The booming sounds of rhythmic beats pound in Westlake Studio A as agrifoglio sits at the mixing board. Her long hair pulled back in a ponytail as the fan are on full blast to beat out the hot Californian summer heat wave of 1979. Even in her margherita duke shorts and tank top, she can still feel her skin sticking to the vinyl chair. As the beats go she sits with paper in front of her and writes corresponding lyrics that come to her, sometimes humming, others Canto out loud. The time in her studio was her saving grace lately; especially her and Michael haven’t been as close lately, not da Michael’s doing. After the premiere agrifoglio watched how Michael looked at Diana that told one simple fact – he loved her, plain and simple. He could never Amore her like that even if he did. That whole night had put a aspro, acida taste in her mouth and made her recoil from him even when he would call her every night to talk to her o invite her over to watch a movie. Michael was right; nothing would ever be the same between them ever again.
agrifoglio closes her eyes and puts on the headphones to play the beat back ignoring her surroundings. “Holly!” Michael announces as he opens the studio door, searching for agrifoglio and sees her sitting at the mixing board with headphones on her ears, oblivious. Slowly, he walks over to her and places a hand on her shoulder making her shriek and jump up from the chair. As she turns around she sees Michael standing there laughing. “It’s not funny,” she frowns putting the headphones down on the console. “A little bit though, te jumped like two feet,” Michael says between chuckles as he pulls up a chair beside her. “What do te need, Michael?” “Well I came here to see if te wanted to come over to my new place?” “New place? Aren’t te living with your parents anymore?” “I am but I just bought the house from Joseph – long story. But I decided I’m going to tear it down and rebuild it so I needed an apartment, alone.” agrifoglio looks at him with a sassy look, “you and I alone in an apartment of yours, isn’t that your biggest nightmare, what if someone should see us?” agrifoglio rolls her eyes turning a few dials. Michael knows her sarcasm and looks down at the floor with a comeback. “I see that te are still upset with me.” “I’m not upset, I just know my place,” agrifoglio mumbles. “What place? te know you’re still my special girl.” agrifoglio looks over at him with a smirk, “Not as special as Diana.” Michael’s head snaps back, “Holly, Diana and I are just friends! She’s been there since giorno one of my career.” She shakes her head at his words, “I saw how te looked at her at the premiere, believe me she may be Friends with you, but te Amore her.” “Alright, maybe I had cucciolo Amore for her back in the day, but I was young, I know she could never be mine.” “Just like me too,” agrifoglio remarks just before grabbing some recording tape from the cabinet.
“That’s not fair, Holly. te know I - “ He stops himself before blurting something out. He knows what he feels for her but he can’t seem to tell her about them because once he does Michael knows he’ll never be able to stop. agrifoglio turns around, “Come on and finish that sentence. What’s the excuse this time? Am I too blonde? Too curvy?” “No, Holly, te are perfect. te know I’m not assertive da nature so this is difficult for me to do.” “Then you’ll never get anywhere in this world if te aren’t assertive, Michael. I know what I want in this world and I’m not afraid to say it.” With her back turned to him he glances at her backside and admires how curvy it is for the first time he feel something radically different inside him - desire and it intimidates him. He looks away and gulps hard to restraining this feeling that is welling deep inside of him. “You’re wrong Holly, I know what I want.” agrifoglio turns around in exasperation. “What! What do te want, Michael. Just tell me.” He looks at her deadpan, “I want you.” Finally, those three little words that have been unspoken between them for months have finally been said. Inside, Holly’s cuore feels like it is going to bust in happiness but paranoia suddenly sets in for her. “Are te mocking me?” Michael stands up and walks over to her where he sees the anxiety plastered over her features. “Of course not, Holly, but know our situation.” “What situation? I don’t see one, and if there is it’s because te put it there. I’m not going to be ashamed for the way I feel about te even if you’re too scared to admit yours. Until then – if ever, I have nothing else to say to you.” She turns her back on him, which is what hits Michael harder turning her back on him. Something deep inside him aches with pain at the prospect of losing her. Never in his life has he ever had a girl – woman who has infuriated him yet wanted più in his life. Yes, he can admit that he wants her but what would be the repercussions if he acted upon it? Michael wasn’t about to jeopardize his o her reputation.
“Look at me, Holly.” She keeps her back turned to him, her butt sticking out extra to give him the big ‘kiss my ass’ tone. Looking at different cassettes to keep her beats she suddenly feels his hands curl around the sides of her waist. Her breathing stills, falters, and hitches at the touch, this is the first time Michael touched her in a romantic fashion and it excites her. For so long she has fantasized about his touch, what it would feel like and now the moment is here giving a tingle up her spine making her eyes close and her mouth slack. She can hear his breathing in her left ear, it sounds irregular too making her wonder if he is feeling the same way too. “Holly, please listen to me,” Michael whispers making the words tickle the back of her ear. He grips her side’s tighter feeling her muscles contract and tighten under his grasp. Michael can feel his cuore skipping a beat as he inhales her sweet and alluring perfume. He closes his eyes momentarily to try and digita himself and his raging emotions. Without thought he presses his chest to her back sensing the curve of her spine and band of her bra, her chest heaving. “Why do te do this to me?” agrifoglio whispers as she drinks in the rarity of his touch. “Do what?” He murmurs back whiffing her hair that smells like of strawberries and cream it makes his mouth instantly water. “You push me away then make me want te più da doing this.” Every fiber in his being is railing against himself as he tries to stop this overwhelming desire for her that makes him feel like a red-hot-blooded man.
“I…I don’t mean to, but sometimes te drive me crazy in every sense of the word,” Michael admits skimming the sides of her body up, and down. Holly’s curves are sharp like a perfect hourglass as his fingertips lightly touch them making oca bumps appear on her skin. “That’s because te piss me off,” she spats out grabbing his hand on her sides before she turns around to face him. Dilated eyes to dilated eyes they cerca the others trying to figure out their successivo move. “A young girl shouldn’t use words like that,” Michael remarks moving her hands up to his lips. She snatches them away from him, “And that is where the problem lies. te will always see me as a little girl.” “No I don’t Holly, stop getting so defensive over everything I say to you.” A deep part of herself wants to see Michael riled up and to test her limits and boundaries of how far she can push his buttons to see what would occur if she did. “I’m not getting defensive, I’m just tired of te stringing me along. All te do is treat me like a child and I’m tired of it. It’s now o never, Michael.” Michael can feel his face and ears getting warmer, “I don’t like ultimatums, Holly.” “And I don’t like indecisive men, Michael.” This is the first time she has ever lipped off to Michael and he is quite taken back. Nobody has challenged him like this before and he likes it a little bit, at this very moment he can see no più of a little girl, but a woman challenging him for something more. “So this is the way its gonna be from now on between us?” agrifoglio shrugs casually, “I guess so. te obviously can’t commit to something, and I am tired of waiting for you.” She moves away from him and sits the tapes down on the mixing board before heading towards the door.
