"Go Vale, go!!"

Hundreds of people were gathered at the motorpark tonight. Riders from all over the country had come to race. The national tournament scattered competitions all over the country and this night it was held right here at our motorpark. Valentino and Angelo where the lucky once, the only two contestants from our town, they had the home crowd cheering for them both. People had painted their faces or made banners with either Angelo's or Valentino's racing numbers. "Go Vale, go!" Majority of them shouted.

I was on the other end of the park, far away from Valentino's tent, the race was already in motion by the time I left Alicia's car and too many people occupied the ground, making it to hard for me to get through.

"Who's winning?" I ask the man next to me, I'm looking over shoulders, all I can see is when drivers take on the gravel hills.

"I dunno, it's Rossi against some other kid at the front."

Sure enough Valentino wins the race. I'm able to get through when people start moving towards the finish line. Valentino is ambushed by several people as he is seen raising a victorious fist.

It's impossible for me to get close, I'm rushing over to the tent, I'll eventually meet him there, I thought. However the tent was crowded too. People were lining up to buy Valentino's merchandise, sold by uncle Flavio who looked to be under distress right now. "Alright, back up people, there's enough for everybody!" He shouts.

Suddenly thousands flashes of light lit up the tent, Valentino had a wave of people follow him back as he returns with the bike.

"The great Valentino Rossi everybody, a rising star, I'm telling you!" Uncle Flavio greeted. "Be the first one to collect his costume made merchandise, no refunds!"

"Alessia?" Someone tapped me on my shoulders. Turning around my eyes widened. "Mama?"

"Where over there if you want to join us." She points to the hospitality center.

"W...what are you doing here?"

Her smile is timid. I thought about what you said the other day, about keeping this family together."

"You did?" I frown.

However, I didn't like how you said it and if you ever speak to me in that way again I'll smack you upside the head, you understand me!"

I rapidly nodded. "But how...."

I went to visit Nonno, unfortunately he seemed to be in a hurry to get here, although I believe he was in a hurry to get away from me, so I insisted I'd come with."

My eyes twinkled like butterflies, I can't believe she was standing in front of me.

When Mama and I enter the hospitality center, Nonno, Etienne and Whitey are seen sitting by a table, Etienne and Nonno both rise at the sight of us.

"He did it!" Etienne immediately shouts and points to Nonno. "He was the one who brought her, I was already here I promise."

"Hush boy!" Nonno snaps. "I didn't do nothing, someone tipped her off, I was already on my way out when she showed on my doorstep."

"Settle down folks, what's all this hazard." Whitey pleas from his seat.

I step in, "Alright calm down, Mama already knew we would be here tonight Etienne."

"That's right." Mama says, she pulls out a chair and sits down, I do the same. "And I already know about all of you coming down here, riding motorbikes behind my back."

"You do?" Etienne, Nonno and I say simultaneously. Whitey shifts his head in wonder.

"Yes, Valentino told me a while ago."

"He did!" We shout.

"That dog, I knew he was a fool!" Nonno hiss.

"Mama we didn't want to lie but..."

"I drove you to it, I understand."

I fall silent. "Are you angry with us." Etienne asks carefully.

She sighs "I'm here and from now on that means no more lies, okey."

We nod, even Nonno.

Whitey coughs. "I don't know what is going on here, very heart warming I might ad, however, it looks to be clearing up down there, I suggest we join em."

*******

Nonno stayed behind talking to Mama, Etienne rushed ahead.

"Alessia, can I have a minute...? Whitey waved for me to join his side, he wore a devious smile.

"Yeah?"

"I thought I'd pull you aside since there seems to be a tossle going on amongst your family."

He's referring to the way Etienne and Nonno reacted towards Mama being here.

"What's up?"

"Prices, that's what's up!" He chuckles. 

I raise an eyebrow in wonder.

Whitey puts a heavy hand on my shoulder. "Ever since that video of you went up on the website, business has been booming."

"It has?" I turn around to make sure Mama couldn't hear us, this she doesn't need to know about. Whitey lowers his voice as he leans in. "I got your share right here."

My eyes widen seeing him retrieve a bundle of cash. "What's it for?" I say anxious.

Whitey's bright smile enlightens his face, "for featuring on the website with one of Whitey's Productions"

I look around before rapidly I stuffing the bundle in my side pocket.

