"12 weeks."

"What?"

"That's how far along you are, 12 weeks" Alicia's aunty says, as usual her tone is dull.

I'm laying on the patients table while Alicia's aunty rubs around a remote on my lubricated stomach. On the display that is attached to the remote, I see it, a little jellybean with two arms and two legs.

"Is that my baby?" I gasp.

"Yes, that's your baby." she says, as if it wasn't obvious.

It's interesting what the saígnificance of the matter of weeks can have.

Graduation is in 10 weeks. I swear that everytime Mama mentions La Fab, I feel like vomiting, which I actually did once, however that was morning sickness, I've been getting more of those.

Alicia is the one accompanying me to my doctors appointments, It's her aunty after all. I'm still staring at the printed monochrome image of my jellybean baby as we leave the clinic and get into Alicia's car.

"So when are you gonna tell your mother?" Alicia says, we pull out of the parking lot.

I bite my lip, knowing I've been postponing this particular encounter, in other words I have been stalling, hoping it will all unfold by itself somehow.

"I'll tell her in a few weeks."

"In a few weeks" Alicia raises a brow. "I'm sure she can tell by herself by then, since everyone is gonna wonder why you aren't digesting your food anymore.

"I'll say that I'm stacking up for winter." I joke.

Alicia let's out one of her soothing sighs. "Lessy you've already decided to keep the baby, why can't you just own up to it."

My eyes narrow as I am slightly jolted by her comment. "It's not something I can easily own up to, like I peed in my bed or something.

Alicia responds by shrugging her shoulders, "Whatever you say."

The car ride continued in silence.

A few weeks after Valentino went on to test for Moto2, it was later announced that he would officially be riding for the ApriliaGP Team. He has been back and forth to Mugello for further establishmet in the team.

Before dropping me off, Alicia and I stayed parked in front of my house.

"So you are meaning to tell me that Valetino thinks he is going to drag you around the world

whilst you're awaiting his child?"

"I dunno it's all very confusing."

"I have a bad feeling about this Alessia, I'm serious, you guys need to talk and figure this out, I mean you haven't even told your mother about not going to La Fab, the baby and now this!"

I really hate it when she has a point.

*******

At some point Mama hit a wall, not literally speaking, however, mentaly she hit a wall. The business was going great, although it was too much to handle for one person, Etienne and I spent most of our free time at the tracks so we often weren't there to aid her.

One afternoon on our way to another afternoon at the tracks, we decided to stop by.

"Welcome to Monique's Boutique, how may I help you today?" Hilda-Maria's face withers seeing us enter, "Oh, it's just you." She says bittersweet.

When I first heard the news that my mother was contemplating hiring an assistant to help her with the store I thought, great solution! However, seeing Hilda-Maria sitting behind the counter for the first time, didn't do me well.

"Miss Diallo!" She calls. She gazes at Etienne and I, as if we weren't already acquainted.

Hilda-Maria's father happens to be an excellent tailor, the reason for her family's move from Flaxwere. Her father opened up a shop in the grand city and it flourished, he even suggested to his then employee, my mother, to one day do the same. Conclusion is, Hilda-Maria has a great eye for fashion, Mama's reason for hiring her assumed.

"Customers?" Mama appears in the doorway to her office.

"No, it's your kids."

I curl my upper lip, because she says this like we aren't the exact same age.

"Hello kids." Mama smiles, "If you came here to walk me home you should know that I won't get off until seven, we've got lots to do today, don't we?"

Behind her Hilda-Maria nods agreeingly, too complacently for my liking.

"We're just letting you know that we'll be down by the tracks, Valentino...." I take my time saying his name, "....Nonno and Papa will be there too."

I get the reaction I wished for, Hilda-Maria is seen rolling her eyes behind Mama. She can pop up wherever she wants in my life, it won't prevent the fact that I win, because I've got Valentino and she does not.

Rambling on about Hilda-Maria with Valentino isn't as much fun as doing it with Alicia.

"She made me a sweater once, it was nice." He says, oblivious to the actual reaction I want from him when I'm trying to tell him these things.

From behind the fence we were watching as Nonno and Papa were trying to talk Etinne through how to safely handle the small jumps around the circuit.

"My point is...she is trying to break us up!" I vividly explain.

Valentino chuckles which make me feel like a silly little girl. "Why would she wanna do that, her and Anglo have been hanging out more and you know that."

I shake my head disappointed, although he's probably right, besides, for a girl who couldn't get into an elite school like La Fab which I did, I guess working as an assistant at the best boutique in town is the next best thing.

"Anyways, I got you this." I'm careful retrieving the ultrasound image that has been resting in my pocket since my appointment earlier this week. I carefully look around before handing it to him.

"What is it?" He frowns.

I sigh, "You're holding it upside down." I turn the image in his hand so that it's now facing the right way.

At first he looks to the image with wonder, then he brings it closer to his face.