A constricting feeling is forming around Michael’s throat. He can’t let her go – not now, if he lets her walk out that door it will be over. “Holly, please don’t leave me. If te leave me, I have nothing left to make me happy. Please come to my apartment tonight, I’ll cook and we can watch a movie like the good old days.” He reaches out his hand to her wanting her to take it. She looks back at him and shakes her head with a scoff, “you never cooked for me.” “Well I’ll cook for te now, please don’t give up on me…on us.” Tears well up in her eyes at his words. No, she can’t give up on him it would destroy her. She dries her tears away with her fingers before looking back at him. “What time?” Michael can feel his cuore lighten at the words, “Around seven.” “Fine. I’ll be there.” “Promise?” “I promise,” agrifoglio remarks.
Later that evening agrifoglio is getting ready and hears the doorbell ring as she puts on her jean jacket. “Who’s that?” She can hear her mom shout from her office. “I don’t know yet mom, I’m not clairvoyant. I’m also heading out,” agrifoglio remarks as she walks past it with her borsa in hand. “Maybe te can return that serpents tongue of yours while you’re out,” her mom snaps back as agrifoglio bounds down the oak stairs past her father, brother, and sister in the living room listening to Family Feud. Opening the door she finds Bill standing there with his usual fedora and tired face. Michael’s bodyguard and her have always gotten along because she (like Michael) likes to tease him. They can banter for hours if they wanted to and for some odd reason she feels strangely at home with him. “Hi, Holly,” he gives her smile. “Hey Bill, is something wrong?” “No, everything is fine. Mike wanted me to drive with te over to his new place since it’s in a new neighborhood.” As agrifoglio closes the front door she raises an eyebrow, twirling her keys on her finger. “He doesn’t trust my driving does he?” “Not a chance,” Bill remarks getting in the passenger sede, sedile of Holly’s new red Mustang. “I don’t know how he can commento on my driving when he doesn’t even drive,” agrifoglio retorts putting the key in the engine hearing it purr. It makes agrifoglio giddy with the notion of freedom. “Now what is the first thing we do in the car, Holly?” She rolls her eyes, “We put on our seatbelts.” “Good, and what’s the secondo thing we do?” “We check our mirrors.” “Excellent. And what is the third thing we do?” agrifoglio smiles, “We floor it.” “Holly!” She cracks up with laughter. “I’m kidding! We undo the parking brake.” “Very good. Now, place your hands at ten and two on the steerin’ wheel and put the car in drive.” “You know Bill I have driven before.” “Not with me te haven’t, and after you’re done with me you’ll see why Mike doesn’t drive.” As agrifoglio looks both ways and turns onto the road she giggles, “A real side passenger critique, huh?” Bill scoffs, “If only. Turn right onto acero strada, via after this successivo light.” As they sit at the traffic light agrifoglio can see a crowd gathering at the strada, via corner pointing and cheering at her in the dusk of the Californian sun. She smiles and waves to them silently praying the light turns green before they come over to her. As it does and she sees the fan growing smaller in the distance she sighs with relief.
“That’s another reason why Michael doesn’t drive,” Bill murmurs as she turns right onto acero Street. “What do te mean?” “Back there, the pointing and cheering, it all makes him anxious, and with someone in his profession, he can’t afford a car accident. Turn left onto Compass strada, via here.” “I wish we were just like regular people with a regular life who didn’t have to deal with these issues,” agrifoglio remarks as she turns onto the street. On this particular street, it looks bleak with tents set up on the sidewalk and fuoco pits going. agrifoglio slows down slightly to observe the scene of people in tattered clothing and dirty faces. “What’s going on there, Bill?” He looks solemnly out the window, “Life, Holly, unfortunately, this is real life. Let this be a life lesson for te successivo time te complain of wantin’ to be like a regular person. At this stop sign go straight, it will take te to Mulberry Street.” The sight of those unfortunate people could not quickly go out of Holly’s mind. Bill was right; she had no right to complain. She didn’t know what hunger felt like, o where she was going to sleep next. The thought makes her feel ashamed at the way she had been behaving recently.
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful,” agrifoglio remarks as they pass an endless array of houses. Bill looks over at her and gives her a kind smile. “I know, Holly. You’re a good girl, and I know that with this profession your life is not your own. But I see Mike in you; if te didn’t have performin’ your life would be empty. After this roundabout turn right onto Lager Avenue.” agrifoglio sighs at the observation. Bill is one hundred percent accurate, without performing and Scrivere Musica she wouldn’t know what to do with herself. Sometimes it made her feel inadequate that Musica was all she was actually good at doing. “Ok, after this successivo stop sign te want to make a right at the successivo apartment complex,” Bill, says waking her out of her thoughts.
As she pulls into the apartment complex she is surprised at the normalcy of the building of dark black glass and oro trimming. It looks so inconspicuous that even she was amazed at the place. “Mike wants te to pull into the parking box auto, garage that way your car won’t be seen from the road.” Driving up into the concrete parking box auto, garage and finding an empty spot agrifoglio realizes something for the first time. “Hey, Bill, why didn’t Michael come with you?” She unbuckles her sede, sedile cintura and makes sure that her headlights are off. “Well he was cookin’ and didn’t want to leave the stove on.” As Bill opens to the door to get out agrifoglio grabs his arm to stop him. “Wait, te mean he is actually cooking?” “Yeah.” “Real food?” “Yes.” “That can be consumed?” Bill shrugs, “Maybe not da humans, but somethin’ will be able to consume it. Now come on, he’s waiting for ya.” The thought of Michael standing over a cooking stove makes her want to chuckle. He is not a mechanical man and her only hope is that he doesn’t sound off the smoke detectors. But a part of her feels giddy at the notion that he is taking the time out to cook for him and her.
