Underbelly (Open.)

[Bottiglia.Paz'zia] · Number of posts: 180 Age: 18 Registration date: 2009-10-27

Frankie proved to be his normal self, back to being her body guard. It was a pitty, they had been so close last night. It seemed like it was a shame to forget about what they had shared. He was the only person who actually cared about her, but maybe that was because of what happened. Maybe he had just been worried that Giovanni would fire him if he didn't get on her good side.

She sighed very quietly to herself in the back seat as she glanced out the window. Soliel wasn't that far from where she lived and she knew that they would be in town soon. He would probably bring her to the very expensive strip mall since she had said that she wanted to go shopping. Kristina stole a small glance at the back of his head while he was driving and instantly felt guilty for trying to think that Frankie was more concerned about his job. No, last night they had shared something. He had become something special in the night, but he knew as much as she did what that meant. They had broken the rules of their 'relationship' and had to ignore it.

Then they were there and he was opening the door for her. She smiled as she stepped out and flipped her hair over her shoulder, throwing Frankie a wink. She knew how their relationship was supposed to go and she would act her part. It wasn't like she was head over heels in love with him. It wasn't like she even had a crush on him. Heck, she wasn't even allowed to date. It was just....sad.

Her eyes sparkled softly as she gazed passed him for a moment and then locked her eyes back on him. "You're going to go with me, right?" She asked, stepping in close to him and slipping her arms around his neck like she had at the club last night. She smirked at him and gave a soft, sultry laugh. "Because I might be afraid to go by myself," She finished as her bottom lip slipped out in a mock pout.

Stanmore · Subject: Re: Underbelly (Open.) Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:47 pm

Already, Frankie could sense that everything was back to normal. There were no lingering feelings, no loving stares or exchange of friendly smiles anymore. He was back to being a bodyguard, and after letting the woman in to the back seat, Frankie closed the door behind her and sat back behind the wheel. The 70s radio station was gone, in its place was the local radio station playing all the current 80s hits. His front driver's window was down, allowing cool air to blow in to his face. His eyes were shielded with a pair of sunglasses, darkening the road in front. Lucky him, a day out shopping. How he hated it. The only time Frankie went shopping was when one of his clothes were ruined, and even then, shopping for a simple t-shirt was a chore.

At least he still had a job, that was a plus point taken from last night. He didn't know of the threat written down on the piece of paper shoved down Kristina's top last night, however, that she had been threatened to be killed. Obviously her father wouldn't have let her go out if he had read it either, but that wasn't of his concern. If Giovanni wanted Frankie to be involved in his affairs, he would tell him. Anything that happened outwith his bodyguard duties was of no interest to him.

Parking the car after the short journey, Frankie slipped out and opened the back door for Kristina. He was tempted to let her get out herself, but he figured she'd sit in there all day to prove a point until he opened it. Removing the sunglasses and dipping them in to his shirt pocket, her bodyguard looked around and began to follow her wherever she went.

[Bottiglia.Paz'zia] · Number of posts: 180 Age: 18 Registration date: 2009-10-27

Kristina came out the front door on time after slipping on her summer wedges. It was so warm outside today and she was rather excited to go shopping. She wore a very short white summer dress that danced expertly about her thighs, her hair failing down about her shoulders, one side pinned back by a large white flower near her ear. Frankie came out of the car and he was dressed appropriately. She would have laughed in his face if he would have come up to her in a suit, and she would have made him run everywhere with her because she wanted him to pay for making such a silly decision. Impressing daddy wasn't worth wearing a suit today.

She could see in his face a bit of worry, yet a sort of slack that made it seem as if he had forgotten about last night. She hadn't forgotten, but she wished that she could. Therefore, Kristina wasn't going to say a thing. She smirked to him, her pale pink, lipstick-free lips curling into her seductive smile as she slipped her fragile hand inside of his. "Take me to Soliel, I wanna go shopping," She purred to him with a grin before scurrying off to the car and standing by the back door.

