Bella Fortuna Read Free Page B

teachers.”
    â€œThey let you in?”
    â€œOf course! Why not?” He winked at me.
    Oh my God! He hadn’t winked at me in years. It still had the same bone-melting effect on me.
    â€œCome on. Let’s dance.” Michael took my hand, leading me to the dance floor. My heart was racing so fast, I was convinced he could see it. He pulled me close to him as we slowly danced to the music. He rested his chin on my shoulder. I swallowed hard. I should probably make some conversation. But all I wanted to do was close my eyes and listen to the words of Madonna’s “Crazy for You.”
    â€œIsn’t this such a great song?” Michael pulled his head back and looked into my eyes, smiling.
    â€œYou like this song, too?” I asked incredulously.
    â€œYeah, it’s one of my all-time eighties favorites, right up there with The Cure’s ‘Just Like Heaven.’ ”
    â€œOh my God! I love that song!”
    â€œNo way!”
    â€œYeah, way! ”
    We laughed together. He put his chin back on my shoulder.
    Again, my insecurities were telling me I should make more of an attempt at conversation. Why couldn’t I just relax and enjoy this moment? It would probably never happen again.
    â€œSo how’s Cornell?” I managed to get out.
    â€œStuffy and dull!”
    â€œOh, come on! I can’t believe it’s all that dull! I can only imagine all the fun you must be having at those parties and all those interesting classes. I can’t wait to go away to college.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œWhat’s so surprising about that? You think I want to stay in Astoria and commute to school? Get real!”
    â€œI don’t know. I just thought you’d be like the other Italian girls in the neighborhood and stick close to home. Besides, will your parents let you go away for college?”
    â€œProbably not, but I don’t care. I’m going to do it anyway!”
    Michael laughed. “You’ve got spunk! I like that. You are different from a lot of the girls around the neighborhood. Promise me you’ll stay that way.” Michael pulled his face away and stared into my eyes again, waiting for my promise.
    I shrugged my shoulders.
    â€œPromise me!”
    His face came closer to mine. My heart started pounding again.
    â€œOkay.” I blushed and looked away. He was staring at me in the most peculiar way.
    â€œGood!” He winked at me again and pulled me close to him. I could smell his cologne. Drakkar Noir. Every guy wore Drakkar Noir back then. It just occurred to me that Michael wasn’t dressed for a dance. After all, he wasn’t planning on coming. I didn’t care. He was the sexiest guy here tonight. His dark-wash denim jeans and black V-neck sweater made him look like one of those male models I’d seen on the covers of Maxim magazine or GQ .
    â€œSo you like The Cure, huh?”
    â€œYeah, they’re one of my favorite eighties bands.”
    â€œI might be able to score some tickets to one of their concerts at the Meadowlands this summer. Would you be interested?”
    I looked up into Michael’s eyes.
    â€œYou know. For you and a friend.”
    â€œOh. Sure. That would be nice.” Just as soon as my hopes had soared, they immediately took a nosedive.
    The song was over. We looked at each other a bit uncertainly.
    â€œThanks for the dance,” I said.
    â€œHey! No sweat. I’ll let you know about the tickets when I’m back in town for the summer. They’re supposed to go on sale next Monday, but there’s someone at school who scalps them. He said he’d hook me up.”
    â€œOkay. Sounds good. Thanks.”
    â€œI’ll catch you later. I want to say hi to Mr. C.”
    â€œSure. Go ahead.” Boy, I sounded lame! Like he needed my permission to leave.
    Michael smiled and looked at me as if he wanted to say something else. Then he walked away.
    I made my way to the