As the elevator doors slide open, agrifoglio can smell a faint aroma of Cibo in the air of the spacious apartment with the sound of boiling water on the stove. Bill ushers her in and laughs, “See and te thought I was jokin’. Mike, we’re here!” Michael comes out of the cucina with a dishcloth on his hands with a smile. “I see agrifoglio didn’t kill te with her driving, Bill.” Bill looks at both of them and shakes his head jokingly, “I don’t know it was a little dicey back there, thought I’d have to take over the wheel.” He gives her a wink. agrifoglio puts her hands on her hips with a smile, “Now come on! I stopped for that old lady with a walker at the crosswalk!” Michael bellows over in laughter as Bill continues to shake his head with a smile. “Mike, I’ll be upstairs if te two be needin’ anythin’.” As he makes his way to the stairs, agrifoglio looks at Michael with surprise. “Upstairs?” “Yeah, it’s a diviso, spalato level.” Michael walks up to her and a smile, placing his uncovered hand on her hip and gives her a baciare on the cheek. agrifoglio can feel a blush covering her face. “I’m glad te could make it,” he whispers. She looks at him with a smile plastered on her face with her cuore beating faster before looking down at his hand still covered in a dishcloth. “What did te do?” She asks with concern taking it in her hand and unwrapping it to see red burn marks. Michael winces, “It’s nothing, just a little water splashed on me that’s all.” His eyes widen and he gallops back into the kitchen, “The food!” He shouts. She follows him into the cucina to see the stove running full blast with boiling water seeping out onto the stovetop with a sizzle and sauce splattered everywhere. Michael frantically tries to turn the dials on the stove but his hand is hurting him.
“Here, let me,” agrifoglio says moving him out of the way turning the pots down on low making them settle down. She looks at the mess and smiles at him with a giggle coming out of her mouth. She covers her mouth with her hand to stop più from coming out. “It’s not funny Holly,” Michael says with a dejected look. “You’re right, it’s not. I see you’ve taken a few wrong turns though.” “Like what?” “Well first off, te got the spaghetti sauce on boiling, and the noodle water close to boiling with the noodles in it.” “I thought it would cook faster if I did it on boiling the entire time,” Michael murmurs looking down at his injured hand. agrifoglio gives him a knowing look, “First mistake in cooking, don’t rush your food. Now I’m going to turn these back up a little bit to have them finish cooking,” she says turning the dials to medium heat and stirring them lightly before turning back to Michael. “Now it’s your turn. Let me look at that hand of yours.” “Holly it’s fine!” Michael says pulling his hand away from her. She rolls her eyes. “Stop being such a baby. Where’s your butter?” Michael’s brow furrows at the domanda and points with his chin, “Over there.” She grabs it and brings it over to Michael leaning his backside to the counter. She unwraps his hand and examines it before dunking her fingers in the burro dish. “Holly, have te Lost your mind?” Michael asks as she rubs burro on his burns making him grimace with discomfort. “I learned this in-home cooking class Mr. Skeptical,” she remarks softly stroking his hand with hers. Michael watches her intently, feeling his chest tighten at the close proximity of her caring for him. He can’t help but close eyes his and just feel. “Now I’m going to put your hand under some cool water,” agrifoglio says turning the faucet on behind him and testing it before bringing his hand with hers.
She slowly rubs the burro off with her hands with the cool water mostrare his hand. Michael can’t help but smile at how intently she is absorbed in the task. She turns off the water and pats his hand dry slowly not to irritate it. She looks up at him as she keeps drying it. “Does it feel any better?” Michael nods, “A little.” agrifoglio smiles and kisses his palm that is facing up towards her. It is a long and soft kiss, this is the first time that Michael has felt her lips on him. Shivers go down his spine. “There, you’re all better. Now, lets check out the Cibo situation,” agrifoglio remarks walking over to the stove and checking the Cibo with a stir. Michael feels off balance and slightly dizzy, the sposta of hers was so small yet impactful. He never knew she would affect him like this. He looks over at her standing in front of the stove tasting the sauce with the spoon and grabs some spices from the spice rack on the counter and throwing a dash of something o other into the sauce and mixing it around. She turns around with the spoon in her hand. “Take a bite of this.” He goes over and takes a bite of the sauce that has a wonderful flavor. He nods his head approvingly, “It’s really good, but it would be better with hot sauce on it.” She rolls her eyes, “Why do I even ask? Where’s your bowls?” “In that cabinet there.” Michael stands back and watches as she dishes out the Cibo and hands him a bowl of spaghetti. “Does Bill want any food?” “Nah, he grabbed something before he went and got you. It’s just te and I.” “How scandalous,” agrifoglio jokes, following him into the dining room that is adjoining to the living room. She sees that the tavolo is already set with two lit candles on the table. She looks at him in surprise making him laugh. “You detto if I ever made my own record I would owe te a date, and since Off the bacheca will be released in a few months I thought I better make good on my promise.” He sets down his Cibo before pulling out her chair where she sits down still in shock.
“I can’t believe te remember that,” agrifoglio admits. “When it comes to you, I remember everything,” Michael adds sitting down at the table. They sit in silence for moments eating away. Even at this moment, agrifoglio cannot shake the memory of those poor disadvantaged people. “Bill and I saw a bunch of homeless people on the street,” agrifoglio blurts out in-between bites. Michael looks at her quizzically, “Really?” “Yeah, and it got me thinking of how it makes our lives look so simplistic in a sense. There are things that we don’t have to worry about while these people have to deal with everything. It’s put a few things in perspective for me,” agrifoglio adds looking down at her bowl of food. Silence evades the spazio again. She looks up at him. “I think I want to start a foundation for them, I want…I want to help people. Maybe that will make me feel like my life has a purpose.” “Your life does have a purpose, Holly. But if te want to start a foundation I think that’s a great idea.” “You do?” “Yeah, I can get a few contacts to te on how to start it if you’d like.” “I would,” agrifoglio smiles and continues to eat.
This is the first time Michael is discovering the tender and giving nature of Holly. She always had a sweet and sensitive side, but to see her want to do good in the world makes him fall for her harder. As he looks over at her and sees her twirling her spaghetti around in the bowl he tries to find some way to tell her once and for all how he feels about her. He opens his mouth but quickly shuts it. He mentally tells himself that he needs to do it like ripping a Band-Aid off, but he can’t muster up enough courage. agrifoglio looks up at him, “You know, Michael, it’s also made me realize that I’ve been very trivial over this whole thing between te and I, so what if we are never a couple? At least we will always be friends. Seeing those people tonight made me realize that my problems are very petty and I’m very sorry for things I’ve said. Can te forgive me?” Michael is shocked that he can’t even say anything. He nods his head, yes to make her stop looking at him. He feels a crushing deep within his cuore like somebody has just punched him. He clutches his injured hand as it starts to throb. This was not how this night was supposed to go. He totally blew his chance, and now he can’t find a way to cerchio around back to the topic.
