Angelo sits in silence for the most part of forty five minutes, as he watches his sisters and i, sort of get to know each other. He sits next to me and occasionally feeds off my plate, something that has not gone unnoticed by them.

Alana is unbelievably sweet and warm towards me and i think she and i would probably get along well if we ever had the chance to spend more time together. Plus, she is not asking direct questions about me, but instead, bringing up topics that we can all easily converse in, which is nice.

Alexis, on the other hand, is not giving off much of herself for me to get to know her a little better. She is only speaking when spoken to and the only time she spoke first, was to ask me my age and what i did for a living.

She is not being rude or anything though, but it doesn't take a brain surgeon to guess that she does not like that i am here with her brother.

I still can't believe that Angelo invited them over while i am still here though, and i wonder if it's a reflection of the progress of our relationship and how he feels about me now.

"Well, i have to get going. I have to get to school for sports practice and i can't be late. It was really nice to meet you both" i say standing up and bringing Angelo to full attention.

"What sports practice?" he asks, standing up too. I didn't mention it to him before and i can already see his unbelieving glare.

"Uhmmm, well, there is going to be an inter-school sports tournament in a couple of weeks and so now every weekend the students meet at school to practice various games, i train the volleyball and track team" I explain.

"You didn't mentioned anything like that to me before" he complains.

"Yeah, sorry, i forgot." I respond.

"Oh..ok, well, Bella, our niece, is having her ten years birthday party this afternoon, you should come, it would be nice to have you, right Ange?" Alana offers.

"It's for family only Lana, besides, i am sure she will be busy with her.... coaching thing, it sounds like a lot of work." Alexi responds before i can say anything.

"Well, it would be nice to have you, if you could make it" Alana mutters.

"Thank you. Maybe next time" i decline politely. Angelo remains quiet during the exchange.

"I will be down in a minute" i excuse myself avoiding Angelo's eyes.

I walk up the stairs thoughtfully.

Since last night, something has changed between us, atleast on my part. I am not supposed to fall for him, he is not in my life to stay, he made that clear early on. He is not looking for a commitment, he doesn't have time or energy for that, and i have always known that, but now it's what i want from him with all my heart.

I have gotten used to him, when he is around, i feel content, even during those moments when we are arguing or silent and not saying anything, i am content just to have him around.

When it's just the two of us, it's great, amazing. He makes me feel safe, cared for, wanted. He makes me happy and excited to be alive.

I take a deep breathe and sit down on the bed.

"Hey" Angelo says, when he walks into the room and finds me sitting on the bed.

"Did you just make that up, so you can leave?" he asks, before I can even respond.

"No, i really have training to get to" i say, standing up.

He watches me collect my things, putting them in my bag.

"You can just leave that for now, if you are in a hurry, am sure it can wait" he suggests, turning me towards him.

"There is really not much to pack anyway......" i reply, aware that he keeps putting off me taking my things from his house.

"......Thank you for having me over" i say, hugging him.

"Mmhhmm" he moans, hugging me back and kissing the top of my head.

This is my favorite place, wrapped up in his arms, it's the place where i am the most content, at peace and nothing else matters. It's scary that i have come to feel this way, to care so much.

Everything has changed so fast for me and it scares me the possibility that I could be the only one feeling this way.

I tilt my head back and raise myself up on my tiptop to kiss him. His hands around my waist are gentle, soothing, comforting. He kisses me back just as softly, as i savor his taste, his technique, then i pull back slowly.

"What's wrong" Angelo asks lowly, concern painted on his face.

"I really should go if i am going to be on time" i try to smile.

He nods, watching my face, but doesn't say anything.

*

I pull back and watch her grab her phone and purse. Something is different, i don't know what it is, but i can just feel it in her demeanor.

We haven't had time to adress our discussions from last night, but i hope she isn't regretting any part of it.

My sisters are in the foyer when we get back down stairs.

"I am taking Marianne home, i will be back in an hour, " i annouce.

"Ohh, you don't have to, I talked to Luke and he offered to pick me up, he is down stairs already" She murmurs.

Luke...??

Are you fucking kidding me?

I want to say something about this arrangement, but i bite my tongue, to avoid a scene infront of my sisters.

"It was really nice to have met you both" she mutters again.