"Your little stunt gave me an idea..."

"It did?"

"Why don't you feature in another video with some other Whitey's Productions, this way I'll promote diversity and attract more customers on the young side."

"I don't know what to say Whitey?" I stutter.

"Say yes!" He shrugs my shoulder, excited. "Think of it as a part-time job a job where you get to ride cool bikes for money." his eyes sparkled in the night.

It was all sounding very promising, however, I had just made peace with Mama, I'm sure this would shake things up again. "I don't know Whitey, may I think about it?"

"Think about it!" Whitey curled his lip like he was about to burst. A deep breath and he calmed himself. "Sure thing sweetheart." he smiled. I get a hard pat on the back, "just don't think too long, it's an opportunity of a lifetime, I'm telling you."

Valentino's tent look like a crime scene as we approached, broken banners scattered all over the ground, the merchandise table was now empty, not even a single sticker left behind.

Uncle Flavio looked exhausted, "There you are." He says spotting us. "Thought you got swept away with the crowd, crazy wasn't it."

"Where's Valentino?" I ask.

"Checking on Angelo." He says, nudging his head towards the direction of angelos tent.

"Why, what happened?"

Uncle Flavio frowns, "Didn't you see the race? Angelo got slammed in the last corner, he's having a check up right now."

I leave Etienne with Uncle Flavio and run towards Angelos tent.

Both his parents and to my surprise Hilda-Maria, Charlotte and Gaia are gathered outside of his closed trailer.

"Is he alright?" I ask, running up alongside Gaia. She jumps at my voice. "Alessia, hey." She says nervous. "Medical is having a look at him now, they say it could be a broken leg."

I sigh, I feel so bad for Angelo he felt pressured as it is, now this.

The door to the trailer flags open and a woman in her thirties steps out, she carries a briefcase a red cross on it. She recognizes Angelo's parents standing remotely away from the rest of us. "It looks like a minor fracture, with enough rest and some rehabilitation, your son will be fully recovered."

Sounds like good news to me, still Anglos mother starts to cry, Hilda-Maria rushes over to comfort her, so does Charlotte, Gaia watches from afar. His father disappears inside the trailer, moments later Valentino walks out, shoulders hanging low, in his hand a trophy.

"How is he?" I say as he approaches. Valentino sighs heavily. "He's mad, it was a minor error and he knows it, we've been riding this track like every day since we were kids."

"Do you think he'll be recovered for the next race."

"I hope so, I'd hate for him to go out like this."

We walk back to Valentino's tent, everyone is waiting. He's in a foul mood so no one really ambushes him again. Mama is the first one to embrace him, "congratulations, sweetie you did great." He nods politely and returns the hug. Uncle Flavio is next, "Great job today, we sold out." He pats him on the back. I roll my eyes. Valentino hands Uncle Flavio the trophy.

"You've got a future ahead of you, I'm telling you kid." Whitey snorts his nose.

Valentino rubs his eyelids. I've never seen him like this after a race, it's like he lost the race.

"Thanks guys." he sighs throwing an arm around Etienne. "Hope you all can stay and help my uncle and I pack up all the stuff, I just wanna head home and take a shower."

With Everyone helping out, in no time everything is packed up. Valentino has changed out of his race suit and is ready to go. Hilda-Maria and her entourage returns.

"Are you leaving?" She says.

"Yeah we're heading home." I say. Hilda raises an eyebrow at me but turns to Valentino.

"I'm still having a few people over at my place, if you wanna come?"

Rude, her ignoring me like that, I thought we we're cool after the whole bonding over Gaias crazy cousin thing.

Valentino notice Hilda-Marias powerplay. "Err...I'm pretty tired actually." He says scratching the back of his head.

"Ha!" I think to myself.

"Are you sure, because Angelo is coming and I'm pretty sure he would love for you to be there." She twinkles her long eyelashes.

Bitch!

"Angelo, really?" Valentino says eyes less drowsy.

"Mhm, he's convincing his parents as we speak."

"Lessy you wanna go?" Valentino turns to me. However my eyes are on Hilda-Maria, neither of us blink.

"Yeah, you should come too." Charlotte utters taking a step forward.

Hilda-Maria curls her lip at her friend.

"Yeah sure, just got to convince my Mama to let me." I have a fake smile on my face.

"How sweet." Hilda-Maria snorts.