"Are you going to tell us more?" Isabella demanded, coming out of her room unable to take any more boredom.

Tony sat in an armchair dating from the eighteenth century. It was leather and burgundy in color like the rest of Tony's furniture. It reminded her of the family wine. He looked up from the book he was ready. "Maybe tomorrow," he said, looking her over.

"Why not now?"

"Because I'm tired now," Tony said annoyed.

"It's early," Isabella said with a laugh.

"Maybe so, but I don't want to talk more. Go play video games with George if you're so bored, child," he told her.

"I am not a child...."

"Close enough," Tony said, looking back at his book.

"You were married at my age."

Tony sighed. "It was different then," Tony said, continuing to read.

"How so?"

"You ask too many questions," Tony told her, looking up.

"And you avoid too many questions."

Tony laughed and wiped absently at his chin. Maybe she was his blood. She had the spunk. "Things were different then, people got married at twelve and died at forty. Nowadays, you get married at thirty, if you're lucky, and die anywhere between eighty and a hundred and twenty."

"That doesn't make me a child."

"Okay. I am sorry for the child remark. But you are my great grandchild, remember."

"I thought that was yet to be proven. Remember, grand-papa?"

"Oh, good lord! Don't be calling me that," Tony moaned.

Isabella laughed. "I'll be upstairs."

"Go flirt with the boys, they'll be in heaven," Tony insisted, waving her away.

"George is cute," Isabella said, opening the door.

"Just don't do it in front of me, please," Tony muttered.

Isabella chuckled and walked down the hallway.

She passed the small living room with a television on her right and thought maybe she would sleep on the couch there being that there was a window in the bedroom. She felt claustrophobic in the room Tony put her in.

The only downside would be if someone was going to be doing their laundry which was to her left. There were two washers and dryers and above them a large shelf with detergents and fabric softeners.

She climbed the stairs that was to the side of the washers. Reaching the top, she turned to the left to head into the family room.

****************************

George and Ray were playing another game that she hadn't seen. She snuck behind them and sat on the couch to watch them play. It looked like a two person game. They didn't notice that she was there.

Isabella was good at sneaking up on people. She sat quietly and studied the boys.

She looked at Ray first since she hadn't paid much attention to him earlier. He had short dark brown hair that was wavy on top. He had dark brown eyes and his skin was a lighter tan than hers. He looked like he was possibly from Spain.

Ray was of average build; he was on the skinny side but not overly so as he had some defined muscles. He wore glasses which she hadn't seen earlier so he must have been wearing contact lenses. He looked even more intelligent with the wire rimmed glasses on.

He wore jean shorts and a red tee-shirt with some American sports team on it but she wasn't sure what sport it was.

Ray was actually pretty hot. She wondered why she hadn't noticed before.

Isabella looked over at George. He reminded her of a television show she used to watch called "Baywatch". He had the body of a lifeguard and he wore his hair like a lot of the surfers did, a little long and sticking out above his ears. It looked like he just rolled out of bed and didn't comb his hair. She liked it; it made him look really cute.

He had brown eyes, as well, but they were more like a greenish brown than a straightforward brown. She found his eyes interesting. If she looked at him one way they looked brown and if she looked at them another way they looked green. Hazel, she think they called that kind of eyes in English.

George was wearing a white tank top with a big cross on his chest which is why she supposed she associated him with the lifeguards on that show as they wore a similar one. He wore loose fitting gray shorts of a sweatpants material topping off the "I just rolled out of bed" look.

She stretched out on the couch, tossing her legs towards Ray and her head towards George, and propped her head on her hand. Isabella sighed absently. They jumped.

"Geez, you scared us!" Ray gasped, looking back at her.

"Sorry," she replied with a lazy smile.

"How long have you been there?" Ray asked, noticing how comfortable she seemed to be.

Isabella dramatically stretched her arm and brought it up to her to look at her watch.

"That long?" Ray's eyes widened.

Isabella shrugged. "Only a few moments," she replied, smiling again.

