Marcus swung our hands smoothly as I sang:

"You and me together

Through the days and nights

I don't worry 'cause

Everything's gonna be alright

People keep talking, they can say what they like

But all I know is everything's gonna be alright

And no one, no one, no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feeling."

Marcus gave me a heart-tugging smile.
"Lovely song you are singing. Might I ask who is the artist?"

"It's an Alicia Keys song."
He raised his brows.

"An American?" I nodded in agreement.

"I wonder if her voice is as lovely as yours," he said.

I looked away but my face was beaming. I tried to brush my blued braids back, only to realise it was now in the ponytail Marcus had made. He caught my mistake.

"Forgot?"

I pretended I didn't know what he meant. We walked the semi-quiet streets, brightly lit by street lights. I saw a lonely little ice-cream parlour with dull pink paint and a white roof. I turned to my newly appointed boyfriend.

"I thought we were going to KFC?"
He smiled down at me.

"I could always order you some before we return to your abode, but I thought we could sit somewhere more private and get to know one another."

That was a good idea I had not thought of.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I watched him order for me

"Per favore, dammi crema pasticcera e gelato alla cannella," he said to the salesperson.

(Please, get me cinnamon and crema gelato.)

He smiled and started scooping the Italian ice-cream into a glass bowl as Marcus returned to me.

"Give him a minute and it shall be served."
I hopped excitedly.

"So, I hope you don't mind me asking but who is Marcus Volturi? I think I've known you longer than a year, if we look at it, but I don't really know anything about you."

He straightened his back.

"But you do. You know I have two siblings; I have many employees. Hhmmm...perhaps there is some truth to what you say.

Ok, I think of myself as the most loving and merciful of my brothers. I don't like large social gatherings. I am a lover of old music, Vivaldi and Debassy."

He was different that was for sure.

"I guess opposites attract. I also want to know what your hobbies are."

"I have taken up reading again. I'm afraid I am not so interesting. What are your interests?"

"I like reading too but I've started working out and dancing. I enjoy R'n'B and hip-hop music. But after the festival I went to with Demetri I think I wouldn't mind downloading a couple jazz singles."

His face twisted. "You also went with Renata?"

I nodded. The scowl on his face deepened.
"Are you androgynous?" he said.

It was so random to ask...I didn't even know what that was! But it must be important for him to ask.

"What's that?"

"I mean to ask, are you bisexual?"
I flinched. Why was he asking me that?

"I..." I was speechless.

The server placed my gelato in front of me and left us, noticing we were deep in conversation.

"Don't feel scared to tell me. Many of my employees are."

"I'm not but why suddenly ask?"
He looked at my gelato.

"I have seen you become close to my guards, Renata and Demetri. With Demetri I could ask and be certain of how it is you felt but Renata is another matter altogether. She does not seem to like my interest in you."

Did he...did he think Renata liked me?

I was shocked. What did he mean? Were both Demetri and Renata bisexual? It would confirm my suspicions of Renata then.

"So, I wasn't imagining her attraction? Good thing I ignored her text today."
Marcus frowned.
"Has she asked you on a date?"

I scowled.
"No, she just wanted us to hang out."
He smiled.

"If it was alone, it most definitely is. She is rather reserved and would not outwardly express her interest in you."

I shuddered.
"And then what would she gain?"

"If she establishes you are in favour of the affair, she would have gotten what she wanted."

"I don't understand Marcus... I'm perfectly straight and I don't dig women."

"She would not know that until she asked, which is difficult for her so she supposed she could express her feelings gradually. But then I'm sure this is a hurdle she never expected."

His feelings for me, if that was what this date proved. He gestured to my slowly melting gelato. I scooped it into my mouth happily.

"She was going to be disappointed anyway."
"I can talk to her if you wish."
"No, I have to. To make sure we both aren't jumping to conclusions."

"I do not think we are. She has never wanted to be with someone like this."

I grinned when the spicy cinnamon and smooth, plain crema flavour hit my palate.

"That's what it's like when you find people with common interests."

I licked the spoon.
"How much do you have in common?"

"As much in common as you and I have."
He chortled.
"You said it yourself opposites attract," he smirked.

I scoffed.
Marcus made good on his promise, we ended up getting way more than I could stomach from KFC.

I ate the nine chicken nuggets, the dipping fries and crunchy chicken sliders with no sweat. I was happy that there was less grease used to make the food and more fries provided than from back home.

I also was relieved they weren't dry. The cinnabon, and crunch burger combo were tucked away, for later. I obviously would need a little something to munch in the morning.

