If I could avoid school I would. Right now the happiest moments of the week, like Dario would say, are the times I get to take Etienne to the tracks. Speaking of Dario, rumor is that soon after the party him and Gaia broke it off, I'm happy that only Hilda-Maria and I are the only ones that know the reason why. Gaia hasn't talked to me since, I think she's embarrassed, I tried talking to her during lunch ones but she seemed eager to end the conversation.

Another person who won't talk to me, Alicia. Every class we have together she makes sure to sit as far away from me as possible. Prior to this, I've tried calling her, texting her, I even went over to her house, her mother had me turn away at the door, saying "Alicia haven't been feeling well lately." What about me, what about how I feel, I'm just as confused as her, no pun intended.

"Children, I said paint from the soul, with feeling." Miss Caruso haven't been the same since Valentino left. She no longer dances around our canvases, last week we were all shocked by the fact that she corrected a student for painting, and I quote, "too massive". It was a sad sight to see. Valentino's seat now had a pot with a single sunflower growing in it. I guess she's still grieving the loss of her favourite student. When I told Valentino about the flower in i his seat, he laughed, but contemplated returning, only to attend Miss Caruso's classes. He's got lots of competition coming up, all over the country, so I guess he isn't that eager to come back to school, he'd rather spend his time on track where he usually practices everyday.

After school Etienne and I meet up at home so he can change before we head down to the tracks. He's already upstairs in his room when a key is heard turning and the front door opens.

"Mama, you're home early?"

She had two bags of groceries with her, I helped her carry one of them to the kitchen table.

"I figured I'd drop off some groceries before heading back." She looks to my feet, I'm wearing shoes inside.

"Are you headed somewhere?"

Everytime I have to lie to her I think a piece of me dies. I've tried telling the truth, however, everytime I choose to go with the lie.

"Err..." I stutter.

"Library?" She grabs some groceries and put them in the fridge.

"Mhm." I nod feeling yet another piece of me wither.

Suddenly I freeze as she kisses me on the cheek, "Just be careful."

*******

I feel a bit down coming to the tracks today as my mother's kiss still lingers my cheek.

Etienne has been progressing really well and It's something she'll never get to see. I want to be able to tell her all about it, however, chances are she'll never let Etienne ride again.

"Five bucks I beat my time from yesterday." Etienne says jumping into his race suit."

"Deal!" Uncle Flavio answers.

"Argh!" Etienne twitch in agony as I stomp on his toes.

"Why did you do that for!"

"Your not betting any money." I give Uncle Flavio the side eye, his eyes roams the sky before he returns to his mechanics.

We're in front of Valentino's trailer, nowadays Nonno parks his truck beside it, not by choice of course, It was Etienne who insisted on it.

Valentino is already out on the track. Right around the afternoon he'll finish his session and change so he can help Etienne with his training.

"You ready?" He says when he comes rolling the bike off the track. His face is steaming and his eyes are still fired up from the adrenaline. I'm not gonna lie, it's a turn on.

"I'll be right back." He says and leaves the bike with Uncle Flavio.

I bite my lip watching him walk towards the trailer.

"Where is Nonno?" Etienne whines impatiently.

"He'll be here in a minute, he just gotta get the stuff from Whitey." I say annoyed, he interrupted my hot fantasy about Valentino. "You know what" I hastily say. "I'll go look for em."

"Thanks." Etienne says confused by my change of tone.

"Everything for you brother."

I feel my heartbeat rise, I'm a spy on a dangerous mission. I look to be headed towards the hospitality center, however, it is all for show. My steps are rapid, when I'm sure Etienne can't spot me anymore I take a detour behind other parked trailers, before ending up right back where I just came from. I'm now behind the tent where I can see uncle Flavio's shadow bent over Valentino's bike. Like a raccoon I carefully make sure no one got their eyes on me.

Valentino turns around in surprise, when I slowly open the door to his trailer.

"Hey." He says unsure. He has already removed his race suit and is only standing in his underwear, perfect!

Slowly I walk towards him, closing the door behind me.