Stanmore · Subject: Re: Underbelly (Open.) Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:27 pm

Once again, Frank Dupraz sat in the black sedan outside of the Peretti residence, waiting for the ice princess herself to come out. OK, so she was no longer the ice princess he had been led to believe she was, but last night was an exception. Frankie was actually hoping that last night's incident would be forgotten, everything from the attack in the club, to the discussion they had in the car at the end of the night. He was her bodyguard, she was the daughter of an extremely dangerous and temperamental man.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky today, so Frankie had prepared himself and had been allowed to slacken his dress code. A pair of jeans replaced the suit trousers, and a pin-striped white shirt was on top. The sleeves were rolled up as usual, and a pair of trainers completed the look. Not quite as smart as last night, but he didn't plan on sweating buckets in a suit when it was a thousand degrees outside. When she appeared at the front door of the large house, Frankie mirrored his actions last night and exited the car to open the back door for her. He gave a brief smile that she looked just as beautiful as last night, but was hoping that their relationship would return to her ordering him about, and him following orders. "Where are you going today, ma'am?" Frankie asked, holding the door open to let her in.

[Bottiglia.Paz'zia] · Number of posts: 180 Age: 18 Registration date: 2009-10-27

The fact that he didn't say anything just made it better. He didn't say "sorry", or anything like he pretended to sympathize with her. Maybe he empathized with her because he was missing a parent, or maybe he had no idea what she was feeling like. Either way, he didn't say anything and it felt like a huge weight was lifted off of her shoulders. She felt like she could cry now and everything would be better. Too bad Kristina didn't cry, not since she was 7 years old because that was when she learned that tears weren't going to bring back her mother.

She nuzzled her face into his shirt and sucked in a deep breath of his now familiar scent as he parted them. "Yeah," She answered in a small, far away voice. She didn't want to go inside. Inside she was going to be forgotten, but here with Frankie he actually saw her. Maybe that was why she had tried so hard to get his attention at the club, because he didn't look at her like all the other guys did. He actually saw what was underneath her. She turned away from his face and started to climb out of the car, sliding to the edge of her seat.

Before she stepped out of the car she turned her head over her shoulder to look at him. He was so soft just then. He wasn't the hard body guard like everyone else. At least he could understand her. She extended her arm out and laid her palm against his cheek, gently smiling at him in a sort of sad way as she rubbed her thumb against his soft skin. Maybe if they had met on other circumstances something good could have come of this. "Don't worry, I'll make sure that you don't loose your job." She whispered to him, leaning forward to place a kiss ever so softly on his cheek before she climbed out of the car and rushed inside the house. She was going to go to sleep, forget about this, tell her father in the morning and then ask to be escorted out of town by Frankie...for the whole day.

Stanmore · Subject: Re: Underbelly (Open.) Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:04 pm

Frankie was stunned that she felt she could trust him with such a tragic backstory. This was the origins of her story, she was telling him. Why Giovanni raised her as a single parent, why she always went everywhere with a bodyguard. A few hours ago he was a stranger, a driver employed by her father like many others before him. Yet here they were, in the back seat of her car, her seductive exterior now shattered and the true little girl had been revealed. Like an unexpected plot twist. Still, Frankie was rather speechless, and instead merely pressed his lips against the side of her head -- considering her face was dug deep in to his shoulder.

No one had came out yet, it was late anyway, so her father was probably in his bed sleeping. Part of Frankie didn't want to leave her in this state, as if he was the only one who could reach out to her at this point. But she looked like she needed her bed, and Frankie gave her the bad news that they had to go their separate ways now. "You better go inside, get to your bed. I'll see you the next time your dad needs a taxi driver." He turned her head away from his shoulder, and their eyes locked together. Frankie gave a small, assuring smile as if to say he understood everything she told him, and was somewhat thankful and honoured that she released all that emotion out to him. Was this the moment they kissed, or did they hug, or just wave? Frankie didn't want to spoil the evening, so did nothing and instead leaned over to open the door so she could get out.

[Bottiglia.Paz'zia] · Number of posts: 180 Age: 18 Registration date: 2009-10-27

Why did life hate her? Just when she was starting to have a good time too. It had been years, so many years since something like this had happened to her that she had almost felt like the scars left by it were going away. Now, with this incident she could feel everything starting to well up inside of her and the car ride home seemed like it was far too long. Kristina was a strong woman and she didn't want to ever let anyone see that she was vulnerable but now she couldn't help it. She constantly kept her lips pursed during the ride home, refusing to say a word to Frankie even though he had nothing to do with what had happened to her there. It was all her father's fault.

When they finally made it home, Kristina let out a breath that she had been holding. At least she didn't have to confront anything yet. Then, Frankie did the strangest thing. He came into the back seat with her and wrapped his arms around her. He didn't say anything, but that was okay with her, he didn't need to. It was the gesture that mattered. No one in her life had stopped to think about how anything was affecting her. Her father was an overgrown tyrant who only cared about his money, even though he loved her. Yes, Giovanni did love his daughter with all of his heart, but he never stopped to listen to her. No one did, except Frankie.

