GiaMaria returned on Wednesday, one day before the challenge, though it wasn’t really a challenge because Matteo would not return even if he somehow managed to win. My fear was Alessandro would kill him. Mr. Xavier wouldn’t allow it or so I assured myself.Maria looked like hell. The top half of her face was so badly bruised, it wasn’t black eyes because it all blended with her nose and cheeks making her features hard to define. They had to put a plate in her cheek, but that scar was at the hairline. Three fingers of her left hand were broken and were in splints, and her wrist was in a removable brace. It wasn’t broken but there was some ligament damage that had also required surgery. Most of the swelling had gone down in all locations or so she assured me. I couldn’t imagine what she looked like before coming back to campus.“Che palle,” she said once she rested back against the couch. “I’m exhausted.” She pulled one of the small couch pillows closer and used it to help prop herself

AlessandroWe returned to our crews and a few minutes later, Xavier called the start of the fight. There was no messing around this time. I didn’t need his fucking reach. I wished I could say there was really a fight. There wasn’t.I dodged his fist and mine connected with the first punch thrown. Within sixty seconds, I had Matteo on his back. Within another sixty seconds, Xavier stopped me from killing him.I didn’t recognize his face when I came out of my frenzy and saw him beneath me. Xavier helped me up and walked me a few feet away. Matteo’s dad went to him. My father moved closer to Matteo’s dad and they looked at each other. Matteo’s dad nodded and so did mine.It was over. Whatever shame Matteo had caused was his family’s responsibility now.Gia came up to me and I hooked my arm around her.“Mr. Rossi, his wife, and I will be waiting in your dorm for you.” My father said after approaching from my other side.He walked away and I didn’t see Gia’s parents any longer when I looke

AlessandroThere were bumps in the road. With Laterza backing down and his crew stepping up behind me, there were no further challenges. Kicking Matteo’s ass so decisively helped too. I’d cemented my reputation and proven how dangerous I truly was.We still had schoolwork and other drama happening around the academy.Stephie and her crew joined ours along with Maria who made it official when she started dating Andre.Mr. Caleb’s class became interesting. For a quiet man, even I admitted he was badass. As the year passed quickly, I began dreading graduation and what would happen between me and Gia. We were young and in love. We were not ready for marriage. Gia came up with the plan and with Marino and Maria’s help, we put it into action. Stephie and Andre were included if their parents came on board.The seniors had an assembly two hours before graduation and were told to come to the gym with our laptops fully charged. It was strange but many things over the four years were, and we wen

Bacha ma culo – kiss my ass Bastardo - bastard Cagacazzo – lame ass dumb Capeesh – understood Cazzo – dick, like Americans use the word fuck Che palle – what balls Maria’s favorite phrase Che te pozzino ammazza – you shall be butchered Chi non va non vede, chi non vede non sa e chi non sa se lo prende sempre in culo - if you don’t go you won’t see, if you don’t see you won’t know, if you don’t know you’ll take it in the ass every time Cretino – idiot Cuando l’amico chiede, non v’è domani - when a friend asks, there is no tomorrow Cuore Mio – my heart Dio cane – goddammit Dio santo – oh my God Il mio tesoro – my treasure Ma' Don - surprise Manache – oh hell Mannaggia tua – shit damn Mia figlia – my daughter Mi amica – my sister Mi raccomando – listen to me Mi stai uccidendo – you are killing me Piccola – little one Porca troia – fucking hell Puttana – whore Vita mia – My life

DanteA high school diploma would never hang from a wall of any office I occupied. It was a fucking piece of paper. My father had finally given me the Laterza stare and I knew I’d lost the battle and here the fuck I was in the last place I wanted to be.I couldn’t even interest my dick in a recep or princess.The receps were the girls without the powerful last names. They lived in our world and had a place in the families if they wanted it. Many would stay through loyalty because it’s what their families had always done. The receps, short for receptacles and I have no fucking idea who came up with that term, were also here for our dicks. Willingly, of course, and most were more than willing. The holier-than-thou princesses were another story. They were off-limits. Too bad they liked dick as much as the receps. If a princess left Rochester with her V-card intact, she most likely spent four years on her knees in the campus church. More power to her.I was sick of it all.I did not want