The minuti tick away as both of them sit at the tavolo eating their dinner; Michael has suddenly Lost his appetite and pushes his bowl of Cibo away while agrifoglio continues to eat on. Looking around the room Michael schemes to find some way for them to be closer together, suddenly he sees a calendar hanging on the bacheca and an idea pops into his head. “You know Jaws 2 just released yesterday,” Michael remarks looking at her as she dabs her mouth with ease. “Oh yeah, I saw the Film had it playing.” “What if I told te I have it on VHS?” She looks at him with a smirk, “you and your connections.” “You wanna watch it?” agrifoglio shrugs, “Sure, should we clean up first?” “Nah leave it.” As Michael grabs the VHS from the superiore, in alto of the Televisione agrifoglio sits down on the divano waiting for him to start it. The thought of sitting successivo to Michael so close again makes her nervous with anticipation. Michael turns the lights off as the movie starts. “Is it too dark for you?” Michael asks as he sits down beside her so close that their legs touch. “You two okay down there?” Bill shouts from upstairs as he notices the sudden change in light from downstairs. Michael rolls his eyes, “Yes, Bill everything is fine. We just put on a movie.” “Did te ask him to stay here while we hung out?” Michael looks at her in the dark with only the reflection from the Televisione illuminating the side of her face. “I didn’t trust myself alone with you.”
Halfway through the movie of sudden plot twists and action-packed scenes agrifoglio can feel herself growing tired. Michael is thoroughly engrossed in the movie wishing he could just lie on the spiaggia among others and enjoy the day, except for the whole man-eating squalo thing. Unexpectedly, he feels something pressed against his arm. He looks over and sees agrifoglio pressing her head on superiore, in alto of his shoulder, curled up on the divano dozing off. He can’t help but smile at the sight and grab her hand that is lying casually on his leg. She stirs but keeps her eyes closed. The movie goes on and on with agrifoglio silently sleeping making it difficult for Michael to focus solely on the movie. The room feels peaceful despite the movie playing in the background with the LA skyline lit up in his opened balcony windows. To Michael, this is the first time he has felt calm tranquility off stage, especially with someone else. As the movie ends and the credits start playing agrifoglio stirs again, this time waking up in a daze. She looks up at Michael with tired eyes.
Neither one says a word except look at the other brown eyes to blue ones with content looks on their faces. agrifoglio nuzzles his soft t-shirt before looking back at him. Michael licks his lips grabbing her hand tighter. agrifoglio suddenly nudges closer to him with Michael following suit till they are nose to nose. They pause for a moment, both of their chests heaving with anticipation till they both go in for a baciare soft at first Michael takes his hand out of hers and touches her cheek as they continue to kiss. Michael’s brain is fuzzy except to realize that Holly’s kisses are soft and delicate, but persistent. She grabs his camicia to keep him close to her, not wanting him to stop. Unfolding her leg onto his lap he strokes the side of her jeans. At moments neither one can catch their breath but they don’t want to stop.
“The vultures are swarmin’!” Bill announces coming down the stairs forcing Michael and agrifoglio to break away from each other, rubbing their mouths with the back of their hands to act like everything is normal. Michael can’t help but feel a tinge of annoyance at Bill’s intrusion. “What, Bill?” Bill turns on the lights making both Michael and agrifoglio squint. “One of your new neighbors recognized Holly’s car parked in the box auto, garage and now news crews and fan are standing outside on the sidewalk.” agrifoglio looks at both of them, “What should we do?” She internally panics, as she never told her mom where she was going let alone visiting anyone. When she finds out it was an apartment complex, especially Michael’s she will go off. Bill looks around the room and grabs a throw blanket from the chair and throws it to Holly. “When we get in the garage, lay down in the backseat and throws this over you. I will drive te home and make them think they got the wrong car. Before it gets crazier out there, agrifoglio I need to get te home now.” Michael feels sadness at the thought and watches as Bill grabs agrifoglio and heads for the door. They didn’t even have time to say goodbye. He watches as they leave with only a void of silence left.
“Bill, is it working?” agrifoglio whispers as she can feel Bill pull out of the box auto, garage and past the number of people talking. Through the blanket, she can hear and see the flash of light bulbs. “Just stay where te are,” He murmurs as he continues to drive. As she lies there she thinks back to her and Michael’s baciare with the frenzy outside they didn’t have time to talk about it. What does this mean for them? Does Michael actually want something più from her? All these thoughts roll around in her head and make her stomach churn at the thought. Then she remembers how it felt to baciare him, the passion, the intensity, the wanting from both of them. It makes her smile and touch her lips just thinking about it. After all this time of thinking and fantasizing it finally happened. She feels absolutely no regrets and hopes he feels the same.
agrifoglio gets out of the car as Bill turns off her engine in her family’s parking lot. “Did anyone follow us?” “Nah, a few did but then they stopped halfway back. We’re all good.” He hands her the keys. “You want me to call te a taxi,” agrifoglio offers. “I ordered one before we left, it will be here in a few minutes. te get in the house, Holly. Mike will ask me about it if te don’t.” He smiles at her, “Goodnight, Holly.” “Night, Bill.” As agrifoglio walks up her front pathway she sees no lights on in the house. She unlocks the front door and closes it as quiet as she can before tip toeing upstairs. As she walks past her mother’s office door she sees a light turn on. “Holly, get in here now.” agrifoglio sighs out loud knowing she is busted. She walks in the doorframe and sees her mom sitting in her Leggere chair in her blue gingham nightgown, the standing light besides her illuminating her face. “Where were te tonight?” “I told te I was going out,” she reminds. “Yes, but te didn’t say where. Then I get a segnala on the local news channel that your car was spotted at an apartment complex.” “There are thousands of red mustangs in LA.” “Don’t sass me!” Mrs. Williams shouts. agrifoglio doesn’t even make a muscle at the outburst. “Now I’m going to ask te again, where were you?”
“I was with Michael.” Her mother nods with a smirk, “Of course, why didn’t I automatically assume that. Were te two in that apartment together?” “Yes,” agrifoglio says nonchalantly. “Did te sleep with him?” agrifoglio rolls her eyes before leaving the office to go to her bedroom. “Oh mom!” “Don’t te walk away from me missy! I demand an answer.” agrifoglio walks in her bedroom and throws her jean giacca and borsa on the bed. “No, I didn’t sleep with him. But what’s the use? te won’t believe me anyway.” Her mom stands there in the doorway with a disapproving look on her face and her arms crossed. “Then what did te do?” “We watched a movie, that’s all. I don’t think watching a movie with a man can get te pregnant,” agrifoglio says with sarcasm. “Well I can tell te one thing, te are grounded for the rest of the mese and are not allowed to see Michael till I say te can.” agrifoglio laughs, “You got to be joking? te practically threw me in with him and now te want permission for me to be with him as I’m older? And I’m nearly eighteen te can’t ground me.” “Oh really?” agrifoglio folds her arms across her, “Let’s be honest with each other for the first time in our lives. My money paid for this entire house and everything in it therefore it is my house and my rules. I don’t care what te do in o out of it, but te won’t tell me what to do, especially when I’ve done nothing wrong with him.” Her mom stands there in shock at her words. “You don’t care what I do mom, all te care about is how it affects my performing and making money. Well I’m fine and I can perform, therefore te don’t need to concern yourself with me…you never have anyway.” agrifoglio goes into her adjoining bathroom and slams the door behind her. For a night that was supposed to be happy for her it felt ruined once again da her mother.
