It took 3 hours for my makeover to happen. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn't recognize myself. My hair was a pretty shade of brown ombre, I had dark brown contacts hiding my beautiful, perfect blue eyes. They made me wear black skinny jeans; a white, tight-fit spaghetti top, black leather jacket and finished it with a pair of black heeled, ankle length boots. It felt awfully uncomfortable since I wasn't accustomed to wearing such tight clothes but we wanted to trick my step-father, so I had to grin and bear it.

As soon as mom saw me, she started gushing,

"Oh my God Charlotte, you look absolutely gorgeous! At this rate, I will have no choice but to put your name as the brand ambassador for my clothing line."

Hearing this, my head snapped in her direction, and I shook my head frantically.

"Oh no no, please don't do that."

"Okay okay," she laughed.

"But really, you look so different and so beautiful, leave alone your step-father, I don't think even your dad will be able to recognize you."

"Thanks mom. And I really hope so otherwise my four hours would be a waste."

I beamed at her.

"That's right. You've endured a lot today so you must be hungry. Also, Gabby hasn't yet returned from school so should we go down for some sandwiches and lemonade?"

"Sure, I'm even more hungry now."

By the time we finished our lunch, Gabby came back from school. We were all extremely pumped-up for our 'shopping adventures', as Gabby put it. We immediately sat in the car and sped off to our destination. I've always been attracted to sleek and beautiful cars and here I got to see so many distinct types of cars in such a short time. I felt like my eyes were truly blessed. Out of excitement, I asked mom,

"Mom, will I also be able to drive this someday?"

"Yes dear. Of course you will. Do you like this car?"

"Oh yes, very much. I've always wanted to drive such beauties. Can't wait to grow up."

Hearing this she laughed,

"Okay, I see you're awfully passionate about this. Don't worry, I'll tell dad to teach you once the precise time comes."

"Is he a good driver?"

I asked in sheer curiosity since I'd actually never seen him drive.

"You don't know? Dad was the best racer in New York, according to mom. She says that he invariably used to win racing competitions no matter what, didn't you mom?"

Gabby gushed with pride dripping from her honey eyes.

"Yes, yes I did. He really is the best Charlotte."

"Oh wow, that's splendid! I'll learn from him only."

I was speechless. I thought dad must be a very rich, elegant and sophisticated businessman but never thought that his hobbies would be the complete opposite - wild and untamed.

Mom's store, "Bianca's" was utterly splendid. It had a wide variety of clothing, ranging from cutesy to classic and conservative dresses, biker babe and emo outfits to extremely stylish and Royal Ball's fits. I was spellbound to see such a huge showroom.

'Guess it's just how my parents do it,' I thought.

This time, they made me try on the whole of the biker babe section, consisting of dark coloured ripped denims, with tight fitting, black, blood red/maroon and brown tank tops, cropped and waist-length leather jackets in black and red colour, almost 15 pairs of black boots, some heeled and in different patterns and lengths. In addition to that, Mom and Gabby made me try out some classy gowns meant for parties thus pushing me inside the dressing room for the 1000th time today.

Even though I had been really excited at the idea of shopping as a child, this word would now give me nightmares. After we had finally selected five dresses and matching heels to go with it, was I allowed to exit the showroom.

"Now that you have everything we wanted you to have, let's go grab some food,"

Gabby said.

"I thought you'd never say this judging by the passion with which you were going through racks and racks of clothing."

I remarked dryly.

Although I was extremely serious, both Mom and Gabby laughed hard.

"Oh dear, I didn't know you were this effortlessly funny. You're definitely going to be an addition of a new character to our family,"

My mom said.

"I'm also looking forward to creating some utterly inimitable formulae with you,"

I winked at her.

Laughing our hearts out, we entered a restaurant in the mall and had a blast within ourselves. I couldn't even think that I belonged to a different family, looking at the way I fit in so perfectly, as if that room was custom made for me and the way we all complemented each other. Finally, I was settling in. It might be a slow and gradual process, sometimes tedious too, but I had various other positive points to focus on and that was just enough at the moment.

It was already seven in the evening when we reached home. We were all so knackered and I just wanted to go to sleep but Gabby stopped me at the bottom of the stairs.

"Hey sis, should we go to your room for a while?"

"Umm yeah, okay. But what are we gonna do? Please don't say anything because I'm damn tired."

"As if I'm very much energetic right now, but we haven't bonded since yesterday. As you can see, I'm a really busy woman, so you'll have a hard time catching me during the weekdays,"

She said haughtily.

I snorted,

"Oh, is it? Well then busy woman, let's make use of your wonderful and precious free time."

In this way, we spent our evening discussing trivial details about one another, even though Gabby was the more voluble of us two. While lying on my bed with her and thinking about everything that happened today, I was suddenly reminded that I also had to choose a name for myself. But there was nothing in particular which came to my mind. So I decided to ask Gabby.

"Hey, can you suggest me some good, stylish names for girls? I'm literally running out of inspiration here."

"Sis, you're not old enough to ask these kinds of questions. First grow up and have a baby, then I'll tell you,"

She laughed.

"Oh God Gabby. Not for a baby, for me. I'm asking for myself."

"Y-you? You mean... you want to change your name? But why?," She whined,

"I like this name so much. It suits you so well."

