School was still in session but the only subject anyone seemed to be talking about was Gaia's birthday party this weekend.

"I heard she's flying an elephant all the way from India." I overheard a girl say. A bit impractical, I thought, Gaia seemed more like a ride in on a horse so you could look more like a princess, kind of girl. Her subtle friendly waves and winks had began to irritate me, she found the time to do it every time she passed me in the hallways. Although I had appreciated it one time, Alicia had noticed, quickly she had looked towards another direction.

Alicia seemed to be tangled up with Hilda-Maria and her flamingo friends. I knew how Hilda-Maria could get to her sometimes so seeing her with them was just fine with me.

At home you'd think my mother would finally rest after all the stress with the four dresses. However business seemed to be m booming, despite no one, but Gaia, her mother, Etienne and me, actually having had witnessing the dresses. Rumours of my mother designing Mrs Romano's daughter's dresses had spread, a few acquaintances of Mrs Romano had already called to request appointments at the store. Which is great for her and us, since my mother keeps isolated herself in her office, Etienne and I have been able to sneak off to flaxwere almost every afternoon.

"He's a fast learner just like you were." Nonno said. I don't know how I felt about that.

One day we were on the bus back from another session at Nonno's when I couldn't help but noticing someone staring at me. Etienne was fast asleep leaning against the window, while I was looking down the aisle where this boy was sitting. His back was turned towards me, but occasionally he would turn around look at me and when Í would notice him looking he would turn around once more. "There he goes again" I thought. Something about him looked very familiar.

******

Arts and craft. Miss Caruso brought a radio to class. She decided to play heavy metal through the whole lesson. "Feel the energy from the screams, feel the anger, find the art." She shouted roaming between our canvases. Valentino's empty chair between Alicia and I hunted me. He was really gone.

"You know..." Alicia suddenly leaned in. "I heard he got suspended." She said, noticing my gaze at the chair.

"So?" I said angrily. Alicia and I had gone from not speaking to speaking again. However when we did speak it was often some kind of jab at each other, trying to get on eachothers nerves.

"So... just shows what kind of seed his."

"Seed?" I said frowning.

"Yeah, Valentino is and always will be a bad seed." She taunted, returning to her canvas.

"You bitch!" she shouts, paint from my brush accidentally spills on her canvas.

******

On the bus to flaxwere. I kept my eyes out for the boy that just looked to familiar to let go. I seemed to believe that every new passenger that got on the bus would be him, unfortunately I didn't spot him today.

"Nonno can I try something else than just going round and round out on the field?" Etienne said. Nonno was just about to set up the bike for him when we emerged from the gravel road.

"I guess you have been tearing up the field..." Nonno looked to me. "...I guess I could take him to the park."

"The park?" Etienne and I said simultaneously, he said it more enthusiastic than me.

"I don't think that's a good Idea." mumbled.

Etienne and Nonno looked to me, their faces read disappointment.

"Come on, we're not even supposed to be at Nonno's, what difference does it make if we go to the park again." Etienne whined.

"the difference is, more people, people like Angelo's mother who knows mama."

"But there's no competition, people are only practicing, why would his mother want to see that.?"

He was right, I thought, besides I might run into 'you know who'.

"Valentino, will probably be there." Etienne mumbled, reading my mind.

"Good, mite have to challenge him in another round." Nonno laughed.

"You will not!" I said.

"So we're going?" Etienne gasped.

"We're going" I sighed.

Etienne ran to hug me around my waist, "Your the best, I promise I'll do anything for you."

"Yeah, yeah."

Once we were all packed up, bike in the back of the truck, we were off.

For a late afternoon the park was surprisingly calm, only a few riders on the track.

"You, get suited up, I'll get somebody to help me lift off the bike." Nonno said and disappeared.

"How do I get over the hills, do I need a lot of speed or will that throw me off in the end." Etienne and I were looking over the track. "Don't worry about that, I don't think Nonno is going to let you ride the whole track today." I said.

"I wanna go see if Michelle is here, he doesn't believe that Nonno is teaching me how to ride, now I can show him."

Etienne started walking. "Wait!" I shouted, he turned around. "Y...you heard what Nonno said, go suit up, we haven't got all day, you don't wanna waste your first day on the track do you?" Etienne nodded and returned to the truck.