agrifoglio closes her eyes and puts on the headphones to play the beat back ignoring her surroundings. “Holly!” Michael announces as he opens the studio door, searching for agrifoglio and sees her sitting at the mixing board with headphones on her ears, oblivious. Slowly, he walks over to her and places a hand on her shoulder making her shriek and jump up from the chair. As she turns around she sees Michael standing there laughing. “It’s not funny,” she frowns putting the headphones down on the console. “A little bit though, te jumped like two feet,” Michael says between chuckles as he pulls up a chair beside her. “What do te need, Michael?” “Well I came here to see if te wanted to come over to my new place?” “New place? Aren’t te living with your parents anymore?” “I am but I just bought the house from Joseph – long story. But I decided I’m going to tear it down and rebuild it so I needed an apartment, alone.” agrifoglio looks at him with a sassy look, “you and I alone in an apartment of yours, isn’t that your biggest nightmare, what if someone should see us?” agrifoglio rolls her eyes turning a few dials. Michael knows her sarcasm and looks down at the floor with a comeback. “I see that te are still upset with me.” “I’m not upset, I just know my place,” agrifoglio mumbles. “What place? te know you’re still my special girl.” agrifoglio looks over at him with a smirk, “Not as special as Diana.” Michael’s head snaps back, “Holly, Diana and I are just friends! She’s been there since giorno one of my career.” She shakes her head at his words, “I saw how te looked at her at the premiere, believe me she may be Friends with you, but te Amore her.” “Alright, maybe I had cucciolo Amore for her back in the day, but I was young, I know she could never be mine.” “Just like me too,” agrifoglio remarks just before grabbing some recording tape from the cabinet.
“That’s not fair, Holly. te know I - “ He stops himself before blurting something out. He knows what he feels for her but he can’t seem to tell her about them because once he does Michael knows he’ll never be able to stop. agrifoglio turns around, “Come on and finish that sentence. What’s the excuse this time? Am I too blonde? Too curvy?” “No, Holly, te are perfect. te know I’m not assertive da nature so this is difficult for me to do.” “Then you’ll never get anywhere in this world if te aren’t assertive, Michael. I know what I want in this world and I’m not afraid to say it.” With her back turned to him he glances at her backside and admires how curvy it is for the first time he feel something radically different inside him - desire and it intimidates him. He looks away and gulps hard to restraining this feeling that is welling deep inside of him. “You’re wrong Holly, I know what I want.” agrifoglio turns around in exasperation. “What! What do te want, Michael. Just tell me.” He looks at her deadpan, “I want you.” Finally, those three little words that have been unspoken between them for months have finally been said. Inside, Holly’s cuore feels like it is going to bust in happiness but paranoia suddenly sets in for her. “Are te mocking me?” Michael stands up and walks over to her where he sees the anxiety plastered over her features. “Of course not, Holly, but know our situation.” “What situation? I don’t see one, and if there is it’s because te put it there. I’m not going to be ashamed for the way I feel about te even if you’re too scared to admit yours. Until then – if ever, I have nothing else to say to you.” She turns her back on him, which is what hits Michael harder turning her back on him. Something deep inside him aches with pain at the prospect of losing her. Never in his life has he ever had a girl – woman who has infuriated him yet wanted più in his life. Yes, he can admit that he wants her but what would be the repercussions if he acted upon it? Michael wasn’t about to jeopardize his o her reputation.
“Look at me, Holly.” She keeps her back turned to him, her butt sticking out extra to give him the big ‘kiss my ass’ tone. Looking at different cassettes to keep her beats she suddenly feels his hands curl around the sides of her waist. Her breathing stills, falters, and hitches at the touch, this is the first time Michael touched her in a romantic fashion and it excites her. For so long she has fantasized about his touch, what it would feel like and now the moment is here giving a tingle up her spine making her eyes close and her mouth slack. She can hear his breathing in her left ear, it sounds irregular too making her wonder if he is feeling the same way too. “Holly, please listen to me,” Michael whispers making the words tickle the back of her ear. He grips her side’s tighter feeling her muscles contract and tighten under his grasp. Michael can feel his cuore skipping a beat as he inhales her sweet and alluring perfume. He closes his eyes momentarily to try and digita himself and his raging emotions. Without thought he presses his chest to her back sensing the curve of her spine and band of her bra, her chest heaving. “Why do te do this to me?” agrifoglio whispers as she drinks in the rarity of his touch. “Do what?” He murmurs back whiffing her hair that smells like of strawberries and cream it makes his mouth instantly water. “You push me away then make me want te più da doing this.” Every fiber in his being is railing against himself as he tries to stop this overwhelming desire for her that makes him feel like a red-hot-blooded man.
“I…I don’t mean to, but sometimes te drive me crazy in every sense of the word,” Michael admits skimming the sides of her body up, and down. Holly’s curves are sharp like a perfect hourglass as his fingertips lightly touch them making oca bumps appear on her skin. “That’s because te piss me off,” she spats out grabbing his hand on her sides before she turns around to face him. Dilated eyes to dilated eyes they cerca the others trying to figure out their successivo move. “A young girl shouldn’t use words like that,” Michael remarks moving her hands up to his lips. She snatches them away from him, “And that is where the problem lies. te will always see me as a little girl.” “No I don’t Holly, stop getting so defensive over everything I say to you.” A deep part of herself wants to see Michael riled up and to test her limits and boundaries of how far she can push his buttons to see what would occur if she did. “I’m not getting defensive, I’m just tired of te stringing me along. All te do is treat me like a child and I’m tired of it. It’s now o never, Michael.” Michael can feel his face and ears getting warmer, “I don’t like ultimatums, Holly.” “And I don’t like indecisive men, Michael.” This is the first time she has ever lipped off to Michael and he is quite taken back. Nobody has challenged him like this before and he likes it a little bit, at this very moment he can see no più of a little girl, but a woman challenging him for something more. “So this is the way its gonna be from now on between us?” agrifoglio shrugs casually, “I guess so. te obviously can’t commit to something, and I am tired of waiting for you.” She moves away from him and sits the tapes down on the mixing board before heading towards the door.
