highschool

JOSEPHINE

Everything had been prepared. Domenico had been away for a few days, Riccardo and Matteo were going to visit their friend Oliver, whom I only had to tell that a national football match was being broadcast, and I had told Valentino that he would never be able to give a Hot Stone massage. Fortunately, I was able to quickly arrange an appointment for him.

So that left only Vito. His assistant May had promised me she would block the evening in his calendar and arrange his day so that he wouldn't be exhausted when he came home. The rest was easy. Maria had helped me prepare his favorite meal, and I was setting the table for us when I heard his car pull into the driveway. Nervously, I smoothed out my sweater—specifically Matteo's—and quickly checked if my hair still looked presentable.

'Deep breaths, inhale, exhale, everything will be okay,' I told myself, trying to calm the storm inside me. But my nerves were still running high. I couldn't let this opportunity slip by.

I walked to the entrance, my hands trembling slightly, but I tried to steady my breath. The moment of truth had arrived. I heard him approaching, and there he stood, looking slightly surprised to see me waiting at the door.

"Hey," Vito said, his tone a mix of curiosity and amusement. "What's all this?"

I gave him a warm smile, though my heart was pounding in my chest. "Come in," I said, stepping aside to let him through. "I've been waiting for you."

Vito stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the room as his eyes landed on the table set for dinner. "This... this is a bit much for a simple evening, don't you think?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I laughed nervously. "It's not just any evening, Vito," I replied, my voice slightly shaky. "I wanted to do something special for you. You've been working so hard lately, and I thought you deserved a night to relax."

He seemed taken aback by my words, his expression softening. "You really didn't have to do all of this," he said gently.

I shook my head, trying to smile through my nerves. "I wanted to. Besides, I know how much you like Maria's cooking, so I thought we could spend some time together while everyone else is out for the evening."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You really went all out, didn't you? It looks fantastic. Let me just freshen up a bit, and I'll be right back."

"Of course," I said quickly, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Take your time, no rush." I watched as he headed toward the stairs, his footsteps echoing softly in the quiet house. Once he disappeared upstairs, I quickly went to the kitchen to check on the food Maria had helped prepare. The aromas of his favorite dishes filled the air, and for a moment, I let myself relax, before returning to the table. I couldn't believe I had actually done it. Everything had been planned so carefully, but still, part of me felt unsure. I glanced at the table, the soft glow of the candles reflecting in the polished surface, and reassured myself. Nothing could go wrong anymore.

Except when I turned the corner, I found Valentino sitting at the dining table, scrolling through his phone like he didn't have a care in the world. "Aren't you supposed to be driving to your appointment right now?" I asked, trying to sound unbothered.

He waved his hand dismissively. "Nah, still enough time. Why does everything here look so fancy?"

I sighed, trying to keep my cool. "It's not fancy, Valentino. It's just... I want to make tonight nice. For Vito."

Valentino gave me a skeptical look, tapping his phone absently. "Uh-huh, sure. It's like a five-star dinner just for him, huh? I thought I was your favorite brother."

Before I could respond, I heard Vito's footsteps descending the stairs. I quickly straightened up, putting on my best smile.

Vito appeared at the top of the staircase, his casual attire a stark contrast to the formal setup in the room. His eyes scanned the space, his lips curling into a smile. "Wow, it already smells amazing," he said, sounding genuinely touched.

I smiled, relieved that he was appreciating it. "I'm glad you like it," I replied. "I just wanted you to have a nice evening."

"Valentino, your car is blocking ours!" Matteo's voice rang out from the hallway, his tone more annoyed than usual as both he and Riccardo appeared in the doorframe. Great.

Riccardo followed up, his voice a bit sharper. "Yeah, I'm not getting my car out of that spot without a crane!"

Valentino, still looking at his phone, barely raised an eyebrow. "I parked where I parked. Should've left earlier if it was so important."

Matteo stepped into the dining room, giving Valentino an irritated look. "Not all of us have the luxury of being fashionably late, Valentino. The game starts in half an hour!"

"I bet it will start even without you in front of the screen," Valentino retorted. "Anyway, I'm surprised Olli invited you, he normally misses those matches."