"Likewise" Lana, steps forward and gives her a brief hug.

I feel the muscle in my jaw jerk as i watch her get into the elevator to go down to Luke.

"She is nice, i like her" Lana utters as i walk back in.

"Ofcourse you do, no surprise there" Lexi snorts.

"Is that the best you can do though?" She continues, stopping me in my tracks.

"What was that?" i ask, turning to face her.

"Is that supposed to be Claire's replacements?" She asks again.

"You need to be careful what you say next Alexis" i warn her.

"It's really a poor replacements. Looks like a downgrade to me" she sneers.

"Don't overstep your boundaries little girl. Don't think that by allowing you met her, i was asking for your permission or blessing or whatever you are thinking in that head of yours."

"Good, because you don't have it...." she cuts me off.

"Lexi!" Lana interjects.

"No...let her speak..."

"I mean seriously Ange, she looks just like Claire, blonde hair, blue eyes..... I mean, You can date whoever you want, but then you find someone just like her, except she can't even measure up to her...and you expect us to just play along like it's the most normal thing, i think it's really just so pathetic."

"Are you finished? Don't ever talk to me like that again. Or bring up Claire again in any conversation that involves me. Now get the hell out of my house"

Her mouth drops in shock at my reaction. But she recovers fast, tilting her head back in defiance, but says nothing.

"Did you not hear me? or do you want me to throw you out? because I will. I will not accept that kind of disrespect coming from you, not towards me, and especially towards Marianne. Get out! Now!"

She rushes to the kitchen to pick up her purse and storms out, banging the door behind her.

I turn to Lana, i can see she is upset about the situation but not all surprised.

Lexi has a short fuse and but so do i, and so we tend to butt heads alot, us fighting is not an unusual occurrence in the family, although we always make up very quickly.

"I will be down in a bit, make yourself comfortable" i pat Lana on the shoulder, and kiss her cheek on my way upstairs.

I get Lexi's fixation with Claire, she adored her like crazy and looked up to her alot, and the two of them spent alot of time together, too much time, despite my disaproval. Claire always said Lexi was like the little sister she never had, and hence treated her as such, especially after we got engaged.

But things didn't work out, and Lexi always blamed me for not fighting hard enough to make the relationship work.

I admit, the thing that first got me to notice Marianne was her physical resemblance to Claire, and it's also what got me so irritated with her aswell. She reminded me of a past i worked so hard to put behind me.

But of course she is not Claire, and i soon discovered their personalities and temperaments couldn't be more different. And for the first time, in a long long time i am actually able to be with someone and be present in the moment, no ghosts from my past mistakes hanging around at the back of my mind. It's something only Marianne makes me feel and i don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose her.

*

After an hour of volleyball practice, i finally move on to the field for the tract team training. After a while, i turn back and see Luke signaling for me to go over. He has been following me like a shadow all morning, which isn't too bad considering we haven't spent much time together lately.

"What's up" i ask, as i stand on the other side of the fence from him.

"I got to go" he utters.

"Sarah?" i ask.

"Psshhht no! Work" he scoffs.

"What? What's going on?" Trouble in paradise maybe? A liitle more than the usual i internally chuckle.

"I don't know really...we have just been fighting alot lately and i am starting to not feel the relationship anymore" he frowns.

"Do you want to talk about?" i ask. It seems serious from the expression on his face.

"No...but dinner tonight. You're cooking. I miss us" He grins.

"Ok, later then. Thanks for coming"

"Laters" he struts away and i turn back to my team.

The training is actually very involving that it gets me so distracted to the point where i don't have time to think about Angelo.

It's nearly thirty minutes past noon when another teacher calls for me to go to the side where the audience sits on the field.

As i approach, i immediately recognized Angelo's notable posture, standing atleast a head taller than my three colleagues with him. They appear to be in the middle of a conversation because they are all talking and laughing.

He starts to approach the fence when i near them.

"Hai" He smirks. I can't read much of his expression thanks to his dark shades.

"Hai yourself" i reply, trying to keep my excitement at seeing him again so soon under wraps.

I use the small gate to go to his side.

"You were in the neighbourhood again?" i chuckle, folding my arms over my chest.

"Not really....am here to pick up my girl" he smirks, pushing his shades to the top of his head so i can see his eyes.