A constricting feeling is forming around Michael’s throat. He can’t let her go – not now, if he lets her walk out that door it will be over. “Holly, please don’t leave me. If te leave me, I have nothing left to make me happy. Please come to my apartment tonight, I’ll cook and we can watch a movie like the good old days.” He reaches out his hand to her wanting her to take it. She looks back at him and shakes her head with a scoff, “you never cooked for me.” “Well I’ll cook for te now, please don’t give up on me…on us.” Tears well up in her eyes at his words. No, she can’t give up on him it would destroy her. She dries her tears away with her fingers before looking back at him. “What time?” Michael can feel his cuore lighten at the words, “Around seven.” “Fine. I’ll be there.” “Promise?” “I promise,” agrifoglio remarks.
Later that evening agrifoglio is getting ready and hears the doorbell ring as she puts on her jean jacket. “Who’s that?” She can hear her mom shout from her office. “I don’t know yet mom, I’m not clairvoyant. I’m also heading out,” agrifoglio remarks as she walks past it with her borsa in hand. “Maybe te can return that serpents tongue of yours while you’re out,” her mom snaps back as agrifoglio bounds down the oak stairs past her father, brother, and sister in the living room listening to Family Feud. Opening the door she finds Bill standing there with his usual fedora and tired face. Michael’s bodyguard and her have always gotten along because she (like Michael) likes to tease him. They can banter for hours if they wanted to and for some odd reason she feels strangely at home with him. “Hi, Holly,” he gives her smile. “Hey Bill, is something wrong?” “No, everything is fine. Mike wanted me to drive with te over to his new place since it’s in a new neighborhood.” As agrifoglio closes the front door she raises an eyebrow, twirling her keys on her finger. “He doesn’t trust my driving does he?” “Not a chance,” Bill remarks getting in the passenger sede, sedile of Holly’s new red Mustang. “I don’t know how he can commento on my driving when he doesn’t even drive,” agrifoglio retorts putting the key in the engine hearing it purr. It makes agrifoglio giddy with the notion of freedom. “Now what is the first thing we do in the car, Holly?” She rolls her eyes, “We put on our seatbelts.” “Good, and what’s the secondo thing we do?” “We check our mirrors.” “Excellent. And what is the third thing we do?” agrifoglio smiles, “We floor it.” “Holly!” She cracks up with laughter. “I’m kidding! We undo the parking brake.” “Very good. Now, place your hands at ten and two on the steerin’ wheel and put the car in drive.” “You know Bill I have driven before.” “Not with me te haven’t, and after you’re done with me you’ll see why Mike doesn’t drive.” As agrifoglio looks both ways and turns onto the road she giggles, “A real side passenger critique, huh?” Bill scoffs, “If only. Turn right onto acero strada, via after this successivo light.” As they sit at the traffic light agrifoglio can see a crowd gathering at the strada, via corner pointing and cheering at her in the dusk of the Californian sun. She smiles and waves to them silently praying the light turns green before they come over to her. As it does and she sees the fan growing smaller in the distance she sighs with relief.
“That’s another reason why Michael doesn’t drive,” Bill murmurs as she turns right onto acero Street. “What do te mean?” “Back there, the pointing and cheering, it all makes him anxious, and with someone in his profession, he can’t afford a car accident. Turn left onto Compass strada, via here.” “I wish we were just like regular people with a regular life who didn’t have to deal with these issues,” agrifoglio remarks as she turns onto the street. On this particular street, it looks bleak with tents set up on the sidewalk and fuoco pits going. agrifoglio slows down slightly to observe the scene of people in tattered clothing and dirty faces. “What’s going on there, Bill?” He looks solemnly out the window, “Life, Holly, unfortunately, this is real life. Let this be a life lesson for te successivo time te complain of wantin’ to be like a regular person. At this stop sign go straight, it will take te to Mulberry Street.” The sight of those unfortunate people could not quickly go out of Holly’s mind. Bill was right; she had no right to complain. She didn’t know what hunger felt like, o where she was going to sleep next. The thought makes her feel ashamed at the way she had been behaving recently.
“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful,” agrifoglio remarks as they pass an endless array of houses. Bill looks over at her and gives her a kind smile. “I know, Holly. You’re a good girl, and I know that with this profession your life is not your own. But I see Mike in you; if te didn’t have performin’ your life would be empty. After this roundabout turn right onto Lager Avenue.” agrifoglio sighs at the observation. Bill is one hundred percent accurate, without performing and Scrivere Musica she wouldn’t know what to do with herself. Sometimes it made her feel inadequate that Musica was all she was actually good at doing. “Ok, after this successivo stop sign te want to make a right at the successivo apartment complex,” Bill, says waking her out of her thoughts.
As she pulls into the apartment complex she is surprised at the normalcy of the building of dark black glass and oro trimming. It looks so inconspicuous that even she was amazed at the place. “Mike wants te to pull into the parking box auto, garage that way your car won’t be seen from the road.” Driving up into the concrete parking box auto, garage and finding an empty spot agrifoglio realizes something for the first time. “Hey, Bill, why didn’t Michael come with you?” She unbuckles her sede, sedile cintura and makes sure that her headlights are off. “Well he was cookin’ and didn’t want to leave the stove on.” As Bill opens to the door to get out agrifoglio grabs his arm to stop him. “Wait, te mean he is actually cooking?” “Yeah.” “Real food?” “Yes.” “That can be consumed?” Bill shrugs, “Maybe not da humans, but somethin’ will be able to consume it. Now come on, he’s waiting for ya.” The thought of Michael standing over a cooking stove makes her want to chuckle. He is not a mechanical man and her only hope is that he doesn’t sound off the smoke detectors. But a part of her feels giddy at the notion that he is taking the time out to cook for him and her.
As the elevator doors slide open, agrifoglio can smell a faint aroma of Cibo in the air of the spacious apartment with the sound of boiling water on the stove. Bill ushers her in and laughs, “See and te thought I was jokin’. Mike, we’re here!” Michael comes out of the cucina with a dishcloth on his hands with a smile. “I see agrifoglio didn’t kill te with her driving, Bill.” Bill looks at both of them and shakes his head jokingly, “I don’t know it was a little dicey back there, thought I’d have to take over the wheel.” He gives her a wink. agrifoglio puts her hands on her hips with a smile, “Now come on! I stopped for that old lady with a walker at the crosswalk!” Michael bellows over in laughter as Bill continues to shake his head with a smile. “Mike, I’ll be upstairs if te two be needin’ anythin’.” As he makes his way to the stairs, agrifoglio looks at Michael with surprise. “Upstairs?” “Yeah, it’s a diviso, spalato level.” Michael walks up to her and a smile, placing his uncovered hand on her hip and gives her a baciare on the cheek. agrifoglio can feel a blush covering her face. “I’m glad te could make it,” he whispers. She looks at him with a smile plastered on her face with her cuore beating faster before looking down at his hand still covered in a dishcloth. “What did te do?” She asks with concern taking it in her hand and unwrapping it to see red burn marks. Michael winces, “It’s nothing, just a little water splashed on me that’s all.” His eyes widen and he gallops back into the kitchen, “The food!” He shouts. She follows him into the cucina to see the stove running full blast with boiling water seeping out onto the stovetop with a sizzle and sauce splattered everywhere. Michael frantically tries to turn the dials on the stove but his hand is hurting him.