"Yeah, Josie reminded him and he liked the idea," Riccardo chimed in.

Valentino sat up straight, glancing at me suspiciously. "Don't you say. I didn't know it was Josephine's idea. What a remarkable coincidence."

"What do you mean?" Matteo crossed his arms, but I could feel my blood run cold. I wished every bad thing on Valentino in that moment.

Valentino's eyes gleamed as he leaned back in his chair. "You guys have no sense of situations, do you? Domenico's gone for a few days, Josephine arranged a spa appointment for me, while she managed to get you two out of the house so she can have this fancy dinner with Vito's favorite dishes. Isn't that a bit odd?" His grin grew wider. "I think it is. So what's the matter? What do you want from him when we're not in the picture?"

"Nothing," I gritted through my teeth, feeling the tension rise in my chest. "Just an evening with my brother, whom I don't see as often as you two."

"Hard to believe," Riccardo muttered, and I could feel the weight of his words lingering in the air.

The warmth of the evening suddenly felt miles away. My heart raced as I tried to hold my composure, but it was getting harder with every passing second. Riccardo's words echoed in my mind, like a faint but persistent buzzing, making me feel exposed and vulnerable. The casual comfort I had worked so hard to create for tonight seemed to unravel in the face of their skepticism. I forced a smile, trying to cover the sting of their doubt. "Really, it's just a quiet evening," I said, though my voice felt thin and brittle. "No hidden agendas, no big plans. Just time together."

Vito glanced between me and the others, his brow furrowing slightly as if sensing the subtle shift in the room. He cleared his throat, a quiet but deliberate move that seemed to break the tension just enough for him to speak. "Well, I'm here now," he said, his tone steady, though I could hear a hint of caution. "So, let's make the most of it."

I nodded, grateful for his attempt to steer things back to normal. "Exactly. Let's just enjoy the meal and the company," I added, looking at him with what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "Without the others."

"Suddenly I am really hungry, I think I stay." Valentino grinned.

"Yeah me too." Riccardo sat down. Matteo smiled at me sheepishly, while he sat down too.

"No, you need to leave! Thats not how I planned!" I froze, the words slipping out before I could catch them. My voice was more forceful than I intended, and I could feel the heat creeping up my neck as I glanced around the table at their surprised faces.

Valentino raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin playing at the corners of his mouth. "Oh? Didn't know you were so keen on keeping us out." He leaned back in his chair, looking far too comfortable. "What's the deal, Josie? I thought you wanted to spend time with your favorite brothers."

I bit my lip, panic rising in my chest. "I-I just... I mean, I had something special planned. Just for Vito, before I-" I stammered, trying to explain myself without sounding like I was overreacting. "I wanted it to be a quiet evening. Just the two of us."

"Before what?" Vito sounded serious now and I felt heat spreading in my face.

I took a deep breath. "I wanted to ask you if it would be okay for you if I get my driver's license." The words hung in the air, and for a moment, the room was still. Everyone at the table seemed to freeze, their attention now fully on me. I could feel the blood rushing to my face as I realized just how ridiculous it must have sounded.

"I see no reason why you shouldn't."

"And I thought it was something interesting," Matteo said to himself, while he and Riccardo stood up again.

Valentino's expression darkened, and he raised a hand, signaling Matteo and Riccardo to halt. The air in the room grew thicker. "Wait a second," he said, his tone low and commanding.

Matteo paused, annoyance flashing across his face. "What now?"

Valentino didn't respond immediately, his gaze sharp as he leaned forward. "You're not going anywhere until I say so," he said with a quiet authority that sent a ripple of unease through the room.

Riccardo scoffed, clearly irritated. "Nino, I swear to every god, if you don't let us leave right now, I'll bring you into a grave," he said, his voice carrying an edge of frustration. With my full support.

Valentino's eyes narrowed, the challenge not lost on him. "I wish I could be as naive as you," he said to Riccardo, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Then, as if the tension in the room had shifted just slightly, he turned his gaze to me, his expression softening. "Do you have a kind of car in mind?"

