Twisted Devotion to My Mafia Kings

Raven - 10 Years Ago I clutched my current read to my chest like it was a lifeline. I stood in the hallway outside the cafeteria, practically shaking like a leaf. Yesterday, I had a tray of spaghetti dumped over my head and I swear I can still smell the roasted tomatoes from the sauce still in my hair even though I showered twice in the gym locker room after school. It's not like I could get lunch today anyway. I didn't have money on my lunch account, and it's not like my foster parents would unlock the damned cupboards, so I could at least pack my own lunch. The cabinets were never unlocked, and I was never allowed to have the key. It sucked. My stomach rumbled and ached at the smell of the food they cooked today. I bit my lip and peeked through the door. There were so many people. Some of them never paid me any mind and I preferred it that way. But certain crowds? I was always their main source of entertainment. I pulled my sweatshirt down as much as I could to cover my stomach. I liked to nitpick at my appearance as much as anybody else. Well, everyone else likes to do it too. Being a sophomore in high school was harder than it seemed. Being a kid was harder than it seemed. I am fifteen years old, I have PCOS, Diabetes, and currently weigh about one hundred and fifty pounds more than I should. If I had the proper medications, like insulin and medical care for my conditions, I could control my weight, but try telling that to my foster parents. It doesn't matter that I'm provided with insurance, and they're paid to care for me. They give me an allowance of insulin that's nowhere near what I need to survive, but I make it work. At least... I'm trying to. There have been multiple times when my blood sugar has been hard to maintain, and I thought I was going to die. They never cared. One time, I tried to tell my caseworker about what was going on. They came for a home visit and, of course, they pretended to be the perfect doting parents they allow others to see. I tried to signal her that they were lying. That it was all a facade. She didn't see. She didn't see me. I was just another child on her roster of names that she had to "manage". As soon as the door shut, my foster father ripped his belt from its loops and struck me over and over again until my back started to bleed. I didn't scream though. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction. It would only be another scar to add to the mural currently decorating my body. That was why I only wore long sleeves, pants or sweats. I never showed skin. I learned that the more people who saw the bruises and scars, the more I would be punished for them later. I hate the life I live now. I missed my parents. My real ones. I had been five when they died in a car accident. We were on our way to one of my endocrinology appointments. I squeezed my eyes shut at the memories that threatened to float to the surface. There were still times I could hear the crunch of metal, the burn of oil and gasoline. Feel the heat of the flames growing higher over the car. I could still hear the glass shattering as the firefighters used the jaws of life to get me out of the car. I still had a hard time riding in a car. Sometimes it was like the anxiety gripped me in a chokehold and refused to let go. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I jumped at the unexpected touch. I hated being touched. At least when I wasn't expecting it. I turned my wide eyes and spotted my best friend, Chris. He was looking at me with a furrowed brow and concern. I've known him ever since I got bounced to the current family I live with. He caught me crying on the playground in elementary school, and he sat with me and made sure everyone around left me alone. We have been thick as thieves ever since. His parents, however nice they are, were wary of me. Chris is from the elite society and is set to inherit his entire family fortune. They had told him, behind closed doors, not knowing that I was listening, that they thought I was a gold digger and out to get his money, their money. No. I just wanted friendship. I've been standoffish with them ever since. "Not going in?" Chris asked. I shook my head. "No...I can't." I hated how weak I sounded. "Want me to grab us some lunch, and we can eat in the courtyard?" My eyes started to well with tears. I hated relying on him to eat. I hadn't had a meal since yesterday, when he bought me lunch, and I was so f*****g hungry. Knowing that I wouldn't answer him outright, he smiled and nodded. "Why don't you go pick a spot outside, and I'll meet you there? It's nice out today." Chris was never judgmental. He never spoke ill of me and stood up for me every chance he could against my bullies. He knew snippets of how my life was but not the full story. He plucked the book from my arms and smiled. He shared my love of reading. We both dreamed of fairy tales and true love. Both of us thought it would be impossible for us to achieve. Him because of his preferences and the fear of what others would think of him. Me because, well, I'm me. But the romance books were a way for us to fall into a land of possibilities. Chris