I smiled softly,

"I do too Gabby, but for some reasons I need to change it right now. There's no pressure, since I'm the one who should be pondering over this, but if you can help, I'll be eternally grateful to you."

"Umm... ok then. Let's think of a few and then see which one suits you the best. All I can think of right now are Isabella... Mia... Cara... Ashley and... Chiara, because they are all names which suit the innocent girl image you have going on there. Even though Mia, Cara and Ashley are a bit more fashionable than innocent, I think you should go for one of these three."

"Wow Gabby, you've given me some really good names and so quickly too. But, how about tricking all the people I meet?"

"What do you mean by that?"

She asked me.

"I mean I have an innocent face and will have an equally innocent name to go by, but I will be the devil in disguise. So I think I'll pick one from the traditional, innocent ones. Isabelle or Chiara."

I start thinking. It will be so much fun messing around with people.

"That's it. I've chosen it."

"What is it? What did you decide on?"

"Chiara. Chiara C Adams. How is it?"

"Hmm... Let's see. Chiara C Adams... Chiara C Adams. Well, it rolls off of my tongue very easily and smoothly. Cool. I love it! Let's go with this name."

She started jumping around excitedly. I think she was more excited for my new name than I was.

I said in an equally excited tone,

"It is right? It just fits in perfectly. I'm gonna go tell mom and dad about it."

"Okay then, I'll be off to do my homework. Good luck,"

She replied.

I raced to the living room in overwhelming excitement. I just couldn't wait to tell them about it. Even though it's silly to think like that now, I had been wondering and sweating about getting a new name all day. I was doing all other tasks, but it still linngered in the back of my mind. Never in my dreams did I think that I would find a name that suits me so well in such a short time, all thanks to Gabby. Gosh, that girl is a bit too smart to be thirteen.

But I think that's how life is like; we don't have to beat ourselves thinking what will happen next and how things will unfold in the future, when its the precise time for something to happen, it will happen come hell or high water.

I saw mom and dad sitting together on a love seat situated on the porch and my heart melted at the sight. Looking at them, I imagined that my mamma and dad must have also been the same way. They must have also loved each other like them. Looking at them, in that brief but intense moment, I wished that even if the world burns down, their love should neither end for each other, nor they should be seperated. Wishing this upon them, I walked towards them.

"Charlotte dear, what brings you here? Come, sit with us,"

Dad called me over enthusiastically.

I sat on the seat opposite of them,

"Mom, Dad, I have something to tell you."

"What is it dear?"

Mom asked me.

"I've chosen my new name. Actually, Gabby was the one who helped me because I had absolutely no idea about how to choose a name for myself since this is obviously my first time so yeah...if both of you approve it, then I'll keep it as my permanent name. I've decided on Chiara C Adams. How is it?"

"Oh dear, you didn't have to rush it so much. We would have waited for you. But nonetheless, Chiara is a very good name. Are you saying that Gabby gave you the choice?"

Mom told me with concern in her tone.

"Yeah. It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Beautiful, just like our beautiful daughter,"

Mom praised, suddenly making me embarrassed.

"Umm thanks. So now I will have to use Chiara everywhere I go right?"

"Yes dear," my dad said,

"And we're once again really sorry that you are being stripped of your identity, your name in this way but this is the only way we have to give you a sturdy protection."

"I know dad, and you don't have to apologize when you haven't done anything wrong. In life, there are umpteen things that we want, but we don't always get them. I know this by now, so I won't complain when I've gotten everything, even if it is at the cost of losing my face and name."

Hearing this, my dad gave me the same expression he gave me back when we first met in Italy. Then he said,

"Chiara, at this time, you will feel livid, wronged and frustrated most of the days. You will want freedom to live how you want, to go wherever you want to and forget all your bad memories, but always remember that this sacrifice, this beating will one day transform you into pure gold. It will take you to a zenith where nobody will be able to reach you. So just have some patience and endure some more. You're going to get the world in the future. I will make sure you do."

"Thanks dad. I know the kind of sacrifices I'm making but these are not just for myself, these sacrifices are for my mamma, whose right to live was ruthlessly snatched away by a selfish bastard, and also for you both and Gabby, since you all are the ones protecting me now,"

I said.

"Chiara dear, you're so mature at such a young age. It's good that you have learned this so early on in life. If you will have this sort of thinking, you will get through this more easily than expected,"

My mom assured me.

"Okay so now that the name is decided upon, we will have to draw some documents for name change and your citizenship. Also, you will be able to start school one week to ten days from now so prepare yourself in advance,"

Dad announced.

I smiled and said,

"Well, that's good because I really love studying."

"So we can see dear. And you will be accompanied by my best friend's son, Mark, who's your senior in high school. It will be better if you stick to him because he'll show you your way around and will make sure you're protected since he and my friend, Vincenzo are aware of your situation,"

My dad said.

"Wow dad, you've already planned everything. Okay then, I'll stay with this Mark guy,"

I said.

Suddenly, mom clapped her hands in front of us,

"Perfect! Now let's go have dinner. You all must be starving."

---------------------------------------

Charlotte officially gets a new name!!! Char- no, Chiara will now be going to school and the one accompanying her will be her father's best friend's son, Mark. How do you think will it go with him? Enmity? Friendship? Love? I guess we'll have to find out in the next chapter ;)