"Uh, well..." I began, unsure of how to explain, while another car arrived, unnoticed by us all. "Something practical, I guess. Small, reliable, maybe something sporty too... I don't know. I'm still figuring it out." I looked down at my hands, nervously fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve.

Valentino's gaze never wavered as he watched me, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Practical, huh?" He leaned forward slightly, a teasing glint in his eyes. "That's a pretty vague answer, even for you. You're telling me you haven't thought about it more than that?"

I froze for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. I hadn't expected him to press, and now I felt exposed, like he was seeing through the surface of my response. "Well, no," I admitted, feeling a little caught off guard. "I mean, I thought about it, but... it's not like I've made a final decision."

Valentino's smile widened, and he leaned back, clearly enjoying the exchange. "I think you're holding out on me. You've got something in mind, don't you? Come on, just say it."

I sighed, my nerves starting to get the better of me. "It's just—" I hesitated, unsure whether I should admit it, but somehow, the words just slipped out before I could stop them. "I was thinking about getting a motorcycle."

And for the first time, there was absolute and complete silence. No one said a word. The air seemed to hang still, thick with the tension of my confession. I could feel all eyes on me, waiting for something, anything, to break the silence. My heart raced in my chest. Just as I was about to try to explain myself, the front door opened with a loud creak, and Domenico appeared in the doorway, his voice cutting through the silence. "What's going on here? Why does it feel like the air's been sucked out of the room?" His eyes flicked between us, sensing the sudden change in the atmosphere.

Before I could respond, Valentino's face shifted, his playful demeanor slipping into something more urgent. "Nothing, nothing at all," he said quickly, standing up and straightening his shirt. "We were just, uh... chatting."

Riccardo, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened up too. "Yeah, nothing important. We were just about to head out."

Matteo followed suit, standing abruptly. "Right, we need to—uh, we've got somewhere to be." He shot a glance at Valentino, who seemed to nod in agreement.

Domenico looked between the three of them, clearly confused. "Wait, you're all leaving now?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone suspicious.

Valentino, Riccardo, and Matteo exchanged quick, unreadable glances before Valentino answered, his voice a little too calm. "Yeah, we got... plans. Important stuff to take care of."

Domenico shrugged, clearly not fully buying it but not pressing. "Alright, fine. But you guys are acting strange."

"We're fine, really," Valentino said, his voice strained as he ushered the others toward the door. "Just... you know how it is."

Matteo gave me a quick, apologetic glance before following them. "Catch you later, Josie," he said, his tone slightly awkward.

And just like that, the three of them were gone, leaving me standing there, in the middle of the storm. Domenico raised an eyebrow at me. "What was all that about?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "Tiny?" I remained silent, my eyes locked on the floor, unable to meet his gaze. "Vito?"

"Josephine wants to get her driver's license," Vito explained, his voice calm but with an edge of understanding, as if he knew what was coming next. "For a motorcycle."

Domenico's expression hardened instantly, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. He let out a sharp breath, running a hand through his hair. "A motorcycle?" His voice was low, filled with disbelief. "You're seriously considering this?" I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, but I didn't speak. The tension in the room was palpable as Domenico took a step closer, his presence commanding.

"Absolutely not," he continued, his voice firm and unwavering. "Motorcycles are dangerous. You're five times more likely to get into an accident on a motorcycle than in a car. And that's not even accounting for the fact that in a crash, you have almost no protection—no seat belt, no airbags, nothing to shield you. Statistically, one in every 10 motorcycle accidents is fatal. And those odds only get worse when you're talking about young riders. You might think you can control it, but the reality is, you're 20 times more likely to get injured in an accident than someone in a car. It's not about skill; it's about chance."

I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off before I could get a word out.

"More than half of all motorcycle accidents happen because of other drivers—they don't see you, they don't check their blind spots, and in the blink of an eye, you're in a crash. And even if you're the most cautious rider, the smallest mistake, the smallest lapse in concentration can be the one that sends you flying."

He paced slightly, his words sharper now, filled with urgency. "And here's something else. Even if you survive the accident, the odds are stacked against you. The average motorcycle injury costs three times more to treat than a car injury, and the recovery can be much longer, even if you're lucky. We're talking broken bones, head trauma, internal bleeding... things that can change your life permanently."

