Aubrey Valentina

"Valentina, are you crazy? I don't know about that. Come down stairs and we can speak later," he says before leaving the room with Mom.

Apparently I slept longer than I wanted because it was already almost 11 in the morning. I got up and went to the walk in closet. I've never had so many clothes before! I feel bad but they must have a lot of money to be able to afford this. I even saw Marina's room last night and her closet was larger than mine!

I ended up choosing jeans and a peach hoodie.

I walked down the stairs and on my way I stumbled across a little boy trying to tie his shoes.

"Hey bud, need some help?" I ask Luca.

"Yes I do Vally!" He smiles. I don't think I really like that nickname but I'll go with it.

I bend down and tie his little converses. He says thank you and holds my hand so we can walk to the dining room together.

Everyone was already there. Lorenzo was giving Rosé a piggyback ride. Marina and Venice were arguing in Italian and Mom was setting the table. Dad kissed mom on the cheek as he spoke into his phone angrily, something about an investor.

Luca dragged me towards an empty seat. I sat beside me and on the other side of me was Venice. She looked a lot like me, all of them did, it was crazy.

Mom starts speaking in Italian with everyone listening to her. The one thing is I have no idea what she is saying.

When everyone smiles and ends up in conversation, I just stare dumbly at them. I really need to learn Italian, and soon.

I laugh nervously, feeling out of place. "So what's going on?"

They all stare at me. Realization hits and mom speaks up. "Oh I'm sorry Valentina, I just didn't realize. We are taking family portraits today and our color scheme is going to be red. You know, for Christmas."

"Oh okay," I smile awkwardly.

Venice then whispers into my ear, "Marina and I are gonna teach you soon. And you'll be starting school soon so you'll be able to take lessons in the exchange program."

"Oh. Okay, thank you."

We continue breakfast. Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon, and so much more. I've never had such a big breakfast. I usually just have a granola bar...

"So tell us about yourself Valentina," asks Rosé as I stuff my mouth.

I quickly chew and swallow before answering. "Okay. Well I like drawing and painting. I also taught myself a few cords on the piano at school. And I think I have a photographic memory cause I remember things vividly. I also think I need glasses because I can't read the quote in your T-shirt. It looks kinda fuzzy," I laugh.

She looks down, and laughs. "It says 'odora i fiori' which means smell the flowers."

Lorenzo speaks up. "Tyler and I found a few of your drawing notebooks and I have them if you want them."

"Oh. Well I- I don't know. I don't want to look back on those, it will make me remember too much into the past," I answer honestly.

Marina changes the subject. "Come one lets go choose your outfit!"

I put my fork down and followed my energetic sister to my room.

"So we've got to wear red so you have two options. I'll wear the other one."

We get ready and when we go downstairs everyone is nicely dressed. The boys are in a tux with a red tie. All the girls are in red dresses.

"Okay, let's go," mom says after complimenting everyone's looks.

-/-

Later that night I visited Dad in his office.

"Did you think about it?" I ask.

He looks up from his paper work. "Valentina, I am not going to allow you to kill them. I just can't do that. But I can let you go see them, for closure."

Although he was right, that didn't stop me wanting to be the one to end their lives.

Something has changed in me and it scares me.

"Okay."

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