I hope you don't mind the title of this chapter, you'll understand as you read on.

-Gabs

I have never seen my mother so angry in my life, not even when I accidentally spilled soda on her sketch folder when I was seven years old, my mother had gotten so angry she slapped me across the face, we cried afterwards and she apologized.

After this weekend though, she was furious.

It began with a quiet car ride home, to our surprise a pacing shadow could be seen through the kitchen window as Alicia dropped us off in front of our house.

"See you Monday." she mumbled before driving off.

Etienne and I looked at each other with terror as we lingered behind some bushes.

"Isn't Mama supposed to be home on Sunday?" Etienne had asked, his voice was trembling.

The pacing shadow looked to be on the phone.

"I don't think she knows we've been to the motor park, let's just tell her we went for a late night walk."

"Hallo?" I shouted as I closed the door behind us.

My mother's voice was heard coming from the kitchen.

"Thank you for calling me Sophia, they're here now, please come by the shop and we'll take a look at a dress for your anniversary...alright bye bye."

"I'm going to my room." Etienne whispered and hastily started running towards the stairs."

"Etienne comeback!" I hissed.

Just as he reached the second step of the stairs my mother's head poked out of the kitchen, a visual vain was beating in the middle of her forehead. "Stop right there!" she shouted, Etienne froze.

"You!" she said and pointed to me, "Sit down!." She gestured towards the living room.

I felt like a hopeless little kitten when I nervously took a seat on the couch. "You too" she said and shoved Etienne infront of her.

"Mom I can ex...."

"Shut up!" She yelled, my hands started shaking. "You'll only speak when spoken to, understand."

Etienne and I nodded.

"Now where should I start", she said and started pacing back and forth.

"I sit on a train for five hours, to get to my meeting with a client..." her pacing stopped, "...for four hours!"

"I thought you said five." Etienne mumbled.

"Shut up!" she yells, making him jump in his seat. "And take that off." She moved towards Etienne to remove his cap with Valentino's racing number on. She tosses the cap to the side, " ...and as I arrive to the hotel I get a phone call from your school's, saying that both of you failed to attend your classes on friday.". She looked to us like a hawke looks at its prey before it kills it.

"Mom I can ex..." I try.

"I said shut up!" She yells, cutting me off again. "YOU WILL SPEAK WHEN SPOKEN TO!"

I tried to swallow, but my throat was full of desert sand.

"So I'm late for my meeting, a result of me calling the neighbors to ask if they've seen anything. Lucky someone saw you Alessia, riding down the street."

She fell silent as the pacing began again.

"H...How did the meeting go?" Etienne stuttered. I hit him lightly on his side, "Shut up." I mouthed.

"It went great, thank you for asking my son." She spoke softly, if that vein in her forehead still wasn't visible and beating I would of almost believed that she wasn't sarcastic.

"To bad I had to end the weekend early without closing the deal because apparently my children were running loose ON THE STREETS!." The volume on her voice began rising again, this was the climax of her speech.

"How do you think I felt coming home to an empty house after all of this, no note, no messages, NOTHING!" she said, her eyes burning threw my scalp.

"I was about to call the police if it hadn't been for Sophia (Angelo's mother) calling to say that Etienne was MISSING AT THE MOTOR PARK!" She was out of breath now.

She looked to me, disappointment reflected in her eyes, "I told you not to go down there, what were you thinking, and this fight with Nonno just proves I'm right, he is sick so you have to leave him alone.".

"He is not!" Etienne suddenly shouted and bounced up from the sofa.

"Excuse me?"

I tried yanking Etienne's arm, for him to sit down again.

"He is not sick, I saw him by the track when I was in line with Alicia and I told her that was my Nonno and that I would go say Hello." Etiennes voice broke. "He is not sick, he was just telling me about all the drivers that were racing and when it got dark he asked about you mama, I told him I was with Lessy and we went to go look for her so he could take us home, he said he didn't want any trouble from you.".

Finally the vein in her forehead disappeared as she went to go embrace Etienne.

