simply and locks eyes with me and I give her a wink. She smiled so lowly, getting my point.

"Isn't that low cut?", I ask slyly.

"Yeah but... "

"Just braid or do something else instead of cutting it", I state

"I'll dye it champagne gold", she says excitedly.

Here I am wishing I had such jet black hair like hers and here she is wanting to dye it my natural hair color.

"And what about you?", she asks getting down from the car.

I also get down and throw the car key at Jay.

"I dunno, I'll video call Alan", I say bringing out my phone to call Alan.

Jem: hey brother bear! How are you?

Alan:(yawns) Jem it's 12:30am! What's wrong?

Jem: it's past five in the evening

Anita: oh hey Alan, sorry I didn't mention to Jem here that Rome is six hours ahead of New York.

Jem: shoo! This is my conversation! Sorry Al. I'll call when you're awake.

Alan: no it's fine! I couldn't sleep anyway. How are you?

Jem: I'm great Al. I'm at the salon with Anita and I couldn't decide to which hair to make.

Alan:will you listen to me?

Jem: totally!

Alan: cut your hair at least bra length and leave your natural champagne gold hair. Pleeeeaaassseee!

He says giving me the puppy dog eyes I've never refused.

Jem: fine! And will you get me that dog on my birthday?

I ask remembering the cute puppy we saw one time on our way to a mission. I had begged Alan to let me have one but he said no!

Alan:deal!

Jem: yay! You're the best Al. By the way Jay is throwing a party tomorrow to celebrate Dennis death. You coming?

Suddenly he tensed up.

Alan:would love to Jem but I can't.

Jem: what's wrong with you Al? Just for one day!

I slightly yell, getting pissed. He says he'll always be there for me come what may but he's been failing recently.

Alan: I.. I.. It's nothing Jem. I just can't come. I really wish to. I want to. Please believe me!

Jem: it's okay Al, I'm sorry I lost my cool. How's Jon?

Alan: H... H... He's f..f..fine.

Alan stutters. Holding something back.

Jem: are you holding something back?

Alan: no! He's fine but he's currently asleep.

Anita: Jem, we don't want to sleep here for the night right? Sorry Alan but she has to go.

Alan: (giggles) it's okay, bye baby bear.

Jem: bye brother bear.

I say hanging up the video call.

"Way to go Anita!", I say bluntly, settling down on the couch beside Anita.

"So are you going to cut your hair and go natural?", Anita asks ignoring my remarks.

"Yeah", I say dreamily.

"Are you still upset with Jay?"

"Yea! Are you still upset with  Dimitri?"

"Yes!"

"You wanna payback?"

"Always up for mischief"

"That's my girl"

We both giggle, planning on how best to ignore them.

"Where can we rent a motorcycle?", I ask

"Done", she says putting down her phone.

Whoever brought internet to this world did a damn good job.

"Let's talk about something else", Anita volunteers.

"Like what?"

"You and Jay"

"What about us?"

"Are you like a thing?"

I laugh so hard at the question that her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, it's just that I don't see us as a thing even if we were the only humans in this world", I say in between laughs as the old lady dresses my hair.

"What about the moans last night? Or is there someone else?", she asked with a raised eyebrow.

I look around to see If there's any sign of Jay or Dimitri and with the coast clear, I sigh.

"I'm in love with Alan... "

"I knew it!", Anita says bumping her fist into the air and interrupting the lady dressing her hair.
I just smile as I continue

"Yes, I think I've been in love with him for a long long time but he sees me as nothing more than his baby sister. The main reason I stayed back in Rome is to see if I can find someone else to love. I don't love Jay. I just like him on a very platonic basis and I let him do what he did to me because I wanted to get over Alan. The sooner I find a new love, the better for both of us. I can't live with the idea of him getting married to someone other than me. Look I even got a tattoo below my breast."

I say showing her the tattoo beneath my breast, completely ignoring the stares of the old lady.

"I just wish he'd realize how much he means to me", I concluded, biting my lips to avoid the tears from spilling. 

"Woah Jem, I wish you luck. You kind of remind me of I and Dimitri", she says with that dreamy look in her eyes.

"Go on!", I encourage.

"Dimitri and I went to high school together and he always bullied me. I didn't know why but I let him. Even though I hated him then, I couldn't stop myself from being bullied by him. One fateful day we bumped into each other and to cut long story short. His sister, Nina, invited me over and then he played the piano for me and I think I caught the bug then"

She pauses as she seems to recall the events of the past.