After I brushed my teeth, I joined Marcus in the bedroom. He was as comfortable as last time. I stroked my stomach.

"Hungry?" joked Marcus.
"I'm stuffed...thanks."

"My pleasure, although maybe next time I shall search for a healthier alternative. One nugget can lead you to a stroke."

I sighed realising he was right.
"I know but it's so tasty."
"I guess, I prefer a healthier bite."

He showed his teeth.
"You look like a health freak."

Marcus didn't look like he had even an ounce of fat. He was lean, with a little muscle in the arms.
"It would extend your life eating more quality food."

Sometimes even just buying something as simple as an apple was so expensive, it was simpler to buy fast food for half the price.

I was on the foot of my bed, smiling nervously. We had been before but it felt different now. Did he really like me or he was hoping to get some?

"You aren't tired."
My heart was racing but he couldn't know that.
"I feel a little tired but not much."

He sat up and moved away from my headboard, crinkling his shirt with the movement.
"Why don't we sit and chat a bit?"

I moved slowly over the bed. He took my wrist and guided me to his side. I stiffened.

I was like a cardboard when he rested my face on his chest. It was warm but his hands were a little cold. I wrapped my sheet around them.

"Tired?" he said sarcastically.
My heart trembled excitedly. I shook my head, my tongue feeling clumpy.

"Tell me of your family."

I gazed into his dark eyes.
"Well, I'm the second born. And me and my brother live with our mom."

He was quiet.
"What of your father?"

"He and my mom divorced when I was twelve."
Marcus looked at me sympathetically.

"Were any of your parents unfaithful to one another; I heard that is the leading cause of separation."

I shrugged.

"Beats me, I just came back from school one day and my dad had moved away. The next month we moved to a new city."

Marcus sat up.
"New city? So, you are not originally from what did you call it...Philly?"

I beamed, flattered he had remembered.

"No, we are originally from the south, New Orleans."
He stroked my back as I talked and I felt goose-bumps.

"What happened to your parents? I thought Italians were big on family life and your house is huge enough for all your relatives l bet."

"My parents passed on a long time ago."
I felt bile rise up my throat and tears price at my eyes.

"Oh, Marcus."

He did something strange. He kissed me. It was simple but soft and heartfelt. It caused my body to release its tension. A small press on my forehead. His lips left a cool after sensation.

"Do not fret. It was so long ago, that I don't remember them at all."
Ok...

"Why did you choose Italy?"
I leaned up.
"Sorry?"

"I mean to ask why you chose Italy to travel to for your gap year."
I nibbled my lip.

"It felt right and I thought of the culture, the food and the lively people...I thought, that's where I'd like to be. I wanted to live like a tourist for some time, escape the troubles following me at home."

He sat up and I pulled my leg over him to stop tilting over.
"And what troubles might a young person like you have?"

I sighed.

"I was sick of all the violence around me."

He put his head on my shoulder and affirmed he was paying attention by humming.

"Where I grew up, after my dad left, was much tougher. There were gangs, dealers and everyday I'd wake up to someone knifed, shot or missing."

Tears poured down.

"It's a miracle for us to pass high school. I was the only one that year to pass. All my friends got pregnant. One even committed suicide."

I whined and wept bitterly. Out of habit I covered my mouth so no-one would hear, despite there being no-one but Marcus to hear.

He took my hand away from my face and looped his long fingers through my stubby ones.

"It's okay to cry. Go on."

"And what made it worse was my mom's friends and my brother's friends always telling me that I should get a job now or get hitched 'cause there was no one who ever went to college from the Badlands, specially not a black girl from Harrogate."

I let myself stew in my sadness; it had finally escaped the strong impenetrable barriers I had built up all those years ago as a scrawny, little kid.

"I... I just wanted for once, if I was going to be a nobody, to pretend I was worth something. I just wanted people not to stare at me like I was a criminal before knowing me," I blubbered

There was nothing more painful than to be despised for your skin colour; to know there was no future for you because you were the wrong race. That's what it felt like being black most times.

Marcus cuddled me.

"You're worth more than you think, you know. You do not suddenly become less because of others' prejudices. Okay?"

He moved me gently and pulled my face to his. He wiggled his nose against mine affectionately. I giggled.

I sniffled and wiped my sleeve across my face. "Okay, Marcus."

I put my hand on his thigh and smiled at him. He was the kindest man I had met and he valued me so much. It felt so right and I knew I had found a home for my restless soul.