09. Parole I

Anastasia...

I have been up since three am in the morning because I couldn't sleep. I cried when I woke up, so my eyes were slightly red and puffy. I wanted to get out of the house before nonna noticed that I'd been crying, so around eight, I began to prepare myself for the day ahead.

I grabbed my bag, which in fact was one of Andrea's extra bags, and rushed out of the apartment, down the corridor, down the stairs and out the building.

I needed to get a phone ASAP. I lost my phone at the car accident scene and, luckily, I didn't carry anything but a backpack with school files.

Shit!

The nice lady's documents were in that bag and how was I to know when I was writing my exam?

Fuck, I'm screwed!

I rushed up to the diner and, as always, it was full. I could see from the outside as people filled the tables. I rushed inside, and went to the back of the diner, placing my bag on the shelf. I pulled off the sweater I was wearing, placed it on the shelf before rushing out and going to serve people.

Jorja stormed in; rushing to the back of the diner and rushing back in towards me. I left the table I was serving, going towards her as she panted. She beamed a smile at me and I returned it.

" How was the party?" I asked, placing the order on the till.

" It was really nice. I made out with Tae," she whispered the last part, but then I had already heard her.

"WHAT?"

" What?" she snickered. "He's cute and he's tall, and he definitely looks older than me, so what's the problem?"

" Nothing" I responded, shimming out behind the counter going to serve more people.

" Anastasia," I heard a squeal, and I turned to see the little princess from yesterday, but this time the woman wasn't there, but a babysitter was.

" Little princess," I squealed back before catching her as she jumped on me.

I placed her around my hip as she clapped her hands. I turned to face the lady. She looked older than me, enough to be my grandmother.

" Good morning mam, where would you like to sit? "

" Where ever Tania wants to sit," the lady smiled.

" Princess, where would you like to sit?" I asked her, playing with her chubby, small hands.

" I want to sit with you," she said, and I felt bad.

" Little princess, I'm working. I can't sit with you," I sighed, and I heard her scoff.

" Tania, let's go grab a seat," the nice old lady said and Tania shook her head no.

" Okay, how about this? You grab a seat and when I'm done serving people, I will sit with you?" I suggested and she nodded.

" I'm sorry," I apologised to the old lady.

" It's okay my dear," she said before grabbing Tania from me and they walked towards the back of the diner.

" Who's that?" Jorja whispered with a tray filled with food in her hand.

" This little cutie I met on Saturday. She is so adorable," I said and Jorja chuckled.

" Eww," she said and I frowned. " What? You too nice."

She then left me at that. I chuckled before rushing back to go and serve people as quickly as possible so I would be able to sit with Tania. I love my job, but a lot of people love this diner.

The diner began clearing around half past one. I rushed to the back to go grab my sweater and I pulled it on. I rushed back to the till before ordering chocolate chip waffles and ice cream for the little princess.

I rushed back to go and join them. She squealed and clapped her hands. I saw Jorja coming with the order and placing it on the table.

" Little princess, this is my friend Jorja," I spoke and Tania smiled.

" Hello Jorja, I'm Tania," the tiny girl said and, I swear, Jorja's heart warmed up as she exclaimed an "Aww" from her lips as they formed into a smile.

" She is so cute!" Jorja squealed and I chuckled. The old lady was smiling throughout.

" My name is Anastasia," I said, placing my hand for a handshake with the lady.

" Call me Dorcas," she said, and I nodded, as she placed her hand in mine.

" I'm Jorja, her best friend," she said, pointing at me and greeting Dorcas the same way.

" Aunty Stasia, did you get this for me?" Tania asked, her cheeks red when I nodded.

Her thank you was muffled by the waffle she immediately threw in her small mouth. Dorcas was drinking coffee and having a muffin. I had offered to get her food but she insisted she wasn't that hungry, so I nodded, but then I was forced to have a burger because Dorcas wouldn't allow me to say no for some reason.

I got to know the little girl as well as Dorcas. So, it turns out Dorcas is a helper for Tania's dad and Tania's caregiver. Tania forced her dad to take her to the diner so that she could see me again, and her father kept telling her she wouldn't see me but she refused and said she would, and she did. But what's weird is how the father thought she wouldn't see me.

Was he my abductor?

Diego maybe?

But it didn't make sense because they let me go yesterday...

I was taken out of my thoughts as Tania squealed, jumped up from her chair and rushed to someone behind me. Dorcas smiled as she too stood up, and grabbed Tania's essential bag.

" Daddy," she squealed.