She sighed as their hug ended, she looked to both of us with fatigue in her eyes, guilt washed over me like someone had poured rotten fish guts all over me.

"Alessia from now on I want you to pick up Etienne from school and come straight to the shop, you are helping me with the final dresses for Gaia's party, no questions."

I had trouble sleeping that night, I was tossing and turning and when i finally started to drift away, Etienne came stumbling into the room. "Can I sleep here?" He says.

I let him crawl under my duvet. "You're too old for this you know that?"

"I know." He whispers.

Both of us laid awake just listening to the sounds of the night.

"Was Nonno happy to see you?" I ask. Etienne who was half asleep slowly nodded. "He told me he could teach me how to ride, just like he did you."

"Mama will kill you." I said, rolling my eyes at the fact that tonight's event had no effect on him.

"I'll die happy." He mumbles before drifting of to sleep.

******

"I am never going to see a race with you ever again" Alicia sighed, closing her locker, "All that mud ruined my favourite coat."

We were walking down the hallway, our last lesson before lunch had just ended.

"Do you think your mother can fix it?"

"She's a seamstress not a dry cleaner Alicia." I chuckled.

"I'm sorry about what happened, do you need more help down at the shop, I could come too?"

"Nah, it's okay, Etienne has been doing pretty well organizing fabric, besides you should stop apologizing, it's been days since the race, we've forgotten all about it." I said.

"I know, I just feel so guilty about the whole thing with your mother, Etienne missing and your grandpa punching Angelo out."

I sighed loudly, "please don't remind me about Angelo, he has clearly been ignoring me all week, he must be so mad, you know he placed fifthteenth on sunday, Valentino told me."

" He probably couldn't see threw that black eye he has been walking around with, your grandpa got him good." Alicia said, slightly laughing.

"It's not funny." I tried defending, holding my laughter.

"Hello girls!" a voice behind us said.

Turning around it was Hilda-Maria, a tall curvy girl, with long black hair and naturally pouty lips, which were painted dark red today.

"Hey Hilda." We answered simultaneously.

I had known Hilda-Maria for as long as I've known Valentino, we grew up together, one day Hilda-Maria's parents moved and she had to transfer middle school's.

"Are you guys going for some lunch, can I join you?" She said cheerfully.

Me and Alicia first met at Hilda-Marias thirteenth birthday, where we became instant friends. However, before Alicia, Hilda-Maria was my best friend, were still friends, but just not, "come over let's hang out" friends. We were reunited in high school, that's also when Valentino's boy hormones had gone head over heels for Hilda-Maria as he saw her in a "new light" or a new bra, which was my theory.

We went of campus for lunch, Hilda-Marias suggestion of course, she showed us this café not to far from the school, they had great sandwiches, however, Hilda-Maria had a salade.

"So, what's going on with you and Valentino Alessia,?" "You know Angelo right? He told me that you two were hooking up."

I choked on a soggy tomato.

"They're are not hooking up" Alicia protested as she began patting my back.

"When did he say that." I shouted, spitting crumbs on the table.

Hilda-Maria shrugged her shoulders, "I dunno couple days ago, something about you and Valentino doing it at the back of a trailer."

My eyes widened, "What!".

"Trust me, I told Angelo that was so not you, I mean you didn't let a boy kiss you until you were like fifthteen." she said.

My heart started racing,"Why would Angelo say that." I said anxiously.

"That's what I thought, but then I remembered the dance." She said.

"What about the dance?" I asked, my heart stomping.

"You guys were very close that night, dancing together and everything."

"That don't mean anything." Alicia said, noticing my anxious expression.

"True, but then I remembered, me, Vale and some friends, being silly in my car on our way to Angelo's house, when suddenly Vale disappeared and never came back. We were all a bit drunk that night so I thought Vale went off on his own, like he usually does when he gets drunk, when all of us hung out the day after, he had told us he went to make sure you got home safe, which was cute I thought, knowing you guys have known each other forever, I never thought it was because you guys were..."

Hilda-Maria demonstrated her index finger penetrating a circle she made with her other hand.