That was close, I exhaled. If Etienne goes to see Michelle, then he'll see Angelo as well, Angelo will then see Valentino and then Valentino will know we're here. I thought. I don't want that just yet.

"Here she is!" Turning around Nonno was seen walking towards me, beside him a man in his early fifties/ late forties, with white hair and a white mustache. "I told you my granddaughter was here." The man smiled at the sight of me. "My god, I can't believe it.".

All of the air in my lungs disappeared as the man tightly embraced me. I almost fell over once he let go.

"Alessia, you remember Whitey don't ya, he was your dad's best friend."

I didn't, but I tried smiling, see if that helped. Whitey looked to me with his big eyes. "Argh, she doesn't remember old whitey" He sighed. "I don't blame you sweety, I wasn't always called whitey, I used to be known as Fernando." He laughed.

"Lessy, can you help me with the zip...per." Etienne suddenly emerged from behind the truck, interrupting us.".

"Etienne this is Whitey your..." Whitey's eyes sparkled at the sight of Etienne, he rushed towards him and picked him up in his arms. "Etienne, haha, nice to meet you, I was a friend of your dad's."

Etienne looked to me confused as Whitey swung him in his arms. I chuckled.

"Let's get the bike." Nonno said. "Right, gotta let the boy ride." Whitey said putting Etienne back on the ground.

"Who's he?" Etienne asked as Whitey and Nonno disappeared behind the truck. I shrugged my shoulders, "I dunno, says he's Papa's friend.". Etienne looked to the truck where Whitey and Nonno were fiddling with the bike. "Do you think he knows where he is?" He suddenly said, which totally caught me of guard. "I don't think no one knows." I nervously coughed.

Etienne looked to the ground, I assume this is the first time in a long time that he has thought of Papa. I however think of him everyday.

"Are you excited or are you nervous." I said, changing the subject. Etienne looked to realize what he was about to do. He turned to me, a smile appeared, "Excited." He says.

Whitey helped Etienne settle in while Nonno did some last adjustments on the bike. "You ready?" Whitey gazed the track, starlight reflected in his dreamer eyes. "Track's looking good." He said, inhaling it's muddy sent.

Etienne's hands nervously shifted on the steering, still his helmet nodded.

"Good." Whitey said, patting the helmet. He then looked to me. "Aren't you getting ready?

"What do you mean?" I nervously chuckled.

He's gonna trail you isn't he?"

"What?" I spat.

"No that is what you are for Whitey." Nonno said overhearing our conversation.

Whitey threw his hands up in defence, "I said I had a bike, not that I was gonna ride it."

"What?" Nonno and I shouted simultaneously.

Etienne's head anxiously shifted between Nonno and I.

"I've got a bad back, you know that." Whitey seemed to sense our sudden distress.

"No I did not." Nonno hissed angrily.

"I'm sorry, I thought you needed the bike for the girl." Whitey looked to me.

"She can't ride." Nonno shouted. His words didn't sit right with me. "can't ride" I mumbled.

"What's going on?" Etienne dismounted the bike, his visor was down, his eyes looked worried.

Nonno sighed and took a knee beside him. "I called Whitey here today so he could help toe you around the track." Nonno spat almost hitting Whitey's boot. "Apparently champ here got a bad back and suddenly can't ride a bike anymore."

"Suddenly?" Whitey frowned. "I had two surgeries old man."

"Does this mean I can't go." Etienne spoke softly.

Nonno put his hand on Etienne's shoulder.

"I'm afraid, not today son."

Etienne looked to me, he was fighting the tears.

"Sorry buddy, I'll get somebody for ya real soon.". Said Whitey.

Etienne started to angrily march, towards the truck. "Etienne wait!" I shouted, running after him. "It's all your fault!" He suddenly shouted, throwing his gloves on the ground.

"I'll do it. don't worry." I said, my breath was heavy.

"W...what?" He stuttred.

I knelt down, picking up his gloves. "You'll need them" I said, tears escaped my eyes.

"But you..."

"You wanna ride don't you!" I shouted impatient.

He nodded and put on the gloves.