" Principessa," a deep voice chimed from behind me. It was so smooth, velvety, and thick, sending chills down my spine. It was familiar though, but I didn't remember where I knew it from.

" Daddy, I told you I would see Aunty Anastasia," the little child spoke.

" Where is she?" he asked.

" Aunty Stasia!" She squealed and I turned to face them, and the man frowned.

Uhm, is that a bad thing?

I stood up from my seat, walked over to them, and it was like each step I took, the man's eyes gapped wider even the other man behind him.

" Little princess," I squealed and she giggled again, before letting her hands out so I could carry her. I swooped her from her father and placed her on my hip. She squealed into my ear as I brushed her hair away from her face.

" My name is Anastasia, sir," I greeted him formally, reaching my hand out, but the man showed no sign of greeting back, so I pulled my hand back.

Rude much?

" Questa è la ragazza?" the man behind him asked and he nodded. They were speaking Italian, so how was I to understand them? My grandma didn't teach me a lot of words.

" Si," Tania's father said.

Which meant yes. I knew that obviously, and so does the entire world.

" Tania, say bye to Aunty Stacia."

" But daddy, I want to stay here with her," she scowled in my ear and I pouted.

" No, she is busy. Let us go Tania," the man said, running out of patience.

" But daddy-" she managed to say, but her father snapped, causing me to frown.

" Tania, not now! Let's go!" he roared and I too, shook in fear. The little princess started sniffing in my ear, and I swear my eyes were watery and my face was red like a tomato.

I'm sensitive, okay?

" Little princess?" I turned to her as she wiped her tear off.

" Huh?" She said and I wiped more of her tears off.

" How about I walk you to your car and tomorrow you come back here and visit me?" I asked and her face formed a sad smile.

" Really?" she asked as I wiped more of her tears.

" Yes really," I said and she started bouncing on my hip and clapping her hand. " Only if your father won't mind?"

" He won't," the man at the back said, and I nodded.

I pushed passed the rude man, going into the back of the diner to get her an ice popsicle. I tore the paper up and handed it to her. She mumbled a " Thank you" and I nodded as we walked out of the diner, going to her car.

Three black Escalades were parked outside, and I saw them enter the cars. Damn, they must be monied. I walked over to the car, and I placed her down on the pavement. I gave her a kiss on the forehead before she engulfed me in a hug by placing her tiny arms around me, and I lifted her back up. She wasn't showing any signs of letting me go this one.

" Tania," Her father warned, and her face fell into a sad frown.

" It's okay, little princess. You will see me tomorrow," I said.

" Promise?" she asked.

" Pinky promise!" I stated, wrapping my short pinky around her tiny one.

Her father grabbed her out of my arms and placed her in the car. He looked at me for a few seconds before shaking his head no. This man is weird. I waved my hand bye to Dorcas and she waved back. I turned at the balls of my feet, soon to enter the diner, and I saw the cars drive away.

My heart exploded with joy. That child has my heart and I can't wait to have my own kids. I rushed to the back of the diner before taking the sweater off and working again. I only placed it on so they wouldn't see me as a server.

" Who was that?" Jorja rushed up to me.

" Who?" I asked.

" Those two scary men that looked too rich?" she added.

" One of them is Tania's father. Not sure about the other one," I said and her mouth gapped.

" Damn!" she exclaimed.

" Let's go back to work," I said, and that we did too.

Our shift finished around three, so we began to pack up our things so that we could leave. Jamie rushed over to us and he froze when he saw me.

" Jamie?" I said and he looked at us.

" Huh?" he said, his eyes still fixated on me.

" My pay?" I asked and he blinked multiple times before he snapped out of it.

" OH!" he said, running back to his office and running back out with two envelopes in his hand. " I added a little extra for the delay."

" It's okay, thank you," I said before grabbing my bag as Jorja and I walked out of the diner, going to her car.

" He likes you," Jorja blabbered as we jumped into the car.

" Eww, no he doesn't. He likes you," I said and she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

" Yet he was staring at you?" she asked and I shrugged.

" He probably thought I looked like a baboon," I said, and she laughed.

We drove, going to fetch Tae and Andrea from school. It took us about five minutes to reach the school. The school grounds were packed with cars as well as teenagers loitering around.

Last day of school!

We jumped out of the car, and stood against it.

" So, you and Tae, huh?" I asked and she blushed.

" Well... we are not dating. We just made out," she said softly.

" Made out as in? " I asked and her cheeks turned red.

" Made out," she said.

Her blushing meant something more happened. Even so, she has never blushed in her whole life due to a boy!