"We are not!" I shouted.

"Cool, I couldn't believe it, had to ask you myself, for all I know Valentino has had a crush on me since forever." She chuckled.

"Do you like him?" Alicia asked still picking crumbs off my shirt.

A smile appeared on Hilda-Marias face as she looked to contemplate a response.

"Not really, I mean we fool around sometimes..."

My teeth squeaked as I tried to contain my emotions.

"...But me and him together would be like if he and Alessia got together."

"What's that supposed to mean" I said offended.

"It would be like fucking my brother.

********

"It would be like fucking my brother." I said, imitating Hilda-Maria, but with a squeaker voice.

School was over and me and Alicia were on our way towards the crowded parking lot. After lunch all I could think about was getting some answers from Angelo.

"I told you, didn't I tell you, to break it off with Valentino before something like this happened" Alicia said.

I stopped in my tracks and turned to her, I was angry, "something like what?" I asked.

"People thinking that you and Valentino are a couple, thinking you wanna be like Hilda-Maria who's bound to live in this place forever because she married some towny."

"Wow, Alicia, that's our friend who's future you're predicting and beside the only people thinking like that is you." I said.

Alicia laughed.

"Do you think you mother will let you go to the pumpkin carnival this weekend." Alicia asked.

"No, why?"

Alicia let out a loud sigh " It would be so much fun."

"Yeah, but apparently I don't really deserve fun right now." I mumbled.

Alicia and I went our separate ways as she headed home and I headed to pick up Etienne.

For the first couple of days Etienne had misplaced fabric, ruined some of Mama's folders and broken of three manicens arms, still she insisted that he'd come to the store after school to "help out".

"Make sure the store looks nice today, Mrs Romano and Gaia are stopping by later for a fitting of the third dress." My mother said cheerfully.

"Etienne don't mix colors, organize from light to dark sweetie." Etienne was on the floor folding a pile of uncut fabric, his folding was despicable, sometimes he would just tousle the fabric into a ball and toss it to the side. He sighed as he held up a fabric with a funny pattern on it.

"What do I do with this" He said with a frown, I shrugged my shoulders.

"Mama I'm hungry, can we take a break" He shouted.

My mother appeared in the doorway to the back office. "You can eat when we go home." she said. "When is that?" He whined.

My mother picked up one of his tousled up fabrics, "I tell you what, if Gaia likes the dress and there's not many adjustments needing to be done on it, I'll leave it for tomorrow and we'll close early and go home instead" She said, handing Etienne the fabric, now neatly folded.

If we ate or not was going to be decided by Gaia, great, I thought.

Soon enough the shop was looking nice, I had to help Etienne refold all the fabric, we were done just in time to when the front door flung open and Gaia and her mother stepped in.

"Stefania!" My mother said, she had stumbled out of the office at the sound of the door opening.

"Monique, nice to see you again." Gaia's mother said. She was a tall woman, super model tall. I had never seen a woman wear a black suit so elegantly as she did, she looked like a sexy super spy, with her expensive sunglasses, which she removed at the site of my mother.

Etienne and I made friends with the wall, we had been advised to just smile and stay quiet. Mrs Romano had failed to take notice of us when she went to greet my mother with two kissen on the cheek, Gaia however gave us a warming smile before she also went to give my mother two kisses on the cheek.

She was so perfect, just her presence made my skin crawl, it wasn't easy to hate her considering she didn't seem like a bad person and after having had time to think about it, her coming to get her dresses from my mother instead of some fancy designer which her mother could easily arrange, was quite admirable

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Yes, espresso."

My mother's eyes widened at Gaia's mother's request, knowing she meant something to drink, meaning water.

She quickly looked to me with destress, I pointed to the door and she nodded.

I left the wall and quickly ran up the streets looking for a coffee shop, I had them put the coffee in one of their fancier cups with unique patterns. Returning to the shop, I found Etienne kicking some rocks outside, trying to pass the time, Gaia was already behind curtains to the dressing room as her mother and my mother pointed to a sketch drawing of the dress.