gave me my book back and hugged me before walking into the lunchroom with his head held high. No one knows his demons. He's been closeted for as long as I can remember. No one knew. He hid it well. But I know how much it bothers him hiding his true self. I know how much the words people say can damage us more than any physical weapon. I wish I shared even an iota of his confidence. I turned and trotted off towards the courtyard. Being outside would be good for me. Seeing the sun, feeling the heat and the breeze. I could already feel the calm starting to wash over me. That was until I rounded the corner and saw two of the assholes who absolutely loved making my life a living hell here at school. Dominic Cruz and Nico Moretti. They were seniors this year and, as much as I hated to admit it, they were drop-dead gorgeous. It's a shame it's ruined by their rotten personality. It's no secret that these two were dangerous. Nico's family runs the entire Moretti empire. Everyone knows their legitimate side is worth millions, but the dangerous part of them? Their mafia connections. I've heard rumors, and I would rather not know anything more. Dominic's background is a mystery to me. I just know that he and Nico are inseparable. They were raised together and are usually never far apart from one another. Dominic oozed chaos and a feral tendency, while Nico was authoritative, calm, and calculating. The coldness in his eyes told me he had seen things no one our age should. Welcome to the club. I halted so quickly that I dropped everything that I was holding as I fell off balance. That drew their attention. s**t. Dominic had a sinister smirk that curved his lips. It's a shame how attractive that made him. I felt my blood run cold as they swaggered towards me. Leave me alone. Leave me alone. Please please please, leave me alone. Useless. My pleas fell on deaf ears. "Well, look at what we have here if it isn't the Rotund Raven. Tell me, Nico. Have you ever seen a fat bird fly?" I swallowed. Those words could have any meaning. He could just be teasing me. He could just be acting like his usual cruel self. Part of me said believe it. Hope for the best. I knew better. I was proved correct in my assumptions when Dominic lunged forward, quick as lightning, and gripped the collar of my shirt. When Nico chuckled and softly said 'no', Dominic gripped my shirt tighter. "Well, why don't we show the world what it looks like?" "Please. I..." "Oh, I like the sound of you begging. What are we begging for birdy?" God, this was humiliating. People were starting to leave the lunchroom to see what the commotion was. "Let's see if fat birds can fly!" Dominic said as he squatted down and pretended to heave and lift me. I knew he could. I had walked by the gym in school and saw him squatting and bench pressing double my weight. He grunted and pretended to struggle so much that the entire crowd started laughing. "Jesus f**k! You're so god damned heavy. Don't you know that it's not normal?" Just when the crowd started to cheer and chant him on he lifted me off the ground. He looked at me and smirked and I felt his knees shake and his body wobble. Dominic let go of me from where he stood, and I crashed to the floor. My head bounced off the tiles and stars floated in the air above me. I wheezed out a breath and a cry of pain. The whole school laughed. Dominic pointed and laughed about how "Fat" I am that he couldn't hold me. Nico just stood there with his arms crossed with a smirk on his face. Tears filled my eyes. That was when Chris came running up. He had two trays of food. One for me and one for him. I was no longer hungry. I was nauseous, revolted, and utterly embarrassed. "Oh look, you needed even more food to sustain your f*****g fat life. Pathetic, Let's get out of here guys," Dominic said and walked off after throwing his arm around a pretty girl and laughed manically. I got to my hands and knees and started gathering my things while I sniffled and tried holding off my emotions. I dealt with torture at home. I didn't want to deal with it here. Nico strolled past and kicked my hand out from under me. And I crashed to the floor again. "What the hell is your problem man!" Chris said as he stood tall and marched towards Nico. Nicos' eyes darkened as the challenge was given. He balled his fists and I started to worry that he would pummel my best friend. "Chris, don't! Please!" I cried out. He froze and looked at me, not with pity but with sadness. He glared at Nico as he walked past and squatted down to help me. "You should know. If you associate with trash, you become trash. What will mommy and daddy think of their precious air then?" He walked off and left us to our own thoughts. I collapsed on my butt and sobbed. Chris pulled me into his arms and stroked my hair. Our food was long forgotten as he held me on the hallway floor. I didn't know it then, but that was when everything really started to change. Chris and I made a pact that day. We would never allow anyone else to hurt us with their words. Not ever again. We made a pact that when we graduated high school, it would be just us. Me and him against the world. I liked the sound of that.