Kristina took in a deep breath and let it out, hearing it rattle in her chest as her body began to shake as she broke down into his arms. She lifted her arms and wrapped them tightly around his neck, burrowing her face into his shoulder where he wouldn't be able to see her face, her frightened face. "You know," She started in a low voice near his ear - not the same voice that she used at the club, but a sweet, gentle, soft voice. "When I was 7 years old I was out feeding the ducks at the park with my mom and my dad. A man came out of the bushes with a gun and told my dad that he wanted some money, threatening to hurt me and my mom. My dad said that he would give the money up as long as he didn't hurt his family. The man got his money, then he shot my mother three times and when he tried to shoot me, my dad got him first. But the man managed to get a bullet off, but it was just off center. It ricocheted off of a stop sign on the nearby street and knicked me in the leg. I've had a scar ever since. That was when my dad made me go everywhere with a body guard."

Stanmore · Subject: Re: Underbelly (Open.) Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:24 pm

The car journey home was long. Frankie blamed himself. And with every red light that halted the vehicle, he wished to slam his palms against the leather of the steering wheel in frustration. He had said very little to Kristina since the incident. If only he had told her to stay beside him, she wouldn't have had that man take her away and put his hands all over her. The one job he was given tonight, and he failed at it. There was a definite sombre mood, and the 70s rock station did little to improve it. No one found the man that grabbed her, he escaped back to what ever hole in the wall he came from. It was understandable that because of her family, she would come across certain bad characters every so often.

With the Pink Flamingo now a distant memory in his rear-view mirror, Frankie took the car back to her family house and parked the vehicle in front of the garage. Instead of just standing at the door to let her out, Frankie climbed in to the back seat and closed the door behind him, putting an arm around the young woman. He knew that it was traumatic for her, and he didn't care what her father would do to him when he found out what had happened. Just now, he wanted to make sure she was alright and would walk in to that house without a tear in her eye.

Moving a strand of hair from her face, Frankie didn't really know what to say. That he was sorry? That it was going to be alright? Or just let her cry it all out? One thing he had a lack of ability for was helping someone with an emotional problem. It was why he was not boyfriend material, he didn't understand things like that.

[Bottiglia.Paz'zia] · Number of posts: 180 Age: 18 Registration date: 2009-10-27

She could feel Frankie's eyes on her back, watching her every moment as she was lead away by this man. She was expected to be brought to the center of the dance floor so that everyone could see who she was dancing with, but that wasn't the case. He took her far away from all the other people, which was strange to her. Kristina was used to having people wanting to dance with her bring her to the center so that they could flaunt off who they were dancing with. Something was strange here, especially in the way that he stepped in front of her and grabbed her. Something very strange - almost possessive.

"Are you really? That's cool, sure I'd give him a -" She had started to talk to him, brushing off the feeling that something wasn't right about him, but had gotten cut off by the sudden jerk in close to him and the feeling of the dagger on her chest. She lifted her chin up above the dagger and stared into his eyes. Sure enough, there was that dark deep hatred, that nasty evil beast that showed he wanted to kill her. He wanted to kill her so bad. Her bottom lip quivered, but just slightly. She knew that she had to keep her composure or risk drawing attention to herself and getting herself killed. What would daddy do if she died? He would go on a killing spree and would probably start with Frankie. She couldn't let that happen.

Kristina swallowed passed the lump in her throat and tried to get around the fear that she was feeling was over her body. Fear and panic. "Money, right," She answered with a curt nod of her head, trying to move her body and her lips as little as possible. Who knew what this man was capable of? Then she felt his nasty, greasy fingers reach down into her shirt and he was gone. She took the piece of paper out and held it between her fingers - closed. She didn't want to know what it said. Then, with her knees shaking she placed her hand across her chest and screamed across the club.

"He touched me! Oh my god he just violated me!" Which worked in the way that it created as much chaos as possible as all the people in the club turned to each other and began arguing to find out who it was that had violated Miss Peretti. Then she turned her eyes to Frankie with a panicked look of get me the hell out of here.