"Your girl?"I ask, staring into those chocolate brown orbs that seem to be shining into a beautiful gold hue due to the sunlight.

"Yes, my girl, Do you have a problem with that?" he equally folds his arms over his chest.

"No...not at all" i say softly, feeling all kinds of butterflies erupt in my belly.

I guess it's final. I am his girl now.

"Good. Are you done?" His smile widens.

"Yeah, just about" i look back at the students on the field.

"Let's go then"

"Ok...give me a minute." i turn around and he immediately smacks my butt, pushing me forward abit.

"Aahhh" i turn around with my mouth open and glare at him...shooting daggers at him with my eyes..

He did not just do that in public.

"Tick tock...Get going, i don't have all day" he says, faking a serious face.

I am so getting him back for that.

I huff in annoyance but his sudden smile makes it hard for me to be mad at him. I walk away avoiding any eye contact from my colleagues incase they caught that.

*

"Wait, do you not have a party to get to today?" i ask as i settle in his car a few minutes later.

"Yeah, that's where we are going"

"We? Are you crazy? Isn't your whole family going to be there?"

"Probably" he shrugs.

"No" i say shyly.

"Look, if you don't want to go, that's fine. I will just drop you at home. But i would like it if you went with me" he pauses starting the car to look at me.

*

An hour and half later, we pull up at the most secure residence i have ever been to my whole life. The security guys come at us from all sides as soon as we drive upto the gate. Angelo drops his window.

"Mr Morreli...sorry, didn't recognize the car"

"Sure" he nods and the gates open.

We park the car but before we step out Angelo turns to look at me, cupping my face.

"It's just a little girls party, no big deal. Just relax ok" he murmurs.

"Ok" i respond, but it is not ok. It's not just a little girl's party, it's his whole family, my mind is going batshit about meeting his distinguished family.

As we walk to the house, he takes my hand in his.

"You look amazing" he says for the second time.

I smile and thank him again.

After leaving the school, we went to my apartment where i quickly showered and changed into something else. Angelo told me to dress casual so i searched my closet and settled on light blue jeans, from my recently bought collection, a white shirt and topped it off with a peach colored oversized cashmere sweater. It's an old one, but very well kept. I don't wear it often but everytime i do, i am told everywhere i go, that i look really nice, apparently it compliments my skin tone. So i hope it will hold the same magic today.

My hair was still wet, so i did a tight ponytail with hair split in the middle and did a quick braid to the ponytail part.

As we walk into the magnificent foyer, i feel even more nervous and grip Angelo's hand even tighter in mine.

He looks down at me and winks.

"Uncle Angelooooo" comes a small squeal, and soon a small boy comes running towards us.

Angelo lets go of my hand and squats down, scooping up the little excited boy, and lifting him up into the air.

I watch in amazement at this playful side of Angelo.

"There you are. You are finally here..You are late!" Comes a scolding voice from the same direction the boy came from.

I smile at the older woman coming towards us.

"Ohh, you have company......well hello there" she gives me a wide smile and hugs me warmly.

"Hai" i respond, hugging her back.

"I am Lora...Angelo's Mother" She continues to smile.

"Marianne Wright" I take her hand.

Angelo comes to stand next to us with his nephew on his shoulders.

"Say hi to the pretty lady." he instructs him.

"Hi pretty lady" the excited boy giggles.

"Hi Ivan" i respond with a chuckle. I can't help the infectious joy from the boy.

Angelo told me a little about his niece and nephew on our way here.

"Isn't she the prettiest girl you have seen?" Angelo asks him, making me blush.

"Angelo!! he is only four, don't make him choose between his grandma and your date.....Come my dear" Lora laughs, leading the way.

She takes us down the hall into a room filled with music and alot of kids.

"Uncle Angelo!!" A young girl, i can only assume to be Isabela screams, and comes running towards him.

"He is quite popular with the kids" Lola explains when we watch him be dragged into the room by his niece and Ivan in tow.

"I can see that" i smile.

"This way, we are all over here" she leads me out onto the patio on the other side of the room.

I look up and see alot of adults, most of whom, stare at me openly as we approach.

I feel my palms start to sweat and my heart beating from my ears.

Oh crap!