“Here, let me,” agrifoglio says moving him out of the way turning the pots down on low making them settle down. She looks at the mess and smiles at him with a giggle coming out of her mouth. She covers her mouth with her hand to stop più from coming out. “It’s not funny Holly,” Michael says with a dejected look. “You’re right, it’s not. I see you’ve taken a few wrong turns though.” “Like what?” “Well first off, te got the spaghetti sauce on boiling, and the noodle water close to boiling with the noodles in it.” “I thought it would cook faster if I did it on boiling the entire time,” Michael murmurs looking down at his injured hand. agrifoglio gives him a knowing look, “First mistake in cooking, don’t rush your food. Now I’m going to turn these back up a little bit to have them finish cooking,” she says turning the dials to medium heat and stirring them lightly before turning back to Michael. “Now it’s your turn. Let me look at that hand of yours.” “Holly it’s fine!” Michael says pulling his hand away from her. She rolls her eyes. “Stop being such a baby. Where’s your butter?” Michael’s brow furrows at the domanda and points with his chin, “Over there.” She grabs it and brings it over to Michael leaning his backside to the counter. She unwraps his hand and examines it before dunking her fingers in the burro dish. “Holly, have te Lost your mind?” Michael asks as she rubs burro on his burns making him grimace with discomfort. “I learned this in-home cooking class Mr. Skeptical,” she remarks softly stroking his hand with hers. Michael watches her intently, feeling his chest tighten at the close proximity of her caring for him. He can’t help but close eyes his and just feel. “Now I’m going to put your hand under some cool water,” agrifoglio says turning the faucet on behind him and testing it before bringing his hand with hers.
She slowly rubs the burro off with her hands with the cool water mostrare his hand. Michael can’t help but smile at how intently she is absorbed in the task. She turns off the water and pats his hand dry slowly not to irritate it. She looks up at him as she keeps drying it. “Does it feel any better?” Michael nods, “A little.” agrifoglio smiles and kisses his palm that is facing up towards her. It is a long and soft kiss, this is the first time that Michael has felt her lips on him. Shivers go down his spine. “There, you’re all better. Now, lets check out the Cibo situation,” agrifoglio remarks walking over to the stove and checking the Cibo with a stir. Michael feels off balance and slightly dizzy, the sposta of hers was so small yet impactful. He never knew she would affect him like this. He looks over at her standing in front of the stove tasting the sauce with the spoon and grabs some spices from the spice rack on the counter and throwing a dash of something o other into the sauce and mixing it around. She turns around with the spoon in her hand. “Take a bite of this.” He goes over and takes a bite of the sauce that has a wonderful flavor. He nods his head approvingly, “It’s really good, but it would be better with hot sauce on it.” She rolls her eyes, “Why do I even ask? Where’s your bowls?” “In that cabinet there.” Michael stands back and watches as she dishes out the Cibo and hands him a bowl of spaghetti. “Does Bill want any food?” “Nah, he grabbed something before he went and got you. It’s just te and I.” “How scandalous,” agrifoglio jokes, following him into the dining room that is adjoining to the living room. She sees that the tavolo is already set with two lit candles on the table. She looks at him in surprise making him laugh. “You detto if I ever made my own record I would owe te a date, and since Off the bacheca will be released in a few months I thought I better make good on my promise.” He sets down his Cibo before pulling out her chair where she sits down still in shock.
“I can’t believe te remember that,” agrifoglio admits. “When it comes to you, I remember everything,” Michael adds sitting down at the table. They sit in silence for moments eating away. Even at this moment, agrifoglio cannot shake the memory of those poor disadvantaged people. “Bill and I saw a bunch of homeless people on the street,” agrifoglio blurts out in-between bites. Michael looks at her quizzically, “Really?” “Yeah, and it got me thinking of how it makes our lives look so simplistic in a sense. There are things that we don’t have to worry about while these people have to deal with everything. It’s put a few things in perspective for me,” agrifoglio adds looking down at her bowl of food. Silence evades the spazio again. She looks up at him. “I think I want to start a foundation for them, I want…I want to help people. Maybe that will make me feel like my life has a purpose.” “Your life does have a purpose, Holly. But if te want to start a foundation I think that’s a great idea.” “You do?” “Yeah, I can get a few contacts to te on how to start it if you’d like.” “I would,” agrifoglio smiles and continues to eat.
This is the first time Michael is discovering the tender and giving nature of Holly. She always had a sweet and sensitive side, but to see her want to do good in the world makes him fall for her harder. As he looks over at her and sees her twirling her spaghetti around in the bowl he tries to find some way to tell her once and for all how he feels about her. He opens his mouth but quickly shuts it. He mentally tells himself that he needs to do it like ripping a Band-Aid off, but he can’t muster up enough courage. agrifoglio looks up at him, “You know, Michael, it’s also made me realize that I’ve been very trivial over this whole thing between te and I, so what if we are never a couple? At least we will always be friends. Seeing those people tonight made me realize that my problems are very petty and I’m very sorry for things I’ve said. Can te forgive me?” Michael is shocked that he can’t even say anything. He nods his head, yes to make her stop looking at him. He feels a crushing deep within his cuore like somebody has just punched him. He clutches his injured hand as it starts to throb. This was not how this night was supposed to go. He totally blew his chance, and now he can’t find a way to cerchio around back to the topic.
The minuti tick away as both of them sit at the tavolo eating their dinner; Michael has suddenly Lost his appetite and pushes his bowl of Cibo away while agrifoglio continues to eat on. Looking around the room Michael schemes to find some way for them to be closer together, suddenly he sees a calendar hanging on the bacheca and an idea pops into his head. “You know Jaws 2 just released yesterday,” Michael remarks looking at her as she dabs her mouth with ease. “Oh yeah, I saw the Film had it playing.” “What if I told te I have it on VHS?” She looks at him with a smirk, “you and your connections.” “You wanna watch it?” agrifoglio shrugs, “Sure, should we clean up first?” “Nah leave it.” As Michael grabs the VHS from the superiore, in alto of the Televisione agrifoglio sits down on the divano waiting for him to start it. The thought of sitting successivo to Michael so close again makes her nervous with anticipation. Michael turns the lights off as the movie starts. “Is it too dark for you?” Michael asks as he sits down beside her so close that their legs touch. “You two okay down there?” Bill shouts from upstairs as he notices the sudden change in light from downstairs. Michael rolls his eyes, “Yes, Bill everything is fine. We just put on a movie.” “Did te ask him to stay here while we hung out?” Michael looks at her in the dark with only the reflection from the Televisione illuminating the side of her face. “I didn’t trust myself alone with you.”