" Y'all fucked, didn't you?" I said and she turned to face the ground. " I won't judge you. He is cute."

" He is very cute," she said, and I giggled.

" So, what did he say?"

" Well, we fucked and then uhm I wanted to leave but he didn't want me to, so we stayed in bed and talked and talked about a lot of things. I left his home today, that's why I was late for work." She explained.

" What did Andrea say?" I asked and she chuckled.

" He said nothing. He just cheered us on. Also, he was busy with different girls in the guest bedroom" she said, and my face turned into a scowl. " Don't do that. He is eighteen. Let him do what he wants to do. And the boys are safe. I could tell judging by the immense boxes of condoms in Tae's room."

" Eww TMI," I exclaimed and she chuckled.

We turned to see the boys walk over to us. More of their members walk with them. Andrea's face beamed when he saw mine and I swear he rushed up to me and engulfed me in a hug. No offense, but my brother is a softie. A huge one!

" Andrea, people are staring," I said and he shook his head no.

" I don't care," he muffled into my ear.

After some time, he finally let me go. Tae walked over to us and he hugged me. He, too, gave me a long ass hug before turning to Jorja and awkwardly hugging her. Both Andrea and I stared at each other before turning to face both the little liars next to us.

" Uhm, why the fuck-" Andrea managed to say before I nudged him in the ribcage, causing him to groan and swallow the words he was about to say. His friends Kyle, Timothy and Rocky chuckled at the scene and I smiled.

" How are you guys? " I asked, hugging all of them.

" We are good," Rocky answered and I nodded.

" Where are you all also at Tae's house?" I asked and they nodded. " Why wasn't I invited?"

" No!" Andrea roared out of nowhere and I laughed.

" I know you were fucking a lot of girls there, so why you acting all suspicious? I already know what you were up to," I teased him with a smile on my face as his face looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him. His eyes diverted from me to the ground, then back to me. His friends all chuckled and I smiled.

" Let's go guys. Get in," Jorja finally spoke up, rushing to get into the driver's seat.

" I call shot gun," Tae screamed and we all snickered as Jorja's cheeks went red before she disappeared into the car.

" Oohhhhh," the guys exclaimed in unison and I chuckled.

The guys all went in the back of the car, trust me, we didn't fit. I had to sit on Andrea though, because he didn't allow me to sit on Kyle. For what reason, I don't know. The car ride was filled with laughter, especially from the back because Jorja was awfully quiet. Kyle and Timothy would diss Tae while Rocky and Andrea made sly comments while I laughed.

We soon reached my apartment building. That's when I jumped out of the car, and I waited for Andrea to follow on. We bid farewell and we walked inside the apartment building, still laughing and snickering. Poor Jorja.

" So, what are you going to do this summer?" I asked him as we walked up the stairs.

" Maybe work at the diner?" he asked and I looked at him.

" What for?"

" To help you out and make a lot of money to take care of me and nonna," he stated.

" But I don't want you to work. This summer, focus on your training and relaxing and having loads of fun because you won't be able to do that next year with the scholarship because you will have to work hard both in academics and training," I said, and he nodded.

The reason I'm talking him out of this decision is because he will find out about my second job, one way or another, and I'm not risking it.

" I understand what you are saying, but are you sure you don't want me to help out?" he said as we reached our apartment door.

" I'm sure," I answered, and he nodded.

He pulled open the door and we heard voices in the lounge. We both frowned at each other and we walked closer. When we reached the lounge, I saw a manly figure. He stood close to nonna and she was smiling at him.

" Nonna?" Andrea spoke up and she turned to face us.

" My grandbabies," she said, running towards us and engulfing us in a hug.

" Who's this?" I asked as the man turned to face us. He looked familiar though.

" This is the man that saved you during that night," she answered, and I frowned.

" What night?" Andrea asked with furrowed eyes.

" Good evening, I'm Detective Velez," He said, reaching out his hand for a formal handshake.

" Yeah, and why are you here?" I asked.

" Anastasia, sit down," my grandma said and I shook my head no.

" Why are you here?" I demanded; my voice softer than it usually is.

" I'm here to announce your father's parole," he said, and I could hear my heart beating rapidly. It felt like it was ready to pop out of my ribcage and disappear from my sight.

" Parole?" I asked softly and I turned to my grandma. Her face was soft and solemn.

" Yes. Your father was released on parole last Thursday. He is on good behavior and it is revealed that he has been rehabilitated," he said.

" What does that mean?" Andrea asked.

" He is out of prison."