Sally Boy (10 page)

As Nicole and her friends talked, one of her
girlfriends told a joke that made Nicole laugh causing her hair to
fall into her eyes. When she tossed back her hair, her head lifted
slightly, and she made direct eye contact with Sal through the sea
of faces. Instantly, Nicole’s face lit up and she smiled
warmly.

“Jesus Christ! I don’t fucking believe it,”
Anthony cried out jealously.

“Take it easy, Anthony. She just smiled at
him. That don’t mean nothing. She’s a fucking cheerleader. They
smile at everybody,” Mikey rudely pointed out.

Excitedly, Nicole motioned Sal to come to
her.

“Madonn! You lucky fucking bastard.” Mikey
shook his head in disbelief. “I never woulda believed it if I
didn’t see it with my own eyes.”

“I thought youse guys was supposed be my
best friends,” Sal remarked disappointed in their lack of faith. “I
never woulda lied to youse. Never! And just for the record, Mike.
Luck’s got nothing to do with it. I’ll see youse later. I got
better things to do than waste my time hanging out with you two
jerk-offs.”

“Sal, where you going?” Anthony foolishly
asked.

“Where do you think genius?”

As Sal stepped toward Nicole, Anthony
reached out trying to grab hold of his sleeve. “Don’t do it, Sal.
She ain’t worth the trouble.”

Sal pulled his arm away and continued toward
Nicole.

“I don’t know what he’s getting all bent
outta shape about?” Mikey said shrugging. “I didn’t mean nothing by
that. No sense in us just standing around watching, right? There’s
plenty of pussy here for everybody.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you later. I think I saw
Marissa sitting all alone.” The two then turned and went their
separate ways.

The basement was dimly lit, smoky, and
steaming with raging hormones as the party shifted into full swing.
Everyone was drinking heavily and the bullshit was piling up.
Joyful laughter emanated from every small, huddled group. Couples
slow grinded in the center of the room. A girl slapped the face of
a guy whose ideas of romance weren’t to her liking. Over in the
corner a minor scrap flared up over a female but was quickly broken
up. Joints were being passed around and several of the more
inexperienced drinkers raced outside to throw up.

Finally, battling his way through the crowd,
Sal stood before Nicole. “How you doing, Nicole?” he asked in his
sexiest voice.

As if planned, Nicole’s two friends receded
silently into the background.

“I’m doing much better now,” Nicole answered
softly.

Smiling, Sal asked coyly, “Oh, yeah. Why is
that?”

“Well, I was hoping you were going to show
up, and now you’re here.”

“You was waiting for me?”

“Yes, I was. Aren’t you going to sit
down?”

“Sure.” Taking a seat right next to her, Sal
asked, “So was you waiting long?”

“Not too long.”

“Good. Are you having a good time,
Nicole?”

“I’m having a great time. What about
you?”

“I am now.”

Nicole smiled. “I’m glad.”

“So what’ve you been up to lately? I ain’t
seen you around Tony’s in a while.”

“You know, school, cheerleading, stuff like
that. I’m getting ready to apply to college. What about you?”

Leaning in close to her, Sal looked deeply
into Nicole’s eyes, “I do what I do. You know how things are around
here.”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Embarrassed, Sal quickly withdrew. “Like
what?”

“Like the way you’re looking at me right
now.”

“Sorry.”

“No, that’s okay.”

“Does it bother you when I look at you?” Sal
purposely leaned in even closer.

Nicole giggled. “No. I like the way you look
at me.”

“You do, huh. Why is that?”

“I just do. It makes me feel...tell me what
you’re thinking when you look at me like that?”

“You really wanna know what I’m
thinking?”

Again, Nicole giggled. “Yes, Sal, I do.”

“God, I love your laugh. You sound just like
a little girl in a grown up girl’s body when you laugh.”

“Thank you. Don’t change the subject.”

“What was the question, again?” Sal
teased.

Nicole rolled her eyes and cried, “Sal!”

“I was thinking about this one time on this
school trip, we went to this museum, and we saw this painting of
this girl. I think her name was Mona Lisa. She was supposed to be
like one of the most beautiful girls in the world.”

“You’re thinking about her now? Thanks a
lot.”

“No! Not about her, Nicole. I was just
thinking that the guy who painted her, he shoulda painted you
instead.”

“Why is that?”

“’Cause you’re so much more beautiful than
her.”