Halfway through the movie of sudden plot twists and action-packed scenes agrifoglio can feel herself growing tired. Michael is thoroughly engrossed in the movie wishing he could just lie on the spiaggia among others and enjoy the day, except for the whole man-eating squalo thing. Unexpectedly, he feels something pressed against his arm. He looks over and sees agrifoglio pressing her head on superiore, in alto of his shoulder, curled up on the divano dozing off. He can’t help but smile at the sight and grab her hand that is lying casually on his leg. She stirs but keeps her eyes closed. The movie goes on and on with agrifoglio silently sleeping making it difficult for Michael to focus solely on the movie. The room feels peaceful despite the movie playing in the background with the LA skyline lit up in his opened balcony windows. To Michael, this is the first time he has felt calm tranquility off stage, especially with someone else. As the movie ends and the credits start playing agrifoglio stirs again, this time waking up in a daze. She looks up at Michael with tired eyes.
Neither one says a word except look at the other brown eyes to blue ones with content looks on their faces. agrifoglio nuzzles his soft t-shirt before looking back at him. Michael licks his lips grabbing her hand tighter. agrifoglio suddenly nudges closer to him with Michael following suit till they are nose to nose. They pause for a moment, both of their chests heaving with anticipation till they both go in for a baciare soft at first Michael takes his hand out of hers and touches her cheek as they continue to kiss. Michael’s brain is fuzzy except to realize that Holly’s kisses are soft and delicate, but persistent. She grabs his camicia to keep him close to her, not wanting him to stop. Unfolding her leg onto his lap he strokes the side of her jeans. At moments neither one can catch their breath but they don’t want to stop.
“The vultures are swarmin’!” Bill announces coming down the stairs forcing Michael and agrifoglio to break away from each other, rubbing their mouths with the back of their hands to act like everything is normal. Michael can’t help but feel a tinge of annoyance at Bill’s intrusion. “What, Bill?” Bill turns on the lights making both Michael and agrifoglio squint. “One of your new neighbors recognized Holly’s car parked in the box auto, garage and now news crews and fan are standing outside on the sidewalk.” agrifoglio looks at both of them, “What should we do?” She internally panics, as she never told her mom where she was going let alone visiting anyone. When she finds out it was an apartment complex, especially Michael’s she will go off. Bill looks around the room and grabs a throw blanket from the chair and throws it to Holly. “When we get in the garage, lay down in the backseat and throws this over you. I will drive te home and make them think they got the wrong car. Before it gets crazier out there, agrifoglio I need to get te home now.” Michael feels sadness at the thought and watches as Bill grabs agrifoglio and heads for the door. They didn’t even have time to say goodbye. He watches as they leave with only a void of silence left.
“Bill, is it working?” agrifoglio whispers as she can feel Bill pull out of the box auto, garage and past the number of people talking. Through the blanket, she can hear and see the flash of light bulbs. “Just stay where te are,” He murmurs as he continues to drive. As she lies there she thinks back to her and Michael’s baciare with the frenzy outside they didn’t have time to talk about it. What does this mean for them? Does Michael actually want something più from her? All these thoughts roll around in her head and make her stomach churn at the thought. Then she remembers how it felt to baciare him, the passion, the intensity, the wanting from both of them. It makes her smile and touch her lips just thinking about it. After all this time of thinking and fantasizing it finally happened. She feels absolutely no regrets and hopes he feels the same.
agrifoglio gets out of the car as Bill turns off her engine in her family’s parking lot. “Did anyone follow us?” “Nah, a few did but then they stopped halfway back. We’re all good.” He hands her the keys. “You want me to call te a taxi,” agrifoglio offers. “I ordered one before we left, it will be here in a few minutes. te get in the house, Holly. Mike will ask me about it if te don’t.” He smiles at her, “Goodnight, Holly.” “Night, Bill.” As agrifoglio walks up her front pathway she sees no lights on in the house. She unlocks the front door and closes it as quiet as she can before tip toeing upstairs. As she walks past her mother’s office door she sees a light turn on. “Holly, get in here now.” agrifoglio sighs out loud knowing she is busted. She walks in the doorframe and sees her mom sitting in her Leggere chair in her blue gingham nightgown, the standing light besides her illuminating her face. “Where were te tonight?” “I told te I was going out,” she reminds. “Yes, but te didn’t say where. Then I get a segnala on the local news channel that your car was spotted at an apartment complex.” “There are thousands of red mustangs in LA.” “Don’t sass me!” Mrs. Williams shouts. agrifoglio doesn’t even make a muscle at the outburst. “Now I’m going to ask te again, where were you?”
“I was with Michael.” Her mother nods with a smirk, “Of course, why didn’t I automatically assume that. Were te two in that apartment together?” “Yes,” agrifoglio says nonchalantly. “Did te sleep with him?” agrifoglio rolls her eyes before leaving the office to go to her bedroom. “Oh mom!” “Don’t te walk away from me missy! I demand an answer.” agrifoglio walks in her bedroom and throws her jean giacca and borsa on the bed. “No, I didn’t sleep with him. But what’s the use? te won’t believe me anyway.” Her mom stands there in the doorway with a disapproving look on her face and her arms crossed. “Then what did te do?” “We watched a movie, that’s all. I don’t think watching a movie with a man can get te pregnant,” agrifoglio says with sarcasm. “Well I can tell te one thing, te are grounded for the rest of the mese and are not allowed to see Michael till I say te can.” agrifoglio laughs, “You got to be joking? te practically threw me in with him and now te want permission for me to be with him as I’m older? And I’m nearly eighteen te can’t ground me.” “Oh really?” agrifoglio folds her arms across her, “Let’s be honest with each other for the first time in our lives. My money paid for this entire house and everything in it therefore it is my house and my rules. I don’t care what te do in o out of it, but te won’t tell me what to do, especially when I’ve done nothing wrong with him.” Her mom stands there in shock at her words. “You don’t care what I do mom, all te care about is how it affects my performing and making money. Well I’m fine and I can perform, therefore te don’t need to concern yourself with me…you never have anyway.” agrifoglio goes into her adjoining bathroom and slams the door behind her. For a night that was supposed to be happy for her it felt ruined once again da her mother.