I stood there, silent, trying to process the avalanche of facts he was throwing at me. The desire for independence, for something new, seemed so small in comparison to the overwhelming weight of these statistics. But part of me still clung to the idea.

"Then there's the issue of road conditions," Domenico pressed on, his voice never wavering. "Motorcycles are more vulnerable to potholes, wet roads, and even gravel. Cars are built to handle those conditions. You? Not so much. Every time it rains, every time you're on a winding road or passing a truck, you're at risk. You might feel like you're invincible, but the stats don't lie. Your chances of getting into a serious crash increase exponentially in those conditions."

"I know that," I said quietly. "Well, not everything, but I know it's risky."

"Then why on earth would you even consider this?"

I took a deep breath, my fingers twisting the fabric of my sleeve nervously. "I don't know," I admitted, my voice quiet. "Maybe it's just the idea of it. The freedom, the independence. It feels like... like something I could own, something I could control."

Domenico's eyes softened slightly, though the concern still weighed heavy in them. "Tiny, it's not about controlling anything. It's about your safety. It's about not letting something like a momentary thrill turn into something you regret for the rest of your life."

I opened my mouth, ready to argue, but I saw the truth in his eyes. He cared about my life. "I just... I thought maybe if I had the chance to try, I could really see if it was worth it," I said, my voice shaking a little.

Domenico let out a deep sigh, stepping closer. "You can have freedom and independence with a car too."

I bit my lip, the weight of his words sinking in. It wasn't just the idea of a motorcycle—it was more about wanting to feel in control, to step into something new, something that felt like it was truly mine. "I know," I whispered.

"Your parents drove a motorcycle, right? Is it about that?" Vito asked calmly.

"Yeah," I murmured, my voice softer now, almost to myself. "They did. It was a part of them. Before everything happened..." I trailed off, not wanting to dwell on the past, but the truth still lingered, heavy.

Vito's expression softened as he watched me, perhaps understanding more than I had meant to reveal. "You're not trying to relive their life, Josie. You're your own person. What they did, what they loved... that's theirs. You've got your own path to carve."

I swallowed hard, trying to steady the mix of emotions that was bubbling up inside me. "I know. I think I just wanted to feel what they did."

Vito's gaze softened, his expression understanding but also laced with a hint of concern. "I get it," he said gently. "But you don't have to put yourself in danger to feel close to them. Their love for adventure... it was part of who they were. But you're your own person, Josie. You can honor them, but you don't have to walk the same path they did."

I looked up at him, the weight of his words sinking in. "I guess I just thought it would give me a way to feel more connected. Like if I could do something they loved, it would bring them back, even if only in spirit."

Vito shifted in his seat, his voice calm but firm. "They'll always be with you, no matter what. You carry pieces of them inside you already. You don't need a motorcycle to feel that." He paused, a small, reassuring smile tugging at the corner of his lips, while he walked towards me and pulled me into a hug. "You can make your own memories, your own adventures, without putting yourself at risk."



@GloriaCassano Happy Birthday :-)

[*] Sources:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

NHTSA regularly publishes reports on motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents. According to their data, motorcyclists are significantly more likely to be involved in fatal accidents compared to passengers in cars.One statistic commonly cited is that motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash per mile traveled compared to passenger car occupants (Source: NHTSA, "Motorcycle Safety").

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS):

The IIHS reports that motorcycles are more than 5 times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash compared to cars, and the fatality rate per mile traveled for motorcyclists is nearly 30 times higher than for passenger car occupants.Motorcycle accidents are often more severe because of the lack of protection, with injuries like head trauma and broken bones being more common in crashes.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

The CDC provides detailed information on motorcycle injuries and fatalities, noting that motorcycle injuries can be far more costly and severe than car injuries.The average cost of motorcycle injuries is significantly higher than that of car accidents, and the recovery time can be longer and more complicated due to the lack of protective structures in motorcycles.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF):

The MSF promotes safe riding practices and education, emphasizing the importance of wearing protective gear and taking safety courses to mitigate some of the risks. They also provide data showing how safety measures like wearing helmets can drastically reduce fatality rates.