“That is so sweet. Thank you, Sal,” Nicole
said warmly.

“You’re welcome. I was really hoping you was
gonna be here tonight, Nicole. I spoke to Philly C. Did he tell
you?”

“Yes, he told me,” Nicole said shyly. “I
wanted him to talk to you.”

“I ain’t gonna try and play it cool, Nicole.
Truth is I’ve been crazy about you for a long time. I’m really glad
you came tonight.”

Taking a deep breath, Nicole whispered
softly, “I’m really glad I came too.”

Tentatively, Sal leaned in and gently
pressed his lips against hers. Nicole stuck her tongue deep into
Sal’s mouth and strongly rolled over, pulling him down on top of
her.

The basement screen door flew open, smashing
against the wall, and almost swatting several girls standing near
it. Sonny Giordano stumbled through the doorway, holding a
half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels in one hand and a smoke in the
other. Two tough-looking guys dressed in jeans and black t-shirts
followed close behind him, unaware of the dangers that awaited
them.

Sonny was tall, with a swimmer’s physique.
He had better than average looks, dark brown hair, and a lazy eye
that no one talked about because of a rumor that he once stabbed a
guy for making a joke about it. Having a reputation as a notorious
liar, Sonny preferred to use a knife rather than his fists in
physical confrontations, and he frequently relied on his father’s
status as a means to intimidate any guy who stood up to him. Every
time Nicole tried to get away from him, Sonny would track her down,
and then make an embarrassing scene if she didn’t leave with him.
These immature tactics had worked very well for Sonny in the past,
but it seemed this time that his luck had finally run out.

One of the thugs accompanying Sonny
immediately recognized the distinctive colors worn by almost every
guy at the party. Grabbing Sonny by his shirt, the boy pinned him
up against the wall. “You never told us we was gonna be crashing a
Golden Guinea’s party. Are you fucking nuts?”

The other boy looked around nervously. “Yeah
Sonny, let’s get the fuck outta here. I ain’t looking for this
kinda trouble.”

Dropping his bottle of Jack Daniels and
cigarette, Sonny broke free of the boy’s grasp. “I know these
fucking guys. Awright? We’re friends. Youse ain’t got nothing to
worry about. Besides, these assholes know who my old man is.”

“Let’s just find your girl and get the fuck
outta here,” the first boy said hesitantly, sharing a look of
skepticism with his friend. “Awright, Sonny?”

“Now you’re talking like you got balls.
Let’s go.” Recognizing a face in the crowd, Sonny stumbled toward a
tall, robust fellow smoking a cigarette and pounding a beer. “How
you doing, Angelo?” Sonny asked as if they were friends.

Looking Sonny over with contempt, Angelo
responded rudely, “I’m doing good.”

“Hey, you see Nicole around?”

“Nah.” Angelo shook his head.

“She was supposed to be at a fucking slumber
party at that little bitch Lisa’s house. When I showed up there to
surprise Nicole, she wasn’t there. Nobody wanted to tell me where
she was...” Sonny laughed, “...but I got ’em to talk.”

“Yeah, that’s great, Sonny,” Angelo
remarked, indifferently.

“I guess I’ll just keep looking for
her.”

“Yeah, you do that, Sonny.”

Too drunk to understand that he was being
disrespected, Sonny smiled. “Thanks, Ang. You’re a good
friend.”

“Why don’t you try looking for her over
there?” Angelo suggested as he stiff-armed Sonny away from him.

Foolishly, the boys proceeded through the
party searching for Nicole. As they weaved their way through the
gathering, Sonny came upon Marissa sitting on a love-seat,
making-out with Anthony.

Knowing she was a close friend of Nicole’s,
he staggered toward them, and almost fell right into their laps.
Managing to regain his balance at the last second, Sonny forced
them apart. “Where’s Nicole?” he demanded like a spoiled child.

Looking up, Marissa shrieked, “What the
hell, Sonny?”

“I know she’s here. Don’t fucking lie to
me.”

“Why don’t you try looking for her
yourself?” Under her breath, Marissa mumbled, “Asshole!”

“What the fuck did you say?”

“Nothing,” Marissa replied innocently.

“Where’s Gina? She’s probably with
Nicole.”

“Sonny, I got better things to do than keep
tabs on my friends. I’m trying to have a good time, too, you
know?”