"I was scared when I realized I actually love him. So scared, I drowned myself but of course I didn't die. When I regained consciousness, I cried for the first time in almost nine years. I told him I couldn't love him, that I want to be a player. You really don't expect me to just sleep with one man for the rest of my life? It was like eating apple over and over again when there are varieties of fruits out there. But here I am today and just the thought of sleeping with another guy gives me a migraine"

She concluded and I was stunned.

"I really missed you then Jem you know,  he came home once you know, after you left"

I widen my eyes in shock!

"He came back home? Did he ask of me? What did he say?"

"Saw you weren't there and vanished again. I didn't even get the chance to speak to... "

"Yeah I get", I interrupt, not wanting to hear another word.

My hand unconsciously moves to touch the black chain Alan gave to me. I have completely forgotten it's there.

Done with the hair, I paid the hair dressers and move for the exit with Anita but stop right in front of the door.

I go back and stab the two ladies with my dagger before finally making my way out of the exit.

"Do you always have your dagger with you?", Anita asks. I thought she was going to ask me why I killed the poor old ladies.

"Yes, you never know when there's gonna be a dangerous situation", I reply her.

Outside we see Dimitri and Jay waiting in the car. I and Anita lock eyes and secretly share a smile.

Ten minutes later, a black motorcycle arrives. Anita hands the man some cash. Gets flirty... Too flirty and lands a kiss on his cheek while Dimitri was staring. From the corner of my eyes, I see Dimitri's fist clench and unclench, while Jay's jaw did the same.

I hop on the bike...

"Woo! It's so nice to finally ride on a bike after so long", I state loudly.

Anita hops on the bike and I zoom off but not without leaving a cloud of dust behind.

"Woooo!", I scream as the cool breeze slaps my cheek and probably makes my newly done hair messy.

"You know, this is probably going to make our hairs messy right?", Anita yells over the wind.

"What was hair brush invented for?, I yell back over the top of the wind as we pull over at Jay's house.

"That dude that gave us this bike, has a very hard and slimy cheek", Anita says disgustingly.

"I am going to brush my teeth and wash my mouth and my brain from that horrid incident. Don't mention this to Dimitri, he'll never let me hear the end of it", she says alighting from the bike.

Entering the house, we halt in our tracks as we spot Jay and Dimitri in front of the door.

I look back at the door and look at Anita as she looks at me.

"How did you get here before us?", Anita asks voicing out my thought.

"Anita quid mali tibi?  Cur te ille peregrinus: Osculer in ore?  Quid facio iniuriam?" Dimitri yells in Latin.
(Translation :what's wrong with you Anita? Why did you kiss that dude on the cheek? What did I do wrong?)

"Don't you yell at me Collins. We're not married, I have the right to kiss who I want when I want", Anita responds in a rage and brush past him but Dimitri holds her back.

"Me solum reliquatis", Anita says not looking at him and tries to wiggle her hand free from his.
(Translation: leave me alone)

"Dixie ego solus it ad sinistram", she yells using her might to push him away.
(Translation :I said I want to be left alone)

"Anitaaaa!!!", Dimitri yells raising his hand to hit her but with my quick thinking, I rush and hold his hand, preventing him from doing so.

He looks at his hands in amazement and the realization of what he was about to do hits him and he immediately feels sorry. He slowly puts his hand down.

"How low can you stoop?", I ask disgusted.

"You were going to hit your fiancee? Unbelievable!", I mutter in utter shame.

"This is your fault Jem", Jay says.

Ignore him Jem!

Anita looks at Dimitri,  tears in her eyes and looks away.

"I should have known you'll never change from being a bully", she spits out. I lead her up the stairs, towards my room.

"Carissimi Mei... " Jay says trying to hold my hand. I remove it not looking at his face.

"I am not your dear", I state without looking back.

"Pupae infantis"

"I am not a baby doll Jay",  I say almost reaching my room with Anita weeping in my arms.

"Amica Mea",  Jay and Dimitri chorus.
(Translation: My Love)

"Pedicabo ego vos", I and Anita chorus before entering my room and shutting the door.

(Translation: Fuck You!)

Well! Well! Well! Looks like there's a feud between the females and the  males. Will they resolve their issues before tomorrow's party?

And who is this he Jem keeps referring to?

Stay tuned and find out in subsequent chapters.

Don't forget to vote, comment and share! And remember, Sparkle loves you...