"Here have a go," George said, handing her his game remote.

"No. I no want to interrupt," Isabella told him, not moving to take it.

"It's okay. Look, we can switch games. We have games you can play up to four people," George said, getting up to switch the games.

"You finish your game first."

"It's fine. We can switch," Ray told her, getting up as well.

"If you like," Isabella replied.

"Are you going to enroll at the University?" Ray asked Isabella as they played.

"I think they don't take me. My English is not so good." Isabella said.

"It's fine. A bit of an accent, but we understand you perfectly. You should apply," Ray said.

"What do you study?" she asked.

"Computer Science is my major and psychology is my minor," Ray answered.

"And you, George?" Isabella asked turning to him.

"Psychology."

"You take classes together?" Isabella asked.

"Mostly," George answered.

"All you, that live at the house, take psychology class?"

"Yes. We, um, we specifically study parapsychology," Ray told her.

Isabella nodded.

"Do you know what that is?" George asked her.

"Yes, you study the paranormal. Ghosts, vampires, ESP, telekinesis, haunted houses, those types of things."

"Yeah," Ray said with a sigh, relieved he wouldn't have to explain it.

"That is good that you study those things. Does Antonio take classes with you also?"

"Yeah, Tony, takes some of the core classes with us," George answered, "like English lit and biology, which we have to take. And then some other elective courses. I'm not sure exactly what he's taking, but he's a Business major."

"He takes parapsychology?"

"Yeah. I don't know why though. He knows more about it than the rest of us," George said, scratching his head.

"Does he?"

"Well, at least the vampire stuff," George answered.

"Does he talk about being a vampire?"

"Not really. He's just told us some of the basic stuff like to keep the shades and curtains closed in the day if he's around, don't invite anyone into the house without him checking them out first. And we stay out of his room because he doesn't want us to see him drinking blood or whatever else he does down there."

"Has he drunk your blood?"

George looked at her and paled. "No," he said.

"Are you scared?"

"George can't stand the sight of blood," Ray answered for him.

"Have you given blood to Tony?" she turned to him.

"No, but I would if he needed it. He's never asked, so I've never offered." Ray shrugged.

"Has anyone else given him blood?"

"I think Emily and Raven have," George answered. "But they've known him longer. And I think it was only when he didn't have another choice in the matter."

"Are they his lovers?"

George and Ray laughed. "No. Emily and Tony did date awhile ago, but that's been over for like a year or so, I think. Emily is with Jake now and Raven's just a good friend," George answered.

"Are you sure they are just friends?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure," George said with a laugh.

"So are you in college in Italy?" George asked Isabella as Ray left the room to get them all sodas.

George and Isabella moved from the floor onto the couch. Isabella leaned back on the arm of the couch and pulled her legs in Indian style to face him. "Yes, I take business classes."

"That's funny, just like Tony," George said with a smile.

Isabella nodded. "My family also has vineyard and I am learning to manage the business."

"Wow, that's great. Why did you come to the U.S then?" he asked her. "Just to visit Tony? How long are you staying by the way?

Isabella shrugged. "I feel I need to get to know Antonio. I need to know him to know myself. Then I can go back," Isabella answered quietly.

"Will it matter? I mean, does it matter who or what Tony is?"

"He is my great grandfather, who and what he is, it is a part of who I am. It is what made me."

"Yeah, but by biology. I mean really, don't we make ourselves?"

Isabella smiled. "You take too many psychology classes, I think," Isabella told him, patting his hand.

"Maybe so," George said with a nervous laugh. "But seriously, you don't think you make yourself?"

"Somewhat. But you are... influenced by others. Your parents, your friends, and ...just from life."

"So, why do you need to know Tony then to know yourself?" George asked, still confused by her rationale.

"Because he..."

"Hey, quick, take one before I drop them," Ray said urgently, walking into the room carrying three large glasses filled to the brim with soda.

Isabella got up and took two glasses from him. She handed one to George. She was grateful that the conversation turned back to video games.