The Beginning (The Life 1)

On the heels of that thought, I could’ve sworn I heard dad’s voice coming from the kitchen as I made my way there. I stopped outside the door to eavesdrop once I heard Becky’s raised voice, which is about the only way I learn anything anyway.

“I don’t understand why Victoria isn’t allowed.”

“Well, Mr. Russo has a point. Victoria would only be a distraction since Gia’s going there to tutor the girls. What would she be doing?”

“She can do her homework…”

“That wouldn’t look right. Besides, I don’t see what the big deal is. Victoria has her own friends. Besides, I’ve already agreed, oh hi Gia.”

“Dad, what are you doing home? Aren’t you working today?”

“I have a meeting with Mr. Russo in about an hour. You must’ve made quite the impression; he couldn’t help singing your praise.” He wore the first genuine smile that I’ve seen in too long to remember.

“Really? That’s nice, I guess.” I kept my excitement to a minimum because Becky was already fuming. I’d barely taken my seat at the table when Victoria walked in. She couldn’t have heard because she was looking rather pleased with herself, and it was obvious that she’d taken extra care with her hair and makeup.

She was all smiles as she greeted our parents before taking her seat and ordering Ella to make her an omelet. “Oh, by the way, Mr. Russo invited you to spend the weekend with his family. I expect you to be on your best behavior.”

“What?” Victoria screeched as she looked between dad and me. “Was I invited?”

“I don’t think so; he only mentioned Gia; why? I didn’t think that you and they were friends.”

“Mom, didn’t you talk to him?”

“Yes, I did, but…”

“Your mother and I talked about you tagging along with Gia when she goes to tutor the girls, but their father thinks it would be too distracting to have you there, and I agree.”

“So what about the weekend?”

“Oh, apparently, the girls are going to New York with the family this weekend and invited Gia along.”

“Why does she get to go, and I don’t?”

“Well, about that, he didn’t say. By the way, don’t you have plans of your own? I seem to recall you have a sleepover planned for this weekend as well, so it’s not like you’d be stuck in the house alone.” Before Victoria could argue, the doorbell rang as if on cue. “I wonder who that could be.”

Dad got up to answer the door while I pretended an interest in the pattern on my plate in order to ignore the fuming looks on mother and daughter’s faces. I knew they wouldn’t do much with dad in the next room, and I had the warm glow of growing excitement to keep me occupied. “Mom, do something. I want to go to New York.”

“Gia, your friends are here.” I started to ask dad what he was talking about until the twins walked into the room behind him. “What’re you doing here? What’s going on?”

“Oh, we just thought we’d give you a ride to school.”

“I drive her to school.”

“Yeah, we know, but we figured we could use this time to get some more studying in. You must be Mrs. Fontane, Victoria’s mom; you two look just alike. Sorry to barge in like this." The twins were moving too fast for me to figure out who is who, and Becky looked star-struck for some reason. “So, are you ready, Gia? Our brother gets kind of salty if we make him wait.”

“Oh, yeah, sure.” I grabbed a muffin from the basket, which looked like all I was going to have for breakfast this morning. “Bye, dad.” I waved goodbye to the room before the twins dragged me to the door.

GABRIEL

I always forget how beautiful she is, and I’m never ready for that jolt to the heart I feel when I see her. She came out of the door between my sisters, and the sunlight bathed her hair in that way it did the first time I saw her. What is it about that sight that makes me feel so shaken? Nothing in my life has ever moved my heart one way or the other, not since I learned the truth about my conception, but this girl... Why?

I snapped out of it by the time they reached the truck, and once again, the twins who’d fight to the death for the front seat gladly gave it up without pause. She’s nervous, hiding it well, but her shaking hands that she clasped in her lap gave it away. She almost fell out when I reached around her and pulled her seatbelt to snap it in place. “Good morning, Gianna!”

She must be wondering why I was looking at her head so strangely. I took the chance while I was that close to check for signs of trauma from her hair being pulled but, finding none sat back in my seat. I didn’t need to make conversation on the rest of the ride because the twins did more than enough to fill the silence. I didn’t appear to be, but I listened to every word.