"I'm slow, I'm sorry, I'll just get my shirt. Tell Etienne...."

I cover his mouth with my hands. "Stop talking." I whisper.

His pupils widens as my hand trails down his bare chest. Before I knew it he cupped my cheek in one of his hands, our lips peck before I pull away.

"No!" I say removing his hand. I give him a nudge hard enough to make him stumble against the wall. Fiery excitement fills his eyes. "Lessy I..." Once again I put my hand over his mouth. "Shut up."

His breath is heavy, I start planting kisses down his stomach, my legs crumble beneath me. I'm on my knees now.

We share a passionate glance before I claw his underwear down his legs.

*********

"There you are, I've been looking all over for you guys"

When I came around the corner back to Etienne, Nonno and Whitey were in deep conversation. They both look at me with raised eyebrows.

"We we're just up hill sweetie, where were you lookin?" Whitey said. Today he was wearing, what I think is one of his most charming outfits, a pink suit, his usually high boots, wide hat and a bolo tie.

"What happened to your hair?" Etienne frowns.

I pat the back of my head, Valentino sure was eager, he held a tight grip throughout.

Valentino came running from the back, t-shirt around his neck. "Sorry couldn't find my shoes." He says, avoiding me. I try hiding my smile.

"So we're all set?" Nonno put his hands together.

Valentino moves to help Etienne roll the bike towards the track.

"Hold up" Whitey interrupts, "got you this." he says turning to me. From a small cardboard box he unfolds a pink race suit. "Just like you wanted."

"Err...?" I sutter.

"Don't worry if the color suits me it will suit you too pumpkin." He chuckles.

I look to Nonno to make sense of it all. "We've got the bike set up for you if you wanna have a go?" He says timid.

"Yeah Lessy suit up!" Valentino smiles. Etienne looks to me with anticipation.

I don't know why but I instantly thought of my mother. What am I doing, lying to her face like this. I shake my head "Not today, sorry". My stomach twirls at Etienne's obvious disappointment. Whitey looked to have miscalculated a math equation.

"But the suit...it's pink." Whitey squeals.

"And it's beautiful." I grab it and tug it under my arm. "I just won't be wearing it today, sorry"

"Sorry?" Whitey repeats, bitterness in his voice.

Nonno places a gentle hand on his shoulder which stops him from going any further.

"I guess it's just you today son." Whitey turns to Etienne which freeze's me out. "We gotta get you up to speed if you wanna compete next month."

"Compete?" I raise an eyebrow, Etienne tries to disappear behind Whitey's pink suit.

"It's just a small venue for the kids around here." Nonno says, slight guilt in his voice. "We were talking just now, the competition would be a good start for Ettie, even you can't deny his talented."

Once again pain hits my stomach as the thought of my mother reappears.

"I'll help train him." I hear Valentino's voice say, my eyes were fixated on the muddy ground.

"Great, we know you'll eventually need to go off to compete yourself, that's why we wanted to secure Alessia as your replacement." Whitey says, throwing me a shady look as our eyes meet.

"Can I go now?" Etienne sighs, his angry with me I could tell.

"Sure. let's go." Valentino starts pushing the bike towards the track.

*******

"Are you tired?" Valentino says, placing his hand on my thigh.

The sun hung low, Valentino instead on giving Etienne and I a ride home, it had been a quiet car ride so far, all I could think about was the amount of lying I've done, the guilt was suffocating.

"I think I should tell Mama about everything." I mumble

"What!" Etienne is heard shouting from the backseat.

"We've been lying to her all this time and I can't take it anymore."

"Lessy please." Etienne's head pops up between our seats. "She won't let me go on if you do."

"I think you should tell her." Valentino suddenly says.

"You do?" Etienne and I say simultaneously.

Valentino's hand squeezes my thigh. "She deserves to know and who knows, maybe she'll be cool about it."

Etienne and I share a frown. "You don't know our mother, when she finds out we've been lying to her all this time, she'll kill both of us forsure." Etienne nods beside me.

"I dunno, you won't know for sure until you tell her."