"Looks like a jelly bean doesn't it, but it's got arms now, and look..." I point to the picture. "He's got legs.... or she's got legs."

I let out a surprised scream as I am suddenly swooped off of my feet. Valentino twirls me around in the air then puts me down on my feet again, now revealing a smile not even a newfound lottery winner could have.

"When did you get this?" He says excited.

"Alicia and I went to the clinic earlier this week." I'm matching his excitement. However there is a sudden change in his expression.

"Why didn't you ask me to come with you, it's our baby?"

I acknowledge his change of mood, come to think of it, why hadn't I asked him to come with me, it was a big moment for both of us.

"I'm sorry I...." Valentino continues to stare at the image in his hands avoiding my gaze.

"....The doctor is Alicia's aunt, that's why she comes with me all the time, but you should also have been there, I'm sorry."

Valentino rotates the image before flashing it in front of me, "It does look like a jelly bean."

"Vale." I exhale in relief, I move to embrace him. He smiles looking down on me. I adore the sight of his dimples appearing.

"Can I keep this?" He says, fanning himself with the black and white image.

"Of course, I've got the original right here." I give my stomach a light pat.

Valentino is giving me the stare, the I'm gonna kiss you now stare. For you information there's also a I'm gonna f*** now stare, but that's for another time.

I don't know if I'm giving him the stare, however our lips collide in a passionate, yet sweet, exchange of saliva, soon I feel his tongue begging for access as it wets my bottom lip.

"I told you he's got his hands all over your daughter."

The sound of Nonno's trolling voice instantly makes us part. We jump, creating space between the both of us. We failed to notice Nonna and Papa approaching. I feel bad, Valentino's face is burning, I watch him slip the ultrasound image in his backpocket.

By now Papa already knows about Valentino and I and during his now weekly visits to come watch Etienne train, he has somewhat come to terms about where his opinion about us lay. Unlike Nonno he is not as verbal about it, however I found it ridiculous that whenever Valentino offers to do something on my behalf, like simply drive me home or buy me a soda, Papa is quick to insist that he'll do it instead.

Right now, judging by the way he is staring at Valentino, I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to take me home straight away.

"I say you teach the boy some manners Anthoine."

I give Nonno a death stare for his insensitive comment, however he just lets out one of his slimy coughs followed by a distinguished laugh.

Later that night, after Papa gives us a ride home, I am in my room rambling on about Hilda-Maria completely unaware that it would be my very last time ever doing so, at least not in this room, in this house.

Unlike Valentino Alicia understands, she is giving me all the reactions that I wanted.

"Then she says, "It's your kids" I do my best Hilda-Maria impression. Alicia's laughter rings my ear, forcing me to slightly distance my ear from the phone.

"Then what did you do?" Alicia asks anticipatedly.

"I looked at her like, hello, we are the same age, matter of fact i'm in your morning classes honey."

Again, Alicia's laughter rings my ear, I can't believe you said that to her."

I clear my throat, "I mean...I didn't exactly say those words...I thought about it though."

"So have you and Valentino decided, are you going with him?"

I turn to listen for approaching noises on the other side of my walls. At one point I hear Etinne's rapid steps run by my door, descend, then come climbing back up the stairs again. He probably got a snack from the kitchen. Only when I hear the door to his bedroom shut, did I continue our conversation.

"We haven't talked about anything yet, but Alicia, tell me how I could leave Mama and Etienne, without possibly hurting them?"

"You couldn't, that's why you really gotta think through this one."

I nod intensely although Alicia couldn't possibly tell.

"You're right, the decision to not attend La Fab I admit was far easier, knowing I was already pregnant, however I will have had the baby by the time Valentino and I are set to leave, If I decide to go with him."

"Exactly, so really take your time THIS TIME and try to understand what you're getting yourself into."

I was so focused on my conversation with Alicia that I couldn't possibly have heard Mama call me from down the hall, nevertheless entering my room, overhearing the last bit of our conversation.

"Alessia?"

At that moment I'd imagine myself in a state of an animal who'd just been shot by a nerve tranquilizing arrow, as I suddenly froze, Alicia's voice still in my ear.

"Hello...Lessy are you still there?"

"Alessia?" Mama calls again, she is right behind me, however, I dare not turn around to meet her gaze. I hear my heartbeat ring my ear ultimately tuning out Alicia's voice.

"Alessia hang up the phone." Her voice says firmly.

By the time I turn around to face her, tears are already streaming down my face.

Up to that point, I had believed in myself being the animal, however, seeing her look at me in the way a tiger looks at its prey, made it crystal clear who the actual beast was.

"Mama I can explain..." I'm slightly hyperventilating, in the meantime my thumb fumbles, trying to end the call between Alicia and I. I have great difficulty achieving this, since I can't feel my own hands.

Mama's chest rises as she inhales deeply. "Alessia I am only going to say this once more....hang up the phone,

 NOW!!!!"