“Stupid bitch!” Drawing a switchblade from
his pocket, Sonny popped the blade open and waved it in Marissa’s
face. “After I find Nicole, I’m gonna come back here and take carea
you. You little cunt!” Sonny then folded the blade back in and
tucked the knife into his pocket. Turning to his friends, Sonny
ordered, “C’mon, let’s keep looking.” As Sonny and his friends
moved on, Anthony jumped to his feet.

“Where the hell are you going?” Marissa
shrieked.

“Sal’s with Nicole, I gotta warn him. I’ll
be right back.” Kissing Marissa one last time, Anthony chased after
Sonny. “Hey Sonny, how you doing?” Anthony shouted, trying to alert
Sal to Sonny’s presence.

“Leave me alone. I’m looking for somebody,”
Sonny muttered angrily.

“Sonny, who you looking for?” Anthony yelled
back even louder.

Coming to an abrupt stop, Sonny turned and
seized two fistfuls of Anthony’s shirt. “Shut the fuck up, asshole.
I’m looking for my girl, you little prick.” Lifting Anthony up off
the floor, Sonny tossed him into a group of people.

Out of the corner of his eye, Sonny caught a
glimpse of a familiar blonde making out with some guy on a
love-seat. As he focused his stare on the couple, Sonny could
plainly see Sal and Nicole going at it. “What the fuck?” he
muttered, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

Plowing his way through the crowd, Sonny
pushed aside girls and carelessly bumped into guys spilling their
drinks. Standing before Sal and Nicole, Sonny ripped them apart and
shouted, “Nicole, what the fuck are you doing?”

Embarrassed, Nicole’s face turned bright red
and her jaw dropped. Sonny stuck his finger in Sal’s face. “What
the fuck do you think you’re doing with my girl?”

“I’m not your girl, Sonny!” Nicole cried out
in frustration, and then defensively leaned in behind Sal.

Sonny’s face tightened and his eyes blinked
rapidly. “I ain’t talking to you right now, Nicole. I’m talking to
this, asshole. What the fuck do you think you’re doing with my
girl, scumbag?”

Sal turned toward a now trembling Nicole. “I
know what’s been going on. He ain’t gonna bother you or your little
brother ever again. I promise.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Nicole looked
deeply into Sal’s eyes and whispered, “Thank you.”

“Listen, jerk-off, everybody knows that
Nicole ain’t your girl. You’re just making a fool outta yourself by
telling everybody she is. So stop it! Awright? And I’m telling you
right now, Sonny. If you bother Nicole or her little brother ever
again, there ain’t gonna be enough of you left to bury. Now go
home, before you get hurt.”

“Do you believe this fucking guy? You got
some fucking balls. You know that? You’re fooling around with my
girl and you’re telling me to go home.”

“Didn’t you hear what she just said?”

“I don’t care what she said. She’s my girl!
You hear me?”

Scurrying to the record player, Marissa
lowered the volume. The entire party slowed and everyone huddled
around the two combatants. Several of the bigger guys congregated
to see the show, and if need be, keep order.

Standing slowly, Sal adjusted his pants.
“You know, Sonny, you got everybody in the neighborhood thinking
you’re such a tough guy. But you ain’t tough! You’re nothing but a
little punk hiding behind his old man.”

Sonny half-heartedly lunged at Sal, but he
was restrained. “You’re real fucking brave here with all your
boys.”

“I’m not the one who has to threaten a girl
just to get her to go out with me. You should be ashamed of
yourself, you stupid, cocked-eyed bastard.”

A loud “OOOH!” emanated from the crowd.

“You’re fucking dead! You hear me? I’m gonna
cut your fucking heart out!”

“You know something else, Sonny? Your breath
is so bad it could knock a buzzard offa shit pile.”

The crowd howled with laughter. One guy spit
beer out of his mouth spraying other people. Two more fell to the
floor laughing still holding their drinks. Again, Sonny tried to
lunge at Sal, but once more he was restrained, only this time, more
aggressively.

Entering the basement through the screen
door, Frankie was surprised to see that the party had stalled. At
twenty-years-old, Frankie was one of the oldest members of the
Golden Guineas, and by far their best fighter. Big, tough, and
mean, Frankie had very little tolerance for people he didn’t like.
He got his nickname Knuckles when he was fourteen, after he beat-up
a grown man twice his age. The bloody and battered man was
overheard confiding in his friends after his humiliating defeat,
“All I could see was these giant fucking knuckles hitting me in the
face.” Ever since, the name stuck.