"Please don't tell her Lessy, I'll do anything, I'll clean your room, I swear, I'll do it everyday."

I raise an hand for Etienne to be quiet. "I'm telling her, I'm telling her tonight."

"You idiot!" Etienne shouts,

I swear, if Valentino weren't there to block my right arm swing, Etienne would of been knocked out.

"What did you call me" The belt prevented me from jumping into the backseat, where Etienne was screaming and kicking for his life. The car wobbled as Valentino had to steer it with one hand and keep me from getting to Etienne with the other.

Finally home, Valentino followed all the way up to the door so he could stand guard between us. Etienne tried escaping up the stairs as soon as we got inside, luckily Valentino pulled him back by the collar. All the fuss we were making forced my mother out of her office.

"What is going on!" She shouted. Etienne was twitching in Valentino's arms.

"Mama we want to tell you something." I said.

She looked to us over her work glasses.

"If i knew you would have brought Valentino I would have cooked more food." My mother says as we all sit down in the living room.

"Don't worry I'm leaving soon." He said, pinning Etienne to the sofa.

"Okej." My mother said unsure, "What's this about, did something happen?" she looked to all of us with wonder, especially Etienne and Valentino who looked to embrace each other a little too aggressively.

"Mama I need to tell you..." My voice dies mid sentence.

"I need to tell you..." I try again, same thing happens.

Heat rises to my face and I'm starting to feel really dizzy.

"Yes?" My mother says for me to go on.

I try swallowing, it's like a dusty attic in there.

Etienne has stopped fighting, he's now looking to me, tears shimmering in his eyes.

"Please" His mouth spells.

"Err..." I stutter. "You know how Etienne and I always run off somewhere after school."

"It's become more recent, yes. why?"

I try swallowing again but it's like choking on razor blades. I inhale.

"It's because..."

Etienne looks to be in pain, of course he was, I was about to execute his joy. I know riding makes him feel like he has a somewhat connection with our father.

"It's because..."

"Alessia what's going on?" My mother frowns.

I look to Valentino, he nods for me to go on. In his arms Etienne squints his eyes.

"It's because we've been in Flaxwere."

"What!" She shouts.

I nod, "We've been at Valentino's" I look to Etienne so that I don't have to meet Valentino's disappointing gaze.

"Valentino and I are sort of together, so..." Etienne's eyes relax as they reopen.

"What do you mean sort of?" My mother look to me then to Valentino who curls his lip.

"We've kind of been on and off this year." I cringe at my words.

"It's true, I've seen them kiss!" Etienne shouts. I send laser eyes for him to settle down.

"Yeah, Etienne knows, so that's why he has been with us. I just thought I should let you in on it too."

"Oh, how unexpected." My mother mumbles.

Valentino looks more flushtered than ever, he stirs uncomfortably.

"Not really, we've been friends forever." I counter.

Mama brushes her jeans as she rises from the sofa. "I guess, I just didn't think Vale was your type."

Valentino lets out a dimmed gasp.

"Well, I guess I should finally catch up with your mother, now seems very fitting."

Valentino nods awkwardly.

Valentino ends up staying for dinner, Etienne lets me have the biggest slice of apple pie, his way of saying thank you I presumed. Mama and Mrs Rossi stay on the phone for the rest of the evening.

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't get it out." The stars were scattered all over the dark sky, Valentino and I stood outside by the truck.

He leans against the hood. "I get it, you'll tell her eventually, I hope."

"Sorry for putting you on the spot like that, my mind just went completely blank."

"I must admit you caught me off guard, at least now our families know that we're more than friends." His eyes shift between my lips and my gaze, he always does that when he wants to kiss me. Hastily I look to the kitchen window, I then lean in and kiss him. His hands move up and down my back, finally stopping at my waist where he pulls me back.

"Oh, by the way, I didn't know you got so horny at times, I mean you really attacked me in the trailer today."

"Stop it!" I gasp, my hands over his mouth. I feel his smile shape underneath my palms.

He mumbles something.

"What did you say?" I uncover his mouth.

"I said, Good night Alessia."

I smile, "Good night Valentino Rossi."