This is why I don't socialize

"Alex," I breathed, stumbling through the crowd towards him.

"Eva?" Antonio asked, trying to keep up with me as I increased my pace, weaving my way through the many bodies. "Where are you going? Who's Alex?"

I started running, pushing my way through the wool tuxedos and satin dresses. I stopped, only a few yards away from him. His eyes were trained on me as he dropped his glass of champagne, closing the distance between us.

I'd have to ask him where he got that.

We collided in a hug, the people around us shuffling away and whispering to each other. Half of me wanted to tell them to mind their own business, but the other half was just too shocked to see him here. I wanted to cry, but I also wanted to drag his ass.

Maybe I'd do both.

"Alex, where have you been?" I asked pulling away. "It's been years!"

"Oh, Eva, I'm so sorry. I was just so angry after mom and dad's deaths and I needed space, but then I took too much space, and next thing I knew I was in a gang trying to make money to support us and—"

I cut him off, pulling him in with another hug. "You owe me big time, mister."

He smiled, before taking a few steps back and holding out his hand. "A dance? We can talk more in private."

"I would be honored, kind sir."

I heard a few people gasp as I took his hand and I glared at them, annoyed that they were ruining our reunion.

"I've never seen him smile before," I heard a middle aged lady say, before Alex drew me away to the ball floor.

"I can't dance," I said to him. "Unless twerking counts as dancing, but I don't think it does."

He chuckled, his eyes never leaving my face. We waltzed in silence for awhile, just staring at each other, as though a few minutes of eye contact could make up for years of being apart.

"Eva, I'm really sorry. I've missed you so much," He said, catching me off guard. "I shouldn't have left you, no matter how angry or desperate I was. And I definitely should've come back."

"Alex, we both deal with grief in our own way. Yours was violence, and I understand that you needed space to clear your head. What I don't get is, why didn't you come back?"

His lower lip trembled, and he bit it in annoyance. Seemed like he still hated showing weakness like he used to. "Well I ended up joining a gang called the Snakes—"

I snorted. "What kind of name is that?"

"A good one. Anyways, the leader died, so I took charge. It was a rough year, but we managed to climb to the top, until my second in command convinced everyone to go to Russia for some reason. I, of course, was against it since I didn't want to leave you behind, but they told me we'd be back within a month." He paused, taking a deep breath. "We got into a scuffle while trying to move some drugs. I killed him Eva," He looked at me with wide eyes. "I killed their boss."

Blinking at him, I tried to process everything. Alex had always had anger issues growing up, so it didn't surprise me that he'd joined a gang. But a mafia leader?

"What happened, Ali? What happened to us?" I asked, my voice cracking. What happened to the boy I knew who held my hand to help me jump over cracks in the sidewalk? Who bought me ice cream on hot summer days and shared secrets with me under the starry night sky?

"Oh Ev, I missed you." He held me, right there on the dance floor, his face buried into my hair as I breathed in his familiar sent. It smelled like home.

"I think we're messing up other people's waltzes." I said, my voice muffled.

"Well, we should probably get moving then."

"If you don't mind, I'm going to check out the bar. Do you know where it is?"

"Good plan. Follow me," he said, taking my hand.

As we walked off the dance floor, I felt a pair of eyes burning holes into my back. I turned around, only to be met with a very angry Antonio shooting daggers at me from across the room. I stuck my tongue out at him, giving him a thumbs up, and mouthed, 'don't worry, I'm not being kidnapped.'

I don't think he understood what I was saying, since he began making his way across the dance floor, pushing through unsuspecting couples.

Wait, he said I had his number right?

I pulled my phone out of my bra (there's no way I'm bringing a purse, those things get in the way) and scrolled through my contacts.

There he was.

Me

Stop shoving people it's rude

Antonio stopped moving and yanked his phone out of his jacket pocket.

Mean Mafia Boss

Where are you going?

Who is that?

Me

Wouldn't you like to know

I shut my phone off and saw Alex waiting for me by a small, posh looking bar. I waved, practically skipping over.

"What would you like?" Alex asked, as the bartender made his way over.

"Do they have pina coladas?"

"Probably."

The man came back with our drinks, a scotch for Alex, and we sat there quietly sipping on them.

"Come back with me," he said suddenly, making me choke on my drink. "I know it's a lot to ask, but please, I miss you so much. Come join my family."

"Alex—"

"I want to make up for the time we spent away from each other."

I was about to say yes, when the image of Antonio blushing slightly in the hotel room flashed before my eyes. I thought of Rosa and Sergio, my first real friends in years. Heck, I even missed gambling with Donatello.

"Listen, Alex, I miss you a lot, but—"

"Eva!" I heard Antonio yell behind me. "What are you doing! I thought I told you—"

"Ev, is he bothering you?" Alex asked, standing up. He looked intimidating, around the same height as Antonio and slightly more built.

"Why would you shorten down her name?" Antonio asked. "It's only three letters, it's not that hard to say."

"Because it's cute."

"Sounds lazy to me."

I sighed, pushing my way between them. "Antonio, stop being jealous. Alex, stop being such a overbearing mother."

They both humphed, crossing their arms and stepping back.

"Eva, don't tell me you know the Russian Mafia leader."

Alex glared at him. "Ev, I can't believe you're with this guy."

"You know who I am?" Antonio asked, looking slightly surprised.

"Of course I do, I'm the one attacking your stupid shipments!"

They glared at each other, and if looks could kill they'd both be dead.

"Ev, come on, please come back with me," My brother said, turning towards me.

"What? Don't go with him!"

I held up my hand, signaling for them to stop.

"Listen, Alex," I began, taking his hand. "I love you, I really do, but my home is at Antonio's house."

"Don't tell me he got you pregnant, I'm gonna beat the sh*t out of him if he did."

"No, no, he didn't!" I said frantically, trying to hold him back. "It's just, I finally found friends there. You would love Sergio and Donatello, and Rosa is my first best friend." Besides you.

He looked into my eyes, pleading. "But I just got you back."

"We can still meet up. It won't be a goodbye for forever."

"Eva, the Italian and Russian mafias are sworn enemies!"

"Then what are we supposed to do? Can't you just forget about your stupid rivalry? You don't even know each other!"

Antonio stepped in. "It's not about us, it's about the rest of our families. We might not know each other, but the people in our Mafias do. Capisci?"

(Translation: You understand?)

Alex's gaze became thoughtful, before hardening. "I'll stop the attacks, if you come back with me."

"What?" Antonio and I asked at the same time.

"I'll stop sabotaging his shipments and killing his men, but only if you come home with me."

I stared at him, confused. "So? You've only gotten to like one, right?"

"Hasn't he included you? I've taken almost fifty million worth of drugs and killed forty of his men."

My mouth opened in shock. "Is that true?"

Antonio rubbed the back of his neck.

That's all I needed for confirmation.

"So you promise that you'll stop if I come with you?"

"Eva, wait!"

"Yes," My brother smiled, knowing my answer.

"I'll go," I said, looking at Antonio. "È mio fratello."

(Translation: He's my brother)

And then I fainted.

...............

She said peace out fam.

Lol one time in third grade some dude's pants fell down right in front of me and he just went shhh and pulled them up. No one else saw and honestly I've been scarred ever since. I haven't told anyone else, except you guys now.

Oh well.

The things that haunt you.