Stanmore · Subject: Re: Underbelly (Open.) Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:23 am

Did he see that right, or was the drink already effecting him? Frankie hadn't had anything before he left the house, didn't even have time to stop off at the local fast food restaurant before rushing to make sure he was sitting in Giovanni's car earlier than he was supposed to be. The last thing he wanted was to be late. But no, it wasn't the stupid thoughts of the origins of drunkeness -- she really had begun to meet his lips when that punk came over with a sob story that could win a talent show.

He felt her torn away from him, as if something could have happened during that stupid, brief moment, but could not do anything but accept she wanted to dance even more. Jesus, he needed plenty of stamina just watching her, and that was while he was sitting in a seat doing nothing as well.

The man escorted Kristina to the dance floor, leading her to the side furthest away from Frankie. With it still crowded, he made sure to have Kristina facing away from him. "Thanks for the dance. You don't know who I am, but I'm a friend of your cousin, Luka. I've got a little message for him, that I want you to pass on for me." Everything changed when suddenly, Kristina found something sharp sticking in to her chest. His tight grip meant that she was unable to escape his clutches, and his eyes displayed a hatred that meant he was more than willing to stab her if she dared attempt to call for help from her boyfriend. "He owes my family a lot of money, and we want it all back -- paid with interest now. Luka and your daddy have 'til six o'clock tomorrow night. Tell them to read this." A small, folded piece of paper was thrusted down Kristina's top, before the man scurried away like a little rat. Frankie got to his feet to see what was happening, but he was too late.

Six o'clock -- leave money in bin outside the Pancake diner -- or Kristina is dead.
Was the words on the note.

[Bottiglia.Paz'zia] · Number of posts: 180 Age: 18 Registration date: 2009-10-27

The drinks looked like they were made with all the love and care in the world, and as the barman set them down she threw him a wink before he scurried away with a heavy blush across his cheeks. Smiling to herself, Kristina took her glass in her fingers and watched as Frankie did the same, continuing to smile as she poured some of the sweet liquid down her throat. "There, now doesn't that feel better?" She asked rather dramatically, extending a hand off of his shoulder, rubbing against his throat.

She laughed at his statements. Frankie was rather funny and she found that she was liking having his company. He had his own way of thinking that was so different from her fathers and everyone else that she was used to. "You know me," She said as she dipped her head in a little closer. "I love to dance." She watched his eyes as she spoke, watched as they watched her. They seemed to be looking at her face, and then they glazed over. What was he thinking? Then his face started to drift in closer to hers and her heart fluttered inside of her chest. She had never been kissed by a man before. Suddenly the night had gotten so interesting and she found herself leaning just a little forward to meet him halfway.

Then the voice cut in and Kristina shrugged the chills off of her back. She turned and looked at the man her chocolate waves falling across her face as she smiled and leaned across the table, slipping her beautiful manicured hand into his. She didn't know him and it was rather strange that he had come out of no where, but he was probably someone whom she had danced with before and was coming back for more. She giggled as she looked to Frankie and winked at him, using the gentleman's help to shimmy her way back out of the booth again.

Stanmore · Subject: Re: Underbelly (Open.) Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:07 am

"I don't need a drink," Frankie commented, but before he could deny her request to the barman, he was away making the drinks she had ordered. Maybe he could have one, where was the harm in having one? It wasn't like he was going to be participating in a full-blown drinking session, famous last words. When the two glasses were finally placed down in front of them, he lifted it up and began to feel the trickle of liquid tickle his throat. Was nice. Maybe it would help him relax a little, take his mind off the million of things that could go wrong tonight. "Horrible," he lied.

There was still a short while of the night left. "...And I bet you're wanting to go back up on that dance floor, even though you've been up there for nearly the whole night. Maybe I'm a little old for this kind of thing." Old? He was only two or three years older than the girl sitting next to him. And she was close again, so close he could smell the origins of the perfume sprayed on before she left the house. It smelled good, almost an invitation. Her lips looked as if they would taste of ambrosia, the food of the Gods. Maybe he should touch them. A quick peck, it wouldn't harm anybody. Not like he was breaking any rules, was it? Of course he was. But Giovanni didn't have to know about anything that went on between them.

Before he could do anything -- she would notice that his face seemed to be growing closer to her -- a man stood at the table, wearing a colourful shirt and jeans. "Miss Peretti. It would be honour if I could share a dance with you, for my favourite song." He looked the part, a romantic fool with a flirtatious smile. Something wasn't right, but what ever that was, he hid it well. "I only ask for one dance, then I shall be gone."