"Your espresso." My mother said cheerfully as she gestured for me to bring it to her. I believe it was the first time Gaia's mother actually took notice of me ever. She looked to me with curiosity, I hope she wasn't comparing me to her daughter.

"You must be Alessia," her voice was deep and almost sutheing. I handed her the coffee avoiding eye contact.

"Gaia has told me about you, your Dario's friend aren't you."

My mouth went dry.

"Mom," Gaia was heard whining behind the curtains as she overheard our conversation.

"What honey?"

"Dario is a lovely boy." My mother suddenly said. I hastily shook my head for her to stop talking. "Alessia and him have been together since they were fifthteen." She said proudly.

"As friends." I quickly implied.

Mrs Romano looked to me, she seemed a bit confused.

"Gaia and Dario wanted to match each other to the party, do you have a four ties that will go with each of her dresses.

"Err, sure I do" she said unsure. "they're in the back."

" I hope you don't mind me for asking, but why would Gaia want to match Alessia's boyf..."

"Mom!" I interrupted.

Gaia stepped out just in time to distract everyone, the third dress fit her perfectly and left us all speechless as the velvet color made her exposed skin seem silky smooth.

"That fits you perfectly don't change a thing" said Etienne who just entered the shop again.

"The boy is right, it's perfect." Mrs Romano said satisfied.

Gaia went to change back into her clothes and my mother and Mrs Romano were in the back office picking out ties for Dario. I anxiously stopped to listen if my mother would mention me again.

"Do you really think the dress fit her that perfectly?" I asked Etienne, who was soaking in a chair. "I dunno?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Then Why did you say it did?"

"Because I'm hungry." He mumbled, which made me chuckle.

Gaia stepped out of the dressing room, for once her hair was slightly tousled, still she looked beautiful. "What should I do with the dress?" She timidly asked.

"Etienne." I hissed, snapping my fingers.

half the dress dragged along the floor when Etienne carried it out of the room. I could tell Gaia noticed.

"I'm sorry." I mumbled.

"Actually Alessia I'm the one who's sorry." She suddenly said.

"Err, w...what, why? I was confused by her sudden words.

"You must think I'm a bitch for having your mother make the dresses for my party that most of your friends are invited to and then you having to listen to all this Dario talk..."

"Don't worry about it." I said interrupting her, wanting her to stop.

"Anyways, at first I was reluctant to invite you because of me and Dario, he even told me not to do it, then I felt bad about Alicia not wanting to come if you weren't there, which would be sad since the party is going to be held at The Palace..."

"What are you saying Gaia." I said firmly, her pity for me was humiliating.

"I want you to come to the party."

"No way." I Instantly said, feeling like that one kid that never got invited to any birthday parties. Gaia looked to me, still wearing that warming smile, "Why not it will be fun, Valentino will be there." she said cheerfully.

"What?"

"I thought that, now that you and Valentino are a thing it wouldn't be too weird to invite you."

"Who told you that me and Valentino were a thing?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Aren't you?, Hilda-Maria said you were, so I thought..."

Mrs Romano interrupted us as she entered the room. "Let's go Gaia, we will be late for dinner."

"Please think about it." was Gaia's last words before her and her mother left.

"The faster we clean the faster we get to eat," My mother announced as Gaia and Mrs Romano left. Etienne had been the first one to pick up a broom and start sweeping. I went to go dust the shelves, but my mother's sudden movement towards me stopped that.

"Alessia you never told me that you and Dario was not together any more, why?" She spoke softly.

"It's not important" I mumbled,

"I remembered the way you acted when Gaia first came in here, if I would of know I would have considered more before taking this on."

"I want you to make those dresses Mama, Mrs Romano is a powerful woman, she can help this store grow.".

"True, but understand that you and Etienne is the most important thing to me, not this store." Her warm embrace erased the guilt that had filled the pit of my stomach.

"Let's clean this up and go home, I'm starving", she said.

"Done!" Etienne shouted as he parked the broom against the wall.